> > AFAICT, all we need to do is add SA_SAMPLE_RANDOM to the request_irq call
> > flags in the host controllers.
> 
> I think most controllers interrupt every frame.

UHCI sends a more regular stream of interrupts, since it needs the
software to tend things rather often.  OHCI and EHCI tend to use
interrupts only when transfers complete.


> That would be a very poor source of entropy.

The entropy comes from unpredictabillity, which is more a function
of the USB devices rather than the controller.  So keyboard and
mouse code (device level) is a more appropriate place to track
entropy than HCDs (controller level).

Consider video-over-usb: highly regular interrupt pattern, no
matter what controller is in use.  Yet ... if you point the video
at a (powered-up) Lava Lamp, the _image_ will be a rather
good source of entropy.  (And patented by SGI as I recall.)

Oliver's suggestion of device connect/disconnect calls might be
worth looking at.  While the interrupts themselves are known
to occur at N frame boundaries, not every frame will have
such an interrupt.  Much like USB keyboards/mice.

- Dave



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