# US 12,289,402 B2 · Quantum key distribution enabled intra-datacenter network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,289,402 B2 - Document ID: US12289402B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/400,647 - Filed: 2023-12-29 - Published: 2024-06-27 - Granted: 2025-04-29 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-28 - Assignees: Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. - Applicants: Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. - Inventors: Elad Mentovich; Ioannis (Giannis) Patronas; Paraskevas Bakopoulos; Ahmad Atamlh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12289402B2 ## CPC - H04L 9/0852: {Quantum cryptography (transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light, infrared H04B10/00; wavelength-division multiplex systems H04J14/02; WDM arrangements H04J14/03)} - H04L 9/0855: {involving additional nodes, e.g. quantum relays, repeaters, intermediate nodes or remote nodes} - H04B 10/70: Photonic quantum communication - H04B 10/85: Protection from unauthorised access, e.g. eavesdrop protection - H04Q 11/0071: {Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface} - H04Q 2213/13056: Routines, finite state machines - H04Q 2213/13339: Ciphering, encryption, security - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract Embodiments are disclosed for a quantum key distribution (QKD) enabled intra-datacenter network. An example system includes a first QKD device and a second QKD device. The first QKD device includes a first quantum-enabled port and a first network port. The second QKD device includes a second quantum-enabled port and a second network port. The first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD device via a QKD link associated with quantum communication. Furthermore, the first network port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to a first network switch via a first classical link associated with classical network communication. The second network port of the second QKD device is communicatively coupled to a second network switch via a second classical link associated with classical network communication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a first quantum key distribution (QKD) device that comprises a first quantum-enabled port and a first network port; a second QKD device that comprises a second quantum-enabled port and a second network port; and a third QKD device that comprises a third quantum-enabled port and a third network port, wherein the first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD device via a QKD link associated with quantum communication, wherein the first network port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to a first network switch via a first classical link associated with classical network communication, and wherein the second network port of the second QKD device is communicatively coupled to a second network switch via a second classical link associated with classical network communication, wherein the QKD link comprises a first QKD link and a second QKD link, wherein the first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to an optical switch via the first QKD link, and wherein the optical switch is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD device via the second QKD link, wherein the third quantum-enabled port of the third QKD device is communicatively coupled to the optical switch via a third QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth QKD device that comprises a fourth quantum-enabled port and a fourth network port, wherein the fourth quantum-enabled port of the fourth QKD device is communicatively coupled to the optical switch via a fourth QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a third QKD device that comprises a third quantum-enabled port and a third network port, wherein the third quantum-enabled port of the third QKD device is communicatively coupled to the first QKD device via a third QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising a fourth QKD device that comprises a fourth quantum-enabled port and a fourth network port, wherein the fourth quantum-enabled port of the fourth QKD device is communicatively coupled to the second QKD device via a fourth QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first QKD device is a first QKD-enabled top of rack (ToR) switch, and wherein the second QKD device is a second QKD-enabled ToR switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first QKD device is a first QKD-enabled end of rack (EoR) switch, and wherein the second QKD device is a second QKD-enabled EoR switch. ### Claim 7 A system, comprising: a first quantum key distribution (QKD) switch that comprises a first quantum-enabled port; a second QKD switch that comprises a second quantum-enabled port, wherein the first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD switch is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD switch via a QKD link associated with quantum communication, wherein the first QKD switch comprises first QKD hardware and the second QKD switch comprises second QKD hardware configured to facilitate the quantum communication via the QKD link; and a third QKD switch that comprises a third quantum-enabled port, wherein the QKD link comprises a first QKD link and a second QKD link, wherein the first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD switch is communicatively coupled to an optical switch via the first QKD link, and wherein the optical switch is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD switch via the second QKD link, wherein the third quantum-enabled port of the third QKD switch is communicatively coupled to the optical switch via a third QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, further comprising a fourth QKD switch that comprises a fourth quantum-enabled port, wherein the fourth quantum-enabled port of the fourth QKD switch is communicatively coupled to the optical switch via a fourth QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, further comprising a third QKD switch that comprises a third quantum-enabled port, wherein the third quantum-enabled port of the third QKD switch is communicatively coupled to the first QKD switch via a third QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a fourth QKD switch that comprises a fourth quantum-enabled port, wherein the fourth quantum-enabled port of the fourth QKD switch is communicatively coupled to the second QKD switch via a fourth QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the first QKD switch is a first QKD-enabled top of rack (ToR) switch, and wherein the second QKD switch is a second QKD-enabled ToR switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the first QKD switch is a first QKD-enabled end of rack (EoR) switch, and wherein the second QKD switch is a second QKD-enabled EoR switch. ### Claim 13 A system comprising: a first quantum key distribution (QKD) device that comprises a first quantum-enabled port; a second QKD device that comprises a second quantum-enabled port, wherein the first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD device via a QKD link associated with quantum communication; a third QKD device that comprises a third quantum-enabled port and a third network port; and a network switch communicatively coupled to the first QKD device via a classical link associated with classical network communication, wherein the first QKD device is configured to manage a QKD protocol for the quantum communication, and wherein the network switch is configured to manage the classical network communication, wherein the QKD link comprises a first QKD link and a second QKD link, wherein the first quantum-enabled port of the first QKD device is communicatively coupled to a first optical switch via the first QKD link, and wherein the first optical switch is communicatively coupled to the second quantum-enabled port of the second QKD device via the second QKD link, wherein the third quantum-enabled port of the third QKD device is communicatively coupled to the optical switch via a third QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a fourth QKD device that comprises a fourth quantum-enabled port and a fourth network port, wherein the fourth quantum-enabled port of the fourth QKD device is communicatively coupled to the first optical switch via a fourth QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a third QKD device that comprises a third quantum-enabled port and a third network port, wherein the third quantum-enabled port of the third QKD device is communicatively coupled to the first QKD device via a third QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a fourth QKD device that comprises a fourth quantum-enabled port and a fourth network port, wherein the fourth quantum-enabled port of the fourth QKD device is communicatively coupled to the second QKD device via a fourth QKD link associated with quantum communication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the network switch is a first network switch, wherein the classical link is a first classical link, and wherein the system further comprises: a second network switch communicatively coupled to the second QKD device via a second classical link associated with classical network communication.