CN116996983A

CN116996983A - Clock synchronization method and device

Info

Publication number: CN116996983A
Application number: CN202210488142.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 臧昕; 周润泽; 王远
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-04-25
Filing date: 2022-05-06
Publication date: 2023-11-03

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a clock synchronization method and device. The method comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that a first network element determines whether the time service capability of first network equipment meets a first condition, wherein the first network element is a strategy control network element and/or a time sensitive network and a time synchronization network element, the first condition is related to a first time service precision error, and the first time service precision error is determined according to information of a terminal equipment request time service by an application function. The application judges the time service capability of the first network device and the time service requirement of the terminal device to determine whether the first network device can provide time service meeting the requirement of the terminal device for the terminal device, thereby ensuring that the terminal device can receive clock information meeting the requirement and ensuring the clock synchronization of the system.

Description

Clock synchronization method and device

The present application claims priority from the chinese patent office, application number 202210444295.6, application name "method and apparatus for clock synchronization" filed 25 at 2022, 04, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the field of communication, in particular to a method and a device for clock synchronization.

Background

With the rapid growth of mobile communication services, the evolution speed of wireless network upgrading is gradually increased. In the fourth generation mobile communication system (the 4th generation mobile communication system,4GS), the base station adopts a global navigation satellite system (global navigation satellite system, GNSS) to control the air interface time error within 1.5us, thereby realizing the calibration accuracy of hundred nanoseconds and meeting the time synchronization basic requirement of the 4GS period.

In addition to the further improvement of the accuracy requirement for time synchronization between base stations, the accuracy requirement for time synchronization of terminal devices is further improved in comparison with the network structure of the fifth generation mobile communication system (the 5th generation mobile communication system,5GS) period. In the prior art, once GNSS information on a base station fails or a time service (or service) base station is changed due to mobility of the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment often cannot receive clock information required in a previous time service request. This is unacceptable to some users where the need for high precision is strong. For example, in smart grids, it is necessary to rely on accurate time for differential protection and fault detection. Therefore, how to ensure that the terminal device can receive the clock information meeting the requirements, and how to ensure the clock synchronization of the system are needed to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a clock synchronization method and device, which can ensure that terminal equipment receives clock information meeting requirements so as to ensure clock synchronization of a system.

In a first aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the method comprises the steps that a strategy control network element determines whether the time service capability of first network equipment meets a first condition, wherein the first condition is related to a first time service precision error, the first time service precision error is determined according to first request information, the first request information is used for requesting time service for terminal equipment, and the first request information is from an application function or the terminal equipment; when the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, the policy control network element sends first time service indication information to the first network device, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the first network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the strategy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, the first condition is related to the first time service precision error, and the first time service precision error is determined according to the time service information requested by the terminal device by the application function. When the time service capability of the first network equipment meets a first condition, the strategy control network element indicates the first network equipment to provide time service for the terminal equipment; when the first network device can provide time service for the terminal device, the policy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the time service requirement of the terminal device, so that the terminal device can receive clock information meeting the requirement, and clock synchronization of the system is ensured.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, before the policy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, the method further includes: the policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet a second condition, the second condition is related to a second time service precision error, the second time service precision error is determined according to the first request information from the application function network element, and the second time service precision error is not greater than the first time service precision error.

Based on the above scheme, before the policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, the policy control network element determines a second condition according to the second time service precision error, and if the time service capability of the first network device does not meet the second condition, the policy control network element further determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, so as to ensure that the terminal device can receive clock information meeting the requirement.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the second condition, and that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, the policy control network element sends second information to a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the second network device fails to time service for the terminal device.

Based on the scheme, when the strategy control network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet the first condition and the second condition, the strategy control network element sends second information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element further determines that the network device meeting the time service requirement of the terminal device can be provided according to the time service precision error, and the network device provides time service for the terminal device, so that the terminal device can be guaranteed to receive clock information meeting the requirement.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, the policy control network element sends subscription information to a mobility management network element, where the subscription information is used to subscribe to location information of the terminal device; the policy control network element receives first information from the mobility management network element, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

Based on the above scheme, the policy control network element sends subscription information to the mobility management function network element, where the subscription information is used to subscribe to location information of the terminal device, and when the location of the terminal device changes, the mobility management network element sends first information to the policy control network element, where the first information is used to indicate that the first network device can provide time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second information includes identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, the second information further includes a reason why the first network device and/or the second network device fails to time the terminal device.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, the first time service precision error and the second time service precision error belong to a time service precision error, and the time service precision error is from the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

Based on the scheme, the first time service precision error and the second time service precision error belong to time service precision errors, and the time service precision errors are determined by time sensitive communication and time synchronization network elements according to time service request information of the terminal equipment.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the policy control network element determines the first condition according to a service type of the terminal device and the first timing accuracy error.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the policy control network element determines the second condition according to a service type of the terminal device and the second time service precision error.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, when the first request information is from an application function, the first request information includes a coverage area range of the application function requesting a time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementation manners of the first aspect, the policy control network element receives time service capability data from the first network device and/or the second network device, where the time service capability data is used to indicate time service capability of the first network device and/or the second network device.

In a second aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets a third condition, wherein the third condition is related to a third time service precision error, the third time service precision error is determined according to first request information, the first request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal device, and the first request information is from an application function or the terminal device; when the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends first time service indication information to the first network device, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the first network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets a third condition, the third condition is related to a third time service precision error, and the third time service precision error is determined according to the time service information requested by the application function for the terminal device. When the time service capability of the first network device meets a third condition, the policy control network element indicates the first network device to provide time service for the terminal device. When the terminal equipment is connected to the first network equipment, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network equipment meets the time service requirement of the terminal equipment, so that the terminal equipment can receive clock information meeting the requirement, and the clock synchronization of the system is ensured.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, before the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet the fourth condition, the fourth condition is related to a fourth time service precision error, the fourth time service precision error is determined according to the first request information from the application function, and the fourth time service precision error is not greater than the third time service precision error.

The third condition and the first condition, the fourth condition and the second condition, the third timing accuracy error and the first timing accuracy error, and the fourth timing accuracy error and the second timing accuracy error may be the same or different, and the present application is not limited thereto.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the fourth condition, and that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the third condition.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second information, where the second information is used to indicate that time service fails.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends third information to a policy control network element, where the third information is used to instruct the first network device to provide a time service for the terminal device, where the third information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the first network device, the third time service precision error, and/or the fourth time service precision error.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the second information includes identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends subscription information to a mobility management network element, where the subscription information is used to subscribe to location information of the terminal device; the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network receives first information from the mobility management network element, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, before the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends subscription information to the mobility management network element, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives fourth information from a policy control network element, wherein the fourth information comprises identification information of the terminal equipment, identification information of the mobile management network element, identification information of the first network equipment and/or identification information of the second network equipment.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementation manners of the second aspect, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines a time service precision error according to the first request information from the application function, where the time service precision error includes a first time service precision error, a second time service precision error, the third time service precision error, and the fourth time service precision error; and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element transmits the first time service precision error and/or the second time service precision error to the strategy control network element.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, when the first request information is from an application function, the first request information includes a coverage area range in which the application function requests a time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines that the terminal device moves out of a coverage area requested by the terminal device, and the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends time-service stop indication information, where the time-service stop indication information is used to instruct a network device to stop providing time service for the terminal device, and the network device is a network device that provides time service for the terminal device. With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the time-sensitive communication and time-synchronization network element receives time service capability data from the first network device and/or the second network device, where the time service capability data is used to indicate time service capabilities of the first network device and/or the second network device.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementation manners of the second aspect, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives second response information from the unified data management network element, where the second response information includes clock subscription data of the terminal device; and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal equipment according to the second response information.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementation manners of the second aspect, when one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends fourth response information to the terminal device, wherein the fourth response information is used for indicating the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the determining, by the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition according to the one or more time service data.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends the time service refusing information to the terminal equipment.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second request information to the unified data management network element, where the second request information is used to request clock subscription data of the terminal device.

In a third aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the terminal equipment sends first request information, wherein the first request information comprises one or more time service precision errors, and the time service precision errors can comprise air interface time service precision errors; the terminal equipment receives time service response information, wherein the time service response information is used for indicating a first network equipment to provide time service for the terminal equipment, and the time service response information is from the first network equipment, or a strategy control network element, or a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the terminal equipment actively requests the time service, the request information comprises one or more time service precision errors, and the network equipment, the strategy control network element, the time sensitive communication and the time synchronization network element can directly evaluate the time service capability according to the one or more time service precision errors, so that the resource cost is saved.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first request information further includes data network name information and/or single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the timing accuracy error.

In a fourth aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment sends first request information to a mobile management network element, wherein the first request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal equipment, and the first request information comprises a plurality of time service precision errors; the terminal equipment receives first response information from the mobile management network element, wherein the first response information is used for indicating the time service condition of the terminal equipment, and the time service condition comprises success or failure of time service of the terminal equipment.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the terminal equipment actively requests time service and sends the first request information to the mobile management function network element, wherein the first request information comprises a plurality of time service precision errors.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first request information further includes data network name information and/or single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the timing accuracy error.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, when the first response information includes information that the time service of the terminal device is successful, the first response information further includes identification information of the first network device, and a time service capability of the first network device meets a time service requirement of the terminal device.

Based on the above scheme, when the time service capability of the first network device meets the time service requirement of the terminal device, the first response information includes the identification information of the first network device.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first response information further includes the data network name information and the single slice selection auxiliary information corresponding to a time service precision error in a case where time service is successful and a time service precision error in a case where the time service is successful.

In a fifth aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the mobile management network element receives first request information from terminal equipment, wherein the first request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal equipment; the mobile management network element sends second request information to the unified data management network element according to the first request information, wherein the second request information is used for requesting clock subscription data of the terminal equipment; the mobile management network element receives second response information from the unified data management network element, wherein the second response information comprises clock subscription data of the terminal equipment; the first request information is in the clock subscription data range of the terminal equipment, the mobile management network element sends third request information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, and the third request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal equipment; or the first request information exceeds the clock subscription data range of the terminal equipment, and the mobile management network element sends rejection information to the terminal equipment.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the mobile management network element receives the first request information and inquires the unified data management network element about the subscription data of the terminal equipment according to the first request information. The mobile management network element judges whether the time service data requested by the terminal equipment is in the range of the subscription data according to the request data in the first request information and the subscription data of the terminal equipment. If the requested time service data of the terminal equipment is not in the subscription data range, namely the mobile management network element sends rejection information to the terminal equipment, wherein the rejection information is used for rejecting to provide time service for the time service data requested by the terminal equipment.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the third request information includes a plurality of timing error values, and the plurality of timing error values are from the first request information.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the third request information further includes data network name information and single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of timing precision errors. With reference to the fifth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the first request information is within a clock subscription data range of the terminal device, and the method further includes: the mobile management network element receives first time service indication information from the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating a first network device to provide time service for the terminal device, and the first network device comprises network equipment capable of providing time service with the terminal device.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the first time service indication information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the first network device, and the plurality of time service error values.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the mobility management network element receives second information from the first network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, before the mobility management network element sends the third request information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, the method further includes: and the mobile management network element determines whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal equipment according to the second response information.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the fifth aspect, when one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: the mobile management network element sends fourth response information to the terminal equipment, wherein the fourth response information is used for indicating the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: and the mobile management network element sends the time service refusing information to the terminal equipment.

In a sixth aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the strategy control network element receives second information from the first network equipment, wherein the second information is used for indicating the time service failure of the first network equipment; the time service capability of the second network device meets a first condition, and the policy control network element sends first time service indication information to the second network device, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the second network device to provide time service for the terminal device; or the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition, the policy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the third network device meets the first condition, wherein the first condition is related to a first time service precision error, the first time service precision error is determined based on first request information, the first request information is used for indicating that the terminal device is required to service time, and the second network device and the third network device comprise network devices capable of providing time service for the terminal device.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, when the strategy control network element receives the second information sent by the first network device, the strategy control network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet the time service requirement of the terminal device according to the second information, namely, the strategy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the second network device meets the first condition, and when the time service capability of the second network device meets the first condition, the strategy control network element indicates the second network device to provide time service for the terminal device; when the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition, the policy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the third network device meets the first condition, so that clock information meeting the requirements can be provided for the terminal device.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, in a case where the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition, the method further includes: the strategy control network element determines a second condition according to a second time service precision error, wherein the second time service precision error is determined based on the first request information, and the second time service precision error is different from the first time service precision error.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the first time service accuracy error and the second time service accuracy error belong to a time service accuracy error, and the time service accuracy error is from a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the second network device meets the second condition, and the policy control network element sends the first time service indication information to the second network device.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, in a case where the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition, and the time service capability of the third network device meets the first condition, the method further includes: the policy control network element sends second time service indication information to the third network device, where the second time service indication information is used to instruct the third network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, in a case where the time service capability of the third network device does not meet the first condition, the method further includes: and the time service capability of the third network equipment meets the second condition, and the strategy control network element sends the second time service indication information to the third network equipment.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the second condition, and the policy control network element sends second information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the time service capability of the third network device does not meet the first condition and the second condition, and the policy control network element sends second information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the second information includes identification information of the third network device and/or identification information of the fourth network device.

