Network device which selects a time service provider

A network device which interfaces to a local area network (LAN) over which plural time service providers are accessible, each time service provider for providing time data to said network device upon request, said network device comprising:

• a memory which stores a list identifying plural time service providers accessible over the LAN, the list identifying plural time service providers in order from a highest priority time service provider to a lowest priority time service provider;
• a LAN interface which interfaces to the LAN, over which an available time service provider is determined and over which the available time service provider is selected;
• and
• a processor which (a) determines, via said LAN interface, a first available time service provider in the list identifying plural time service providers, and (b) selects, via said LAN interface, the first available time service provider in the list identifying plural time service providers, the processor determining the first available time service provider by traversing the list of time service providers starting at the highest priority time service provider in the list, checking each successive time service provider for availability by requesting time data therefrom, and stopping at the first time service provider which provides time data.

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, said computer-executable process steps for selecting one time service provider from a plurality of time service providers accessible over a local area network (LAN), said computer-executable process steps comprising:

• a storing step which stores, in a memory, a list identifying plural time service providers accessible over the LAN, the list identifying plural time service providers in order from a highest priority time service provider to a lowest priority time service provider;
• a determining step which determines, via a LAN interface, a first available time service provider in the list identifying plural time service providers, the determining step traversing the list of time service providers, starting at the highest priority time service provider in the list, checking each successive time service provider for availability by requesting time data therefrom, and stopping at the first time service provider which provides time data;
• and
• a selecting step which selects, via the LAN interface, the first available time service provider in the list identifying plural time service providers.

A network device which interfaces a local area network (LAN) to a peripheral, and which receives print jobs over the LAN, logs the print jobs, and communicates the print jobs to the peripheral, said network device comprising:

• a memory which stores a list identifying plural time service providers accessible over the LAN, the list identifying plural time service providers in order from a highest priority time service provider to a lowest priority time service provider;
• a LAN interface which interfaces to the LAN, over which requests for time data are communicated to a time service provider, over which time data from a currently-available time service provider is received, and over which print jobs are received;
• a peripheral interface which interfaces to the peripheral, over which print jobs are transmitted, and over which peripheral information is received;
• and
• a processor which (a) determines a first available time service provider in the list identifying plural time service providers by traversing the list of time service providers starting at the highest priority time service provider in the list, checking each successive time service provider for availability by requesting time data therefrom, and stopping at the first time service provider which provides time data, (b) receives time data from the first available time service provider in the list identifying plural time service providers, (c) extrapolates current time data based on the received time data, (d) receives a print job via said LAN interface, (e) communicates the print job to the peripheral via said peripheral interface, (f) logs, in a log file, the print job and time data corresponding to a time that the print job is communicated to the peripheral, (g) receives, via said peripheral interface, a signal indicating that the print job communicated to the peripheral has finished printing, and (h) logs, in the log file, the print job and time data corresponding to the time that the signal indicating that the print job communicated to the peripheral has finished printing is received.