Scheduling Cycle Synchronization for Deterministic Flow Forwarding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current deterministic flow transmission applications require hardware-level clock synchronization support, which is difficult for low-cost products to achieve, especially in 5G systems like 5GS, leading to challenges in maintaining clock synchronization between transmission nodes.

Innovation Solution

A method for cycle synchronization that adjusts the width of scheduling cycles for packet queue scheduling in transmission nodes, allowing for synchronization without strict clock synchronization at both ends, using cycle synchronization information packets to maintain synchronization within a preset range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user equipment camps on a frequency for random access procedure, then the random access can be performed, but the frequency may not be the optimal frequency for data transmission due to synchronization issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverandom access procedureVSAvoidfrequency synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The network side performs preliminary synchronization signal transmission on multiple candidate frequencies before the random access procedure. The user equipment measures these pre-transmitted synchronization signals to identify the optimal frequency, ensuring both reliable random access and accurate frequency synchronization for subsequent data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Synchronization signals serve as an intermediary between the network side and user equipment for frequency identification. These signals are transmitted on multiple frequencies as mediators that enable the user equipment to measure and determine the optimal frequency without directly affecting the random access procedure reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If synchronization signals are transmitted on multiple frequencies, then the user equipment can identify the optimal frequency, but the network side signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency synchronizationVSAvoidnetwork side signaling
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization signals transmitted on multiple frequencies serve multiple functions simultaneously: they enable frequency identification for user equipment, provide timing synchronization, and act as reference signals for channel estimation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate signaling mechanisms, thereby controlling network side signaling overhead while achieving precise frequency synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If user equipment performs random access on non-serving cell, then coverage is extended, but uplink-downlink timing synchronization may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverandom access capabilityVSAvoidtiming synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The network side transmits synchronization signals on multiple frequencies of non-serving cells, enabling user equipment to measure and identify appropriate frequencies. When user equipment performs random access on non-serving cells, it uses the previously measured synchronization information as feedback to maintain timing synchronization, thereby extending coverage while preserving synchronization stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4425804B1Period synchronization method, system, and apparatus, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 NEW H3C TECH CO LTD
  • EP4425804B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4425804B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4425804B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide cycle synchronization methods, systems and apparatuses, and electronic devices. In an embodiment, without depending on strict clock synchronization of the transmission nodes at both ends, it is simply required to adjust a width of a scheduling cycle for packet queue scheduling in the transmission node at one end to enable the error between the adjusted width of the scheduling cycle and a width of a scheduling cycle for packet queue scheduling in the other transmission node to be within a preset synchronization range, so as to achieve weak synchronization of the transmission nodes at both ends in deterministic flow transmission, ensuring normal forwarding of the deterministic flow.