CN117641558A

CN117641558A - Time synchronization method and device and network equipment

Info

Publication number: CN117641558A
Application number: CN202210951964.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马万明; 黄震宁; 李爱华; 都晨辉; 魏彬
Original assignee: China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd; China Mobile Communications Ltd Research Institute
Current assignee: China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd; China Mobile Communications Ltd Research Institute
Priority date: 2022-08-09
Filing date: 2022-08-09
Publication date: 2024-03-01

Abstract

The invention provides a time synchronization method, a time synchronization device and network equipment, and relates to the technical field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information: time synchronization error budget; uu error budget; a first threshold; the first threshold is a difference between a time synchronization error budget and a Uu error budget. By adopting the method, the first network side equipment can obtain the first information for judging the abnormality of the time synchronization service, so that the first network side equipment has the abnormality judging function of the time synchronization service of the user, the problem that signaling interaction is needed between the first network side equipment and TSCTSF/TSN AF when the first network side equipment is used for carrying out the air interface time service of the user, the problem that the signaling overhead of a core network is increased is solved, and the flexibility of an air interface time service mechanism can be ensured.

Description

Time synchronization method and device and network equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical field of core networks, and in particular, to a time synchronization method, apparatus, and network device.

Background

Currently, in the case that the Next Generation radio access network (Next Generation-Radio Access Network, NG-RAN) detects a time synchronization status abnormality, abnormality information is reported to a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function (Time Sensitive Communication and Time Synchronization function, TSCTSF) network element/time sensitive network application function (Time Sensitive Networking Application Function, TSN AF) network element, including: clock source anomalies (e.g., universal time (Universal Time Coordinated, UTC) deviations, clock source degradation/failure/recovery, etc.) and UEs within the scope/region of the clock source anomalies. According to the abnormal information reported by the NG-RAN, the TSCTSF/TSN AF further judges whether the time synchronization service of the UE is affected, and reports the UE information of which the time synchronization service is affected to a corresponding application layer function (Application Function, AF) network element and/or a user.

However, by adopting the abnormal judgment mode of the time synchronization service, the abnormal judgment function of the user time synchronization service is concentrated on the TSCTSF/TSN AF side, the NG-RAN cannot directly carry out time service (such as activating and deactivating the user) on the user based on the detection result of the clock source state, and the abnormal time synchronization service of the user cannot be reported to the core network, so that the air interface time service mechanism is inflexible; furthermore, NG-RAN requires signaling interaction between radio access network (Radio Access Network, RAN) and TSCTSF/TSN AF for air interface timing of users, which has the problem of increased signaling overhead of core network.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a time synchronization method, a time synchronization device and network equipment, which are used for solving the problems that in the prior art, the abnormality judgment function of user time synchronization service is concentrated on TSCTSF/TSN AF, air interface time service is inflexible, and NG-RAN needs to perform signaling interaction with the TSCTSF/TSN AF when the air interface time service of a user is performed, so that the signaling overhead of a core network is increased.

The embodiment of the invention provides a time synchronization method, which is executed by first network side equipment and comprises the following steps:

acquiring first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

Time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

a first threshold; the first threshold is a difference between a time synchronization error budget and a Uu error budget.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the acquiring the first information includes:

and acquiring first information sent by the first network element through the second network element.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the method further includes:

performing a first operation to a first user; and/or

Transmitting user information of the first user and operation indication information of the first operation to a third network element;

the first user is a user who meets a first condition, and the first condition is determined according to the first information.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the Uu error budget includes one or more of the following information:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

the smaller of the Uu error budget for the user subscription and the Uu error budget for the service.

the first network side equipment acquires Uu error budget of user subscription and Uu error budget of service, which are sent by a first network element through a second network element;

The first network side device takes the smaller of the Uu error budget contracted by the user and the Uu error budget of the service as the Uu error budget.

the first network side equipment acquires Uu error budget signed by a user and sent by a first network element through a second network element;

the first network side equipment acquires Uu error budget sent by a second network element; after the Uu error budget of the service is acquired by the second network element, determining the smaller of the Uu error budget contracted by the user and the Uu error budget of the service as the Uu error budget, and sending the Uu error budget to the first network side device; and the Uu error budget of the service acquired by the second network element is sent by the first network element.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the sum of the clock precision and Uu error budget is larger than the time synchronization error budget;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

The sum of the clock accuracy and Uu error budget is smaller than the time synchronization error budget.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the first network element includes at least one of a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function TSCTSF network element, a time sensitive network application function TSN AF network element, a service management function SMF network element, and a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, and the second network element includes an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, where, when the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, acquiring first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

after the first network element sends the time synchronization state information of the first network side device to the second network element, obtaining the first information sent by the second network element; wherein the time synchronization status information includes the first information.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, where, when the first network element includes an SMF network element, acquiring first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

and after the first network element obtains a time synchronization request of the application function AF by the fourth network element, obtaining first information sent by the first network element through the second network element.

Optionally, in the time synchronization method, the first information is sent through a time sensitive communication auxiliary information TSCAI, or sent through a preset independent parameter.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the first network side device performs a first operation to the first user by at least one of the following manners:

system information block SIB9 signaling;

radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, after sending the user information of the first user and the operation instruction information of the first operation to a third network element, the method further includes:

receiving an indication of the third network element when the third network element transmits the air interface message through the second network element; the indication of the empty dictation is used for indicating that the first network side equipment is allowed to execute the first operation on the first user, or the indication of the empty dictation is used for indicating that the first network side equipment is not allowed to execute the first operation on the first user;

and under the condition that the first network side device is indicated to be allowed to execute the first operation on the first user when the dictation is performed, the first network side device executes the first operation on the first user.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the first operation includes at least one of activating and deactivating the first user.

Optionally, the method for time synchronization, wherein the obtaining the first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

acquiring time synchronization error budget and Uu error budget sent by the first network element through the second network element;

and calculating the first threshold according to the time synchronization error budget and the Uu error budget.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the user information includes a user identifier and/or a service flow identifier of a user service.

The embodiment of the invention provides a time synchronization method, which is executed by a first network element and comprises the following steps:

transmitting first information to first network side equipment;

wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the sending the first information to the first network side device includes:

And sending the first information to the first network device through the second network element.

Optionally, in the case that the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the sending, by the second network element, the first information to the first network side device includes:

when the first network element sends time synchronization state information of the first network side device to the second network element, the first information is sent to the second network element at the same time, so that the second network element sends the first information to the first network side device; wherein the time synchronization status information includes the first information.

Optionally, in the case that the first network element includes an SMF network element, the sending, by the second network element, the first information to the first network side device includes:

After the first network element obtains a time synchronization request of an application function AF by a fourth network element, the first network element sends first information to the first network side device through the second network element.

receiving user information of a first user and operation indication information of a first operation, which are sent by first network side equipment;

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

According to the operation indication information, sending a blank dictation time indication to the first network side equipment through a second network element; the indication of the empty dictation is used for indicating that the first network side equipment is allowed to execute the first operation on the first user, or the indication of the empty dictation is used for indicating that the first network side equipment is not allowed to execute the first operation on the first user.

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

The embodiment of the invention also provides a network device, wherein the network device is a first network side device, and the network device comprises a processor, wherein:

the processor is used for acquiring first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

The embodiment of the invention also provides a network device, wherein the network device is a first network element, and the network device comprises a transceiver, wherein:

The transceiver is used for sending first information to the first network side equipment;

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

The embodiment of the invention also provides a time synchronization device, which is applied to the first network side equipment and comprises:

the acquisition module is used for acquiring the first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

The embodiment of the invention also provides a time synchronization device, which is applied to the first network element and comprises:

the sending module is used for sending the first information to the first network side equipment;

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

The embodiment of the invention also provides a network device, which comprises: a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a program or instructions stored on the memory and executable on the processor; wherein the processor, when executing the program or instructions, implements the time synchronization method of any one of the above.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a readable storage medium having stored thereon a program or instructions which when executed by a processor performs the steps in the time synchronization method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims.

