# US 2010/0169293 A1 · Search engine service utilizing hash algorithms

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- Number: US 2010/0169293 A1
- Document ID: US20100169293A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/345,842
- Filed: 2008-12-30
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Benjamin S. Gerber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169293A1

## CPC

- G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A secure search method of securing searches by a user through a hash provider using a search engine. The user registers with the hash provider. The hash provider sends a unique number, encrypted result database, and hashed index to the search engine. The user enters in at least one search term to be searched. The user hashes the search term and sends the search term to the search engine with the unique number. The search engine searches and selects the hashed index and encrypted result database based on the unique number. The encrypted result data set taken from the encrypted result database is sent to user. The user decrypts the result set.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A secure search method of securing searches by a user through a hash provider using a search engine comprising the hash provider:
generating a set of a salt, an encryption key, and a unique number;
using the salt, preparing a salted hashed index of search engine data;
using the encryption key, preparing an encrypted result database of search engine data;
sending the set of salt, encryption key, and unique number to the user; and
sending the hashed index, the encrypted result database, and unique number to a search engine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
the user entering at least one search term;
using the salt and hashing the at least one search term entered by the user; and
submitting the hashed at least one search term, and the unique number to the search engine.

### Claim 3

A secure search method by a search engine executing a search comprising a search provider:
receiving a hashed index, encrypted result database, and a unique number from a hash provider;
storing the hashed index and encrypted result database associated with the unique number;
receiving at least one hashed search term and unique number from the user;
selecting the hashed index and encrypted result database associated with the unique number; and
searching the hashed index with the hashed search terms and returning data from the encrypted result database to user in an encrypted result set.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising the user:
receiving the encrypted result set;
decrypting the encrypted result set using the key; and
displaying plain text search results.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising the hash provider prior to receiving a hashed index, encrypted result database, and a unique number from a hash provider:
generating a set of a salt, an encryption key, and a unique number;
using the salt, preparing a salted hashed index of search engine data;
using the encryption key, preparing an encrypted result database of search engine data;
sending the set of salt, encryption key, and unique number to the user; and
sending the hashed index, the encrypted result database, and unique number to a search engine