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A quantum key distribution routing scheme for hybrid-trusted QKD network system

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Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is an unconditionally secure technology that utilizes the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and the "one-time pad" encryption. However, the high construction cost of the current QKD network (QKDN) results in limited application. Therefore, this paper takes the low-cost semi-trusted quantum nodes into consideration for low-security requests. The hybrid-trusted QKDN (HT-QKDN) consists of trusted nodes and semi-trusted nodes. To ensure security, we propose an HT-QKDN routing scheme. The scheme uses multi-path transmission to distribute quantum keys in a predetermined proportion via both trusted and hybrid-trusted paths. The trusted path is composed entirely of trusted nodes, while trusted nodes and semi-trusted nodes coexist on the hybrid-trusted path. The multi-path routing problem is considered as a k Max–Min problem. First, the multiple candidate paths with the lowest cost designed between the source and destination nodes are selected by the improved Yen’s algorithm. Then, the optimal paths are selected from the candidate paths using the greedy algorithm by load balancing and key resource consumption. The simulation results show that the HT-QKDN is feasible, and the proposed routing scheme has superior performance.

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Data availability

The datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National key research and development program of China, Joint research of IoT security system and key technologies based on quantum key (Grant No. 2020YFE0200600).

Funding

This work was supported by National key research and development program of China, Joint research of IoT security system and key technologies based on quantum key (Grant No. 2020YFE0200600).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China

    Li-Quan Chen, Jing-Qi Chen & Qian-Ye Chen

  2. Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, 211111, China

    Li-Quan Chen

  3. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, 100876, China

    Yong-Li Zhao

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  1. Li-Quan Chen
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  2. Jing-Qi Chen
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by LQC and JQC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by JQC and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Li-Quan Chen.

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Chen, LQ., Chen, JQ., Chen, QY. et al. A quantum key distribution routing scheme for hybrid-trusted QKD network system. Quantum Inf Process 22, 75 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11128-022-03825-x

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