Hardware root of trust using configuration masks

Abstract

A circuit comprises: a random number generator configured to generate a random number: hashing circuitry configured to mimic a hashing function that can transform the random number into a hash value; and retrieving circuitry configured to use the hash value to retrieve one or more configuration masks from a response signal received by the circuit. The response signal is generated based on the random number by a computing device. The generation of the response signal comprises: generating the hash value for the random number, and combining the hash value with the one or more configuration masks. The random number generator may comprise a ring generator and one or more inverter-based ring oscillators configured to inject bits into the ring generator at a plurality of location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.