TSN Time Protocol Transport Over 5G QoS Flows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G systems lack essential functions for distributing a grandmaster clock in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) systems, particularly in wireless networks, which are crucial for synchronized coordination in applications like factory automation.
Innovation Solution
A method and devices are provided to transport time protocol messages through a wireless network by establishing a packet data unit (PDU) session with Quality of Service (QoS) flow, ensuring precise timing and synchronization by allocating resources and triggering processes specific to the time protocol message, using radio devices, core network nodes, and base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If packet-switched networks without centralized scheduler are used, then network flexibility and ease of operation are improved, but end-to-end delay control and synchronization precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into TSN domains with dedicated time synchronization paths and standard packet-switched domains. By dividing the network into functional segments with different QoS requirements, it maintains overall flexibility while ensuring precise synchronization within TSN segments through dedicated resource allocation and time-aware scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces TSN bridges and gateways as intermediary devices that translate between TSN time-sensitive traffic and standard packet-switched traffic. These intermediaries enforce delay budgets, perform timestamping, and manage QoS flows, thereby maintaining synchronization precision without compromising the flexibility of the overall packet-switched network architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing 5GS with TSN translator is used, then connectivity between 5GS and TSN network is established, but essential TSN functions such as grandmaster clock distribution are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the 5G core network with TSN bridge functions, allowing the 5G network to simultaneously provide both connectivity and essential TSN functions. The 5G core network is enhanced to act as a TSN bridge that can distribute grandmaster clocks and maintain time synchronization, thereby combining connectivity and clock distribution functions in a single integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances 5G network elements to perform multiple functions: they serve as both connectivity providers and TSN time synchronization sources. The 5G core network elements are designed to function as TSN bridges capable of grandmaster clock distribution, timestamping, and delay measurement, making them universal nodes that handle both standard packet routing and time-sensitive networking requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If resources are allocated without time protocol indication, then resource allocation simplicity is maintained, but time-sensitive networking performance and delay control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring time protocol indication during PDU session establishment. This allows the network to pre-allocate resources with appropriate QoS parameters, delay budgets, and scheduling priorities before time-sensitive traffic arrives. By performing resource allocation in advance based on time protocol requirements, the system ensures low transport delay without complicating the allocation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter set used for resource allocation by incorporating time protocol-specific parameters such as delay budgets, synchronization requirements, and QoS flow identifiers. These parameter changes enable the network to differentiate time-sensitive traffic from standard traffic, allocating resources with appropriate timing characteristics while maintaining allocation simplicity through standardized parameter handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique of transporting a time protocol message for time-sensitive networking, TSN, from a first station (910) to a second station (920) through a wireless network (900) including at least one radio device wirelessly connected to at least one base station (400) of the wireless network (900) is provided. As to a method aspect, a method performed by at least one or each of the at least one radio device comprises a step of transmitting to the wireless network (900) a radio device request message requesting establishment of a packet data unit, PDU, session between the radio device and the wireless network (900), the radio device request message being indicative of a time protocol of the time protocol message. The method further comprises at least one of the steps of receiving from and transmitting to the at least one base station (400) of the wireless network (900) the time protocol message according to a Quality of Service, QoS, flow for transporting the time protocol message in the wireless network (900). The QoS flow is unambiguously or uniquely associated with at least one of the PDU session and the time protocol.