Encrypted file system, encrypted file retrieval method, and computer-readable medium

• US 20020038421A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hamada, Tomohiro
• Application Number:
  US09/962,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1408 by using cryptography for digital transmission H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption

Abstract

A registration device registers, in an encrypted file, records in which at a least key item among a plurality of items that is a key during a retrieval is encrypted. At this time, the registration device generates encrypted data of entire key items by encrypting the data of key items in character units and then combining. The retrieval device executes a complete-match and partial match retrieval from the encrypted file using an encrypted retrieval key in which a retrieval key that has been given as a retrieval condition has been encrypted in character units and then combined.

Claims

1. An encrypted file system, comprising:

a file for storing records wherein at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key during retrieval is encrypted, and wherein an encryption of key items is realized by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining; and

a retrieval device for performing retrieval from said file using an encrypted retrieval key wherein a retrieval key that is provided as a retrieval condition has been encrypted in character units and then combined.

2. An encrypted file system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieval device is constituted by:

a resolving means for resolving a retrieval key into character units; and

an encryption means for generating an encrypted retrieval key by encrypting each of the individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

3. An encrypted file system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieval device comprises a retrieval means for retrieving from said file those records having a key item that completely matches or partially matches an encrypted retrieval key.

4. An encrypted file system according to claim 2, wherein said retrieval device comprises a retrieval means for retrieving from said file those records having a key item that completely matches or partially matches an encrypted retrieval key.

5. An encrypted file system according to claim 3, wherein said retrieval device includes a decryption means for decrypting records that have been retrieved from said file and outputting as retrieval results.

6. An encrypted file system according to claim 4, wherein said retrieval device includes a decryption means for decrypting records that have been retrieved from said file and outputting as retrieval results.

7. An encrypted file system according to claim 1, said encrypted file system including a registration device that registers, in said file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and that performs encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining.

8. An encrypted file system according to claim 2, said encrypted file system including a registration device that registers, in said file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and that performs encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining.

9. An encrypted file system according to claim 3, said encrypted file system including a registration device that registers, in said file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and that performs encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining.

10. An encrypted file system according to claim 4, said encrypted file system including a registration device that registers, in said file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and that performs encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining.

11. An encrypted file system according to claim 5, said encrypted file system including a registration device that registers, in said file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and that performs encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining.

12. An encrypted file system according to claim 6, said encrypted file system including a registration device that registers, in said file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and that performs encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining.

13. An encrypted file system according to claim 7, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit obtained by resolving and then combining.

14. An encrypted file system according to claim 8, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit obtained by resolving and then combining.

15. An encrypted file system according to claim 9, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit obtained by resolving and then combining.

16. An encrypted file system according to claim 10, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit obtained by resolving and then combining.

17. An encrypted file system according to claim 11, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit obtained by resolving and then combining.

18. An encrypted file system according to claim 12, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit obtained by resolving and then combining.

20. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 19, wherein said Step (b) further comprises the steps of:

resolving a retrieval key into character units; and

generating an encrypted retrieval key by encrypting each of the individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

21. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 19, wherein said Step (b) includes the step of:

retrieving from said file those records having a key item that completely matches or partially matches the encrypted retrieval key.

22. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 20, wherein said Step (b) includes the step of:

retrieving from said file those records having a key item that completely matches or partially matches the encrypted retrieval key.

23. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 21 wherein said Step (b) includes the step of:

decrypting records that have been retrieved from said file and outputting as retrieval results.

24. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 22 wherein said Step (b) includes the step of:

decrypting records that have been retrieved from said file and outputting as retrieval results.

25. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 19, wherein said Step (a) includes the steps of:

resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered; and

encrypting entire key items by individually encrypting each of individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

26. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 20, wherein said Step (a) includes the steps of:

resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered; and

encrypting entire key items by individually encrypting each of individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

27. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 21, wherein said Step (a) includes the steps of:

resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered; and

encrypting entire key items by individually encrypting each of individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

28. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 22, wherein said Step (a) includes the steps of:

resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered; and

encrypting entire key items by individually encrypting each of individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

29. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 23, wherein said Step (a) includes the steps of:

resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered; and

encrypting entire key items by individually encrypting each of individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

30. An encrypted file retrieval method according to claim 24, wherein said Step (a) includes the steps of:

resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered; and

encrypting entire key items by individually encrypting each of individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

19. An encrypted file retrieval method, comprising the steps of:

(a) performing encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining, this step being a step for registering, in a file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted; and

(b) performing retrieval from said file using an encrypted retrieval key in which a retrieval key that is given as a retrieval condition has been encrypted in character units and then combined.

31. A recording medium that can be read by a computer in which is recorded a program for causing a computer to function as:

a registration device that is a means for registering, in a file, records in which at least a key item among a plurality of items that is a key in a retrieval is encrypted, and for performing encryption of key items by encrypting data of the key items in character units and then combining; and

a retrieval device for performing retrieval from said file using an encrypted retrieval key wherein a retrieval key that is provided as a retrieval condition has been encrypted in character units and then combined.

32. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 31, wherein said retrieval device includes:

a resolving means for resolving a retrieval key into character units; and

an encryption means for generating an encrypted retrieval key by encrypting each of the individual character units that have been obtained by resolving and then combining.

33. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 31, wherein said retrieval device includes a retrieval means for retrieving from said file those records having a key item that completely matches or partially matches an encrypted retrieval key.

34. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 32, wherein said retrieval device includes a retrieval means for retrieving from said file those records having a key item that completely matches or partially matches an encrypted retrieval key.

35. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 33, wherein said retrieval device includes a decryption means for decrypting records that have been retrieved from said file and outputting as retrieval results.

36. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 34, wherein said retrieval device includes a decryption means for decrypting records that have been retrieved from said file and outputting as retrieval results.

37. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 35, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit that has been obtained by resolving and then combining.

38. A recording medium that can be read by a computer according to claim 36, wherein said registration device comprises:

resolving means for resolving into character units data of key items of records that are to be registered, and encryption means for encrypting entire key items by encrypting each individual character unit that has been obtained by resolving and then combining.