Method to eliminate clock synchronization from undesired clock sources

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a first request from a first device to authenticate a role of the first device as a grandmaster in a PTP;
• granting the first request designating the role of the first device as the grandmaster;
• receiving a second request from a second device to authenticate that a clock announce message from the first device is from an authorized grandmaster;
• determining whether the first device is authorized to send the clock announce message to the second device;
• and
• in response to determining the first device is authorized to send the clock announce message, sending to the second device a message indicating that the first device is authorized as the grandmaster and granting permission for the second device to sync with the first device;
• or
• in response to determining that the first device is not authorized to perform the clock announce message, sending to the second device, a message indicating that the first device is not authorized as the grandmaster and denying permission for the second device to sync with the first device.

A network device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
• sending an authentication request to a controller of a network to designate a role of the network device as a grandmaster in a precision time protocol (PTP);
• receiving a grant of authentication from the controller designating the role of the network device as the grandmaster, wherein the grant of authentication comprises a private key;
• sending a secured clock announce message to a second device within the network;
• and
• performing a best master clock algorithm (BMCA) with the second device to synchronize a clock of the second device with a clock of the network device.