Information processing apparatus, information processing terminal, delivery method, and time synchronization method

1 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) configured to:

deliver, based on a request from a client device of a group of client devices, information representing a time synchronization strategy, wherein

the information representing the time synchronization strategy is delivered to the group of client devices,

the group of client devices comprises client devices for a same use,

the time synchronization strategy is a method for time synchronization between the client devices, and

the time synchronization strategy is based on the same use of the group of client devices.

2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in a case where the time synchronization strategy is updated based on a change in environment, the CPU is further configured to deliver, to the group of client devices, information representing the updated time synchronization strategy.

3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in a case where at least two groups of client devices are connected to a same network, the CPU is further configured to deliver, to each group of the at least two groups of client devices, different information representing different time synchronization strategies.

4 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the different time synchronization strategies comprise strategies for each group of the at least two groups, and

each time synchronization strategy of the different time synchronization strategies is changed based on an input by an administrator.

5 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the CPU is further configured to:

acquire, from a time source, time information of the group of client devices; and

estimate, based on a status of communication between each client device of the group of client devices and the time source, an arrangement relation of the group of client devices and the time source on the same network.

6 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the CPU is further configured to determine, based on the arrangement relation, the different time synchronization strategies of the client devices.

7 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the information representing the time synchronization strategy includes information specifying a type of a time source, and time information specifying a method for adjustment of time, and

the CPU is further configured to acquire the time information from the time source.

8 . A delivery method, comprising:

delivering, by an information processing apparatus, information representing a time synchronization strategy to a group of client devices, wherein

the information representing the time synchronization strategy is delivered based on a request from a client device of the group of client devices,

the group of client devices comprises client devices for a same use,

the time synchronization strategy is a method for time synchronization between the client devices, and

the time synchronization strategy is based on the same use of the group of client devices.

9 . An information processing terminal, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) configured to:

request a time synchronization strategy from an information processing apparatus, wherein

the information processing apparatus manages the time synchronization strategy and delivers the time synchronization strategy to a group of client devices,

the group of client devices comprises client devices for a same use, and

the time synchronization strategy is a method for time synchronization between the client devices;

receive information representing the time synchronization strategy, based on the request, wherein

the received information representing the time synchronization strategy is based on the same use of the group of client devices; and

synchronize, based on the time synchronization strategy, time between the client devices.

10 . The information processing terminal according to claim 9 , wherein

the information processing apparatus updates the time synchronization strategy based on a change in environment,

the CPU is further configured to receive information representing the updated time synchronization strategy, and

the information processing apparatus delivers the information representing the updated time synchronization strategy.

11 . The information processing terminal according to claim 9 , wherein

the information representing the time synchronization strategy includes first information specifying a type of a time source, and

second information specifying a method for adjustment of time, and

the second information is based on time information from the time source.

12 . The information processing terminal according to claim 11 ,

wherein the CPU is further configured to synchronize the time based on

an adjustment method specified by the second information, and

the time information from the time source specified by the first information.

13 . A time synchronization method comprising, by an information processing terminal:

requesting a time synchronization strategy from an information processing apparatus, wherein

the information processing apparatus manages the time synchronization strategy and delivers the time synchronization strategy to a group of client devices,

the group of client devices comprises client devices for a same use, and

the time synchronization strategy is a method for time synchronization between the client devices;

receiving information representing the time synchronization strategy, based on the request, wherein

the received information representing the time synchronization strategy is based on the same use of the group of client devices; and

synchronizing, based on the time synchronization strategy, time between the client devices.