Patent ID: 6021200
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G06Q,G07C

Abstract:
A system for the anonymous counting of information items for statistical purposes, especially in respect of operations in electronic voting or in periodic surveys of consumption, comprising:a plurality of decision units, at least one verification unit and at least one counting unit, these units being functionally and structurally separateeach decision unit including means for producing a source information item to be counted and an identity information item singling out of the decision unit,means for enciphering the source information item to render the source information item essentially indecipherable by the verification unit and decipherable by the counting unit,the verification unit including a file of the identity information of the decision units,means for checking, upon receiving an incoming message, the identity of the decision unit from which this incoming message originates,means for compiling a derived message on the basis of this incoming message, the derived message being an anonymous message essentially devoid of any identity information item decipherable by the counting unit,the counting unit including means for receiving the derived messages from the verification unit and for processing these messages to compile a statistic of the corresponding source information items,a file of the statistics being thus compiled, andthe means for enciphering the source information item of the decision unit are public key enciphering means operating on the basis of the public key of the counting unit.