System for arbitrating clock synchronization among networked devices

1. A system for updating a first set of information including a time and a date of one of a plurality of electronic devices within the system, the system comprising:

a communication network being coupled to each of said electronic devices within said network, wherein each of at least two of said electronic devices has a time and date set feature capable of being set by a user, wherein one of said at least two electronic devices is configured to communicate the up dated first set of information to any respective electronic device after having received a set instruction configured to automatically set a first clock within the one of said at least two electronic devices, wherein said first clock is automatically set when a change in the time occurs, the one of said at least two electronic devices is configured to communicate the updated first set of information until remaining of said electronic devices within the communications network have been set, and

a first communications module configured to interrupt a first program executed by a microprocessor within the remaining of said electronic devices, wherein said first program is separate from a second program configured to update a second clock within the remaining of said electronic devices when the updated first set of information is received by the remaining of said electronic devices.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said communications network comprises a second communications module which utilizes standard communications protocol to communicate the updated first set of information between said electronic devices within said communications network.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said communications network comprises a Programmable Logic Controller.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said time and date set feature is a time code.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said time and date feature is a date code.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said change in time comprises a change from a standard to a daylight savings time.

7. The system as recited claim 1 wherein said clock is automatically set when a brown-out condition occurs.

8. A system for updating a time and a date of one of a plurality of appliances within the system, the system comprising:

a communications network being coupled to each of said appliances within said network, wherein each of at least two of said appliances has a time and date set feature capable of being set by a user, wherein any one of said at least two appliances is configured to communicate the updated time and date to remaining of said appliances within the network after having received a set instruction configured to automatically set a first clock within any one of said at least two appliances, wherein said clock is automatically set when a change in the time occurs; and

a first communications module configured to interrupt a first program executed by a microprocessor within the remaining of said appliances, wherein said first program is separate from a second program configured to update a second clock within the remaining of said appliances when the updated time and date is received by the remaining of said appliances.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said communications network comprises a second communications module which utilizes standard communications protocol to communicate time and date set data between said appliances within said communications network.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein said communications network comprises at least two Programmable Logic Controllers.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said time and date set feature is a time code.

12. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said time and date feature is a date code.