The QPath Blog
EP4231204 System for developing and running applications in hybrid quantum computing networks, the QuantumPath® patent
Conceived, designed, and developed from the perspective of Quantum Software Engineering and professional software services, QuantumPath® is a platform created to provide quantum software developers with a set of technologies, tools, and working methods that enable them to develop high-quality software while being more productive. This enables them to provide companies, governments, institutions, and organizations with professional quantum software solutions and services that will allow them to take advantage of the benefits that quantum computing could bring to their daily activities and become more competitive.
Figure 1: QuantumPath®: Business Stack platform
That is why QuantumPath® (o QPath®), is a Business Stack platform (Figure 1) that supports the professional development of quantum software and its lifecycle through user-friendly graphical interfaces[1], the dynamic integration of quantum-classical hybrid software systems[2], and offer quantum software services[3]. It works agnostically with multiple approaches and proposals from different quantum technology providers and is designed to be deployed in multiple contexts[4] so that it can adapt, by design, to different security strategies, IT infrastructures, and business
models.
Figure 2: QuantumPath® interfaces
Through various options (some examples are shown in Figure 2), the QuantumPath® platform:
· manages the lifecycle of quantum software applications and development: from design, development, testing, implementation, and integration to deployment and reuse[5].
· provides the necessary execution backend to run its quantum products in an agnostic manner[6].
· enables the development of high-quality quantum software solutions and quantum/classical software systems[7].
· provides a wide range of tools, governance, metrics, and agnostic capabilities out of the box that enable the professional development of complex quantum business projects[8].
· facilitates technological risk management in quantum software systems[9].
· and, by design, it is also a quantum software-as-a-service (QSaaS) platform.
The high-level architecture of the QPath® software system, as illustrated in Figure 3, consists of two large modules, CORE and APPs, each of which corresponds to a broad set of specific elements that, in their interactions, make it possible to apply Quantum Software Engineering in a practical way to the creation of quantum/classical software ready for industry[10].
Figure 3: High-level architecture of QuantumPath®
QPath® CORE is the platform module for designing, creating, and managing quantum algorithms and quantum technology-agnostic software solutions (based on quantum gates, quantum annealing, and others) assisted by general-purpose tools. This module enables the engineering and lifecycle of hybrid quantum software.
The APPs module offers the possibility of expanding the platform’s functionalities through modular software applications that, synchronized with the Platform’s CORE modules, provide specialized services that facilitate the application of good software engineering practices to the development of quantum software and hybrid software systems, and professional quantum software services.
For all these reasons, QPath® is a pioneering platform for the development and deployment of quantum software systems that can be used in a practical way by industry. So much so that, using the inventions that José Luis Hevia, Mario Piattini and I had designed and implemented in the QuantumPath® CORE, in 2020 we filed a patent application for the “System for developing and running applications in hybrid quantum computing networks” that we had developed.
Five years later, after an exhaustive examination of the technical and legal aspects of the application, the European Patent Office (EPO) published the granting of the European patent for this invention in European Patent Bulletin 51 | 2025. As authors, thanks to our detailed knowledge of the place this invention occupies in the platform, we can affirm that, although it is not officially named as such, this is in fact the patent for the original QuantumPath® CORE.
The description of the invention in the patent is clear evidence of the early implementation in the QuantumPath® CORE of some of the platform’s most relevant technical elements:
· BPM
· Execution
· Transpilation
· Algorithm
· Dictionary
· Telemetry
· Governance
· Distributed or cloud-based computing network
· Quantum gate and quantum annealing quantum computing models
Thanks to this, QPath® was the first platform worldwide to offer, from the perspective of Quantum Software Engineering, integrated tools for developing professional quantum software, taking into account, in the same development process, the software life cycle, the execution of quantum processing units in a manner agnostic to the quantum platform where they are executed, and also supporting the implementation of hybrid quantum/classical systems[11]. To enable quantum software to be used practically and efficiently by companies, governments, institutions, and organizations in their daily activities, we have enhanced QPath® with other capabilities that are also relevant for the industrial and controlled production of quantum software:
· Q|Quality
· Q|Bussines
· Q|Management
· Q|Workforce
· Q|Governance System
By implementing all of this on a single platform, we can offer QPath® users a range of advantages for quantum software development and professional services[12], intrinsically linked to the relevant objectives of the invention, which we can currently group as follows:
· Technologies specially designed for quantum software development and professional services.
