Hierarchical time-based information release

摘要

Rapid distribution of newly released confidential information is often impeded by network traffic jams, especially when the confidential information is either crucial or highly prized. This is the case for stock market values, blind auction bidding amounts, many large corporations'strategic business plans, certain news agencies'timed publications, and some licensed software updates. Hierarchical time-based information release (HTIR) schemes enable the gradual distribution of encrypted confidential information to large, distributed, (potentially) hierarchically structured user communities, and the subsequent publication of corresponding short decryption keys, at a predetermined time, so that users can rapidly access the confidential information. This paper presents and analyzes the efficiency of a novel HTIR scheme.