Extracting entropy from machine vibration

• US 10,168,995 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boenisch, Volker, Buendgen, Reinhard, Geisert, Franziska, Lang, Jakob, Lattermann, Mareike, Notohardjono, Budy D., Nunez-Mencias, Angel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lagor, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/823,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20180081636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/588 Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 1/00 Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system cryptographic typewriters G09C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/24 Key scheduling, i.e. generating round keys or sub-keys for block encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0869 involving random numbers or seeds

Abstract

Generating a pool of random numbers for use by computer applications. Vibration sensors are placed throughout a machine and collects information theoretic entropy data from the measurement of the vibration sensors. The data is then filtered and added to an 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.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for random number generation for security relevant features of cryptography applications, the computer-implemented method comprising:

acquiring, by at least one sensor, analog vibration data from the machine, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor the vibration of a cooling component of the machine, wherein the analog vibration data is acquired from a motor drive assembly installed in the machine;

converting, by a computer processor, the analog vibration data to digital form;

filtering the digital data; and

storing the filtered data within a memory unit to form a random number pool from which random numbers may be selected, wherein the analog vibration data is collected in a first mode and a second mode.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the analog vibration data is acquired during manufacturing of the machine, thereby forming the random number pool before the machine is completely manufactured.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the analog vibration data is acquired while the machine is powered on.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein in response to one of the at least one sensor detecting no vibration, vibration data is acquired by another sensor.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a tri-axial accelerometer installed in a motor drives assembly of a rotating component within the machine.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein filtering comprises removing non random parts of numbers.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the analog vibration data is acquired during shipment of the machine.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling component is a cooling fan.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising pausing random number generation based at least in part on a fill level of the random number pool.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the first mode is a coarse grained mode and the second mode is a fine grained mode.