Apparatus, method and system for a tunneling client access point

1. A portable device configured to communicate with (i) a terminal comprising a processor, an output component, and a memory having executable program code stored thereon, and (ii) a communication network comprising at least one communication network node, the portable device comprising:

(a) a first communication interface configured to enable transmission of communications between the portable device and the terminal;

(b) a second communication interface configured to enable transmission of communications between the portable device and a communication network node;

(c) a processor; and

(d) a memory having executable program code stored thereon, including:

(1) first program code which, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to cause a communication to be transmitted through the first communication interface to the terminal to coordinate with program code executed by the terminal processor to facilitate secure communications between the portable device and the terminal;

(2) second program code which, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to (i) cause an interactive user interface comprising at least one user interface element configured to be manipulated by a user to be presented on the terminal output component, (ii) receive a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface, and (iii) affect the presentation of the interactive user interface in response to the command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element;

(3) third program code which, when executed by the portable device processor in response to a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface, is configured to cause a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node.

2. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the portable device further comprises a sensor configured to detect user biometric data.

3. The portable device according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect user biometric data comprising the user's fingerprint.

4. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal further comprises a sensor configured to detect user biometric data.

5. The portable device according to claim 4 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect user biometric data comprising the user's fingerprint.

6. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the first program code, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to cause a communication to be transmitted through the first communication interface to the terminal to facilitate a key exchange between the portable device and the terminal to enable the portable device to transmit secure communications to the terminal.

7. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface.

8. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the portable device is configured to employ an encryption format to securely communicate with the communications network node.

9. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the third program code, when executed by the portable device processor in response to a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface, is further configured to cause a secure communication comprising a portable device identifier stored on the portable device memory to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node.

10. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the third program code which, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to cause a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node to facilitate user identification.

11. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the third program code which, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to cause a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node to facilitate user authentication.

12. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the third program code which, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to cause a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node to facilitate a payment transaction.

13. A method implemented on a portable device comprising a processor, a memory having executable program code stored thereon, a first communication interface configured to enable transmission of communications between the portable device and a terminal comprising a processor, an output component, and a memory having executable program code stored thereon, and a second communication interface configured to enable transmission of communications between the portable device and a communication network comprising a plurality of communication network nodes, the method comprising:

(a) executing first program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a communication to be transmitted through the first communication interface to the terminal to coordinate with program code executed by the terminal processor to facilitate secure communications between the portable device and the terminal;

(b) executing second program code stored on the portable device memory to (i) cause an interactive user interface comprising at least one user interface element configured to be manipulated by a user to be presented on the terminal output component, (ii) receive a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface, and (iii) affect the presentation of the interactive user interface in response to the command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element; and

(c) executing, in response to a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface presented on the terminal output component, third program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node.

14. The method implemented on the portable device according to claim 13 , further comprising executing fourth program code stored on the portable device memory to detect user biometric data.

15. The method implemented on the portable device according to claim 13 , wherein the step of executing the first program code causes a communication to be transmitted through the first communication interface to the terminal to facilitate a key exchange between the portable device and the terminal to enable the portable device to transmit secure communications to the terminal.

16. The method implemented on the portable device according to claim 13 , wherein the step of executing the third program code causes a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to the communications network node to facilitate user identification.

17. The method implemented on the portable device according to claim 13 , wherein the step of executing the third program code causes a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to the communications network node to facilitate user authentication.

18. The method implemented on the portable device according to claim 13 , wherein the step of executing the third program code causes a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to the communications network node to facilitate a payment transaction.

19. A system implementing a terminal comprising a processor, an output component, and a memory having executable program code stored thereon, the system comprising:

(a) a communication network comprising at least one communication network node; and

(b) a portable device comprising a first communication interface configured to enable transmission of communications between the portable device and the terminal, a second communication interface configured to enable transmission of communications between the portable device and a communications network node, a processor, and a memory having executable program code stored thereon, the portable device configured to:

(1) execute first program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a communication to be transmitted through the first communication interface to the terminal to coordinate with program code executed by the terminal processor to facilitate secure communications between the portable device and the terminal;

(2) execute second program code stored on the portable device memory to (i) cause an interactive user interface comprising at least one user interface element configured to be manipulated by a user to be presented on the terminal output component, (ii) receive a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface, and (iii) affect the presentation of the interactive user interface in response to the command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element; and

(3) execute, in response to a command resulting from user manipulation of a user interface element of the interactive user interface presented on the terminal output component, third program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a secure communication comprising detected user biometric data to be transmitted through the second communication interface to a communication network node.

20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the portable device is further configured to execute fourth program code stored on the portable device memory to detect user biometric data.