Patent ID: 7444512

Claim:
A method comprising: pre-computing values in a first proof corresponding to a first statement, the values are pre-computed at a first device based on information received from a second device, the first statement having a first key to a target device that the second device is seeking to access, wherein pre-computing includes selecting a parameter, and based on the parameter, verifying trust between the second device and the target device; receiving a proof request from the second device; verifying validity of the first proof, and generating a second proof based on the values, the second proof corresponding to a second statement, the second statement having a second key to the target device; sending the second proof to the second device, the second proof revealing trustworthiness of the target device without revealing identity of the target device; and establishing trust between the target device and the second device, the second device to access the target device, wherein the trust is established via a direct proof protocol providing for one or more of constructing the first and second proofs randomly or pseudo-randomly, and constructing the first and second proofs by performing proof computation via the pre-computing values during a pre-computation stage.