Quantum cryptography apparatus
US8855316B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0852
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The method involves exchange of a quantum signal between a first quantum node and a second quantum node as is usual in known quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme. The first quantum node communicates details of the quantum signal it sent or received with a first remote node. The first remote node thus has all the information to required to take the place of the first quantum node in the key agreement step with the second quantum node. The first quantum node may be arranged to transmit the quantum signal to the second quantum node, in which case the invention provides a distributed quantum transmitter with the control logic in the first remote node being distributed remotely from the actual quantum transmitter in the first quantum node. Communications between the first remote node and first quantum node may comprise or be protected by a quantum key derived by conventional QKD.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.