Clock Synchronization Information Acquisition (or Provision) Method and Communication Device

Abstract

The present application discloses a clock synchronization information obtaining (or providing) method and a communication device, which are applied to a communication network between a wireless device controller and a wireless device. The wireless device can provide the wireless device's clock synchronization accuracy based on a clock source to the wireless device controller based on the clock synchronization information, and the wireless device controller can determine the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., first clock synchronization accuracy) of the wireless device based on the clock synchronization information. This thus helps the wireless device controller manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202111633141.3, titled "CLOCK SYNCHRONIZATION INFORMATION OBTAINING (OR PROVIDING) METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on December 28, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method for obtaining (or providing) clock synchronization information and a communication device.

Background Art

[0003] In a fronthaul transport network, a radio device control device is communicably connected to a radio device via a fronthaul transport interface. When the radio device control device is directly connected to the radio device, that is, when there is no other network device between the radio device control device and the radio device, the radio device control device can obtain the clock synchronization accuracy of the radio device with reference to the radio device control device. When two radio devices need to cooperate to execute a service, the radio device control device can determine whether the service can be completed cooperatively based on the clock synchronization accuracy of each radio device.

[0004] However, in a fronthaul transport network, the radio device control device is not necessarily directly connected to the radio device. The radio device control device may be connected to the radio device using one or more transmission devices. In this case, the radio device control device cannot know the clock synchronization of the radio device. Therefore, the radio device control device may be affected when determining whether the radio device executes a specific service. Accuracy Therefore, the radio device control device may be affected when determining whether the radio device executes a specific service.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a clock synchronization information acquisition (or provision) method and a communication device, enabling a wireless device control device to know the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device, and assisting the wireless device control device in determining whether to trigger a service of the wireless device.

[0006] According to a first aspect, this application provides a clock synchronization information acquisition method. This method is related to a wireless device control device and a wireless device. The wireless device control device can receive clock synchronization information from the wireless device, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. Then, the wireless device control device can determine a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information, where the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device.

[0007] Clock synchronization accuracy refers to the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock. Usually, clock synchronization accuracy may be represented by the average error value of the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock within a test metric. In this application, clock synchronization accuracy is the variation range of the time or phase difference between the wireless device and a specific transmission device or a specific wireless device control device. Note that in some embodiments, clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as synchronization accuracy or time synchronization accuracy.

[0008] The fact that the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source can be understood as meaning that the clock synchronization information is information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source based on the clock synchronization information.

[0009] The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where a wireless device is located. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, and the reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration.

[0010] In the prior art, a wireless device control apparatus cannot know which clock synchronization link is being used by the wireless device to perform synchronization, and cannot know which network device is the clock source on the clock link where the wireless device performs clock synchronization. Therefore, the wireless device control apparatus cannot know the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus, and further, the wireless device control apparatus cannot manage some services of the wireless device based on the clock synchronization accuracy.

[0011] However, in the present application, the wireless device can provide the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source to the wireless Device control apparatus based on the clock synchronization information, and the wireless device control apparatus can determine the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus based on the clock synchronization information. Therefore, this helps the wireless device control apparatus to manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy. In this way, the wireless device control apparatus can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices, and the wireless device control apparatus can determine whether to execute a service that requires the two wireless devices to cooperate.

[0012] It should be noted that the wireless device may be connected to the wireless device control apparatus via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device may be directly connected to the wireless device control apparatus.

[0013] A clock information transmission device is a device configured to transmit information related to clock synchronization (hereinafter referred to as clock information), and the clock information may include part or all of the clock synchronization information. Usually, at least one of the above clock information transmission devices is for connection.

[0014] Regardless of the method used by the wireless device to connect to the wireless device control device, it should be understood that the wireless device control device can receive clock synchronization information from the wireless device.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and the identification of the source port. The identification of the source port is on the clock link and indicates a higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device.

[0016] The identification of the clock source indicates a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration. Each device (including transmission devices and wireless devices) on the clock link uses the system clock of the clock source directly or indirectly as the clock synchronization reference. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device.

[0017] The clock source in the clock synchronization information transmitted from a wireless device to a wireless device control device may be the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information. In this case, the wireless device and the wireless device control device are located on the same clock synchronization link, or may be a wireless device control device on another clock link. In this case, the wireless device may perform clock synchronization via another clock link, which does not include the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information, or may be a network device that can provide a clock as a reference on another link or topology. It should be understood that this is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0018] The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device on the clock link. The higher-level network device is a network device directly connected to the wireless device, and the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on this network device. Specifically, the higher-level network device may be a transmission device connected to the wireless device, or may be a wireless device control device.

[0019] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes a second clock synchronization accuracy, and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the higher-level network device.

[0020] The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device with respect to a higher-level network device, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the higher-level network device. For example, when the higher-level network device is a transmission device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to that transmission device; when the higher-level network device is a wireless device control device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device.

[0021] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device. The identifier of the wireless device is for clarifying the identification of the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device, so that the wireless device control device can determine the wireless device that is the source of the clock synchronization information based on the identifier of the wireless device. When the wireless device control device communicates with multiple wireless devices, the identifier of the wireless device can distinguish the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information from other wireless devices.

[0022] In a possible implementation, when the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, and the second clock synchronization accuracy, the process by which the wireless device control device determines the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information is specifically that when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port, the wireless device control device determines that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0023] In this implementation, the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port. Therefore, the wireless device control device may determine that the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device, that is, the wireless device executes clock synchronization directly based on the clock source. Further, the wireless device control device may determine that the second clock synchronization accuracy carried in the clock synchronization information represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the wireless device control device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). Therefore, the wireless device control device uses the value of the second clock synchronization accuracy in the clock synchronization information as the value of the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0024] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the quantity of communication channels on the clock link, where the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information.

[0025] The clock information is information related to clock synchronization, and the content of the clock information may include some or all of the clock synchronization information.

[0026] In a possible implementation, when the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and information about the quantity of communication channels, the process by which the wireless device control device determines the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information is that when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, the wireless device control device determines the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the quantity of communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predefined clock synchronization accuracy.

[0027] If the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, it indicates that the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the clock source are not the same device, and the wireless device is connected to the clock source via at least one transmission device. This at least one transmission device includes the upper-level network device of the wireless device. In this case, the second clock synchronization accuracy indicates the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the upper-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. However, the second clock synchronization accuracy cannot reflect the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the clock source. In this case, the wireless device control device needs to determine the topology of the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the information about the number of communication channels, and estimate the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the default clock synchronization accuracy and the second clock synchronization accuracy.

[0028] In a possible implementation, for the wireless device control device to determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and the default clock synchronization accuracy, the wireless device control device determines the product obtained by multiplying the difference between the number of communication channels and 1 by the default clock synchronization accuracy, and the wireless device control device determines that the sum of this product and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0029] The established clock synchronization accuracy may be the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices predefined by a protocol or standard, or it may be an experimental value manually set in a wireless device control apparatus that indicates the possible values of the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices on a clock link. It should be understood that the established clock synchronization accuracy is not only for estimating the clock synchronization accuracy between two transmission devices, but may also be for estimating the clock synchronization accuracy of a transmission device based on a wireless device control apparatus directly connected to the transmission device.

[0030] Since the information about the number of communication channels can reflect how many levels of clock synchronization need to be performed between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus, when the wireless device control apparatus can estimate the clock synchronization accuracy (referred to as the clock synchronization accuracy of each level) between two network devices connected to each communication channel, the wireless device control apparatus can use the cumulative sum of the synchronization accuracies of clock synchronization at each level as the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus.

[0031] For example, if the specified clock synchronization accuracy can be used to estimate the clock synchronization accuracy of each level of clock synchronization between the device at the upper level of the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus, and the second clock synchronization accuracy can be used to determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the network device at the upper level of the wireless device, then the wireless device control apparatus can use the product obtained by multiplying the established clock synchronization accuracy by the difference between the number of communication channels and 1 as the clock synchronization accuracy between the network device at the upper level of the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus. In this case, the wireless device control apparatus uses the sum of this product and the second clock synchronization accuracy as the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0032] In this embodiment, when the wireless device control apparatus cannot directly obtain the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus, the wireless device control apparatus infers the topology of the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus based on information about the number of communication channels, and then can determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the topology of the clock link, a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy, and a second clock synchronization accuracy. Compared with the solution where the wireless device control apparatus estimates the first clock synchronization accuracy when it cannot know the topology of the clock link, this implementation helps to guarantee the correct rate of the estimation of the first clock synchronization accuracy by the wireless device control apparatus, and helps the wireless device control apparatus to make a more accurate and reasonable judgment about the service of the wireless device.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, and the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0034] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device. The identifier of the wireless device is for clarifying the identification of the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control apparatus, so that the wireless device control apparatus can determine the wireless device that is the source of the clock synchronization information based on the identifier of the wireless device. When the wireless device control apparatus communicates with a plurality of wireless devices, the identifier of the wireless device can distinguish the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information from other wireless devices.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the wireless device control apparatus determining the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information includes the wireless device control apparatus determining that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus.

[0036] In this implementation, when a wireless device can obtain the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device (i.e., the third clock synchronization accuracy) based on the clock source from the front-haul transport network, the wireless device may provide the third clock synchronization accuracy to the wireless device control device. When the clock source is a wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization Information the value of the third clock synchronization accuracy represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the wireless device control device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). Therefore, when the identifier of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, the wireless device control device determines that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0038] The management message may be a management message for clock management between the wireless device and the wireless device control device, or a management message for managing another service or function between the wireless device and the wireless device control device. This is not particularly limited in this specification. The management message may perform point-to-point transmission from the wireless device to the wireless device control device. Therefore, the fact that the clock synchronization information is carried in the management message helps to perform accurate information transmission, helps to avoid signaling storms, and helps to reduce the network transmission load.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0040] In this implementation, clock synchronization information may be carried in a message that can be directly transmitted from a wireless device to a wireless device control device in a unicast manner. For example, a wireless device may transmit clock synchronization information to a wireless device control device in a unicast manner of an Internet Protocol (IP) packet. Compared with a multicast transmission method or a broadcast transmission method, this helps to avoid a signaling storm and reduce the network transmission load.

[0041] In a possible implementation, this method further includes the wireless device control device transmitting the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to a network management device.

[0042] In this implementation, the wireless device control device may transmit only the clock synchronization information of the wireless device to the network management device, or may transmit only the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device, or may transmit both the clock synchronization information and the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device. Therefore, the network management device can determine a clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the clock synchronization information. When the network management device receives the clock synchronization information of a plurality of wireless devices, the network management device may determine a clock topology formed by the plurality of clock links. This helps the network management device to manage transmission devices in the front hole transport network or wireless devices and wireless device control devices connected using the front hole transport network based on the clock link (or clock topology), and helps to improve the management efficiency of managing transmission devices, wireless devices or wireless device control devices by network devices.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the wireless device includes a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The wireless device control apparatus determines a fourth clock synchronization accuracy based on clock synchronization information received from the first wireless device, where the fourth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus. The wireless device control apparatus determines a fifth clock synchronization accuracy based on clock synchronization information received from the second wireless device, where the fifth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the second wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus. In this case, the method further includes the following.

