Multi-key hierarchical identity-based signatures

Abstract

We motivate and investigate a new cryptographic primitive that we call multi-key hierarchical identity-based signatures (multi-key HIBS). Using this primitive, a user is able to prove possession of a set of identity-based private keys associated with nodes at arbitrary levels of a hierarchy when signing a message. Our primitive is related to, but distinct from, the notions of identity-based multi-signatures and aggregate signatures. We develop a security model for multi-key HIBS. We then present and prove secure an efficient multi-key HIBS scheme that is based on the Gentry-Silverberg hierarchical identity-based signature scheme. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.