NIST provides a time scale called UTC(NIST). It is referenced to atomic
oscillators located in Boulder, Colorado. UTC(NIST) is kept in as close
agreement as possible with other national and international standards,
typically within a few nanoseconds. The accuracy of the time sent to users
from this source depends upon the service used to transfer time, and the
receiving equipment that is used.
Continuum receives time over the network using the Network Time Protocol
(RFC-1305). This protocol reports time as a 32-bit unformatted binary
number that represents the time in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as
seconds since January 1, 1900. Due to limitations in the Network Time
Protocol, fractional rounding and uncertainties involving local and network
traffic, all times received by Continuum can be no more precise than 9
milliseconds (.009 seconds).
For more information on the Network Time Protocol (RFC-1305), you
may visit the RFC
Index website.