· Quantum algorithm programming through graphical user interfaces (GUI)
· Dynamic integration of hybrid quantum/classical software systems
· Support and guidance in the application of the best practices of software engineering
· Technology for using gate-based quantum computers to execute optimization problems based on quantum annealing principles
· Risk management of technological changes in quantum computing providers in quantum software development
· Quantum Software-as-a-Service (QSaaS) platform for implementing professional software services with developments made with the platform
These results are only part of our strategy to create technologies, tools, and methods that, based on quantum software engineering and professional programming, enable commercial quantum software that monetizes the practical value of applying quantum advantages to business.
To develop commercial quantum software in an “industrial” and efficient way that is useful for companies, governments, institutions, and organizations, it is not enough to design and develop the essential quantum algorithms. Quantum algorithms are a crucial part of the quantum solution, but to be truly useful, they must be seamlessly integrated into software systems that interact with other technologies (including those of classic) and be part of a software solution that is robust over time and capable of evolving and growing with changing technologies and business needs. Only then will the industry be provided with the guarantees of design, architecture, quality, extensibility, scalability, high performance, and security that add value to quantum software solutions and services.
To achieve this, we carry out intensive research and development work based on a polymath team with extensive knowledge of software engineering, our extensive experience in IT services, and constant monitoring of the state of the art of the technologies available at any given time; scrutinizing evolving technologies and detecting less visible technological trends; meticulously following the evolution of best practices in quantum software development; detecting and interpreting the needs of the quantum software workforce in order to envision solutions that allow us to anticipate some of the needs of the emerging quantum software market.
Looking for the most practical way to present our proposals to developers for solving the complex and multiple challenges of novel quantum software development, we conceived Qandalf, a platform with which, if we could get the solutions we would implement in it to do half of what we had designed and created, it would be like performing “white magic” in quantum software. As an anecdote, we were unable to use and register the Qandalf trademark, so we set about defining another name for the platform. Keeping in mind its foundational capabilities (ALM, agnostic, and hybrid), also contained in Patent EP4231204, we arrived at the definitive name: QuantumPath®, a platform that enables its users to follow a path leading to the development of high-quality quantum software and professional services without having to directly manage the significant technical difficulties involved.
Figure 4: The QuantumPath® Ecosystem
As with everything related to quantum software, one of the major complexities lies in the fact that we are facing a new technological and programming paradigm, for which there is still no market for a workforce specialized in quantum software development[13]. We are well aware of this reality and are also convinced that, as was the case with classical computing, it will be quantum software engineers and programmers, in interaction with users and the market, who will largely end up defining how and for what purpose quantum computers will be used. That is why facilitating the incorporation of quantum software developers into the quantum workforce market is an important goal for us.
Along with other capabilities to accelerate the practical application of quantum software, working with QPath® does not require a workforce with “universal” competencies for quantum software development. This not only reduces the learning curve for programmers by not requiring mastery of different quantum languages and environments, but also allows the development team to focus on the solution to be implemented, without having to worry about the complex specifics and requirements of quantum platforms.
Of course, this patent is very important to its inventors. Not only are we very proud of it, but we also consider it a kind of recognition of:
· the decision that we made in 2017 to form a team dedicated to the research and development of quantum software technologies
· the path that we took in early 2018, when we defined a roadmap focused on applying Quantum Software Engineering to the creation of software technologies and services that, integrated into a platform, would provide everything necessary for the success of quantum software projects
· the unquestionable originality of QuantumPath® technologies, often attacked with crude plagiarism that some fancifully describe as if they were part of other environments.
