Systems and methods for synchronization in a networked environment

A method according to claim 13, wherein each timing information includes:

• a first server value, according to the server control time reference, indicative of the time at which the server device received the request;
• a second server value, according to the server control time reference, indicative of the time at which the server device sent the corresponding response;
• and
• a ratio between the frequency of the server control time reference and the server media time reference.

A computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out a method of synchronizing a client device having a client media time reference with a server device having a server media time reference, the server device being coupled to the client device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) sending at least one request to the server device, the request being indicative of an instruction to provide timing information indicative of a server control time reference and the server media time reference;
• (b) storing, for each request, according to a client control time reference, a respective first client value indicative of the time at which that request was sent;
• (c) receiving from the server device, for each request, a respective response including timing information;
• (d) storing, for each request, according to the client control time reference, a respective second client value indicative of the time at which the corresponding response was received;
• (e) processing, for each request and corresponding response, the first client value, the second client value, and the timing information, thereby to derive adjustment information;
• and
• (f) generating a client media time reference by applying the adjustment information to the client control time reference, thereby to synchronize the client media time reference with the server media time reference.

A client device including:

• a network interface for allowing the client device to communicate with a server device via a data network, the server device having a server media time reference;
• a processor coupled to the network interface for performing a method of synchronizing the client device having a client media time reference with a the device, the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) sending at least one request to the server device, the request being indicative of an instruction to provide timing information indicative of a server control time reference and the server media time reference;
• (b) storing, for each request, according to a client control time reference, a respective first client value indicative of the time at which that request was sent;
• (c) receiving from the server device, for each request, a respective response including timing information;
• (d) storing, for each request, according to the client control time reference, a respective second client value indicative of the time at which the corresponding response was received;
• (e) processing, for each request and corresponding response, the first client value, the second client value, and the timing information, thereby to derive adjustment information;
• and
• (f) generating a client media time reference by applying the adjustment information to the client control time reference, thereby to synchronize the client media time reference with the server media time reference.