3GPP-SRP Function Latency Management in TSN Wireless Bridges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for integrating 3GPP wireless communication networks into Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) systems, particularly in distributed configuration models, face challenges in managing latency and resource allocation efficiently, leading to suboptimal performance in deterministic communication scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a 3GPP-SRP function within the 5GS bridge enables self-management of the 5GS network by controlling the propagation of Talker and Listener declarations, establishing and modifying PDU sessions and QoS flows, and optimizing resource usage, thereby ensuring accurate latency management and efficient stream reservation across the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a wireless communication network is integrated into a TSN system using distributed configuration, then the system gains flexibility and self-management capability, but latency management becomes more complex and resource allocation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidlatency management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway entity that acts as an intermediary between the wireless communication network and the TSN network. This gateway translates TSN protocols into wireless communication protocols and manages the integration, thereby reducing the complexity of direct latency management in the distributed configuration while maintaining system flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the wireless communication network continuously monitors latency metrics and resource allocation status, and adjusts its operations accordingly. This feedback loop enables dynamic latency management in the distributed configuration, resolving the complexity issue while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If declaration messages are propagated through all port pairs in the wireless communication network, then complete stream reservation is achieved, but network resource usage increases and performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestream reservation completenessVSAvoidnetwork resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the declaration message propagation selective rather than universal. The gateway entity determines specific ingress-egress port pairs that need declaration message propagation based on actual stream requirements, thereby achieving complete stream reservation only where necessary and improving overall network resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the declaration message propagation process into multiple targeted transmissions to specific port pairs rather than a single broadcast to all ports. This segmentation reduces redundant message transmissions and improves network resource efficiency while maintaining stream reservation completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4005171B1Integration of communication network in time sensitive networking system
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4005171B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4005171B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4005171B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for use by a network element or function configured to conduct a control processing for enabling transmission of a data stream between at least one talker party and at least one listener party, the apparatus comprising at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to conduct control of transmission of a declaration message related to a stream reservation procedure between the at least one talker party and at least one listener party via a wireless communication network forming a bridge element of a communication system, the control comprising selecting at least one specific set of ingress and egress port pairs in the wireless communication network for declaration message propagation, wherein the at least one declaration message comprises an indication for a maximum latency acceptable for the source of the declaration message, and an indication for an accumulated latency indicating a latency provided by a signaling path the declaration message had used so far.