In a seventh aspect, a method of clock synchronization is provided, the method comprising: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives second information from the strategy control network element, wherein the second information is used for indicating the time service failure of the terminal equipment; the time service capability of the fourth network device meets a third condition, and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends fourth time service indication information to the fourth network device, wherein the fourth time service indication information is used for indicating the fourth network device to provide time service for the terminal device; or the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the third condition, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the fifth network device meets the third condition, wherein the third condition is related to a third time service precision error, the third time service precision error is determined based on first request information, the first request information is used for indicating that a time service is requested for the terminal device, and the second network device comprises network devices capable of providing time service information for the terminal device.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives the second information from the strategy control network element, the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the fourth network device meets the time service requirement of the terminal device according to the second information, and when the time service capability of the fourth network device meets the third condition, the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element instructs the fourth network device to provide time service for the terminal device; when the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the third condition, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the fifth network device meets the third condition, so that clock information meeting the requirements can be provided for the terminal device.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, in a case where the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the third condition, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines a fourth condition according to a fourth time service precision error, wherein the fourth time service precision error is determined based on the first request information, and the third time service precision error is different from the fourth time service precision error.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the fourth network device meets the fourth condition, and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends the fourth time service indication information to the fourth network device.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, in a case where the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the third condition, and the time service capability of the fifth network device does not meet the third condition, the method further includes: the time service capability of the fifth network device meets the fourth condition, and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends fifth time service indication information to the fifth network device, where the fifth time service indication information is used to instruct the fifth network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect, in a case where the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the third condition, and the time service capability of the fifth network device meets the third condition, the method further includes: and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends the fifth time service indication information to the fifth network equipment.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends third information to a policy control network element, where the third information is used to instruct the fourth network device or the fifth network device to provide a time service for the terminal device, where the third information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the fourth network device or identification information of the fifth network device, the third time service precision error, and/or the fourth time service precision error.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the fourth condition, and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementation manners of the seventh aspect, the time service capability of the fifth network device does not meet the third condition and the fourth condition, and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the time-sensitive communication and time-synchronization network element receives fourth information from a policy control network element, where the fourth information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the mobility management network element, identification information of the fourth network device, or identification information of the fifth network device.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the second information includes identification information of the fourth network device and/or identification information of the fifth network device. With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, before the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives the second information from the policy control network element, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives third request information from the mobile management function network element, wherein the third request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal equipment.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementation manners of the seventh aspect, the third request information further includes data network name information and single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of timing precision errors.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, before the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives the third request information from the mobility management function network element, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second request information to the unified data management network element, wherein the second request information is used for requesting clock subscription data of the terminal equipment; the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives second response information from the unified data management network element, wherein the second response information comprises clock subscription data of the terminal equipment.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the method further includes: and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal equipment according to the second response information.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementation manners of the seventh aspect, when one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends fourth response information to the terminal device, wherein the fourth response information is used for indicating the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the determining, by the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition includes: the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition according to the one or more time service data.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect, when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends the time service refusing information to the terminal equipment.

In an eighth aspect, a clock synchronization apparatus is provided, where a processing unit determines that a time service capability of a first network device meets a first condition, where the first condition is related to a first time service precision error, where the first time service precision error is determined according to first request information, where the first request information is used to request a time service for a terminal device, and the first request information is from an application function or the terminal device; the receiving and transmitting unit sends first time service indication information to the first network equipment, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the first network equipment to provide time service for the terminal equipment.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the eighth aspect, the processing unit determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet the second condition, where the second condition is related to a second time service precision error, where the second time service precision error is determined according to the first request information from the application function network element, and where the second time service precision error is different from the first time service precision error.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the processing unit determines that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the second condition, and that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the transceiver unit sends second information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the transceiver unit sends subscription information to a mobility management network element, where the subscription information is used to subscribe to location information of the terminal device; the receiving and transmitting unit receives first information sent by the mobile management network element, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first network equipment and/or identification information of the second network equipment.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in certain implementations of the eighth aspect, the second information includes identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the second information further includes a cause of a time service failure of the first network device and/or the second network device for the terminal device.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in certain implementations of the eighth aspect, the first time service precision error and the second time service precision error belong to a time service precision error, and the time service precision error is from the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the processing unit determines the first condition according to a service type of the terminal device and the first timing accuracy error.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the processing unit determines the second condition according to a service type of the terminal device and the second timing accuracy error.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in certain implementations of the eighth aspect, when the first request information is from the application function, the first request information further includes a coverage area range requested by the application function for the terminal device.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the eighth aspect, the transceiver unit receives time service capability data from the first network device and/or the second network device, where the time service capability data is used to indicate time service capability of the first network device and/or the second network device.

In a ninth aspect, a clock synchronization apparatus is provided, where a processing unit determines that a time service capability of a first network device meets a third condition, where the third condition is related to a third time service precision error, where the third time service precision error is determined according to first request information, where the first request information is from an application function or the terminal device; the receiving and transmitting unit sends first time service indication information to the first network equipment, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the first network equipment to provide time service for the terminal equipment.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the ninth aspect, the processing unit determines that the timing capability of the first network device does not meet the fourth condition, where the fourth condition is related to a fourth timing accuracy error, the fourth timing accuracy error is determined according to the first request information from the application function, and the fourth timing accuracy error is different from the third timing accuracy error.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the processing unit determines that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the fourth condition, and that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the third condition.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit sends second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit sends third information to a policy control network element, where the third information is used to instruct the first network device to provide a time service for the terminal device, where the third information includes identification information of the terminal device, the first network device identification information, the third time service precision error, and/or the fourth time service precision error.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in certain implementations of the ninth aspect, the second information includes identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit sends subscription information to a mobility management network element, where the subscription information is used to subscribe to location information of the terminal device; the receiving and transmitting unit receives first information sent by the mobile management network element, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first network equipment and/or identification information of the second network equipment.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit receives fourth information from a policy control network element, where the fourth information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the mobility management network element, identification information of the first network device, and/or identification information of the second network device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the processing unit determines a timing precision error according to first request information from an application function, where the timing precision error includes a first timing precision error, a second timing precision error, the third timing precision error, and the fourth timing precision error; and the receiving and transmitting unit transmits the first time service precision error and/or the second time service precision error to the strategy control network element.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in certain implementations of the ninth aspect, the first information includes identification information of the terminal device and identification information of the first network device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the processing unit determines a timing precision error according to the first request information, where the timing precision error includes a first timing precision error, a second timing precision error, the third timing precision error, and the fourth timing precision error; and the receiving and transmitting unit transmits the first time service precision error and/or the second time service precision error to the strategy control network element.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in certain implementations of the ninth aspect, when the first request information is from an application function, the first request information includes a coverage area range in which the application function requests a time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the processing unit determines that the terminal device moves out of a coverage area requested by the terminal device, and the transceiver unit sends a time service stop instruction message, where the time service stop instruction message is used to instruct a network device to stop providing time service for the terminal device, and the network device is a network device that provides time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit receives time service capability data from the first network device and/or the second network device, where the time service capability data is used to indicate time service capabilities of the first network device and/or the second network device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit receives second response information from the unified data management network element, where the second response information includes clock subscription data of the terminal device; and the processing unit determines whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal equipment according to the second response information.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, when one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the transceiver unit sends fourth response information to the terminal device, where the fourth response information is used to instruct the processing unit to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the processing unit determines, according to the one or more time service data, whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementation manners of the ninth aspect, when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further includes: and the receiving and transmitting unit transmits time service refusing information to the terminal equipment.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, the transceiver unit sends second request information to the unified data management network element, where the second request information is used to request clock subscription data of the terminal device.

In a tenth aspect, a clock synchronization device is provided, where a transceiver unit sends first request information to a mobility management network element, where the first request information is used to request time service for the terminal device, and the first request information includes a plurality of time service precision errors; the receiving and transmitting unit receives first response information from the mobile management network element, wherein the first response information is used for indicating the time service condition of the terminal equipment, and the time service condition comprises success or failure of time service of the terminal equipment.

With reference to the tenth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the tenth aspect, the first request information further includes data network name information and/or single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the timing precision error.

With reference to the tenth aspect, in some implementations of the tenth aspect, when the first response information includes information that the terminal device time service is successful, the first response information further includes identification information of the first network device, and a time service capability of the first network device meets a time service requirement of the terminal device.

With reference to the tenth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the tenth aspect, the first response information further includes the data network name information and the single slice selection auxiliary information corresponding to a time service precision error in a case where time service is successful and a time service precision error in a case where the time service is successful.

An eleventh aspect provides a clock synchronization apparatus, where a transceiver unit receives first request information from a terminal device, where the first request information is used to request a time service for the terminal device; the receiving and transmitting unit transmits second request information to the unified data management network element according to the first request information, wherein the second request information is used for requesting clock subscription data of the terminal equipment; the receiving and transmitting unit receives second response information from the unified data management network element, wherein the second response information comprises clock subscription data of the terminal equipment; the first request information is in the clock subscription data range of the terminal equipment, the receiving and transmitting unit sends third request information to a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, and the third request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal equipment; or the first request information exceeds the clock subscription data range of the terminal equipment, and the mobile management network element sends rejection information to the terminal equipment.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in certain implementations of the eleventh aspect, the third request information includes a plurality of timing error values, and the plurality of timing error values are from the first request information.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in certain implementation manners of the eleventh aspect, the third request information further includes data network name information and single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of timing precision errors.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in some implementations of the eleventh aspect, the transceiver unit receives first timing indication information from a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the first timing indication information is used to instruct a first network device to provide a timing service for the terminal device, and the first network device is a network device capable of providing the timing service for the terminal device

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in certain implementations of the eleventh aspect, the first indication information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the first network device, and the plurality of time-giving error values.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in some implementations of the eleventh aspect, the transceiver unit receives second information from the first network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in some implementations of the eleventh aspect, before the transceiver unit sends third request information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, the processing unit determines, according to second response information, whether time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in some implementations of the eleventh aspect, when one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the transceiver unit sends fourth response information to the terminal device, where the fourth response information is used to instruct the processing unit to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in some implementations of the eleventh aspect, when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the transceiver unit sends time service rejection information to the terminal device.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a clock synchronization apparatus, where the transceiver unit receives second information from the first network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service of the first network device fails; the time service capability of the second network device meets a first condition, and the transceiver unit sends first time service indication information to the second network device, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the second network device to provide time service for the terminal device; or the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition, the processing unit determines whether the time service capability of the third network device meets the first condition, wherein the first condition is related to a first time service precision error, the first time service precision error is determined based on first request information, the first request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal device, and the second network device and the third network device comprise network devices capable of providing time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the processing unit determines a second condition according to a second timing accuracy error, the second timing accuracy error is determined based on the first request information, and the second timing accuracy error is different from the first timing accuracy error.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the first time service accuracy error and the second time service accuracy error belong to a time service accuracy error, and the time service accuracy error is from a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the second network device meets the second condition, and the policy control network element sends the first time service indication information to the second network device.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the transceiver unit sends second time service indication information to the third network device, where the second time service indication information is used to instruct the third network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the time service capability of the third network device meets the second condition, and the transceiver unit sends the second time service indication information to the third network device.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the second condition, and the transceiver unit sends second information to a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the time service capability of the third network device does not meet the first condition and the second condition, and the transceiver unit sends second information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in some implementations of the twelfth aspect, the second information includes identification information of the third network device and/or identification information of the fourth network device.

