Patent ID: 8488790

Claim:
A method for distributing quantum cryptographic keys, comprising: receiving, from an initial quantum key generating transmitter, a first signal via a single combined channel that includes a first quantum signal and a public data signal alternating in a time shared manner, splitting the first signal into a first split signal and a second split signal; applying a low attenuation to the first split signal when the first split signal includes the first quantum signal; applying a high attenuation to the first split signal when the second split signal includes the public data signal; receiving the first split signal at an intermediate quantum key generating receiver when the low attenuation is applied; corresponding with the initial quantum key generating transmitter to generate a first quantum key; transmitting a second quantum signal to a recipient quantum key generating receiver; corresponding with the recipient quantum key generating receiver to generate a second quantum key; encoding the first quantum key using the second quantum key; and transmitting the encoded first quantum key to the recipient quantum key generating receiver.