# US 2023/0056683 A1 · Quantum Key Distribution Network Security Survivability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0056683 A1 - Document ID: US20230056683A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/940,083 - Filed: 2022-09-08 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-20 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Moshiur Rahman; William Trost; Daniel Solero - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056683A1 ## 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} - H04L 41/0668: by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure - H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play - H04L 43/0811: by checking connectivity - H04L 45/28: using route fault recovery - H04L 69/329: in the application layer [OSI layer 7] - H04L 41/0213: Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP] - H04L 41/0895: Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements - H04L 43/0823: Errors, e.g. transmission errors - H04L 43/20: the monitoring system or the monitored elements being virtualised, abstracted or software-defined entities, e.g. SDN or NFV - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Quantum key distribution network security survivability can be provided by receiving, at a software defined networking controller operating in a control layer of a network, a recommendation from a global analytics service operating in an application layer of the network, the recommendation for replacing a failed communication link in a quantum key distribution layer of the network, the failed communication link being detected by a quantum edge computing device operating in the quantum key distribution layer. The software defined networking controller can generate a command to cause a quantum key distribution resource to perform an action to mitigate impact from the failed communication link. The command can be sent to the quantum key distribution resource and the quantum key distribution resource can perform the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising detecting, at a quantum key distribution layer of a network, a failed communication link in the quantum key distribution layer of the network, wherein the quantum key distribution layer comprises a quantum key distribution resource, receiving, from a software defined networking controller operating in a control layer of the network and at the quantum key distribution resource, a command that causes the quantum key distribution resource to perform an action to mitigate impact from the failed communication link, wherein the software defined networking controller generates the command based on a recommendation from a global analytics service operating in an application layer of the network, wherein the recommendation recommends replacing the failed communication link, and performing, by the quantum key distribution resource, the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises a quantum edge computing device, and wherein a closed loop to enable mitigation of the impact from the failed communication link comprises the software defined networking controller, the quantum edge computing device, and the global analytics service. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the failed communication link comprises a communication link between a first quantum key distribution node and a second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises a quantum edge computing device, and wherein the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link comprises allocating a new communication link between the first quantum key distribution node and the second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises the first quantum key distribution node, and wherein the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link comprises rerouting traffic from the failed communication link to a new communication link between the first quantum key distribution node and the second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the new communication link comprises a satellite link. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the recommendation is generated by the global analytics service based on local analysis results generated by a quantum edge computing device, wherein the quantum edge computing device operates at an edge of the quantum key distribution layer of the network and accesses a data set describing failures and security status of quantum key distribution resources of the quantum key distribution layer of the network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a first direct interface between a quantum edge computing device and the software defined networking controller, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises the quantum edge computing device; and a second direct interface between the global analytics service and the software defined networking controller, wherein a closed loop to enable mitigation of the impact from the failed communication link comprises the software defined networking controller, the first direct interface, the quantum edge computing device, the second direct interface, and the global analytics service. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: detecting, at a quantum key distribution layer of a network, a failed communication link in the quantum key distribution layer of the network, wherein the quantum key distribution layer comprises a quantum key distribution resource; receiving, from a software defined networking controller operating in a control layer of the network and at the quantum key distribution resource, a command that causes the quantum key distribution resource to perform an action to mitigate impact from the failed communication link, wherein the software defined networking controller generates the command based on a recommendation from a global analytics service operating in an application layer of the network, wherein the recommendation recommends replacing the failed communication link; and performing, by the quantum key distribution resource, the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the failed communication link comprises a communication link between a first quantum key distribution node and a second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises a quantum edge computing device, and wherein the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link comprises allocating a new communication link between the first quantum key distribution node and the second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises the first quantum key distribution node, and wherein the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link comprises rerouting traffic from the failed communication link to a new communication link between the first quantum key distribution node and the second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the recommendation is generated by the global analytics service based on local analysis results generated by a quantum edge computing device, wherein the quantum edge computing device operates at an edge of the quantum key distribution layer of the network and accesses a data set describing failures and security status of quantum key distribution resources of the quantum key distribution layer of the network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein a closed loop to enable mitigation of the impact from the failed communication link comprises a quantum edge computing device, a first interface between the quantum edge computing device and the global analytics service, a second interface between the global analytics service and the software defined networking controller, and a third interface between the software defined networking controller and the quantum edge computing device, wherein the second interface comprises a first direct interface, and wherein the third interface comprises a second direct interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the recommendation is generated by the global analytics service based on local analysis results generated by a quantum edge computing device, wherein the quantum edge computing device operates at an edge of the quantum key distribution layer of the network and accesses a data set describing failures and security status of quantum key distribution resources of the quantum key distribution layer of the network. ### Claim 16 A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: detecting, at a quantum key distribution layer of a network, a failed communication link in the quantum key distribution layer of the network, wherein the quantum key distribution layer comprises a quantum key distribution resource; receiving, from a software defined networking controller operating in a control layer of the network and at the quantum key distribution resource, a command that causes the quantum key distribution resource to perform an action to mitigate impact from the failed communication link, wherein the software defined networking controller generates the command based on a recommendation from a global analytics service operating in an application layer of the network, wherein the recommendation recommends replacing the failed communication link; and performing, by the quantum key distribution resource, the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises a quantum edge computing device, and wherein a closed loop to enable mitigation of the impact from the failed communication link comprises the software defined networking controller, the quantum edge computing device, and the global analytics service. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the failed communication link comprises a communication link between a first quantum key distribution node and a second quantum key distribution node, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises a quantum edge computing device, and wherein the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link comprises allocating a new communication link between the first quantum key distribution node and the second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the failed communication link comprises a communication link between a first quantum key distribution node and a second quantum key distribution node, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises the first quantum key distribution node, and wherein the action to mitigate the impact from the failed communication link comprises rerouting traffic from the failed communication link to a new communication link between the first quantum key distribution node and the second quantum key distribution node. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the quantum key distribution resource comprises a quantum edge computing device, and wherein a closed loop to enable mitigation of the impact from the failed communication link comprises the quantum edge computing device, a first interface between the quantum edge computing device and the global analytics service, a second interface between the global analytics service and the software defined networking controller, and a third interface between the software defined networking controller and the quantum edge computing device, wherein the second interface comprises a first direct interface, and wherein the third interface comprises a second direct interface.