In a thirteenth aspect, a clock synchronization device is provided, where a transceiver unit receives second information from a policy control network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device time service fails; the time service capability of the fourth network device meets a third condition, and the transceiver unit sends fourth time service indication information to the fourth network device, wherein the fourth time service indication information is used for indicating the fourth network device to provide time service for the terminal device; or the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the third condition, the processing unit determines whether the time service capability of the fifth network device meets the third condition, where the third condition is related to a third time service precision error, the third time service precision error is determined based on first request information, the first request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal device, and the second network device includes a network device capable of providing time service information for the terminal device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the thirteenth aspect, the processing unit determines a fourth condition according to a fourth timing precision error, the fourth timing precision error is determined based on the first request information, and the third timing precision error is different from the fourth timing precision error.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the fourth network device meets the fourth condition, and the transceiver unit sends the fourth time service indication information to the fourth network device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the time service capability of the fifth network device meets the fourth condition, and the transceiver unit sends fifth time service indication information to the fifth network device, where the fifth time service indication information is used to instruct the fifth network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the transceiver unit sends the fifth time service indication information to the fifth network device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the transceiver unit sends third information to a policy control network element, where the third information is used to instruct the fourth network device or the fifth network device to provide a time service for the terminal device, where the third information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the fourth network device or identification information of the fifth network device, the third time service precision error, and/or the fourth time service precision error.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the time service capability of the fourth network device does not meet the fourth condition, and the transceiver unit sends second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementation manners of the thirteenth aspect, the time service capability of the fifth network device does not meet the third condition and the fourth condition, and the transceiver unit sends second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the transceiver unit receives fourth information from a policy control network element, where the fourth information includes identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the mobility management network element, identification information of the fourth network device, or identification information of the fifth network device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in certain implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the second information includes identification information of the fourth network device and/or identification information of the fifth network device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, before the transceiver unit receives the second information from the policy control network element, the transceiver unit receives third request information from a mobility management function network element, where the third request information is used to request a time service for the terminal device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in certain implementation manners of the thirteenth aspect, the third request information further includes data network name information and single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of timing precision errors.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, before the transceiver unit receives third request information from a mobility management function network element, the transceiver unit sends second request information to a unified data management network element, where the second request information is used to request clock subscription data of the terminal device; the receiving and transmitting unit receives second response information from the unified data management network element, wherein the second response information comprises clock subscription data of the terminal equipment.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementation manners of the thirteenth aspect, the processing unit determines, according to the second response information, whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, when one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the transceiver unit sends fourth response information to the terminal device, where the fourth response information is used to instruct the processing unit to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, the processing unit determines, according to the one or more time service data, whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in some implementations of the thirteenth aspect, when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the transceiver unit sends time service rejection information to the terminal device.

In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a clock synchronization apparatus, where a transceiver unit sends first request information, where the first request information includes one or more timing accuracy errors; the processing unit receives time service response information, wherein the time service response information is used for indicating a first network device to provide time service for the terminal device, and the time service response information is from the first network device, or a strategy control network element, or a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

With reference to the fourteenth aspect, in some implementations of the fourteenth aspect, the first request information further includes data network name information and/or single-slice selection auxiliary information, where the data network name information and the single-slice selection auxiliary information are in one-to-one correspondence with the timing accuracy error.

A fifteenth aspect provides a communications apparatus for performing the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to seventh aspects. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means and/or modules, such as a processing unit and/or a communication unit, for performing the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to seventh aspects.

In one implementation, the apparatus is a network element. When the device is a network element, the communication unit may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface; the processing unit may be at least one processor. Alternatively, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Alternatively, the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.

In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, a system-on-chip, or a circuit for a network element. When the device is a chip, a system-on-chip or a circuit for a network element, the communication unit may be an input/output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or a related circuit on the chip, the system-on-chip or the circuit, etc.; the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit or logic circuit, etc.

In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to seventh aspects. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a memory for storing a computer program or instructions. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a communication interface through which the processor reads the computer program or instructions stored in the memory.

In one implementation, the apparatus is a network element.

In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, a system-on-chip, or a circuit for a network element.

In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a processor configured to perform the method provided in the above aspects.

The operations such as transmitting and acquiring/receiving, etc. related to the processor may be understood as operations such as outputting and receiving, inputting, etc. by the processor, or may be understood as operations such as transmitting and receiving by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna, if not specifically stated, or if not contradicted by actual function or inherent logic in the related description, which is not limited by the present application.

An eighteenth aspect provides a computer readable storage medium storing program code for execution by a device, the program code comprising instructions for performing the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to seventh aspects described above.

In a nineteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to seventh aspects described above.

In a twentieth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising one or more of the aforementioned policy control network element, time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, application function network element.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture to which the present application is applicable.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of another method for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of another method for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of another method for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of another method for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of another method for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 800 for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 900 for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: fifth generation (5th generation,5G) or New Radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD) systems, and the like. The technical scheme provided by the application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as a sixth generation mobile communication system. The technical solution provided by the present application may also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (machine to machine, M2M) communication, machine type communication (machine type communication, MTC), and internet of things (internet of things, ioT) communication systems or other communication systems.

A network architecture suitable for use in embodiments of the present application will be briefly described with reference to fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 shows a schematic architecture of a communication system suitable for use in embodiments of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system includes one or more network devices (e.g., 110 and 120 in fig. 1), where the network devices 110 and 120 communicate with one or more terminal devices, such as terminal device 130 in fig. 1. It should be understood that only one terminal device 130 and two network devices, 110 and 120, are shown in fig. 1. As an example, the communication system is not limited to including more network devices and terminal devices, nor is each terminal device limited to communicating with one or more network devices.

In addition, the terminal equipment in the application is not limited to the switching scene, the core network element carries out authorization evaluation on the network equipment, and when the terminal equipment simultaneously communicates with a plurality of network equipment, the core network element determines proper network equipment to carry out time service evaluation and instructs the selected network equipment to provide time service for the terminal equipment, thereby ensuring the clock synchronization of the system.

For the sake of easy understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the main functions and several basic concepts of the network element (or device) involved in the embodiments of the present application are briefly described. It should be understood that the basic concepts described below are described in the example of the basic concepts specified in the present protocol, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited to be applied to the existing systems. Therefore, the names appearing in the description of the existing system are all functional descriptions, and specific names are not limited, only indicate functions, and can be correspondingly extended to other systems, such as 6G or future communication systems.

1. User Equipment (UE): a terminal device, access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user equipment may be referred to as a terminal device.

The terminal device may be a device that provides voice/data to a user, e.g., a handheld device with wireless connection, an in-vehicle device, etc. Currently, some examples of terminals are: a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, palmtop, mobile internet device (mobile internet device, MID), wearable device, virtual Reality (VR) device, augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) device, wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), wireless terminal in unmanned (self driving), wireless terminal in teleoperation (remote medical surgery), wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), handheld device with wireless communication function, computing device or other processing device connected to wireless modem, wearable device, terminal device in 5G network or terminal in future evolved land mobile communication network (public land mobile network), and the like, without limiting the application.

2. Radio access network (radio access network, RAN): the authorized users of the specific area may be provided with the functionality to access the communication network, which may specifically include wireless network devices in a third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) network or may include access points in a non-3GPP (non-3 GPP) network. The RAN equipment representation is used below for convenience of description.

The RAN equipment may be adapted to employ different radio access technologies. There are two types of current radio access technologies: 3GPP access technologies (e.g., third generation (3rd generation,3G), fourth generation (4th generation,4G), or wireless access technologies employed in 5G systems) and non-3GPP (non-3 GPP) access technologies. The 3GPP access technology refers to an access technology conforming to the 3GPP standard specification, for example, access network devices in a 5G system are referred to as next generation base station nodes (next generation Node Base station, gNB) or RAN devices. Non-3GPP access technologies can include air interface technologies typified by an Access Point (AP) in Wireless Fidelity (wireless fidelity, wiFi), worldwide interoperability for microwave Access (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, wiMAX), code division multiple Access (code division multiple access, CDMA), and so forth. The RAN device may allow interworking between the terminal device and the 3GPP core network using non-3GPP technology.

The RAN device can be responsible for radio resource management, quality of service (quality of service, qoS) management, data compression, encryption, etc. functions on the air interface side. The RAN equipment provides access service for the terminal equipment, and further completes the forwarding of control signals and user data between the terminal equipment and the core network.

RAN devices may include, for example, but are not limited to: macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), radio network controllers (radio network controller, RNC), node bs (Node bs, NB), base station controllers (base station controller, BSC), base transceiver stations (base transceiver station, BTS), home base stations (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node bs, HNB), base Band Units (BBU), APs in WiFi systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, transmission points (transmission point, TP), or transmission reception points (transmission and reception point, TRP), etc., as well as a gNB or transmission points (TRP or TP) in 5G (e.g., NR) systems, an antenna panel of one or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of base stations in 5G systems, or as well as network nodes constituting a gNB or transmission point, such as a Distributed Unit (DU), or a base station in next generation communication 6G systems, etc. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific technology and the specific equipment form adopted by the RAN equipment.

3. Access and mobility management network element (access and mobility management function, AMF): the method is mainly used for the functions of access control, mobility management, attachment and detachment and the like.

4. Policy control function (policy control function, PCF): the unified policy framework is mainly used for guiding network behaviors, and provides policy rule information and the like for control plane network elements (such as AMFs and the like).

5. Application function (application function, AF): the method is mainly used for providing services to the 3GPP network, such as interaction with PCF for policy control and the like. The AF may be a third party functional entity or an application service deployed by an operator, such as an IP multimedia subsystem (IP multimedia subsystem, IMS) voice call service. In the present application, a multiple access edge computing (multi-access edge computing, MEC) platform or application server may communicate as an AF with a 5G core network.

6. Unified data management (unified data management, UDM): the method is mainly used for subscription data management of the UE, and comprises storage and management of the UE identification, access authorization of the UE and the like.

7. Network opening functions (network exposure function, NEF) are mainly used to safely open services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions to the outside.

8. The application function (application function) is mainly used for providing services to the 3GPP network, such as interaction with PCF for policy control and the like.

9. Time sensitive communication and time synchronization function network element (time sensitive communication and time synchronization function, TSCTSF): the method is mainly used for determining the time service precision error of the UE.

It should be understood that, AMF, PCF, UDM, AF and the like described in the foregoing may be understood as network elements for implementing different functions, for example, may be combined into network slices as needed, where the network elements may be independent devices, may be integrated in the same device to implement different functions, or may be network elements in hardware devices, may be software functions running on dedicated hardware, or be virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform), and the specific form of the network elements is not limited by the present application.

It should also be appreciated that the network elements or functions described above may be partitioned into one or more services, and further that services that exist independently of the network functions may also occur. In the present application, an instance of the above-described function, or an instance of a service included in the above-described function, or an instance of a service existing independently of a network function may be referred to as a service instance. In addition, in actual deployment, network elements with different functions can be combined. For example, the access and mobility management network element may be collocated with the session management network element; the session management network element may be co-located with the user plane network element. When two network elements are combined, the interaction between the two network elements provided by the embodiment of the application becomes the internal operation of the combined network element or can be omitted.

It should also be understood that the above designations are merely intended to facilitate distinguishing between different functions and should not be construed as limiting the application in any way. The application does not exclude the possibility of using other designations in 6G networks as well as other networks in the future. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the individual network elements may follow the terminology in 5G, possibly by other names, etc.

It should be noted that: the network device in the embodiment of the present application may broadly cover or replace various names as follows, for example: a node B (NodeB), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a relay station, an Access Point (AP), a transmission point (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), a transmission point (transmitting point, TP), a master station, a secondary station, a multi-mode wireless (motor slide retainer, MSR) node, a home base station, a network controller, an access node, a wireless node, an access point, a transmission node, a transceiver node, a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio unit (remote radio unit, RRU), an active antenna unit (active antenna unit, AAU), a radio head (remote radio head, RRH), a Central Unit (CU), a Distributed Unit (DU), a positioning node, a base station, and the like. Wherein the base station may be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node, a donor node, or the like, or a combination thereof. A base station may also refer to a communication module, modem, or chip for placement within the aforementioned device or apparatus. The base station may be a mobile switching center, a device that performs a base station function in D2D, V2X, M M communication, a network side device in a 6G network, a device that performs a base station function in a future communication system, or the like. The base stations may support networks of the same or different access technologies.

According to the introduction of the basic concept, the time service capability of the 5G network is a network function which can be opened to the outside. The time service opening capability defined at R17 may be activated and deactivated by the application function network element AF. The time service capability of the 5G network is the capability of being opened to an external network, can be used as a master clock of the whole system and can time service other devices.

