Proxy Server Cryptographic Handshake for Social Network Identity Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Online social networks lack effective verification of user identities, making it easy for impostors to create fake profiles and deceive others, leading to potential sharing of private information.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system for creating secret interest groups using cryptographic algorithms and protocols, where a proxy server verifies membership through cryptographic handshakes, ensuring only legitimate group members can communicate securely and privately within the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cryptographic verification is implemented through a proxy server, then security and identity verification are improved, but device complexity and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentity verificationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary component that mediates between OSN users and the central server. The proxy server performs cryptographic verification of SIG membership by computing cryptographic handshakes between users, thereby improving identity verification reliability while isolating the complexity from the main OSN system. This intermediary handles the complex cryptographic operations locally, preventing the central server from becoming overly complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cryptographic handshakes are performed for every friendship request, then security is improved, but processing time and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembership verificationVSAvoidfriendship request processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing cryptographic credentials and SIG membership information in user profiles before friendship requests are made. When a friendship request occurs, the proxy server can quickly verify membership using pre-computed cryptographic handshakes rather than performing complex verification from scratch. This reduces the time penalty for each individual friendship request while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If secret interest group membership is verified cryptographically, then privacy and security are improved, but ease of operation decreases due to automated verification requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidfriendship request simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server implements automated self-service verification by automatically performing cryptographic handshakes and verifying SIG membership without requiring manual intervention from users. The system autonomously checks credentials, validates membership, and determines whether to forward friendship requests based on cryptographic verification results. This maintains privacy and security while preserving ease of operation for end users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2365679B1Secret interest groups in online social networks

Publication Date: 2012.10.24 SAP SE

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AI summary

Described herein are methods and systems for creating a framework that allows the creation of Secret Interest Groups (SIGs) in Online Social Networks. SIGs are self-managed groups formed outside of the social network, around secret, sensitive, or private topics. A set of cryptographic algorithms are used for the framework implementation.