Patent ID: 7647259

Claim:
A public-access e-commerce service portal providing a user access to an internet, said portal comprising: a computer including a display screen, a card reader adapted to read financial account information from a card, an input device adapted to provide alphanumeric and screen-coordinate information selected by the user, a drive unit adapted to read data from and write data to a removable data storage medium, and a printer unit, said computer being programmed to permit a user to selectively operate the units after said user enters a valid log-on ID or to establish a log-on ID for a new user after receiving answers manually input to the computer by the new user in response to predetermined demographic questions, and said computer being programmed to test the validity of financial account information, PIN number and log-on ID entries made by users; a video camera, which inputs video images, connected to the computer, said computer being programmed to use said video camera to provide video-conference service to the user; a telecommunications link adapted to connect the computer to an e-commerce intranet providing free services to the user, said free services including information resources and free access to selected e-commerce intranet sites and contact with an intranet agent at an e-commerce service facility, the telecommunications link also being adapted to connect the computer to the internet to thereby provide the user access to the internet; and a service unit including electric power and data connectors for use by a portable computing device.