Patent Publication Number: US-10334545-B2

Title: Synchronizing time among two or more devices

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,325, entitled “SYNCHRONIZING TIME AMONG TWO OR MORE DEVICES,” filed Sep. 25, 2015. The present application claims priority to the Ser. No. 14/866,325 application. The Specification of the Ser. No. 14/866,325 application is hereby fully incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of data processing, and more particularly, to synchronizing time among a plurality of user equipment (UE) devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Data processing, communications, and other systems and/or networks use clocks in various devices. Frequently, synchronizing the time value of these clocks, or adjusting the time value of these clocks so they are able to operate and/or coordinate with each other, improves the overall function of the system and/or network. Historically, clock synchronization between wired and wirelessly connected devices over the Internet has relied on solutions such as Internet Time Protocol (NTP). These solutions typically, involve external multiple time servers and round-trip delay measurements in reasonably complex implementations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a network of UE devices configured for synchronizing time to a time server, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a time server and/or client UE device, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for a time server UE device, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to implement one or more aspects of a time server UE device, in accordance with various embodiments 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for a client UE device, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to implement one or more aspects of a client UE device, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a timing diagram of a time server and a client, in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of techniques, apparatuses, systems and computer-readable media for synchronizing the clocks of UE devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a time server UE device may send a first message via a communication controller to a second communication controller of a client UE device, and then cause a time value from the server UE device clock that indicates the time when the first message was sent, to be stored. At some later time, a second message may be sent from the time server UE device to the communication controller of the client UE device that includes the stored time value. In some embodiments, a client UE device may receive a first message from a time server UE device and then cause, immediately upon receipt of the first message, a timer to be started. Later, it may receive a second message from the time server UE device that includes the time at which the time server UE device sent the first message, and the clock of the client UE device will be updated based at least in part on the value of the timer and the received time value. 
     In embodiments, synchronizing time may not involve round trip measurements or similar complex operations. In addition, it may exclude the non-real-time host system performance from the critical path of updating the clock of a client device. In embodiments, time synchronization between one time server device and multiple client devices in proximity of the time server, may be particularly suitable to Bluetooth® Low Energy coverage. 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals may designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments. 
     For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). 
     The description uses the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous. As used herein, the term “logic” may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative block diagram of a network of UE devices  100  that may be configured for synchronizing time, according to various embodiments. In embodiments, a number of UE devices including a time server UE device  102  and one or more client UE devices  104 ,  106 ,  108  may be coupled with each other, incorporated with the teachings of the present disclosure to synchronize time. More specifically, client UE device  104   b ,  106   b , and  108   b  may use the clock value of the time server UE  102   a  to update the clock values of the one or more client UE devices  104   a ,  106   a ,  108   a . In embodiments, updates may be done on a periodic basis or on the basis of any other event. Hereinafter, for ease of understanding, time server UE  102  and client UE devices  104 ,  106   b , and  108   b  may simply be referred to as time server  102  and client devices  104   b ,  106   b , and  108   b.    
     The time server  102  may include a clock  102   a  that indicates a value for the current time for the time server. In non-limiting embodiments, the clock may be set to universal coordinated time, local standard time, local daylight savings time, number of seconds from a particular event, or a non-standard time value. Similarly, the client devices  104 ,  106 ,  108  may each have respective clocks  104   a ,  106   a ,  108   a  that may be similar to time server clock  102   a , and may be updated. 
     In embodiments, the time server  102  may communicate with the client devices  104 ,  106 ,  108  via communication links  114 ,  116 ,  118 . In embodiments, these communication links may be wired and/or wireless. In wired embodiments, the communication links, in non-limiting examples, may be implemented with Ethernet (over local or wide area networks) or serial communication links. In wireless embodiments, the communication links, in non-limiting examples, may be implemented using Bluetooth®, Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi, and/or cellular technology. 
