Encrypted Data Sharing for Selective Blockchain Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blockchain systems fail to ensure data privacy, as all entities in the network can access shared data, and private blockchains do not adequately protect data privacy for specific entities.
Innovation Solution
A data sharing apparatus and method that combines target data with a random bit string, encrypts it using a symmetric key-based algorithm, generates ciphertexts with public keys, and shares these using a public key-based encryption algorithm, ensuring only intended entities can decrypt and verify the data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional blockchain is used to share data, then data sharing capability is improved, but data privacy is compromised because all entities can access the data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data sharing process into multiple encrypted components. The target data is combined with a random bit string to create first combined data, which is then encrypted. The encryption key itself is encrypted separately for each recipient using their public key. This segmentation allows selective access where each entity receives only their encrypted portion, preventing unauthorized entities from accessing the complete data while maintaining sharing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces encryption as an intermediary layer between the data and the recipients. The first combined data is encrypted to create ciphertext, and the decryption key is further encrypted with each recipient's public key. This intermediary encryption mechanism acts as a gatekeeper, allowing data to be shared broadly while ensuring that only authorized entities with the corresponding private keys can access the actual data, thus preserving privacy.
2Loss of information
If private blockchain is used to protect data privacy, then data privacy for specific entities is improved, but data sharing capability is reduced because not all entities can access the data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic data sharing system where access rights are not fixed but can be selectively assigned. The encryption mechanism allows the data owner to dynamically determine which entities receive the encrypted decryption key for the target data. This dynamic approach enables flexible sharing capability where data can be shared with specific entities while maintaining privacy, resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and sharing capability.
3Loss of information
If encryption is applied to protect data privacy, then data privacy is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple encryption steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the target data with a random bit string to create first combined data before encryption. This combining serves multiple purposes: it enhances privacy protection by obscuring the actual data, and it simplifies the overall system by integrating verification functionality into the data structure itself. The random bit string acts as both a privacy shield and a verification element, reducing the need for separate complex verification mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for sharing data according to one embodiment includes a first combined data generator configured to generate first combined data by combining target data to be shared and a random bit string, a data encryptor configured to generate a ciphertext for the first combined data, a key encryptor configured to generate one or more ciphertexts for a decryption key of the ciphertext for the first combined data using one or more public keys, a second combined data generator configured to generate second combined data by combining the ciphertext for the first combined data, the one or more ciphertexts for the decryption key, and the random bit string, and a data discloser configured to disclose the second combined data to one or more entities to share the target data to be shared.