Abstract: A computer program product, such as a floppy disk with pre-recorded software, is provided. The computer program product is for use with a computer or processing system which is to function as a node within a network. Synchronization of a local time maintained at the node with a reference time is facilitated through execution of the prerecorded software by the node. Bursts of synchronization messages containing reference time stamps are transmitted over the network, or over a communication link, according to a predetermined protocol. The node receives and time stamps the messages. Thus, times according to a first time scale and a second time scale are obtained. The protocol defines temporal relationships between certain ones of the times. In accordance with the protocol, the node determines a difference between a first time according to one of the time scales and a time related to second and third times according to the other time scale. The node then updates its local time based on the difference.