US Patent 11663365 One-way function

Authenticating a device using processing circuitry that generates fingerprints based on states of a plurality of nodes that are coupled to a plurality of circuits. A first fingerprint is generated at a first time based on first states of the plurality of nodes. A second fingerprint is generated at a second time based on second states of the plurality of nodes, the first fingerprint influencing the second states. Electronic data is obtained from the device to be authenticated. The electronic data is compared with a fingerprint generated and a determination whether to authorize operation of the device is made based on a result of the comparison.