As an example, taking the time service of the clock information of the 5G system to the terminal device as an example, it is first necessary to send a time service request with AF to the NEF. Wherein, the time service request of the AF comprises the identification information of the terminal equipment. The NEF further forwards the time service request information to the TSCTSF. In the request of AF, a time service error range (error bridge) may be further included. The error bridge is used for indicating the upper limit requirement of the terminal equipment on the time service error. If the TSCTSF receives the error widget in the timing request of the AF, the TSCTSF uses the error widget as a total error requirement for determining whether the network device can provide the timing requirement for the terminal device. When the timing request of the AF does not carry the error widget, the TSCTSF uses a preset default value as the error widget. After the TSCTSF receives the error, the internal error (which is pre-configured or obtained by other transmission) is subtracted, that is, the TSCTSF obtains the accuracy error (Uu error) when the error is over-the-air, where one error may correspond to one or more Uu error budgets, or multiple error budgets may correspond to multiple Uu error budgets. The TSCTSF sends the obtained Uu error budgets to the network equipment, and the network equipment decides which time service method is adopted to time service the terminal equipment so as to meet the time service error requirement of the terminal equipment.

The time service methods of the network equipment in the current standard R17 comprise two types, namely a TA-based base station precompensation scheme or a terminal autonomous compensation scheme and an RTT-based time service scheme. The time service errors of the two methods are different, and the time service errors of different network devices are also different, so that the application is not limited.

In the examples provided in the present application below, it is assumed that the first network device (may be referred to as a first base station) is RAN1, the second network device (may be referred to as a second base station) is RAN2, the source network device (may be referred to as a source base station) to which the terminal device is connected is ran#1, and the other network devices to which the terminal device is connected are referred to as RAN3, where there may be one or a plurality of network devices to which the terminal device is connected, and the following examples are not limited thereto.

A clock synchronization method provided by the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments in fig. 2 to 7, and fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a clock synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 2 includes the following steps.

S201, the AMF sends first information to the first network element, or the first network element receives first information from the AMF, where the first information is used to indicate that the RAN1 can provide a time service for the terminal device UE.

It should be understood that the first network element is a policy control network element PCF or/and a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element TSCTSF.

The RAN1 can provide time service for the terminal device UE, and other base stations can also provide time service for the UE. For example, in the scenario where the UE moves, the UE is connected to both ran#1 and RAN1, or the UE switches from ran#1 to RAN1, the UE disconnects from ran#1 and connects to RAN1, and the present application is not limited to the scenario of the UE.

The application is not limited to the situation that RAN#1 can not provide time service for UE because the position of UE changes in mobile service base station. When both ran#1 and RAN1 are capable of providing time service to the UE, both ran#1 and RAN1 are capable of providing service to the UE. It should be appreciated that ran#1 and RAN1 are capable of providing time service to a UE, but it cannot be determined whether ran#1 and RAN1 are capable of providing clock information to the UE that meets the UE time service requirements. When the timing capability of the ran#1 cannot meet the timing requirement of the UE, the first network element determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the timing requirement of the UE. When the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE, that is, the first network element instructs the RAN1 to provide the time service for the UE. Therefore, the clock synchronization method provided by the application is not limited to be applied to the scene of switching network equipment of the UE, and is also applicable to the method provided by the application when the UE does not switch the network equipment.

S202, the first network element determines, according to the first information, whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets a first condition.

Specifically, after receiving the first information, the first network element determines the time service capability of the RAN1, and then determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition. The first condition is that the first network element determines according to a first time service precision error, wherein the first time service precision error is determined by the first network element according to first request information, and the first request information is used for requesting time service for the UE. The first request information is from the AF or the UE.

Optionally, when the first network element is a PCF, the first timing accuracy error Uu error ridge is from a TSCTSF. The TSCTSF determines one or more Uu error budgets according to time service request information of the UE, and sends all or part of the determined Uu error budgets to the PCF.

It should be appreciated that the PCF receives Uu error budgets from TSCTSF, and the PCF may select the smallest Uu error budget as the first condition.

Optionally, when the first network element is a TSCTSF, the TSCTSF determines one or more Uu error budgets according to information that the AF requests time service for the UE, and takes one Uu error budget as the first time service precision error.

Optionally, before the first network element determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, the first network element determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the second condition. When the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the second condition, that is, the first network element instructs the RAN1 to provide the time service for the UE. When the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the second condition, that is, the first network element determines the first condition according to the first time service accuracy error, the first network element determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition.

It should be appreciated that, when the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, the first network element instructs the RAN1 to provide the time service for the UE, that is, in a method as shown in fig. 2, the method further includes:

s203, the first network element sends first time service indication information to the RAN1, where the first time service indication information is used to instruct the RAN1 to provide time service for the UE.

Optionally, the first network element directly sends the first time service indication information to the RAN1, and instructs the RAN1 to provide a time service for the UE.

Optionally, the first network element sends first time service indication information to the AMF, and the AMF sends information for indicating that the RAN1 is time service of the UE to the RAN1.

S204, RAN1 time service for UE.

Specifically, after receiving the first time service instruction information, the RAN1 provides a time service for the UE according to the first time service instruction information.

Optionally, the RAN1 determines a timing scheme according to the first timing indication information, where the timing scheme includes TA-based base station precompensation or UE autonomous compensation and RTT-based timing scheme.

Optionally, the RAN1 selects an appropriate timing according to the first timing indication information to provide a timing service for the UE.

It should also be appreciated that, when the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition, the first network element determines whether the time service capability of the RAN2 meets the first condition, i.e. in the method as shown in fig. 2, the method further includes:

s205, the first network element determines whether the time service capability of the RAN2 satisfies the first condition.

Wherein RAN2 is different from RAN1, and RAN2 is a network device capable of providing time service to UEs.

Optionally, when the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition, the first network element determines whether the time service capability of the RAN2 meets the first condition. When the time service capability of the RAN2 meets the first condition, that is, the first network element sends second time service indication information to the RAN2, where the second time service indication information is used to instruct the RAN2 to provide time service to the UE.

Optionally, when the first network element determines that the time service capability of the RAN2 does not meet the first condition, that is, the time service capability of the RAN2 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, the first network element selects other network devices currently connected to the UE to perform time service on the UE.

Optionally, when the first network element determines that the time service capability of the other network devices does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, the first network element sends the second information, or the AF receives the second information from the first network element. The second information is used to indicate that the time service failed.

In the technical scheme shown in fig. 2, by evaluating the time service capability of the network device and the time service requirement of the UE, it is determined that the network device conforming to the time service requirement of the UE provides time service for the UE, so that the terminal device is ensured to receive clock information conforming to the requirement, and further, clock synchronization of the system is ensured.

Optionally, in some embodiments, before the AMF sends the first information to the first network element, the method shown in fig. 2 may further include:

during the data establishment request process (for example, NG Setup), the RAN1 or other base stations, the RAN1 sends the identification information (for example, ID identification) of the RAN1 and the timing precision error obtained by the RAN1 according to different timing modes to the AMF. The RAN1 obtains the timing precision error according to different timing modes, including the RAN1 obtains the timing precision error by performing TA-based and/or RTT-based timing modes, and the timing scheme can refer to the prior art specifically.

In the following, in the process of timing UE, when the TSCTSF receives the timing request information from the AF, the TSCTSF determines whether the timing capability of the network device meets the timing requirement of the UE according to the timing request of the UE, and instructs the network device meeting the timing requirement of the UE to provide the timing service for the UE, which will be further described in detail with reference to fig. 3 to 4.

Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of another method for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 3, including the following steps.

S301, the TSCSTF receives first request information (which may also be referred to as time service request information) from the AF, where the first request information is used to request time service for the UE.

Specifically, the AF sends first request information for time service requested by the UE to the NEF, which forwards the information to the TSCTSF.

Wherein the first request information includes identification information of the UE.

Optionally, when the first request information is from the AF, the first request information further includes a coverage area range in which the AF requests a time service for the UE.

As an example, the coverage area in the first request information sent by the AF may be with per RAN node or per cell as granularity, or may be that the AF requests area information over a geographic area. For example, an enterprise campus or distribution network area in a smart grid scenario, where the AF or NEF may pre-configure a mapping list, the AF maps the requested geographical area to area information in the 3GPP concept that the TSCTSF can understand, the AF then sends the NEF, and the NEF forwards the information to the TSCTSF.

S302, the TSCTSF sends second request information to the UDM, or the UDM receives second request information from the TSCTSF, where the second request information is used to request UE time service subscription data.

Specifically, after the TSCTSF receives the first request information, the TSCTSF transmits second request information to the UDM according to the first request information.

S303, the TSCTSF receives the second response information from the UDM, or the UDM sends the second response information to the TSCTSF, where the second response information includes the time service subscription data of the UE.

Specifically, after the TSCTSF receives the second response information, the TSCTSF determines according to the time service data requested by the UE in the first request information and the time service subscription data of the UE in the second response information, and when the time service data requested by the UE is within the time service subscription data range of the UE, the TSCTSF updates the time service precision error Uu error widget according to the first request information, and provides network equipment meeting the requirements for the UE. For example, when the ran#1 meets the time service requirement of the UE, the TSCTSF sends first time service indication information to the ran#1, and in the method shown in fig. 3, the method further includes:

s304, the TSCTSF determines whether the time service data requested by the UE in the first request information meets the UE time service subscription data.

Specifically, when the time service data requested by the UE satisfies the UE time service subscription data, the TSCTSF updates the Uu error packet and the information of the network device (ran#1) determined to be the UE time service; when the time service data requested by the UE does not meet the UE time service subscription data, the TSCTSF sends first response information to the AF, and the first response information is used for rejecting time service.

It should be appreciated that when the UE-requested timing service data satisfies the UE timing subscription data, the TSCTSF updates the Uu error packet and information of the network equipment (ran#1) determined to be the UE timing, and instructs the ran#1 to provide the timing service for the UE.

Optionally, the TSCTSF updates the Uu error bridge and the information of the network device (ran#1) determined to be the UE time service according to the time service data requested by the UE and the coverage area information requested by the UE in the first request information.

Optionally, when the TSCTSF determines whether the time service data requested by the UE in the first request information meets the UE time service subscription data, the TSCTSF determines, according to the second response information, whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to the clock subscription data of the terminal device. When one or more time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the UE, the TSCTSF sends fourth response information to the UE, wherein the fourth response information is used for indicating the TSCTSF to provide time service for the one or more time service data; and when the time service data in the first request information do not belong to the clock subscription data of the UE, the TSCTSF sends time service refusing information to the UE.

Further, the TSCTSF provides time service to one or more time service data in the clock data subscribed by the UE, and determines whether the time service capability of the network device (e.g., RAN 1) meets the time service requirement of the UE according to the one or more time service data, and the detailed steps are referred to step S403 in fig. 4, which is not repeated herein.

When the TSCTSF determines that the time service data requested by the UE in the first request information meets the UE time service subscription data, as shown in fig. 3, the method further includes:

s305, RAN #1 receives the first timing indication information from TSCTSF.

The first time service indication information is used for indicating the RAN#1 to provide time service for the UE.

It should be understood that the TSCTSF may directly send the first timing indication information to the RAN1, indicating that the RAN1 provides the timing service for the UE.

It should also be understood that the TSCTSF first sends first time service indication information to the PCF, and then the PCF sends information for indicating that the RAN1 is time service for the UE to the RAN1.

The first time service information includes identification information of the UE, updated Uu error bridge and identification information of ran#1.

S306, ran#1 provides time service to UE.

Specifically, after receiving the first time service instruction information from the TSCTSF, the ran#1 provides a time service for the UE according to the first time service instruction information.

Optionally, the ran#1 selects an appropriate timing to provide a timing service for the UE according to the first timing instruction information.

Optionally, the ran#1 determines a timing scheme according to the first timing indication information, where the timing scheme includes a TA-based base station precompensation or a UE autonomous compensation and RTT-based timing scheme, and the specific timing scheme may refer to the prior art.

Optionally, in some embodiments, in a case where the TSCTSF sends the first time service indication information to the PCF, the method shown in fig. 3 further includes:

the PCF determines a timing strategy according to the first timing indication information, and the PCF sends response information of the timing strategy to the TSCTSF. Wherein, the time service strategy response information indicates time service results.

The timing policy response information includes identification information of ran#1, and ran#1 determines a timing scheme (i.e., timing capability data of ran#1) and AMF identification information according to the first timing instruction information.

