Multi-constellation GNSS integrity check for detection of time signal manipulation

• US 10,288,741 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Achanta, Shankar V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Harry K
• Application Number:
  US15/498,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 34235758
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/20 Integrity monitoring, fault detection or fault isolation of space segment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/215 issues related to spoofing

Abstract

The present application discloses detecting manipulation of GNSS signals using a second time source. If two or more GNSS constellation signals are being detected, the phase error between the GNSS constellation signals may be monitored. When the phase error drifts, then manipulation is determined. The integrity of a GNSS constellation signal may be monitored using an internal time source such as a crystal oscillator by monitoring a slope of the free running counter at the detected rising edges of a pulse-per-second signal from the GNSS constellation. If more than two GNSS constellations are monitored, a voting scheme may be used to determine the manipulated GNSS constellation.

Claims

1. A time distribution device for receiving and distributing a time signal, comprising:

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver suitable for receiving a GNSS time signal from a GNSS constellation;

a local time source suitable for providing a local time signal;

a time quality module configured to;

receive the GNSS time signal and local time signal;

maintain a counter based on the local time signal;

determine a rate of change of a number of counts of the counter between pulses of the GNSS time signal;

determine a profile using the rate of change; and

in response to detecting a change in the profile, determine that the GNSS time signal has been manipulated; and

a time output for

distributing a time signal to a receiving device; and

upon determination of the manipulation, distributing to the receiving device a manipulation indicator related to the determination of manipulation of the GNSS time signal.

2. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein the rate of change of the counter within a time period based on the GNSS time signal is represented by a slope.

3. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein in response to detecting a change in the profile, the time quality module is configured to determine whether the GNSS time signal has been manipulated or the local time signal has degraded.

4. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein the local time source comprises a crystal oscillator.

5. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein the local time signal comprises a free running counter.

6. A method for receiving and distributing a time signal, comprising:

receiving, by a time distribution device, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time signal from a GNSS constellation;

maintaining a counter based on a local time signal;

determining a rate of change of a number of counts of the counter between pulses of the GNSS time signal;

determine a profile using the rate of change;

in response to detecting a change in the profile, transmitting an alert that the time signal may have been manipulated;

distributing a time signal to a receiving device; and

,

upon determination of manipulation, distribute to the receiving device a manipulation indicator related to the determination of manipulation of the GNSS time signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the rate of change of the counter relative to the GNSS time signal comprises a slope.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, in response to detecting a change in the profile or determining whether the GNSS time signal has been manipulated or the local time source has degraded.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the local time source comprises a crystal oscillator.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the local time signal comprises a free running counter.

11. A system for distributing a time signal to a receiving device, comprising:

a local time source configured to produce a counter signal;

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal receiver configured to receive a GNSS time signal from a GNSS constellation;

a time quality module in communication with the GNSS signal receiver and the local time source, configured to;

receive the counter signal from the local time source;

receive the GNSS time signal from the GNSS signal receiver;

determine a time reference based on the GNSS signal receiver;

determine a profile as a rate of change of the counter signal relative to the GNSS time signal;

maintain a history of the profile;

determine a change in the profile; and

in response to determining a change in the profile, determining manipulation of the GNSS time signal; and

a time output in communication with the time quality module, configured to;

receive the time reference from the time quality module;

distribute the time reference to a receiving device; and

upon determination of manipulation, distribute to the receiving device a manipulation indicator related to the determination of manipulation of the GNSS time signal.