Encrypted QUBO Formulation for Secure Remote Solver Execution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for solving Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems face challenges in balancing computational efficiency with information security, particularly when data is transmitted online, as it exposes sensitive information to service providers.

Innovation Solution

A cryptographic method is employed to encrypt the QUBO problem before transmission, using an encryption matrix or vector to protect the data, ensuring that only the user can decrypt the solution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If QUBO problems are solved through online platforms, then computational efficiency is improved, but information security deteriorates as data is exposed to service providers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational efficiencyVSAvoidinformation security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by encrypting the QUBO problem data before transmission to the online solver. The encryption is performed in advance on the client side, transforming the original problem into an encrypted form that can be solved computationally while protecting the underlying information. This allows the system to leverage cloud computing resources for efficient solving while maintaining security through pre-encryption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces encryption as an intermediary layer between the user's data and the online solver. The encryption scheme acts as a mediator that transforms the original QUBO problem into an encrypted representation, allowing the solver to work on the encrypted data without accessing the original sensitive information. This intermediary encryption layer resolves the contradiction by enabling both efficient cloud computation and information security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If encryption is applied to protect data transmission, then information security is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation securityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the QUBO problem parameters through encryption. The encryption modifies the problem parameters (matrix elements, constraints) into encrypted forms that preserve the problem structure necessary for solving while protecting the original information. This parameter transformation enables security without requiring entirely different computational approaches, thus managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an encrypted copy of the original QUBO problem for transmission to the solver. Instead of transmitting the original sensitive data, the system generates and transmits an encrypted replica that contains all necessary information for solving the problem while protecting the original data. This copying approach with encryption maintains security while keeping the solving process computationally manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4654519A1Solving cryptography method for optimization and QUBO problems solver system
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 QCENTROID LABS SL
  • EP4654519A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4654519A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4654519A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A QUBO solving method for optimizing a function f(x) defined by a matrix Q and a vector p, comprising the steps of: encrypting the matrix defining the function f(x) to be optimized by using an encryption matrix P and/or an encryption vector k; sending the encrypted version of the matrix Q' to a QUBO solver; receiving an encrypted version of the solution to the QUBO problem x*', obtained by optimization of the encrypted version of the function f'(x') performed by the QUBO solver; and decrypting the solution to the QUBO problem, thus obtaining x*.