Optimal strong parity edge-coloring of complete graphs

A parity walk in an edge-coloring of a graph is a walk along which each color is used an even number of times. Let p(G) be the least number of colors in an edge-coloring of G having no parity path (a parity edge-coloring). Let p̂(G) be the least number of colors in an edge-coloring of G having no open parity walk (a strong parity edge-coloring). Always p̂(G) ≥ p(G) ≥ χ′(G). We prove that p̂(Kn) = 2dlg ne−1 for all n. The optimal strong parity edge-coloring of Kn is unique when n is a power of 2, and the optimal colorings are completely described for all n.