Furthermore, receiving this patent in 2025 is a kind of culmination of the scientific/technical results that we have achieved in recent years, which far exceed what we initially imagined: we have performed some “white technological magic” with our inventions and created QuantumPath®, a platform with original technologies, tools, and capabilities that offers unique professional services to facilitate the real and transparent integration of quantum software with the classic corporate management systems of companies, governments, institutions, and organizations. It is one of the ways we contribute, in a practical way, to accelerating the adoption of quantum computing.
Last but not least: beyond the fact that the invention is fully implemented in the QuantumPath® CORE and ready to be used in this way, this patent will allow us to enrich our business model, enter the attractive business of patent exploitation by defining different ways to monetize it, and thus access the business advantages it can bring us.
Although the full patent information is available on the EPO website, below is a summary of the most relevant technical content published in Patent EP4231204.
Summary of the technical content of the patent
Figure 5: Patent EP4231204 System for developing and running applications in hybrid quantum computing networks
Abstract
The invention relates to a system comprising one or more clients connected to a server, wherein said server is in in turn connected to one or more quantum computers, and wherein each of said quantum computers presents a proprietary application programming interface. Advantageously, the server comprises a BPM; a compiler of a first conventional or quantum computing algorithm as a quantum computing meta-algorithm; a transpiler of the quantum computing meta-algorithm as a second quantum computing algorithm, wherein said second algorithm is compatible with the application programming interface of at least one of the quantum computers; and a processing unit execution engine adapted for executing the second algorithm in at least the quantum computer having an application programming interface with which it is compatible.
Fiel of the invention
The present invention relates to the field of quantum computing and, particularly, to the area of application development and execution systems for developing and executing said applications in quantum computing networks. More specifically, the invention relates to hybrid computing architectures, the inputs of which may comprise conventional and/or quantum algorithms, and the outputs of which are quantum programs that can be executed in quantum computers of identical or different nature, preferably in agnostic mode, i.e., without any limitation to a single language or native program development environment.
Brief description of the invention
The present invention provides a solution to the technical problems described above by means of a hybrid quantum computing system providing a framework of tools, services, and processes, the objective of which is to consolidate the quantum application building model, such that multidisciplinary teams in any field of knowledge do not have to be concerned with specific technologies from each manufacturer, rather only the general approach to algorithms and the execution thereof. It is therefore possible to avoid the high technical complexities associated with each native system.
More specifically, the object of the invention relates to an application development and execution system in hybrid quantum computing networks according to the claims incorporated herein. Said system preferably comprises one or more clients connected to at least one server, wherein said server is, in turn, connected to one or more quantum computers, wherein each of said quantum computers presents a proprietary application programming interface, as well as potential extensions of application programming interfaces (APIs) corresponding to each manufacturer, providing layers of optimisation and control of additional errors. Likewise, the server may constitute both a unique element and, in different preferred embodiments, a plurality of servers interconnected, for example in farm/clusters with a cooperative and/or competitive structure.
