Need based synchronization of computer system time clock to reduce loading on network server

A method of controlling synchronization of a time clock maintained by a computer system, the method comprising:

• synchronizing the time clock at least twice by accessing a time-keeping device via a network;
• determining a value indicating an error of the time clock based on said synchronizing;
• and
• adjusting a future synchronization time of the time clock based on an outcome of said determining.

A method of controlling synchronization of a time clock maintained by a computer system, the method comprising:

• repeatedly synchronizing the time clock by accessing a time server on a network;
• repeatedly computing an amount of drift in the time clock based on said synchronizing;
• and
• repeatedly determining future synchronization times of the time clock based on results of said computing, to reduce a loading of the time server.

A method of managing synchronization of a time clock maintained by a computer system, the method comprising:

• repeatedly accessing a time server on a network to synchronize the time clock;
• determining after each synchronizing of the time clock, an amount of drift in the time clock;
• storing data in response to each said determining to maintain an error history of the time clock;
• and
• determining when to resynchronize the time clock based on the history.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a communication device coupled to the processor for enabling the computer system to communicate on a network;
• and
• a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device having instructions stored therein which configure the processor to:
• repeatedly synchronizing a time clock maintained by the computer system, by accessing a time server on a network;
• repeatedly computing an amount of drift in the time clock based on said synchronizing;
• and
• repeatedly determining future synchronization times of the time clock based on results of said computing.

A device for use in processing system for controlling synchronization of a clock maintained by the processing system, the device comprising:

• means for synchronizing the clock at least twice;
• means for computing a value indicating an error of the clock based on said synchronizing;
• and
• means for determining when to resynchronize the clock based on an outcome of said determining.

A data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the data signal representing a plurality of instructions which, when executed on a computer system, cause the computer system to:

• synchronize a time clock maintained by the computer system at least twice by accessing a time-keeping device via a network;
• determine a value indicating an error of the time clock based on said synchronizing;
• and
• adjust a future synchronization time of the time clock based on an outcome of said determining to reduce a loading on the time-keeping device.

A machine-readable storage medium tangibly embodying sequences of instructions executable by a processing system to perform method steps for controlling synchronization of a clock maintained by the processing system, the method steps comprising:

• synchronizing the clock at least twice;
• computing a value indicating an error of the clock based on said synchronizing;
• and
• determining when to resynchronize the clock based on an outcome of said determining.