First project in Embedded C

Right now I am tinkering around with embedded programming; desktop programming is getting a little boring.

I am trying to make a clock. The part I am having trouble with is displaying the time. I need to know how a numeric display would hook up to my processor. Would it plug into a I/O port? A Pin?

I need to know because as of right now, I am assuming that the display hooks up to a port. I am planning on using a Atmel 8052 family processor with 4 I/0 Ports.

Port 0 will be used for switches that will set the time
Port 1 will be used for the Hours display
Port 2 will be used for the Minutes display
Port 3 will be used for the Seconds display (i want a seconds display just for kicks)

Therefore, to I would send the time value to the whole port:

P1 = 12;

for example.

I am using the Kiel compiler and I can post my code if it will help.

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