One-Shot Secure Aggregation Using Homomorphic Key Summation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secure aggregation protocols in distributed systems face challenges such as synchronization latency, integrity verification, scalability, and managing key distribution, especially in environments with distrustful parties and clients with limited resources.

Innovation Solution

A one-shot secure aggregation protocol using key-additive homomorphic encryption (KAHE) and additive homomorphic encryption (AHE) schemes, allowing clients to submit inputs without synchronization, with a decentralized decryptor and verifier ensuring privacy and correctness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional secure aggregation protocols are used, then privacy and security are maintained, but synchronization latency increases and scalability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy and securityVSAvoidsynchronization latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the aggregation process into independent one-shot client submissions that do not require synchronization. Each client can submit their encrypted input independently to the server, eliminating the need for coordinated synchronization rounds while maintaining security through the cryptographic protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary key generation and distribution where clients receive public keys before submission and the server pre-configures aggregation parameters. This preliminary setup enables one-shot submissions without requiring real-time synchronization, as all cryptographic materials are prepared in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional secure aggregation protocols are used, then privacy is maintained, but device complexity and key management burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprivacyVSAvoidkey distribution management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a key distribution server as an intermediary that handles all key generation, distribution, and management operations. Clients simply receive public keys from this intermediary without needing to manage complex key pairs themselves, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining cryptographic privacy guarantees.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protocol enables clients to independently encrypt their inputs using received public keys and submit them without requiring complex interactions with other clients or the server. Each client serves themselves by performing local encryption and submission, reducing the overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If traditional secure aggregation protocols are used, then correctness is verified, but scalability deteriorates in large client groups

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity verificationVSAvoidscalability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the verification function into a separate zero-knowledge proof mechanism that operates independently of the main aggregation process. The server generates proofs that aggregation was performed correctly without requiring interactive verification with all clients, enabling scalability to large client groups while maintaining integrity verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4651425A1Secure aggregation with one-shot clients
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4651425A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4651425A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4651425A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and systems for implementing secure aggregation with one-shot clients are described herein. A server receives, from each client, (i) an encrypted client input represented by a client input encrypted by a Key-Additive Homomorphic Encryption (KAHE) scheme using a client key, and (ii) an encrypted client key represented by the client key encrypted by an Additive Homomorphic Encryption (AHE) scheme using a public key received by the client from a decryptor. The server adds the encrypted client input to a combination (e.g., a running sum) of encrypted client inputs received from at least some of the clients. The server further adds the encrypted client key to a combination (e.g., a running sum) of encrypted client keys received from the clients which supplied their client inputs to the server. The server then transmits, to the decryptor, the running sum of encrypted client keys. In response, the server receives, from the decryptor, a decrypted key produced by decrypting, using a secret key corresponding to the public key, the running sum of encrypted client keys. The server then decrypts, using the decrypted key, the running sum of encrypted client inputs.