Quantum-Key-Distribution (QKD) Networks Enabled by Software-Defined Networks (SDN)

Applied Sciences

Hua Wang¹  Yongli Zhao¹  Avishek Nag² 

[1] State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China;The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 999015, Ireland;

关键词: quantum key distribution (QKD);    networks;    soft-defined networking (SDN);   

DOI  :  10.3390/app9102081

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

As an important support for quantum communication, quantum key distribution (QKD) networks have achieved a relatively mature level of development, and they face higher requirements for multi-user end-to-end networking capabilities. Thus, QKD networks need an effective management plane to control and coordinate with the QKD resources. As a promising technology, software defined networking (SDN) can separate the control and management of QKD networks from the actual forwarding of the quantum keys. This paper systematically introduces QKD networks enabled by SDN, by elaborating on its overall architecture, related interfaces, and protocols. Then, three-use cases are provided as important paradigms with their corresponding schemes and simulation performances.

【 授权许可】

Unknown