Advantageously in the system of the invention, the server comprises the following elements, implemented by means of software and hardware:
· a business process manager (BPM), adapted for programming quantum computing algorithm processing units in quantum computers, from instructions generated by clients;
· a compiler, adapted for compiling a first conventional or quantum computing algorithm as a quantum computing meta-algorithm, through a series of compilation rules defined in a dictionary;
· a transpiler, adapted for transpiling the quantum computing meta-algorithm as a second quantum computing algorithm, through a series of transpilation rules defined in the dictionary, and wherein said second quantum computing algorithm is compatible with the application programming interface of at least one of the quantum computers; and
· a processing unit execution engine, adapted for executing the second quantum computing algorithm in at least the quantum computer having an application programming interface with which it is compatible.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises an algorithmic management subsystem, configured with one or more interfaces for manually editing quantum meta-algorithms.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises telemetry subsystem, configured with one or more functionalities for tracking,debugging, and measuring the execution performance of quantum computingalgorithms in quantum computers, and the relation thereof with quantumcomputing meta-algorithms. More preferably, said telemetry subsystem comprises one or more machine learning or artificial intelligence modules for measuring the execution performance of quantum computing algorithms in quantum computersthe decoherence thereof, and/or the relation thereof with quantum computing meta-algorithms.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a control subsystem fed with outputs from the telemetry subsystem, adapted for providing information about the progression, load, and debugging of the execution of quantum computing algorithms in quantum computers.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the quantum computers and the server form a distributed or cloud-based computing network.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more of the quantum computers comprise a virtual machine. Said virtual machine more preferably adopts the form of one or more real machine simulators, which can be utilised separately or interconnected in server clusters or farms.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the BPM is configured with means for receiving remote function call messages which parameterise and encapsulate instructions sent by the clients.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the BPM comprises a first web service for collecting call messages and for storing thereof in a database.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the compiler, the transpiler, and/or the processing unit execution engine are implemented as one or more plugin components.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the BPM comprises a plugin loading module.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the BPM comprises a second web service adapted for processing responses asynchronously.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the BPM is configured with means for sending asynchronous response messages to the client.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the BPM comprises a command pool processor, adapted for processing commands pending execution in the database. More preferably, said command pool processor is programmable over time, recurrently, and with an autonomous execution, in the form of daemons.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more of the quantum computers comprise a quantum gate-based computing model. Likewise, alternatively or complementarily, one or more of the quantum computers may comprise a quantum annealing-based computing model. This ensures compatibility of the system with most manufacturers (IBM, Microsoft, Rigetti, D-Wave, Google, IonQ, Fujitsu, Amazon Braket, etc.), as well as third-party quantum computing simulators (QuTECH, CTIC, etc.).
Claims
1. An application development and execution system in hybrid quantum computing networks, comprising one or more clients connected to at least one server, wherein said server is in turn connected to a plurality of quantum computers, and wherein each of said quantum computers presents a proprietary application programming interface; the system being characterised in that the server comprises the following elements, implemented by means of software and hardware:
o a BPM, adapted for programming quantum computing algorithm processing units in quantum computers, from instructions generated by clients;
o a compiler, adapted for compiling a first conventional or quantum computing algorithm as a quantum computing meta-algorithm, through a series of compilation rules defined in a dictionary;
o a transpiler, adapted for transpiling the quantum computing meta-algorithm as a second quantum computing algorithm, through a series of transpilation rules defined in the dictionary, and wherein said second quantum computing algorithm is compatible with the application programming interface of one of the quantum computers; and
o a processing unit execution engine, adapted for executing the second quantum computing algorithm in at least the quantum computer having an application programming interface with which it is compatible.
2. The system according to the preceding claim, further comprising an algorithmic management subsystem, configured with one or more interfaces for manually editing quantum meta-algorithms.
3. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a telemetry subsystem, configured with one or more functionalities for tracking, debugging, and measuring the execution performance of quantum computing algorithms in quantum computers (300, 300′, 300″), the decoherence thereof, and/or the relation thereof with quantum computing meta-algorithms.
4. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the telemetry subsystem comprises one or more machine learning or artificial intelligence modules for measuring the execution performance of quantum computing algorithms in quantum computers, and the relation thereof with quantum computing meta-algorithms.
5. The system according to the preceding claim, further comprising a control subsystem fed with outputs from the telemetry subsystem adapted for providing information about the progression, load, and debugging of the execution of quantum computing algorithms in quantum computers.
6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the quantum computers and the server form a distributed or cloud-based computing network; and/or wherein the server is part of a cooperative or competitive server cluster or server farm.
7. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the quantum computers comprise a virtual machine.
8. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the BPM is configured with means for receiving remote function call messages which parameterise and encapsulate instructions sent by the clients.
9. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the BPM comprises a first web service for collecting call messages and for storing thereof in a database.
10. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the compiler, the transpiler, or the processing unit execution engine are implemented as one or more plugins.
11. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the BPM comprises a plugin loading module.
12. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the BPM:
o comprises a second web service for processing responses asynchronously;
o is configured with means for sending asynchronous response messages to the client; and/or
o comprises a command pool processor, adapted for processing commands pending execution in the database.
13. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the command pool processor is programmable overtime, recurrently, and with an autonomous execution, in the form of daemons.
14. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the quantum computers comprises a quantum gate-based computing model.
15. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the quantum computers comprises a quantum annealing-based computing model.
[1] Hevia, J.L. Peterssen, G. Piattini, M. QuantumPath: A quantum software development platform. Wiley, Journal of Software: Practive and Experience. Volume52, Issue6, June 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/spe.306
[2] Hevia, J.L. Peterssen, G. Piattini, M. qSOA®: Dynamic integration for hybrid quantum/classical software systems. Elsevier, Journal of Systems and Software, Volume 214, August 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0164121224001067?via%3Dihub
[3] Peterssen, G. Hevia, J.L., Piattini, M. QuantumPath®: The Quantum Software-as-a-Service platform. The QPath Blog. October 2023. https://www.quantumpath.es/2023/10/29/quantumpath-the-quantum-software-as-a-service-platform/
[4] Peterssen, G. Hevia, J-l., Piattini, M. QuantumPath® for multiple contexts: cloud, on-premise, hybrid. The QPath Blog. November 2023. https://www.quantumpath.es/2023/11/05/quantumpath-for-multiple-contexts-cloud-on-premise-hybrid/
[5] Peterssen, G. Hevia, J-l., Piattini, M. Professional development of quantum/classical hybrid software systems: the life cycle. The QPath Blog. July 2023. https://www.quantumpath.es/2023/07/14/professional-development-ofvquantum-classical-hybrid-software-systems-the-life-cycle/
[6] Peterssen, G. Advantages of agnostic development of quantum algorithms and APPs for the real world with QPath. The QPath Blog. February
de 2021. https://www.quantumpath.es/2021/02/25/advantages-of-agnostic-development-of-quantum-algorithms-and-apps-for-the-real-world-with-qpath/
[7] Peterssen, G. Piattini, M., Hevia, J.L. Practical Quantum Computing: Challenges of Quantum Software Development. The QPath Blog. January 2022. https://www.quantumpath.es/2022/01/31/practical-quantum-computing-challenges-of-quantum-software-development/
[8] Peterssen, G. Hevia, J.L. Quantum Software Ecosystem Governance. CUTTER Consortium an Arthur D. Little Community, Amplify Journal, Vol. 38. Nº 3, 2025. https://www.cutter.com/article/quantum-software-ecosystem-governance
[9] Hevia, J.L. Peterssen, G. Piattini, M. Quantum Software Development Risks. Rinton Press. Quantum Information and Computation, Vol. 24, No.5&6, 2024. https://www.rintonpress.com/xxqic24/qic-24-56/0455-0467.pdf
[10] Piattini, M. y otros. The Talavera Manifesto for Quantum Software Engineering and Programming. February 2020. https://qsoftwaretech.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Talavera_Manifesto.pdf
[11] Hevia, J.L. QPath Features. The QPath Blog. December 2020. https://www.quantumpath.es/2020/12/10/qpath_features/
[12] Peterssen, G. Hevia, J-l., Piattini, M. Advantages of QuantumPath® for Quantum Software Development. The QPath Blog. February 2021. https://www.quantumpath.es/2022/09/12/advantages-of-quantumpath-for-quantum-software-development/
[13] Peterssen, G. Quantum technology impact: the necessary workforce for developing quantum software. CEUR-WS.org, Vol-2561. 2020. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2561/paper1.pdf