The technical scheme of the invention has the following beneficial effects:

by adopting the time synchronization method of the embodiment of the invention, in the time synchronization process, the first network side equipment can obtain the first information comprising at least one of time synchronization error budget, uu error budget and difference value between the two, and the time synchronization error budget, uu error budget and/or difference value between the two can be used for judging the abnormality of time synchronization service, so that the first network side equipment has the abnormality judging function of user time synchronization service, the problem that the first network side equipment needs to perform signaling interaction with TSCTSF/TSN AF when the first network side equipment is used for air interface time service of a user is avoided, the problem that the signaling overhead of a core network is increased is solved, and the flexibility of an air interface time service mechanism can be ensured.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of a first embodiment of a time synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a first implementation of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a second implementation of the method according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a third implementation of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of another implementation of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a time synchronization apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a time synchronization device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages to be solved more apparent, the following detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

In various embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the sequence numbers of the following processes do not mean the order of execution, and the order of execution of the processes should be determined by the functions and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

In order to solve the problems that in the prior art, the abnormality judging function of the user time synchronization service is concentrated in the TSCTSF/TSN AF, the air interface time service is inflexible, and the NG-RAN needs to perform signaling interaction with the TSCTSF/TSN AF when the air interface time service is performed on the user, so that the signaling overhead of a core network is increased.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a time synchronization method is provided, which is executed by a first network side device, as shown in fig. 1, and the method includes:

S110, acquiring first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

In the embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the first Network side device includes at least one of a Next Generation radio access Network (Next Generation-Radio Access Network, NG-RAN), RAN, AN, a Next Generation base station gNB, a base station, a user plane function (User Plane Function, UPF), and a Network side Time sensitive Network (Time-Sensitive Network, TSN) translator (Network-side TSN Translator, NW-TT).

By adopting the embodiment, in the time synchronization process, the first network side equipment can obtain the first information comprising at least one of time synchronization error budget, uu error budget and difference value between the two, and the time synchronization error budget, uu error budget and/or difference value between the two can be used for judging the abnormality of the time synchronization service, so that the first network side equipment has the abnormality judging function of the time synchronization service of the user, the problem that the first network side equipment needs to perform signaling interaction with TSCTSF/TSN AF when the air interface of the user is time-service is avoided, the problem that the signaling overhead of a core network is increased is solved, and the flexibility of an air interface time-service mechanism can be ensured.

In one embodiment of the present invention, optionally, in step S110, obtaining the first information includes:

Wherein the first network element comprises at least one of a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function TSCTSF network element, a time sensitive network application function TSN AF network element, a service management function (Service Management Function, SMF) network element and a network data analysis function (Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF) network element, and the second network element comprises an access and mobility management function (Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF) network element.

In one embodiment, each piece of first information acquired by the first network side device may be sent by the first network element through the second network element, that is, the first information is provided by the first network element.

Optionally, in another embodiment, obtaining the first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

With this embodiment, the time synchronization error budget and the Uu error budget in the first information may be provided by the first network element, and the first threshold in the first information may be determined by the first network side device according to the time synchronization error budget and the Uu error budget calculation.

In one embodiment, optionally, the Uu error budget includes one or more of the following information:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

Wherein optionally, the acquiring the first information includes:

In this embodiment, the first network element provides the Uu error budget of the user subscription and the Uu error budget of the service for the first network side device, and the first network side device may determine the Uu error budget in the first information according to the Uu error budget of the user subscription and the Uu error budget of the service. Alternatively, the Uu error budget is the smaller of the Uu error budget for the user subscription and the Uu error budget for the service.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a Uu error budget signed by a user may be obtained from a UDM or UDR network element by a first network element (e.g., a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element), and then sent to a first network side device by the TSCTSF network element or the TSN AF network element through an AMF network element;

the Uu error budget of the service may be obtained by the first network element (e.g., TSCTSF network element or TSN AF network element) by calculating according to the time synchronization error budget obtained from the AF, and then sent to the first network side device by the TSCTSF network element or TSN AF network element through the AMF network element.

