Method of providing an authenticable time-and-location indication

A method of providing an authenticable time-and-location indication using a radio-navigation signal receiver comprises receiving radio-navigation signals broadcast

from a plurality of radio-navigation signal sources, at least some of the radio- navigation signals containing one or more cryptographic tokens protected by encryption, the cryptographic tokens being updated from time to time. The receiver retrieves the cryptographic tokens from the radio-navigation signals containing them. The receiver then determines positioning data, representing its geographical position and time, based on the radio-navigation signals received. The receiver generates a digital authentication code using a cryptographic function taking as inputs at least the positioning data and the retrieved cryptographic tokens, and produces a data package including a first part containing the positioning data and a second part containing the digital authentication code.

THE MAIN APPLICATION AREAS

• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
• location-based services (lbs)
• road
• aviation
• rail
• maritime
• agriculture
• surveying
• timing & synchronisation

THE MAIN INNOVATIVE ASPECTS AND ADVANTAGES

This invention primarily consists of the continuous emission by navigation satellites of tokens embedded in their navigation signals, open or encrypted. This allows the authentication of not only receivers - adapted for that purpose - but also all positioning data that these receivers produce.