Vehicle Startup Entropy Timing for Privacy-Safe Random Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems face challenges in generating true random numbers for security functions without compromising user privacy, as collecting user interactions for entropy can violate privacy laws, and insufficient entropy is collected during vehicle startup.
Innovation Solution
A system generates random numbers based on time stamps when electrical signals flow from a power source to segments in vehicle cores during startup, using an internal debug meter to determine and combine time stamps in nanoseconds or picoseconds to create unique random numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user interactions are collected to generate entropy for random number generation, then sufficient entropy is obtained for security functions, but user privacy is compromised due to data collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts entropy generation from user interaction data collection and relocates it to hardware-level electrical signal timing observations during system startup. This separates the entropy source from personal user behavior data, eliminating privacy concerns while maintaining random number quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (debug meter or timing circuitry) that captures electrical signal propagation times between power source and processor segments. This intermediary converts physical hardware characteristics into entropy without directly observing or storing user interaction data.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If no user data is collected during vehicle startup to protect privacy, then user privacy is preserved, but insufficient entropy is collected to generate suitable random numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own internal hardware characteristics (electrical signal propagation through processor segments) to generate entropy, rather than relying on external user interactions. The vehicle's hardware self-provides the entropy needed for secure random number generation during startup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the source of entropy from user behavior parameters to hardware timing parameters (signal propagation times in nanoseconds/picoseconds). This parameter transformation enables entropy generation that is both privacy-preserving and sufficiently random for security functions.
3Speed
If random numbers are generated immediately during vehicle startup for security functions, then Over-the-Air connections can be established immediately, but adequate entropy may not be available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares entropy by capturing hardware timing characteristics during the unavoidable startup process itself, before any security functions are needed. The debug meter or timing circuitry records signal propagation times as part of the normal startup sequence, ensuring entropy is ready when required.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are system, method, and device for automatically generating random numbers. According to embodiments, the system may include: a memory storage storing computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory storage, wherein the at least one processor may be configured to execute the instructions to: perform a startup process for a vehicle; determine a plurality of time stamps when electrical signals flow from a power source to a plurality of segments in each of a plurality of cores of the system during the startup process; and generate a random number based on the determined plurality of time stamps.