Linking encrypted datasets using common identifiers

A method for linking encrypted data sets by comparing pairs of one encrypted identifier and one unencrypted identifier, the method comprising:

• accessing an encrypted data set encrypted by one or more parties representing one or more respective computing devices, the encrypted data set comprising encrypted data and associated encrypted identifiers, but not having access to one or more secret encryption keys required to decrypt the encrypted data and encrypted identifiers;
• retrieving, from memory, a unencrypted plaintext data set comprising unencrypted data and associated unencrypted identifiers,
• converting the encrypted and unencrypted identifiers into respective encrypted and unencrypted sets of a plurality of elemental identifier components, wherein each of the plurality of elemental identifier components in each component set characterizes a distinct numeric property of the corresponding respective converted encrypted and unencrypted identifier;
• composing the encrypted and unencrypted sets of the plurality of elemental identifier components, component-by-component, to generate a plurality of component-specific results;
• determining if the plurality of component-specific results satisfy a matching criterion indicating that the encrypted and unencrypted identifiers match;
• and
• linking the encrypted and unencrypted data associated with the encrypted and unencrypted matching encrypted identifiers.

A system for linking encrypted data sets using common encrypted identifiers in an encrypted space, the system comprising:

• one or more memories configured to store a first and second encrypted data sets independently encrypted by one or more parties, wherein the one or more parties represent one or more respective computing devices, wherein the first and second encrypted data sets comprise first and second respective encrypted data and associated first and second respective encrypted identifiers, and wherein the data and identifiers cannot be unencrypted without one or more secret decryption keys;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• convert the first and second encrypted identifiers into a first and second respective sets of a plurality of elemental identifier components, wherein each of the plurality of elemental identifier components in each component set characterizes a distinct numeric property of the corresponding converted encrypted identifier,
• compose the first and second sets of the plurality of elemental identifier components, component-by-component, to generate a plurality of component-specific results,
• determine if the plurality of component-specific results satisfy a matching criterion indicating that the first and second encrypted identifiers match, and
• link the first and second encrypted data associated with the first and second matching encrypted identifiers that satisfy the matching criterion.