Patent ID: 8347101

Claim:
A method for anonymously indexing records pertaining to registered users in an electronic record system, the method comprising: storing an asymmetric cryptographic private key within, and under the control of a portable storage device associated with a registered user, the private key operating within a public key infrastructure; creating an anonymous public key certificate and storing it within the public key infrastructure, the anonymous public key certificate being associated with an asymmetric cryptographic public key matching the asymmetric cryptographic private key, wherein the anonymous public key certificate contains an electronic record pointer, the electronic record pointer being associated with each item of personal information pertaining to the registered user held in the electronic record system; providing the portable storage device with information for associating the registered user with the portable storage device; and indexing, within the electronic record system, the personal information of the registered user, the indexing including digitally signing the record of the personal information using the asymmetric cryptographic private key, wherein when a third party seeks to retrieve from the electronic record system a record pertaining to the registered user, unique association of the personal information with the registered user is anonymously verified by the electronic record system when presented with and using the anonymous public key certificate and the electronic record pointer, to effect anonymous indexing of the personal information within the electronic record system, and wherein said unique association is verifiable by using the anonymous public key certificate to verify the digital signature of the record, and wherein said verification is anonymous in that examination by said third party of the record, electronic record pointer and anonymous public key certificate does not reveal the identity of the associated registered user to said third party.