Indian Standard Time Dissemination Over Internet via Indigenously Designed Devices and Applications

In this paper, various time dissemination options, devices and software applications for synchronization of the devices to Indian Standard Time (IST) have been discussed. As CSIR-NPL is working toward the nation-wide dissemination of IST, various time dissemination options, devices and mobile applications need to be developed in order to achieve this mission. Presently, a user can access IST provided by NTP server of CSIR-NPL via network with domain name “time.nplindia.in” which can be accessed using a computer only. Two network time display devices using Raspberry Pi and ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, respectively, have been developed which are programmed to obtain proper time code from the CSIR-NPL’s NTP service and display it. The realized compact and affordable IST display devices have been tested with available authenticated national time source and offer ms-level accuracy of IST synchronization. These displays, once programmed for network configuration, will work standalone provided a stable internet connection is available. Additionally, with most of the services available in mobile software application, an android application for a user/client to directly access IST has been developed. The mobile application displays accurate IST obtained from CSIR-NPL’s NTP servers. This application developed by NPL, the NMI of India, will become IST dissemination service (with ms accuracy) having wider reach than any other time dissemination service.