Generating cryptographic function parameters based on an observed astronomical event
Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating cryptographic function parameters are described. In some examples, astronomical data from an observed astronomical event is obtained. A pseudorandom generator is seeded based on the astronomical data. After seeding the pseudorandom generator, an output from the pseudorandom generator is obtained. A parameter for a cryptographic function is generated by operation of one or more data processors. The parameter is generated from the output from the pseudorandom generator.
1. A cryptography method comprising:
obtaining astronomical data from an observed astronomical event;
seeding a pseudorandom generator based on the astronomical data, wherein the pseudorandom generator includes a compact source code in a computer programming language;
after seeding the pseudorandom generator, obtaining an output from the pseudorandom generator;
generating a parameter for a cryptographic function by operation of one or more data processors using the output from the pseudorandom generator, wherein generating the parameter for the cryptographic function using the output from the pseudorandom generator comprises generating a constant of an elliptic curve function using the output from the pseudorandom generator, and wherein the generated parameter for a cryptographic function has a larger size in memory than the compact source code of the pseudorandom function;
encrypting data using the cryptographic function; and
transmitting the encrypted data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises an event that is globally observable and globally verifiable.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises a sunspot, and obtaining the astronomical data comprises computing the astronomical data based on an attribute of the sunspot.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises a supernova, and obtaining the astronomical data comprises computing the astronomical data based on an attribute of the supernova.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises a meteoroid discovery, and obtaining the astronomical data comprises computing the astronomical data based on an attribute of a meteoroid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises an event on an extraterrestrial planet, and obtaining the astronomical data comprises computing the astronomical data based on an attribute of the event.
7. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating a customized set of parameters for the cryptographic function, wherein the customized set of parameters are based on the astronomical data and a user-selected input value.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the observed astronomical event and the pseudorandom generator are specified by a cryptosystem protocol, and the cryptosystem protocol permits a range of values for the user-selected input value.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the parameter to perform cryptographic operations according to a cryptographic communication protocol.
10. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating a full set of parameters for the cryptographic function from the output from the pseudorandom generator.
11. A computing system comprising one or more hardware data processors configured to perform operations comprising:
obtaining astronomical data from an observed astronomical event;
seeding a pseudorandom generator based on the astronomical data, wherein the pseudorandom generator includes a compact source code in a computer programming language;
after seeding the pseudorandom generator, obtaining an output from the pseudorandom generator;
generating a parameter for a cryptographic function by operation of one or more data processors using the output from the pseudorandom generator, wherein generating the parameter for the cryptographic function using the output from the pseudorandom generator comprises generating a constant of an elliptic curve function using the output from the pseudorandom generator, and wherein the generated parameter for a cryptographic function has a larger size in memory than the compact source code of the pseudorandom function;
encrypting data using the cryptographic function; and
transmitting the encrypted data.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises an event that is globally observable and globally verifiable.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises at least one of a sunspot, a supernova, a meteoroid discovery, or an event on an extraterrestrial planet.
14. The system of claim 11 , the operations comprising generating a customized set of parameters for the cryptographic function, wherein the customized set of parameters are based on the astronomical data and a user-selected input value.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the observed astronomical event and the pseudorandom generator are specified by a cryptosystem protocol, and the cryptosystem protocol permits a range of values for the user-selected input value.
16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a terminal configured to use the parameter in a cryptographic communication protocol.
17. The system of claim 11 , the operations comprising generating a full set of parameters for the cryptographic function from the output from the pseudorandom generator.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a data processing apparatus, cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
obtaining astronomical data from an observed astronomical event;
seeding a pseudorandom generator based on the astronomical data, wherein the pseudorandom generator includes a compact source code in a computer programming language;
after seeding the pseudorandom generator, obtaining an output from the pseudorandom generator;
generating a parameter for a cryptographic function by operation of one or more data processors using the output from the pseudorandom generator, wherein generating the parameter for the cryptographic function using the output from the pseudorandom generator comprises generating a constant of an elliptic curve function using the output from the pseudorandom generator, and wherein the generated parameter for a cryptographic function has a larger size in memory than the compact source code of the pseudorandom function;
encrypting data using the cryptographic function; and
transmitting the encrypted data.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the observed astronomical event comprises at least one of a sunspot, a supernova, a meteoroid discovery, or an event on an extraterrestrial planet.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , the operations comprising generating a customized set of parameters for the cryptographic function, wherein the customized set of parameters are based on the astronomical data and a user-selected input value.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the observed astronomical event and the pseudorandom generator are specified by a cryptosystem protocol, and the cryptosystem protocol permits a range of values for the user-selected input value.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , the operations comprising generating a full set of parameters for the cryptographic function from the output from the pseudorandom generator.