Fig. 3 above shows that the timing request of the UE is initiated by the AF and further sent to the TSCTSF. The first request information carries time service request service data of the UE, and the TSCTSF acquires time service subscription data of the UE from the UDM after receiving the first request information. The TSCTSF further judges time service request data of the UE according to the first request information and the time service subscription data of the UE. When the time service data requested by the UE meets the UE time service subscription data, the TSCTSF further determines proper time service network equipment for the UE, so that the clock synchronization of the system is ensured, and meanwhile, the expenditure of resources is saved.

Fig. 4 shows, based on fig. 3, that the UE location is changed compared with the previous situation, and that the serving base station of the UE may be switched from ran#1 to RAN1, or that both ran#1 and RAN1 are capable of providing time service for the UE, where the time service capability of ran#1 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, and it needs to be further determined whether the time service capability of RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE. It should be understood that RAN1 being able to provide time service to a UE means that RAN1 may provide time service to the UE, but cannot determine whether RAN1 is able to provide clock information to the UE that meets the UE time service requirements. The TSCTSF evaluates the time service capability of the RAN1 and judges whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE. Fig. 4 is a flowchart of another clock synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present application, where fig. 4 includes the following steps.

S401, the AMF receives the subscription information sent from the TSCTSF, or the TSCTSF sends the subscription information to the AMF.

The subscription information is used for subscribing the position information of the UE to the AMF, and when the position of the UE changes, the AMF sends information of network equipment capable of providing services for the UE to the TSCTSF.

It should be understood that, in this step S401, the AMF may alternatively send location information of the UE to the TSCTSF at regular time according to its own protocol, and send information of a network device capable of providing time service to the UE to the TSCTSF. Therefore, S401 is an optional step.

S402, the AMF sends the first information to the TSCTSF, or the TSCTSF receives the first information from the AMF.

The first information is used to indicate that the RAN1 can provide time service for the UE.

Optionally, when the RAN1 is in the process of a data establishment request (e.g., NG Setup), the timing capability of the RAN1 (e.g., timing accuracy error obtained by the RAN1 according to different timing modes) is already sent to the AMF. The first information sent by the AMF to the TSCTSF may include the timing capabilities of ran#1 and RAN 1.

Alternatively, when the RAN1 does not send the time service capability of the RAN1 to the AMF. When the UE switches from RAN #1 to RAN1, RAN1 sends the time service capability of RAN1 to the AMF. The AMF may actively request the timing capability information from the RAN1, or the RAN1 randomly sends the timing capability of the RAN1 to the AMF.

It should be understood that, in this step S402, the TSCTSF may optionally acquire other indication information or information carried in the broadcast information that can provide a time service for the UE. Therefore, S402 is an optional step.

S403, the TSCTSF determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the third condition.

Specifically, after acquiring the RAN1 according to the first information and providing time service for the UE, the TSCTSF determines whether the RAN1 can provide time service for the UE according to the time service capability of the RAN1 and the third condition. The third condition is related to a third time service precision error, and the third time service precision error is determined by the TSCTSF according to the first request information.

The first condition and the third condition, the second condition and the fourth condition, the first time service precision error and the third time service precision error, and the second time service precision error and the fourth time service precision error in the present application may be the same or different, and the present application is not limited thereto.

The TSCTSF determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the third condition, and the present application will be described in detail as an example below.

Case one

Before determining whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the third condition, the TSCTSF determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the fourth condition, and when the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the fourth condition and meets the third condition, namely, the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE, the RAN1 can provide clock information meeting the requirement for the UE. The method as shown in fig. 4, the method further comprising:

and SA404, determining a fourth condition according to the fourth time service precision error by the TSCTSF, and determining that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the fourth condition.

Specifically, the TSCTSF determines a fourth condition according to the fourth timing accuracy error, where the fourth condition is different from the third condition, and the timing capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy the fourth condition, that is, the TSCTSF determines that the RAN1 cannot provide the timing service for the UE.

It should be noted that, the TSCTSF receives first request information from the AF, where the first request information includes one or more error budgets, or the first request information includes one or more Uu error budgets. When the first request information includes one or more total time service precision error budgets, the TSCTFS further determines the time service precision error Uu error budgets according to the internal error value. One error-containing widget can obtain a plurality of Uu error-containing widgets, and the TSCTSF takes the obtained one or more Uu error-containing widgets as a condition whether the requirement of UE timing is met or not.

Optionally, the TSCTSF sends all or part of the determined one or more Uu error budgets to the PCF. As an example, the first request information includes error-related offset 1 and error-related offset 2, where TSCTSF obtains a uerror offset (1) according to the error-related offset 1, a uerror offset (2), and TSCTSF obtains a uerror offset (3) according to the error-related offset 2, and a uerror offset (4). That is, the TCSTSF determines whether the RAN1 timing capability meets the timing requirement of the UE according to the determined plurality of port space timing precision errors. That is, the TCSTSF determines whether the RAN1 timing capability meets the timing requirement of the UE according to the determined plurality of port space timing precision errors. Assuming a uuveror hedge (1), a uuveror hedge (2), a uuveror hedge (3), and a time service precision error of the uuveror hedge (4) sequentially increases. The TSCTSF uses the uerror bridge (1) as a fourth timing accuracy error, and a fourth condition that whether the RAN1 can provide service for the UE is that the timing capability exceeds the fourth timing accuracy error (uerror bridge (1)). The timing capability of the RAN1 is error widget (X). When the error widget (X) exceeds the range of the uerror widget (1), the timing capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy the fourth condition.

It should be appreciated that when the TSCTSF determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the fourth condition, that is, the TSCTSF instructs the RAN1 to provide the timing service to the UE. I.e. step SA406, SA407 is performed.

When the TSCTSF determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 does not meet the fourth condition, i.e., as shown in fig. 4, the method further includes:

the SA405, the TSCTSF determines a third condition according to the third timing accuracy error, and determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the third condition.

Specifically, the TSCTSF evaluates according to the timing capability of the RAN1 and the third condition, and determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the third condition. The TSCTSF determines a third condition according to a third timing accuracy error of the UE.

As an example: the TSCTSF uses the uerror bridge (4) as a third timing accuracy error according to the determined multiple timing accuracy errors, and then determines whether the third condition that whether the RAN1 can provide service for the UE is whether the timing capability of the RAN1 exceeds the third timing error accuracy (uerror bridge (4)). The timing capability of the RAN1 is error widget (X). When the error widget (X) does not exceed the range of the Uuerror widget (4), the time service capability of the RAN1 meets a third condition; when the error widget (X) exceeds the range of the uerror widget (4), the timing capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy the third condition.

When the TSCTFS/PCF determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the timing requirement of the terminal device, the TSCTFS/PCF generally starts to determine from the minimum timing precision error and sequentially increases to the maximum timing precision error. The application is not limited to this.

In the embodiment of the present application, the time service capability of the RAN1 is shown to meet a third condition, that is, the error bridge (X) does not exceed the range of the uerror bridge (4), as shown in fig. 4, the method further includes:

the SA406, the TSCTSF transmits the first timing indication information to the RAN1, or the RAN1 receives the first timing indication information from the TSCTSF.

Optionally, the TSCTSF directly sends the first time service indication information to the RAN1, and instructs the RAN1 to provide a time service for the UE.

Optionally, the TSCTSF sends first time service indication information to the PCF, and the PCF sends information for indicating that the RAN1 is time service for the UE to the RAN1.

The first timing indication information includes identification information of the UE, identification information of the RAN1, and a plurality of timing accuracy errors determined by TSCTSF.

SA407, RAN1 provides time service for UE.

Case two

The TSCTS directly determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 meets a third condition, that is, the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the timing requirement of the UE, and the RAN1 can provide clock information meeting the requirement for the UE. The method as shown in fig. 4, the method further comprising:

SB404, TSCTSF determines that the timing capability of RAN1 satisfies the third condition.

The TSCTSF compares the time service capability of the RAN1 with a third condition according to the time service capability of the RAN1, and determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the third condition, that is, the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE.

It should be understood that TSCTSF determines that RAN1 is capable of providing time service to the UE, and TSCTSF instructs RAN1 to provide time service to the UE.

As an example, the TSCTSF determines a plurality of time service precision errors according to the first request information, including the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), the uuveror hedge (4), and the time service precision errors of the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), and the uuveror hedge (4) increase in sequence. The TSCTSF uses the uerror bridge (4) as a third timing accuracy error, and then determines whether a third condition that the RAN1 can provide service for the UE is whether the RAN1 timing capability exceeds the third timing accuracy error (uerror bridge (4)). The timing capability of the RAN1 is error widget (X). When the error widget (X) does not exceed the range of the uuror widget (4), the time service capability of the RAN1 satisfies the third condition, and when the error widget (X) exceeds the range of the uuror widget (4), the time service capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy the third condition.

SB405, the TSCTSF transmits the first timing indication information to the RAN1, or the RAN1 receives the first timing indication information from the TSCTSF.

SB406, RAN1 provides time service for UE.

Case three

The TSCTSF determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 does not meet the third condition, and that the timing capability of the RAN1 does not meet the fourth condition, that is, the timing capability of the RAN1 does not meet the timing requirement of the UE, and the RAN1 cannot provide clock information meeting the requirement for the UE, as shown in a method of fig. 4, where the method further includes:

SC404, AF receives the second information from TSCTSF transmission.

Specifically, when the TSCTSF determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the third condition and the fourth condition, the TSCTSF determines that the time service fails, that is, the TSCTSF transmits second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the time service fails. The AF receives the second information sent by TSCTSF through the NEF.

Optionally, the second information includes identification information of the RAN1, a third timing accuracy error and/or a fourth timing accuracy error.

Optionally, when the TSCTSF determines that the UE moves out of the coverage area range in the coverage information requested by the UE in the first request information sent by the AF, the method shown in fig. 4 further includes:

the TSCTSF determines that the UE moves out of a coverage area range of the AF for requesting time service for the UE, and the TSCTSF sends time service stopping indication information, wherein the time service stopping indication information is used for indicating a network device to stop providing time service for the UE, and the network device is the network device for providing time service for the UE.

It should be understood that the network device may be a base station (e.g., BS), an access network device (e.g., RAN), or a user plane network element UPF.

In the application, network equipment is taken as RAN1 as an example, TSCTSF initiates sending of stopping time service indication information to RAN1, and the stopping time service indication information is used for indicating the RAN1 to stop providing time service for UE.

For example, in the process that the RAN1 provides time service to the UE, the UE moves out of the coverage area information requested by the UE in the first request information due to the movement of the UE. The TSCTSF initiates a clock service deactivation instruction (i.e., stop time service instruction information) to the RAN1 and instructs the RAN1 to stop time service to the UE; alternatively, the TSCTSF first transmits the time stop instruction information to the AMF, and the AMF forwards the time stop instruction information to the RAN1.

In the above technical solution shown in fig. 4, the UE position is changed, the source network device ran#1 cannot provide clock information meeting the requirements for the UE, the RAN1 can provide time service for the UE, and the TSCTSF determines whether the RAN1 can provide clock information meeting the requirements for the UE. The TSCTSF determines a timing capability evaluation condition according to the determined plurality of timing accuracy errors, and further evaluates the timing capability of the RAN1 according to the determined evaluation condition. When the TSCTSF determines that the RAN1 cannot provide the timing service for the UE, the TSCTSF modifies the evaluation condition within the range of the timing accuracy error of the UE. If the TSCTSF determines that the RAN1 still cannot provide the time service for the UE, the TSCTSF transmits time service failure information. The method shown in fig. 4, TSCTSF, evaluates network equipment by evaluating the network equipment according to the UE's time service requirement, or changing the evaluation conditions within the range of the UE's time service requirement. While ensuring the synchronization of the system clock, the cost of resources is reduced.

Fig. 5 shows that in the case that the UE location has changed compared to the previous one, the serving base station of the UE may be switched from ran#1 to RAN1, or both ran#1 and RAN1 may be able to provide time service for the UE, where the time service capability of ran#1 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, and it needs to be further determined whether the time service capability of RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE. It should be understood that RAN1 being able to provide time service to a UE means that RAN1 may provide time service to the UE, but cannot determine whether RAN1 is able to provide clock information to the UE that meets the UE time service requirements. The PCF evaluates the time service capability of the RAN1 and judges whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE. Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of another method for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application, where fig. 5 includes the following steps.

S501, the AMF receives subscription information sent from the PCF, or the PCF sends subscription information to the AMF.

