5G Policy Control Element for TSN QoS Flow Determinism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G system lacks a method to implement deterministic end-to-end transmission of quality of service (QoS) flows, which is essential for time-sensitive networking (TSN) in ensuring reliable and guaranteed transmission delays, particularly in virtualized environments.
Innovation Solution
A time-sensitive networking communication method that involves a policy control network element receiving forwarding policy information to manage QoS flows by determining user terminals and creating or updating QoS policies, ensuring deterministic end-to-end transmission by specifying ports and time slices for TSN traffic within the 5G system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the 5G system is virtualized as the switching node in the TSN, then adaptability to TSN requirements is improved, but the ability to implement deterministic end-to-end transmission is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the QoS flow management into multiple parts: policy control network element for QoS policy creation/update, session management network element for session control, and user plane function network element for actual traffic forwarding. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining deterministic transmission capabilities in the virtualized 5G system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a policy control network element as an intermediary between the TSN network and the 5G core network. This intermediary receives forwarding policy information from the TSN network, determines the corresponding QoS flow, creates or updates QoS policies, and interacts with other network elements to ensure deterministic end-to-end transmission is maintained despite virtualization.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional Ethernet is used, then simplicity of implementation is maintained, but transmission reliability and guaranteed delay are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the 5G system universal by enabling it to function both as a conventional mobile network and as a TSN-compliant network with deterministic transmission capabilities. The policy control network element provides multi-functionality by handling both standard 5G QoS management and TSN-specific forwarding policy conversion, allowing the system to serve multiple purposes without sacrificing simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If TSN switching node is virtualized in 5G system, then adaptability to cloud-based architectures is improved, but the complexity of implementing deterministic transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The policy control network element performs self-service by automatically receiving forwarding policy information from the TSN network, autonomously determining the corresponding QoS flow, creating or updating QoS policies without manual intervention, and interacting with other network elements. This automation reduces the operational complexity of implementing deterministic transmission in virtualized 5G environments.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a time-sensitive networking communication method and an apparatus. The method may include: receiving, by a policy control network element, forwarding policy information of TSN traffic, where the forwarding policy information of the TSN traffic is used to trigger the policy control network element to manage a QoS flow corresponding to the TSN traffic; determining a user terminal corresponding to the TSN traffic, and determining, in a QoS flow corresponding to the user terminal, the QoS flow corresponding to the TSN traffic; creating or updating, according to the forwarding policy information of the TSN traffic, a QoS policy of the QoS flow corresponding to the TSN traffic; and sending the QoS policy of the QoS flow corresponding to the TSN traffic to a session management network element, where the forwarding policy information of the TSN traffic includes traffic information of the TSN traffic and an identifier of a port that transmits the TSN traffic. According to the embodiments of this application, deterministic end-to-end transmission of a QoS flow in a 5G system can be implemented.