Verifiable Delay Function for Sensitive Data Publication Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanisms for publishing digital data within a strict timeframe are error-prone, as they often rely on local timekeeping and parallelization, which can lead to early or inaccurate publication, especially in scenarios requiring precise timing like financial reporting.
Innovation Solution
The use of a verifiable delay function (VDF) ensures that digital data is published only at a predetermined time by forcing sequential computational work, eliminating the need for local timekeeping and preventing early publication, by providing a challenge that must be solved over a specific time period before data is considered published.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If local timekeeping and parallelization are used for data publication, then publication speed is improved, but timing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical timekeeping system (local clocks and timers) with a cryptographic verification system. Instead of relying on local time measurements to trigger publication, the system uses a verifiable delay function that cryptographically proves the passage of time. The computational work required to solve the VDF acts as a substitute for mechanical timekeeping, providing both speed control and timing accuracy through mathematical verification rather than clock-based mechanisms.
2Productivity
If parallelization is used for data processing, then productivity is improved, but reliability of timing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the computational requirements of the verifiable delay function based on the desired publication timeframe. The system can modify the difficulty level or computational depth of the VDF to match different timing requirements, making the timing mechanism adaptable rather than fixed. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the computational work always corresponds precisely to the intended publication time, maintaining reliability across different scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates verification feedback where the publication server checks the cryptographic proof before accepting publication. The verifiable delay function provides a mechanism where the client must demonstrate that the required computational work has been completed, and the server verifies this proof. This feedback loop ensures that publication only occurs after the predetermined time has elapsed, making the timing reliable and preventable of early publication.
3Reliability
If early publication is prevented through strict timing controls, then compliance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cryptographic intermediary (the verifiable delay function) between the data preparation process and the publication act. Instead of directly controlling publication through complex timing mechanisms, the system uses the VDF as an intermediary that naturally enforces the time delay through its computational requirements. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by replacing multiple timing controls, clocks, and verification mechanisms with a single cryptographic primitive that inherently provides the required timing assurance.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments involve controlling the timing of digital publication of sensitive data over a data network, especially in a case where a requirement exists to publish the sensitive data within an established timeframe. For instance, a computing system receives from a client device a request to publish sensitive data. The computing system provides to the client device a challenge useable as input to a verifiable delay function (VDF), responsive to the request. The computing system receives a response to the challenge along with the sensitive data and verifies that the response is a solution to the VDF applied to the challenge. Based on verifying the solution, the computing system publishes the sensitive data.