The performance of the differential-phase-shift keying (DPSK) protocol applying a 1310nm up-conversion single-photon detector is analysed. The error rate and the communication rate as a function of distance for three quantum key distribution protocols, the Bennett-Brassard 1984, the Bennett-Brassard-Mermin 1992, and the DPSK, are presented. Then we compare the performance of these three protocols using the 1310 nm up-conversion detector. We draw the conclusion that the DPSK protocol applying the detector has significant advantage over the other two protocols. Longer transmission distance and lower error rate can be achieved.