Distributed Random Number Seed Generation for Lottery Drawings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lottery drawing systems using specialized algorithms for generating random numbers are vulnerable to fraud if the seed value becomes known, lacking predictability and security.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple lottery entities generating and publishing hashes and digital signatures before lottery drawings, with a central authority confirming these publications to derive a secure random number seed for generating draw numbers, ensuring unpredictability and resistance to manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a specialized algorithm with seed value is used for random number generation, then the lottery drawing can be performed systematically, but the system becomes vulnerable to fraud if the seed value is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the seed generation process across multiple independent lottery entities, each contributing their own hash values. This distributes the security responsibility and ensures that no single entity can control or predict the final seed, thereby preventing fraud while maintaining systematic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having each lottery entity generate and publish their hash values and digital signatures before the actual drawing. This advance publication creates a verifiable record that prevents manipulation of the seed generation process, enhancing security without sacrificing systematic operation
2Reliability
If digital signatures and hashes are published before drawings, then fraud resistance is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where each lottery entity publishes their digital signature and hash, then receives confirmation from other entities or a central authority. This feedback loop ensures verification without requiring complex manual intervention, as the confirmation process is automated through cryptographic validation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary role (central authority or other lottery entities) that facilitates the confirmation process. This intermediary validates the published hashes and signatures, simplifying the complexity by centralizing the verification logic rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer validation between all entities
3Reliability
If multiple lottery entities independently generate hashes, then security against single-point failure is improved, but coordination overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous useful action by having all lottery entities generate their hashes and publish them in parallel rather than sequentially. The confirmation process occurs concurrently with the drawing preparation, minimizing idle time and ensuring that the distributed security model does not significantly delay the lottery operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a lottery through a plurality of lottery entities. Each of the lottery entities generates a respective plays hash of a set of play transactions issued by the entity for a lottery game, and a digital signature as a function of the plays hash, before a game drawing. Each of the plurality of lottery entities publishes the respective digital signature, followed by the respective plays hash, to other entities of the plurality of lottery entities and/or a central authority. A random number seed is generated as a function of the published plays hashes. One or more random draw numbers for the game drawing are generated as a function of the random number seed.