Apparatus, system and method for synchronizing a clock with a master time service

• US 20020186619A1
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salton Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Salton Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reeves, Michael H., Harden, Christopher W., Guyett, Thomas G.
• Application Number:
  US09/850,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186619A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 11/02 by radio time setting brought into action by radio G04C9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/10 Arrangements for supplying back-up power
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/002 brought into action by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/16 Tuning or receiving; Circuits therefor

Abstract

A clock is provided for synchronizing with a master time service. The clock includes a microprocessor configured to obtain time code data from the master time service, process the time code data, and initiate a time keeping function. The clock further includes a time indicator connected to the microprocessor. The time indicator displays a time corresponding to the time code data.

Claims

1. A clock for synchronizing with a master time service, the clock comprising:

a microprocessor configured to obtain time code data from the master time service, process the time code data, and initiate a time keeping function; and

a time indicator connected to the microprocessor, the time indicator displaying a time corresponding to the time code data.

2. The clock of claim 1, wherein the master time service is an Internet time service.

3. The clock of claim 1, wherein the master time service is an internal clock in a computer.

4. The clock of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor acquires the time code data via a serial connection.

5. The clock of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor acquires the time code data via a USB port.

6. The clock of claim 1, wherein the time code data conforms to a protocol selected from the group consisting of the Daytime Protocol (RFC-867), the Time Protocol (RFC-868), and the Network Time Protocol (RFC-1305).

7. The clock of claim 1, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor converting the base time to a local time.

8. The clock of claim 1, further including a time zone indicator.

9. The clock of claim 1, further including a selection device for selecting a time zone.

10. The clock of claim 1, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor converting the base time to a local time.

11. The clock of claim 1, further including a selection device for selecting a daylight savings time mode.

12. The clock of claim 1, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor automatically adjusting the base time to account for daylight savings time.

13. The clock of claim 1, further including providing an analog display.

14. The clock of claim 1, further including providing an liquid crystal display (LCD).

15. The clock of claim 1, further including providing a light emitting diode (LED) display.

17. The clock of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor acquires the time code data from the computer via a serial connection.

18. The clock of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor acquires the time code data from the computer via a USB port.

19. The clock of claim 16, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor converting the base time to a local time.

20. The clock of claim 16, wherein the clock includes a low-power indicator.

21. The clock of claim 16, further including a back-up power source.

22. The clock of claim 16, further including a primary power source.

23. The clock of claim 22, wherein the primary power source is a battery.

24. The clock of claim 22, wherein the primary power source is an a-c power source.

25. The clock of claim 22, wherein the microprocessor detects when the primary power source is interrupted.

26. The clock of claim 25, wherein a back-up power source is connected to power one or more components of the clock.

27. The clock of claim 16, further including a time zone indicator.

28. The clock of claim 16, further including a selection device for selecting a time zone.

29. The clock of claim 28, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor using the selected time zone to adjust the base time to a local time.

30. The clock of claim 16, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor converting the base time to a local time.

31. The clock of claim 30, wherein the microprocessor compares the base time to the local time.

32. The clock of claim 31, wherein the microprocessor displays the base time and adjusts the base time until there is no difference between the displayed time and the local time.

33. The clock of claim 16, wherein the clock includes a special event indicator.

34. The clock of claim 16, further including a selection device for selecting a daylight savings time mode.

35. The clock of claim 16, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor automatically adjusting the base time to account for daylight savings time.

36. The clock of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor includes a calendar function.

37. The clock of claim 16, wherein the Internet time service is accessible by the computer via a wireless link.

38. The clock of claim 16, wherein the Internet time service is accessible by the computer via a wire link.

39. The clock of claim 16, further including providing an analog display.

40. The clock of claim 16, further including providing an liquid crystal display (LCD).

41. The clock of claim 16, further including providing a light emitting diode (LED) display.

16. A clock for synchronizing with an Internet time service accessible by a computer, the clock comprising:

a microprocessor configured to download time code data from the computer and process the time code data; and

a time indicator connected to the microprocessor, the time indicator displaying a time corresponding to the time code data.

42. A method of synchronizing a clock with a time service via the Internet, the method comprising:

downloading a time code from the time service to a computer via the Internet;

uploading the time code from the computer to a microprocessor in the clock; and

processing the time code.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the time code represents a base time, further including converting the base time to a local time.

44. The method of claim 43, further including displaying the local time.

45. The method of claim 42, further including providing a back-up power source.

46. The method of claim 42, further including providing a primary power source.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the primary power source is a battery.

48. The method of claim 47, further including indicating when the battery is low.

49. The method of claim 46, further including detecting when the primary power source is interrupted.

50. The method of claim 49, further including connecting a back-up power source to power one or more components of the clock.

51. The method of claim 42, further including providing a time zone indicator.

52. The method of claim 42, further including selecting a time zone via a selection device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the time code represents a base time, further including using the time zone selection to adjust the base time to a local time.

54. The method of claim 42, wherein the time code represents a base time, further including adjusting the base time to a local time.

55. The method of claim 42, wherein the time code represents a local time, further including automatically correcting the local time to account for daylight savings time.

56. The method of claim 42, further including providing a time zone indicator.

57. The method of claim 42, further including providing a low-power indicator.

58. The method of claim 42, wherein the time code is uploaded to the microprocessor via a serial connection.

59. The method of claim 42, wherein the time code represents a base time, further including displaying the base time and comparing the base time to the local time.

60. The method of claim 59, further including adjusting the displayed time until there is no difference between the displayed time and the local time.

61. The method of claim 42, further including a special event indicator.

62. The method of claim 42, further including a selection device that allows a user to indicate a certain date.

63. The method of claim 62, further including playing a message on the certain date.

64. The method of claim 42, further including providing an analog display.

65. The method of claim 42, further including providing an liquid crystal display (LCD).

66. The method of claim 42, further including providing a light emitting diode (LED) display.

67. The method of claim 42, further including displaying calendar information.

69. The clock of claim 68, wherein the clock includes a wireless connection to the Internet time service.

70. The clock of claim 68, wherein the clock includes a serial connection to the Internet time service.

71. The clock of claim 68, wherein the clock includes a serial connection to a computer connected to the Internet time service.

72. The clock of claim 68, wherein the time code data represents a base time, the microprocessor adjusting the base time to a local time.

73. The clock of claim 72, wherein the microprocessor displays the local time.

74. The clock of claim 72, wherein the microprocessor corrects the local time to account for daylight savings time.

68. A clock that synchronizes with a time service, the clock comprising:

a microprocessor configured to acquire time code data from an Internet time service; and

a time indicator connected to the microprocessor, the time indicator displaying a time provided by the microprocessor.

75. A system for synchronizing a clock with an Internet time service, the system comprising:

a clock including a microprocessor connected to a time indicator; and

a computer connected to the Internet;

the computer being configured to download time code data from the Internet time service and to upload the time code data to the microprocessor.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the microprocessor processes the time code data.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein the clock further includes a time zone selection device.

78. The system of claim 75, wherein the time code data represents a base time corresponding to a first time zone.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the base time is adjusted to a local time corresponding to a second time zone.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the microprocessor adjusts the local time to account for daylight savings time.