Clock Skew Synchronization in 5G TSN Without Extra Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of time sensitive networks (TSN) with 5G systems for industrial automation requires additional hardware devices for clock synchronization, increasing costs and implementation complexity, limiting deployment flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for computing clock skew without additional hardware, using timestamps in data packets to estimate delay information and synchronize clocks based on link type, reducing reliance on dedicated devices and maintaining low-cost synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional hardware devices are used for clock synchronization in TSN integration with 5G systems, then time synchronization precision is improved, but hardware cost and implementation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clock synchronization function from dedicated hardware devices and implements it using software-based timestamp processing in existing network elements. By removing the requirement for specialized synchronization hardware and using only standard network equipment with timestamp capabilities, the solution achieves time synchronization without additional hardware complexity while maintaining precision requirements for industrial automation applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing network elements (such as gNBs and UPFs) perform multiple functions by enabling them to handle both data transmission and clock synchronization tasks using the same infrastructure. The timestamp mechanisms already present in these elements are repurposed for synchronization, allowing a single hardware platform to serve dual purposes and eliminating the need for separate synchronization devices
2Measurement precision
If additional hardware devices are deployed for clock synchronization, then time synchronization precision is improved, but deployment flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables network elements to perform clock synchronization autonomously using their own embedded timestamp mechanisms without requiring external dedicated synchronization hardware. Each network element serves its own synchronization needs by generating and processing timestamps independently, which eliminates hardware constraints and allows flexible deployment across diverse 5G network configurations and industrial automation scenarios
3Reliability
If dedicated hardware devices are used for clock synchronization, then reliability of time synchronization is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock synchronization function with existing data transmission network elements by utilizing their built-in timestamping capabilities. Instead of separating synchronization into a dedicated hardware layer, the solution combines synchronization operations with regular network traffic handling in the same infrastructure, achieving reliable time synchronization while reducing the total quantity of hardware devices required
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for performing clock synchronization in a wireless network performed by an electronic device acting as a third device. The method includes: receiving a data packet transmitted from a first device via a second device, the data packet including a first timestamp when the first device transmits the data packet; acquiring a local timestamp indicating when the third device receives the data packet, and time information transmitted by the second device indicating when the data packet is received; computing delay information of a specified link part of a transmission link between the third device and the first device accordingly; computing, according to the delay information of the specified link part and a link type of the specified link part, a clock skew corresponding to the specified link part; and performing, according to the clock skew, clock synchronization on a transmission node corresponding to the specified link part.