     In embodiments, each device  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  may have a respective communication controller  102   b ,  104   b ,  106   b ,  108   b  used to send and/or receive signals from another device. In embodiments, the time server device  102  may have a communication controller  102   b  able to transmit but not able to receive a signal, for example as a beacon apparatus. In embodiments, a client device  104 ,  106 ,  108  may have a communication controller  104   b ,  106   b ,  108   b  configured to receive but not transmit a signal. In embodiments, the communications from one communication controller to another may occur at or near the speed of light. 
     In embodiments, a client device may also include a timer  104   c ,  106   c ,  108   c  that may be used to determine the time interval between the receipt of a first message from a time server device  102  and the receipt of a second message from the time server device  102 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates using diagram  200 , a time server device and/or a client device,  202  which may be similar to the time server device  102  of  FIG. 1  and/or the client devices  104 ,  105 ,  108  of  FIG. 1 . The time server and/or client device may include a communications controller  202   b , which may be similar to the communication controller  102   b  in  FIG. 1 , and/or a host  226  portion of the device  202  that may interact with the communications controller  102   b.    
     In embodiments, the host portion  226  may be coupled to the communication controller  202   b . In embodiments, the components, as shown and described, of the host  226  may reside in the communication controller  202   b . Similarly, the components, as shown and described, of the communication controller  202   b  may reside in the host  226 . For example, one or more, or all, of the components of the host  226  may reside within control circuitry  202   b   2  of the communication controller  202   b.    
     In embodiments, the host  226  may include processor  222  that may be coupled to memory/storage  224 , and to clock  202   a , which may be similar to the clock  102   a  in  FIG. 1 . In embodiments, the processor  222  may also be coupled to a timer  202   c , as may be implemented in a client device, such as  104   c ,  106   c ,  108   c . In embodiments, the host  226  may be implemented as a real-time system, or as a non-real-time system. 
     In embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may be implemented as a real-time system that may be able to react to events with a short and/or deterministic latency using transmit circuitry  202   b   1 , control circuitry  202   b   2 , and receive circuitry  202   b   3 , that may be connected to antenna  204 . Antenna  204  may be to provide access to a communications network  220 , which may be similar to the connections  114 ,  116 ,  118  shown in  FIG. 1 . In embodiments, the communication controller  102   b  may initiate interrupts to the host  226  and/or the processor  222  within the host, which may be to allow the processor  222  to perform one or more actions immediately or nearly immediately upon receiving the interrupt. These actions may, in embodiments, include to cause the processor  222  to identify a value from a clock  202   a  immediately prior to or immediately subsequent to a message transmission by the transmit circuitry  202   b   1 , start a timer  202   c  upon receipt of a message by receive circuitry  202   b   3 , and/or identify a value from a timer  202   c  upon receipt of a message from receive circuitry  202   b   3 . 
     In embodiments, when the host  226  requests that the communication controller  202   b  to transmit a message, the communication controller  202   b  may not immediately transmit the message, and instead may wait for a timeslot assigned to it for message transmission. In these embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may issue an interrupt back to the host  226  immediately after the message has been transmitted. In these embodiments, within the host  226 , the processor  222  may immediately, or within a known delayed time period, service the interrupt and identify a time value from the clock  202   a  that may be stored in memory/storage  224 . In embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may issue the interrupt at the start, the middle, or at the end of the message transmission. 
     The communication controller  202   b  may be user equipment (UE) circuitry, or some other type of circuitry, in accordance with various embodiments. In embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may be incorporated into or otherwise be a part of a UE device such as an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or some other type of electronic device. In embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may include radio transmit circuitry  202   b   1  and receive circuitry  202   b   3  coupled to control circuitry  202   b   2 . In embodiments, the transmit  202   b   1  and/or receive circuitry  202   b   3  may be elements or modules of transceiver circuitry (not shown). The communication controller  202   b  may be coupled with one or more plurality of antenna elements of one or more antennas  204  to connect with network  220 . The UE apparatus circuitry and/or the components of the electronic device circuitry may be configured to perform operations similar to those described elsewhere in this disclosure. 
