IoT Clock Initialization via Secure Service Timestamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for establishing a sense of time in IoT devices face challenges related to robustness, security, power consumption, and cost, particularly with NTP techniques being insecure and costly, while RTC techniques are expensive for low-cost devices.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a sense of time for IoT devices using a timestamp received from a security service via a secure connection, such as HTTPS, which authenticates the device and service to ensure trust and accuracy, reducing the need for additional network configurations and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If NTP techniques are used to establish time for IoT devices, then time synchronization is achieved, but security and robustness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security service as an intermediary between the IoT device and the time source. The security service issues certificates that bind the device identity to a time range, and the device uses this certificate to establish time through a secure HTTPS connection. This intermediary layer prevents direct exposure to untrusted NTP servers while maintaining accurate time synchronization.
2Measurement precision
If NTP techniques are used to establish time for IoT devices, then time synchronization is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs time synchronization as a preliminary action during device boot-up and initialization phases. By establishing the time value early in the device lifecycle rather than continuously updating it, the system achieves necessary time synchronization while minimizing power consumption. The HTTPS connection is established only when needed for time retrieval, not continuously.
3Measurement precision
If RTC techniques are used to establish time for IoT devices, then time keeping is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive hardware RTC components with a software-based time retrieval mechanism using standard HTTPS connections. Instead of relying on costly battery-powered real-time clock hardware, the system uses inexpensive software processes that periodically retrieve time values through web protocols, making the solution suitable for low-cost IoT devices.
4Measurement precision
If NTP techniques are used to establish time for IoT devices, then time synchronization is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal HTTPS protocol, which is already widely supported in IoT devices for other purposes, to also handle time synchronization. By using a multi-functional approach where the same secure connection infrastructure serves both security authentication and time retrieval functions, the patent eliminates the need for separate NTP client software and complex network time protocol configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described herein that are capable of establishing an internal clock value of an IoT device based at least on a timestamp received from a security service via a secure connection. The IoT device is booted up by setting a time value associated with an internal clock of the IoT device to a default time value. The time value is reset to an updated time value that is received from a trusted time source. A secure connection is established between the IoT device and the security service using the updated time value. A first timestamp is received by the IoT device from the security service via the secure connection. The time value is reset to a second updated time value that is based at least on the first timestamp. An operation that utilizes a second timestamp, which is based at least on the second updated time value, is performed.