Method and apparatus for querying content protected by identity-based encryption

摘要

An approach is provided for reducing communication traffic/cost and protecting content by applying recipient criteria in identity-based encryption. A criterion application of a querier causes, at least in part, transmission of a query associated with a first user described according to a first set of criteria. Based on the query, the criterion application of the querier receives one or more second sets of criteria associated with respective second users, wherein the second sets of criteria are matched, at least in part, to the first set of criteria, and wherein at least one of the second sets of criteria is used as a public key for encrypting data according to an identity-based encryption scheme. A criterion application of an information store receives the query associated with the first user, and matches one or more second sets of criteria with all or part of the first set of criteria.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving at a first user device a query from a second user device for encrypted data, the query being associated with a first user, the first user being described according to a first set of criteria; based, at least in part, on the query and one or more second sets of criteria associated with a second user, determining by the first user device whether at least one of the second sets of criteria are matched, at least in part, to the first set of criteria; and associating by the first user device the query with the matched at least one of the second sets of criteria used as a public key for encrypting the encrypted data according to an identity-based encryption scheme, wherein the first set of criteria and the at least one of the second sets of criteria include one or more digital right management compliant requirements.