Systems, methods and apparatuses for secure time management
First Claim
1. A computing system comprising:
- a first counter configured to operate at a first frequency and increment a first count value, wherein the first counter operates in a first energy mode;
a second counter configured to operate at a second frequency and increment a second count value, wherein the second counter is configured to operate in a second energy mode and wherein the second frequency is different than the first frequency;
a non-volatile machine-readable memory configured to store one or more event data; and
a processor configured to;
determine a first current time value based upon at least one of the one or more event data comprising switching of energy modes between the first energy mode and the second energy mode in the computing system and at least one of the first count value and the second count value selected based on the switching; and
synchronize the first current time value with a second current time value upon determining that the second current time value is within a predetermined range of the first current time value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The systems, methods and apparatuses described herein provide a computing environment that includes secure time management. An apparatus according to the present disclosure may comprise a non-volatile storage to store a synchronization time and a processor. The processor may be configured to generate a request for a current time, transmit the request to a trusted timekeeper, receive a digitally signed response containing a current, real-world time from the trusted timekeeper, verify the digital signature of the response, verify that the response is received within a predefined time, compare a nonce in the request to a nonce in the response, determine that the current, real-world time received from the trusted timekeeper is within a range of a current time calculated at the apparatus and update the synchronization time with the current, real-world time in the response.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computing system comprising:
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a first counter configured to operate at a first frequency and increment a first count value, wherein the first counter operates in a first energy mode; a second counter configured to operate at a second frequency and increment a second count value, wherein the second counter is configured to operate in a second energy mode and wherein the second frequency is different than the first frequency; a non-volatile machine-readable memory configured to store one or more event data; and a processor configured to; determine a first current time value based upon at least one of the one or more event data comprising switching of energy modes between the first energy mode and the second energy mode in the computing system and at least one of the first count value and the second count value selected based on the switching; and synchronize the first current time value with a second current time value upon determining that the second current time value is within a predetermined range of the first current time value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-implemented method for keeping time for a computing system, the method comprising:
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incrementing, by a first counter of an apparatus operating at a first frequency, a first count value, wherein the first counter operates in a first energy mode; incrementing, by a second counter of the apparatus operating at a second frequency, a second count value, wherein the second frequency is different than the first frequency and wherein the second counter is configured to operate in a second energy mode; storing, by a non-volatile machine readable memory, one or more event data; determining, by a processor of the apparatus, a first current time value based upon at least one of the one or more event data comprising switching of energy modes between the first energy mode and the second energy mode in the computing system and at least one of the first count value and the second count value selected based on the switching; and synchronizing the first current time value with a second current time value upon the processor determining that the second current time value is within a predetermined range of the first current time value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification