Information portal

1. A communication system comprising:

a stationary transceiver defining an information portal in a vicinity thereof, the stationary transceiver being disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of an elevator, a building lobby, and a vehicle; and

a local server in communication with said transceiver, said local server being configured

to respond to entry of a mobile processing-system present within said information portal, and

to provide, to said mobile processing system, data previously requested for said mobile processing system prior to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal.

2. A communication system comprising a stationary transceiver defining an information portal in a vicinity thereof;

a local server in communication with said transceiver, said local server being configured

to identify and respond to a mobile processing-system present within said information portal, and

to perform a function on the basis of the identity of said mobile processing-system, said function being selected from the group consisting of:

permitting building access to a portion of said building; and

controlling an elevator in said building.

3. The communication system of claim 2 , further comprising an access control unit in communication with said local server, said access control unit being controlled by said local server on the basis of the identity of said mobile processing-system.

4. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein said stationary transceiver is selected from the group consisting of a radio transceiver, an optical transceiver, an infrared transceiver, and an acoustic transceiver.

5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein said local server and said stationary transceiver are in communication across a local area network.

6. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein said local server and said stationary transceiver are in wireless communication across a local area network.

7. The communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a fulfillment server in communication with said local server, said fulfillment server having access to a wide area network.

8. The communication system of claim 7 , wherein said local server comprises a cache for temporary accumulation of information from said fulfillment server to be relayed to said mobile processing system.

9. The communication system of claim 7 , wherein said wide area network comprises a global computer network.

10. The communication system of claim 7 , wherein said fulfillment server includes a user-interface for enabling a user to cause said fulfillment server to collect selected information.

11. The communication system of claim 10 , wherein said fulfillment server is configured to provide said selected information to said local server when said local server identifies, within said information portal, a mobile processing unit associated with said user.

12. The communication system of claim 10 , wherein said fulfillment server includes a user-interface for enabling a user to cause said fulfillment server to detect an occurrence of a condition.

13. The communication system of claim 12 , wherein said fulfillment server is configured to provide information indicative of an occurrence of said condition to said local server when said local server identifies, within said information portal, a mobile processing unit associated with said user.

14. The communication system of claim 12 , wherein said fulfillment server is configured to provide interactive services to said mobile processing unit.

15. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of stationary transceivers, each configured for wireless communication with a mobile processing system present in a corresponding information portal, the stationary transceivers being disposed at locations selected from the group consisting of an elevator, a building lobby, and a vehicle; and

a server system in communication with each of said stationary receivers, said server system having a link to a global computer network and thereby providing said mobile processing system with wireless access to said global computer network said server system including a server configured to provide, to said mobile processing system, in response to entry of said mobile processing system into an information portal, data previously requested for said mobile processing system prior to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal.

16. A method for providing a mobile processing system with wireless access to a global computer network, said method comprising:

maintaining an information portal, the information portal being disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of an elevator, a building lobby, and a vehicle;

establishing wireless communication between said mobile processing system and a server system following entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal; and

causing data previously requested for said mobile processing system prior to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal to be provided to said mobile processing system, in response to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal.

17. A communication system comprising:

a stationary transceiver defining an information portal in a vicinity thereof, the stationary transceiver being disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of an elevator; and

a local server in communication with said transceiver, said local server being configured

to respond to entry of a mobile processing-system present within said information portal, and

to provide, to said mobile processing system, data previously requested for said mobile processing system prior to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal.

18. A communication system comprising:

a stationary transceiver defining an information portal in a vicinity thereof, the stationary transceiver being disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a building lobby; and

a local server in communication with said transceiver, said local server being configured

to respond to entry of a mobile processing-system present within said information portal, and

to provide, to said mobile processing system, data previously requested for said mobile processing system prior to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal.

19. A communication system comprising:

a stationary transceiver defining an information portal in a vicinity thereof, the stationary transceiver being disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a vehicle; and

a local server in communication with said transceiver, said local server being configured

to respond to entry of a mobile processing-system present within said information portal, and

to provide, to said mobile processing system, data previously requested for said mobile processing system prior to entry of said mobile processing system into said information portal.