Method and system for encrypted searching

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11847236-B2
Application number	US-202217882823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2022
Priority date	Jul 16, 2019
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

The present teaching relates to a method, system, and programming for encrypted searching. In a search session, a uniform resource locator (URL) is received, wherein a portion of the URL is encrypted via a first key. A second key associated with the first key is obtained. A determination is made regarding whether a time-related criterion associated with the second key is satisfied. In response to the time-related criterion being satisfied, the portion of the URL is decrypted based on the second key to obtain a keyword, one or more search results are obtained based on the keyword, and a webpage including the one or more search results to be provided to a user is generated.

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:
selecting, by a search engine based on a model, a set of keys from a plurality of sets of keys for encrypting and decrypting a keyword associated with a search request from a user device;
receiving, by the search engine from the user device, a uniform resource locator (URL) generated by the user device, wherein the URL includes the keyword and is encrypted based on the set of keys;
setting an active time-window for the set of keys;
transmitting, by the search engine to the user device, the set of keys;
if the active window does not expire, performing, based on the URL and the set of keys, a search in response to the search request; and
if the active window expires, selecting a different set of keys from the plurality of sets of keys.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of keys includes a first key and a second key.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the URL corresponding to the keyword is encrypted via the first key.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of performing a search comprises:
decrypting the encrypted portion of the URL based on the second key to obtain the keyword,
obtaining one or more search results based on the keyword, and
generating a webpage including the one or more search results to be provided to the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the active window expires, directing the URL to a search box.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the sets of keys in a database.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically refreshing plurality of sets of keys.

8. 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:
selecting, by a search engine based on a model, a set of keys from a plurality of sets of keys for encrypting and decrypting a keyword associated with a search request from a user device;
receiving, by the search engine from the user device, a uniform resource locator (URL) generated by the user device, wherein the URL includes the keyword and is encrypted based on the set of keys;
setting an active time-window for the set of keys;
transmitting, by the search engine to the user device, the set of keys;
if the active window does not expire, performing, based on the URL and the set of keys, a search in response to the search request; and
if the active window expires, selecting a different set of keys from the plurality of sets of keys.

9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the set of keys includes a first key and a second key.

10. The medium of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the URL corresponding to the keyword is encrypted via the first key.

11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the step of performing a search comprises:
decrypting the encrypted portion of the URL based on the second key to obtain the keyword,
obtaining one or more search results based on the keyword, and
generating a webpage including the one or more search results to be provided to the user.

12. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to further perform:
if the active window expires, directing the URL to a search box.

13. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to further perform:
storing the sets of keys in a database.

14. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to further perform:
periodically refreshing plurality of sets of keys.

15. A system for encrypted searching comprising:
memory storing computer program instructions; and
one or more processors that, in response to executing the computer program instructions, effectuate operations comprising:
selecting, by a search engine based on a model, a set of keys from a plurality of sets of keys for encrypting and decrypting a keyword associated with a search request from a user device;
receiving, by the search engine from the user device, a uniform resource locator (URL) generated by the user device, wherein the URL includes the keyword and is encrypted based on the set of keys;
setting an active time-window for the set of keys;
transmitting, by the search engine to the user device, the set of keys;
if the active window does not expire, performing, based on the URL and the set of keys, a search in response to the search request; and
if the active window expires, selecting a different set of keys from the plurality of sets of keys.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the set of keys includes a first key and a second key.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein a portion of the URL corresponding to the keyword is encrypted via the first key.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the operation of performing a search comprises:
decrypting the encrypted portion of the URL based on the second key to obtain the keyword,
obtaining one or more search results based on the keyword, and
generating a webpage including the one or more search results to be provided to the user.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
if the active window expires, directing the URL to a search box.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
periodically refreshing plurality of sets of keys.

Assignees

• Yahoo Assets Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06F21/602 Primary

  Providing cryptographic facilities or services · CPC title

• G06F16/953

  Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines · CPC title

• G06F16/9538

  Presentation of query results · CPC title

• G06F16/9566

  URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links · CPC title

• G06F21/6263

  during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies · CPC title