Conversion Schemes for Unlinkable Signatures That Include Revocable Unlinkability

This paper introduces the concept of “revocable unlinkability” for unlinkable anonymous signatures and proposes a generalized scheme that modifies the signatures to include revocable unlinkability. Revocable unlinkability provides a condition in which multiple messages signed using an unlinkable anonymous signature are unlinkable for anyone except the unlinkability revocation manager. Noteworthy is that the identifier of the signer is kept secret from the manager. In addition, examples are presented in which the proposed scheme is applied to existing group/ring signatures. The proposed scheme employs a verifiable MIX-net to shuffle the identifiers of all potential signers, thus giving it the potential for wide application to unlinkable anonymous signatures. key words: unlinkability, anonymous signature, revocation, group signature, ring signature, Mix-net