Quantum communication protocol for data link layer based on entanglement

By exploiting the entanglement correlation in quantum mechanics, a quantum communication, protocol for data link layer is proposed. The protocol divides the link into busy time and leisure time, where the data is sent via classical channel and the distribution of quantum entanglement is supposed to be completed at leisure time and the acknowledge frame is sent via quantum entanglement channel. The transmission of quantum information can be instantaneous; therefore the minimum time span between two successfully delivered data frames can be significantly reduced. It is shown that the proposed protocol enhances the maximum throughput effectively and improves the performance of the stop-and-wait protocol of data link layer.