[0044] The wireless device control apparatus determines a sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy, where the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, The wireless device control apparatus determines, based on the sixth clock synchronization accuracy, whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device can cooperate to execute a first service, where the first service is a service that needs to be operated in cooperation by two or more wireless devices.

[0045] For example, the first service may be a service related to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology or a service related to carrier aggregation (CA), etc. This is not limited in this application.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the wireless device control apparatus determining the sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy may specifically be that the wireless device control apparatus calculates the sum of the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy to obtain the sixth clock synchronization accuracy.

[0047] In a possible implementation, for the wireless device control apparatus to determine whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device can be made to execute a first service in cooperation based on a sixth clock synchronization accuracy, specifically, it may be as follows.

[0048] When the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is less than the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, the wireless device control apparatus determines to enable the first wireless device and the second wireless device to execute the first service in cooperation. When the sixth clock synchronization accuracy exceeds the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, the wireless device control apparatus determines not to enable the first wireless device and the second wireless device to execute the first service in cooperation.

[0049] The clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service can be understood as the maximum time (or phase) deviation that can be tolerated by the first service. When the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices is less than the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, it can be understood that the time (or phase) deviation between those two wireless devices does not affect the execution of the first service. When the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices exceeds the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, it can be understood that the time (or phase) deviation between those two wireless devices is large and may affect the execution of the first service. Therefore, in this case, it is not recommended that the first wireless device and the second wireless device execute the first service in cooperation.

[0050] According to a second aspect, the present application relates to clock synchronization InformationA method is provided. This method is related to a wireless device control apparatus and a wireless device. The wireless device transmits clock synchronization information to the wireless device control apparatus, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source, and the clock synchronization information is for determining a first clock synchronization accuracy, and the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus.

[0051] Clock synchronization accuracy refers to the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock. Usually, clock synchronization accuracy may be represented by the average error value of the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock within the test metric. In this application, clock synchronization accuracy is the variation range of the difference in time or phase between the wireless device and a specific transmission device or a specific wireless device control apparatus. It should be noted that in some embodiments, clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as synchronization accuracy or time synchronization accuracy.

[0052] The fact that the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source can be understood as meaning that the clock synchronization information is information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The wireless device control apparatus can determine the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source based on the clock synchronization information.

[0053] The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, and the reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration.

[0054] In this application, the wireless device, based on the clock synchronization information, synchronizes the clock of the wireless device with reference to the clock source DeviceIt can be provided to a control device. The wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) with respect to the wireless device control device based on clock synchronization information. Therefore, this helps the wireless device control device manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy. In this way, the wireless device control device can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices, and the wireless device control device can determine whether the two wireless devices can execute a service that requires cooperative operation.

[0055] Note that the wireless device may be connected to the wireless device control device via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device may be directly connected to the wireless device control device.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of a clock source and the identification of a source port. The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that is on the clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device.

[0057] The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device on the clock link. The higher-level network device is a network device directly connected to the wireless device, and the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on this network device. Specifically, the higher-level network device may be a transmission device connected to the wireless device, or may be the wireless device control device.

[0058] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes a second clock synchronization accuracy, and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the higher-level network device of the wireless device.

[0059] The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device with respect to a higher-level network device, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the higher-level network device. For example, when the higher-level network device is a transmission device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to that transmission device; when the higher-level network device is a wireless device control device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the quantity of communication channels on the clock link, and the communication channel is a channel between two network devices capable of transmitting clock information.

[0061] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and the third clock synchronization accuracy, and the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0062] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0063] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device. The identifier of the wireless device is for clarifying the identity of the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device, so that the wireless device control device can determine the wireless device that is the source of the clock synchronization information based on the identifier of the wireless device. When the wireless device control device communicates with a plurality of wireless devices, the identifier of the wireless device can distinguish the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information from other wireless devices.

[0065] It should be noted that there are a plurality of other implementations in the present embodiment of the present application. For details, refer to the specific implementation of the first aspect and the advantageous effects of the first aspect. In this specification, details will not be repeatedly described.

[0066] According to a third aspect, the present application provides a wireless device control device, where the wireless device control device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive clock synchronization information from a wireless device, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and a clock source, and the clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock based on a clock link where the wireless device is located, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device. The processing module is configured to determine a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information, where the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device.

[0067] Optionally, the wireless device is connected to the wireless device control device via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device.

[0068] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0069] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0070] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, and the second clock synchronization accuracy. The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that is on the clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the higher-level network device.

[0071] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the processing module is specifically configured to determine that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port.

[0073] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices that can transmit clock information.

[0074] In a possible implementation, the processing module is specifically configured to determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predefined clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port.

[0075] In a possible implementation, the processing module is specifically configured to determine a product obtained by multiplying the predefined clock synchronization accuracy by the difference between the number of communication channels and 1. The wireless device control device determines that the sum of this product and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0076] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0077] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes the identifier of the wireless device.

[0078] In a possible implementation, the processing module is specifically configured to determine that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device controller.

[0079] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to send the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device.

[0080] In a possible implementation, the wireless device includes a first wireless device and a second wireless device, where the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the wireless device controller is a fourth clock synchronization accuracy, and the clock synchronization accuracy between the second wireless device and the wireless device controller is a fifth clock synchronization accuracy.

[0081] The processing module is further configured to determine a sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy, where the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, and further configured to determine whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device can cooperate to execute a first service based on the sixth clock synchronization accuracy, where the first service is a service that needs to be cooperatively operated by two or more wireless devices.

[0082] Note that there are multiple other implementations in the present embodiment of the present application. For details, refer to the specific implementation of the first aspect and the advantageous effects of the first aspect. Details will not be repeatedly described herein.

[0083] According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a wireless device, where the wireless device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The processing module is configured to generate clock synchronization information, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and a clock source, and the clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where the wireless device is located, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device. The transceiver module is configured to transmit the clock synchronization information to a wireless device control device, where the clock synchronization information is for determining a first clock synchronization accuracy, and the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device.

[0084] Optionally, the wireless device is connected to the wireless device control device via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device.

[0085] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0086] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0087] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes identification of the clock source, identification of the source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy. The identification of the source port is on the clock link and indicates a higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to a higher-level network device of the wireless device.

[0088] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information.

[0089] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0090] It should be noted that there are multiple other implementations in the present embodiment of the present application. For details, refer to the specific implementation of the second aspect and the advantageous effects of the second aspect. Details will not be repeated herein.

[0091] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. This communication device may be a wireless device control device in the above implementation, or may be a chip or a functional module within the wireless device control device. This communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. When the communication device is a wireless device control device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver. The wireless device control device may further include a storage module, and the storage module may be a memory. The storage module is configured to store instructions. The processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module so that the wireless device control device executes the method according to any one of the first aspect or the implementation of the first aspect. When the communication device is a chip within the wireless device control device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be an input / output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like. The processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module so that the wireless device control device executes the method according to any one of the first aspect or the implementation of the first aspect. The storage module may be a storage module within the chip (for example, a register or a buffer), or may be a storage module located outside the chip within the wireless device control device (for example, a read-only memory or a random access memory).

[0092] According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device may be a wireless device in the above implementation, or may be a chip or a functional module in the wireless device. The communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. When the communication device is a wireless device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver. The wireless device may further include a storage module, and the storage module may be a memory. The storage module is configured to store instructions. The processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module so that the wireless device executes the method according to any one of the second aspect or the implementation of the second aspect. When the communication device is a chip in the wireless device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be an input / output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like. The processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module so that the wireless device executes the method according to any one of the second aspect or the implementation of the second aspect. The storage module may be a storage module (such as a register or a buffer) in the chip, or may be a storage module (such as a read-only memory or a random access memory) located outside the chip in the wireless device.

[0093] According to a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The device may be an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory. The memory is configured to store a program or instructions. When the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device can execute the method according to any one of the first aspect or the implementation of the first aspect, or execute the method according to any one of the second aspect or the implementation of the second aspect.

[0094] According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including instructions. When the computer program product is executed on a computer, the computer can execute a method according to any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or an implementation of those aspects.

[0095] According to a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium including instructions. When the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer can execute a method according to any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, or an implementation of those aspects.

[0096] According to a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system. The communication system includes a wireless device control device according to any one of the third aspect and an implementation of the third aspect, and a wireless device according to any one of the fourth aspect and an implementation of the fourth aspect.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0097] To more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the accompanying drawings for explaining the embodiments will be briefly described below. It is obvious that the accompanying drawings in the following description only show some embodiments of the present application.

[0098]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0099] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be described. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of them. Surely It should be understood that in the specification, claims and accompanying drawings of the present application, terms such as "first", "second", "third" and "fourth" (if any) are for distinguishing similar objects and do not necessarily indicate a specific order or sequence. Since the data so-called can be interchanged with each other in an appropriate situation, it is possible that the embodiments of the present invention described in this specification are implemented in an order other than the order illustrated or described in this specification. Furthermore, terms such as "including" and "having" and any other variant terms are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device including a list of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those explicitly listed steps or units, and may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to that process, method, product or device.

[0100]

[0101] For ease of understanding, some terms of the present application will be described first below.

[0102] ​Clock Synchronization: The slave clock adjusts the time (or phase) of the slave clock based on the master clock (also called the parent clock), so that the time (or phase) deviation between the slave clock and the master clock is maintained within a small error range. It should be understood that the master clock and the slave clock in clock synchronization are a pair of relative concepts. For example, device A performs clock synchronization based on device B, and device B performs clock synchronization based on device C. In this case, for device A, device B is the master clock and device A is the slave clock; for device C, device C is the master clock and device B is the slave clock.

[0103] Clock synchronization accuracy refers to the variation range of the difference between the measured time (or phase) of the clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock. Usually, clock synchronization accuracy may be represented by the average error value of the measured time (or phase) of the clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock within the test metric. For example, if the clock synchronization accuracy of the measured clock is 50 ns, it means that the difference between the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock varies within 50 ns. In some embodiments, clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as synchronization accuracy or time synchronization accuracy. It should be understood that the reference clock may be the master clock of the measured clock, the clock source of the measured clock, or another clock. This is not particularly limited in this specification. In the present application, clock synchronization accuracy is the variation range of the time or phase difference between the wireless device and a specific transmission device or a specific wireless device control device.

[0104] A clock source (grandmaster clock) is a device that provides a reference time clock to a specific range of network devices (e.g., network devices on a clock link). The reference time clock is the ultimate reference for clock synchronization or clock calibration. Each device on the clock link (e.g., a transmission device and a wireless device described later) uses the clock source directly or indirectly as a reference for clock synchronization, that is, the tracking source for clock synchronization executed by the devices on the clock link is the clock source.

[0105] A clock link is a link formed by connecting a plurality of devices that perform clock synchronization level by level in series. The source of the clock link is the clock source, and the clock link may connect a plurality of devices (e.g., a transmission device and a wireless device described later). The clock link of the present application is mainly a clock link formed by directly connecting a wireless device control device and a wireless device via an optical fiber, or a clock link formed by connecting a wireless device control device and a wireless device via at least one transmission device.

[0106] For ease of understanding, first, the system architecture and application scenarios of the clock synchronization information acquisition method provided in the present application will be described below.

[0107] The clock synchronization information acquisition method provided in this application is mainly applicable to a network in which a wireless device and a wireless device control device perform clock synchronization. The network in which the wireless device and the wireless device control device perform clock synchronization may be a fourth-generation mobile communication technology (4G) network, a fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5G) network, or a sixth-generation mobile communication technology (6G) network, and may also be applicable to future communication networks. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0108] For example, the network in which the wireless device and the wireless device control device perform clock synchronization may be , f a front-haul transport network (FTN). With the development of communication technologies, it should be understood that the network in which the wireless device and the wireless device control device perform clock synchronization may alternatively be another network or be referred to by another name. This is not particularly limited in this specification. This application is described by taking the front-haul transport network as an example.

[0109] In this application, the network in which the wireless device and the wireless device control device perform clock synchronization is a 4G long term evolution n、It may be a fronthaul transport network of an LTE system, a fronthaul transport network of a 5G New Radio (NR) system, a fronthaul transport network of a 6G system, or a fronthaul transport network of a subsequent evolved standard. The network standards and network names applicable to the clock synchronization information acquisition method are not limited in this application.

[0110] The fronthaul transport network of this application is mainly configured to connect a radio device and a radio device control device. The fronthaul transport network includes one or more transmission devices and a transmission medium (such as an optical fiber or a cable) connecting the transmission devices. The radio device control device is directly connected to the radio device via the transmission medium of the fronthaul transport network, or the radio device control device is connected to the radio device via one or more transmission devices of the fronthaul transport network.

[0111] The radio device control device is a network element or device having a baseband signal processing function, or WirelessIt may be a device having a function of managing radio signal processing of a radio access network (RAN). The radio device control apparatus can complete baseband signal processing functions such as encoding, multiplexing, modulation, and spreading, can complete the function of processing signaling from the radio device, can implement the function of performing local management, remote operation, and maintenance on the radio device, and can provide the function of clock synchronization to a transmission device or a radio device. For example, the radio device control apparatus may be a baseband unit (BBU) (also called a building baseband unit (BBU)) in a radio access network device (for example, a base station). For example, in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) system, the radio device control apparatus may be a baseband unit BBU of an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB). In another example, in a 5G NR system, the radio device control apparatus may also be a baseband unit BBU of a next generation Node B (gNB). For example, in a 5G NR system, the radio device control apparatus may also be a distributed unit (DU) of a cloud radio access network (CloudRAN) or an open radio access network (ORAN) system, or a central unit (CU), or a combined structure of a central unit CU and a distributed unit DU. In actual applications and with the future evolution of the network, the radio device control apparatus may alternatively be another device or apparatus having a baseband signal processing function, or another device or apparatus having a function of managing radio signal processing of the radio access network RAN. l In actual applications and with the future evolution of the network, the radio device control apparatus may alternatively be another device or apparatus having a baseband signal processing function, or Wireless another device or apparatus having a function of managing radio signal processing of the radio access network RAN.

[0112] It should be understood that when different communication protocols are used between a radio device control apparatus and a radio device, the radio device control apparatus may have different names. For example, in the common public radio interface (CPRI) protocol, the radio device control apparatus is called a radio equipment control (REC). In the enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) protocol, the radio device control apparatus is called an eCPRI radio equipment control (eREC). Even in another protocol that provides communication to a baseband unit and a radio frequency unit, the radio device control apparatus may have a different name. Specifically, the specific implementation form of the radio device control apparatus is not limited in the present application, and hereinafter, the description will be made using the term "radio device control apparatus".

[0113] Furthermore, the radio device is WirelessIt may be a radio unit (RU) (also called a radio frequency unit) within an access network RAN device (such as a base station), or it may be another processing device having a function of processing radio signals (such as an intermediate frequency signal or a radio frequency signal). For example, the radio device may be a remote radio unit (RRU) (sometimes called a remote radio frequency unit) or a remote radio head (RRH) within a base station. The RRU is usually for the conventional outdoor coverage area of a macro base station, and the RRH is usually for the indoor coverage area of an indoor distributed system. For example, alternatively, the radio device may be an active antenna unit (AAU), that is, a processing unit integrating an RRU (or an RRH) and an antenna. In actual applications and with the future evolution of the network, the radio device may alternatively be another device or apparatus having a function of receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals or intermediate frequency signals.

[0114] It should be understood that some physical layer functions of the baseband unit may be deployed in the radio frequency unit. In this case, the radio device may have some physical layer functions of the BBU, such as functions like modulation, demodulation, layer mapping, fast fourier transform (FFT), and channel estimation / equalization.

[0115] It should be understood that when different communication protocols are used between a wireless device control apparatus and a wireless device, the wireless device may have different names. In the common public radio interface (CPRI) protocol, the wireless device is called radio equipment (RE). In the enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) protocol, the wireless device is called eCPRI radio equipment (eRE). Even in another protocol that provides communication to a baseband unit and a radio frequency unit, the wireless device may have a different name. Specifically, the specific implementation form of the wireless device is not limited in this application, and the following uses the term "wireless device" for explanation.

[0116] Furthermore, a transmission device is a network device within a fronthaul transport network configured to transmit information related to clock synchronization (or time synchronization) (hereinafter briefly referred to as clock information). Therefore, the transmission device may also be called a clock information transmission device. For example, the transmission device may be a transmission equipment (TE) having a boundary clock (BC) function, such as a packet transport network (PTN) device, a router, a switch, a microwave device, and an optical transport network (OTN) device, etc., which are network devices capable of implementing clock information transmission. In actual applications and with the future evolution of the network, the transmission device may alternatively be another device or apparatus having a clock synchronization function or a clock information transmission function. Specifically, the specific implementation form of the transmission device is not limited in this application, and the following uses the term "transmission device" for explanation.

[0117] In the above front-haul transport network, the radio device control apparatus is communicably connected to the radio device via a front-haul transport interface and performs clock synchronization according to a clock synchronization protocol. For example, the front-haul transport interface may be an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI), or may be another interface that provides a communication function to the radio device and the radio device control apparatus. This is not particularly limited in this specification. The clock synchronization protocol may be a precision time protocol (PTP) (also referred to as the IEEE 1588 protocol), or may be another protocol in which clock synchronization is performed in a level-by-level synchronization method. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0118] Specifically, when the radio device control apparatus is directly connected to the radio device, the radio device performs clock synchronization based on the radio device control apparatus. When the radio device control apparatus is connected to the radio device via another transmission device, the radio device is synchronized to the radio device control apparatus in a level-by-level synchronization method based on the transmission device connected to the radio device.

[0119] To facilitate understanding, taking FIG. 1 as an example, wireless device 1, wireless device 2, wireless device 3, and wireless device 4 are connected to wireless device control device 1 and wireless device control device 2 via a front-haul transport network. Wireless device control device 1 is directly connected to wireless device 3, and wireless device control device 1 may be connected to wireless device 4 via transmission device 1 and transmission device 5 in the front-haul transport network, and may be connected to wireless device 2 via transmission device 1, transmission device 5, and transmission device 4 in the front-haul transport network, and may be connected to wireless device 1 via transmission device 1, transmission device 2, and transmission device 3 in the front-haul transport network. Similarly, wireless device control device 2 may be connected to one or more wireless devices in FIG. 1 via one or more transmission devices in FIG. 1. Details are not enumerated herein.

[0120] At a specific moment, the wireless device performs clock synchronization with the wireless device control device via the clock link, and the wireless device can obtain the clock synchronization accuracy of the upper-level network device directly connected to the wireless device. For example, at a certain moment, if transmission device 1 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of wireless device control device 1, then transmission device 5 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of transmission device 1, and finally wireless device 4 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of transmission device 5, the clock link of wireless device 4 is "f-g-h". After the above clock synchronization is completed, wireless device 4 can obtain the clock synchronization accuracy based on the upper-level network device of wireless device 4 (i.e., transmission device 5). In another example, at a certain moment, if transmission device 2 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of wireless device control device 2, then transmission device 3 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of transmission device 2, then transmission device 5 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of transmission device 3, and finally wireless device 4 performs clock synchronization based on the system clock of transmission device 5, the clock link of wireless device 4 is "a-b-k-h". After the above clock synchronization is completed, wireless device 4 can obtain the clock synchronization accuracy based on the upper-level network device of wireless device 4 (i.e., transmission device 5).

[0121] Furthermore, when the wireless device control device is directly connected to the wireless device, the wireless device performs clock synchronization based only on that wireless device control device. For example, wireless device 3 is directly connected to wireless device control device 1 via an optical fiber. Wireless device 3 performs clock synchronization directly based on the system clock of wireless device control device 1, that is, wireless device 3 functions as a slave clock, and wireless device control device 1 functions as a master clock to perform clock synchronization, and the clock link of wireless device 3 is "i". After completing the clock synchronization, wireless device 3 can obtain the clock synchronization accuracy based on the higher-level network device of wireless device 3 (i.e., wireless device control device 1).

[0122] As shown in the above example, since the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device with respect to a wireless device control device is related to the front-haul transport network, the clock synchronization accuracies of the same wireless device with respect to clock sources on different clock links are different. Since the management plane and the clock synchronization plane between the wireless device and the wireless device control device are not exactly the same, for example, the wireless device control device 1 provides a clock synchronization reference to the wireless device 2 via the clock link "f-g-l-e", but the wireless device 2 may also need to exchange data or signaling with the wireless device control device 2. Therefore, for the wireless device control device 2, there may be a situation where the wireless device control device 2 cannot know the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device 2 with respect to the wireless device control device 2. Services that need to be operated in cooperation between two or more wireless devices (for example, services related to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, or services related to carrier aggregation (CA)) have specific requirements regarding clock synchronization accuracy. Therefore, when a service that needs to be operated in cooperation is related to two wireless devices managed by a wireless device control device, the trigger of the service may be affected because the wireless device control device cannot know the clock synchronization accuracy between the two wireless devices.

[0123] Therefore, in the clock synchronization information acquisition method provided in the present application, the wireless device can provide information (that is, the clock synchronization information described later) for determining the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to a certain device to the wireless Device control device. Therefore, the wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device based on the clock synchronization information. Furthermore, the wireless device control device can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices, and the wireless device control device can determine whether the two wireless devices need to execute a service that requires cooperative operation.

[0124] Referring to FIG. 2, the main procedures of the clock synchronization information acquisition method provided in the present application will be described below. The wireless device and the wireless device control device execute the following steps.

[0125] Step 201: The wireless device transmits clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device. Correspondingly, the wireless device control device receives the clock synchronization information from the wireless device.

[0126] The clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source, and it is understood that this is information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source based on the clock synchronization information received from the wireless device, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the clock source.

[0127] The clock source is a device that provides a reference time clock for the clock link where the wireless device is located. The reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration. Each device on the clock link (including the transmission device and the wireless device) directly or indirectly uses the system clock of the clock source as the clock synchronization reference. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device.

[0128] FIG. 1 is used as an example. When transmission device 2 performs clock synchronization based on wireless device control device 2, transmission device 3 performs clock synchronization based on transmission device 2, and wireless device 1 performs clock synchronization based on transmission device 3, "a-b-d" forms a clock link. Since transmission device 2 directly uses wireless device control device 2 as a reference for clock synchronization, and transmission device 3 and wireless device 1 indirectly use wireless device control device 2 as a reference for clock synchronization, wireless device control device 2 is the clock source of the clock link "a-b-d". In another example, when transmission device 1 performs clock synchronization based on wireless device control device 1, transmission device 2 performs clock synchronization based on transmission device 1, transmission device 3 performs clock synchronization based on transmission device 2, and wireless device 1 performs clock synchronization based on transmission device 3, "f-j-b-d" forms a clock link. Since transmission device 1 directly uses wireless device control device 1 as a reference for clock synchronization, and transmission device 2, transmission device 3 and wireless device 1 indirectly use wireless device control device 1 as a reference for clock synchronization, wireless device control device 1 is the clock source of the clock link "f-j-b-d". In another example, when wireless device 3 directly performs clock synchronization based on wireless device control device 1, the clock link between wireless device 3 and wireless device control device 1 is "i", and wireless device control device 1 is the clock source of the clock link "i". In addition to the above examples, it should be understood that the clock source may alternatively be another device that provides a reference for clock synchronization to the above clock link. This is not specifically listed in this specification.

[0129] The clock source in the clock synchronization information transmitted from a wireless device to a wireless device control device may be the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information. In this case, the wireless device and the wireless device control device are located on the same clock synchronization link, or may be a wireless device control device on another clock link. In this case, the wireless device may perform clock synchronization via another clock link. This clock link does not include the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information, or may be a network device that can provide a clock based on another link or topology. It should be understood that this is not particularly limited in this specification. Therefore, before the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information parses the clock synchronization information, the wireless device control device does not know whether the wireless device and the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information are located on the same clock link, nor does it know which clock source is used by the wireless device to perform clock synchronization and which clock link is used. After the wireless device control device parses the clock synchronization information, the wireless device control device can determine which clock source is used by the wireless device to perform clock synchronization and which clock link is used.

[0130] The following describes the specific content included in the clock synchronization information.

[0131] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes identification of a clock source, identification of a source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy.

[0132] The identification of the clock source indicates the device that provides the reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. Specifically, please refer to the above description of the clock source. In this specification, it will not be described in detail repeatedly. For example, the identification of the clock source may be the grandmaster clock identity of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP). It should be understood that in another clock synchronization protocol, the clock source and the identification of the clock source may be referred to by other terms. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0133] The identification of the source port indicates the upper-level network device that is on the clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The upper-level network device is a network device directly connected to the wireless device, and the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on this network device. Specifically, the upper-level network device may be a transmission device connected to the wireless device, or may be a wireless device control device. Figure 1 is used as an example. For example, when the wireless device that transmits clock synchronization information is Wireless Device 1, the upper-level network device of Wireless Device 1 is Transmission Device 3, and the identification of the source port is the identification of Transmission Device 3. In another example, when the wireless device that transmits clock synchronization information is Wireless Device 2, the upper-level network device of Wireless Device 2 is Transmission Device 4, and the identification of the source port is the identification of Transmission Device 4. In another example, when the wireless device that transmits clock synchronization information is Wireless Device 3, the upper-level network device of Wireless Device 3 is Wireless Device Control Device 1, and the identification of the source port is the identification of Wireless Device Control Device 1. For example, the identification of the source port may be the sourcePortIdentity of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP). It should be understood that in another clock synchronization protocol, the source port and the identification of the source port may be referred to by other terms. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0134] Furthermore, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the upper-level network device of the wireless device, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the upper-level network device of the wireless device. For example, when the upper-level network device of the wireless device is a transmission device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the transmission device, or when the upper-level network device of the wireless device is a wireless device control device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device. For example, the second clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as Local Accuracy. It should be understood that in another clock synchronization protocol, the clock synchronization accuracy of the network device with respect to the upper-level network device of the network device may also be called by another term. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0135] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where a communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information. Optionally, the information about the number of communication channels can indicate the number of communication channels. The clock information may be information related to operations such as clock synchronization or clock calibration. Optionally, the clock information includes some or all of the clock synchronization information. Further, the device capable of transmitting clock information may be a wireless device controller on the clock link, in which case the wireless device controller can transmit the clock information to a transmission device connected to the wireless device controller. Alternatively, the device capable of transmitting clock information may be a transmission device on the clock link, in which case the transmission device can transmit the clock information to a connected transmission device or a connected wireless device. Alternatively, the device capable of transmitting clock information may be a wireless device, in which case the wireless device can transmit the clock information to a connected transmission device. For example, when the clock synchronization protocol employed by the wireless device and the wireless device controller is for calculating the communication channels, the count starts from 0. Specifically, when there are three communication channels on the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device controller, the value recorded by the counter in the network device is 2. In this case, the information about the number of communication channels may be represented by a value obtained by adding 1 to the value of the counter in the network device. For example, in the Precision Time Protocol PTP, the information about the number of communication channels may be represented by a value obtained by adding 1 to the value of stepsRemoved (stepsRemoved). For example, when the clock synchronization protocol employed by the wireless device and the wireless device controller is for calculating the communication channels, the count starts from 1.Specifically, when there are three communication channels on the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control device, the value recorded by the counter in the network device is 3. In this case, the information about the number of communication channels may be directly represented by the value of the counter in the network device.

[0136] FIG. 1 is used as an example. For example, when the wireless device control device 2, the transmission device 2, the transmission device 3, and the wireless device 1 can form a clock link (referred to as clock link 1), the communication channels on the clock link 1 are the communication channel a between the wireless device control device 2 and the transmission device 2, the communication channel b between the transmission device 2 and the transmission device 3, and the communication channel d between the transmission device 3 and the wireless device 1. In this case, the number of communication channels on the clock link is 3, indicating that there are three communication channels between the wireless device 1 on the clock link and the clock source (i.e., the wireless device control device 2). In another example, when the wireless device control device 1, the transmission device 1, the transmission device 2, the transmission device 3, and the wireless device 1 can form a clock link (referred to as clock link 2), the communication channels on the clock link 2 are the communication channel f between the wireless device control device 1 and the transmission device 1, the communication channel j between the transmission device 1 and the transmission device 2, the communication channel b between the transmission device 2 and the transmission device 3, and the communication channel d between the transmission device 3 and the wireless device 1. In this case, the number of communication channels on the clock link 2 is 4, indicating that there are four communication channels between the wireless device 1 on the clock link and the clock source (i.e., the wireless device control device 1).

[0137] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device. The identifier of the wireless device is for clarifying the identity of the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control apparatus, so that the wireless device control apparatus can determine the wireless device that is the source of the clock synchronization information based on the identifier of the wireless device. When the wireless device control apparatus communicates with a plurality of wireless devices, the identifier of the wireless device can distinguish the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information from other wireless devices. For example, in the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), the clockIdentity may be for identifying a wireless device.

[0138] It should be noted that when the clock synchronization information does not include an identifier of the wireless device, the signaling that carries the clock synchronization information transmitted from the wireless device to the wireless device control apparatus may carry an identifier of the wireless device. In this case, although the identifier of the wireless device does not belong to the clock synchronization information, this identifier of the wireless device can also clearly indicate the identity of the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control apparatus. In this case, the identifier of the wireless device may be the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless device or the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the wireless device, or may be other information that can identify the identity of the wireless device. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0139] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes an identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy.

[0140] The identification of the clock source indicates a device that provides a reference time clock based on the clock link where the wireless device is located. Specifically, for the identification of the clock source, please refer to the relevant description of the above implementation. In this specification, details will not be repeated.

[0141] Furthermore, the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the clock source. For example, the third clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as Total Accuracy. In another clock synchronization protocol, it should be understood that the clock synchronization accuracy of a network device with respect to the clock source on the clock link where the network device is located may also be referred to by another term. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0142] Optionally, the clock synchronization information may further include an identifier of the wireless device. In this implementation, the functions and implementation forms of the identifier of the wireless device are the same as those of the identifier of the wireless device in the above implementation. For details, please refer to the above related description. In this specification, details will not be described repeatedly.

[0143] Furthermore, the clock synchronization information of the present application may be carried by a message that can be directly transmitted from the wireless device to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner. For example, the wireless device may transmit the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device in the form of an IP packet unicast. Compared with the multicast method or the broadcast transmission method, this helps to avoid signaling storms and reduce the network transmission load.

[0144] Optionally, since the management message for clock management between the wireless device and the wireless device control device may perform point-to-point transmission from the wireless device to the wireless device control device, the clock synchronization information may be carried by the management message between the wireless device and the wireless device control device. For example, the management message may be a management packet of the 1588 protocol.

[0145] Step 202: The wireless device control apparatus determines a first clock synchronization accuracy based on clock synchronization information, where the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus.

[0146] The first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information and the wireless device control apparatus that receives the clock synchronization information, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device control apparatus.

[0147] Specifically, when the content of the clock synchronization information received by the wireless device control apparatus is different, the implementation for the wireless device control apparatus to determine the first clock synchronization accuracy is also different.

[0148] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and the identification of the source port. Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes a second clock synchronization accuracy, where the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to a higher-level network device of the wireless device.

[0149] Specifically, the wireless device control apparatus determines the relationship between the identification of the clock source, the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus, and the identification of the source port, and determines how to determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the relationship among the above three parameters (i.e., the identification of the clock source, the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus, and the identification of the source port).

[0150] In an implementation, when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port, the wireless device control apparatus determines that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy. It can also be understood that the wireless device control apparatus uses the value of the second clock synchronization accuracy in the clock synchronization information as the value of the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0151] The fact that the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device indicates that the clock source tracked level by level by the wireless device is the wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization information rather than the clock source of another clock link. It can also be understood that the reference for clock synchronization of the wireless device is the wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization information. In this case, the wireless device control device can calculate the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the clock synchronization information, and there is no need to obtain other information about clock synchronization from another clock source or another wireless device control device.

[0152] When the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port, it indicates that the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the clock source are the same device. In other words, the wireless device is directly connected to the clock source, that is, the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on the clock source. In this case, the second clock synchronization accuracy indicates the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with the clock source as the reference.

[0153] Furthermore, the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port. Therefore, the wireless device control device can determine that the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device, that is, the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on the clock source. Furthermore, the wireless device control device can determine that the second clock synchronization accuracy conveyed by the clock synchronization information represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with the wireless device control device as the reference (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). Therefore, the wireless device control device uses the value of the second clock synchronization accuracy in the clock synchronization information as the value of the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0154] In another implementation, when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, the wireless device control device determines the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and the default clock synchronization accuracy.

[0155] When the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, it indicates that the clock source is not the same device as the upper-level network device of the wireless device, and the wireless device is connected to the clock source via at least one transmission device. This at least one transmission device includes the upper-level network device of the wireless device. In this case, the second clock synchronization accuracy indicates the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the upper-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. However, the second clock synchronization accuracy cannot reflect the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the clock source.

[0156] In this case, the wireless device control device needs to determine the topology of the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the information about the number of communication channels and estimate the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control device. The information about the number of communication channels can reflect how many levels of clock synchronization need to be performed between the wireless device and the wireless device control device. If the wireless device control device can estimate the clock synchronization accuracy (referred to as the clock synchronization accuracy of each level) between two network devices connected to each communication channel, the wireless device control device can use the cumulative sum of the synchronization accuracies of the clock synchronization of each level as the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control device.

[0157] Optionally, the wireless device control apparatus stores a default clock synchronization accuracy. The default clock synchronization accuracy may be the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices predefined by a protocol or standard. For example, ITU-T G.8273.2 defines the synchronization accuracy of hops of boundary clock BC devices, where class A is 100 ns, class B is 70 ns, class C is 30 ns, and class D is 5 ns. Further, the default clock synchronization accuracy may alternatively be an experimental value manually set in the wireless device control apparatus indicating possible values of the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices on a clock link.

[0158] For example, the default clock synchronization accuracy can be used to estimate the clock synchronization accuracy of each level of clock synchronization between the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus. Since the second clock synchronization accuracy can be used to determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the upper-level network device of the wireless device, the wireless device control apparatus may use, as the clock synchronization accuracy between the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus, the product obtained by multiplying the default clock synchronization accuracy by the difference between the number of communication channels and 1. In this case, the wireless device control apparatus uses the sum of this product and the second clock synchronization accuracy as the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0159] In this implementation, when the wireless device control apparatus cannot directly obtain the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device that is referenced to the wireless device control apparatus, the wireless device control apparatus infers the topology of the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus based on information about the number of communication channels, and then can determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the topology of the clock link, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy. Compared with the solution of estimating the first clock synchronization accuracy when the wireless device control apparatus cannot know the topology of the clock link, this implementation helps to guarantee the correct rate of the estimation of the first clock synchronization accuracy by the wireless device control apparatus, and helps the wireless device control apparatus to make a more accurate and reasonable judgment about the service of the wireless device.

[0160] In this implementation, the front hole transport network provides only the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the second clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and a higher-level network device of the wireless device (i.e., the higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device) to the wireless device. Therefore, the wireless device can provide the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the second clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the higher-level network device of the wireless device to the wireless device control apparatus. When the higher-level network device of the wireless device is the wireless device control apparatus, the second clock synchronization accuracy also represents the first clock synchronization accuracy. When the higher-level network device of the wireless device is not the wireless device control apparatus, the wireless device control apparatus needs to further determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on other parameters (such as the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy and information about the number of communication channels). Regardless of which implementation is used, the wireless device control apparatus can determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the received clock synchronization information. In this way, the wireless device control apparatus can determine whether the wireless device can be enabled to trigger a service based on the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0161] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes an identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0162] In this implementation, the wireless device can provide the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source, i.e., the third clock synchronization accuracy, to the wireless device control device. When the clock source is a wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization Information the value of the third clock synchronization accuracy represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). Therefore, when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, the wireless device control device determines that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0163] In this implementation, since the front-haul transport network can provide the wireless device with the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device on the clock link and the clock source, the wireless device can provide the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source, i.e., the third clock synchronization accuracy, to the wireless device control device. When the clock source and the wireless device control device are the same device, the third clock synchronization accuracy carried in the clock synchronization information is the first clock synchronization accuracy. Therefore, when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, the wireless device control device can determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the received clock synchronization information. In this way, the wireless device control device can determine whether to enable the wireless device to trigger a service based on the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0164] When it is necessary for a wireless device control apparatus to determine whether, optionally, two or more wireless devices can be made to execute a service that requires cooperative operation, the wireless device control apparatus may determine the clock synchronization accuracy between those wireless devices based on the clock synchronization accuracy of each of the two or more wireless devices with reference to the wireless device control apparatus.

[0165] For example, when the wireless device control apparatus receives clock synchronization information from a first wireless device and clock synchronization information from a second wireless device, the wireless device control apparatus determines a fourth clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information received from the first wireless device, and the wireless device control apparatus determines a fifth clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information received from the second wireless device. The fourth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus, and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the second wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus.

[0166] Next, the wireless device control apparatus determines a sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy, where the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. Next, the wireless device control apparatus determines, based on the sixth clock synchronization accuracy, whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device can be made to execute a first service cooperatively, where the first service is a service that requires cooperative operation by two or more wireless devices. For example, the first service may be a service related to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology or a service related to carrier aggregation (CA). The specific type of the first service is not limited in the present application.

[0167] For example, when the wireless device control apparatus determines the sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy, specifically, the wireless device control apparatus may calculate the sum of the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy to obtain the sixth clock synchronization accuracy.

[0168] When the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is less than the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, the wireless device control apparatus determines to enable the first wireless device and the second wireless device to execute the first service in cooperation. When the sixth clock synchronization accuracy exceeds the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, the wireless device control apparatus determines not to enable the first wireless device and the second wireless device to execute the first service in cooperation.

[0169] The clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service can be understood as the maximum time (or phase) deviation that can be tolerated by the first service. When the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices is less than the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, it can be understood that the time (or phase) deviation between the two wireless devices does not affect the execution of the first service. When the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices exceeds the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, it can be understood that the time (or phase) deviation between the two wireless devices is large and may affect the execution of the first service. Therefore, in this case, it is not recommended that the first wireless device and the second wireless device execute the first service in cooperation.

[0170] In the prior art, the wireless device control apparatus cannot know which clock synchronization link is being used by the wireless device to perform synchronization, and cannot know which network device is the clock source on the clock link where the wireless device performs clock synchronization. Therefore, the wireless device control apparatus cannot know the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus, and furthermore, the wireless device control apparatus cannot manage some services of the wireless device based on the clock synchronization accuracy.

[0171] In the present application, the wireless device can provide information (i.e., clock synchronization information) for determining the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source to the wireless Device control apparatus, and the wireless device control apparatus can determine the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus based on the clock synchronization information. Therefore, this helps the wireless device control apparatus to manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy. In this way, the wireless device control apparatus can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices, and the wireless device control apparatus can determine whether the two wireless devices can execute a service that requires cooperative operation.

[0172] To better understand the solution provided in the present application, hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, an implementation in which the clock synchronization information includes at least the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, and the second clock synchronization accuracy will be described, and with reference to FIG. 4, an implementation in which the clock synchronization information includes at least the identification of the clock source and the third clock synchronization accuracy will be described.

[0173] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a clock synchronization information acquisition method according to the present application. The wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus execute the following steps.

[0174] Step 301: The wireless device transmits clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device.

[0175] The clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and the identification of the source port. Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes a second clock synchronization accuracy.

[0176] The clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source, which can be understood as the information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source.

[0177] The clock source is a device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration. Each device on the clock link (such as a transmission device and a wireless device) directly or indirectly uses the system clock of the clock source as the clock synchronization reference, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device.

[0178] The identification of the clock source indicates the device that provides the reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device. For example, the identification of the clock source may be the grandmaster clock identity of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

[0179] The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that is on the clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The higher-level network device of the wireless device is a network device directly connected to the wireless device, and it can also be understood that the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on this higher-level network device. The higher-level network device of the wireless device may be a transmission device connected to the wireless device, or it may be a wireless device controller. For example, the identification of the source port may be the sourcePortIdentity of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

[0180] Furthermore, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the higher-level network device of the wireless device, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the higher-level network device of the wireless device. For example, the second clock synchronization accuracy may be referred to as Local Accuracy.

[0181] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where a communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information. For example, the information about the number of communication channels may be represented by a value obtained by adding 1 to the value of stepsRemoved of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

[0182] Optionally, in addition to the above content, the packet transmitted from the wireless device to the wireless device control apparatus may further include an identifier of the wireless device, where the identifier information of the wireless device is for identifying the wireless device so that the wireless device control apparatus can distinguish the wireless device from another wireless device. For example, in the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), clockIdentity may be used to identify the wireless device.

[0183] Specifically, for the description of information about the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, the identifier of the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and the quantity of communication channels, please refer to the relevant description in step 201. In this specification, details will not be repeatedly described.

[0184] For example, when the clock synchronization information is transmitted in a management packet (e.g., the management packet of the 1588 protocol), the format of the management packet may be as shown in Table 1-1.

[0185] [Table 1]

[0186] "TLV type" indicates the type of the management packet. In the present application, the TLV type indicates that the management packet is for transmitting clock synchronization information. "TLV length" indicates the byte length occupied by the TLV.

[0187] In actual applications, it should be understood that when the wireless device includes the clock synchronization information in another packet, the format of the packet carrying the clock synchronization information may not be limited to the fields listed in Table 1-1.

[0188] Step 302: The wireless device control apparatus determines whether the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus.

[0189] In this embodiment, after the wireless device receives the clock synchronization information, the wireless device control apparatus first needs to know whether the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control apparatus. Specifically, the wireless device control apparatus determines whether the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus to determine whether the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control apparatus.

[0190] If the wireless device control apparatus determines that the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus, it indicates that the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control apparatus, and it indicates that the wireless device control apparatus can determine the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus based on the clock synchronization information. Therefore, the wireless device control apparatus executes step 303.

[0191] Step 303: The wireless device control apparatus determines whether the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port.

[0192] In this embodiment, when the wireless device control apparatus determines that the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control apparatus, that is, when the wireless device control apparatus determines that the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control apparatus, the wireless device control apparatus determines the topology of the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus (i.e., information such as the number of transmission devices and the number of communication channels between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus), and further needs to determine how to calculate the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the topology of the clock link.

[0193] Specifically, when the wireless device control device determines that the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port, the wireless device control device executes step 304a. When the wireless device control device determines that the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, the wireless device control device executes step 304b.

[0194] Step 304a: The wireless device control device determines that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0195] In this embodiment, the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port. Therefore, the wireless device control device can determine that the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device, and the second clock synchronization accuracy carried in the clock synchronization information represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the wireless device control device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). Therefore, the wireless device control device uses the value of the second clock synchronization accuracy in the clock synchronization information as the value of the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0196] FIG. 1 is used as an example. For example, the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information is wireless device 3, the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information is wireless device control device 1, the identification of the clock source received by wireless device control device 1 is the identifier of wireless device control device 1, and the identification of the source port received by wireless device control device 1 is the identifier of wireless device control device 1. In this case, when the clock synchronization accuracy of wireless device 3 based on the upper-level network device of the wireless device carried in the clock synchronization information is 100 ns, wireless device control device 1 determines that the clock synchronization accuracy of wireless device 3 based on wireless device control device 1 is 100 ns.

[0197] Step 304b: The wireless device control apparatus determines a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the number of channels and a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy.

[0198] In the present embodiment, when the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, this indicates that the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the clock source are not the same device, and the wireless device is connected to the clock source via at least one transmission device. This at least one transmission device includes the upper-level network device of the wireless device.

[0199] In this case, the wireless device control apparatus needs to determine the topology of the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus based on information about the number of communication channels, and estimate the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus. The information about the number of communication channels can reflect how many levels of clock synchronization need to be performed between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus. When the wireless device control apparatus can estimate the clock synchronization accuracy (referred to as the clock synchronization accuracy of each level) between two network devices connected by each communication channel, the wireless device control apparatus can use the cumulative sum of the synchronization accuracies of the clock synchronization of each level as the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus.

[0200] Optionally, the wireless device control apparatus stores a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy. The predetermined clock synchronization accuracy may be the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices predefined by a protocol or a standard. Alternatively, the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy may be an experimental value manually set in the wireless device control apparatus indicating the possible values of the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices on the clock link.

[0201] For example, the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy can be used to estimate the clock synchronization accuracy at each level between the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the wireless device control device. Since the second clock synchronization accuracy can be used to determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the upper-level network device of the wireless device, the wireless device control device multiplies the difference between the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy and the number Quantity and of communication channels by 1 to obtain a product, and can use this product as the clock synchronization accuracy between the upper-level network device of the wireless device and the wireless device control device. In this case, the wireless device control device uses the sum of this product and the second clock synchronization accuracy as the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0202] FIG. 1 is used as an example. When the wireless device that transmits clock synchronization information is Wireless Device 1 and the wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization information is Wireless Device Control Device 2, the identification of the clock source carried in the clock synchronization information is the identifier of Wireless Device Control Device 2, the identification of the source port is the identifier of Transmission Device 3, and the value of the quantity of communication channels is 3. When the second clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the clock synchronization accuracy of Wireless Device 1 with respect to Transmission Device 3) is 40 ns and the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy is 30 ns, the wireless device control device can determine that the first clock synchronization accuracy is (3 - 1) × 30 + 40 = 100 ns.

[0203] Step 305: The wireless device control device transmits the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device.

[0204] In this embodiment, Step 305 is an optional step.

[0205] A network management device is a device for managing and maintaining wireless devices and wireless device control devices. The network management device is configured to identify the clock topology of the entire network based on the acquired information and manage one or more wireless device control devices based on the clock topology. Optionally, the network management device may further manage transmission devices and wireless devices, etc. based on the clock topology.

[0206] In this embodiment, the wireless device control device may transmit only the clock synchronization information of the wireless device to the network management device, or may transmit only the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device, or may transmit both the clock synchronization information and the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device. Therefore, the network management device can determine the clock link between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the clock synchronization information. When the network management device receives the clock synchronization information of multiple wireless devices, the network management device may determine the clock topology formed by the multiple clock links. Thereby, it helps the network management device to manage the transmission devices in the front-haul transport network or the wireless devices and wireless device control devices connected using the front-haul transport network based on the clock link (or clock topology), and helps to improve the management efficiency of managing transmission devices, wireless devices or wireless device control devices by the network device.

[0207] In this embodiment, based on the clock synchronization information, the wireless device determines the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device (i.e., the second clock synchronization accuracy) with reference to the network device at a higher level of the wireless device. DeviceIt can be provided to the control device. The wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) based on the second clock synchronization accuracy with the wireless device control device as the reference. Therefore, this helps the wireless device control device manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy. In this way, the wireless device control device can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices, and the wireless device control device can determine whether to execute a service that requires the two wireless devices to cooperate.

[0208] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the clock synchronization information acquisition method according to the present application. The wireless device and the wireless device control device execute the following steps.

[0209] Step 401: The wireless device transmits clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device.

[0210] The clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and the third clock synchronization accuracy.

[0211] The clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source, which can be understood as information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source.

[0212] The clock source is a device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration. Each device on the clock link (including the transmission device and the wireless device) uses the system clock of the clock source directly or indirectly as the clock synchronization reference, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device.

[0213] The identification of the clock source indicates a device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device. For example, the identification of the clock source may be the grandmaster clock identity of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

[0214] In this case, the wireless device can provide the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source, that is, the third clock synchronization accuracy, to the wireless device control device. When the clock source is a wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization Information the value of the third clock synchronization accuracy represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). For example, the third clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as Total Accuracy.

[0215] Optionally, in addition to the above, the packet transmitted from the wireless device to the wireless device control device may further include an identifier of the wireless device. Here, the identifier information of the wireless device is for identifying the wireless device so that the wireless device control device can distinguish the wireless device from another wireless device. For example, in the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), the clockIdentity may be used to identify the wireless device.

[0216] For example, when the clock synchronization information is transmitted in a management packet (e.g., the management packet of the 1588 protocol), the format of the management packet may be as shown in Table 2-1.

[0217]

Table 2

[0218] Step 402: The wireless device control device determines whether the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device.

[0219] In this embodiment, after the wireless device receives the clock synchronization information, the wireless device control device first needs to know whether the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control device. Specifically, the wireless device control device determines whether the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, so as to determine whether the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control device.

[0220] If the wireless device control device determines that the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, it indicates that the clock source of the wireless device is the wireless device control device, and it indicates that the wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) between the wireless device and the wireless device control device based on the clock synchronization information. Therefore, the wireless device control device executes Step 403.

[0221] Step 403: The wireless device control device determines that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0222] In this embodiment, since the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device, and the clock synchronization information only conveys the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the third clock synchronization accuracy) of the wireless device based on the clock source, the wireless device control device can determine that the third clock synchronization accuracy conveyed by the clock synchronization information represents the clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) of the wireless device based on the wireless device control device. Therefore, the wireless device control device uses the value of the third clock synchronization accuracy in the clock synchronization information as the value of the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0223] FIG. 1 is used as an example. When the wireless device that transmits clock synchronization information is wireless device 1 and the wireless device control device that receives clock synchronization information is wireless device control device 2, the identification of the clock source carried by the clock synchronization information is the identifier of wireless device control device 2. When the third clock synchronization accuracy (i.e., the clock synchronization accuracy of wireless device 1 with respect to wireless device control device 2) is 130 ns, the wireless device control device can determine that the first clock synchronization accuracy is 130 ns.

[0224] Step 404: The wireless device control device transmits the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device.

[0225] In this embodiment, step 404 is the same as step 305 of the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 3. For details, refer to the related description of step 305.

[0226] In this embodiment, since the wireless device can directly provide the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source (i.e., the third clock synchronization accuracy) to the wireless Device control device, when the clock source is the wireless device control device that receives the clock synchronization information, the wireless device control device can directly determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control device (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) based on the third clock synchronization accuracy. Therefore, this helps the wireless device control device manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy. In this way, the wireless device control device can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between the two wireless devices, and the wireless device control device can determine whether to execute a service that requires the two wireless devices to cooperate.

[0227] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device 50 according to the present application. It should be understood that the radio device control device in the embodiment of the method corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 may be based on the structure of the communication device 50 shown in FIG. 5 of this embodiment. The communication device 50 may be a network element or device having a baseband signal processing function, or Wireless a device having a function of managing radio signal processing of the access network RAN. For example, the communication device 50 may be Wireless a baseband unit (BBU) (also called a building baseband unit (BBU)) in an access network device (such as a base station). For example, in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) system, the communication device 50 may be a baseband unit BBU of an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB). In another example, in a 5G NR system, the communication device 50 may also be a baseband unit BBU of a next generation Node B (gNB). For example, in a 5G NR system, the communication device 50 may be a central unit (CU) of a Cloud Radio Access Network (CloudRAN), or l a distributed unit (DU), or a combined structure of a central unit CU and a distributed unit DU. In actual applications and with the future evolution of the network, the communication device 50 may alternatively be another network element or device having a baseband signal processing function, or Wireless another device having a function of managing radio signal processing of the access network RAN.

[0228] Specifically, the communication device 50 includes at least one processor 501, at least one memory 502, and at least one communication interface 503. The processor 501, the memory 502, and the communication interface 503 are connected using a connection device. The connection device may include various types of interfaces, transmission cables, or buses, etc. This is not limited in this embodiment.

[0229] The memory 502 is mainly configured to store software programs and data. The memory 502 may exist independently or be connected to the processor 501. Optionally, the memory 502 and the processor 501 may be integrated, for example, integrated into one or more chips. The memory 502 can store the program code for executing the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and the processor 501 controls its execution. Various types of executed computer program codes can also be regarded as drivers of the processor 501. It should be understood that Figure 5 of this embodiment only shows one memory and one processor. However, in actual applications, the communication device 50 may have multiple processors or multiple memories. This is not particularly limited in this specification. Furthermore, the memory 502 may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, etc. The memory 502 may be a storage element located on the same chip as the processor, that is, an on-chip storage element, or an independent storage element. This is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0230] In this embodiment, the communication interface 503 is configured to receive a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal from a radio frequency unit (e.g., the above-described radio device), and provide the digital baseband signal or the digital intermediate frequency signal to the processor 501 so that the processor 501 can perform further processing on the digital baseband signal or the digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation processing and decoding processing. The communication interface 503 may further transmit a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal to the radio frequency unit (e.g., the above-described radio device) so that the radio frequency unit converts the digital baseband signal or the digital intermediate frequency signal on which modulation has been performed into a radio frequency signal and transmits the radio frequency signal using one or more antennas.

[0231] Optionally, the communication interface 503 includes an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI). The communication device 50 may transmit a packet that carries clock synchronization information, such as the above-described 1588 management packet, via the eCPRI.

[0232] Optionally, the communication interface 503 is further connected to an optical module (not shown). The optical module is configured to convert a digital baseband signal generated by the communication device 50 into an optical signal transmitted via an optical fiber. The optical module is further configured to receive an optical signal from another device (e.g., the above-described transmission device or radio device) and convert the optical signal into a digital baseband signal.

[0233] It should be understood that the combined structure of the communication interface 503 and the optical module may sometimes be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver machine, or a transceiver device. Optionally, components configured to perform the receiving function within the transceiver unit may be regarded as a receiving unit, and components configured to perform the transmitting function within the transceiver unit may be regarded as a transmitting unit. In other words, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit may sometimes be referred to as a receiver, an input port, or a receiving circuit. The transmitting unit may sometimes be referred to as a transmission machine, a transmitter, or a transmission circuit.

[0234] Furthermore, the processor 501 is mainly configured to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire network device, execute software programs, and process software program data, such as to assist the communication device 50 in executing the actions described in the above embodiments. The communication device 50 may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit. The baseband processor is mainly configured to process communication protocols and communication data. The central processing unit is mainly configured to control the entire communication device 50, execute software programs, and process software program data. The processor 501 in FIG. 5 may integrate the functions of the baseband processor and the central processing unit. Those skilled in the art can understand that the baseband processor and the central processing unit may alternatively be independent processors and may be interconnected using a bus or another technology. Those skilled in the art can understand that the communication device 50 may include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, the communication device 50 may include multiple central processing units to enhance the processing capacity of the communication device, and the components of the communication device 50 may be connected using various buses. The baseband processor may also be referred to as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processing unit may also be alternatively referred to as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing communication protocols and communication data may be incorporated into the processor, or may be stored in the memory in the form of a software program, and the processor may execute the software program to implement the baseband processing function.

[0235] Specifically, the communication device 50 executes the following steps based on the program code stored in the memory 502.

[0236] Processor 501 receives clock synchronization information from a wireless device via communication interface 503, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The processor 501 then determines a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information, where the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device.

[0237] Clock synchronization accuracy refers to the range of variation in the difference between the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock. Usually, clock synchronization accuracy may be represented by the average error value of the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock within a test metric. In this application, clock synchronization accuracy is the range of variation in the difference in time or phase between a wireless device and a specific transmission device or a specific wireless device control device. It should be noted that in some embodiments, clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as synchronization accuracy or time synchronization accuracy.

[0238] The fact that the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source can be understood as meaning that the clock synchronization information is information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source based on the clock synchronization information.

[0239] The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, and the reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration.

[0240] In the prior art, a wireless device control apparatus cannot know which clock synchronization link is being used by a wireless device to perform synchronization, and cannot know which network device is the clock source on the clock link through which the wireless device performs clock synchronization. Therefore, the wireless device control apparatus cannot know the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus, and furthermore, the wireless device control apparatus cannot manage some services of the wireless device based on the clock synchronization accuracy.

[0241] In the present application, a wireless device can provide the wireless device control apparatus with the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to a clock source based on clock synchronization information. Device The wireless device control apparatus can determine the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the wireless device control apparatus (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy) based on the clock synchronization information. Therefore, this helps the wireless device control apparatus to manage the wireless device based on the first clock synchronization accuracy. In this way, the wireless device control apparatus can accurately determine the clock synchronization accuracy between two wireless devices, and the wireless device control apparatus can determine whether the two wireless devices can execute a service that requires cooperative operation.

[0242] Optionally, the wireless device may be connected to the wireless device control apparatus via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device may be directly connected to the wireless device control apparatus. The clock information transmission device is a device configured to transmit information related to clock synchronization (hereinafter referred to as clock information), and the clock information may include part or all of the clock synchronization information. Usually, the above at least one clock information transmission device is for connection via an optical fiber.

[0243] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0244] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0245] In an optional implementation, the processor 501 may further transmit the clock synchronization information and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device to the network management device via the communication interface 503.

[0246] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and the identification of the source port. The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that is on the clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device.

[0247] The identification of the clock source indicates a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration. Each device on the clock link (including the transmission device and the wireless device) uses the system clock of the clock source directly or indirectly as the clock synchronization reference. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device.

[0248] It should be understood that the clock source in the clock synchronization information transmitted from the wireless device to the communication device 50 may be the communication device 50 that receives the clock synchronization information. In this case, the wireless device and the communication device 50 are located on the same clock synchronization link, or it may be a wireless device control device on another clock link. In this case, the wireless device may perform clock synchronization via another clock link that does not include the communication device 50 that receives the clock synchronization information, or it may be a network device that can provide a clock reference on another link or topology. This is not particularly limited in this specification.

[0249] The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device on the clock link. The higher-level network device is a network device directly connected to the wireless device, and the wireless device performs clock synchronization directly based on this network device. Specifically, the higher-level network device may be a transmission device connected to the wireless device, or may be a wireless device control device.

[0250] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes a second clock synchronization accuracy, and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the higher-level network device of the wireless device.

[0251] The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the higher-level network device, that is, the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the system clock of the wireless device and the time (or phase) of the system clock of the higher-level network device. For example, when the higher-level network device is a transmission device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on that transmission device; when the higher-level network device is a wireless device control device directly connected to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the wireless device control device.

[0252] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device. The identifier of the wireless device is used to clarify the identification of the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device, so that the communication device 50 can determine the wireless device that is the source of the clock synchronization information based on the identifier of the wireless device. When the communication device 50 communicates with multiple wireless devices, the identifier of the wireless device can distinguish the wireless device that transmits the clock synchronization information from other wireless devices.

[0253] Specifically, the processor 501 is configured to determine that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the communication device 50 and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port.

[0254] In this implementation, the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the communication device 50, and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port. Therefore, the communication device 50 may determine that the wireless device is directly connected to the communication device 50, that is, the wireless device executes clock synchronization directly based on the clock source. Further, the communication device 50 may determine that the second clock synchronization accuracy carried in the clock synchronization information represents the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device based on the communication device 50 (i.e., the first clock synchronization accuracy). Therefore, the communication device 50 uses the value of the second clock synchronization accuracy in the clock synchronization information as the value of the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0255] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, and the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information. The clock information is information related to clock synchronization, and the content of the clock information may include some or all of the clock synchronization information.

[0256] Specifically, the processor 501 is configured to determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port.

[0257] Furthermore, the processor 501 is configured to determine a product obtained by multiplying, in particular, the difference between the number of communication channels and 1 by a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy, and to determine that the sum of this product and a second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0258] The predetermined clock synchronization accuracy may be the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices predefined by a protocol or standard, or may be an experimental value manually set in a wireless device controller indicating possible values of the clock synchronization accuracy between two network devices on a clock link. It should be understood that the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy is not only for estimating the clock synchronization accuracy between two transmission devices, but may also be for estimating the clock synchronization accuracy of a transmission device based on a wireless device controller directly connected to the transmission device.

[0259] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes an identification of a clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of a wireless device with respect to the clock source. Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device.

[0260] Specifically, the processor 501 is configured to determine that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device controller.

[0261] In a possible implementation, the processor 501 is further configured to send the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to a network management device.

[0262] In a possible implementation, the wireless device includes a first wireless device and a second wireless device.

[0263] The processor 501 determines a fourth clock synchronization accuracy based on clock synchronization information received from the first wireless device, and the wireless device control device determines a fifth clock synchronization accuracy based on clock synchronization information received from the second wireless device. The fourth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the communication device 50, and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the second wireless device and the communication device 50.

[0264] The processor 501 is further configured to determine a sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy, where the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The processor 501 is further configured to determine, based on the sixth clock synchronization accuracy, whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device are enabled to cooperate to execute a first service, where the first service is a service that needs to be cooperatively operated by two or more wireless devices. For example, the first service may be a service related to multiple-input multiple-output MIMO technology or a service related to carrier aggregation CA.

[0265] In a possible implementation, the processor 501 is specifically configured to calculate the sum of the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy to obtain the sixth clock synchronization accuracy.

[0266] In a possible implementation, the processor 501 determines to enable the first wireless device and the second wireless device to cooperatively execute the first service when the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is less than the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, and determines not to enable the first wireless device and the second wireless device to cooperatively execute the first service when the sixth clock synchronization accuracy exceeds the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service is specifically configured as such.

[0267] For other aspects, please refer to the method of the wireless device control apparatus in the embodiments corresponding to FIGS. 2, 3, or 4. Details will not be repeatedly described herein.

[0268] As shown in FIG. 6, the present application further provides another communication device 60. The communication device 60 may be a wireless device control apparatus in the embodiments corresponding to FIGS. 2, 3, or 4, or a chip within the wireless device control apparatus. The communication device 60 includes a transceiver module 601 and a processing module 602.

[0269] Specifically, the transceiver module 601 is configured to receive clock synchronization information from the wireless device, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The processing module 602 is configured to determine a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information, where the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control apparatus.

[0270] The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, and the reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration.

[0271] Optionally, the wireless device is connected to the wireless device control apparatus using at least one clock information transmission device.

[0272] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0273] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control apparatus in a unicast manner.

[0274] In an optional implementation, the transceiver module 601 is further configured to send clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or a first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device.

[0275] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes an identification of a clock source, an identification of a source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy. The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that is on the clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the higher-level network device of the wireless device. Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device.

[0276] Specifically, the processing module 602 is configured to determine that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port.

[0277] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information.

[0278] Specifically, the processing module 602 is configured to determine the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port.

[0279] Furthermore, the processing module 602 is configured to determine a product obtained by multiplying the difference between the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy and 1 by the number of communication channels, and determine that the sum of this product and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy.

[0280] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source. Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes the identifier of the wireless device.

[0281] Specifically, the processing module 602 is configured to determine that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device controller.

[0282] In a possible implementation, the processing module 602 is further configured to send the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to the network management device.

[0283] In a possible implementation, the wireless device includes a first wireless device and a second wireless device.

[0284] The processing module 602 determines a fourth clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information received from the first wireless device, and the processing module 602 determines that the wireless device controller determines a fifth clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information received from the second wireless device. The fourth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the communication device 60, and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the second wireless device and the communication device 60.

[0285] The processing module 602 is further configured to determine a sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on a fourth clock synchronization accuracy and a fifth clock synchronization accuracy, where the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The processing module 602 is further configured to determine, based on the sixth clock synchronization accuracy, whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device can cooperate to execute a first service, where the first service is a service that needs to be executed by the cooperation of two or more wireless devices.

[0286] In a possible implementation, the processing module 602 is specifically configured to calculate the sum of the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy to obtain the sixth clock synchronization accuracy.

[0287] In a possible implementation, the processing module 602 When the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is less than the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, it is determined that the first wireless device and the second wireless device can cooperate to execute the first service. When the sixth clock synchronization accuracy exceeds the clock synchronization accuracy corresponding to the first service, it is determined that the first wireless device and the second wireless device cannot cooperate to execute the first service. It is specifically configured as follows.

[0288] For other aspects, please refer to the method of the wireless device control device in the embodiments corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. Details will not be repeated in this specification.

[0289] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device 70 according to the present application. It should be understood that the wireless device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 may be based on the structure of the communication device 70 shown in FIG. 7 of this embodiment. The communication device 70 WirelessIt should be understood that it may be a radio unit (RU) (also called a radio frequency unit) within an access network RAN device (such as a base station), or it may be another processing device having a function of processing radio signals (such as an intermediate frequency signal or a radio frequency signal). For example, the communication device 70 may be a remote radio unit (RRU) (also sometimes called a remote radio Frequency unit) or a remote radio head (RRH) within a base station. The RRU is usually for the conventional outdoor coverage area of a macro base station, and the RRH is usually for the indoor coverage area of an indoor distributed system. For example, in a 5G NR system, the communication device 70 may alternatively be an active antenna unit (AAU), that is, a processing unit integrating an RRU (or an RRH) and an antenna. In actual applications and with the future evolution of the network, the radio device may alternatively be another device or apparatus having a function of receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals or intermediate frequency signals.

[0290] The communication device 70 includes at least one processor 701, at least one memory 702, at least one transceiver 703, and one or more antennas 704. The processor 701, the memory 702, and the transceiver 703 are connected using a connection device, and the antenna 704 is connected to the transceiver 703. The connection device may include various types of interfaces, transmission cables, or buses, etc. This is not limited in this embodiment.

[0291] Memory 702 is mainly configured to store software programs and data. Memory 702 may exist independently or be connected to processor 701. Optionally, Memory 702 and processor 701 may be integrated, for example, integrated into one or more chips. Memory 702 can store program code for executing the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application, and processor 701 controls its execution. Various types of executed computer program codes can also be regarded as drivers for processor 701. It should be understood that FIG. 7 of this embodiment only shows one memory and one processor. However, in actual applications, communication device 70 may have multiple processors or multiple memories. This is not particularly limited in this specification. Furthermore, Memory 702 may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, etc. Memory 702 may be a storage element located on the same chip as the processor, that is, an on-chip storage element, or it may be an independent storage element. This is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0292] In this embodiment, the transceiver 703 may be configured to assist in receiving or transmitting radio frequency signals between the communication device 70 and the terminal device, and the transceiver 703 may be connected to the antenna 704. The transceiver 703 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 704 may receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of the transceiver 703 is configured to receive radio frequency signals from the antenna 704 and convert the radio frequency signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, so that the digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals are transmitted to the wireless device control device, and the wireless device control device performs further processing such as demodulation processing and decoding processing on the digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals. Further, the transmitter Tx of the transceiver 703 receives the modulated digital baseband signal or the modulated digital intermediate frequency signal from the wireless device control device, converts the modulated digital baseband signal or the modulated digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and is further configured to transmit the radio frequency signal using one or more antennas 704. Specifically, the receiver Rx may selectively perform single-level or multi-level down-conversion processing and analog / digital conversion processing on the radio frequency signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and the order of the down-conversion and the analog / digital conversion processing is adjustable. The transmitter Tx may selectively perform one or more levels of up-conversion processing and digital / analog conversion processing on the modulated digital baseband signal or the modulated digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain a radio frequency signal. The order of the up-conversion processing and the digital / analog conversion processing is adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital intermediate frequency signal may also be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0293] It should be understood that the transceiver 703 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver machine, or a transceiver device, etc. Optionally, components configured to perform a receiving function within the transceiver unit may be regarded as a receiving unit, and components configured to perform a transmitting function within the transceiver unit may be regarded as a transmitting unit. In other words, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, an input port, or a receiving circuit, etc. The transmitting unit may also be referred to as a transmitter or a transmission circuit, etc.

