TSN Support Indication in RAN System Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technologies over radio access networks (RAN) do not support wireless communication, leading to challenges in establishing deterministic networking for factory automation, where mobile terminals cannot efficiently determine if a radio base station supports TSN features before connecting.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows mobile terminals to receive system information from radio base stations indicating TSN support, enabling the selection of base stations that support TSN features, thereby optimizing energy, time, and resource usage, and avoiding unnecessary connection procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mobile terminal establishes a radio connection with a radio base station to determine TSN support, then the terminal can access network services, but unnecessary connection procedures are consumed when the base station does not support TSN

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTSN connection reliabilityVSAvoidConnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by broadcasting TSN support information in system information messages before any connection establishment. This allows mobile terminals to check TSN compatibility in advance and only initiate connection procedures to TSN-capable base stations, thereby avoiding unnecessary connection attempts and reducing time loss while ensuring reliable TSN connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If system information is broadcasted to indicate TSN support, then terminals can select appropriate base stations, but additional signaling overhead is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTSN stream establishment efficiencyVSAvoidSystem information structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by integrating TSN support indication into existing system information blocks (SIBs) that are already broadcast for other purposes. The TSN indication is incorporated as an additional field in standard system information messages, allowing the same broadcasting infrastructure to serve both traditional cell selection and TSN capability indication functions, thereby improving productivity without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If mobile terminals perform random access and RRC connection procedures to verify TSN support, then accurate TSN capability detection is achieved, but energy and resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTSN capability detection accuracyVSAvoidTerminal energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by separating TSN capability information from the connection establishment process. TSN support indication is extracted and broadcast in system information messages independently, allowing terminals to obtain TSN capability data without performing energy-consuming random access and RRC connection procedures. This maintains accurate capability detection while significantly reducing terminal energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11832164B2Technique for time-sensitive networking over a radio access network

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A technique for Time-Sensitive Networking, TSN, over a radio access network, RAN, is described. As to a handling method aspect of the technique, system information is received from a radio base station of the RAN. The system information is implicative or indicative of support for TSN through the radio base station. Depending on the received system information, at least one TSN stream of the TSN through the radio base station is established or initiated to establish.