Abstract: The present invention discloses a payment card that uses speaker identification and verification (SIV) speech processing techniques for activation purposes. For example, the invention can initially identify a payment card in a deactivated state, which is an internal state of the payment card. Speech input can then be received. Speech characteristics of the speech input can be determined and compared against a voice print of an authorized card user. The payment card can be selectively activated based on comparison results. That is, when the voice print and the speech characteristics match, the payment card can be activated. Otherwise, the card will remain deactivated. An activated payment card is one that has undergone an internal state change from the deactivated state. For example, when activated a credit card number can appear in a display and a magnetic strip can contain payment information, neither of which are present in the deactivated state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for power conservation of a hardware module (142) which is coupleable to a portable electronic device (100). The hardware module (142) has unique identification information associated therewith and stored therein. The unique identification information is provided periodically (308) to the portable electronic device (100) and stored therein (207). To conserve power, the portable electronic device (100) sends a power-down notice (212) to the hardware module (142), the module controller (144) stores current state information of the hardware module (142) in a non-volatile memory (146) thereof, and the hardware module (142) is powered off (214).

Abstract: Techniques are provided for preventing replacement of a one-time-programmable (OTP) component. The OTP component can be part of a wireless device. The wireless device is configured such that programming of a new IMEI code into the OTP component is permitted only when the wireless device is in a secure-mode state. A challenge-response protocol is used to place the wireless device in this secure-mode state.

Abstract: A communication system (100) includes a portal (110), a subscriber (108), a service processor (112), and a communication network (102-104, 107) for providing communication between the portal (110), the subscriber (108) and the service processor (112).

Abstract: A server, e.g., a client (105, 107, 109), receives a request for a digital signature to be applied to digital information, obtains a representation of the information, determines a designation of key pair(s) to be applied thereto; and transmits a request for the digital signature to a front end server (103a, 103b). The front end server determines one or more of whether the client is authentic and authorized, the user identifier is authentic, and the user identifier is permitted to make the request. If so, the front end server transmits a request to generate a digital signature to a back end server (101). The back end server determines one or more of whether the front end server is authentic and the designated key pair correspond to the requesting front end server. If so, the back end server generates the digital signature based on the information and the key pair(s).

Abstract: A multi-media device interface (18) couples a multi-media device (16) to a portable electronic device (10). Multi-media and other information can be loaded into the portable electronic device (10) from the multi-media device (16) or stored in the multi-media device (16) from the portable electronic device (10). The multi-media device interface (18) queues commands to the multi-media device (16) from the portable electronic device (10) while the multi-media device (16) completes a previously-issued command.

Abstract: A multi-media device interface (18) couples a multi-media device (1:6) to a portable electronic device (10). Multi-media and other information can be loaded into the portable electronic device (10) from the multi-media device (16) or stored in the multi-media device (16) from the portable electronic device (10). The multi-media device interface (18) queues commands to the multi-media device (16) from the portable electronic device (10) while the multi-media device (16) completes a previously-issued command.

Abstract: A method of communicating with a remote user. The method can include receiving a plurality of server requests from the remote user via a communications network. The plurality of server requests can be processed in a single user session without re-authenticating the user, and can include at least one server request that includes voice data and at least one server request that includes non-audio data. A portlet can be provided to process the voice data and the non-audio data server requests. Responsive to the server requests, data can be provided to the remote user via the communications network.

Abstract: A multi-media device interface (18) couples a multi-media device (16) to a portable electronic device (10). Multi-media and other information can be loaded into the portable electronic device (10) from the multi-media device (16) or stored in the multi-media device (16) from the portable electronic device (10). The multi-media device interface (18) queues commands to the multi-media device (16) from the portable electronic device (10) while the multi-media device (16) completes a previously-issued command.