Anticipatory Quantum Key Distribution Network Controller
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In quantum key distribution networks, keystore overflow or emptiness issues due to mismatched quantum key generation rates and communication network loads lead to inefficiencies, such as key abandonment or data delays, which are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method where a QKDN controller anticipatorily determines a third QKD node with a suitable keystore level to receive quantum keys from a paired node, ensuring balanced distribution and preventing overflow or emptiness by proactively transmitting keys, even if the receiving node is not directly linked, using established quantum key relations for secure and efficient transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quantum keys are generated at a steady rate independent of payload data occurrence, then quantum key generation reliability is improved, but keystore overflow or emptiness occurs leading to key abandonment or data delays
Solution Approach 1:
The QKDN controller performs anticipatory determination of third QKD nodes and proactively transmits quantum keys before keystores overflow or run empty. By monitoring keystore filling levels and predicting future key distribution needs, the system takes preliminary actions to balance key distribution across the network, preventing both overflow (which causes key abandonment) and emptiness (which causes data delays), thus resolving the contradiction between reliable key generation and network efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the QKDN controller continuously monitors the filling levels of keystores at various QKD nodes. Based on this feedback information, the controller dynamically adjusts key transmission decisions, determining which third QKD nodes should receive additional quantum keys to maintain balanced keystore levels across the network, thereby preventing efficiency losses while maintaining reliable key generation
2Productivity
If quantum keys are transmitted to third QKD nodes anticipatorily, then network efficiency is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The QKDN controller serves as an intermediary that centralizes the complexity of anticipatory key distribution. Instead of individual QKD nodes making complex decisions about key transmission, the controller monitors all keystore levels and determines optimal transmission targets, simplifying the operational complexity for individual nodes while achieving efficient network-wide key distribution through centralized coordination
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method for operating a quantum key distribution network, QKDN, wherein a first quantum key distribution, QKD, node of a QKDN and a second QKD node of the QKDN cooperatively generate a quantum key, the first QKD node and the second QKD node being directly linked to each other; the first QKD node stores a generated quantum key in a keystore of the first QKD node; and the second QKD node stores the generated quantum key in a keystore of the second QKD node, the stored quantum key establishing a primary quantum key relation of the first QKD node and the second QKD node; a QKDN controller of the QKDN determines a third QKD node of the QKDN and instructs the second QKD node to transmit the generated quantum key to the determined third QKD node; the second QKD node, upon the instruction of the QKDN controller, transmits the generated quantum key to the determined third QKD node; the determined third QKD node stores the transmitted quantum key in a keystore of the determined third QKD node, the stored quantum key establishing a secondary quantum key relation of the first QKD node and the determined third QKD node; a QKD node, a QKDN controller, a QKDN network and a computer program product.