System and method for cryptographic choice mechanisms
AssigneeEfficient Auctions LLC
InventorsAndrew Komo, Lawrence M Ausubel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved system and method for using cryptography to secure computer-implemented choice mechanisms. In several preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' submissions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their submissions. This is referred to as a random permutation. In several other preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' advance instructions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their advance instructions. This is referred to as a secure advance instruction. Applications include voting mechanisms, school choice mechanisms, and auction mechanisms.
Claims30
A computer system for securely submitting choices to a choice mechanism, said computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, comprising:
- receiving means of said computer system for receiving a submission to said choice mechanism, wherein said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices;
- and
- encrypting means of said computer system for transforming said submission into an encrypted submission, said encrypted submission enabling validation of one or more constraints on the one or more choices expressed within said submission without revealing said one or more choices.
A computer system for securely submitting choices to a choice mechanism, said computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, comprising:
- receiving means of said computer system for receiving a submission to said choice mechanism, wherein said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices;
- encrypting means of said computer system for encrypting said submission in a form that enables validation of one or more constraints on the one or more choices expressed within said submission while said submission remains encrypted;
- and
- sending means of said computer system for sending the encrypted submission to another computer.
A method for securely submitting choices to a choice mechanism, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, said method comprising:
- receiving a submission to said choice mechanism on said computer system, wherein said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices;
- and
- transforming said submission into an encrypted submission on said computer system, said encrypted submission enabling validation of one or more constraints on the one or more choices expressed within said submission without revealing said one or more choices.
A method for securely submitting choices to a choice mechanism, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express choices selected from a plurality of possible choices, said method comprising:
- receiving a submission to said choice mechanism on said computer system, wherein said submission expresses one or more choices selected from a plurality of possible choices;
- encrypting said submission on said computer system in a form that enables validation of one or more constraints on the one or more choices expressed within said submission while said submission remains encrypted;
- and
- sending the encrypted submission from said computer system to another computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.