Step-out ring signatures

Abstract

We propose a version of ring signatures for which the set of potential signers may be reduced: the real signer can prove that he or she has created the signature, while every other member of the ring can prove not to be the signer. Possibility to run these protocols is triggered by publishing certain secret information. The proposed scheme is an intermediate solution between the classical ring and group signatures, and can be used for instance for e-auction schemes. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.