Method and system for privacy based search

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11470052-B2
Application number	US-201916513372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2019
Priority date	Jul 16, 2019
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

The present teaching relates to a method, system, and programming for encrypted searching. One or more keywords are obtained from a user. A uniform resource locator (URL) is generated, wherein a portion of the URL includes the one or more keywords encrypted via a first key. The URL is transmitted to a search server. In response to a time-related criterion associated with the URL being satisfied, one or more search results are obtained from the server, and in response to the time-related criterion associated with the URL being violated, a search box is obtained in response to transmitting the URL.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method, implemented on a machine having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform capable of connecting to a network for encrypted searching, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a user device, one or more keywords from a user associated with the user device;
generating a uniform resource locator (URL), wherein a portion of the URL includes the one or more keywords encrypted via a first key, wherein the first key is valid within a predetermined active time-window set by a search engine;
transmitting the URL to a search server the search engine;
obtaining one or more search results from the search engine, if the search engine receives the URL within the active time-window; and
obtaining a search box, if the search engine receives the URL beyond the active time-window.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second key is associated with the first key and set by the search engine, and the second key is valid within the active time-window.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
rendering on a webpage the one or more search results obtained from the search engine, wherein time information related to the active time-window is embedded in the webpage.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
sharing the obtained one or more search results with other users based on the time information related to the active time-window.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the first key is generated and transmitted by the search engine and embedded in a browser operating on the user device, and
a second key associated with the first key is used by the search engine to decrypt the encrypted portion of the URL, and wherein the search engine does not share the second key with the user device.

6. A machine readable and non-transitory medium having information recorded thereon for encrypted searching, wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform:
obtaining one or more keywords from a user associated with the machine;
generating a uniform resource locator (URL), wherein a portion of the URL includes the one or more keywords encrypted via a first key, wherein the first key is valid within a predetermined active time-window set by a search engine;
transmitting the URL to the search engine;
obtaining one or more search results from the search engine, if the search engine receives the URL within the active time-window; and
obtaining a search box, if the search engine receives the URL beyond the active time-window.

7. The medium of claim 6 , wherein a second key is associated with the first key and set by the search engine, and the second key is valid within the active time-window.

8. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the information, when read by the machine, further causes the machine to perform:
rendering on a webpage the one or more search results obtained from the search engine, wherein time information related to the active time-window is embedded in the webpage.

9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the information, when read by the machine, further causes the machine to perform:
sharing the obtained one or more search results with other users based on the time information related to the active time-window.

10. The medium of claim 6 , wherein
the first key is generated and transmitted by the search engine and embedded in a browser operating on the machine, and
a second key associated with the first key is used by the search engine to decrypt the encrypted portion of the URL, and wherein the search engine does not share the second key with the machine.

11. A system for encrypted searching comprising:
a query generation and encryption unit implemented by a processor and configured to
obtain one or more keywords from a user associated with the system, and
generate a uniform resource locator (URL), wherein a portion of the URL includes the one or more keywords encrypted via a first key, wherein the first key is valid within a predetermined active time-window set by a search engine;

a transmission unit implemented by the processor and configured to transmit the URL to the search engine; and
a rendering unit implemented by the processor and configured to
obtain one or more search results from the search engine, if the search engine receives the URL within the active time-window, and
obtain a search box, if the search engine receives the URL beyond the active time-window.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein a second key is associated with the first key and set by the search engine, and the second key is valid within the active time-window.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the rendering unit is further configured to:
render on a webpage the one or more search results obtained from the search engine, wherein time information related to the active time-window is embedded in the webpage.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a sharing unit implemented by the processor and configured to share the obtained one or more search results with other users based on the time information related to the active time-window.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein
the first key is generated and transmitted by the search engine and embedded in a browser operating on the system, and
a second key associated with the first key is used by the search engine to decrypt the encrypted portion of the URL, and wherein the search engine does not share the second key with the system.

Assignees

• Yahoo Assets Llc

Inventors

• Owens Stephen
• Johnson Sonia
• Adapala Ramu
• Kurian Chris Elza

Classifications

• H04L63/0428 Primary

  wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload · CPC title

• H04L67/02

  based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] · CPC title

• G06F16/9535

  Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation · CPC title

• G06F21/602

  Providing cryptographic facilities or services · CPC title

• H04L9/14

  using a plurality of keys or algorithms · CPC title