Abstract: A method (300) of performing photon detector autocalibration in quantum key distribution (QKD) system (200) is disclosed. The method (300) includes a first act (302) of performing a detector gate scan to establish the optimum arrival time of a detector gate pulse (S3) that corresponds with a maximum number of photon counts (NMAX) from a single-photon detector (216) in the QKD system (200). Once the optimal detector gate pulse arrival time is determined, then in an act (306), the detector gate scan is terminated and in an act (308) a detector gate dither process is initiated. The detector gate dither act (308) involves varying the arrival time (T) of the detector gate pulse (S3) around the optimal value of the arrival time established during the detector gate scan process. The detector gate dither provides minor adjustments to the arrival time to ensure that the detector (216) produces maximum number of photon counts (NMAX).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically generating a list of recommended links for a user are disclosed. For a particular user, one or more criteria for use in generating a list of recommended links are identified or selected by the user. A list of one or more recommended links is then generated and provided to the user.

Abstract: An encryption system and method that utilizes quantum key distribution (QKD) and that is compliant with industry and/or governmental standards for encryption is disclosed. One example embodiment of the system includes first and second transmitters/receivers operatively connected to respective first and second encryption/decryption (e/d) processors. The e/d processors are connected to a classical key distribution system as well as to a QKD system. The QKD system symmetrically provides quantum keys qi to the e/d processors, and the classical encryption system symmetrically provides classical keys ci to the e/d processors. The e/d processors then form session keys ki via the operation ki=ci XOR qi. The session keys are then used to encrypt and decrypt plaintext messages sent between two transmitting/receiving stations.