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IEEE Internet of Things Journal

Equilibrium Allocation Approaches of Quantum Key Resources With Security Levels in QKD-Enabled Optical Data Center Networks

Weike Ma, Bowen Chen, Ling Liu, Hong Chen, Weidong Shao, Mingyi Gao, Jinbing Wu, Pin‐Han Ho

Published Jul 29, 2022• 19 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this article, the network performance of equilibrium allocation of quantum key resources was investigated in quantum key distribution (QKD)-enabled optical data center networks. To effectively use quantum key resources, we propose three novel efficient load balancing routing, wavelength, and time-slot assignment (LB-RWTA) approaches, including LB-RWTA with flexible security level (LB-RWTA-FSL), LB-RWTA with specific security level (LB-RWTA-SSL), and LB-RWTA without security level (LB-RWTA-NSL). Particularly, the proposed LB-RWTA-FSL approach is uniquely featured by adaptive security level classification (ASLC) and load balancing (LB), aiming to demarcate the security level (SL) and reduce the overall network congestion. We introduce an existing routing, wavelength, and time-slot assignment (E-RWTA) approach without SL, called E-RWTA, for comparison. Simulation results show the effectiveness of our proposed approaches in terms of much higher quantum key resource efficiency and thus much higher network security performance than the state-of-the-art quantum key resource allocation approaches compared with the E-RWTA approach in QKD-enabled optical data center networks.

