Validation of time synchronization

A method for validating a time synchronization in a communication network of an automated vehicle, wherein the communication network comprises a master clock and a first communication network of a first communication standard, and the first communication network comprises two first control units and a first central validator, the method comprising:

• sending a time synchronization message from the master clock to the two first control units of the first communication network, respectively, wherein the time synchronization message includes a master time,
• synchronizing a local time of the two first control units of the first communication network to the received master time, respectively,
• sending the synchronized local time of the two first control units of the first communication network to the first central validator of the first communication network, respectively,
• comparing, at the first central validator of the first communication network, the received synchronized local times of the two first control units of the first communication network to each other, and
• upon determining that a difference between the received synchronized local times of the two first control units of the first communication network is larger than a predefined first threshold, outputting an error message from the first central validator of the first communication network to the automated vehicle.