Content Distribution via Functional Encryption and Intermediary Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content distribution systems face challenges in protecting the privacy of users and content providers, as sensitive information such as user identifiers and content identifiers may be revealed during content requests, compromising anonymity and data security.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of functional encryption techniques to encrypt user identifiers and content identifiers, along with the use of a distributor node that mediates messages between users and content providers, ensures that only discrete decryption keys are provided to entities, preventing them from determining both user and content identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content identifiers and user identifiers are transmitted in clear text during content requests, then content delivery efficiency is improved, but privacy and anonymity of users and content providers are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A distributor node is introduced as an intermediary between users and content providers. The distributor receives encrypted content requests from users, decrypts them to obtain content identifiers, retrieves the requested content from content providers, and forwards it to users. This mediator enables efficient content delivery while preventing direct exposure of sensitive identifiers between users and content providers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the decryption function into two distinct segments: the distributor possesses a content identifier decryption key to decrypt content requests, while the user possesses a user identifier decryption key to decrypt content responses. This segmentation ensures that no single entity can access both types of sensitive information simultaneously, protecting privacy while maintaining delivery efficiency.
2Loss of information
If functional encryption is implemented to protect user and content identifiers, then privacy is enhanced, but system complexity increases due to key management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor acts as a trusted intermediary that manages the content identifier decryption key. By concentrating key management responsibilities in the distributor rather than distributing multiple complex keys across all nodes, the system enhances privacy through functional encryption while controlling the increase in system complexity through centralized key management.
3Loss of information
If a distributor node mediates all communications between users and content providers, then anonymity is preserved, but communication overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor performs preliminary decryption of content requests before forwarding them to content providers. By pre-processing the decryption operation, the system preserves anonymity between users and content providers while minimizing the time overhead during the actual content delivery phase, as the decryption step is completed in advance.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for content distribution at a distributor. A functionally encrypted content request comprising a user identifier and a content identifier is received. The functionally encrypted content request is sent to a content provider. A content reply comprising the functionally encrypted content request and encrypted content corresponding to the content identifier is received. The content reply is decrypted using a functional user identifier decryption key to resolve the user identifier. A further content reply corresponding to the content reply is sent to a user node corresponding to the user identifier.