System and methods for encryption based on environmental factors

Abstract

A computer system is provided. The computer system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to measure one or more environmental factors; convert the one or more environmental factors to entropy values by truncation or rounding of the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits; and combine the entropy values to generate an encryption key. The one or more environmental factors may include a location of the computer system, a current date and time, parameters of a network environment to which the computer system is connected, or an identification of a server to which the computer system is connected. The at least one processor is further configured to encrypt and/or decrypt at least a portion of a data file and/or at least a portion of a binary executable application using the encryption key.

1 . A computer system comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 measure one or more environmental factors including a location of the computer system; 
 convert the one or more environmental factors to one or more entropy values by transforming of the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits; and 
 combine the entropy values to generate an encryption key. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the transforming of the one or more environmental factors includes truncating or rounding the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental factors include one or more of a current date and time, parameters of a network environment to which the computer system is connected, and an identification of a server to which the computer system is connected. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to encrypt and/or decrypt at least a portion of a data file using the encryption key, thereby omitting a need to provide a password. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to encrypt and/or decrypt at least a portion of a binary executable application using the encryption key, thereby omitting a need to provide a password. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the combining by concatenation of the entropy values or by summation of the entropy values. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain encryption configuration parameters from an administration server, the encryption configuration parameters to identify the one or more of the environmental factors. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine if either:
 a data file should be encrypted using the encryption key; or   a difference file should be created to capture edits made to the data file since a previous encryption based on environmental factors, the difference file to be encrypted using an alternate encryption technique, the alternate encryption technique not based on environmental factors.   
     
     
         9 . A method for providing environmental based encryption comprising:
 measuring, by a computer system, one or more environmental factors including a location of the computer system;   converting, by the computer system, the one or more environmental factors to one or more entropy values by transforming the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits; and   combining, by the computer system, the entropy values to generate an encryption key.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transforming of the one or more environmental factors includes truncating or rounding the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more environmental factors include one or more of a current date and time, parameters of a network environment to which the computer system is connected, and an identification of a server to which the computer system is connected. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising encrypting and/or decrypting at least a portion of a data file using the encryption key, thereby omitting a need to provide a password. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising encrypting and/or decrypting at least a portion of a binary executable application using the encryption key, thereby omitting a need to provide a password. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising performing the combining by concatenation of the entropy values or by summation of the entropy values. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising obtaining encryption configuration parameters from an administration server, the encryption configuration parameters to identify the one or more of the environmental factors. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining if either:
 a data file should be encrypted using the encryption key; or   a difference file should be created to capture edits made to the data file since a previous encryption based on environmental factors, the difference file to be encrypted using an alternate encryption technique, the alternate encryption technique not based on environmental factors.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable sequences of instructions to provide environmental based encryption, the sequences of instructions comprising instructions to:
 measure one or more environmental factors including a location of the computer system;   convert the one or more environmental factors to one or more entropy values by transforming the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits; and   combine the entropy values to generate an encryption key.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the transforming of the one or more environmental factors includes truncating or rounding the one or more environmental factors to a selected number of bits. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more environmental factors include one or more of a current date and time, parameters of a network environment to which the computer system is connected, and an identification of a server to which the computer system is connected. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions to encrypt and/or decrypt at least a portion of a data file using the encryption key, thereby omitting a need to provide a password. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions to encrypt and/or decrypt at least a portion of a binary executable application using the encryption key, thereby omitting a need to provide a password. 
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , the sequences of instructions further include instructions to perform the combining by concatenation of the entropy values or by summation of the entropy values. 
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions to obtain encryption configuration parameters from an administration server, the encryption configuration parameters to identify the one or more of the environmental factors. 
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions to determine if either:
 a data file should be encrypted using the encryption key; or   a difference file should be created to capture edits made to the data file since a previous encryption based on environmental factors, the difference file to be encrypted using an alternate encryption technique, the alternate encryption technique not based on environmental factors.