CLIAMS:We claim:
1. A method for functionality-specific system time synchronization over a network, wherein the method is implemented by a processor of a first device and comprises:
determining whether functionality-specific system time information is available from a first server;
if the functionality-specific system time information is available from the first server:
transmitting a first request for functionality-specific system time information to the first server,
receiving a first functionality-specific system time from the first server, and
generating a second functionality-specific system time based on the first functionality-specific system time;
and
if the functionality-specific system time information is not available from the first server:
after receiving a second request for functionality-specific system time information from a second device, determining whether to provide a local functionality-specific system time to the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: broadcasting one or more functionality-specific system time synchronization request packets to the network; and wherein the determination of whether functionality-specific system time information is available from the first server is based on whether a response is received from the first server after the one or more functionality-specific system time synchronization request packets are broadcasted.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving a third request for functionality-specific system time information from a third device; wherein the third request includes a first number that represents a number of timer interrupts at the third device; and wherein the functionality-specific system time is not provided to the second device if the first number satisfies a predetermined condition.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: storing a second number that represents a number of timer interrupts at the first device; wherein the functionality-specific system time is not provided to the second device if a relationship between the first number and the second number satisfies the predetermined condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating second functionality-specific system time information based on the first functionality-specific system time information comprises:
determining a difference between the first functionality-specific system time and the second functionality-specific system time; and
generating the second functionality-specific system time based on the difference.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the difference is determined based on a statistical measurement of one or more historical differences between the first functionality-specific system time and the second functionality-specific system time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold: updating the local functionality-specific system time based on the second functionality-specific system time .

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
determining a time for transmitting a third request for functionality-specific system time information to the first server based on the difference;
wherein a time interval between the transmission of the first request and the transmission of the third request is reduced if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. A functionality-specific system time synchronization system, comprising:
one or more hardware processors; and
one or more memory units storing instructions executable by the one or more hardware processors for:
determining whether functionality-specific system time information is available from a first server;
if the functionality-specific system time information is available from the first server:
transmitting a first request for functionality-specific system time information to the first server,
receiving a first functionality-specific system time from the first server, and
generating a second functionality-specific system time based on the first functionality-specific system time;
and
if the functionality-specific system time information is not available from the first server:
after receiving a second request for functionality-specific system time information from a second device, determining whether to provide a functionality-specific system time to the second device.

10. The system of claim 9, further storing instructions for: broadcasting one or more functionality-specific system time synchronization request packets to the network; and wherein the determination of whether functionality-specific system time information is available from the first server is based on whether a response is received from the first server after the one or more functionality-specific system time synchronization request packets are broadcasted.

11. The system of claim 10, further storing instructions for: receiving a third request for functionality-specific system time information from a third device; wherein the third request includes a first number that represents a number of timer interrupts at the third device; and wherein the functionality-specific system time is not provided to the second device if the first number satisfies a predetermined condition.

12. The system of claim 11, further storing instructions for: storing a second number that represents a number of timer interrupts at the system; wherein the functionality-specific system time is not provided to the second device if a relationship between the first number and the second number satisfies the predetermined condition.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein generating second functionality-specific system time information based on the first functionality-specific system time information comprises the system storing instructions for:
determining a difference between the first functionality-specific system time and the second functionality-specific system time; and
generating the second functionality-specific system time based on the difference.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the difference is determined based on a statistical measurement of one or more historical differences between the first functionality-specific system time and the second functionality-specific system time.

15. The system of claim 14, further storing instructions for:
if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold: updating the local functionality-specific system time based on the second functionality-specific system time .

16. The system of claim 13, further storing instructions for:
determining a time for transmitting a third request for functionality-specific system time information to the first server based on the difference;
wherein a time interval between the transmission of the first request and the transmission of the third request is reduced if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable functionality-specific system time synchronization instructions comprising instructions for:
determining whether functionality-specific system time information is available from a first server;
if the functionality-specific system time information is available from the first server:
transmitting a first request for functionality-specific system time information to the first server,
receiving a first functionality-specific system time from the first server, and
generating a second functionality-specific system time based on the first functionality-specific system time;
and
if the functionality-specific system time information is not available from the first server:
after receiving a second request for functionality-specific system time information from a second device, providing a local functionality-specific system time to the second device.

Dated this 27th day of June, 2015

Swetha S.N.
Of K&S Partners
Agent for the Applicant
,TagSPECI:Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to networking, and more particularly to a system and method for adaptive clock/time synchronization between devices in a network.