A Survey of Quantum Covert Communication Integration Schemes and Application Scenarios
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摘要: 随着通信网络安全需求的日益增长,隐蔽通信和量子通信领域技术研发不断演进。然而,当前隐蔽通信仍存在内生安全漏洞与信息泄露风险,且量子通信易受窃听干扰导致传输可靠性受限。因此,兼顾通信行为隐蔽与无条件安全的量子隐蔽通信成为近期研究热点。基于此,该文聚焦于量子隐蔽通信融合方案及应用场景展开综述。首先,介绍了隐蔽通信的原理与典型赋能技术。其次,介绍了量子通信协议与重要技术。进而,针对不同应用场景归纳出3类量子隐蔽通信融合方案:赋能融合方案、隐匿融合方案、共生融合方案。最后,该文提出了量子隐蔽通信的现有挑战与发展方向。该文对量子隐蔽通信的进一步发展,具有一定的推动作用与参考价值。Abstract:
Significance With the growing demand for secure network communications, research on covert communication and quantum communication continues to advance. However, current covert communication still has inherent security vulnerabilities and risks of information leakage. The transmission reliability of quantum communication is also limited by eavesdropping and harmful interference, partly because the communication behavior itself is not fully hidden. Quantum covert communication has therefore attracted increasing attention, as it integrates behavior concealment with unconditional security. This paper surveys quantum covert communication integration schemes and application scenarios. It first introduces the principles of covert communication and typical enabling techniques. It then reviews quantum communication protocols and key quantum techniques. Three types of integration schemes are further summarized according to different application scenarios. This survey provides a reference for the design of secure communication networks and for the development of future quantum covert communication systems. Progress This paper reviews recent advances in quantum covert communication integration schemes and application scenarios. The principles of covert communication and key enabling techniques are first discussed, including Fluid Antenna (FA), Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). FA reshapes wireless channel characteristics by dynamically adjusting antenna configuration, including shape, position, and radiation direction. This capability helps regulate the spatial correlation of multipath components and reduce information leakage. In Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) scenarios, RIS can dynamically change the propagation direction of incident signals. It can improve signal reception quality at the intended receiver, reduce signal leakage to monitoring users, and increase Channel State Information (CSI) uncertainty. In flexible or temporary communication networks, UAVs can adjust network topology and channel conditions through mobility. This helps create favorable channels for intended receivers while making stable monitoring more difficult. Key protocols and techniques for quantum communication are then introduced. These include BB84, B92, and E91 for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), and BF02 and Two-Step for Quantum Secure Direct Communication (QSDC). Quantum repeaters and Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) are also reviewed. According to application scenarios and integration mechanisms, quantum covert communication integration schemes are classified into the Enabling Integration Scheme, the Concealment Integration Scheme, and the Symbiotic Integration Scheme. The Enabling Integration Scheme uses the unconditional security of quantum communication to compensate for security vulnerabilities in covert communication. The Concealment Integration Scheme uses covert communication enabling techniques to reduce the exposure probability of quantum communication behavior. The Symbiotic Integration Scheme integrates the advantages of covert communication and quantum communication to support mutual enhancement and deep system-level fusion. Finally, key challenges are discussed, including stringent equipment precision requirements, low resource allocation efficiency, and barriers to large-scale application. Future research directions are also identified, including high-precision communication equipment, dynamic resource management, deployment cost control, and standardized development. Prospects Despite progress in preliminary applications and specific scenarios, research on quantum covert communication remains at an early stage. As application scenarios become more diverse and complex, future studies should focus on challenges that limit further development and large-scale application. Stringent equipment precision requirements are a primary challenge because they restrict reliable transmission distance and system stability. Low resource allocation efficiency is another challenge. Quantum covert communication systems that generate quantum entanglement over lossy channels remain constrained by the Square Root Law (SRL), while signal transmission is often bursty and dynamic. High deployment costs and the lack of unified standards also hinder practical implementation. To address these challenges, future research should focus on the research and development of high-precision communication equipment, dynamic resource management, deployment cost control, and standardized development. These efforts may support high-performance, large-scale, and multi-scenario quantum covert communication. Conclusions This paper surveys quantum covert communication, with emphasis on integration schemes and application scenarios. The fundamentals and typical enabling techniques of covert communication are first reviewed, including its Low Probability of Detection (LPD) security paradigm and channel characteristics. Typical protocols and key techniques for quantum communication are then examined, including QKD, QSDC, quantum repeaters, and QRNG. Three types of quantum covert communication integration schemes are further classified according to their integration mechanisms and application scenarios. Existing challenges are identified, including stringent equipment precision requirements, low resource allocation efficiency, and barriers to large-scale application. Future research directions include high-precision communication equipment, dynamic resource management, deployment cost control, and standardized development. These directions provide a useful reference for advancing quantum covert communication in future secure networks. -
表 1 隐蔽通信的典型赋能技术对比
赋能技术 部署环境 通信距离 应用场景 优势 劣势 FA 发送端天线 0.01~0.10 km 短距离通信 空间自由度高 切换延迟较高 RIS 无线信道中继 0.1~10 km NLOS链路 可控性强、部署灵活 CSI获取困难 UAV 空中无线信道中继 0.1~10 km 临时网络覆盖、信号中继 机动性强 续航有限、计算困难 表 2 量子通信典型协议对比
典型协议 协议类型 实现原理 优势 劣势 BB84 QKD 基于单量子偏振态的非正交编码 成熟度高 密钥生成效率低 B92 QKD 基于两个非正交量子偏振态 实现简单 密钥生成效率低 E91 QKD 基于量子纠缠原理 具有源无关安全性 纠缠源纯度要求高 BF02(乒乓协议) QSDC 单光子往返、进行交替模式通信 预防前向泄露 抗干扰弱、同步性要求高 Two-Step QSDC 先发校验序列,后发编码消息序列 具有高容量通信潜力 高度依赖量子存储技术 表 3 融合方案及应用场景对比
类型 融合机制 应用场景 赋能融合方案 利用量子通信的无条件安全性来弥补隐蔽通信的安全漏洞 高安全敏感网络、量子物联网等 隐匿融合方案 利用隐蔽通信的赋能技术来降低量子通信行为的暴露概率 金融交易、智能电网等 共生融合方案 量子无条件安全与隐蔽行为共生,兼顾信息安全与行为隐藏 空天地一体化量子隐蔽通信网等 -
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