To address the service blocking caused by imbalanced key resource distribution in quantum networks, this paper proposes a dynamic multidimensional key-aware routing (DMKAR) algorithm and further proposes a key-aware joint wavelength and routing resource allocation (KAJWR) algorithm based on the DMKAR algorithm. By implementing key-aware routing selection and key-aware wavelength allocation, we effectively ensure balanced utilization and generation of quantum key resources. Simulations show DMKAR reduces the service blocking rate by 49.9% versus traditional routing algorithms. Notably, KAJWR achieves a further 25.4% reduction in this rate compared to DMKAR and performs better in the balancing of key resource.
To address the service blocking caused by imbalanced key resource distribution in quantum networks, this paper proposes a dynamic multidimensional key-aware routing (DMKAR) algorithm and further proposes a key-aware joint wavelength and routing resource allocation (KAJWR) algorithm based on the DMKAR algorithm. By implementing key-aware routing selection and key-aware wavelength allocation, we effectively ensure balanced utilization and generation of quantum key resources. Simulations show DMKAR reduces the service blocking rate by 49.9% versus traditional routing algorithms. Notably, KAJWR achieves a further 25.4% reduction in this rate compared to DMKAR and performs better in the balancing of key resource.
In quantum key distribution (QKD) metropolitan area networks (MANs), the tidal effect of traffic, which is caused by the imbalanced distribution of users, decreases network resource utilization and leads to an imbalanced distribution of quantum keys. Additionally, there is noise interference when both classical and quantum signals are transmitted together within the same optical fiber. To solve these problems while considering the specific requirements of the services, we propose heuristic routing and wavelength allocation algorithm. Firstly, the routing scheme based on Minimization of Network Load Standard Deviation (MNLSD) is applied to balance traffic, reduce blocking rate, and achieve the goal of balancing secure key rate of QKD system. Based on this, we design a wavelength allocation scheme by Priority Based on Noise Influence (PBNI), which is applied to the scenarios where quantum channels are fixed but classical services dynamically arrive. It achieves noise suppression by flexibly scheduling classical services. Simulation results shows that MNLSD can reduce the standard deviation of link load up to 83.9% and the blocking rate up to 20% compared to benchmark scheme. Additionally, when compared to benchmark scheme, PBNI can improve the secure key rate of QKD system up to 127.3%.
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.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) has great potential in ensuring data security. Deploying QKD-related devices in existing optical fiber networks is a cost-effective way to practically implement QKD. However, QKD optical networks (QKDON) have a low quantum key generation rate and limited wavelength channels for data transmission. The simultaneous arrival of multiple QKD services may also lead to wavelength conflicts in QKDON. Therefore, we propose a resource-adaptive routing scheme (RAWC) with wavelength conflicts to achieve load balancing and efficient utilization of network resources. Focusing on the impact of link load and resource competition, this scheme dynamically adjusts the link weights and introduces the wavelength conflict degree. Simulation results indicate that the RAWC algorithm is an effective approach to solving the wavelength conflict problem. Compared with the benchmark algorithms, the RAWC algorithm can improve service request success rate (SR) by up to 30%.
Optical network security has attracted extensive attentions recently, data encryption is an effective way to enhance the security. Unlike conventional key distribution methods, Quantum key distribution (QKD) is provably-secure. Integrating QKD into optical networks can provide a new paradigm for secure communications. In a QKD integrated optical network, besides the traditional data channels, two additional channels, called quantum-signal channels and public interaction channels, are required to support secure key. Crucially, how to optimally allocate limited wavelength resources to the three channels is emerging as a novel problem. By introducing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network and defining the wavelength occupancy factor, this paper designs a dynamic routing, wavelength and time-slot allocation (DRWTA) algorithm for the wavelength allocation in QKD integrated optical network. The simulation results show wavelength scale factor has an adverse effect on the resource utilization rate and the blocking probability. Furthermore, the DRWTA algorithm provides a strategy to allocate wavelength for three types of channels in QKD-WDM networks. The success probability can be improved by exploiting the DRWTA algorithm.
Quantum-key-distribution (QKD) enabled optical networks can provide secure keys for different kinds of applications to ensure the high security of communication processes. As the number of wavelength channels in a single-core fiber is limited, space division multiplexing (SDM) has been considered to be a valuable technique to provide more wavelength resources, which solves the problem of insufficient channel capacity. Due to the rapid expansion of data volume, the SDM-based QKD network has been regarded as an important paradigm. At the same time, resource allocation in multi-core optical networks is a problem worthy of studying. In this work, four routing, core, and wavelength allocation (RCWA) algorithms are proposed in the multi-core optical network for quantum service requests and classical service requests, which are referred to as RCWA without perception (RCWA-WP), RCWA with crosstalk perception (RCWA-XTP), RCWA with spectrum perception (RCWA-SP), and RCWA with core perception (RCWA-CP). Simulations are carried out to evaluate the network performance in terms of blocking probability, key utilization, and average crosstalk intensity. The comparative results indicate that the RCWA-SP algorithm can improve network performance and reduce the blocking probability, while the RCWA-XTP algorithm can reduce inter-core crosstalk during transmission.
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.