     As used herein, the term “circuitry” may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may be implemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may be implemented by, one or more software or firmware modules. 
     Embodiments of the communication technology described herein may be related to the 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) or LTE-advanced (LTE-A) standards. For example, terms or entities such as eNB, mobility management entity (MME), UE, etc. may be used that may be viewed as LTE-related terms or entities. However, in other embodiments the technology may be used in or related to other wireless technologies such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 wireless technology (WiMax), IEEE 802.11 wireless technology (WiFi), various other wireless technologies such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE radio access network (GERAN), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), or other 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, etc. technologies either already developed or to be developed. In those embodiments, where LTE-related terms such as eNB, MME, UE, etc. are used, one or more entities or components may be used that may be considered to be equivalent or approximately equivalent to one or more of the LTE-based terms or entities. 
     Memory/storage  224  may be used to load and store data and/or instructions, to be executed by processor  222 , for example, for synchronizing clocks of various client devices with the clock of a time server device. Memory/storage  224 , in one embodiment, may include any combination of suitable volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)) and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., Flash memory). 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an illustrative process  300  for a time server, in accordance with various embodiments. It may be recognized that, while the operations of the process  300  are arranged in a particular order and illustrated once each, in various embodiments, one or more of the operations may be repeated, omitted or performed out of order. For illustrative purposes, operations of the process  300  may be described as performed by the time server device  202  (which may be embodied in the time server device  102 ), but the operations of the process  300 , including individual operations of the process  300 , may be performed by any suitably configured computing device or collection of computing devices. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the process  300  may start at block  302 . 
     At block  304 , the process may send, by the time server device  202 , a first message from the communication controller of time server device to a communication controller of a client device  104   b ,  106   b ,  108   b . The first message may be identified by one or more components of the host  226 , including the processor  222 , memory/storage  224 , and other elements that may include sensors and/or measuring components (not shown). The message may be sent by one or more components of the communication controller  202   b , which may include control circuitry  202   b   2  to identify the first message from the host  226 , and transmit circuitry  202   b   1  that may transmit the first message to the client device over the network  220  via antennas  204 . In other embodiments, the transmit circuitry  202   b   1  may transmit the message to network  220  by a wired communication, via an Ethernet or a serial connection. 
     In embodiments, the first message may contain a message identification to be included in the first message that will allow a receiving client device to uniquely identify the first message among a plurality of received messages. In embodiments, the message may also include other data which may or may not be related to message identification. 
     At block  306 , the process may cause, by time server device  202 , a time value from the time server device clock  202   a  to be stored, the time value indicating a time when the communication controller  202   b  sent the first message. In embodiments, the communication controller  202   b  may immediately cause an interrupt to be sent to the host  226  at the time the first message is sent, the interrupt indicating that a clock value from clock  202   a  may be captured and stored by the processor  222  in the memory/storage  224 . In embodiments, the message identification of the first message may be stored and/or related to the stored time in another way. In embodiments, there may be a time delay between the sending of the interrupt by the communication controller  202   b  and the capturing of a time value from clock  202   a  of the time server. In these embodiments, the time delay may be a known or may be a predictable amount of time, which may be the value zero or some other time value, that may be subtracted from the stored clock value so that the captured clock value more accurately represents the time value of the clock  202   a  at the time the message was actually sent by the communication controller  202   b . In other embodiments, the communication controller  202   b , through control circuitry  202   b   2  or through some other mechanism, may obtain the time value of the clock  202   a  without using processor  222 , and then subsequently cause the processor  222  to store that time value, along with the associated message identification, in memory/storage  224 . 
     At block  308 , the process may send, by time server device  202 , a second message to the communication controller of a client device  104 ,  106 ,  108 , the second message including the stored time value. In embodiments, the second message may also contain the message identification of the first message that was sent, which may allow the device receiving the second message to associate the second message received with the first message received. The second message may be created and/or identified in a way similar to the first message, and may include additional information that may or not be related to time synchronization. 
