Quantum Key Distribution Flow Control for Secure Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Quantum key distribution systems face challenges in managing finite resources effectively due to fluctuations in key generation rates and unpredictable data communication frequencies, leading to potential cryptographic key exhaustion or storage limitations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing traffic control mechanisms such as the token bucket and leaky bucket methods to manage cryptographic keys as tokens, allowing for operations like data destruction, holding, or marking when keys are scarce, ensuring secure communication by optimizing key usage and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quantum key distribution is used to generate cryptographic keys, then security of data communication is improved, but key generation rate fluctuation causes resource exhaustion or storage limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing generated cryptographic keys in advance before they are needed for data encryption. The key storage unit holds keys temporarily, allowing the system to prepare cryptographic resources ahead of time when keys are generated at higher rates, so that keys are available when data transmission occurs even if generation rate fluctuates later
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary key management system consisting of key storage unit and control unit that mediates between the quantum key distribution system and data communication processes. This intermediary layer buffers the fluctuation in key generation rates by storing excess keys and releasing them when needed, decoupling the key generation process from the data encryption process
2Adaptability or versatility
If cryptographic keys are stored for future use, then communication flexibility is improved, but memory resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts key storage and usage based on real-time conditions. The control unit monitors key generation rates, data transmission rates, and storage capacity, continuously optimizing the balance between storing keys for future flexibility and releasing keys to free memory resources. This dynamic management allows the system to adapt to varying communication demands without fixed resource allocation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as key storage duration, storage capacity thresholds, and key release timing based on system conditions. When storage capacity approaches limits, the system adjusts by releasing older keys or reducing storage duration. When generation rates are high, it increases storage duration to capture more keys. These parameter adjustments optimize the balance between communication flexibility and memory resource consumption
3Reliability
If data is held when cryptographic key is not provided, then data security is maintained, but communication delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and storing cryptographic keys before data arrives that would require encryption. When data needs encryption, the control unit checks whether suitable keys are already stored and ready, avoiding delays caused by waiting for key generation. This preliminary key preparation reduces communication delays while maintaining security requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device includes a providing unit, a flow control unit, and a cryptography processing unit. The providing unit provides a cryptographic key generated using quantum key distribution technology. The flow control unit, if the cryptographic key has not been provided at time of reception of target data for cryptography processing, performs, with respect to the received data, an operation selected from among a first operation of destroying the data, a second operation of holding the data, and a third operation of attaching, to the data, information indicating that the cryptographic key has not been provided, and then outputting the data. The cryptography processing unit, with respect to data output from the flow control unit, performs the cryptography processing using the cryptographic key.