Electronic transaction system and a transaction terminal adapted for such a system

A system for performing electronic transaction comprising:

• a payment terminal including:
• a human interface module comprising a keypad, a display, a card reader, a first processor, and an internal bus connecting the keypad, the display, and the card reader;
• and
• a host terminal, connected to the human interface module through a first connection comprising:
• a second processor, a first memory, a power supply, and a first security module,
• wherein the first security module comprises a transaction terminal task manager and a second memory comprising a first cipher key and first identification data,
• wherein the first connection is established using the first cipher key and the first identification data;
• and
• a gateway or a remote server of a service provider, connected to the host terminal through a second connection over a telecommunications network, comprising a virtual terminal server, at least one communications interface and a second security module comprising a third memory, a second cipher key and second identification data, wherein the second connection is established using the second cipher key and the second identification data,
• wherein the human interface module receives a transaction request initiated using at least one selected from a group consisting of the keypad, the display, and the card reader, and wherein the human interface module transmits the transaction request to the first security module
• wherein the first security module processes the transaction request received by the human interface module and, using the transaction terminal task manager, schedules the execution of the transaction request as a plurality of transaction phases,
• wherein the human interface module executes, totally autonomously from the host terminal, one or more of the plurality of transaction phases, as scheduled by the first security module,
• wherein non-sensitive data is stored on the host terminal and sensitive data is stored on the gateway or remote server, and wherein the non-sensitive and sensitive data pertains to the plurality of transaction phases, and
• wherein the host terminal communicates with the gateway or remote server to receive data stored on the gateway or remote server, in connection with the transaction request.