Communication device, communication system, and communication method

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a communication device is connected to another communication device through an optical communication path to generate an identical cryptographic key shared among the communication devices. The communication device includes a key sharing unit, a key distilling unit, a measuring unit, and a varying unit. The key sharing unit is configured to generate a shared bit string through quantum key distribution with the another communication device. The key distilling unit is configured to generate the cryptographic key from the shared bit string by a key distillation process. The measuring unit is configured to measure an error rate occurring in a photon string transmitted and received via a photon communication channel. The varying unit is configured to vary, based on the error rate, a communication function by applying a limitation on the optical data communication of an optical data communication channel or by releasing the limitation.