Secure Electronic Communication via Homomorphic Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods of electronic communication fail to protect metadata, such as sender and receiver relationships, communication timing, and frequency, especially when using untrusted internet service providers or servers, as they rely on trusted intermediaries that can be compromised or coerced to reveal metadata.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a private information retrieval scheme that allows user devices to securely retrieve encrypted communications from a server without revealing the identity of the message or the recipient, using an additively homomorphic encryption system to protect metadata by filtering content through a query vector or matrix that isolates the targeted mailbox while obfuscating the server's awareness of the retrieval process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electronic communication methods are used with untrusted servers, then communication can be delivered, but metadata privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into multiple independent components: encrypted message storage, separate mailbox indexing, and private information retrieval protocols. The message content and metadata are handled separately, with the server only accessing encrypted indices rather than message contents, thereby protecting metadata privacy while enabling communication delivery
Solution Approach 2:
An additively homomorphic encryption system serves as an intermediary between the user and the server. This cryptographic intermediary allows the server to perform operations on encrypted data without decrypting it, enabling the server to facilitate communication delivery while the encryption layer protects metadata from server access
2Loss of information
If trusted intermediaries are used to protect metadata, then metadata privacy is improved, but system reliability decreases due to potential compromise or coercion
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through cryptographic techniques where the client performs encryption and retrieval operations locally without requiring trust in the server. The homomorphic encryption allows the server to assist with encrypted data processing while the client maintains control through private keys, eliminating the need for trusted intermediaries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical trust-based system with a cryptographic system. Instead of relying on the trustworthiness of intermediaries (mechanical/social trust), the system uses mathematical guarantees through homomorphic encryption and private information retrieval protocols to ensure metadata privacy regardless of server trustworthiness
3Productivity
If all mailboxes are stored and indexed on the server, then communication retrieval is efficient, but the server gains awareness of communication patterns
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the system have different security properties: the mailbox indices are stored in encrypted form on the server with local quality encryption properties, while the message contents remain encrypted. The retrieval process uses localized cryptographic operations at the client side to maintain pattern privacy while achieving efficient server-side indexing for productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for secure electronic communication. Examples of metadata include identification of a relationship of a sender and receiver, timing of a communication between the sender and receiver, and frequency of communication between the sender and receiver. The described techniques, for instance, may be implemented to allow a user device to request delivery from a server of an electronic communication and receive the electronic communication without the server being aware of which electronic communication was received.