Safety Extension for Precision Time Protocol (PTP)

A safety validation apparatus for use in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface for communicating at least with a network element of an automotive network in the vehicle;
• and
• a validation processor, configured to obtain from the network element validation data indicative of processing of time-protocol packets by the network element, and to verify, based on the validation data, that the network element complies with a vehicle-safety requirement.

A method for use in a network element of an automotive network in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving in the network element packets from the automotive network, the packets including time-protocol packets, processing the received packets and forwarding the processed packets to the automotive network;
• and
• deriving in the network element, from at least some of the time-protocol packets, validation data indicative of compliance of the network element with a vehicle-safety requirement, and making the validation data accessible from outside the network element.

A safety validation method for use in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• obtaining, from a network element of an automotive network in the vehicle, validation data indicative of processing of time-protocol packets by the network element;
• and
• verifying, based on the validation data, that the network element complies with a vehicle-safety requirement.