Pedigrees for quantum cryptography
AssigneeBBNT Solutions LLC
InventorsGregory Troxel, David Pearson, Brig Elliott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system stores pedigrees that include details of how and when each of multiple blocks of encryption key material were distributed between two endpoints using quantum cryptographic techniques. The system receives an indication of a possible quantum cryptographic security violation and accesses the stored pedigrees to identify one or more of the multiple blocks of encryption key material that may have been compromised.
Claims23
A method, comprising:
- communicating a sequence of symbols using quantum cryptographic mechanisms between two nodes to derive a block of encryption key material;
- and
- constructing a pedigree that includes details of how and when the block of encryption key material was produced using the quantum cryptographic mechanisms.
A system, comprising:
- a quantum cryptographic transmitter configured to transmit a sequence of symbols using quantum cryptographic mechanisms to a node;
- a network interface configured to publicly discuss the transmitted sequence of symbols with the node to derive the block of encryption key material from the sequence of symbols;
- and
- a processing unit configured to construct a pedigree that includes details of how and when the block of encryption key material was produced using the quantum cryptographic mechanisms.
A method, comprising:
- communicating symbols using quantum cryptographic mechanisms between a first endpoint and a second endpoint;
- publicly discussing the symbols between the first endpoint and the second endpoint to obtain a block of encryption key material;
- noting parameters associated with the quantum cryptographic symbol transmission and/or the public discussion;
- and
- storing the noted parameters as a pedigree for the block of encryption key material.
A system, comprising:
- a quantum cryptographic receiver configured to receive symbols transmitted from a node using quantum cryptographic mechanisms;
- a network interface configured to publicly discuss the received symbols with the node to obtain a block of encryption key material;
- and
- a processing unit configured to:
- identify parameters associated with the symbol transmission and/or the public discussion, and
- store the identified parameters as a pedigree for the block of encryption key material.
A method, comprising:
- storing pedigrees that include details of how and when each of a plurality of blocks of encryption key material were distributed between two endpoints using quantum cryptographic techniques;
- receiving an indication of a possible quantum cryptographic security violation;
- and
- accessing the stored pedigrees to identify one or more of the plurality of blocks of encryption key material that may have been compromised.
The method of 17, wherein accessing the stored pedigrees to identify one or more encryption keys that may have been compromised further comprises:
- using the stored pedigrees to identify encryption material that may have been compromised by an eavesdropper.
A method, comprising:
- storing pedigrees that include details of how and when each of a plurality of blocks of encryption key material were produced using quantum cryptographic techniques;
- and
- using the stored pedigrees to ascertain the extent and/or nature of a possible security violation.
A system, comprising:
- a database configured to store pedigrees that include details of how and when each of a plurality of blocks of encryption key material were produced using quantum cryptographic techniques;
- a processing unit configured to:
- receive an indication of a possible quantum cryptographic security violation, and
- access the stored pedigrees to identify one or more encryption keys that may have been compromised.
A computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions, comprising:
- instructions for transmitting symbols using quantum cryptographic mechanisms via a quantum channel to a node;
- instructions for discussing the transmitted symbols with the node via a public channel to derive a block of encryption key material;
- and
- instructions for constructing a pedigree that includes details of how and when the block of encryption key material was produced using quantum cryptographic techniques.
A system, comprising:
- means for storing pedigrees that include details of how and when each of a plurality of blocks of encryption key material were produced using quantum cryptographic techniques;
- and
- means for using the stored pedigrees to ascertain the extent or nature of a possible security violation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.