     At block  310 , the process may end. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions to implement one or more aspects of process  300 , in accordance with various embodiments. Instructions  404  of non-transitory computer-readable computer readable media  402 , when executed by systems/devices may cause the systems/devices to implement the methods, for performing the above-described time server process as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, such computer readable media may be included in a memory or storage device of any of the computing devices in the system  100  or the time server device  200 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (e.g., the storage device  224 ). For example, computational logic included in a storage device of any computing device may include assembler instructions  404  supported by a processing device included in the computing device, or may include instructions  404  in a high-level language, such as C, that can be compiled by the processing device. In some embodiments, a permanent copy of the computer readable instructions  404  may be placed into permanent storage in the storage device in the factory or in the field (through, for example, a machine-accessible distribution medium (not shown), such as a compact disc). In some embodiments, a permanent copy of the computer readable instructions  404  may be placed into permanent storage in the storage device through a suitable communication pathway (e.g., from a distribution server). 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for a client device, in accordance with various embodiments. It may be recognized that, while the operations of the process  500  are arranged in a particular order and illustrated once each, in various embodiments, one or more of the operations may be repeated, omitted or performed out of order. For illustrative purposes, operations of the process  500  may be described as performed by the client device  202  (which may be embodied in the client device  104 ,  106 ,  108 ), but the operations of the process  500 , including individual operations of the process  500 , may be performed by any suitably configured computing device or collection of computing devices. The process may start at block  502 . 
     At block  504 , the process may receive, by the client device  202 , a first message via the communication controller of client device  202   b  from a communication controller of a time server device  102   b . The first communication message may include a message identification, and may or may not include other information relevant to time synchronization. The first message may be received by the client device receive circuitry  202   b   3 . The message may have been delivered via network  220  and by antenna  204  connected to the communication controller  202   b  of the client device  202 . In embodiments, the message may have been received over a wired connection. 
     At block  506 , the process may start a timer, by the client device  202 , immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller  202   b . In embodiments, the client device control circuitry  202   b   2  of the communication controller  202   b  may send an interrupt to the host  226  of the client device  202  to cause the timer  202   c  to start. In embodiments, there may be a time delay between the receipt of the message by the communication controller  202   b  and start of the timer  202   c . In embodiments, this time delay may be a known or a may be a predictable amount of time, which may include interrupt servicing, that may be added to the timer  202   c  value so that the timer value more accurately represents the elapsed time at the client device  202  after the first message was received at the client device  202 . In embodiments, the first message may include identification information that may allow the client  202  to uniquely identify this first message from the plurality of messages the client may subsequently receive from one or more devices. 
     At block  508 , the process may receive, by the client device  202 , a second message from the communication controller of the time server  102   b , the second message including a time value indicating the time at the time server  102  when the communication controller of the time server  102   b  sent the first message to the communication controller of the client  202   b . In embodiments, a second message may be sent from the communication controller of the time server  102   b  that may include the stored time value of the time the first message was sent by the communication controller of the time server  102   b . The second message may also include an identification of the first message received by the client device  202 . 
