Li-fi payment network with quantum key distribution channels
Apparatus and methods for a quantum-key secured li-fi payment network with quantum key distribution channels are provided. A customer's device may communicate, directly or through intermediate devices and computer systems, over a li-fi network with a point-of-sale terminal through two or more channels. One channel may be a standard li-fi channel. The standard li-fi channel may be secured. The second channel may be a quantum key distribution channel. A bill may be transmitted to the customer's device over the li-fi network. The customer may select an option to pay the bill. The selection, along with information to authorize and process the payment, may be transmitted over the li-fi network to the POS terminal. The POS terminal may process the payment and generate a receipt. The receipt may be transmitted to the customer's device over the li-fi network.
1 . An apparatus for a quantum-key secured li-fi payment network, the apparatus comprising:
a li-fi equipped point-of-sale terminal (“POS”) including:
a POS operating system;
a quantum-key secured li-fi payment network application;
one or more POS li-fi transmitters;
one or more POS li-fi receivers;
a quantum receiver;
a li-fi network including:
one or more li-fi routers; and
one or more li-fi switches;
one or more li-fi equipped customer devices, each including:
a customer device operating system;
the quantum-key secured li-fi payment network application;
one or more customer device li-fi transmitters;
one or more customer device li-fi receivers; and
a quantum transmitter; and
one or more central hubs, each central hub including:
a central hub operating system;
the quantum-key secured li-fi payment network application;
one or more central hub li-fi transmitters;
one or more central hub li-fi receivers;
a central hub communication link;
a quantum transmitter; and
a quantum receiver;
wherein:
when a customer, through one of the one or more customer devices, transmits a bill request over the li-fi network to one of the one or more central hubs:
a quantum key distribution channel is created by and between the customer device, the one or more central hubs, and the POS;
a quantum key unique to the one of the one or more customer devices is transmitted by the customer device over the quantum key distribution channel;
the one of the one or more central hubs transmits the bill request to the POS;
the POS terminal generates a bill, encrypted with the quantum key, specific to the customer, and transmits the bill to the one of the one or more central hubs;
the one of the one or more central hubs determines a route over the li-fi network, wherein the route is determined through one or more artificial intelligence/machine learning (“AI/ML”) algorithms;
the one of the one or more central hubs transmits the bill to the customer device over the route;
the customer's device receives the bill; and
the li-fi payment application presents, on the customer's device, one or more selectable options to pay the bill; and
when the customer selects one of the one or more selectable options:
the customer's device transmits the selection to one of the one or more central hubs over the li-fi network;
the one of the one or more central hubs transmits the selection to the POS terminal over the li-fi network;
the one of the one or more central hubs pays the bill as instructed by the selection;
the POS terminal marks the bill as paid;
the POS terminal generates a receipt;
the POS terminal transmits the receipt to the one of the one or more central hubs over the li-fi network; and
the one of the one or more central hubs transmits the receipt to the customer's device over the li-fi network.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the li-fi network further includes two or more zones and each zone includes:
one of the one or more li-fi routers;
one of the one or more li-fi switches;
one of the one or more central hubs; and
one or more of the one or more li-fi equipped customer devices.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more central hubs is bypassed.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the one or more li-fi equipped customer devices acts as one of the one or more central hubs.