Device Booking System
The booking system allows projects to reserve exclusive access to quantum devices for dedicated time periods. During a booking, the device behavior and job queue management change to ensure optimal resource utilization for the booking project.
How the Booking System Works
When a device is booked, its status changes based on the booking type:
| Booking Type | Device Status | Who Can Submit Jobs | Job Execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exclusive | BOOKED | Booking project only | Booking project jobs execute immediately |
| Calibration | CALIBRATION | No one | Calibration procedures only |
| Offline | OFFLINE | No one | No jobs execute |
| Maintenance | MAINTENANCE | Admin only | System maintenance tasks |
Maintenance Bookings and Calibration
Maintenance bookings are reserved for system administrators to perform device maintenance, and calibration. During maintenance periods:
- The device status is set to
MAINTENANCE - Job submissions from regular users will be rejected
- Only administrative maintenance and calibration tasks can be executed
- Maintenance bookings are not counted toward project usage
Calibration Schedule: Devices undergo regular calibration procedures daily from 2:00 AM to 4:30 AM. No bookings are allowed in these time slots. The device will return to normal operation once calibration is complete.
Job Submission Behavior
The booking system implements a dual-queue architecture that affects how your jobs are handled:
During Active Bookings
For the Booking Project:
- Jobs execute immediately with dedicated access to the device
- No competition with other projects for device resources
For Non-Booking Projects:
- Job submissions are rejected while the booking is active
- Wait until the booking period ends before submitting jobs
- Once the booking ends, the device returns to
ONLINEand submissions are accepted again
After Booking Ends
- Device status returns to
ONLINE - Normal queue processing resumes for all projects
Important Notes for Users
What to Expect During Bookings
If your project has the booking: jobs execute immediately with dedicated access to the device — no competition with other projects.
If your project does not have the booking: job submissions are rejected for the duration of the booking. You will receive an error response when attempting to submit. Wait until the booking ends and the device returns to ONLINE before submitting.
Best Practices
Check booking schedules before submitting time-sensitive jobs to avoid unexpected rejections. Plan ahead for important experiments, allowing sufficient time outside known booking windows. When working on urgent tasks, consider alternative devices if available in your project.
Requesting and Managing Bookings
How to Request a New Booking
You can request a new device booking through two methods:
- QX Platform: Go to the booking section on your dashboard and create a new booking by filling in the form
- JSM (Jira Service Management): Contact the admin team through the Quantum Service Support portal under the Device Booking section
When requesting through either method, provide details about your project requirements, preferred time slots, and the specific device(s) you need to reserve.
How to Edit an Existing Booking
To edit an existing booking, cancel the current booking and add a new one with your updated requirements.
Booking Cancellation Policy
Bookings can only be cancelled up to 1 hour before the scheduled start time. After this cutoff, bookings cannot be cancelled and will be counted toward your project’s booking usage regardless of whether you utilize the reserved time. This policy ensures fair resource allocation and prevents last-minute cancellations that could leave quantum devices unused.