System method and apparatus for portable digital identity

Abstract

Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user's digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a system having an electronic communication device operated by a user, said system further including a remote database and a server on a distributed computing network, a method comprising: 
 entering identification information into said electronic communication device;    transmitting said identification information to said server;    retrieving personalized information from said database;    forwarding said personalized information to said electronic communication device,    wherein said electronic communication device is a CATV settop box; and    wherein said personalized information is related to said user's CATV subscription account, whereby said CATV settop box is personalized to said user.