Patent attributes
Input values for various computations in a computing device are transformed to increase the entropy of results thereof. A key value is inputted into one or more folding units, each of which folds sub-elements of the key value together to form a folded key value. Each folding unit is linked to a corresponding addend constructor, which generates an addend value by modifying each field in a corresponding predefined manipulation value with an operation between the field and the corresponding folded key value, or a value derived therefrom. A first value is then transformed using addition between it and each addend value, or an addend-based value derived therefrom. The transformed first value may be utilized in place of the first value in various computations. In an embodiment, hash-based operations in a network device are improved by so transforming a hash key or hash output of a hashing function.
