5G TSN Bridge Virtual Topology for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G time-sensitive network (TSN) bridge models fail to exploit the multiplexing capabilities of wireless bridges, leading to sub-optimal performance due to their reliance on Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) strategies, which are not the best multiplexing schemes for wireless networks, resulting in higher end-to-end latency and limited capacity utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining a virtual topology of a wireless bridge within a time-sensitive network, which groups user equipments based on their multiplexing capabilities, allowing concurrent data transmission across different groups and providing a virtual topology to the central network configuration node, enabling the CNC to schedule data streams without performance loss and fully utilizing the multiplexing capabilities of the wireless bridge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a TDMA strategy is applied in the 5G TSN bridge model, then time delivery guarantee is achieved, but multiplexing capability is not exploited and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 5G TSN bridge model into multiple virtual channels, each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows different data flows to be handled through separate virtual channels simultaneously, enabling parallel processing and exploiting the multiplexing capabilities of 5G wireless networks while maintaining TDMA-based time delivery guarantees within each channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual channel dimension to the traditional TDMA time-based approach. By adding this additional dimension, the system can multiplex multiple data flows across different virtual channels in parallel, transforming the single-dimensional time-division approach into a multi-dimensional architecture that combines time division with channel division, thereby achieving both reliability and improved productivity.
2Reliability
If aggregated delays are considered in the central scheduler, then collision avoidance is guaranteed, but internal link capacity is not utilized and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the delay calculation into per-virtual-channel basis rather than aggregating across all channels. Each virtual channel's delay is calculated independently based on its own traffic characteristics and capacity, allowing the central scheduler to make optimized scheduling decisions for each channel without being constrained by aggregated delay values, thereby reducing overall latency while maintaining collision avoidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by calculating delays specific to each virtual channel's local conditions (traffic load, capacity, priority) rather than using a uniform aggregated delay value. This allows the central scheduler to allocate resources more efficiently to each channel based on its specific needs, reducing unnecessary waiting time and improving end-to-end latency while still preventing collisions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If low time granularity of 5G slots is used, then wireless transmission is enabled, but time multiplexing capability is reduced compared to ethernet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the coarse time granularity of 5G slots by introducing the virtual channel dimension. While time division resolution is limited by slot duration, the addition of multiple virtual channels provides an alternative dimension for multiplexing, allowing the system to achieve fine-grained resource allocation through channel division rather than time division, thereby maintaining adaptability for wireless transmission while mitigating the loss of time multiplexing capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a topology of a time-sensitive network model of a wireless bridge handling a set of user equipments. Groups of user equipments are determined, with each group being formed of UEs having a competitive access to time resource. UEs of different groups are independent performance-wise when activated concurrently. A topology of a main block is built and provided to a centralized network configuration node. The topology comprises N network-side ports, a network port being associated with a corresponding group of user equipments, P device-side ports, a device-side port being associated with a corresponding user equipment, and P internal links, an internal link connecting a device-side port associated to a user equipment of a given group with the network-side port associated to the given group. The invention further relates to a corresponding communication system and a corresponding computer program.