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

• US 9,709,682 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Achanta, Shankar V.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGue, Frank J
• Application Number:
  US13/887,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20140327574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 34235759
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/215 issues related to spoofing
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS

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 time signal receiver suitable for concurrently receiving a plurality of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time signals including a first time signal from a first plurality of satellites of a first system of GNSS satellites and receiving a second time signal from a second plurality of satellites of a second system of GNSS satellites, the first system of GNSS satellites being different from the second system of GNSS satellites;

a time quality module configured to;

receive the first and second time signals from the time signal receiver;

calculate a phase error between the first and second time signals, wherein the phase error comprises a time difference between the first and second time signals; and

detect manipulation of one of the first and second time signals using the phase error; and

a time output for distributing a time signal to a receiving device separate from the time distribution device.

2. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein the time quality module is further configured to calculate a moving average of the phase error.

3. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein the time quality module is further configured to compare the phase error to a threshold.

4. The time distribution device of claim 2, wherein the time quality module is further configured to calculate a difference between the moving average and a standard phase error.

5. The time distribution device of claim 4, wherein the standard phase error comprises an initial phase error.

6. The time distribution device of claim 4, wherein the standard phase error comprises an average phase error.

7. The time distribution device of claim 1, wherein the time quality module is further configured to determine which GNSS signal is manipulated.

8. The time distribution device of claim 7, wherein the time quality module is further configured to determine which GNSS signal is manipulated using an internal time signal.

9. The time distribution device of claim 7, wherein the time quality module is further configured to determine which of the first and second GNSS signals is manipulated by calculating a location using each of the first and second GNSS signals and determining which calculated location varies from a location of the time distribution device.

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

a time distribution device concurrently receiving a plurality of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time signals including a first time signal from a first plurality of satellites of a first system of GNSS satellites and a second time signal from a second plurality of satellites of a second system of GNSS satellites, the first system of GNSS satellites being different from the second system of GNSS satellites;

calculating a phase error between the first and second time signals, wherein the phase error comprises a time difference between the first and second time signals;

detecting manipulation of one of the first and second time signals using the phase error; and

distributing a time signal to a receiving device separate from the time distribution device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising calculating a moving average of the phase error.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the phase error to a threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising calculating a difference between the moving average and a standard phase error.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the standard phase error comprises an initial phase error.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the standard phase error comprises an average phase error.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining which GNSS signal has been manipulated.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining which GNSS signal has been manipulated using an internal time signal.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining which of the first and second GNSS signals is manipulated by calculating a location using each of the first and second GNSS signals and determining which calculated location varies from a location of the time distribution device.

19. A time distribution device for receiving a plurality of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals and distributing a time signal, comprising:

a time signal receiver suitable for concurrently receiving a plurality of GNSS time signals including a first time signal from a first plurality of satellites of a first system of GNSS satellites and receiving a second time signal from a second plurality of satellites of a second system of GNSS satellites, the first system of GNSS satellites being different from the second system of GNSS satellites;

a time quality module configured to;

receive the first and second time signals from the time signal receiver;

determine a phase error between the first and second time signals, wherein the phase error comprises a time difference between the first and second time signals; and

detect manipulation of one of the first and second signals using the phase error by comparing the determined phase error with a manipulation threshold and finding manipulation in response to the phase error exceeding the manipulation threshold, the manipulation threshold based on historical phase error data; and

a time output for distributing a time signal to a receiving device separate from the time distribution device.