Time Synchronization Device for Offline Endpoint Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices disconnected from the Internet face challenges in securely establishing and maintaining accurate and reliable timing information, which is crucial for cryptographic operations, transaction ordering, and other security and management tasks.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a time synchronization device that establishes a connection to a network time source via a network-connected device, acquires timing information, sets an internal real-time clock, and maintains it even when disconnected. This device then provides timing information to endpoint devices, ensuring accuracy and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If computing devices are disconnected from the Internet to enhance security, then security against network-based attacks is improved, but the ability to obtain accurate and reliable timing information deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidtiming information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary time synchronization by obtaining accurate timing information from trusted network time sources before disconnecting from the network. The acquired timing data is stored locally and used for cryptographic operations and security tasks during offline periods, ensuring timing accuracy is established in advance when network connectivity is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary approach by obtaining timing information from trusted network time sources through secure connections when available, then using this intermediary time reference to maintain accurate timing during offline periods. The intermediary time data acts as a bridge between network-based time sources and offline operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If computing devices remain connected to the Internet to maintain accurate timing information, then timing accuracy is improved, but exposure to security risks and compromised time sources deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetiming information accuracyVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potential harm of network connectivity (exposure to security risks) into a benefit by using secure, authenticated connections to trusted time sources only when necessary for initial synchronization. The authenticated NTP protocol transforms what could be a security vulnerability into a controlled, beneficial mechanism for obtaining accurate timing information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Measurement precision

If a time synchronization device is implemented to provide timing information to offline endpoint devices, then timing accuracy for offline devices is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetiming information accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the time synchronization function into separate components: a time synchronization device that handles network connectivity and time acquisition, and endpoint devices that perform cryptographic operations. This segmentation allows offline devices to remain simple while delegating time synchronization to a dedicated device that manages the complexity of network interactions and time source validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The time synchronization device serves multiple functions: it acts as a network interface for time acquisition, maintains a local time reference, provides timing information to multiple endpoint devices, and validates time source authenticity. This multi-functionality consolidates complexity into a single device rather than requiring each endpoint device to have complex time synchronization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12277083B2Time synchronization device for providing timing information acquired from network time sources to endpoint devices

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An apparatus comprises a processing device configured to establish a first connection to a specified network time source via a network-connected device, and to acquire first timing information from the specified network time source via the network-connected device, the first timing information comprising a current time value and first accuracy information for the specified network time source. The processing device is also configured to set and maintain an internal real-time clock based on the current time value. The processing device is further configured to establish a second connection to an endpoint device and to provide second timing information to the endpoint device, the second timing information comprises a current time measurement of the internal real-time clock and second accuracy information for the internal real-time clock, the second accuracy information for the internal real-time clock being based on the first accuracy information for the specified network time source.