     At block  510 , the process may update, by the client device  202 , a time value of the clock of the client device  202   a  based at least in part on the value of the timer  202   c  and the received time value. In embodiments, when the communication controller  202   b  receives the second message, the communication controller may send an interrupt to the host  226  of the client device to capture a current value of the timer  202   c . In embodiments, there may be a time delay between the receipt of the second message by the communication controller  202   b , and the identification of a value of the timer  202   c . In embodiments, this time delay may be a known or may be a predictable amount of time, that may be due to interrupt handling delays, that may be subtracted from the captured timer value so that the captured timer value may more accurately represents the elapsed time at the client device  202  between the time the first message was received by the communication controller  202   b  and when the second message was received by the communication controller  202   b . In embodiments, the updated value of the client device clock  202   a  may be determined by adding the received time value in the second message to the captured timer value in the client device  202 . In embodiments where the communication network  220  may transfer messages from the communication controller of the time server device  102   b  and the communication controller of the client device  202   b  at or near the speed of light, the updated value of the client device clock  202   a  may be extremely close to the value of the time server device clock  102   a . In embodiments, the client device  202  may identify the second message received as related to the first message received by comparing the message identifier in the first message with an indication of the first message identifier in the second message. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions to implement one or more aspects of process  500 , in accordance with various embodiments. Diagram  600  may indicate non-transitory computer-readable computer readable media  602  that may implement methods, systems and/or devices for performing the above-described as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, such computer readable media may be included in a memory or storage device of any of the computing devices in the system  100  or the client device  200 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (e.g., the storage device  224 ). For example, computational logic included in a storage device of any computing device may include assembler instructions  604  supported by a processing device included in the computing device, or may include instructions  604  in a high-level language, such as C, that can be compiled by the processing device. In some embodiments, a permanent copy of the computer readable instructions  604  may be placed into permanent storage in the storage device in the factory or in the field (through, for example, a machine-accessible distribution medium (not shown), such as a compact disc). In some embodiments, a permanent copy of the computer readable instructions  604  may be placed into permanent storage in the storage device through a suitable communication pathway (e.g., from a distribution server). 
       FIG. 7  is a timing diagram  700  of a time server and a client, in accordance with various embodiments. Diagram  700  illustrates a time server device  702 , which may be similar to the time server device  102  in  FIG. 1 , cooperating with a client device  704 , which may be similar to the client device  104  in  FIG. 1 , to synchronize the time of client device  704  to the time of time server device  702 . The time server device  702  may include two components, a time server host  702   a , which may be similar to the host  226  of  FIG. 2 , and a time server communication controller  702   b , which may be similar to the communication controller  202   b  of  FIG. 2 . Activity of the time server host  702   a  may be represented on the time server host timeline  702   a   1 . Activity of the time server communication controller  702   a  may be represented on the time server communication controller timeline  702   b   1 . The client device  704  may include two components, a client host  704   a , which may be similar to the host  226  of  FIG. 2 , and the client communication controller  704   b , which may be similar to the communication controller  202   b  of  FIG. 2 . Activity of the client host  704   a  may be represented on the client host timeline  704   a   1 . Activity of the client communication controller  704   b  may be represented on the client communication controller timeline  704   b   1 . 
     Timing diagram  700  illustrates one or more embodiments of the methods described in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . In embodiments, the time server host  702   a  may dispatch a message  1  request  710  to the time server communication controller  702   b . In response, the time server communication controller  702   b  may send message  1   712  to the client communication controller  704   b . After sending message  1 , the time server communication controller  702   b  may send a command complete interrupt  714  back to the time server host  702   a . At this point, the time server host  702   a  may capture a master clock snapshot  716 . In embodiments, the command complete interrupt  714  may be serviced by the time server host  702   a  at a known, or determinable, amount of time after message  1   712  was sent by the client communication controller  704   b . In embodiments, the time server host  702   a  may adjust the captured master clock snapshot based on this known, or determinable, amount of time. In embodiments, the master clock (not shown) may be similar to the clock  102   a  of  FIG. 1 , and may be used as the clock to which the clocks of other devices may be synchronized. 
     In embodiments, when the client communication controller  704   b  receives message  1   712 , the client communication controller  704   b  may send a message received interrupt  718  to the client host  704   a . Thereupon, the client host  704   a  may then start a timer  720 . In embodiments, the elapsed time between the receipt of message  1   712  by the client communication controller  704   b  and the servicing by the client host  704   a  of the message received interrupt  718  to start the timer may be a known, or determinable, amount of time. In embodiments, the client host  704   a  may adjust the timer (not shown), which may be similar to timer  104   c  of  FIG. 1 , by the known, or determinable, amount of time. 
