  The realization of nonclassical states is an important task for many
applications of quantum information processing. Usually, properly tailored
interactions, different from goal to goal, are considered in order to
accomplish specific tasks within the general framework of quantum state
engineering. In this paper we remark on the flexibility of a cross-Kerr
nonlinear coupling in hybrid systems as an important ingredient in the
engineering of nonclassical states. The general scenario we consider is the
implementation of high cross-Kerr nonlinearity in cavity-quantum
electrodynamics. In this context, we discuss the possibility of performing
entanglement transfer and swapping between a qubit and a continuous-variable
state. The recently introduced concept of entanglement reciprocation is also
considered and shown to be possible with our scheme. We reinterpret some of our
results in terms of applications of a generalized Ising interaction to systems
of different nature.
