Patent ID: 7936883

Claim:
A quantum key distribution protocol used in a quantum key distribution system implemented by using a pulse of weak coherent light, comprising: determining a ratio of usage of one of two kinds of existing protocols to usage of the other of the two kinds of existing protocols in accordance with a communication distance between a sender and a receiver of the weak coherent light; and switching a protocol to be used between the two kinds of existing protocols in accordance with the ratio, wherein the two kinds of existing protocols are the BB84 protocol vulnerable to storage attacks, and the SARG protocol vulnerable to intercept-resend with unambiguous discrimination attacks, and if an average number of photons in the pulse of the weak coherent light when the BB84 protocol is used independently is taken as μ, and if an average number of photons in the pulse of the weak coherent light when the SARG protocol is used independently is taken as 2μ, and if the minimum distance at which a mutual information amount that can be acquired by an eavesdropper reduces more than when the BB84 protocol and the SARG protocol are each used independently is taken as m, and if the maximum distance at which the mutual information amount that can be acquired by the eavesdropper becomes less than 1 when the protocol to be used is switched between the two kinds of existing protocols in accordance with the ratio is taken as M, and if the communication distance is taken as L, L being a value between m and M, the ratio a of usage of the BB84 protocol to usage of the SARG protocol is determined as a≦(L−m)/(M−m), a being a value other than 0 and 1, and the average number of photons is determined as μ×2/(1+a).