     In embodiments, subsequent to sending dispatch message  1   710 , the time server host  702   a  may send a dispatch message  2   722  to the time server communication controller  702   b . In embodiments, this message may include the captured master clock snapshot, which may or may not have been adjusted, as may be described above. The time server communication controller  702   b  may then send a second message, message  2   724  to the client communication controller  704   b . After this is completed, the time server communication controller  702   b  may send a command complete interrupt  726  back to the time server host  702   a . After receiving message  2   724 , the client communication controller  704   b  may then generate and send a message received interrupt  728  to the client host  704   a . In embodiments, the message received interrupt  728  may include the value of the captured master clock snapshot. The client host  704   a  may then adjust its clock value  730  by adding the received captured master clock snapshot contained within the sent message  2   724  to the value of the client host timer. In embodiments, the adjusted client clock value may include adjustments made to allow for time between the receipt of message  2   724  by the client communication controller  704   b  and the time at which the client host  704   a  may adjust the client clock value. 
     The following paragraphs provide a number of examples of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Example 1 is a user equipment, UE, apparatus for computing, comprising: one or more processors; a clock coupled to the one or more processors; a communication controller coupled to the one or more processors; and transmit logic to be operated by the one or more processors to send a first message via the communication controller to a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; cause a time value from the UE apparatus clock to be stored, the time value to indicate a time when the communication controller sent the first message; and send a second message to the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus, the second message to include the stored time value. 
     Example 2 may include the subject matter of Example 1, wherein to cause a time value from the UE apparatus clock to be stored further includes the transmit logic is to cause an interrupt immediately after the communication controller sent the first message; and wherein the UE apparatus further comprises control logic to be operated by the one or more processors, upon receipt of the interrupt, to immediately store the time value to indicate when the communication controller sent the first message. 
     Example 3 may include the subject matter of Example 2, wherein the communication controller is a real-time system able to generate interrupts with a deterministic latency; and wherein the time value to indicate when the communication controller sent the first message is adjusted for the deterministic latency. 
     Example 4 may include the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the first message includes an indication it is a first time synchronization message. 
     Example 5 may include the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the first message includes an identifier to be used in the second message. 
     Example 6 may include the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the first message is a wireless message or the second message is a wireless message. 
     Example 7 may include the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the time value is based on coordinated universal time. 
     Example 8 may include the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the communication controller is a selected one of a Bluetooth® controller, a Bluetooth Low Energy controller, a Wi-Fi controller, or a cellular technology controller. 
     Example 9 is a method for synchronizing time with a computing user equipment, UE, apparatus comprising: sending, by the UE apparatus, a first message from a communication controller of the UE apparatus to a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; causing, by the UE apparatus, a time value from a UE apparatus clock to be stored, the time value indicating a time when the communication controller sent the first message; and sending, by the UE apparatus, a second message to the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus, the second message including the stored time value. 
     Example 10 may include the subject matter of Example 9, wherein causing, by the UE apparatus, a time value from the UE apparatus clock to be stored further includes causing an interrupt immediately after the sending the first message, the interrupt causing the storing of the time value indicating when the communication controller sent the first message. 
     Example 11 may include the subject matter of Example 10, wherein the communication controller is a real-time system able to generate interrupts with a deterministic latency; and wherein the time value to indicate when the communication controller sent the first message is adjusted for the deterministic latency. 
     Example 12 may include the subject matter of Example 9, wherein the first message includes an identifier to be used in the second message. 
     Example 13 may include the subject matter of Example 9, wherein the first message is a wireless message or the second message is a wireless message. 
     Example 14 may include the subject matter of Example 9, wherein the time value is based on coordinated universal time. 
     Example 15 may include the subject matter of Example 9, wherein the communication controller is a selected one of a Bluetooth® controller, a Bluetooth Low Energy controller, a Wi-Fi controller, or a cellular technology controller. 
     Example 16 is a user equipment, UE, apparatus for computing, comprising: one or more processors; a clock coupled to the one or more processors; a communication controller connected to the one or more processors; receive logic to be operated by the one or more processors to: receive a first message via the communication controller from a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; cause, immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller, a timer to be started; and receive a second message from the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus that includes a time value to indicate a time at the second UE apparatus when the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus sent the first message to the communication controller of the UE apparatus; and control logic to be operated by the one or more processors to update the clock of the UE apparatus, based at least in part on the value of the timer and the received time value. 
