System and method for cryptographic choice mechanisms
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.
1. A computer system for securing submissions in a choice mechanism while simultaneously validating the submissions, said system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express choices taken from a plurality of possible choices, comprising:
receiving means of a first computer of said computer system for receiving a submission, wherein said submission expresses choices and wherein the choices expressed within the submission are encrypted; and
validating means of said first computer for validating the submission in relation to one or more constraints on the encrypted choices expressed within said submission, wherein said validating occurs while said choices are encrypted.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the choices expressed within the submission are encrypted by a process of random permutation.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the choices expressed within the submission are encrypted by a process of secure advance instructions.
4. The system of claim 1 which further comprises encrypting means of a second computer of said computer system for encrypting the choices expressed within a submission by a process of random permutation, said second computer located remotely from said first computer and interconnected by a computer network.
5. The system of claim 1 which further comprises encrypting means of a second computer of said computer system for encrypting the choices expressed within a submission by a process of secure advance instructions, said second computer located remotely from said first computer and interconnected by a computer network.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission are a ranked ordering of a set.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission are a ranked ordering of a set.
8. The system of claim 4 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission are a ranked ordering of a set.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said choice mechanism is a dynamic choice mechanism.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission satisfy an activity rule.
11. The system of claim 2 wherein said choice mechanism is a dynamic choice mechanism.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission satisfy an activity rule.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein said choice mechanism is a voting mechanism.
14. The system of claim 2 wherein said choice mechanism is a voting mechanism.
15. The system of claim 4 wherein said choice mechanism is a voting mechanism.
16. A method for securing submissions in a choice mechanism while simultaneously validating the submissions, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said choice mechanism using submissions that express choices taken from a plurality of possible choices, said method comprising:
receiving a submission on a first computer of said computer system, wherein said submission expresses choices and wherein the choices expressed within the submission are encrypted; and
validating said submission on said first computer in relation to one or more constraints on the encrypted choices expressed within said submission, wherein said validating occurs while said choices are encrypted.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the choices expressed within the submission are encrypted by a process of random permutation.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the choices expressed within the submission are encrypted by a process of secure advance instructions.
19. The method of claim 16 which further includes encrypting the choices expressed within a submission on a second computer by a process of random permutation, said second computer located remotely from said first computer and interconnected by a computer network.
20. The method of claim 16 which further includes encrypting the choices expressed within a submission on a second computer by a process of secure advance instructions, said second computer located remotely from said first computer and interconnected by a computer network.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission are a ranked ordering of a set.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission are a ranked ordering of a set.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission are a ranked ordering of a set.
24. The method of claim 16 wherein said choice mechanism is a dynamic choice mechanism.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission satisfy an activity rule.
26. The method of claim 17 wherein said choice mechanism is a dynamic choice mechanism.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the validating is in relation to whether the choices expressed within the submission satisfy an activity rule.
28. The method of claim 16 wherein said choice mechanism is a voting mechanism.
29. The method of claim 17 wherein said choice mechanism is a voting mechanism.
30. The method of claim 19 wherein said choice mechanism is a voting mechanism.