# US 12,112,234 B2 · Low-latency, high-performance hybrid computing

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- Number: US 12,112,234 B2
- Document ID: US12112234B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/184,702
- Filed: 2021-02-25
- Published: 2021-11-18
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-30
- Assignees: Rigetti & Co, LLC
- Applicants: Rigetti & Co, LLC
- Inventors: Peter Jonathan Karalekas; Robert Stanley Smith; Eric Christopher Peterson; Nikolas Anton Tezak; Adam David Lynch; Christopher Butler Osborn; Steven Heidel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112234B2

## CPC

- G06N 10/40: Physical realisations or architectures of quantum processors or components for manipulating qubits, e.g. qubit coupling or qubit control
- G06N 10/80: Quantum programming, e.g. interfaces, languages or software-development kits for creating or handling programs capable of running on quantum computers; Platforms for simulating or accessing quantum computers, e.g. cloud-based quantum computing
- G06F 8/36: Software reuse
- G06F 9/45558: {Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects}
- G06N 10/00: Quantum computing, i.e. information processing based on quantum-mechanical phenomena
- G06N 10/60: Quantum algorithms, e.g. based on quantum optimisation, quantum Fourier or Hadamard transforms
- H04L 67/06: specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
- B82Y 10/00: Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
- G06F 2009/45595: {Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances}
- G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

In a general aspect, a computer system includes a low-latency communication link between a classical computer and a quantum computing resource. In some cases, a quantum machine image operates on a classical computer system. The quantum machine image includes a virtualized execution environment for quantum programs. The quantum machine image is engaged with a quantum processing unit of a quantum computing system. A quantum program is communicated over a low-latency communication pathway from the classical computer system to the quantum computer system. The quantum program is executed at the quantum computer system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer system comprising:
a quantum computer system comprising a quantum processing unit, the quantum processing unit comprising a qubit with a coherence time;
a classical computer system; and
a communication channel that provides a low-latency communication pathway from the classical computer system to the quantum computer system,
wherein the classical computer system comprises
one or more classical processing units; and
computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more classical processing units:
operate a quantum machine image on the classical computer system, the quantum machine image comprising a virtualized execution environment for quantum programs;
engage the quantum machine image with the quantum processing unit;
generate a binary program that is formatted to be updated with parameter values set at runtime;
communicate the binary program over the communication pathway from the classical computer system to the quantum computer system for execution by the quantum computer system; and
update, within a time period less than the coherence time, the parameter values during the execution of the binary program.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the quantum machine image is configured to execute a hybrid classical/quantum program, and executing the hybrid classical/quantum program comprises the quantum machine image:
using the one or more classical processing units to execute classical computing operations in the hybrid classical/quantum program; and
using the quantum processing unit as a co-processor to execute quantum computing operations in the hybrid classical/quantum program.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer system of claim 2, wherein executing the hybrid classical/quantum program comprises the quantum machine image executing an iterative process comprising, on each iteration:
receiving, over the low-latency communication pathway, quantum processor output data from a first set of quantum computing operations executed by the quantum processing unit;
using the one or more classical processing units to generate classical processor output data based on the quantum processor output data;
specifying a second set of quantum computing operations based on the classical processor output data; and
sending, over the low-latency communication pathway, the second set of quantum computing operations to the quantum computer system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer system of claim 3, wherein the iterative process comprises an optimization loop, and each iteration comprises determining whether an optimization condition has been met.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable media of the classical computer system store instructions that, when executed by the one ormore classical processing units, configures a compiler and an execution engine to target an instruction set architecture, an instrument rack and calibration specifications of the quantum processing unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein engaging the quantum machine image with the quantum processing unit comprises moving the quantum machine image froma storage server to the classical computer system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the classical computer system is co-located on premises with the quantum computer system, and the communication channel provides faster communication than a connection between the classical computer system and a remote computer system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable media of the classical computer system store instructions that, when executed by the one or more classical processors, operate a compiler on the classical computer system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable media of the classical computer system store instructions that, when executed by the one or more classical processors:
obtain parameter values for an execution of the binary program; and
generate an updated version of the binary program comprising the parameter values.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the quantum computer system comprises a control system comprising:
one or more classical processors; and
computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more classical processors of the quantum computer system:
obtain parameter values for an execution of the binary program; and
generate an updated version of the binary program comprising the parameter values.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, wherein the quantum computer system comprises a control system configured to operate the quantum processing unit based on instructions delivered to the quantum computer system fromthe classical computer system through the low-latency communication pathway.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer system of claim 11, wherein the control system is configured to perform an active reset process to initialize a quantum state of the quantum processing unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The computer system of claim 12, wherein the active reset process comprises:
obtaining measurement outcomes for respective qubits of the quantum processing unit; and
flipping only the subset of the qubits that are not in the ground state according to the measurement outcomes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The computer system of claim 1, comprising a user device located remotely from the classical computer system, wherein the quantum machine image is configured to operate on the classical computer system in response to instructions from the user device.

### Claim 15

A computing method comprising:
operating a quantum machine image on a classical computer system, the quantum machine image comprising a virtualized execution environment for quantum programs;
engaging the quantum machine image with a quantum processing unit of a quantum computer system, wherein the quantum processing unit comprises a qubit with a coherence time;
generating, by the classical computer system, a binary program that is formatted to be updated with parameter values set at runtime;
communicating the binary program over a low-latency communication pathway from the classical computer system to the quantum computer system;
executing the binary program at the quantum computer system; and
updating, by the classical computer system using the low-latency communication pathway, within a time period less than the coherence time, the parameter values during the execution of the binary program.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, comprising, by operation of a compiler on the classical computer system, generating the binary program.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the binary program is generated based on a quantum instruction language program.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, comprising, by operation of the classical computer system:
obtaining parameter values for an execution of the binary program; and
generating an updated version of the binary program comprising the parameter values.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the quantum machine image issues an instruction to generate the updated version of the binary program, the updated version of the binary program is sent to the quantum computer system over the low-latency communication pathway, and the time duration between (i) the instruction being issued by the quantum machine image and (ii) the updated version of the binary program affecting program execution by the quantum computer system is less than the coherence time.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, comprising performing an active reset process to initialize a quantum state of the quantum processing unit.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein performing the active reset process comprises:
obtaining measurement outcomes for respective qubits of the quantum processing unit; and
flipping only the subset of the qubits that are not in the ground state according to the measurement outcomes.