Title: Quantum key management

Abstract

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.

Inventors:

Hughes, Richard John; Thrasher, James Thomas; Nordholt, Jane Elizabeth

Issue Date:

2016-11-29

Research Org.:

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1333682

Patent Number(s):

9509506

Application Number:

13/599,816

Assignee:

LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H04 - ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE H04L - TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

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H - ELECTRICITY H04 - ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE H04L - TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION

H04L9/0852 - {Quantum cryptography
H04L9/08 - Key distribution {or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords
H04L9/321 - {involving a third party or a trusted authority}
H04L9/3247 - {involving digital signatures}

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F21/31 - User authentication

H - ELECTRICITY H04 - ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE H04L - TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION

H04L9/0836 - {using tree structure or hierarchical structure}

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2012 Aug 30

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS