Network-sharing of usage times (peer-to-peer)

Rather than a client-server model, have an option that allowed each copy of timekeeper could broadcast usages (e.g. once a minute) on some UDP port.
 Each copy of timekeeper listens for usage broadcasts on the same UDP port, and adjusts available time accordingly
Optionally a NAS box (or other host) could have a little daemon that listens for re-broadcasts the logged usage once a minute if it hasn't heard anything for while, to preserve data when the original computer is shutdown.

This way, if Jim is on computer A, and Sally on computer B, then A and B are turned on at the same time (or the NAS hears) then A and B know about both user's time. However loss of the network (server) doesn't lock anyone out.

Potential problems:
 1. Potential Denial of Service if someone sends out their own broadcasts, unless a secure port/encryption is used.
 2. In some environments it would not be appropriate to broadcast usernames. In such a case some form of encryption would be wanted. This would also make the DoS much harder.

David