Computer implemented method for generating a set of identifiers from a private key, computer implemented method and computing device
The invention relates to a computer implemented method for generating a set of identifiers from a private key, the method comprising the steps of: calculating a set of public keys, wherein the private key and each public key of the set of public keys form an asymmetric cryptographic key pair; and outputting the identifiers comprising the public keys.
1. A computer implemented method for generating a set of identifiers from a private key, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a private key, wherein generating the private key comprises:
receiving an input value, wherein the input value is a user-selected secret;
storing the user-selected secret in memory;
computing the private key by applying an embedding or randomizing function onto the user-selected secret; and
storing the private key in memory;
calculating a set of public keys using the private key, wherein the private key and each public key of the set of public keys form an asymmetric cryptographic key pair;
erasing the user-selected secret and the private key from memory; and
outputting the identifiers comprising the public keys.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the public keys are the identifiers.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identifiers are database access keys.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising verifying the authenticity of the data using the identifier.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising depositing data into a database using the identifiers.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating a digital signature for the data using the private key, wherein the digital signature is deposited into the database with the data.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the identifiers are used as pseudonyms by the database.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of public keys is calculated from the private key using elliptic curve cryptography, wherein said calculation is performed by a variation of the domain parameters used for performing the elliptic curve cryptography.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said variation of the domain parameters is a variation of base points.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the embedding and randomizing function comprises:
applying a first one-way function on the user-selected secret to provide a first value,
providing a random number,
embedding the random number and the first value by combining them to provide a combination,
applying a second one-way function on the combination to provide a second value, wherein the second value constitutes the private key.
11. A computer system for generating a set of identifiers from a private key, the system comprising:
a processing unit being operable for:
calculating a set of public keys, wherein the private key and each public key of the set of public keys form an asymmetric cryptographic key pair;
generating the private key, wherein generating the private key comprises:
receiving an input value, wherein the input value is a user-selected secret;
storing the user-selected secret in memory;
computing the private key by applying an embedding or randomizing function onto the user-selected secret;
storing the private key in memory;
computing the set of public keys using the private key; and
erasing the user-selected secret and the private key from memory; and
an interface for outputting the identifiers comprising the public keys.