Secret File Distribution via Fragmented Storage and Mediator Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing file distribution methods over the internet face security weaknesses, increased user effort, and reduced safety due to the need for multiple email attachments and complex restoration processes, especially when files are deleted or lost during hardware failures or disasters.
Innovation Solution
A secret distribution system and method that encrypts files, fragments them into multiple parts, sets a threshold for restoration, and distributes combined files with restoration information across multiple online storages, allowing secure restoration even if some files are lost, using a management server to manage and provide necessary information for reassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If files are encrypted and fragmented into multiple parts for secure transmission, then security is improved, but user effort and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary that automatically handles file fragmentation, distribution across multiple online storages, and restoration coordination. This mediator eliminates the need for users to manually manage fragmented files across different email accounts or storage locations, thereby maintaining high security through encryption and fragmentation while significantly reducing user effort and operational complexity.
2Ease of operation
If fragment files are placed on the same mail server, then ease of collection is improved, but safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage location of fragmented files by distributing them across multiple different online storages rather than placing all fragments on a single mail server. This segmentation of storage locations maintains safety by avoiding single points of failure and security vulnerabilities associated with centralized mail servers, while the management server coordinates retrieval from these distributed locations to maintain ease of collection.
3Speed
If restoration information is managed locally in terminals, then access speed is improved, but reliability is reduced due to hardware failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary that centrally manages restoration information for fragmented files. Instead of relying on local terminal storage which is vulnerable to hardware failures, the management server stores and manages restoration information in a secure, centralized location. When restoration is needed, the management server provides the necessary information to the terminal, ensuring reliability while maintaining acceptable access speed through efficient server-client communication.
4Reliability
If multiple transmission methods are used for different fragment files, then security is improved, but user effort increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates combined files that can be transmitted through a single, universal transmission channel (such as a single email or file transfer). The management server handles the complexity of coordinating multiple transmission paths and formats behind the scenes, allowing users to send and receive fragmented files through a unified interface. This multi-functional approach maintains security through proper fragmentation and encryption while eliminating the need for users to manually manage multiple different transmission methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for causing sending and receiving of an encrypted file between a sending user terminal and a receiving user terminal connected via a network to be performed in a secret state via a management server is provided. The sending user terminal encrypts an original file and then fragments the original file into a plurality of divided files, creates a plurality of combined files formed by combining a plurality of the divided files, and distributes and saves the combined files to which restoration information for opening the combines files has been added in a plurality of online storages. The receiving user terminal can open the combined files obtained from the online storages by using the restoration information received from the management server to extract the divided files included in the combined files, and can restore the original file from the divided files.