量子隐蔽通信融合方案及应用场景综述

孙怡恒; 徐勇军; 张海波; 黄子珊

doi:10.11999/JEIT260282

量子隐蔽通信融合方案及应用场景综述

doi: 10.11999/JEIT260282 cstr: 32379.14.JEIT260282

孙怡恒^{1, 2},
徐勇军^{1, 2, ,},
张海波^{1, 2},
黄子珊^{1, 2}

1.
重庆邮电大学通信与信息工程学院重庆 400065
2.
东南大学毫米波全国重点实验室南京 210096

基金项目: 重庆市自然科学基金(CSTB2024NSCQOCXMX0059)，毫米波全国重点实验室开放课题(KN202502-07)

详细信息

作者简介:
孙怡恒：男，硕士生，研究方向为隐蔽通信、无线物理层安全

徐勇军：男，教授，博士生导师，研究方向为RIS、通感一体化

张海波：男，副教授，博士生导师，研究方向为异构网络资源管理

黄子珊：女，博士生，研究方向为RIS、智能无线通信技术

通讯作者:
徐勇军　xuyj@cqupt.edu.cn

中图分类号: TN918
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出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2026-03-16
- 修回日期: 2026-04-13
- 录用日期: 2026-05-15
- 网络出版日期: 2026-06-03

A Survey of Quantum Covert Communication Integration Schemes and Application Scenarios

SUN Yiheng^{1, 2},
XU Yongjun^{1, 2
, ,},
ZHANG Haibo^{1, 2},
HUANG Zishan^{1, 2}

1.
School of Communications and Information Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China

Funds: Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (CSTB2024-NSCQOCXMX0059), Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves (KN202502-07)

摘要

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三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，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。
- 隐蔽通信 /
- 量子通信 /
- 量子隐蔽通信 /
- 融合方案
Abstract: Significance With the growing demand for network communication security, research and development in covert communication and quantum communication have continued to evolve. However, current covert communication suffers from inherent security vulnerabilities; the transmission reliability of quantum communication has been limited by information eavesdropping and harmful interference. Therefore, quantum covert communication has become a research hotspot, integrating the advantages of both covert and quantum communication while addressing their respective security limitations. To this end, this paper provides a comprehensive survey of quantum covert communication integration schemes and application scenarios, including the principles of covert communication and typical enabling techniques; protocols for quantum communication and important quantum techniques; and three types of quantum covert communication integration schemes summarized by different application scenarios. This paper contributes to the design of advanced secure communication networks while offering guidance for the development of future quantum covert communication systems. Progress This paper presents a comprehensive survey of recent advances in quantum covert communication integration schemes and application scenarios, with an in-depth discussion of the principles of covert communication and key enabling techniques, such as Fluid Antenna (FA), Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). FA actively reshapes wireless channel characteristics, particularly the spatial correlation of multipath components, by dynamically adjusting the transmitter physical configuration, thereby reducing information leakage. In Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) scenarios, RIS can dynamically alter the direction of reflected transmission of the incident signal, not only enhancing the Channel State Information (CSI) quality of the covert signal but also reducing signal leakage. In flexible or temporary communication networks, UAVs can increase CSI uncertainty, preventing unauthorized users from establishing a stable monitoring model and thereby complicating eavesdropping. Then, key protocols and significant techniques of quantum communication are introduced, including BB84, B92, and E91 for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), and BF02, Two-Step for Quantum Secure Direct Communication (QSDC). Additionally, the quantum repeaters and Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) are reviewed. Based on different application scenarios, quantum covert communication integration schemes can be categorized into enabling, covert, and symbiotic integration schemes, depending on the integration mechanisms. To be specific, the enabling integration scheme leverages the unconditional security of quantum communication to address the security vulnerabilities in covert communication, the covert integration scheme utilizes enabling techniques in covert communication to reduce the detection probability of quantum communication, and the symbiotic integration scheme combines both advantages of covert communication and quantum communication to achieve mutual empowerment and deep symbiosis. Finally, critical challenges are highlighted, including stringent hardware precision requirements, low resource allocation efficiency, and obstacles in large-scale applications. Promising directions for future research are also identified, including R&D on precision communication equipment, dynamic resource management, cost control during deployment, and the promotion of standardized development. Prospects Despite remarkable progress in preliminary applications and specific scenarios, research on quantum covert communication remains in its infancy. As quantum covert communication scenarios become increasingly diverse and complex, future studies should prioritize challenges that restrict further development and large-scale application of quantum covert communication. The stringent hardware precision requirements are the primary challenge, limiting reliable transmission distance and stability. Low resource allocation efficiency is another challenge, as the quantum covert communication system that generates quantum entanglement over lossy channels remains subject to the Square Root Law (SRL) constraints, while signal transmission exhibits burstiness and dynamics. Additionally, high deployment costs and the lack of standardization present significant hurdles. To address the challenges mentioned, future directions should include R&D on precision communication equipment, dynamic resource management, cost control during deployment, and the promotion of standardized development to facilitate the development of high-performance, large-scale, and multi-scenario quantum covert communication. Conclusions This paper provides a comprehensive survey of quantum covert communication with particular emphasis on integration schemes and application scenarios. The fundamentals and typical enabling techniques of covert communication are first reviewed, highlighting its Low Probability of Detection (LPD) secure paradigm and unique channel characteristics. The typical protocols and important techniques of quantum communication are then examined, including QKD, QSDC, quantum repeaters, and QRNG. Three types of quantum covert communication integration schemes have been further classified by different integration mechanisms and corresponding application scenarios. Finally, several existing challenges are identified, including stringent hardware precision requirements, low resource allocation efficiency, and obstacles to large-scale applications. Relevant research directions are also outlined, including R&D on precision communication equipment, dynamic resource management, cost control during deployment, and the promotion of standardized development. These directions are expected to serve as a valuable reference for advancing and standardizing quantum covert communication in future secure networks.
- Covert communication /
- Quantum communication /
- Quantum covert communication /
- Integration schemes

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图 1 综述整体结构

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图 2 隐蔽通信场景

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图 3 赋能融合方案基本架构

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图 4 隐匿融合方案基本架构

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图 5 空天地一体化量子隐蔽通信网络架构

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图 6 挑战与发展方向

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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	0.01～0.1 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

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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

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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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