TSN 5G Integration via Disjoint Path Frame Replication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and 5G systems poses challenges due to differences in capabilities and internal protocols, making it difficult to achieve end-to-end fault tolerance, especially when disjoint paths are not always available.
Innovation Solution
A method is proposed for transmitting data between a TSN system and a 5G network by defining disjoint paths and performing frame replication and elimination based on a redundancy policy, ensuring reliable data transmission across the 5G network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frame replication and elimination is implemented in integrated TSN and 5G systems, then fault tolerance and reliability are improved, but device complexity and protocol integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a TSN adapter as an intermediary component that bridges the TSN network and 5G system. The adapter translates TSN frames into 5G-compatible data packets and implements frame replication and elimination functions within the 5G core network. This intermediary approach allows fault tolerance mechanisms to operate in the 5G domain without requiring complex protocol integration at the TSN side, thus improving reliability while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements frame replication by creating multiple copies of TSN frames and transmitting them through different 5G network paths. The 5G core network replicates incoming TSN frames into multiple data packets that are routed through disjoint paths. At the destination, duplicate packets are eliminated and the original frame is reconstructed. This copying mechanism provides fault tolerance against packet loss without requiring complex changes to the TSN protocol stack.
2Reliability
If multiple disjoint paths are defined for frame transmission, then fault tolerance is improved, but network complexity and path management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes multiple disjoint transmission paths between TSN networks and 5G systems in advance, before actual data transmission begins. The 5G core network pre-configures multiple data forwarding paths with different routing policies, and the TSN adapter pre-sets replication parameters. When frames need to be transmitted, the system simply selects from the pre-established paths rather than dynamically computing routes, significantly reducing path management complexity while maintaining fault tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the TSN frame transmission process into distinct phases: frame replication at the source, independent transmission through multiple disjoint paths, and duplicate elimination at the destination. Each path is treated as an independent transmission channel with its own routing and QoS parameters. This segmentation allows the network to manage multiple paths separately using standard 5G routing mechanisms, reducing overall path management complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If frame replication is performed at the 5G network, then data loss is reduced, but energy consumption and network resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial frame replication where the 5G core network replicates TSN frames into multiple data packets, but not all packets are transmitted through all paths simultaneously. The system transmits the original frame through one primary path and replicated copies through alternative paths only when needed for fault tolerance. The elimination function at the destination receives multiple copies but processes only the necessary number to ensure reliability, reducing unnecessary energy consumption from transmitting and processing excessive duplicate packets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts replication parameters such as the number of replicated packets, transmission paths, and QoS parameters based on network conditions and TSN service requirements. The 5G core network monitors packet loss rates and path quality, then modifies replication factors and path selection accordingly. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain data loss prevention while optimizing energy consumption by reducing replication overhead when network conditions are good and increasing it only when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transmitting data between a time-sensitive networking, TSN, system and a 5G network, the method comprising receiving, from the time-sensitive networking, TSN, system, data comprising a plurality of frames, defining k disjoint paths for transmitting the data across the 5G network, where k≥2 and for each frame of the data, performing, by the 5G network, at least one of the processes (a) and (b), (a) transmitting k copies of the frame to a transmission destination via a respective one of the disjoint paths, determining, based on a redundancy policy of the 5G network indicating a protocol for deleting redundant copies of frames of TSN traffic, whether one or more of the transmitted k copies received at the transmission destination are redundant and eliminating the copies determined to be redundant and (b) generating, based on a redundancy policy of the 5G network indicating a protocol for replicating frames of TSN traffic, k copies of the frame; and transmitting the copies of the frame to a transmission destination via a respective one of the disjoint paths.