General Timestamp API

NTF’s General Timestamp API Consortium exists to foster the development and implementation of a new “general timestamp” structure with a portable and efficient API library.

Current timestamps usually contain a date and time, sometimes with fractional seconds. However, they do not contain enough information to be particularly useful, such as:

• the amount of error that may have accumulated since the clock was last synchronized with a believable time source.

• the timescale used (UTC, TAI) and a method for converting between differing timescales.

  

Presentation About the General Timestamp API

The General Timestamp project aimes to:

• define a new “timestamp structure” that includes the time, any known expected correction to “true” time, error measurements, and the timescale used.
• create an efficient and portable library API for the conversion and comparison of these new timestamps.

You can join the discussion surrounding the General Timestamp API in the community forum.