Granted Patent B2

US 12,198,167 · App. 17/249,289 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Kazuaki Doi (Kawasaki Kanagawa, JP); Mamiko Kujiraoka (Kawasaki Kanagawa, JP); Yoshimichi Tanizawa (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Hideaki Sato (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Ririka Takahashi (Setagaya Tokyo, JP); Akira Murakami (Tama Tokyo, JP)

Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

G06Q30/0283G06F21/1078H04L9/0855H04L12/14

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A quantum cryptographic device comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to:

tabulate first information on an application key encrypted to be transmitted and received by using a quantum cryptographic key and output a tabulation result;

calculate a unit price of the application key based on the tabulation result; and

display second information including the unit price of the application key,

wherein

the first information on the application key includes a distance of a quantum key distribution (QKD) link through which photons used for generation of the quantum cryptographic key are transmitted and received, and

the one or more processors are configured to:

in the tabulating, tabulate the distance of the QKD link, and

in the calculating, increase the unit price of the application key as the distance of the QKD is greater.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive, when an application has consumed the application key, the first information on the application key from the application.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the quantum cryptographic device is connected to an application-key management device configured to receive the application key from the quantum cryptographic device and to transmit the application key to an application, and

the one or more processors are configured to receive, when the application-key management device transmits the application key to the application, the first information on the application key from the application-key management device.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first information on the application key includes a number of relay nodes relaying a quantum key distribution (QKD) link through which photons used for generation of the quantum cryptographic key are transmitted and received, and

the one or more processors are configured to increase the unit price of the application key as the number of relay nodes is greater.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first information on the application key includes a generation rate of the application key, and

the one or more processors are configured to increase the unit price of the application key as the generation rate of the application key is slower.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein, when there are a plurality of relay nodes relaying a quantum key distribution (QKD) link through which photons used for generation of the quantum cryptographic key are transmitted and received and the QKD link is divided into a plurality of partial QKD links by the relay nodes, the generation rate of the application key is, out of generation rates of partial quantum cryptographic keys generated among the partial QKD links, a lower generation rate of a partial quantum cryptographic key.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first information on the application key includes a data size of the application key, and

the one or more processors are configured to increase the unit price of the application key as the data size of the application key is smaller.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein, when there are a plurality of relay nodes relaying a transmission path through which the application key is transmitted and received and the transmission path is divided into a plurality of partial transmission paths by the relay nodes, the data size of the application key is, out of data sizes of the application key used among the plurality of partial transmission paths, a smaller data size of the application key.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to select, when there are a plurality of routes of the transmission path, a route of a greater evaluation value evaluating the route.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to increase the evaluation value as a distance of the route of the transmission path is smaller.

11. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to increase the evaluation value as a number of relay nodes included in the route of the transmission path is smaller.

12. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to increase the evaluation value for the route having a greater generation rate of the application key.

13. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to increase the evaluation value for the route having a greater data size of the application key.

14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first information on the application key includes a consumption speed of the application key, and

the one or more processors are configured to increase the unit price of the application key as the consumption speed of the application key is faster.

15. A quantum cryptographic communication fee calculation system comprising:

a tabulation device comprising a hardware processor configured to tabulate first information on an application key encrypted to be transmitted and received by using a quantum cryptographic key and output a tabulation result;

a calculation device comprising a hardware processor configured to calculate a unit price of the application key based on the tabulation result; and

a display device comprising a hardware processor configured to display second information including the unit price of the application key,

wherein

the first information on the application key includes a distance of a quantum key distribution (QKD) link through which photons used for generation of the quantum cryptographic key are transmitted and received,

in the tabulating, the distance of the QKD link is tabulated, and

in the calculating, the unit price of the application key is increased as the distance of the QKD is greater.

16. A quantum cryptographic communication fee calculation method comprising:

tabulating, by a quantum cryptographic device, first information on an application key encrypted to be transmitted and received by using a quantum cryptographic key and outputting a tabulation result;

calculating, by the quantum cryptographic device, a unit price of the application key based on the tabulation result; and

displaying, by the quantum cryptographic device, second information including the unit price of the application key,

wherein

the first information on the application key includes a distance of a quantum key distribution (QKD) link through which photons used for generation of the quantum cryptographic key are transmitted and received,

in the tabulating, the distance of the QKD link is tabulated, and

in the calculating, the unit price of the application key is increased as the distance of the QKD link is greater.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (34)