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

• US 9,759,816 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• 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
• Application Number:
  US13/887,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20160154109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 34235758, 34235752, 34235759
• 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 first time signal from a first GNSS constellation and a second time signal from a second GNSS constellation;

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

a time quality module configured to;

receive the first time signal and local time signal

determine a first profile using the first time signal and the local time signal, wherein the first profile includes a rate of change of the local time signal within a time period based on the first time signal;

determine a second profile using the second time signal and the local time signal, wherein the second profile includes a rate of change of the local time signal within a time period based on the first time signal; and

in response to detecting a change in one or more of the first profile and the second profile, determine time signal manipulation; and

a time output for distributing a time signal to a receiving device.

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

3. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein in response to detecting a change in the first profile or the second profile, the time quality module is configured to determine whether the first time signal or the second time signal has been manipulated or whether 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 first time signal from a first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellation;

receiving, by the time distribution device, a second time signal from a second GNSS constellation;

distributing a time signal to a receiving device;

determining a first profile using the first time signal and a local time signal from a time source local to the time distribution device, wherein the first profile includes a rate of change of the local time signal relative to the first time signal;

determining a second profile using the second time signal and the local time signal, wherein the second profile includes a rate of change of the local time signal relative to the second time signal; and

in response to detecting a change in the first profile or the second profile, transmitting a time signal manipulation.

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

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, in response to detecting a change in the first profile or the second profile, comparing the first profile with the second profile and determining whether one of the time signals 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 time distribution device for receiving and distributing a time signal, comprising:

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

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

a time quality module configured to;

receive the first time signal and local time signal

determine a first profile using the first time signal and the local time signal, wherein the first profile includes a rate of change of the local time signal within a time period based on the first time signal;

determine a second profile using the second time signal and the local time signal and monitor the second profile for changes;

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

a time output for distributing a time signal based on the first time signal to a receiving device.