Patent ID: 8638942

Claim:
A method for managing shared random numbers in a secret communication network including at least one center node and a plurality of remote nodes connected to the center node, the method comprising: securely sharing symmetric random number sequences between the center node and respective ones of the plurality of remote nodes; when performing random numbers sharing between a first remote node storing a first random number sequence which comprises one of the symmetric random number sequences and a second remote node storing a second random number sequence which comprises another one of the symmetric random number sequences, distributing securely a part of the second random number sequence from the center node to the first remote node; and sharing securely the part of the second random number sequence between the first remote node and the second remote node, wherein the symmetric random number sequences between the center node and respective ones of the plurality of remote nodes are generated by quantum key distribution systems formed between the center node and the respective ones of the plurality of remote nodes.