Secure clock source as a service in a communication system

A method comprising:

• participating in a bi-directional authentication with a network entity in a communication network;
• sending a clock service request message to the network entity;
• receiving a clock service accept message in response to the clock service request message when the apparatus is eligible to use a clock service;
• and
• receiving one or more secure clock signals from the network entity.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied therein executable program code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:

• participating in a bi-directional authentication with a network entity in a communication network;
• sending a clock service request message to the network entity;
• receiving a clock service accept message in response to the clock service request message when the apparatus is eligible to use a clock service;
• and
• receiving one or more secure clock signals from the network entity.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• participate in a bi-directional authentication with a requesting device in a communication network;
• receive a clock service request message from the requesting device;
• verify the eligibility of the requesting device to request a clock service;
• and
• send one or more secure clock signals to the requesting device in response to successfully verifying the requesting device.

A method comprising:

• participating in a bi-directional authentication with a requesting device in a communication network;
• receiving a clock service request message from the requesting device;
• verifying the eligibility of the requesting device to request a clock service;
• and
• sending one or more secure clock signals to the requesting device in response to successfully verifying the requesting device.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied therein executable program code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:

• participating in a bi-directional authentication with a requesting device in a communication network;
• receiving a clock service request message from the requesting device;
• verifying the eligibility of the requesting device to request a clock service;
• and
• sending one or more secure clock signals to the requesting device in response to successfully verifying the requesting device.