The subscription information is used for subscribing the location information of the UE to the AMF, and when the location of the UE changes, the AMF sends information of network equipment capable of providing services for the UE to the PCF.

It should be understood that, in this step S501, the AMF may alternatively send location information of the UE to the PCF at regular time according to its own protocol, and send information of a network device capable of providing time service to the UE to the PCF. Therefore, S501 is an optional step.

S502, the AMF sends the first information to the PCF, or the PCF receives the first information from the AMF.

It should be understood that, in this step S502, optionally, the TSCTSF acquires other indication information or information carried in the broadcast information that can provide a time service for the UE. Therefore, S502 is an optional step.

S503, the PCF determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 satisfies the first condition.

Specifically, after the PCF determines, according to the first information, that the RAN1 can provide the time service for the UE, the PCF determines, according to the time service capability of the RAN1 and the first condition, whether the RAN1 can provide the time service for the UE. The first condition is related to the first time service precision error, and the first condition is determined by the PCF according to the first time service precision error of the UE.

Optionally, the PCF determines the first condition according to the service type of the UE and the first timing accuracy error.

It should be understood that the timing accuracy errors corresponding to different service types of the UE are different, and the PCF further determines the first condition according to the service type of the UE.

The PCF determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 satisfies the first condition, and the present application will be described in detail as an example below.

Case one

Before determining whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, the PCF determines whether the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the second condition, and when the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the second condition and meets the first condition, namely, the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE, the RAN1 can provide clock information meeting the requirement for the UE. The method as shown in fig. 5, the method further comprising:

and SA504, the PCF determines a second condition according to the second time service precision error, and determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the second condition.

Specifically, the PCF determines a second condition according to the second timing accuracy error, where the second condition is different from the first condition, and the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the second condition, that is, the PCF determines that the RAN1 can provide the timing service for the UE.

As an example, the TSCTSF determines a plurality of time service precision errors according to the first request information, including the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), the uuveror hedge (4), and the time service precision errors of the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), and the uuveror hedge (4) increase in sequence. The TSCTSF sends the determined Uuerror widget (1), the Uuerror widget (2) to the PCF, and the PCF selects the minimum time service precision error as a second condition, namely the Uuerror widget (1) is used as a second time service precision error. When the PCF determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 exceeds the second timing error precision (uuveror widget (1)), the PCF uses the uuveror widget (2) as the first timing error according to the uuveror widget (1), the uuveror widget (2). The timing capability of the RAN1 is error widget (X). When the error widget (X) does not exceed the range of the Uuerror widget (2), the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, and when the error widget (X) exceeds the range of the Uuerror widget (2), the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition.

Optionally, the PCF determines the second condition according to the service type of the UE and the second timing accuracy error.

It should be understood that the timing accuracy errors corresponding to different service types of the UE are different, and the PCF further determines the second condition according to the service type of the UE.

As an example, the TSCTSF determines a plurality of time service precision errors according to the first request information, including the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), the uuveror hedge (4), and the time service precision errors of the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), and the uuveror hedge (4) increase in sequence. The PCF determines that the time service precision error corresponding to the service type requested by the UE is Uuerror widget (2), namely the PCF selects the Uuerror widget (2) as a second condition, namely the Uuerror widget (2) is used as a second time service precision error. The PCF determines whether the timing capabilities of RAN1 exceed a second timing error accuracy (uerror bridge (2)). The timing capability of the RAN1 is error widget (X). When error widget (X) does not exceed the range of UE or widget (2), the timing capability of RAN1 satisfies the second condition, and the PCF determines that RAN1 can provide the timing service for the UE.

It should be appreciated that when the PCF determines that the timing capabilities of RAN1 satisfy the second condition, i.e., the PCF instructs RAN1 to provide the timing service to the UE. I.e. step SA506, SA507 is performed.

When the PCF determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the second condition, i.e., as shown in fig. 5, the method further comprises:

SA505, PCF determines that the time service capability of RAN1 satisfies the first condition.

Specifically, the PCF determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition according to comparing the timing capability of the RAN1 with the first condition, where the PCF determines the first condition according to the first timing accuracy error of the UE, and for details, reference may be made to the above example in step SA 504.

SA506, PCF sends the first timing instruction information to RAN1, or RAN1 receives the first timing instruction information from the PCF.

Specifically, the PCF sends the first timing indication information to the RAN1, or the RAN1 receives the first timing indication information from the TSCTSF.

Optionally, the PCF directly sends the first timing indication information to the RAN1, and instructs the RAN1 to provide the timing service for the UE.

Optionally, the PCF updates the timing policy and sends information to RAN1 indicating that RAN1 is timing for the UE.

The first timing indication information includes identification information of the UE, identification information of the RAN1, and one or more timing accuracy errors received by the PCF from the TSCTSF.

SA507, RAN1 provides time service for UE.

Case two

The PCF directly determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, that is, the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the timing requirement of the UE, and the RAN1 can provide clock information meeting the requirement for the UE. The method as shown in fig. 5, the method further comprising:

at SB504, the PCF determines that the time service capability of RAN1 satisfies a first condition.

The PCF evaluates according to the time service capability of the RAN1 and the first condition, and determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, namely that the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE.

It should be appreciated that the PCF determines that RAN1 is capable of providing time service to the UE, and the PCF instructs RAN1 to provide time service to the UE.

As an example, the TSCTSF determines a plurality of time service precision errors according to the first request information, including the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), the uuveror hedge (4), and the time service precision errors of the uuveror hedge (1), the uuveror hedge (2), the uuveror hedge (3), and the uuveror hedge (4) increase in sequence. The TSCTSF sends the determined Uuerror widget (1), the Uuerror widget (2) to the PCF, the PCF selects the Uuerror widget (2) as a first time service precision error, and the PCF determines whether a first condition that the RAN1 can provide service for the UE is whether the time service capability of the RAN1 exceeds the first time service precision error precision (Uuerror widget (2)). The timing capability of the RAN1 is error widget (X). When the error widget (X) does not exceed the range of the Uuerror widget (2), the time service capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, and when the error widget (X) exceeds the range of the Uuerror widget (1), the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition.

SB505, the PCF sends the first time service instruction information to the RAN1, or the RAN1 receives the first time service instruction information from the PCF.

SB506, RAN1 provides time service to the UE.

Case three

The PCF determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the second condition, and the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition, that is, the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, the RAN1 cannot provide clock information meeting the requirement for the UE, as shown in a method of fig. 5, and the method further includes:

SC504, the PCF sends the second information to the TSCSTF, or the TSCTSF receives the second information from the PCF.

Specifically, the second information is used to indicate that the time service failed.

Optionally, the second information includes ran#1 and/or identification information of RAN 1.

Optionally, the second information further includes ran#1 and/or a cause of RAN1 failing for the UE time service.

As an example, when the PCF determines that the timing capability of RAN1 does not meet the timing requirement of the UE, the PCF sends the second information to the TSCTSF. The second information is used for indicating that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, namely, the TSCTSF selects other RANs to provide time service for the UE; when the PCF determines that the UE moves out of the coverage area range requested by the UE in the first request information, the PCF sends second information to the TSCTSF, and the second information is used for indicating the UE to move out of the requested coverage area range. After receiving the second information, the TSCTSF sends the second information to the NEF, and the NEF forwards the second information indicating that the time service request fails to the AF.

SC505, TSCTSF selects RAN2 to provide time service for the UE.

Specifically, the TSCTSF receives the second information, and selects other network devices to provide time service for the UE according to the second information.

It should be appreciated that when the PCF determines that RAN #1 is unable to provide time service to the UE, the PCF sends second information to the TSCTSF, the second information including identification information of RAN # 1. The TSCTSF determines, according to the second information, that ran#1 cannot provide a time service for the UE, that is, the TSCTSF selects, according to a first condition or a second condition determined by a plurality of time service precision errors determined by the first request information, other network devices to provide a time service for the UE. Wherein the other network device is different from ran#1 and is capable of providing time service to the UE.

When the PCF determines that neither ran#1 nor RAN1 can provide time service to the UE, the PCF sends second information to the TSCTSF, where the second information includes identification information of ran#1 and RAN 1. The TSCTSF determines, according to the second information, that neither ran#1 nor RAN1 can provide a time service for the UE, that is, the TSCTSF determines, according to the plurality of time service precision errors determined by the first request information, the first condition or the second condition, and selects other network devices to provide the time service for the UE. Wherein the other network devices are different from RAN #1 and RAN1 and have an information interaction or connection relationship with the UE.

As an example, the TSCTSF determines a plurality of time service accuracy errors according to the first request information, including uerror widget (1), uerror widget (2), uerror widget (3), uerror widget (4), the TSCTSF sends the uerror widget (1), the uerror widget (2) to the PCF, when the TSCTSF receives the second information from the PCF, the TSCTSF determines a third time service error accuracy based on the uerror widget (3), the uerror widget (4), and when the second information includes the identification information of the RAN1, the TSCTSF selects a network device satisfying the third condition or the fourth condition in the RAN2 or other network devices. When the second information includes identification information of RAN1 and RAN2, the TSCTSF selects a network device satisfying the third condition or the fourth condition among other network devices outside of RAN1 and RAN 2.

Alternatively, when the TSCTSF selects a network device that meets the time service requirement of the UE, the method described in fig. 4 is followed.

Optionally, when the TSCTSF determines that no suitable network device is capable of providing time service capability to the UE, the method further comprises:

SC506, AF receives second information #1 from TSCTSF.

Specifically, the AF receives the second information transmitted by TSCTSF through the NEF.

In fig. 5, when the UE position is changed compared with the previous one, the serving base station is switched from ran#1 to RAN1, that is, ran#1 cannot provide time service for the UE, and the PCF evaluates the time service capability of RAN1 and determines whether the time service capability of RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE. When the PCF determines that the RAN1 cannot provide time service for the UE, the TSCTSF continues to select appropriate network devices in other network devices to provide clock information for the UE. Network equipment for providing time service for the UE is determined through PCF and TSCTSF, and further the requirement of clock synchronization of the system is guaranteed.

Next, in the process of timing the UE, when the UE sends a timing request of the UE to the AMF network element, the AMF determines whether the requested timing service data of the UE is within the range of the timing subscription data of the UE, and if the requested timing service data of the UE is within the range of the timing subscription data, further, the AMF sends request information to the TSCTSF to request timing of the UE, which will be described in detail with reference to fig. 6 to 7. If the time service data requested by the UE exceeds the range of the UE time service subscription data, the AMF further sends response information to the UE, where the response information is used to refuse to time service for the UE.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of another method for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application. The steps as shown in fig. 6 include the following.

S601, the AMF receives first request information from the UE, or the UE sends first request information to the AMF, where the first request information is used to request time service for the UE.

The first request information comprises identification information of the UE, a plurality of time service precision errors provided by the UE and requested time service data.

Optionally, the first request information includes one or more error budgets, where the one or more error budgets correspond to different traffic types of the UE.

Optionally, the first request information further includes data network name information DNN, and single-slice selection auxiliary information S-nsai, where the data network name information DNN, the single-slice selection auxiliary information S-nsai corresponds to one or more error budgets one by one.

Optionally, the first request information includes one or more Uu error budgets.

S602, the AMF sends second request information to the UDM, or the UDM receives second request information from the AMF, where the second request information is used to request time service subscription data of the UE.

Specifically, after the AMF receives the first request information, the AMF sends second request information to the UDM according to the first request information.

S603, the AMF receives the second response information from the UDM, or the UDM sends the second response information to the AMF, where the second response information includes the time service subscription data of the UE.

Specifically, after the AMF receives the second response information, the AMF determines, according to the time service data requested by the UE in the first request information and the time service subscription data of the UE in the second response information, that is, as shown in fig. 6, a method further includes:

and S604, the AMF determines whether the UE time service subscription data comprises time service data in the first request information according to the second response information.

Optionally, the subscription data in the first response information includes all time service data in the first request information, and the AMF sends third request information to the TSCTSF, as shown in a case one in the method shown in fig. 6, which is not described herein.

Optionally, the subscription data in the first response information can only meet one or more of the first request information, and the AMF filters the time service data in the first request information of the UE. The AMF sends the data conforming to the subscription in the first request information to the UE, and sends the third request information to the TSCTSF, as shown in a case one of the methods shown in fig. 6, which is not described herein.

Optionally, the subscription data in the first response information does not include one or more time service data in the first request information, and the AMF sends the UE with time service rejection information.

