Qkd switching system
Номер патента: EP4285540A1
Опубликовано: 06-12-2023
Автор(ы): Daryl BURNS, David Williams
Принадлежит: Arqit Ltd
Опубликовано: 06-12-2023
Автор(ы): Daryl BURNS, David Williams
Принадлежит: Arqit Ltd
Реферат: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for quantum key distributed (QKD) linking apparatus and system for use with at least two end point devices for linking said endpoint devices in a QKD network. The QKD linking apparatus including a plurality of QKD links, each QKD link having a communication medium comprising a quantum channel and a classical channel, wherein each endpoint is assigned a QKD link connecting said each endpoint to the QKD linking apparatus, a quantum transmission component comprising a plurality of quantum transmitters, each quantum transmitter configured for transmitting quantum transmissions over a quantum channel of one of the QKD links, a classical transceiver component comprising a plurality of classical transceivers, each classical transceiver configured for transmitting classical data over a classical channel of one of the QKD links and configured for receiving classical data over the classical channel of said one of the QKD links; and a controller connected to the quantum transmission component and the classical transceiver component, the controller configured to: route or switch data generated for quantum transmission to an endpoint via a quantum transmitter assigned to the endpoint over a quantum channel of the QKD link of the endpoint; route or switch classical data for classical transmission to an endpoint via a classical transceiver assigned to the endpoint over a classical channel of the QKD link of the endpoint; and route or switch classical data received by a classical transceiver over the classical channel of the QKD link of an endpoint as required. The controller may be configured to perform any QKD protocol for exchanging keys between endpoints and switch/route data flows between the QKD linking apparatus and/or one or more endpoints via the quantum and classical channels of the QKD links. Thereafter, the controller may be configured to enable secure communications between the endpoints via the classical channels of the QKD links of the endpoints.
Qkd switching system
Номер патента: WO2022162381A1. Автор: David Williams,Daryl BURNS,Andrew Yeomans. Владелец: Arqit Limited. Дата публикации: 2022-08-04.