Interactive communications appliance

Abstract

An interactive communications appliance for broadcasting personalized information is disclosed. The interactive communications appliance comprises a transceiver for receiving personalized information transmitted via a wireless link. A memory stores the personalized information and an audio device broadcasts the personalized information to a user.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An interactive communications appliance for broadcasting personalized information to a user, the interactive communications appliance comprising:
 a processor;   a transceiver for receiving personalized information transmitted via a wireless link, the personalized information based upon a user profile for the user, the transceiver being operatively coupled to the processor;   a memory for storing the personalized information, the memory being operatively coupled to the processor; and   a device for broadcasting the personalized information, wherein the personalized information is arranged as a personalized presentation to the user.   
     
     
         36 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 35  further comprising an input device and a display. 
     
     
         37 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 36  wherein the input device comprises a speech recognition device. 
     
     
         38 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 35  wherein the device is a speaker. 
     
     
         39 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 35  wherein the personalized information comprises at least one of jokes, science news, weather information, and horoscopes personalized for the user. 
     
     
         40 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 35  wherein the transceiver is a first transceiver adapted to transmit information to a second transceiver via the wireless link, the second transceiver operatively coupled to a client computer. 
     
     
         41 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 40  wherein the personalized information is received by the client computer from a server computer accessible through a communication medium. 
     
     
         42 . The interactive communications appliance of  claim 35  wherein the memory comprises pre-recorded, reusable audio portions. 
     
     
         43 . A computer comprising:
 a processor;   a memory for storing personalized information, the personalized information based upon a user profile for a user, the memory being operatively coupled to the processor;   a transceiver for transmitting the personalized information via a wireless link to an interactive communications appliance, the transceiver being operatively coupled to the processor,   wherein the interactive communications appliance is configured to broadcast the personalized information to the user, wherein the personalized information is arranged as a personalized presentation to the user.   
     
     
         44 . The computer of  claim 43  wherein the user profile is stored in the memory. 
     
     
         45 . The computer of  claim 43  wherein the user profile is stored in a server computer coupled to the computer via a communication medium. 
     
     
         46 . The computer of  claim 43  wherein the memory includes graphical user interfaces for creating a user profile for the user. 
     
     
         47 . The computer of  claim 43  wherein the computer is in communication with a server computer via a communication medium. 
     
     
         48 . The computer of  claim 43  wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to two or more interactive communications appliances. 
     
     
         49 . A method comprising:
 receiving personalized information from a client computer via a wireless link, wherein the personalized information is based on a user profile for a user; and   broadcasting, using an audio device, the personalized information, wherein the personalized information is arranged as a personalized presentation to the user.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising:
 combining the personalized information with data that is personalized to the user. 
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the personalized information includes schedule items for the user 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  wherein, prior to the receiving the personalized information from the client computer, the client computer receives the personalized information from a server computer via a communication medium. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising
 noting any interactions with the user;   updating the user profile based on the interactions.