     Example 17 may include the subject matter of Example 16, the control logic further to: add the value of the timer to the received time value to create an updated time value for the clock of the UE apparatus; and update the clock of the UE apparatus to the updated time value. 
     Example 18 may include the subject matter of Example 16, wherein the first message further includes a first message identification and the second message further includes a second message identification; and further including when the first message identification does not match the second message identification, to not update the clock of the UE apparatus. 
     Example 19 may include the subject matter of Example 16, wherein to cause, immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller a timer to be started further includes: to generate and to send, by the communication controller, an interrupt message to the one or more processors to start the timer; and to start, by the one or more processors, the timer. 
     Example 20 may include the subject matter of Example 17, wherein, to start the timer further includes: to identify a deterministic timer delay that includes a time between the receipt of the first message by the communication controller and the time the interrupt message was sent and a time between when the interrupt message was sent and the time the timer was started; and to adjust the timer value based at least on the deterministic timer delay. 
     Example 21 is a method for synchronizing time in a user equipment, UE, comprising: receiving, by the UE apparatus, a first message by a communication controller of the UE apparatus from a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; starting, by the UE apparatus, immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller, a timer; receiving, by the UE apparatus, a second message from the second communication controller of the UE apparatus, including a time value indicating a time at the second UE apparatus when the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus sent the first message to the communication controller of the UE apparatus; and updating, by the UE apparatus, a time value of the clock of the UE apparatus based at least in part on the value of the time and the received time value. 
     Example 22 may include the subject matter of Example 21, wherein updating a time value of the clock of the UE apparatus is based at least in part on the value of the time and the received time value further includes updating a time value of the clock by adding the value of the timer to the received time value. 
     Example 23 may include the subject matter of Example 21, wherein the first message further includes a first message identification and the second message further includes a second message identification; and wherein only when the first message identification matches the second message identification, updating a time value of the clock by adding the value of the timer to the received time value. 
     Example 24 may include the subject matter of Example 21, wherein starting, by the UE apparatus, immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller, a timer further comprises: generating and sending, by the communication controller, an interrupt message to a processor to start the timer; and starting, by the processor, the timer. 
     Example 25 may include the subject matter of Example 24, wherein starting the timer further includes: identifying a deterministic timer delay that includes a time between receiving the first message by the communication controller and starting the timer; and adjusting the timer value based at least on the deterministic timer delay. 
     Example 26 is one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that cause a user equipment (UE) apparatus, in response to execution of the instructions by the UE apparatus, to: send a first message from a communication controller of the UE apparatus to a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; cause a time value from a UE apparatus clock to be stored, the time value indicating a time when the communication controller sent the first message; send a second message to the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus, the second message including the stored time value. 
     Example 27 may include the subject matter of Example 26, wherein to cause a time value from the UE apparatus clock to be stored further includes to cause an interrupt immediately after the first message is sent, the interrupt to cause the storing of the time value indicating when the communication controller sent the first message. 
     Example 28 may include the subject matter of Example 27, wherein the communication controller is a real-time system able to generate interrupts with a deterministic latency; and wherein the time value to indicate when the communication controller sent the first message is adjusted for the deterministic latency. 
     Example 29 may include the subject matter of Example 26, wherein the first message includes an identifier to be used in the second message. 
     Example 30 may include the subject matter of Example 26, wherein the first message is a wireless message or the second message is a wireless message. 
     Example 31 may include the subject matter of Example 26, wherein the time value is based on coordinated universal time. 
     Example 32 may include the subject matter of Example 26, wherein the communication controller is a selected one of a Bluetooth® controller, a Bluetooth Low Energy controller, a Wi-Fi controller, or a cellular technology controller. 
