From Random Numbers to Random Objects

Entropy (Basel). 2022 Jul 4;24(7):928. doi: 10.3390/e24070928.

Abstract

Many security-related scenarios including cryptography depend on the random generation of passwords, permutations, Latin squares, CAPTCHAs and other types of non-numerical entities. Random generation of each entity type is a different problem with different solutions. This study is an attempt at a unified solution for all of the mentioned problems. This paper is the first of its kind to pose, formulate, analyze and solve the problem of random object generation as the general problem of generating random non-numerical entities. We examine solving the problem via connecting it to the well-studied random number generation problem. To this end, we highlight the challenges and propose solutions for each of them. We explain our method using a case study; random Latin square generation.

Keywords: Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSRs); S-restricted random number generator; integer compositions; parallel LFSRs; random number generation; random object generation.

Grants and funding

T.K. acknowledges support from MEXT Quantum Leap Flagship Program (MEXT Q-LEAP) Grant No. JPMXS0118067285 and No. JPMXS0120319794 and JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. 19K22849 and 21H04879.