Methods and systems for detecting and defending against invalid time signals

US11487871B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• San Diego Gas & Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Ben A. Abbott · San Antonio, US
• Brian Proctor · Thomasville, US
• Gerardo Trevino · San Antonio, US
• Paul B. Wood · Austin, US
• David W. Vickers · Brisbane, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 10, 2016
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2022
• Expiry date: Jun 11, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2221/034
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Some embodiments of the time resilient system and methods disclosed herein can be configured to detect and defend against invalid time signals. According to various embodiments of the disclosed technology, the time resilient system include a receiver for collecting time signals sourced from an external clock. By way of example only, the external clock may be a high precision clock housed within a Global Positioning System. Other embodiments may include an internal clock calibrated to a time reflected on the external clock so that the internal clock and the external clock are synchronized. Additionally, a controller may monitor changes in time signals of the external over a period of time against the internal clock, where the system is alerted of a timing attack when the time signals collected from the receiver deviate a pre-determined time range with the time of the internal clock.