Methods and systems for performing secure transactions

A system comprising:

• a remote quantum terminal configured for:
• generating random numbers;
• storing the random numbers;
• and
• transmitting the random numbers to a local quantum terminal via a quantum channel that uses a perfect cipher or a quasi-perfect cipher and a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol for encoding the random numbers as quantum information;
• the local quantum terminal configured for:
• receiving the quantum information from the remote quantum terminal via the quantum channel;
• determining the random numbers based on the quantum information received from the remote quantum terminal;
• and
• transmitting the random numbers to a secure smart card via a non-quantum channel;
• and
• the secure smart card configured for:
• receiving the random numbers from the local quantum terminal via the non-quantum channel;
• storing the random numbers;
• and
• performing a secure transaction between the secure smart card and the remote quantum terminal using at least a portion of the random numbers stored at the secure smart card and at least a portion of the random numbers stored at the remote quantum terminal, wherein the at least a portion of the random numbers is used as an encryption key for encrypting the transaction.

A remote quantum terminal comprising:

• a random number generator for generating random numbers, wherein generating random numbers includes using the QKD protocol to produce a shared random secret key which can be used to encrypt and decrypt messages;
• a memory for storing the random numbers;
• and
• a quantum channel interface for transmitting the random numbers to a local quantum terminal via a quantum channel that uses a perfect cipher or a quasi-perfect cipher and a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol for encoding the random numbers as quantum information.

A local quantum terminal comprising:

• a quantum channel interface for receiving quantum information from the remote quantum terminal via the quantum channel;
• a processor for determining random numbers based on the quantum information received from the remote quantum terminal;
• and
• a non-quantum channel interface for transmitting the random numbers to a secure smart card via a non-quantum channel.

A secure smart card comprising:

• a non-quantum channel interface for receiving random numbers from a local quantum terminal via a non-quantum channel, wherein the random numbers are also stored in a memory of a remote quantum terminal;
• a memory for storing the random numbers;
• and
• a processor for performing a secure transaction between the secure smart card and the remote quantum terminal using at least a portion of the random numbers stored at the secure smart card and at least a portion of the random numbers stored at the remote quantum terminal, wherein the portion of the random numbers is used as an encryption key for encrypting the transaction.