It should be noted that, when the AMF receives the first request information from the UE, the AMF directly sends the third request information to the TSCTSF, and the TSCTSF may also perform the steps S602 and S603, so that redundancy is avoided, and details are not repeated here.

It should be appreciated that when the AMF determines that the time service data requested by the UE is within the time service subscription data range of the UE, as in case one shown in fig. 6, the method further includes:

SA605, AMF sends the third request information to TSCTSF, or TSCTSF receives the third request information from AMF.

Specifically, the AMF determines that the time service data requested by the UE is within the time service subscription data range of the UE, and the AMF sends third request information to the TSCTSF, where the third request information is used to request time service for the UE.

The third request information includes identification information of the terminal device and one or more time service precision errors (error budgets) or air interface time service precision errors (Uu error budgets) provided by the UE.

Optionally, the third request information further includes data network name information DNN, and single-slice selection auxiliary information S-nsai, where the data network name information DNN, the single-slice selection auxiliary information S-nsai corresponds to one or more error budgets one by one.

SA606, TSCTSF updates Uu error bridge and RAN information capable of timing according to the third request information.

As an example, the plurality of timing accuracy errors in the third request information include error budgets (1), error budgets (2), error budgets (3), and the TSCTSF determines a plurality of Uu error budgets corresponding to each error budget according to the 3 error budgets. Assuming that TSCTSF obtains Uu error-related item (1 ') and Uu error-related item (1 ") from error-related item (1), TSCTSF obtains Uu error-related item (2 ') and Uu error-related item (2") from error-related item (2), and TSCTSF obtains error-related item (3) to determine Uu error-related item (3 ') and Uu error-related item (3 "). The TSCTSF updates Uu error-budgets (e.g., updated Uu error-budgets are Uu error-budgets (1 '), uu error-budgets (1 "), error-budgets (2 '), uu error-budgets (2"), error-budgets (3 '), uu error-budgets (3 ")) and RAN information that can be given time. The TSCTSF determines the RAN (e.g., RAN # 1) that is capable of providing time service to the UE and instructs the RAN to provide time service to the UE.

As another example, the plurality of Uu error-resilient budgets in the plurality of time service precision errors in the third request information, such as Uu error-resilient budgets (1 '), uu error-resilient budgets (1 "), error-resilient budgets (2 '), uu error-resilient budgets (2"), uu error-resilient budgets (3 '), and TSCTSF updates Uu error-resilient budgets and RAN information for time service directly according to the plurality of Uu error-resilient budgets in the third request information. The TSCTSF determines, according to the updated Uu error bundle, a RAN (e.g., ran#1) capable of providing time service for the UE, and instructs the RAN to provide time service for the UE.

Optionally, the TSCTSF updates the Uu error-related widget according to the third request information, and sends one or more of the updated Uu error-related widgets to the PCF. The PCF determines whether the time service capability of the network device for time service of the terminal device meets the time service requirement of the terminal device according to one or more Uu error budgets received from the TSCTSF.

In the embodiment of the present application, ran#1 is taken as an example, and described in detail.

It should be understood that, in step SA606 in fig. 6, the TSCTSF determines RAN information that can be given time according to the third request information, which is similar to step S304 in fig. 3, and is not repeated here to avoid redundancy.

When the TSCTSF determines that the ran#1 is capable of providing a time service to the UE, the method as shown in fig. 6, the method further includes:

SA607, RAN #1 receives the first timing indication information from TSCTSF.

It should also be understood that the TSCTSF first sends first time service indication information to the PCF, and then the PCF indicates that the RAN1 sends information for time service of the UE to the RAN1.

The first time service indication information comprises identification information of the UE, uu error budgets meeting the time service requirement of the UE and identification information of the RAN#1.

It should be understood that the Uu error packet meeting the UE time service requirement may be determined based on the smallest error packet, or may be a Uu error packet required by the current service type of the UE. The application is not limited in this regard. SA608, RAN1 provides time service for UE.

It should be understood that, when the AMF determines that the time service data requested by the UE exceeds the time service subscription data range of the UE, or the AMF determines that the time service data requested by the UE is not within the time service subscription data range of the UE, as in case two shown in fig. 3, the method further includes:

SB605, the AMF transmits the first response information to the UE, or the UE receives the first response information from the AMF.

Specifically, the AMF determines that the time service data requested by the UE exceeds the time service subscription data range of the UE, or the AMF determines that the time service data requested by the UE is not within the time service subscription data range of the UE, and the AMF denies the time service request of the UE, that is, the AMF sends first response information to the UE, where the first response information is used for rejecting the time service request of the UE.

Fig. 6 above shows that the UE actively initiates a time service request, and the AMF determines whether the time service requested by the UE is within the subscription data range of the UE according to the time service request of the UE. When the time service data requested by the UE meets the subscription data, the AMF sends request information to the TSCTSF to request the time service for the UE. The TSCTSF further determines proper time service network equipment for the UE, so that the clock synchronization of the system is ensured, and meanwhile, the expenditure of resources is saved.

Fig. 7 shows that in the case that the UE location has changed compared to the previous one, the serving base station of the UE may be switched from ran#1 to RAN1, or both ran#1 and RAN1 may be able to provide time service for the UE, where the time service capability of ran#1 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, and it needs to be further determined whether the time service capability of RAN1 meets the time service requirement of the UE. It should be understood that RAN1 being able to provide time service to a UE means that RAN1 may provide time service to the UE, but cannot determine whether RAN1 is able to provide clock information to the UE that meets the UE time service requirements. The UE sends the first request information to the AMF, and the RAN1 first determines according to its own time service capability and the time service requested by the UE.

When the RAN1 determines that the own time service capability meets the time service requirement of the UE, the RAN1 directly provides the time service for the UE.

When the RAN1 determines that the own time service capability does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, the PCF network element and the TSCTSF network element further select other network devices capable of providing time service for the UE. Fig. 7 is a flowchart of another clock synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present application, where fig. 7 includes the following steps.

S701, the RAN1 determines that the own timing capability does not meet the timing requirement of the UE.

Specifically, when the position of the UE moves, the ran#1 and the RAN1 perform context migration of UE timing information, where the context migration includes identification information of the UE and a plurality of timing accuracy errors (error budgets, uu error budgets), where the plurality of timing accuracy errors include Uu error budgets currently used by the ran#1, and the RAN1 determines whether timing capability of the RAN1 can meet timing requirements of the UE according to the plurality of timing accuracy errors.

As an example, when ran#1 performs context migration of UE timing information with RAN1, uu error hedget (1') is included therein. When the RAN1 determines that the own time service capability does not meet the Uu error hedget (1'), the Uu error hedget (1 "), that is, the RAN1 determines that the own time service capability does not meet the time service requirement of the UE.

The RAN1 determines that the self time service capability cannot meet the time service requirement of the UE, and the RAN1 sends second information, wherein the second information is used for indicating that the RAN1 fails time service for the UE. The second information includes a timing accuracy error (e.g., uu error widget (1'), which is used for performing timing capability assessment by the RAN1, and an indication that the RAN1 cannot meet the Uu error widget requirement for performing timing.

The method as shown in fig. 7, the method further comprising:

s702, the PCF receives the second information from RAN 1.

It should be understood that the PCF receives the second information from RAN1, which may be received from RAN1 by an AMF network element, or from RAN1 by other network elements. For example, the RAN1 first sends the second information to the AMF network element, and then the AMF network element forwards the second information to the PCF.

It should also be appreciated that after the PCF receives the second information from the UE, the PCF further determines whether the RAN1 meets the timing requirements requested by the UE. As shown in fig. 7, the method further includes:

s703, the PCF determines the first condition according to the first timing accuracy error, and determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the first condition.

It should be appreciated that the PCF determines the first timing accuracy error based on receiving one or more Uu error budgets from the TSCTSF transmission. The PCF determines a first condition according to the first time service precision error, judges the time service capacity of the RAN1, and determines whether the RAN1 can provide time service for the UE.

As an example, the PCF determines, according to the second information, that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy Uu error budgets (1 '), uu error budgets (1 "), and further determines, according to receiving one or more Uu error budgets (e.g., uu error budgets (1 '), uu error budgets (1"), error budgets (2 '), uu error budgets (2 "), from Uu error budgets (2"), which are sent from the TSCTSF.

The PCF determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the timing requirement of the UE, as in case one of the methods shown in fig. 7:

the SA704, the PCF determines a second condition according to the second timing accuracy error, and determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy the first condition.

Optionally, before the PCF determines the first condition, the PCF determines the second condition according to the second timing accuracy error, first determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the second condition, and when the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the second condition, that is, the PCF instructs the RAN1 to provide the timing service for the UE; when the timing capability of the RAN1 does not meet the second condition, i.e. the PCF will determine the first condition according to the first timing accuracy error, determining whether the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition, i.e. as shown in fig. 7, the method further comprises:

SA705, PCF determines a first condition according to the first time service precision error, and determines that the time service capability of RAN1 meets the first condition.

Specifically, the PCF determines a first condition according to the first timing accuracy error, where the first condition is different from the second condition determined by the RAN1, and the timing capability of the RAN1 satisfies the first condition, that is, the PCF determines that the RAN1 can provide the timing service for the UE.

SA706, PCF sends the first timing instruction information to RAN1, or RAN1 receives the first timing instruction information from PCF.

SA707, RAN1 provides time service to the UE.

It should be understood that, step SA704 is an optional step, the PCF may also determine the first condition directly according to the first timing accuracy error, and further, the PCF determines whether the timing capability of the RAN1 meets the first condition.

It should be further appreciated that the steps SA705, SA706, SA707 are specifically referred to as steps SB505, SB506, SB507 in fig. 5, and are not repeated here for redundancy avoidance.

It should also be appreciated that after the PCF receives the second information from RAN1, the PCF further determines whether RAN1 meets the timing requirements requested by the UE.

When the PCF determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition, as in case two in the method shown in fig. 7:

at SB704, the PCF determines the first condition according to the first timing accuracy error, and determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 does not satisfy the first condition.

Specifically, the PCF determines a first condition according to the first time service accuracy error, where the first condition is different from the second condition, and the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the first condition, that is, the PCF determines that the RAN1 cannot provide the UE with a time service that meets the time service requirement.

SB705, PCF selects other RANs to provide time service for UE.

Specifically, when the PCF determines that the RAN1 does not meet the first condition, the PCF selects the RAN2 from network devices served by the UE to perform judgment, and when the time service capability UE of the RAN2 provides a time service meeting the requirement, the RAN2 is different from the RAN #1 and the RAN1, and the RAN2 has a connection relationship or information interaction with the terminal device.

The PCF first obtains the time service capability of the RAN2, and then determines whether the time service capability of the RAN2 meets the time service requirement of the UE. When the timing capability of RAN2 meets the timing requirement of the UE, the PCF instructs RAN2 to provide timing service for the UE.

When the timing capability of RAN2 does not meet the timing requirement of the UE, as in case three in fig. 7:

SC704, the PCF sends second information #1 to the TSCTSF, or the TSCTSF receives second information #1 from the PCF.

Specifically, when the PCF determines that the timing capability of the RAN1 does not meet the timing requirement of the UE, the PCF sends second information #1 to the TSCTSF, where the second information #1 is used to indicate that the timing fails.

Wherein the second information #1 includes identification information of the RAN 1.

SC705, TSCTSF selects other RANs to provide time service for the UE.

Specifically, after the TSCTSF receives the second information #1 from the PCF, the TSCTSF determines that the time service capability of the RAN1 does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, and the TSCTSF selects a time service provided by other RANs for the UE.

Step SC704 may be specifically described in detail in SB704, and in order to avoid redundancy, details are not repeated here.

SC706, AF receives second information #2 from TSCTSF transmission.

Specifically, TSCTSF queries for RANs that do not meet UE time limit requirements. I.e. TSCTSF transmits the second information #2.

Wherein the AF receives the second information #2 from the TSCTSF transmission through the NEF.

The third case shown in fig. 7 can be specifically referred to the description of the third case shown in fig. 5, and in order to avoid redundancy, a detailed description is omitted here.

Fig. 7 shows that when the serving base station of the UE is changed from ran#1 to RAN1, RAN1 first determines whether the time service requirement of the UE is satisfied through its own time service capability. When the RAN1 determines that the self time service capability meets the time service requirement of the UE, the RAN1 provides time service for the UE. When the RAN1 determines that the self time service capability does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, PCF and TSCTSF make further judgment or select other RANs to provide time service for the UE according to the time service requirement of the UE, so that the requirement of clock synchronization of the system is further ensured.

