Asymmetric Key Pair Timing for Controlled Information Disclosure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The distribution of information electronically often leads to resource overstretching and delays due to simultaneous access attempts, and offline users face slower access compared to connected users, especially for time-sensitive materials like company reports or cinema films, where controlled disclosure is essential.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing public key cryptography to control the disclosure time of information by generating asymmetrical key pairs for specified dates and times, where a trusted body provides encryption keys to publishers before the disclosure time and makes decryption keys available to recipients at the designated time, ensuring secure and synchronized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If information is distributed electronically to multiple recipients simultaneously, then information distribution speed is improved, but resource overstretching and system congestion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The encrypted information is distributed to recipients in advance before the designated disclosure time. Recipients receive and store the encrypted data on their devices ahead of time, eliminating the need for simultaneous access to the source system at disclosure time. This preliminary distribution resolves the contradiction by enabling fast information delivery without causing system congestion, as the actual data transfer occurs before the disclosure deadline when system load is lower.
2Loss of time
If information is made available for download at a specific time, then disclosure time control is improved, but all users experience delays and resource overstretching
Solution Approach 1:
Encrypted information is distributed to recipients before the designated disclosure time, allowing offline users to have the data available locally without waiting for network access at disclosure time. This eliminates the waiting delay for offline users while maintaining precise disclosure time control through cryptographic mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Cryptographic encryption serves as an intermediary mechanism that decouples the distribution time from the disclosure time. The encryption layer allows information to be transmitted early to offline users without compromising security, while the decryption key or ability remains controlled until the designated disclosure time. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both time control and efficient user access simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If information is sent in encrypted form ahead of time, then offline user access is improved, but security risks increase if not properly managed
Solution Approach 1:
Cryptographic encryption acts as a secure intermediary that enables offline access while maintaining security. The encrypted information can be distributed ahead of time to offline users, who can store and access it locally without network connection. The security risk is mitigated because the information remains encrypted and unusable without the decryption capability, which is controlled until the designated disclosure time. This resolves the contradiction by enabling easy offline access while maintaining security through the cryptographic layer.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for controlling the disclosure time of information by a publisher to one or more recipients. A trusted body generates an asymmetrical key pair for a specified date and time of disclosure with an encryption key and a decryption key. The trusted body provides a digital certificate signed with a private key of the trusted body providing the publisher with the encryption key prior to the specified date and time. The publisher uses the encryption key to encrypt data and a recipient obtains the encrypted data at any time prior to the specified date and time. The trusted body then makes the decryption key available to the recipient at or after the specified date and time.