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 validating encrypted bid submissions in a clock auction of one or more items in which bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, said computer system comprising at least one computer, comprising:
receiving means of a first computer of said computer system for receiving an encrypted bid submission in a clock auction of one or more items, wherein said bid submission includes bidding data indicating at least one price or at least one quantity associated with one or more items, wherein bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, and wherein said bidding data is encrypted; and
validating means of said first computer for validating the encrypted bid submission in relation to one or more constraints on said bidding data, wherein said validating occurs while said bidding data is encrypted and without access to an associated encryption key.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data satisfies an activity rule of the clock auction.
3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid prices for one or more items.
4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid quantities for one or more items.
5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said bidding data is encrypted by a process of random permutation.
6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said bidding data is encrypted by a process of secure advance instructions.
7. The computer system of claim 1 , which further comprises a second computer, said second computer located remotely from said first computer and interconnected by a computer network, said second computer including encrypting means for encrypting a bid submission so as to permit validating the encrypted bid submission in relation to one or more constraints on said bidding data while said bidding data is encrypted and without access to an associated encryption key.
8. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data satisfies an activity rule of the clock auction.
9. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid prices.
10. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid quantities.
11. A computer system for encrypting bid submissions in a clock auction of one or more items in which bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, said computer system comprising at least one computer, comprising:
encrypting means of a computer of said computer system for encrypting a bid submission in a clock auction of one or more items, wherein said bid submission includes bidding data indicating at least one price or at least one quantity associated with one or more items, wherein bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, and wherein said bidding data is encrypted so as to permit validating one or more constraints on said bidding data while said bidding data is encrypted and without access to an associated encryption key; and
sending means of said computer for sending said encrypted bid submission to another computer.
12. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid prices.
13. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid quantities.
14. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein bid submissions are encrypted by a process of random permutation.
15. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein bid submissions are encrypted by a process of secure advance instructions.
16. A method for validating encrypted bid submissions in a clock auction of one or more items in which bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said method comprising:
receiving, on a first computer of said computer system, an encrypted bid submission in a clock auction of one or more items, wherein said bid submission includes bidding data indicating at least one price or at least one quantity associated with one or more items, wherein bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, and wherein said bidding data is encrypted; and
validating, on said first computer, the encrypted bid submission in relation to one or more constraints on said bidding data, wherein said validating occurs while said bidding data is encrypted and without access to an associated encryption key.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data satisfies an activity rule of the clock auction.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid prices for one or more items.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid quantities for one or more items.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein said bidding data is encrypted by a process of random permutation.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein said bidding data is encrypted by a process of secure advance instructions.
22. The method of claim 16 , said method implemented on a computer system which further comprises a second computer, said second computer located remotely from said first computer and interconnected by a computer network, said method further including encrypting a bid submission on said second computer so as to permit validating the encrypted bid submission in relation to one or more constraints on said bidding data while said bidding data is encrypted and without access to an associated encryption key.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data satisfies an activity rule of the clock auction.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid prices.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid quantities.
26. A method for encrypting bid submissions in a clock auction of one or more items in which bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, said method implemented on a computer system comprising at least one computer, said method comprising:
encrypting, on a computer of said computer system, a bid submission in a clock auction of one or more items, wherein said bid submission includes bidding data indicating at least one price or at least one quantity associated with one or more items, wherein bids are allowed at price points between clock prices, and wherein said bidding data is encrypted so as to permit validating one or more constraints on said bidding data while said bidding data is encrypted and without access to an associated encryption key; and
sending said encrypted bid submission from said computer to another computer.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid prices.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein validating occurs in relation to whether said bidding data indicates valid quantities.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein bid submissions are encrypted by a process of random permutation.
30. The method of claim 26 , wherein bid submissions are encrypted by a process of secure advance instructions.