CLAIMS

1. A method for selecting a portlet, the portlet having a portlet state, comprising the steps of:

rendering a portlet, the portlet having a decoration and an event trigger;

receiving a user event at a server, the user event corresponding to the event trigger;

serializing the portlet state based on the user event;

storing the portlet state in a key; and

sending the key having the portlet state to a client.

2. The method for selecting of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving a user event comprises:

receiving a drag indication.

3. The method for selecting of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving a drag indication comprises:

receiving a drag indication at coordinates within a portlet window.

4. The method for selecting of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the step of receiving a second user event comprises:

receiving a drop indication.

5. The method for selecting of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the step of receiving a second user event comprises:

receiving a pointer action.

6. The method for selecting of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the step of storing the portlet state includes a step of:

storing a uniform resource identifier in the key.

7. A method for establishing a persisted portal session comprising the steps of:

receiving a hypertext transfer protocol request at a server;

rendering a portal window having a first event trigger corresponding to an area on the portal window;

receiving an event trigger;

receiving a key having a portlet reference, the portlet reference having a portlet;

transmitting the key to an origin server; and

rendering the portlet according to the key.

8. The method for establishing a persisted portal session of claim 7 wherein the step of receiving a key comprises receiving a key using the hypertext transfer protocol.

9. The method for establishing a persisted portal session of claim 7 or 8 wherein the step of rendering the portlet comprises the step of:

rehydrating the key, the key having state data.

10. The method for establishing a persisted portal session of claim 9 wherein the step of rehydrating comprises the step of:

applying the state data to a portlet.

11. A server for selecting a portlet, the portlet having a portlet state, comprising:

a processor for rendering the portlet, the portlet having a decoration and an event trigger;

a network adapter for receiving a user event at a server, the user event corresponding to the event trigger, the network adapter coupled to the processor;

a means for serializing the portlet state based on the user event, the means to serialize coupled to the processor;

a memory to store the portlet state in a key; and

a LAN adapter to send the key having the portlet state to a client.

12. The server of claim 11 wherein the network adapter comprises:

a means for receiving a drag indication.

13. The server of claim 12 wherein the means for receiving a drag indication comprises:

a means for receiving a drag indication at coordinates within a portlet window.

14. The server of claim 13 further comprising:

a means for billing a user operatively coupled to the processor.

15. The server of claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein the means for receiving a second user event comprises:

a means for receiving a drop indication.

16. The server of any of claims 11 to 14 wherein the means for receiving a second user event comprises:

receiving a pointer action.

17. The server of any of claims 11 to 16 wherein the memory comprises:

a memory for storing a uniform resource identifier in the key.

18. A system for establishing a persisted portal session comprising the steps of:

means for receiving a hypertext transfer protocol request at a server;

means for rendering a portal window having a first event trigger corresponding to an area on the portal window;

means for receiving an event trigger;

means for receiving a key having a portlet reference, the portlet reference having a portlet;

means for transmitting the key to an origin server; and

means for rendering the portlet according to the key.

19. A computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10 when said program is run on a computer.