Aggregating Atomic Clocks for Time-Stamping

摘要

A timestamp is a critical component in many applications, such as proof of transaction ordering or analyzing algorithm performance. This paper reports on a method called Verified Timestamping (VT) that improves the standard timestamp protocol. VT was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use in algorithms where timestamp accuracy is critical. VT is an aggregation of the outputs from various atomic clocks to create a Timestamping Authority (TsA). The motivation for this research effort included malicious delay issues in Networks of Things [NIST SP 800-183] as well as race conditions associated with the inclusion of new blocks into blockchains. This paper presents the TsA design and the results of VT, which indicate that atomic clock aggregation is not only possible, but a viable means to produce higher integrity timestamps at the ms level of performance. Tests showed that this is sufficient to preserve event ordering, using only a conventional PC with no dedicated connection or specialized hardware.