Abstract
Quantum information has emerged as a frontier in scientific research and is transitioning to real-world technologies and applications. In this work, we explore the integration of quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) with time-sensitive networking (TSN) for the first time, proposing a novel framework to address the security and latency challenges of Ethernet-based networks. Because our QSDC-TSN protocol inherits all the advantages from QSDC, it will enhance the security of the classical communications both in the traditional TSN- and QKD-based TSN by the quantum principle and reduce the communication latency by transmitting information directly via quantum channels without using keys. By analyzing the integration of QSDC and TSN in terms of time synchronization, flow control, security mechanisms, and network management, we show how QSDC enhances the real-time performance and security of TSN. These advantages enable our QSDC-TSN to keep the balance between and meet the requirements of both high security and real-time performance in industrial control, in a digital twin of green power and green hydrogen systems in distributed energy networks, etc., showing its potential applications in future quantum-classical-hybrid systems.