Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks
Quantum-key-distribution (QKD) networks can provide absolutely secure keys for the entire communication system in theory. At present, the key-distribution rate is relatively low, and the key-distribution rate decreases exponentially as the distribution distance increases. The trusted-relay scheme co...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/11/3734 |
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| author | Xinying Li Yongli Zhao Avishek Nag Xiaosong Yu Jie Zhang |
| author_facet | Xinying Li Yongli Zhao Avishek Nag Xiaosong Yu Jie Zhang |
| author_sort | Xinying Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quantum-key-distribution (QKD) networks can provide absolutely secure keys for the entire communication system in theory. At present, the key-distribution rate is relatively low, and the key-distribution rate decreases exponentially as the distribution distance increases. The trusted-relay scheme commonly used in existing QKD networks achieves the purpose of extending the security distance by consuming additional keys. Since the channel is unreliable, the key-relay process will accumulate system errors to a certain extent, increasing the probability of key-relay failure. In some high-bit-error-rate network scenarios such as wireless networks and disaster environments, the channel-error rate is as high as 30–50%. And in these scenarios, there are usually a large number of confidential messages that need to be delivered. However, the key-management mechanism of the current QKD system does not consider the scenario of key-relay failure. If the key is not successfully relayed, all the keys participating in the relay process will be destroyed, including the key that has been successfully relayed before. This situation causes the key to be wasted and reduces the encryption capability of the system. In this paper, we proposed the quantum-key-recycling (QKR) mechanism to increase the number of keys available in the network and introduced a secure service grading mechanism to properly reuse the recycled keys. The QKR mechanism can be regarded as a key-management mechanism acting on the point-to-point QKD system, and the mechanism is designed for a classical channel to reuse the key resources. A post-processing method for recycled keys is proposed to improve the security of the keys. Simulation results show that the QKD network using the key-recycling strategy is about 20% higher in key-utilization rate than the traditional QKD network without the QKR mechanism, and about 10% higher in-service security coverage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d0d599731fd4f4dbfc61f062d7d31e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d0d599731fd4f4dbfc61f062d7d31e12023-11-20T01:59:45ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-05-011011373410.3390/app10113734Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution NetworksXinying Li0Yongli Zhao1Avishek Nag2Xiaosong Yu3Jie Zhang4State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaThe School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, 999015 Dublin, IrelandState Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaQuantum-key-distribution (QKD) networks can provide absolutely secure keys for the entire communication system in theory. At present, the key-distribution rate is relatively low, and the key-distribution rate decreases exponentially as the distribution distance increases. The trusted-relay scheme commonly used in existing QKD networks achieves the purpose of extending the security distance by consuming additional keys. Since the channel is unreliable, the key-relay process will accumulate system errors to a certain extent, increasing the probability of key-relay failure. In some high-bit-error-rate network scenarios such as wireless networks and disaster environments, the channel-error rate is as high as 30–50%. And in these scenarios, there are usually a large number of confidential messages that need to be delivered. However, the key-management mechanism of the current QKD system does not consider the scenario of key-relay failure. If the key is not successfully relayed, all the keys participating in the relay process will be destroyed, including the key that has been successfully relayed before. This situation causes the key to be wasted and reduces the encryption capability of the system. In this paper, we proposed the quantum-key-recycling (QKR) mechanism to increase the number of keys available in the network and introduced a secure service grading mechanism to properly reuse the recycled keys. The QKR mechanism can be regarded as a key-management mechanism acting on the point-to-point QKD system, and the mechanism is designed for a classical channel to reuse the key resources. A post-processing method for recycled keys is proposed to improve the security of the keys. Simulation results show that the QKD network using the key-recycling strategy is about 20% higher in key-utilization rate than the traditional QKD network without the QKR mechanism, and about 10% higher in-service security coverage.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/11/3734Quantum key distribution (QKD)quantum key recyclingservice security level |
| spellingShingle | Xinying Li Yongli Zhao Avishek Nag Xiaosong Yu Jie Zhang Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks Applied Sciences Quantum key distribution (QKD) quantum key recycling service security level |
| title | Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks |
| title_full | Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks |
| title_fullStr | Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks |
| title_short | Key-Recycling Strategies in Quantum-Key-Distribution Networks |
| title_sort | key recycling strategies in quantum key distribution networks |
| topic | Quantum key distribution (QKD) quantum key recycling service security level |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/11/3734 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xinyingli keyrecyclingstrategiesinquantumkeydistributionnetworks AT yonglizhao keyrecyclingstrategiesinquantumkeydistributionnetworks AT avisheknag keyrecyclingstrategiesinquantumkeydistributionnetworks AT xiaosongyu keyrecyclingstrategiesinquantumkeydistributionnetworks AT jiezhang keyrecyclingstrategiesinquantumkeydistributionnetworks |