     Example 33 is one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that cause a user equipment (UE) apparatus, in response to execution of the instructions by the UE apparatus, to: receive a first message by a communication controller of the UE apparatus from a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; start a timer immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller; receive a second message by the communication controller from the second communication controller of the UE apparatus, including a time value indicating a time at the second UE apparatus when the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus sent the first message to the communication controller of the UE apparatus; and update a time value of the clock of the UE apparatus based at least in part on the value of the time and the received time value. 
     Example 34 may include the subject matter of Example 33, wherein to update a time value of the clock of the UE apparatus is based at least in part on the value of the time and the received time value further includes to update a time value of the clock by adding the value of the timer to the received time value. 
     Example 35 may include the subject matter of Example 33, wherein the first message further includes a first message identification and the second message further includes a second message identification; and wherein only when the first message identification matches the second message identification, to update a time value of the clock by the value of the timer added to the received time value. 
     Example 36 may include the subject matter of Example 33, wherein to start the timer further includes: to identify a deterministic timer delay that includes a time between receiving the first message by the communication controller and starting the timer; and to adjust the timer value based at least on the deterministic timer delay. 
     Example 37 is a computing device to provide a time server, comprising: means for sending a first message from a communication controller of the UE apparatus to a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; means for causing a time value from a UE apparatus clock to be stored, the time value indicating a time when the communication controller sent the first message; and means for sending a second message to the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus, the second message including the stored time value. 
     Example 38 may include the subject matter of Example 37 or any other example herein, wherein means for causing a time value from the UE apparatus clock to be stored further includes means for causing an interrupt immediately after the sending the first message, the interrupt causing the storing of the time value indicating when the communication controller sent the first message. 
     Example 39 may include the subject matter of Example 38 or any other example herein, wherein the communication controller is a real-time system able to generate interrupts with a deterministic latency; and wherein the time value to indicate when the communication controller sent the first message is adjusted for the deterministic latency. 
     Example 40 may include the subject matter of Example 37 or any other example herein, wherein the first message includes an identifier to be used in the second message. 
     Example 41 may include the subject matter of Example 37 or any other example herein, wherein the first message is a wireless message or the second message is a wireless message. 
     Example 42 may include the subject matter of Example 37 or any other example herein, wherein the time value is based on coordinated universal time. 
     Example 43 may include the subject matter of Example 37 or any other example herein, wherein the communication controller is a selected one of a Bluetooth® controller, a Bluetooth Low Energy controller, a Wi-Fi controller, or a cellular technology controller. 
     Example 44 is a computing device for synchronizing time to a time server, comprising: means for receiving a first message by a communication controller of the UE apparatus from a second communication controller of a second UE apparatus; means for starting, immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller, a timer; means for receiving a second message from the second communication controller of the UE apparatus, including a time value indicating a time at the second UE apparatus when the second communication controller of the second UE apparatus sent the first message to the communication controller of the UE apparatus; and means for updating a time value of the clock of the UE apparatus based at least in part on the value of the time and the received time value. 
     Example 45 may include the subject matter of Example 44 or any other example herein, wherein means for updating a time value of the clock of the UE apparatus is based at least in part on the value of the time and the received time value further includes means for updating a time value of the clock by adding the value of the timer to the received time value. 
     Example 46 may include the subject matter of Example 44 or any other example herein, wherein the first message further includes a first message identification and the second message further includes a second message identification; and means for updating a time value of the clock by adding the value of the timer to the received time value only when the first message identification matches the second message identification. 
     Example 47 may include the subject matter of Example 44 or any other example herein, wherein means for starting, immediately upon receipt of the first message by the communication controller, a timer further comprises: means for generating and means for sending, by the communication controller, an interrupt message to a processor to start the timer; and means for starting the timer. 
     Example 48 may include the subject matter of Example 47 or any other example herein, wherein means for starting the timer further includes: means for identifying a deterministic timer delay that includes a time between receiving the first message by the communication controller and a time when the timer is started; and means for adjusting the timer value based at least on the deterministic timer delay.