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US 10,382,198 B2Granted
Device and method for supplying key to plurality of devices in quantum key distribution system
AssigneeId Quantique SA
InventorJeongwoon Choi
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Abstract
The present disclosure in some embodiments provides an apparatus and method for supplying quantum keys to multiple apparatuses in a quantum key distribution system. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus and method for supplying quantum keys enable Alice or Bob to deliver the quantum keys to the multiple transmitting apparatuses or receiving apparatuses, in real time without a delay.
Claims19
A transmitting apparatus of a quantum key distribution system, the transmitting apparatus comprising:
- a quantum key providing unit configured to
- receive a quantum key distribution request signal from an external transmitting apparatus, and
- transfer the quantum key distribution request signal to a quantum key storage unit;
- and
- the quantum key storage unit comprising a plurality of storage units and configured to
- irrespective of receiving the quantum key distribution request signal, generate quantum keys and store the quantum keys sequentially in the plurality of storage units, and
- in response to receiving the quantum key distribution request signal from the quantum key providing unit, supply a quantum key stored in one storage unit among the plurality of storage units and an identifier of the quantum key to the quantum key providing unit,
- wherein the quantum key providing unit is further configured to receive the quantum key and the identifier of the quantum key from the quantum key storage unit and provide the external transmitting apparatus with the quantum key and the identifier of the quantum key.
5 more elements
A receiving apparatus of a quantum key distribution system, the receiving apparatus comprising:
- a quantum key providing unit configured to
- receive, from an external receiving apparatus, an identifier of a quantum key having been provided by a transmitting apparatus of the quantum key distribution system to an external transmitting apparatus and finally to the external receiving apparatus, and a quantum key distribution request signal, and
- transfer the quantum key distribution request signal with the identifier of the quantum key to a quantum key storage unit;
- and
- the quantum key storage unit comprising a plurality of storage units and configured to
- irrespective of receiving the quantum key distribution request signal, generate quantum keys and store the quantum keys sequentially in the plurality of storage units, and
- in response to receiving the identifier of the quantum key and the quantum key distribution request signal from the quantum key providing unit, extract the quantum key corresponding to the identifier of the quantum key from one storage unit among the plurality of storage units, and supply an extracted quantum key to the quantum key providing unit,
- wherein the quantum key providing unit is further configured to receive the extracted quantum key from the quantum key storage unit and provide the external receiving apparatus with the extracted quantum key.
5 more elements
A method performed by a transmitting apparatus of a quantum key distribution system, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a quantum key providing unit, from an external transmitting apparatus, a quantum key distribution request signal for requesting a quantum key having been provided by the transmitting apparatus of the quantum key distribution system to the external transmitting apparatus;
- transferring, by the quantum key providing unit, the quantum key distribution request signal to a quantum key storage unit;
- irrespective of receiving the quantum key distribution request signal, generating, by the quantum key storage unit and storing the quantum keys sequentially in a plurality of storage units;
- upon receiving the quantum key distribution request signal from the quantum key providing unit, supplying, by the quantum key storage unit, a quantum key stored in one storage unit among the plurality of storage units and an identifier of the quantum key to the quantum key providing unit;
- and
- providing, by the quantum key providing unit, the external transmitting apparatus with the quantum key and the identifier of the quantum key.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.