Fig. 6 and fig. 7 mainly describe the case that in the embodiment of the present application, when the UE sends a time service request, where the time service request includes a plurality of time service precision errors, the network device determines, according to the time service request information of the UE, that the network device itself meets the time service requirement of the UE, and the network device directly provides time service for the UE. When the network equipment determines that the self time service capability does not meet the time service requirement of the UE, the PCF and/or the TSCTSF make further determination, so that the UE can receive clock information meeting the requirement, and further, the clock synchronization of the system is ensured.

A method for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application is described above in detail with reference to fig. 2 and fig. 7, and an apparatus for clock synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application is described below in detail with reference to fig. 8 and fig. 9. It should be understood that the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments and the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to each other, and thus, descriptions of details not shown may be referred to the above method embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, some parts of the descriptions are omitted.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a clock synchronization configuration device according to an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus 800 includes a transceiver unit 810 and a processing unit 820. The transceiver unit 810 may be used to implement corresponding communication functions. The transceiver unit 810 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. The processing unit 820 may be configured to implement corresponding processing functions, such as modifying addresses, etc.

Optionally, the apparatus 800 further includes a storage unit, where the storage unit may be configured to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 820 may read the instructions and/or data in the storage unit, so that the apparatus implements the actions of the device or network element in the foregoing method embodiments.

Optionally, the apparatus 800 may further comprise a processing unit 820, and the processing unit 820 may be configured to perform data processing.

Optionally, the apparatus 800 further includes a storage unit, where the storage unit may be configured to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 820 may read the instructions and/or data in the storage unit, so that the apparatus implements actions of different terminal devices, for example, actions of user equipment, in the foregoing method embodiments.

The apparatus 800 may be configured to perform the actions performed by the user equipment or the network equipment in the above method embodiments, where the apparatus 800 may be the user equipment or the network equipment, or a component of the user equipment or the network equipment, the transceiver unit 810 is configured to perform operations related to the transceiver of the user equipment or the network equipment in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 820 is configured to perform operations related to the processing of the user equipment or the network equipment in the above method embodiments.

It should also be appreciated that the apparatus 800 herein is embodied in the form of functional units. The term "unit" herein may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (e.g., a shared, dedicated, or group processor, etc.) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that support the described functionality. In an alternative example, it may be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatus 800 may be specifically a user equipment or a network device in the foregoing embodiments, may be used to perform each flow and/or step corresponding to the user equipment or the network device in the foregoing method embodiments, or the apparatus 800 may be specifically a user equipment or a network device in the foregoing embodiments, may be used to perform each flow and/or step corresponding to the user equipment or the network device in the foregoing method embodiments, which is not repeated herein for avoiding repetition.

The apparatus 800 of each of the above aspects has a function of implementing the corresponding step performed by the user equipment or the network device in the above method, or the apparatus 800 of each of the above aspects has a function of implementing the corresponding step performed by the user equipment or the network device in the above method. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions; for example, the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., a transmitting unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transmitter, a receiving unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as a processing unit, etc., may be replaced by a processor, to perform the transceiver operations and related processing operations in the various method embodiments, respectively.

The transceiver 810 may be a transceiver circuit (e.g., may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit.

It should be noted that the apparatus in fig. 8 may be a network element or a device in the foregoing embodiment, or may be a chip or a chip system, for example: system on chip (SoC). The receiving and transmitting unit can be an input and output circuit and a communication interface; the processing unit is an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit on the chip. And are not limited herein.

As shown in fig. 9, an embodiment of the present application provides another schematic block diagram of a device for clock synchronization. The apparatus 900 comprises a processor 910, the processor 910 being adapted to execute computer programs or instructions stored in a memory 920 or to read data/signaling stored in the memory 920 for performing the methods in the method embodiments above. Optionally, the processor 910 is one or more.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 9, the apparatus 900 further comprises a memory 920, the memory 920 being for storing computer programs or instructions and/or data. The memory 920 may be integral with the processor 910 or may be separate. Optionally, the memory 920 is one or more.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 9, the apparatus 900 further comprises a transceiver 930, where the transceiver 930 is used for receiving and/or transmitting signals. For example, the processor 910 is configured to control the transceiver 930 to receive and/or transmit signals.

As an aspect, the apparatus 900 is configured to implement the operations performed by the network element in the above method embodiments.

For example, the processor 910 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 920 to implement the relevant operations in the various method embodiments above. For example, the policy in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 controls the method of network element PCF and/or time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element TSCTSF.

It should be appreciated that the processors referred to in embodiments of the present application may be central processing units (central processing unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), off-the-shelf programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It should also be understood that the memory referred to in embodiments of the present application may be volatile memory and/or nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (random access memory, RAM). For example, RAM may be used as an external cache. By way of example, and not limitation, RAM includes the following forms: static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus RAM (DR RAM).

It should be noted that when the processor is a general purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware components, the memory (storage module) may be integrated into the processor.

It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions for implementing the methods performed by the user equipment and/or the network equipment in the above method embodiments.

For example, the computer program, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to implement the methods performed by the user device and/or the network device in the above-described method embodiments.

The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product containing instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement the method performed by the user equipment and/or the network equipment in the above method embodiments.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication system which comprises the user equipment and/or the network equipment.

The explanation and beneficial effects of the related content in any of the above-mentioned devices can refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and are not repeated here.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of the units is merely a logical function division, and there may be additional divisions when actually implemented, e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not performed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be through some interface, device or unit indirect coupling or communication connection, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

In addition, each functional unit in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit.

The term "and/or" in the present application is merely an association relation describing the association object, and indicates that three kinds of relations may exist, for example, a and/or B may indicate: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. Wherein, A, B and C can be singular or plural, and are not limited. The plurality in the present application means two or more than two.

In embodiments of the present application, the numbers "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical items or similar items that have substantially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the terms "first," "second," and the like are not limited to numbers and order, nor are they necessarily different.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, produces a flow or function in accordance with embodiments of the present application, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. For example, the computer may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains an integration of one or more available media. For example, the aforementioned usable media include, but are not limited to, U disk, removable hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (random access memory, RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other various media that can store program code.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art will readily recognize that variations or substitutions are within the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of clock synchronization, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a strategy control network element determines whether the time service capability of first network equipment meets a first condition, wherein the first condition is related to a first time service precision error, the first time service precision error is determined according to first request information, the first request information is used for requesting time service for terminal equipment, and the first request information is from an application function or the terminal equipment;

when the time service capability of the first network device meets the first condition, the policy control network element sends first time service indication information to the first network device, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the first network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein before the policy control network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device satisfies the first condition, the method further comprises:

The policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet a second condition, the second condition is related to a second time service precision error, the second time service precision error is determined according to the first request information from the application function network element, and the second time service precision error is not greater than the first time service precision error.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

the policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the second condition, and that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the first condition.

4. A method according to claim 3, the method further comprising:

and the strategy control network element sends second information to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, wherein the second information is used for indicating that the second network equipment fails time service for the terminal equipment.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

the policy control network element sends subscription information to a mobile management network element, wherein the subscription information is used for subscribing the position information of the terminal equipment;

The policy control network element receives first information from the mobility management network element, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the second information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

7. The method according to any of the claims 4 to 6, wherein the second information further comprises a reason why the first network device and/or the second network device failed time service for the terminal device.

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first time service accuracy error and the second time service accuracy error belong to a time service accuracy error, the time service accuracy error being from the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

and the strategy control network element determines the first condition according to the service type of the terminal equipment and the first time service precision error.

10. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 9, further comprising:

and the strategy control network element determines the second condition according to the service type of the terminal equipment and the second time service precision error.

11. The method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein when the first request information comes from an application function, the first request information includes a coverage area range in which the application function requests a time service for the terminal device.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising:

the policy control network element receives time service capability data from the first network device and/or the second network device, wherein the time service capability data is used for indicating time service capability of the first network device and/or the second network device.

13. A method of clock synchronization, comprising:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets a third condition, wherein the third condition is related to a third time service precision error, the third time service precision error is determined according to first request information, the first request information is used for requesting time service for the terminal device, and the first request information is from an application function or the terminal device;

When the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition, the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends first time service indication information to the first network device, wherein the first time service indication information is used for indicating the first network device to provide time service for the terminal device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein before the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device satisfies the third condition, the method further comprises:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines that the time service capability of the first network device does not meet the fourth condition, the fourth condition is related to a fourth time service precision error, the fourth time service precision error is determined for the first request information according to an application function, and the fourth time service precision error is not greater than the third time service precision error.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

and the policy control network element determines that the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the fourth condition, and the time service capability of the second network device does not meet the third condition.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the method further comprises:

and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second information, wherein the second information is used for indicating that the second network equipment fails time service for the terminal equipment.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends third information to the policy control network element, the third information is used for indicating the first network device to provide time service for the terminal device,

the third information comprises identification information of the terminal equipment, identification information of the first network equipment, the third time service precision error and/or the fourth time service precision error.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the second information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends subscription information to a mobile management network element, wherein the subscription information is used for subscribing the position information of the terminal equipment;

The time sensitive communication and time synchronization network receives first information from the mobility management network element, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein prior to the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sending subscription information to the mobility management network element, the method further comprises:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives fourth information from a policy control network element, wherein the fourth information comprises identification information of the terminal equipment, identification information of the mobile management network element, identification information of the first network equipment and/or identification information of the second network equipment.

21. The method according to any of claims 16 to 20, wherein the second information comprises identification information of the first network device and/or identification information of the second network device.

22. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 21, further comprising:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines time service precision errors according to the first request information, wherein the time service precision errors comprise a first time service precision error, a second time service precision error, the third time service precision error and the fourth time service precision error;

The time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends at least one of the following to the policy control network element: the first time service precision error, the second time service precision error, the third time service precision error and the fourth time service precision error.

23. The method according to any of claims 13 to 22, wherein when the first request information is from an application function, the first request information includes a coverage area range in which the application function requests a time service for the terminal device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises:

the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines that the terminal equipment moves out of the coverage area requested by the terminal equipment, and the time-sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends time-service stopping indication information, wherein the time-service stopping indication information is used for indicating network equipment to stop providing time service for the terminal equipment, and the network equipment is the network equipment providing time service for the terminal equipment.

25. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 24, further comprising:

The time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives time service capability data from the first network device and/or the second network device, wherein the time service capability data is used for indicating time service capability of the first network device and/or the second network device.

26. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 25, further comprising:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element receives second response information from the unified data management network element, wherein the second response information comprises clock subscription data of the terminal equipment;

and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal equipment according to the second response information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein when one or more of the time service data in the first request message belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further comprises:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends fourth response information to the terminal device, wherein the fourth response information is used for indicating the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element to provide time service for the one or more time service data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determining whether the time service capability of the first network device satisfies the third condition comprises:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element determines whether the time service capability of the first network device meets the third condition according to the one or more time service data.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein when none of the time service data in the first request information belongs to clock subscription data of the terminal device, the method further comprises:

and the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends the time service refusing information to the terminal equipment.

30. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 29, further comprising:

the time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element sends second request information to the unified data management network element, wherein the second request information is used for requesting clock subscription data of the terminal equipment.

31. A method of clock synchronization, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment sends first request information, wherein the first request information comprises one or more time service precision errors;

The terminal equipment receives time service response information, wherein the time service response information is used for indicating a first network equipment to provide time service for the terminal equipment, and the time service response information is from the first network equipment, or a strategy control network element, or a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element, or a mobile management function network element.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first request information further comprises data network name information and/or single-slice selection assistance information, the data network name information and the single-slice selection assistance information being in one-to-one correspondence with the timing accuracy error.

33. An apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising: means for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 12 or means for performing the method of any one of claims 13 to 30 or means for performing the method of claim 31 or 32.

34. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a processor for executing a computer program stored in a memory to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12 or to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 13 to 30 or to perform the unit of the method of claim 31 or 32.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising the memory.

36. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer readable storage medium has stored thereon a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 12 or to cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 13 to 30 or to perform the unit of the method of claim 31 or 32.

37. A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product comprises instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 12 or the computer program product comprises instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 13 to 30 or the unit for performing the method of claim 31 or 32.

38. The communication system is characterized by comprising a strategy management network element, a time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element and terminal equipment;

the policy management network element being adapted to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12;

The time sensitive communication and time synchronization network element being adapted to perform the method of any of claims 13 to 30;

the terminal device is configured to perform the method of claim 31 or 32.