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Technology title

Timestamping using powerline electromagnetic radiation

Technology overview

This technology is a new method of timestamping using powerline electromagnetic radiation. It can be used to:

1. synchronise the clocks of computers or devices distributed within the same power grid,
2. timestamp events accurately and securely without clock support, and
3. verify the integrity of a system node’s clock at run time.

These functions are critical for distributed computing and automation systems, particularly industrial systems. The powerline electromagnetic radiation can be sensed wirelessly, which simplifies the adoption and deployment of our method.

The timestamping accuracy of our method is generally below 200 milliseconds. The designer and operator of a system that relies on distributed devices in the near field of powerlines and their synchronised clocks are the target users of this technology. No other technologies in the marketplace can maintain the synchronisation of distributed devices’ clocks in the presence of attacks that delay the network transmissions of synchronisation packets. This technology solves this problem.

Technology specifications

This technology provides a secure and accurate method for synchronising clocks across computing devices using signals naturally emitted by the power grid. Small variations in the grid’s electrical frequency act as a unique time “fingerprint” that can be sensed wirelessly by devices connected to the same grid. By comparing these signals, devices can determine the precise time and correct any clock offsets.

The approach works for a wide range of devices, including industrial IoT nodes, and does not rely on GPS or network-based timing. It enables reliable timestamping, clock calibration, and verification, making it ideal for time-critical systems in factories, buildings, and other grid-connected environments.

Sector

This invention is applicable to industrial systems, including factories, smart grids, and industrial IoT networks where precise and secure time synchronisation is critical.

Market opportunity

Wireless sensors are increasingly deployed. Malicious activities that cause clock drifts of these wireless sensors may lead to undesirable consequences. This technology is applicable to the wireless sensors in the near field of powerlines for the verification of clock integrity.

Applications

Key applications include secure time synchronisation for industrial sensors and processing nodes, network-independent data logging for deployment in areas with limited or no network coverage, run-time clock verification for critical devices, and authentication of time-stamped data to provide trustworthy timestamps for measurements captured by processing units.

Customer benefits

This technology enables secure, accurate, and tamper-resistant time synchronisation and timestamping for industrial devices and IoT nodes, even in areas with limited or no network coverage. It allows reliable clock verification, data authentication, and precise event tracking, all using existing powerline signals. Wireless and scalable, it simplifies deployment, reduces infrastructure costs, and delivers sub-200 millisecond accuracy without cumulative errors. Relevant technologies include products that implement standardised Network Time Protocol (NTP) over wireless communications. However, NTP is susceptible to the attacks that delay the network transmissions of synchronisation packets. This technology can be integrated into the implementations of wireless NTP to enhance their security.

Technology readiness level

TRL 5

Ideal collaboration partner 

Ideal collaboration partners include vendors of systems that use wireless NTP.

Collaboration mode

This technology is suitable for licensing.