Security system for generating keys from access rules in a decentralized manner and methods therefor

Abstract

Improved system and approaches for decentralized key generation are disclosed. The keys that can be generated include both public keys and private keys. The public keys are arbitrary strings that embed or encode access restrictions. The access restrictions are used to enforce access control policies. The public keys are used to encrypt some or all portions of files. The private keys can be generated to decrypt the portions of the files that have been encrypted with the public keys. By generating keys in a decentralized manner, not only are key distribution burdens substantially eliminated but also off-line access to encrypted files is facilitated.

1 . A method for encrypting a file, said method comprising:
 obtaining access rules to be imposed;   producing a rules string in accordance with the access rules;   generating a public key based on the rules string; and   encrypting at least a portion of the file using the public key.   
     
     
         2 - 27 . (canceled)