System and method for automatically setting a remote timepiece with the correct time

Abstract

Setting a remote timepiece with the correct time using a time stamp transmitted over a data channel of a wireless telecommunications system. A data message is created which includes an address for the remote timepiece and a time stamp. The time stamp may include time and date information. The data message is transmitted over a data channel of the wireless telecommunications system. Based upon the address, the data message is received by the remote timepiece. The remote timepiece extracts the time stamp from the data message and uses the time stamp to set the remote timepiece in accordance with the time stamp.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a wireless telecommunications system, including a wireless switch for transmitting messages to a remote timepiece located within an area of the wireless telecommunications system served by the wireless switch, a method for setting the remote timepiece, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) creating a data message having an address for the remote timepiece and a time stamp, the data message formatted for transmission by the wireless switch over a data channel of the wireless telecommunications system;    (b) transmitting the data message to the remote timepiece using the data channel of the wireless telecommunications system; and    (c) receiving the data message by the remote timepiece based on the address,    whereby the remote timepiece extracts the time stamp from the data message and uses the time stamp for setting the remote timepiece in accordance with the time stamp.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the step of creating the data message comprises creating the time stamp including an hour, a minute, and a second.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the step of creating the data message comprises creating the time stamp including a year, a month and a day.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) using an updated time stamp in place of the time stamp in creating an updated data message, the updated time stamp reflecting time elapsed since the data message was created in step (a).    
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) periodically repeating steps (a)-(c) using an updated time stamp in place of the time stamp in creating an updated data message for each repetition, and in each subsequent repetition, the updated time stamp reflects time elapsed since the data message was created in a previous repetition.    
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the steps of: 
 (d) measuring activity on the data channel; and    (e) if the activity on the data channel is within an acceptable range, then repeating steps (a)-(c) using an updated time stamp in place of the time stamp in creating an updated data message, the updated time stamp reflecting time elapsed since the data message was created in step (a).    
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the address for the remote timepiece is shared with a second remote timepiece so that the step of transmitting the data message to the remote timepiece comprises transmitting the data message to the second remote timepiece.  
     
     
         8 . In a wireless telecommunications system, including a wireless switch for transmitting messages to a remote timepiece located within an area of the wireless telecommunications system served by the wireless switch, the wireless switch including a clock, a method for transmitting a time stamp to the remote timepiece, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) creating the time stamp using an output of the clock, the time stamp including an hour, a minute, and a second;    (b) creating a data message using the time stamp, the data message addressed to the remote timepiece;    (c) transmitting the data message to the remote timepiece over a data channel of the wireless telecommunications system; and    (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) to transmit an updated time stamp including an updated hour, an updated minute, and an updated second in place of the time stamp.    
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the step of creating the time stamp comprises creating a first time stamp corresponding to a first time zone and creating a second time stamp corresponding to a second time zone.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the step of repeating steps (a)-(c) comprises periodically repeating steps (a)-(c).  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the step of repeating steps (a)-(c) comprises the steps of: 
 (d) determining a level of system usage for the wireless telecommunications system; and    (e) if the level of system usage is within an acceptable level, then repeating steps (a)-(c).    
     
     
         12 . A system for providing periodic data messages over a data channel of a wireless telecommunications system, each data message including a time stamp, comprising: 
 a wireless switch for creating and transmitting the data messages over the data channel within an area of the wireless telecommunications system served by the wireless switch, the data messages including a first data message including a first time stamp corresponding to a first time and a subsequent data message including a subsequent time stamp corresponding to a subsequent time; and    a remote timepiece located in the area for receiving the first data message and for using the first time stamp to set the remote timepiece to the first time, and for receiving the subsequent data message and for using the subsequent time stamp to set the remote timepiece to the subsequent time.    
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 12   , wherein the wireless switch comprises a clock for generating the first time and the subsequent time.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 12   , wherein the first data message and the subsequent data message include an address identifying the remote timepiece.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 12   , wherein the remote timepiece comprises a time zone input, and wherein the remote timepiece is set to an adjusted first time based upon the time zone input and the first time stamp, and is set to an adjusted subsequent time based upon the time zone input and the subsequent time stamp.  
     
     
         16 . A method to automatically set a remote timepiece based upon a time stamp transmitted over a data channel of a wireless telecommunications system, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) scanning the data channel for a data message addressed to the remote timepiece, the data message including the time stamp;    (b) once the data message is detected, then receiving the data message; and    (c) setting the remote timepiece to a time corresponding to the time stamp.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein the remote timepiece includes a time zone input, and wherein the step of setting the remote timepiece comprises adjusting the time stamp based upon the time zone input prior to setting the remote timepiece.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein the remote timepiece includes a daylight savings time input, and wherein the step of setting the remote timepiece comprises adjusting the time stamp based upon the daylight savings time input prior to setting the remote timepiece.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein the time stamp corresponds to a first time zone, the data message includes a second time stamp which corresponds to a second time zone, and the remote timepiece includes a time zone selector to select the first time zone or the second time zone, and wherein the step of setting the remote timepiece comprises: 
 if the first time zone is selected, then setting the remote timepiece using the time stamp; and    if the second time zone is selected, then setting the remote timepiece using the second time stamp.    
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 16   , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a)-(c) using a second data message, the second data message including an updated time stamp, so that the remote timepiece is set to an updated time corresponding to the updated time stamp.