Digital signature algorithm for verifying edited data

Abstract

Embodiments of this disclosure provide, but are not limited to, solutions for protecting, sharing, verifying, and / or generating data resources such as documents. In exemplary embodiments, a data resource is represented, expressed, or defined as a plurality of hashed constituent segments. Using the segment hashes as leaves, a Merkle tree is generated representing the complete original version of the data resource. An edited version of the data resource can be shared, omitting one or more segments that the data administrator wishes to keep secret or does not wish to share in its original form. To verify the authenticity and / or completeness of the edited data resource, a validator is provided with sufficient data (e.g., the hash of each of the non-shared segments) to verify the presence of non-shared segments in the tree representing the complete original version, and an authorized signature that signed the root. In some embodiments, the data resource is a code library, and the segments are parts of computer code that perform specific subtasks. Shared code segments, when executed on a processor, may be selected to combine to perform larger tasks.