[0294] Furthermore, the processor 701 is mainly configured to process communication protocols (such as a clock synchronization protocol) and communication data, execute software programs, and process software program data, for example, configured to assist the communication device 70 in executing the actions described in the above embodiments. In a possible implementation, the communication device 70 is configured to execute the method of the embodiments corresponding to FIGS. 2, 3, or 4.

[0295] Specifically, the communication device 70 transmits clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device using the transceiver 703, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source, the clock synchronization information is for determining a first clock synchronization accuracy, and the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device.

[0296] Clock synchronization accuracy refers to the variation range of the difference between the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock. Usually, clock synchronization accuracy may be represented by the average error value of the time (or phase) of the measured clock and the time (or phase) of the reference clock within the test metric. In this application, clock synchronization accuracy is the variation range of the difference in time or phase between a wireless device and a specific transmission device or a specific wireless device control device. It should be noted that in some embodiments, clock synchronization accuracy may also be referred to as synchronization accuracy or time synchronization accuracy.

[0297] That the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source can be understood as meaning that the clock synchronization information is information for determining the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The wireless device control device can determine the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source based on the clock synchronization information.

[0298] The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, and the reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration.

[0299] Optionally, the wireless device is connected to the wireless device control device using at least one clock information transmission device.

[0300] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0301] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0302] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes an identification of a clock source, an identification of a source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy. The identification of the source port indicates a higher-level network device that is on a clock link and provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to a higher-level network device of the wireless device.

[0303] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device.

[0304] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information.

[0305] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes an identification of a clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0306] For other aspects, refer to the method of the wireless device in the embodiments corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, or FIG. 4. Details will not be repeated herein.

[0307] As shown in FIG. 8, the present application further provides another communication device 80. The communication device 80 may be a wireless device in the embodiments corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, or FIG. 4, or a chip within the wireless device. The communication device 80 includes a processing module 801 and a transceiver module 802.

[0308] Specifically, the processing module 801 is configured to generate clock synchronization information, where this clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the clock source. The transceiver module 802 is configured to transmit the clock synchronization information to the wireless device control device, where this clock synchronization information is for determining a first clock synchronization accuracy, and the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device. The clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located. The clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, and the reference time clock is the ultimate reference for performing clock synchronization or clock calibration.

[0309] Optionally, the wireless device is connected to the wireless device control device using at least one clock information transmission device.

[0310] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is carried in a management message.

[0311] Optionally, the clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner.

[0312] In a possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy. The identification of the source port is on the clock link and indicates a higher-level network device that provides clock synchronization to the wireless device. The second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to a higher-level network device of the wireless device.

[0313] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device.

[0314] Optionally, the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, where a communication channel is a channel between two directly connected transmission devices capable of transmitting clock information.

[0315] In another possible implementation, the clock synchronization information includes identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, where the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source.

[0316] For other aspects, refer to the method of the wireless device in the embodiments corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, or FIG. 4. Details are not repeated herein for the sake of brevity.

[0317] In the implementation process, the steps of the above method can be implemented using hardware integrated logic circuits in the processor or using instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of the present application may be directly executed by a hardware processor or may be executed using a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines it with the hardware of the processor to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, details are not repeated herein. Further, it should be understood that the "first", "second", "third", "fourth", and various numbers in this specification are used only for distinction for ease of explanation and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0318] Furthermore, the present application provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are all or partially generated. For example, the method related to the wireless device control device in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is implemented. In another example, the method related to the wireless device in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is implemented. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network or other programmable devices. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted in a wired manner (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or a wireless manner (such as infrared, wireless or microwave) from a website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or a data center integrating one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, a hard disk or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state drive (SSD)).

[0319] Furthermore, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. This storage medium stores a computer program, and when this computer program is executed by a processor, the method related to the wireless device control device in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is implemented.

[0320] Furthermore, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. This storage medium stores a computer program, and when this computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the method related to the wireless device in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, or FIG. 4.

[0321] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this specification only describes the relationship between related objects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following three cases: namely, the case where only A exists, the case where both A and B exist, and the case where only B exists. Furthermore, the character " / " in this specification generally indicates the "or" relationship between related objects.

[0322] It should be understood that the serial numbers of the above processes do not mean the execution order in various embodiments of the present application. The execution order of the processes should be determined according to the functions and internal logics of those processes and should not be construed as any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0323] For the convenience of simple explanation, regarding the detailed operation processes of the above system, device, and unit, it is desired to refer to the corresponding processes of the embodiments of the above method, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that the details will not be repeatedly described in this specification.

[0324] The above embodiments are only for explaining the technical solutions of the present application and are not for limiting the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, or perform equivalent substitutions for some of their technical features.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining clock synchronization information executed on the wireless device control device side, Receiving clock synchronization information from a wireless device, wherein the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and a clock source, and the clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where the wireless device is located, and the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, Determining a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information, wherein the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device, comprising, The clock synchronization information includes identification of the clock source, identification of a source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy, The identification of the clock source is information indicating the network device that provides the reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located, the identification of the source port is information indicating the network device directly connected to the wireless device and providing clock synchronization to the wireless device, and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the network device directly connected to the wireless device, Determining the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information includes determining that the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port. A method.

2. The wireless device is connected to the wireless device control device via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device The method according to claim 1.

3. The clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, and the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information The method according to claim 1.

4. A method for obtaining clock synchronization information executed on the wireless device control device side, comprising: Receiving clock synchronization information from a wireless device, wherein the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and a clock source, the clock source being a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where the wireless device is located, and the clock link being a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device; Determining a first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information, wherein the first clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device; and the clock synchronization information includes identification of the clock source, identification of a source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy; the identification of the clock source is information indicating the network device that provides the reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located, the identification of the source port is information indicating the network device directly connected to the wireless device and providing clock synchronization to the wireless device, and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the network device directly connected to the wireless device; the clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, the communication channel being a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information; Determining the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information includes: when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is different from the identification of the source port, determining the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of the communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy.

5. Determining the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the information about the number of the communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy includes: Determining a product obtained by multiplying the difference between the quantity of the communication channels and 1 by the predetermined clock synchronization accuracy; Determining that the sum of the product and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy; including The method according to claim 4.

6. The clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, and the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with respect to the clock source, and is obtained from a front-haul transport network. The method according to claim 1.

7. Determining the first clock synchronization accuracy based on the clock synchronization information includes determining that the third clock synchronization accuracy is the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device. The method according to claim 6.

8. The clock synchronization information is carried in a management message. The method according to claim 1.

9. The clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner. The method according to claim 1.

10. further including transmitting the clock synchronization information of the wireless device and / or the first clock synchronization accuracy to a network management device. The method according to claim 1.

11. The clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device. The method according to claim 1.

12. The wireless device includes a first wireless device and a second wireless device, the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the wireless device control device is a fourth clock synchronization accuracy, and the clock synchronization accuracy between the second wireless device and the wireless device control device is a fifth clock synchronization accuracy. The method includes determining a sixth clock synchronization accuracy based on the fourth clock synchronization accuracy and the fifth clock synchronization accuracy, where the sixth clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. Based on the sixth clock synchronization accuracy, determining whether the first wireless device and the second wireless device can cooperate to execute a first service, where the first service is a service that requires cooperative operation by two or more wireless devices further comprising The method according to claim 1.

13. A method for providing clock synchronization information executed on the wireless device side, comprising transmitting clock synchronization information to a wireless device control device, where the clock synchronization information indicates the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and a clock source, the clock source being a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where the wireless device is located, the clock link being a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, the clock synchronization information being for determining a first clock synchronization accuracy, the first clock synchronization accuracy being the clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device, the clock synchronization information including identification of the clock source, identification of a source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy, the identification of the clock source being information indicating the network device that provides the reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located, the identification of the source port being information indicating the network device directly connected to the wireless device and providing clock synchronization to the wireless device, the second clock synchronization accuracy being the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the network device directly connected to the wireless device, and the second clock synchronization accuracy being determined as the first clock synchronization accuracy when the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and the identification of the clock source is the same as the identification of the source port

14. The wireless device is connected to the wireless device control device via at least one clock information transmission device, or the wireless device is directly connected to the wireless device control device The method according to claim 13.

15. The clock synchronization information further includes information about the number of communication channels on the clock link, and the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information The method according to claim 13

16. The clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source and a third clock synchronization accuracy, and the third clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the clock source, and is obtained from the front-haul transport network The method according to claim 13

17. The clock synchronization information is carried in a management message The method according to claim 13

18. The clock synchronization information is transmitted to the wireless device control device in a unicast manner The method according to claim 13

19. The clock synchronization information further includes an identifier of the wireless device The method according to claim 13

20. A method for providing clock synchronization information executed on the wireless device side, comprising transmitting clock synchronization information to a wireless device control device, wherein the clock synchronization information indicates a clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and a clock source, the clock source is a network device that provides a reference time clock to a clock link where the wireless device is located, the clock link is a link for clock synchronization between the clock source and the wireless device, the clock synchronization information is for determining a first clock synchronization accuracy, and the first clock synchronization accuracy is a clock synchronization accuracy between the wireless device and the wireless device control device the clock synchronization information includes the identification of the clock source, the identification of the source port, and a second clock synchronization accuracy, the identification of the clock source is information indicating the network device that provides the reference time clock to the clock link where the wireless device is located, the identification of the source port is information indicating the network device directly connected to the wireless device and providing clock synchronization to the wireless device, and the second clock synchronization accuracy is the clock synchronization accuracy of the wireless device with reference to the network device directly connected to the wireless device The clock synchronization information further includes information about the quantity of communication channels on the clock link, where the communication channel is a channel between two directly connected network devices capable of transmitting clock information. When the identification of the clock source is the same as the identifier of the wireless device control device and different from the identification of the source port, the first clock synchronization accuracy is determined based on the information about the quantity of the communication channels, the second clock synchronization accuracy, and a predetermined clock synchronization accuracy. A method including this.

21. A communication device comprising a unit configured to implement the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 12.

22. A communication device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to cause the communication device to execute the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 12.

23. A communication device comprising a unit configured to implement the method according to any one of Claims 13 to 20.

24. A communication device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to cause the communication device to execute the method according to any one of Claims 13 to 20.

25. A communication system including a communication device that executes the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 and a communication device that executes the method according to any one of Claims 13 to 20.

26. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, where when the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer can execute the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 or the method according to any one of Claims 13 to 20.

27. A computer program comprising instructions, which, when the computer program is executed on a computer, enable the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 20.

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