Method of establishing a quantum key for use between network nodes
US8681982B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0855
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of establishing a quantum key for use between a first network node (QNode1) and a second network node (QNode3) in a network for carrying out quantum cryptography includes a key agreement step carried out by a third node (QNode2) and the second node (QNode3) and a subsequent authentication step carried out by the first and second nodes directly. As the key agreement step does not involve QNode1, another key agreement step may be simultaneously performed by another pair of network nodes QNode4, QNode5 to agree a quantum key for use by network nodes QNode1 and QNode5. The invention allows respective quantum keys to be established between a network node and each of a set of other nodes more rapidly than is the case if each quantum key is established serially by key agreement and authentication steps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.