Encrypted Feature Search for Secure Data Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional secure computation technologies for data search, such as those used in surveillance camera videos, incur high computation costs and fail to safely provide original image data to users.

Innovation Solution

A secure search method involving encryption of target and condition features, allowing secure computation-based data search and decryption of search results to obtain original data while maintaining secrecy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If secure computation technology is applied to search image data while maintaining confidentiality, then data secrecy is improved, but computation cost increases enormously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata secrecyVSAvoidcomputation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the search process into two distinct phases: an offline preparation phase where feature vectors are extracted and encrypted, and an online search phase where only encrypted feature comparison is performed. This segmentation allows computationally intensive operations to be performed once during offline preparation, while online searches require minimal computation, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining data secrecy through secure computation and reducing computation cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If conventional secure computation technology is used, then data confidentiality is maintained, but original image data cannot be safely provided to users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata confidentialityVSAvoidoriginal data accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces encrypted feature vectors as an intermediary representation that enables both confidentiality and data accessibility. The search system operates on encrypted features rather than original images, maintaining confidentiality during processing. After search completion, the system can safely provide original image data to authorized users who possess the decryption key, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining confidentiality and enabling safe data provision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If feature extraction and encryption is performed offline, then online search computation cost is reduced, but initial processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveonline search efficiencyVSAvoidinitial processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing feature extraction and encryption operations in advance during an offline preparation phase. This allows the system to pre-process image data, extract meaningful features, and encrypt them before actual search operations begin. As a result, online searches only require lightweight encrypted feature comparison, significantly improving search efficiency while the initial processing time is accepted as a one-time cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12547749B2Secure search method, system thereof, apparatus thereof, encryption apparatus, searcher terminal, and program
Publication Date: 2026.02.10 NT T INC
  • US12547749B2 patent drawing
  • US12547749B2 patent drawing
  • US12547749B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Data search by secure computation is efficiently performed and retrieved data is safely provided. A searcher terminal acquires condition data. The searcher terminal extracts a feature from the condition data. The searcher terminal encrypts the feature of the condition data. A secure search apparatus acquires a search result indicating a ciphertext of target data corresponding to a feature of target data similar to the feature of the condition data while keeping the feature of the target data and the feature of the condition data secret. The secure search apparatus transmits the search result to an encryption apparatus and the searcher terminal. The searcher terminal acquires the ciphertext of the target data indicated by the search result. The encryption apparatus transmits a decryption key to the searcher terminal. The searcher terminal decrypts the ciphertext of the target data using the decryption key.