Trusted Time Distribution with Auditing and Verification Facilities

T. Widomski, J. Kaczmarek, J. Uzycki, K. Borgulski, P. Olbrysz, J. Kowalski, R. Bender

Abstract:	The aim of Elproma Project TSI#2 is to solve the problem that can be summarized in one sentence: “Timeservers know nothing about client side time”. Even most accurate time servers today do not address this problem. Time servers simply transfer responsibility for proper synchronization to the client side. Not being able to control client time synchronization can lead to serious business and legal implications. How can one ascertain at all that an event at a client side has occurred in a valid time? We propose a conceptual and technological framework, together with necessary tools, to define and implement VALID TIME, which we define as a time interval which lower and upper values can be determined depending on a given purpose, market or use case. We also propose a business model where TIME can be commercially offered as an auditable service. Today time is provided under the same model as electricity or any other utility. Computers can receive time signal from Ethernet sockets at offices or homes, or from wireless networks, including satellite systems. However, if we could distribute time in a way that it can be verified remotely as VALID/INVALID at a client side, we could offer added-value services/systems such as TRUSTED TIME DISTRIBUTION, and remote TIME AUDITING. In today’s world, where safety and security play critical role in B2B (Business to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer), and B2G (Business to Government) applications, markets at both local and global level should be ready to pay for these. This paper reports results from a Horizon 2020 research project DEMETRA [1][16] undertaken by a consortium composed of 15 organisations from 7 EU member states, co-funded by European Commission under grant agreement no. 640658.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 47th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting January 25 - 28, 2016 Hyatt Regency Monterey Monterey, California
Pages:	179 - 186
Cite this article:	Widomski, T., Kaczmarek, J., Uzycki, J., Borgulski, K., Olbrysz, P., Kowalski, J., Bender, R., "Trusted Time Distribution with Auditing and Verification Facilities," Proceedings of the 47th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Monterey, California, January 2016, pp. 179-186. https://doi.org/10.33012/2016.13162
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