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 network interface configured to enable the transmission of communications between the portable device and a communications network node, and a communication interface for enabling the transmission of communications to a terminal comprising a processor and an output component, the method comprising:

• (a) executing first program code stored on the portable device memory to present an interactive user interface on the terminal output component;
• (b) executing second program code stored on the portable device memory to facilitate communications between the portable device and the communications network node;
• (c) executing third program code stored on the portable device memory in response to user interaction with the interactive user interface;
• and
• (d) transmitting a communication through the portable device network interface to the communications network node.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing executable program code to be executed by a portable device, the portable device comprising a processor, a memory, a network interface for enabling communications between the portable device a communications network node, and a communication interface for enabling the transmission of communications from the portable device to a terminal comprising a processor and an output component, the program code comprising:

• (a) first program code which, when executed, is configured to present an interactive user interface on the terminal output component,
• (b) second program code which, when executed by the portable device processor, is configured to facilitate communications between the portable device and the communications network node;
• and
• (c) third program code which, when executed by the portable device processor in response to user interaction with the interactive user interface, is configured to cause a communication to be transmitted through the portable device network interface to the communications network node.

A method implemented on a portable device comprising a processor, a memory having executable program code stored thereon, a network interface configured to enable the transmission of communications between the portable device and a communications network node, and a communication interface for enabling the transmission of communications to a terminal comprising a processor and an output component, the method comprising:

• (a) causing an interactive user interface to be presented by the terminal output component;
• (b) executing first program code stored on the portable device memory to facilitate communications between the portable device and the communications network node;
• (c) executing second program code stored on the portable device memory in response to user interaction with the interactive user interface;
• and
• (d) transmitting a communication through the portable device network interface to the communications network node.

A method implemented on a portable device comprising a processor, a memory having executable program code stored thereon, and an external communication interface for enabling the transmission of a plurality of communications between the portable device and a terminal, the terminal comprising a processor, an input component, an output component, a network communication interface, and a memory configured to store executable program code, including first program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to affect the presentation of an interactive user interface by the terminal output component, and second program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to provide a communications node on the terminal to facilitate communications to the portable device and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface, the method comprising:

• (a) causing the terminal to execute the first program code to affect the presentation of an interactive user interface by the terminal output component;
• (b) executing third program code stored on the portable device memory to provide a communications node on the portable device configured to coordinate with the communications node on the terminal and establish a communications link between the portable device and the terminal, and to facilitate communications to the terminal and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface;
• (c) executing, in response to a communication received by the portable device resulting from user interaction with the interactive user interface, fourth program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a communication to be transmitted to a communications network node;
• and
• (d) facilitating communications through the terminal network communication interface to a communications network node.

A method implemented on a portable device comprising a processor, a memory having executable program code stored thereon, and an external communication interface for enabling the transmission of a plurality of communications between the portable device and a terminal, the terminal comprising a processor, an input component, an output component, a network communication interface, and a memory configured to store executable program code, including first program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to provide a communications node on the terminal to facilitate communications to the portable device and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface, the method comprising:

• (a) affecting the presentation of an interactive user interface by the terminal output component;
• (b) executing second program code stored on the portable device memory to provide a communications node on the portable device configured to coordinate with the communications node on the terminal and establish a communications link between the portable device and the terminal, and to facilitate communications to the terminal and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface;
• (c) executing, in response to a communication received by the portable device resulting from user interaction with the interactive user interface, third program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a communication to be transmitted to a communications network node;
• and
• (d) facilitating communications through the terminal network communication interface to a communications network node.

A method implemented on a portable device comprising a processor, a memory having executable program code stored thereon, and an external communication interface for enabling the transmission of a plurality of communications between the portable device and a terminal, the terminal comprising a processor, an input component, an output component, a network communication interface, and a memory configured to store executable program code, including first program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to affect the presentation of an interactive user interface by the terminal output component, and second program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to provide a communications node on the terminal to facilitate communications to the portable device and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface, the method comprising:

• (a) affecting the presentation of the interactive user interface presented by the terminal output component;
• (b) executing third program code stored on the portable device memory to provide a communications node on the portable device configured to coordinate with the communications node on the terminal and establish a communications link between the portable device and the terminal, and to facilitate communications to the terminal and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface;
• (c) executing, in response to a communication received by the portable device resulting from user interaction with the interactive user interface, fourth program code stored on the portable device memory to cause a communication to be transmitted to a communications network node;
• and
• (d) facilitating communications through the terminal network communication interface to a communications network node.

A system implementing a terminal having a processor, an input component, an output component, a network communication interface, and a memory configured to store executable program code, including first program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to affect the presentation of an interactive user interface by the terminal output component, and second program code which, when executed by the terminal processor, is configured to provide a communications node on the terminal to facilitate communications to and from the terminal, the system comprising:

• (a) a communications network node;
• and
• (b) a portable device comprising an external communication interface for enabling the transmission of a plurality of communications between the portable device and the terminal, a processor, and a memory, wherein the memory has executable program code stored thereon, the portable device configured to:
• (1) cause the terminal to execute the first program code to affect the presentation of an interactive user interface by the terminal output component;
• (2) execute third program code stored on the portable device memory to provide a communications node on the portable device configured to coordinate with the communications node on the terminal and establish a communications link between the portable device and the terminal, and to facilitate communications to the terminal and to a communications network node through the terminal network communication interface;
• (3) execute fourth program code stored on the portable device memory in response to a communication received by the portable device resulting from user interaction with the interactive user interface to cause a communication to be transmitted to a communications network node;
• and
• (4) facilitate communications through the terminal network communication interface to a communications network node.