Virtual Bridge for TSN over 5G Wireless
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) systems with wireless technologies like 5G poses challenges due to fundamental mismatches between wired and wireless communication, requiring novel techniques to achieve deterministic and bounded latency with zero congestion loss for real-time applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual bridge between TSN systems and 5G networks using a two-level scheduling scheme, where data is mapped into virtual queues based on priority, and a time-synchronized cyclic forwarding strategy, along with Time-Aware Shaper (TAS) on the air-interface, ensures prioritization and efficient resource allocation to meet stringent TSN requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication is used to connect TSN systems, then coverage and mobility are improved, but deterministic latency and reliability deteriorate due to wireless interference and variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless communication system as an intermediary bridge between two TSN networks, enabling connectivity while maintaining TSN determinism through specialized protocols and scheduling mechanisms that mediate between wireless variability and TSN requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters including implementing deterministic scheduling with fixed time slots, adjusting transmission power levels, configuring QoS parameters, and synchronizing timing references to transform the inherently variable wireless medium into a deterministic communication channel
2Device complexity
If standard Ethernet TSN protocols are applied directly to wireless systems, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but performance deteriorates due to fundamental differences between wired and wireless communication characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TSN protocol stack and wireless protocol stack, identifying common functional requirements that can be satisfied by either protocol while allowing each to operate in its optimal domain, with coordination at the boundaries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal scheduling mechanism that serves both TSN deterministic requirements and wireless communication needs, allowing the same resource allocation framework to handle both wired TSN traffic and wireless transmission constraints
3Reliability
If priority-based scheduling is implemented in the wireless system, then QoS for time-critical data is improved, but system complexity increases due to multi-level scheduling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scheduling with fixed time slots and cycles, where high-priority TSN traffic is allocated specific periodic opportunities for transmission, creating predictable and deterministic behavior through regular, repeating patterns rather than complex ad-hoc decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary scheduling decisions by pre-allocating time slots and resources for different priority levels before data arrives, eliminating the need for complex real-time scheduling decisions and reducing system complexity through advance planning
Data Source
AI summary
Arrangements described herein allow integration of TSN and wireless systems (e.g. 5G systems) by forming a virtual bridge over the wireless system. A two-level scheduling scheme is provided, where data is mapped into separate virtual queues based on the respective priority of the data. Each virtual queue is given a permission to allocate transmission resources (e.g. timeslots) at certain windows in accordance with a schedule. During each window, transmission resources are then allocated for the respective queue from a set of transmission resources. By applying two levels of scheduling (scheduling when to schedule), different scheduling rules can be applied for different priority data (different virtual queues). In addition, higher priority data can be scheduled with a higher priority (e.g. before the scheduling of lower priority data). This allows minimum performance criteria for certain types of data (certain Quality of Service data flows) to be guaranteed across the wireless system.