Apparatus, method and system for a tunneling client access point

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.

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.