Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130083925 | POLARIZATION TRACKING SYSTEM FOR FREE-SPACE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING QUANTUM COMMUNICATION - Quantum communication transmitters include beacon lasers that transmit a beacon optical signal in a predetermined state of polarization such as one of the states of polarization of a quantum communication basis. Changes in the beacon polarization are detected at a receiver, and a retarder is adjusted so that the states of polarization in a received quantum communication optical signal are matched to basis polarizations. The beacon and QC signals can be at different wavelengths so that the beacon does not interfere with detection and decoding of the QC optical signal. | 04-04-2013 |
20130083926 | QUANTUM KEY MANAGEMENT - Innovations for quantum key management harness quantum communications to form a cryptography system within a public key infrastructure framework. In example implementations, the quantum key management innovations combine quantum key distribution and a quantum identification protocol with a Merkle signature scheme (using Winternitz one-time digital signatures or other one-time digital signatures, and Merkle hash trees) to constitute a cryptography system. More generally, the quantum key management innovations combine quantum key distribution and a quantum identification protocol with a hash-based signature scheme. This provides a secure way to identify, authenticate, verify, and exchange secret cryptographic keys. Features of the quantum key management innovations further include secure enrollment of users with a registration authority, as well as credential checking and revocation with a certificate authority, where the registration authority and/or certificate authority can be part of the same system as a trusted authority for quantum key distribution. | 04-04-2013 |
20130084079 | GREAT CIRCLE SOLUTION TO POLARIZATION-BASED QUANTUM COMMUNICATION (QC) IN OPTICAL FIBER - Birefringence in optical fibers is compensated by applying polarization modulation at a receiver. Polarization modulation is applied so that a transmitted optical signal has states of polarization (SOPs) that are equally spaced on the Poincaré sphere. Fiber birefringence encountered in propagation between a transmitter and a receiver rotates the great circle on the Poincaré sphere that represents the polarization bases used for modulation. By adjusting received polarizations, polarization components of the received optical signal can be directed to corresponding detectors for decoding, regardless of the magnitude and orientation of the fiber birefringence. A transmitter can be configured to transmit in conjugate polarization bases whose SOPs can be represented as equidistant points on a great circle so that the received SOPs are mapped to equidistant points on a great circle and routed to corresponding detectors. | 04-04-2013 |
20130101119 | QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION USING CARD, BASE STATION AND TRUSTED AUTHORITY - Techniques and tools for quantum key distribution (“QKD”) between a quantum communication (“QC”) card, base station and trusted authority are described herein. In example implementations, a QC card contains a miniaturized QC transmitter and couples with a base station. The base station provides a network connection with the trusted authority and can also provide electric power to the QC card. When coupled to the base station, after authentication by the trusted authority, the QC card acquires keys through QKD with a trusted authority. The keys can be used to set up secure communication, for authentication, for access control, or for other purposes. The QC card can be implemented as part of a smart phone or other mobile computing device, or the QC card can be used as a fillgun for distribution of the keys. | 04-25-2013 |
20130101121 | SECURE MULTI-PARTY COMMUNICATION WITH QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION MANAGED BY TRUSTED AUTHORITY - Techniques and tools for implementing protocols for secure multi-party communication after quantum key distribution (“QKD”) are described herein. In example implementations, a trusted authority facilitates secure communication between multiple user devices. The trusted authority distributes different quantum keys by QKD under trust relationships with different users. The trusted authority determines combination keys using the quantum keys and makes the combination keys available for distribution (e.g., for non-secret distribution over a public channel). The combination keys facilitate secure communication between two user devices even in the absence of QKD between the two user devices. With the protocols, benefits of QKD are extended to multi-party communication scenarios. In addition, the protocols can retain benefit of QKD even when a trusted authority is offline or a large group seeks to establish secure communication within the group. | 04-25-2013 |
20130272524 | SECURE MULTI-PARTY COMMUNICATION WITH QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION MANAGED BY TRUSTED AUTHORITY - Techniques and tools for implementing protocols for secure multi-party communication after quantum key distribution (“QKD”) are described herein. In example implementations, a trusted authority facilitates secure communication between multiple user devices. The trusted authority distributes different quantum keys by QKD under trust relationships with different users. The trusted authority determines combination keys using the quantum keys and makes the combination keys available for distribution (e.g., for non-secret distribution over a public channel). The combination keys facilitate secure communication between two user devices even in the absence of QKD between the two user devices. With the protocols, benefits of QKD are extended to multi-party communication scenarios. In addition, the protocols can retain benefit of QKD even when a trusted authority is offline or a large group seeks to establish secure communication within the group. | 10-17-2013 |
20140098955 | QUANTUM ENABLED SECURITY FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS - The present invention provides a quantum-enabled security (QES) protocol which creates a revolutionary new cybersecurity capability: quantum (single-photon) communications are integrated with optical communications to provide a strong, innate security foundation at the photonic layer for optical fiber networks or free-space optical communications. The new protocols will also allow the formation of ad hoc coalitions of users in order to deliver quantum-enabled security users between users who may not have direct quantum communications. | 04-10-2014 |
20150188701 | SCALABLE SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEY MANAGEMENT - A protocol processor for exchange of messages in a quantum cryptographic system includes a common database for message parameter storage. Message exchanges between user stations are based on parameters extracted from messages and stored, and subsequently retrieved and inserted into new messages. | 07-02-2015 |