DOI
10.1109/jiot.2022.3195104

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In this article, the network performance of equilibrium allocation of quantum key resources was investigated in quantum key distribution (QKD)-enabled optical data center networks. To effectively use quantum key resources, we propose three novel efficient load balancing routing, wavelength, and time-slot assignment (LB-RWTA) approaches, including LB-RWTA with flexible security level (LB-RWTA-FSL), LB-RWTA with specific security level (LB-RWTA-SSL), and LB-RWTA without security level (LB-RWTA-NSL). Particularly, the proposed LB-RWTA-FSL approach is uniquely featured by adaptive security level classification (ASLC) and load balancing (LB), aiming to demarcate the security level (SL) and reduce the overall network congestion. We introduce an existing routing, wavelength, and time-slot assignment (E-RWTA) approach without SL, called E-RWTA, for comparison. Simulation results show the effectiveness of our proposed approaches in terms of much higher quantum key resource efficiency and thus much higher network security performance than the state-of-the-art quantum key resource allocation approaches compared with the E-RWTA approach in QKD-enabled optical data center networks.
With the rapid development of optical networks and the increasing amount of data transmission, information security has become a critical concern. Quantum key distribution can theoretically provide security for data encryption key distribution, and its integration into optical networks can enhance overall security. To reduce deployment costs, Wavelength Division Multiplexing is used to combine quantum and classical signals. However, limited wavelength resource necessitate the use of Time Division Multiplexing. How to efficiently allocate the multidimensional resources, such as wavelength, time slots, and encryption keys, has become a key issue in the design of secure optical networks. This paper proposes a Security-Level-based routing, wavelength, and time slot assignment strategy for optical networks. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, we introduce a new metric called Average Key Consumption. This metric allows us to assess key usage efficiency and network performance. We analyze the impact of different Average Key Consumption values on network resource allocation. Simulation results demonstrate that the Security-Level-based routing, wavelength, and time slot assignment strategy outperforms other strategies in handling high security demands.
In quantum key distribution (QKD)-secured optical networks, blocking increases with the number of QKD lightpath requests as well as with the number of times modification required to improve the security level of QKD lightpath requests. The blocking is severe problem in such networks because of the limited number of resources (wavelengths and time-slots) in each fiber link. In this paper, we propose a priority order-based routing wavelength and time-slot allocation (POB-RWTA) scheme to reduce the blocking of QKD lightpath requests. In the proposed POB-RWTA scheme, the QKD lightpath requests are served according to their priority order. The priority order of each QKD lightpath request is based on the security level. The blocking of high priority lightpath requests (HPLRs) and total incoming QKD lightpath requests due to limited resources can be reduced using the above criterion of priority order. The performance analysis of the proposed POB-RWTA scheme is made in terms of the success probability of QKD lightpath requests considering different wavelengths for QSCh and the probability of secret key update failure. We compared the proposed POB-RWTA scheme with a non-priority order-based routing wavelength and time-slot allocation (NPOB-RWTA) scheme. Simulations performed on NSFNET topology show that by using the POB-RWTA scheme, the success probability of HPLRs and total incoming QKD lightpath requests are significantly improved as compared to NPOB-RWTA.
Data transmission with optical fiber is vulnerable to eavesdropping. Moreover, conventional key distribution technology suffers from increasing computational power and upgraded attack algorithms. To address these issues, quantum key distribution (QKD), a quantum technology that secures secret information (such as a cryptographic key) exchange between two parties, can be used to guarantee secure data transmission. Integrating QKD into existing wavelength division multiplexing optical networks has been verified through a series of experiments, which contribute to ensuring network security and saving fiber resources. This paper addresses the resource assignment problem in QKD-enabled optical networks. First, a QKD-enabled optical network architecture is introduced. A small fraction of wavelength channels are segmented into multiple time slots with optical time division multiplexing technology to construct quantum key channels (QKChs) and measuring-basis channels, and then the remaining wavelengths can construct traditional data channels. Second, a static routing, wavelength, and time-slot assignment (RWTA) strategy is proposed and verified by the integer linear programming formulation and a heuristic algorithm. In the RWTA, QKChs are assigned for service requests according to the security levels specified by relevant key-updating periods. Thus, the secret keys for data encryption can update periodically to enhance security. Simulation results indicate that there is a trade-off between security (i.e., security levels and security-level types) and resource utilization.
Abstract Quantum key distribution (QKD) optical networks can provide more secure communications. However, with the increase of the QKD path requests and key updates, network blocking problems will become severe. The blocking problems in the network can become more severe because each fiber link has limited resources (such as wavelengths and time slots). In addition, QKD optical networks are also affected by external disturbances such as data interception and eavesdropping, resulting in inefficient network communication. In this paper, we exploit the idea of protection path to enhance the anti-interference ability of QKD optical network. By introducing the concept of security metric, we propose a routing wavelength and time slot allocation algorithm (RWTA) based on protection path, which can lessen the blocking problem of QKD optical network. According to simulation analysis, the security-metric-based RWTA algorithm (SM-RWTA) proposed in this paper can substantially improve the success rate of security key (SK) update and significantly reduce the blocking rate of the network. It can also improve the utilization rate of resources such as wavelengths and time slots. Compared with the non-security-metric-based RWTA algorithm (NSM-RWTA), our algorithm is robust and can enhance the anti-interference ability and security of QKD optical networks.
The demand for secure communication in the age of quantum technologies has driven progress in quantum key distribution (QKD) techniques for optical networks. This research addresses the issues of high blocking probabilities (BPs) and the proper utilization of quantum resources in varying network loads by introducing a novel heuristic approach, termed dynamic security-aware quantum resource allocation (D-SQRA), designed for dynamic resource allocation in QKD-enabled optical networks. We propose two D-SQRA algorithms to employ an adaptive resource assignment (RA) strategy that concurrently addresses routing, wavelength, and time-slot selection while dynamically modifying security levels according to the real-time network load and resource availability. We evaluate the proposed D-SQRA performance against two conventional methods, namely, fixed security quantum resource allocation (F-SQRA) and baseline quantum resource allocation (B-QRA). We discuss the results for NSFNET and UBN24 topologies for network security performance metrics such as network security performance (NSP), BP, quantum key utilization (QKU), and time-slot utilization. The results show that the proposed D-SQRA algorithms provide significant improvement with respect to conventional techniques in addressing proper resource utilization and management by reducing BPs of the new incoming connection requests.