Multi-hop secure content routing based on cryptographic partial blind signatures and embedded terms

A transmitter node, comprising:

• a communication interface to communicate with other nodes;
• a processing circuit coupled to the communication interface, the processing circuit configured to
• obtain, at the transmitter node, a commitment value C as a function of a message m;
• send the commitment value C and transmitter terms of use TA for the message m to a receiver node without disclosing the message m;
• receive, from the receiver node, a cryptographic receiver signature SB over the commitment value C and the transmitter terms of use TA, signed with a private key kprv-B associated with the receiver node;
• authenticate the receiver signature SB using a public key kpub-B for the receiver node;
• sign the message m and the receiver signature SB using a private key kprv-A. for the transmitter node to obtain a transmitter signature SA;
• and
• send the message m and the transmitter signature SA to the receiver node,

A method operational at a receiver node, comprising:

• receiving, from a transmitter node, a commitment value C that is a function H of a message m without obtaining the message m;
• receiving, from the transmitter node, transmitter terms of use TA for the message m;
• ascertaining whether the transmitter terms of use TA are acceptable to the receiver node;
• signing the transmitter terms of use TA and the commitment value C using a private key kprv-B for the receiver node to obtain a receiver signature SB;
• sending the receiver signature SB to the transmitter node;
• and
• receiving the message m and a transmitter signature SA from the transmitter node, where the transmitter signature SA is applied over the message m and the receiver signature SB using a private key kprv-A for the transmitter node.

A receiver node, comprising:

• a communication interface to communicate with other nodes;
• a processing circuit coupled to the communication interface, the processing circuit configured to
• receive, from a transmitter node, a commitment value C that is a function H of a message m without obtaining the message m;
• receive, from the transmitter node, transmitter terms of use TA for the message m;
• ascertain whether the transmitter terms of use TA are acceptable to the receiver node;
• sign the transmitter terms of use TA and the commitment value C using a private key kprv-B for the receiver node to obtain a receiver signature SB;
• send the receiver signature SB to the transmitter node;
• and
• receive the message m and a transmitter signature SA from the transmitter node, where the transmitter signature SA is applied over the message m and the receiver signature SB using a private key kprv-A for the transmitter node.