Extracting Entropy From The Vibration Of Multiple Machines
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsVolker Boenisch, Reinhard Buendgen, Franziska Geisert, Jakob Lang, Mareike Lattermann, Budy D. Notohardjono, Angel Nunez-Mencias
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Abstract
Generating a pool of random numbers for use by computer applications. Vibration sensors are placed throughout a machine and collect entropy data from the measurements of the vibration sensors. The data is then filtered and sent via secure connection to a second machine to be added to the second machine's entropy pool. Applications needing a random number may acquire a number from the pool. A method, computer program product and system to generate the pool are provided.
Claims12
A method to utilize the vibration of a machine for random number generation, the method comprising:
- acquiring, by at least one sensor on a first machine, analog vibration data;
- converting, by a computer processor of the first machine, the analog vibration data to digital data form;
- filtering, by the computer processor of the first machine, the digital data;
- transmitting the filtered vibration data to a second machine;
- and
- storing the filtered data within a memory unit of the second machine, thereby forming a random number pool from the filtered data from which random numbers may be selected;
- wherein the filtered vibration data is encrypted and signed by the first machine prior to transmission to the second machine;
- and
- wherein in response to the sensor detecting no vibration, the processor attempts to collect vibration data from a second sensor.
A computer program product for random number generation for security relevant features of cryptography applications, the computer program product comprising:
- computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable by a computer processor to perform a method comprising:
- acquiring, by at least one sensor on a first machine, analog vibration data;
- converting, by a computer processor of the first machine, the analog vibration data to digital data form;
- filtering, by the computer processor of the first machine, the digital data;
- transmitting the filtered vibration data to a second machine;
- and
- storing the filtered data within a memory unit of the second machine, thereby forming a random number pool from which random numbers may be selected;
- wherein the filtered vibration data is encrypted and signed by the first machine prior to transmission to the second machine;
- and
- wherein in response to the sensor detecting no vibration, the processor attempts to collect vibration data from a second sensor.
A computer system to generate random numbers, the system comprising:
- a computer processor on a first machine;
- at least one sensor in communication with the processor for acquiring analog vibration data from the first machine;
- wherein the computer processor is configured to:
- convert analog vibration data to digital data form;
- filter the digital data;
- and
- transmit the filtered vibration data to a second machine for storage by the second machine within a memory unit of the second machine, thereby forming a random number pool from which random numbers may be selected;
- wherein the filtered vibration data is encrypted and signed by the first machine prior to transmission to the second machine;
- and
- wherein in response to the sensor detecting no vibration, the processor attempts to collect vibration data from a second sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.