System and method for searching a database or data sharing system for the presence of data

摘要

A database search system ensures the privacy of a search request and the security of a database with high processing efficiency. The system comprises a database server residing on a network that stores predetermined data, and a client terminal issuing to the database server a search request for inquiring for desired data while keeping the desired data secret. The database server further comprises: a database storing predetermined data; and a search response message generation unit for receiving through a network the data search request in which data to be searched for is kept secret, searching the database by a predetermined computation based on the search request and a list of the data stored in the database while a data item involved with the search request is kept secret, and generating a response to the search request.