Encoded Vector Similarity Search for Secure In-Memory Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transfer methods for sensitive information are vulnerable to interception and decryption by sniffers, compromising data security, especially when using encryption keys.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a secure in-memory unit on an associative processing unit (APU) with a decryptor, encoded vector data store, and similarity searcher for encrypted data processing, utilizing neural proxy hash encoding to perform secure similarity searches and data transfers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is transmitted encrypted using known encryption methods, then data security during transmission is improved, but the complexity of encryption/decryption operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidencryption/decryption complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing encoded versions of data vectors in an encoded vector data store before actual search operations. This allows the system to perform similarity searches on encoded vectors without repeatedly encrypting and decrypting the original data, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces encoded vectors as an intermediary representation between the original data and the search query. Instead of directly comparing encrypted data with search queries, the system encodes both the data and queries into vector representations, performs similarity search on these encoded vectors, and only decrypts the final results. This intermediary encoding layer simplifies the search operation while preserving data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional similarity search is performed on encrypted data, then data security is maintained, but search accuracy and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidsearch efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical similarity search methods with a neural network-based encoding system. Instead of using conventional search algorithms on encrypted data, the system uses neural networks to encode data into vectors that capture semantic meaning, enabling efficient similarity search while maintaining security through the encoding transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from raw data to encoded vector representations. By transforming data into vector space where similarity can be efficiently computed, the system achieves both security (through encoding) and efficiency (through vector similarity search). The encoded vectors serve as transformed parameters that enable faster search operations compared to traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If data is stored in traditional memory structures, then data accessibility is maintained, but security against sniffers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidsniffer access
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary encoding layer between the data storage and the processing units. Data is encoded into vectors before being stored or processed, creating a security barrier that prevents sniffers from directly accessing or intercepting meaningful data. The encoded vectors can still be efficiently processed and searched, maintaining accessibility while blocking harmful access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the data in encoded vector form rather than storing the original data directly. This encoded copy serves as the working representation for search operations, while the original data remains protected. The encoded vectors can be manipulated and searched without exposing the underlying sensitive information to sniffers or unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250378199A1Secure similarity search for sensitive data
Publication Date: 2025.12.11 GSI TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US20250378199A1 patent drawing
  • US20250378199A1 patent drawing
  • US20250378199A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system includes a secure, in-memory unit implemented on an associative processing unit (APU) for performing a secure similarity search. The unit implements a decryptor, an encoded vector store and a similarity searcher. The decryptor decrypts an encrypted, encoded vector into an encoded vector. The encoded vector data store stores a plurality of encoded search candidate vectors. The similarity searcher performs a similarity search between an encoded search query vector and the plurality of encoded search candidate vectors.