Nokia Bell Labs Develops Method for Cryptographically Suitable Sequences

Nokia Oyj's research arm, Bell Labs, has published findings on a new approach to generating cryptographically suitable sequences using cellular automata (CA). The research addresses challenges in traditional CA methods for random number generation.

Maximum length CA are known for generating excellent random sequences, but they often require significant time to reach an optimal state, potentially impacting performance. This new method aims to accelerate that process while also enabling the creation of non-linear maximum length CA, a crucial element for cryptographic applications.

The Bell Labs paper details algorithms designed to efficiently explore the state space of maximum length CA. It introduces a technique for generating non-linear maximal length cellular automata. These efficient pseudo-random sequence generators can be integrated with other cryptographic primitives, such as S-boxes, to construct more complex cryptographic building blocks.

Originally published in January 2011, the research paper delves into the mathematical and computational techniques that enhance security by leveraging cellular automata for sequence generation.