TSN Reference Time Handover for Cross-gNB Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networks face challenges in maintaining accurate synchronization during handover of user equipment (UE) between cells, particularly when different gNBs support varying reference time delivery mechanisms, leading to potential synchronization performance issues.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods for handover of UE by transmitting reference time delivery configurations between source and target cells, including signaling methods, periodicity, accuracy, and propagation delay compensation, to ensure consistent synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If reference time delivery mechanisms are varied between different gNBs for flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but synchronization reliability deteriorates during handover
Solution Approach 1:
The source gNB transmits the reference time delivery configuration to the target gNB in advance during the handover preparation phase, before the actual handover occurs. This allows the target gNB to pre-configure its reference time delivery mechanism to match the source gNB's configuration, ensuring seamless synchronization continuity without interruption during the handover execution.
2Reliability
If reference time delivery configuration is transmitted during handover, then synchronization continuity is improved, but handover signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference time delivery configuration is transmitted within the existing handover request message structure, allowing the same signaling mechanism to serve dual purposes: both conveying handover authorization information and transmitting synchronization configuration parameters. This avoids creating separate dedicated signaling channels and minimizes additional overhead.
3Reliability
If target cell adjusts reference time delivery to match source cell configuration, then synchronization performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The target gNB receives and stores a copy of the source gNB's reference time delivery configuration parameters, including periodicity, accuracy requirements, and propagation delay compensation settings. The target gNB then replicates these configuration parameters for its own reference time delivery mechanism, ensuring identical synchronization behavior without requiring complex real-time adjustments or calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods performed by a source node for handover of a user equipment (UE) from a source cell served by the source node in a wireless network. Such methods include transmitting, in the source cell according to a reference time delivery configuration, one or more messages that include respective reference times in relation to corresponding source cell transmission events. Such methods also include transmitting, to a target node in the wireless network, the reference time delivery configuration in relation to a request to handover the UE from the source cell to a target cell served by the target node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by the target node, as well as network nodes configured to perform such methods.