Battery Entropy Seeding for Cryptographically Secure PRNGs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems face challenges in generating secure random numbers, as they operate deterministically and cannot produce true random numbers, leading to security vulnerabilities in cryptographic applications.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize the natural variability of a battery's chemical compounds to generate a secure random seed, which is then used to create a cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) bit stream, leveraging the battery's entropy as an entropy source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a deterministic PRNG is used to generate random numbers, then the system can operate efficiently with standardized algorithms, but the security is compromised because deterministic machines cannot produce true random numbers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandom number generation efficiencyVSAvoidcryptographic security

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by collecting entropy from battery voltage variations during the boot process before the operating system loads. This pre-collected entropy is stored securely and used to seed the PRNG, ensuring that true randomness is captured before any deterministic operations can compromise security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The battery serves as an intermediary entropy source between the physical world and the deterministic PRNG. The battery's natural voltage variations, caused by chemical compound variability, act as a bridge that converts physical entropy into digital randomness that can be processed by standardized algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If true random number generation is implemented using specialized entropy sources, then cryptographic security is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to requiring specialized equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecryptographic securityVSAvoidspecialized equipment requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery serves multiple functions: it provides power to the device and simultaneously acts as an entropy source for random number generation. By making the battery multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate specialized entropy collection hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining cryptographic security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the battery's own natural operational characteristics (voltage variations during charging and discharging) as the entropy source. The battery essentially serves itself by providing both power and randomness without requiring external specialized equipment or additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If battery voltage measurements are used as an entropy source, then true random numbers can be generated without specialized equipment, but the measurement precision must be sufficient to capture subtle voltage variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandomness qualityVSAvoidvoltage measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses only the least significant bits (LSBs) of the battery voltage measurements, which are the most variable and least stable portions of the data. By focusing on partial information (the LSBs) rather than the complete measurement, the system captures the maximum entropy while being less sensitive to measurement precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the entropy collection process by taking multiple voltage measurements at different times during battery operation (charging, discharging, idle states). This dynamic approach captures voltage variations under different operational conditions, increasing the randomness quality without requiring ultra-precise static measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach combines the efficiency of PRNGs with the security of true random number generators, generating high-quality random numbers for cryptographic applications without the need for specialized equipment, thus enhancing the security of information handling systems.

Implementation Method 1

the natural variability of a battery's chemical compounds to generate a secure random seed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical variability:

Data Source

PatentUS10402169B2Method and system of secure random seed generation for a cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A method and system for generating a secure random seed uses chemical processes in a battery of an information handling system as an entropy source for randomness. The secure random seed may be used by a pseudo-random number generator to create a secure pseudorandom bit stream usable to generate secure encryption keys.