Cryptographic Choice Mechanism Using Commitment Schemes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer-implemented choice mechanisms face challenges in validating participants' submissions while maintaining their security, particularly in scenarios where administrative personnel have access to the system.
Innovation Solution
The proposed system employs a cryptographic method that allows for the secure validation of submissions by using a commitment scheme and random permutations, ensuring that submissions remain encrypted until validation, thus maintaining participant privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the computer system validates the submission, then the submission can be checked for consistency with rules, but administrative personnel who can access the system can also see the submission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cryptographic commitments as an intermediary mechanism. The commitment scheme allows the system to validate submissions without administrative personnel seeing the actual content. The commitment acts as a mediator that preserves privacy while enabling validation through cryptographic proofs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of viewing submissions with cryptographic verification. Instead of administrative personnel directly accessing and viewing submissions, the system uses cryptographic commitments and zero-knowledge proofs to validate submissions mathematically without human inspection of the actual content.
2Loss of information
If the system receives an encrypted submission that cannot be deciphered until after the end of the submission round, then participant privacy is maintained, but the system is also unable to validate the submission until after the end of the submission round
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having participants create cryptographic commitments to their submissions before the submission round ends. These commitments are prepared in advance and can be validated immediately when received, eliminating the need to wait until after the round ends. The cryptographic structure is set up beforehand to enable immediate validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the sequential process of decryption then validation with a cryptographic system that enables simultaneous validation and privacy preservation. Zero-knowledge proofs allow the system to verify submission validity without decrypting or viewing the actual content, achieving both immediate validation and continuous privacy protection.
3Reliability
If advance instructions are validated, then the system can ensure proper formatting and rules compliance, but administrative personnel can also disclose the advance instructions to other participants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cryptographic commitments as an intermediary between advance instructions and administrative personnel. The commitment scheme allows validation of instruction formatting and rules compliance while preventing administrative personnel from seeing or disclosing the actual instruction content. The cryptographic structure mediates between validation needs and privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human inspection of advance instructions with cryptographic validation. Instead of administrative personnel reading and potentially disclosing instructions, the system uses automated cryptographic verification to check formatting and rules compliance, eliminating the human element that could lead to unauthorized disclosure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an improved system and method for using cryptography to secure computer-implemented choice mechanisms. In several preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' submissions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their submissions. This is referred to as a random permutation. In several other preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' advance instructions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their advance instructions. This is referred to as a secure advance instruction. Applications include voting mechanisms, school choice mechanisms, and auction mechanisms.