Patent ID: 8539047

Claim:
A portable device, comprising: (a) an external communications interface configured to enable the transmission of a plurality of communications between the portable device and a terminal comprising a terminal processor, a first input component, a first output component, and a network interface; (b) a processor; and (c) a memory having executable program code stored thereon, including: (1) first program code which, when executed, causes an interactive user interface to be presented on the first output component, wherein the interactive user interface is configured to enable the user to cause the portable device processor to execute program code stored on the portable device memory; (2) second program code which, when executed, enables the portable device to (i) receive a communication resulting from user interaction with the interactive user interface and (ii) cause a communication to be sent through the terminal network interface to a communications network node; and (3) third program code which, when executed by the portable device processor in response to a communication resulting from user interaction with the interactive user interface, causes a communication to be transmitted to a communications network node; wherein the portable device is configured to effect the display on the first output component of processing activity of program code stored on the portable device memory; and wherein the portable device is configured to communicate with the terminal and to communicate through the terminal network interface with the communications network node.