Sun Java System Portal Server 7 Developer's Guide

Provider to Portlet Mapping

The 

Maps To (or can use) 

ProviderContext.getStringAttribute("firstname");

Map ui =  (Map)renderRequest.getAttribute("javax.portlet.userinfo");
String firstname = (String)ui.get("firstname");
ProviderContext.getSessionProperty()/setSessionProperty()
PortletSession.getAttribute(), PortletSession.setAttribute()
ProviderContext.getDesktopURL()
PortletURL.RenderResponse.createRenderURL(), RenderResponse.createActionURL()