Master/slave clock system with automatic protocol detection and selection

A master/slave clock system for the automatic detection and selection of time-correction protocols, comprising:

• a master clock coupled to at least one slave clock, the master clock including means for transmitting a plurality of pulses in a pattern representative of a time correction protocol used by the master clock;
• means at the slave clock for receiving the pulses and storing data representative of characteristics of the pulses received at the slave clock;
• means at the slave clock for performing an analysis of the data at the slave clock to determine which time correction protocol has been used most frequently by the master clock during a predetermined period of time in the past;
• means at the slave clock for selecting the protocol for the slave clock that best matches the protocol determined to be in use by the master clock;
• and
• executing the protocol at the slave clock so as to synchronize a time displayed by the slave clock with a time displayed by the master clock.

A clock for use in a master/slave clock system, comprising:

• a slave clock adapted to be coupled to a master clock;
• means at the slave clock for receiving a plurality of time correction pulses sent by the master clock in a pattern representative of a time correction protocol used by the master clock;
• means at the slave clock for storing data representative of characteristics of the pulses received at the slave clock;
• means at the slave clock for performing an analysis of the data at the slave clock to determine which time correction protocol has been used most frequently by the master clock during a predetermined period of time in the past;
• means at the slave clock for selecting the protocol for the slave clock that best matches the protocol determined to be in use by the master clock;
• and
• executing the protocol at the slave clock so as to synchronize a time displayed by the slave clock with a time displayed by the master clock.

A method for automatically detecting and selecting a time correction protocol for use within a master/slave clock system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving pulse patterns sent by a master clock to a slave clock, each pulse pattern representing a time correction protocol used by the master clock;
• (b) storing data at the slave clock, the data representative of characteristics of the pulse patterns received at the slave clock during a predetermined period of time in the past;
• (c) performing an analysis of the data at the slave clock to determine the protocol most likely in use by the master clock;
• (d) selecting a time correction protocol for the slave clock that has the highest probability of being the protocol used by the master clock in the past, via continuous self-teaching and analysis of the data;
• and
• (e) automatically synchronizing a time displayed by the slave clock with a time displayed by the master clock using the protocol for the slave clock.