Granted Patent B2

US 12,500,737 · App. 18/608,860 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Inventors: Jack Chin Pang Cheng (Hong Kong, CN); Hao Liu (Hong Kong, CN); Moumita Das (Hong Kong, CN); Xingyu Tao (Hong Kong, CN); Jielong Gan (Hong Kong, CN); Shanjing Zhou (Hong Kong, CN)

Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

H04L9/0618H04L63/0407H04L63/10

Abstract

Claims (21)

1 . A system for cost management using blockchain and encryption for reducing computer processing time, comprising:

an access interface configured to provide a platform for users to log in;

a recorder coupled with the platform for recording cost information;

a determinator coupled with the recorder and configured to determine whether the cost information recorded in the recorder is non-sensitive, wherein, when the cost information is determined as being non-sensitive by the determinator, the determinator is further configured to trigger a smart contractor module which is able to interact with the determinator to generate and complete a transaction containing the cost information, and the cost information is directly uploaded to and recorded on a blockchain network via the smart contractor module;

a key generator coupled with the determinator, wherein, when the cost information is determined as being sensitive by the determinator, the key generator is configured to generate a symmetric key randomly;

an encryptor coupled with the key generator and configure to encrypt the cost information using the symmetric key to obtain ciphertext information and encrypt the symmetric key using public keys to obtain encrypted keys, wherein the encryptor sends the ciphertext information to the blockchain network via the smart contractor module for recording; and

a decryptor coupled with the platform for decrypting the encrypted keys using private keys corresponding to the public keys, wherein, when the decrypting fails, an access request is denied by the decryptor, and wherein, when the decrypting successes, the decryptor is permitted to use the symmetric key K to decrypt the ciphertext information.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the encryptor is further configured to send the encrypted keys to the smart contractor module, and the system further comprises:

a key destroyer coupled with the encryptor configured to destroy the symmetric key in a memory after the smart contractor module receives the encrypted keys.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the key destroyer destroys the symmetric key to erase it by overwriting the memory multiple times with other unrelated information, comprising random bits or all zero or one bits.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a re-encryptor coupled with the plat form for generating a re-encryption key using a sender private key and a receiver public key and for encrypting at least one of the encrypted keys using the re-encryption key to obtain a re-encrypted key, which is to be decrypted by using a receiver private key.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the re-encryptor is permitted to decrypt the re-encrypted key using the receiver private key so as to obtain a key for decrypting the encrypted ciphertext information.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform allows different stakeholders to log in via the access interface, enabling multiple simultaneous accesses.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform is made for a construction project such that the access interface is further configure to assign construction-related characteristics for the users.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the construction-related characteristics include roles in owners, designers, consultants for quantity surveyors (QS), contractors, contractors QS, or combinations thereof.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the determinator triggers the smart contractor module to activate smart contract functions and sign smart contracts provided by the smart contractor module, comprising encryption key distribution, cost data recording, cost data retrieval, and cost data access transfer.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the encryption key distribution is activated, generating and sharing public keys for all members in the blockchain network, enabling users to utilize them for access control.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the cost data recording is activated for transactions containing identified planned and actual cost-related information, which is recorded in the blockchain network while preserving confidentiality of cost-sensitive data.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the cost data retrieval is activated for the recorded transactions on the blockchain network, enabling retrieval as authentic data sources for cost analysis and providing uncontroversial evidence in case of disputes, all while preventing leakage of cost-sensitive data.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the cost data access transfer is activated to enable secure and efficient transfer of decryption abilities for previous cost-sensitive data to a new member joining the blockchain network, provided the new member has the right to access the cost-sensitive data.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (97)