Time synchronization using trust aggregation
A method for synchronizing time may include receiving initial time information including an initial timestamp from a first device, adjusting a clock of the device with the initial time information, storing the initial time information as an earliest possible time, receiving additional time information, including a second timestamp, from a second device, and evaluating the additional time information. When the evaluated additional time information includes information that is unacceptable, the method may further include adjusting the clock with the second timestamp, and replacing the earliest possible time with the second timestamp. When the evaluated additional time information includes information that is acceptable, the method may further include adjusting the clock with the additional time information, and replacing the earliest possible time with the additional time information. The initial time information and additional time information may be respectively determined based on reconciled time data received from two or more proximate devices.
1. A device for automated time synchronization, comprising:
a processor;
a transceiver communicably coupled with the processor, the transceiver configured to communicate over a network with one or more proximate devices and one or more untrusted devices, the proximate devices being within a predetermined proximity to the device;
a clock communicably coupled with the processor; and
a memory communicably coupled with the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to:
receive initial time information including an initial timestamp from a first untrusted device, the initial time information provided to, or determined by, the first untrusted device based on time data received from one or more of the one or more proximate devices;
adjust the clock with the initial time information;
store the initial time information as an earliest possible time;
receive additional time information, including a second timestamp, from a second untrusted device, the additional time information provided to, or determined by, the second untrusted device based on time data received from one or more of the one or more proximate devices;
evaluate the additional time information;
when the evaluated additional time information includes information that is deemed unacceptable,
adjust the clock with the second timestamp; and
replace the earliest possible time with the second timestamp; and
when the evaluated additional time information includes information that is deemed acceptable,
adjust the clock with the additional time information; and
replace the earliest possible time with the additional time information.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the initial time information further includes a first elapsed time from a time that the initial timestamp was generated; and
the additional time information further includes a second elapsed time from a time that the second timestamp was generated.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the second elapsed time is within a predetermined threshold.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the additional time information indicates a time earlier than the earliest possible time.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the additional time information indicates a time that is within a predetermined threshold.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more proximate devices are utility meters.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first untrusted device and the second untrusted device are the same device but at different instances in time.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the initial time information and additional time information were respectively determined based on reconciled time data received from two or more of the one or more proximate devices.
9. A method of synchronizing time by a device, the method comprising:
receiving, via a transceiver of the device, initial time information including an initial timestamp from a first untrusted device, the initial time information provided to, or determined by, the first untrusted device based on time data received from one or more proximate devices, the proximate devices being within a predetermined proximity to the device;
adjusting a clock of the device with the initial time information;
storing, in a memory of the device, the initial time information as an earliest possible time;
receiving, via the transceiver, additional time information, including a second timestamp, from a second untrusted device, the additional time information provided to, or determined by, the second untrusted device based on time data received from one or more of the one or more proximate devices;
evaluating, via a processor of the device, the additional time information;
when the evaluated additional time information includes information that is deemed unacceptable,
adjusting the clock with the second timestamp; and
replacing the earliest possible time with the second timestamp; and
when the evaluated additional time information includes information that is deemed acceptable,
adjusting the clock with the additional time information; and
replacing the earliest possible time with the additional time information.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the initial time information further includes a first elapsed time from a time that the initial timestamp was generated; and
the additional time information further includes a second elapsed time from a time that the second timestamp was generated.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the second elapsed time is within a predetermined threshold.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the additional time information indicates a time earlier than the earliest possible time.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the additional time information indicates a time that is within a predetermined threshold.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the initial time information and additional time information were respectively determined based on reconciled time data received from two or more of the one or more proximate devices.
15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program logic stored thereon, the computer program logic including instructions that, when executed by a processor of a communications device, cause the processor to:
receive, via a transceiver of a device, initial time information including an initial timestamp from a first untrusted device, the initial time information provided to, or determined by, the first untrusted device based on time data received from one or more proximate devices, the proximate devices being within a predetermined proximity to the device;
adjust a clock of the device with the initial time information;
store, in a memory of the device, the initial time information as an earliest possible time;
receive, via the transceiver, additional time information, including a second timestamp, from a second untrusted device, the additional time information provided to, or determined by, the second untrusted device based on time data received from one or more of the one or more proximate devices;
evaluate the additional time information;
when the evaluated additional time information includes information that is deemed unacceptable,
adjust the clock with the second timestamp; and
replace the earliest possible time with the second timestamp; and
when the evaluated additional time information includes information that is deemed acceptable,
adjust the clock with the additional time information; and
replace the earliest possible time with the additional time information.
16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
the initial time information further includes a first elapsed time from a time that the initial timestamp was generated; and
the additional time information further includes a second elapsed time from a time that the second timestamp was generated.
17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the second elapsed time is within a predetermined threshold.
18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the additional time information indicates a time earlier than the earliest possible time.
19. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein evaluating the additional time information includes determining whether the additional time information indicates a time that is within a predetermined threshold.
20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the initial time information and additional time information were respectively determined based on reconciled time data received from two or more of the one or more proximate devices.