Compute the duration between two timestamps. Returns days, hours, minutes, seconds, and a human-readable string.
AI agents call compute_duration to retrieve information from Temporal Cortex Calendar MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
end | string | Yes | Second timestamp (RFC 3339). |
start | string | Yes | First timestamp (RFC 3339). |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Even though compute_duration only reads data, uncontrolled read access leaks sensitive information and racks up API costs — an agent caught in a retry loop can make thousands of calls a minute without anyone noticing.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Compute the duration between two timestamps. Returns days, hours, minutes, seconds, and a human-readable string. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Temporal Cortex Calendar MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
compute_duration accepts 2 parameters: end, start. Required: end, start. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Temporal Cortex Calendar MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for compute_duration: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Temporal Cortex Calendar MCP. Nothing to install.
compute_duration is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the compute_duration rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for compute_duration. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
compute_duration is provided by the Temporal Cortex Calendar MCP server (temporal-cortex/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.