Quantum key distribution using card, base station and trusted authority

A computing system comprising:

• a quantum communication module adapted to transmit or receive information in a quantum channel as part of quantum communication with a quantum communication device that is detachably coupled to a base station in communication with a trusted authority over a network, the base station and the quantum communication device being separate devices;
• a network transceiver adapted to transmit and receive information in a public channel;
• programmable logic configured to implement the trusted authority by performing operations that comprise:
• receiving an encrypted message in the public channel from the quantum communication device detachably coupled to the base station;
• authenticating a user of the quantum communication device based at least in part upon decryption of the encrypted message received in the public channel;
• producing one or more keys based at least in part on the quantum communication with the quantum communication device detachably coupled to the base station;
• and
• storing the one or more keys in association with the user of the quantum communication device;
• and
• memory for storing the one or more keys.

A method comprising:

• coupling a quantum communication device to a base station for quantum communication between the quantum communication device and a trusted authority over a network between the base station and trusted authority;
• producing one or more keys based at least in part upon the quantum communication and based at least in part upon non-quantum communication with the trusted authority;
• and
• decoupling the quantum communication device from the base station.

The method of 21 wherein the quantum communication device includes:

• a connector adapted to couple and decouple with the base station;
• one or more integrated optics modules adapted to transmit or receive the information in a quantum channel as part of the quantum communication through the base station, the one or more integrated optics modules being optically coupled to the connector;
• and
• memory for storing the one or more keys.

A method comprising, with a computing system that implements a trusted authority:

• establishing quantum communication with a quantum communication device through a base station in communication with the trusted authority over a network, the quantum communication device being detachably coupled to the base station, wherein the base station and the quantum communication device are separate devices;
• as part of the quantum communication with the quantum communication device detachably coupled to the base station, receiving or transmitting information encoded in quantum states;
• and
• producing one or more keys based at least in part upon the quantum communication and based at least in part upon non-quantum communication with the quantum communication device.

A method comprising:

• with a first device in non-quantum communication with a second device, communicating in a public channel over optical fiber, wherein the first device is a quantum communication device detachably coupled to a base station in communication with the second device over a network that includes the optical fiber, wherein the base station and the quantum communication device are separate devices, and wherein the second device is a computing system that implements a trusted authority;
• with the first device in quantum communication with the second device, communicating in a quantum channel over the optical fiber, the information in the quantum channel being encoded in quantum states;
• and
• storing one or more keys that result from the communication in the quantum channel and at least some of the communication in the public channel.