Abstract: Described is a system and method for biometric authentication. The system comprises a plurality of servers having access to stored biometric data corresponding to a plurality of users, a wireless computing unit receiving biometric data from an imager and a switch communicating with the servers and the unit. The switch receives the biometric data and a service request from the unit. The service request includes service data corresponding to a service provided by at least one of the servers. The switch determines a particular server of the servers to receive the service request as a function of the service data. The switch transmits the biometric data and the service request to the particular server. The particular server performs an authentication procedure as a function of the biometric data and the stored biometric data to generate output data. The particular server executes the service as a function of the service data and the output data.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for announcement transmission. The system comprises a server and a network management arrangement coupled to the server. A wireless computing unit transmits an announcement request to the arrangement. The announcement request includes a first message in a non-audio format and output data identifying the server. The arrangement transmits the first message to the server as a function of the output data. The server converts the first message into a second message in an audio format and transmits the second message to an output device that plays the second message.