Automatically setting a clock of a network-connected apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017111459-A1
Application number	US-201514883192-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of operations. The apparatus is caused to receive time information over a packet-switched computer network, with the time information including a current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps that define a predetermined timeframe. The apparatus is caused to calculate a current local time from the current standard time and time-zone offset, and including an adjustment of the current local time in instances in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe. And the apparatus is caused to cause a clock to be set to the current local time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least:
receive time information over a packet-switched computer network, the time information including a current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps that define a predetermined timeframe; calculate a current local time from the current standard time and time-zone offset, and including an adjustment of the current local time in instances in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe; and cause a clock to be set to the current local time.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 integral with or directly coupled to an appliance that includes the clock, the apparatus further comprising a real-time clock configured to be set to and keep the current standard time.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined timeframe is daylight saving time.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus being caused to calculate the current local time includes being caused to calculate the current local time without any information other than the current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps, and without any external trigger to calculate the current local time.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus being caused to calculate the current local time includes being caused to periodically check the timestamps and identify therefrom, the instance in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instance is a first instance, and the apparatus being caused to calculate the current local time further includes a readjustment of the of the current local time subsequent to the first instance, in a second instance in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is outside the predetermined timeframe.

7 . A method comprising:
receiving time information over a packet-switched computer network, the time information including a current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps that define a predetermined timeframe; calculating a current local time from the current standard time and time-zone offset, and including an adjustment of the current local time in instances in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe; and causing a clock to be set to the current local time.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving the time information, calculating the current local time and causing the clock to be set are performed at an apparatus integral with or directly coupled to an appliance that includes the clock, the apparatus includes a real-time clock configured to be set to and keep the current standard time.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined timeframe is daylight saving time.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein calculating the current local time includes calculating the current local time without any information other than the current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps, and without any external trigger to calculate the current local time.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein calculating the current local time includes periodically checking the timestamps and identify therefrom, the instance in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the instance is a first instance, and calculating the current local time further includes a readjustment of the of the current local time subsequent to the first instance, in a second instance in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is outside the predetermined timeframe.

13 . A computer-readable storage medium that is non-transitory and has computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:
receive time information over a packet-switched computer network, the time information including a current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps that define a predetermined timeframe; calculate a current local time from the current standard time and time-zone offset, and including an adjustment of the current local time in instances in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe; and cause a clock to be set to the current local time.

14 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus includes the computer-readable storage medium and processor, the apparatus being integral with or directly coupled to an appliance that includes the clock, the apparatus further including a real-time clock configured to be set to and keep the current standard time.

15 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined timeframe is daylight saving time.

16 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus being caused to calculate the current local time includes being caused to calculate the current local time without any information other than the current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps, and without any external trigger to calculate the current local time.

17 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus being caused to calculate the current local time includes being caused to periodically check the timestamps and identify therefrom, the instance in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe.

18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instance is a first instance, and the apparatus being caused to calculate the current local time further includes a readjustment of the of the current local time subsequent to the first instance, in a second instance in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is outside the predetermined timeframe.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Fisher James
• McClellan Matthew David

Classifications

• D06F2103/38

  Time, e.g. duration · CPC title

• G04R20/18

  Decoding time data; Circuits therefor · CPC title

• H04L12/6418 Primary

  Hybrid transport · CPC title

• H04L67/18 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L43/106

  using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps · CPC title