Java Component Scheduling

In my system I have a java component which I want to activate only
within a certain time window.

It is a distributed system consisting of a jobproducer which hands out
tasks to the workers. Each worker runs on a different host. I want a
worker to start up and process jobs only if the time is right.

I am currently thinking along the following lines:
- pass in a time-window argument to the worker program e.g. 1900-0600
(7pm to 6am)
- if the current time is valid, it registers with the job producer and
starts receiving/processing jobs
- if the current time is not valid, it sleeps for a bit and tries
again.
- after completing a job, it checks whether it can take on another job
at the current time. If it can't it sleeps.

I don't really like the idea of the sleeps. I also don't want the
producer to be burdened with the task of activating workers at certain
times. Is there a better way?

Does anyone have any experience of doing something like this? Any help
would be appreciated.

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