In another embodiment, optionally, the acquiring the first information includes:

In this embodiment, the first network device may acquire a Uu error budget signed by a user and sent by the TSCTSF network element or the TSN AF network element through the AMF network element; optionally, the AMF network element obtains the Uu error budget of the service through the TSCTSF network element or the TSN AF network element, the AMF network element determines, according to the Uu error budget and the Uu error budget contracted by the user, that the smaller one of the Uu error budget contracted by the user and the Uu error budget of the service is the Uu error budget, and then the AMF network element sends the determined Uu error budget to the first network side device; optionally, the TSCTSF network element or the TSN AF network element sends the Uu error budget of the service to the AMF network element through the SMF network element.

In an embodiment of the invention, the time synchronization error budget is optionally a time synchronization error budget provided by the application function AF.

In one embodiment, when the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the path for the first network side device to obtain the first information includes:

after requesting or subscribing time synchronization status information from a second network element (for example, an AMF network element), the TSCTSF network element or the TSN AF network element sends first information to the AMF network element, so that the AMF network element sends the first information to the first network side device.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, obtaining the first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

after the first network element (for example, a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element) sends time synchronization status information of the first network side device to the second network element (for example, an AMF network element), the first network side device obtains the first information sent by the second network element; wherein the time synchronization status information includes the first information.

In another embodiment, in a case where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the path for the first network side device to obtain the first information includes:

the fourth network element receives the time synchronization request of the application function AF sent by the third network element, the fourth network element forwards the received time synchronization request to the first network element, and the first network element sends the first information to the first network side device through the second network element.

Optionally, the fourth network element includes, but is not limited to, a network element capable of including only a policy control function (Policy Control Function, PCF); the third network element includes, but is not limited to, a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element.

With this embodiment, when the first network element includes an SMF network element, obtaining first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

after the first network element (for example, the SMF network element) obtains the time synchronization request of the application function AF from the fourth network element (for example, the PCF network element), the first information sent by the first network element (for example, the SMF network element) through the second network element (for example, the AMF network element) is obtained.

In this embodiment, the first information is optionally sent via time sensitive communication assistance information (Tscassistance Information, TSCAI) or via preset independent parameters.

In an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, after step S110, the method further includes:

performing a first operation to a first user; and/or

Optionally, the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

Optionally, the user information includes a user identifier and/or a service flow identifier of the user service. For example, the user identification includes a user ID and/or a user permanent identifier (SUbscription Permanent Identifier, SUPI), etc.; the traffic Flow identity comprises a quality of service Flow identity (Quality of Service Flow ID, qoS Flow ID) and/or a QoS Flow identifier (QoS Flow identifier, QFI), etc.

The first operation includes at least one of activating and deactivating a first user.

By adopting the time synchronization method in this embodiment, the first network side device can execute abnormal judgment of the time synchronization service according to the obtained first information, execute corresponding time service (activate or deactivate the user) for the user according to the abnormal judgment result and/or report the abnormal time synchronization service of the user, ensure timeliness and effectiveness of the air interface time service mechanism, avoid the problem that the abnormal judgment function of the time synchronization service of the user in the prior art is concentrated on the TSCTSF/TSN AF side, the air interface time service is inflexible, and the NG-RAN needs to perform signaling interaction with the TSCTSF/TSN AF for the air interface time service of the user, thereby causing the increase of signaling overhead of the core network.

Optionally, after sending the user information of the first user and the operation instruction information of the first operation to a third network element, the method further includes:

Optionally, in the case that the first network side device is indicated to not allow the first operation to be performed on the first user when the dictation is empty, the first network side device does not take any operation on the first user.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the third network element includes, but is not limited to, a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element.

In this embodiment, optionally, the receiving, by the first network side device, an indication of when the third network element sends the air interface message through the second network element includes:

The third network element sends the indication of the empty dictation time to the second network element, and the second network element sends the indication of the empty time to the first network side equipment.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first network side device performs a first operation to a first user by at least one of the following manners:

system information block SIB9 signaling;

radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

By adopting the embodiment, the first network side device executes the first operation to the first user through the SIB9 signaling and/or the RRC signaling, and can activate or deactivate the first user, namely, send a request for activating or deactivating the first user to the first user.

The following describes the implementation process of the time synchronization method according to the embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the specific implementation manner.

Embodiment one

Referring to fig. 2, in one implementation manner of the embodiment of the present invention, a process of obtaining first information by a first network side device (NG-RAN) includes the following steps:

s201, AF network element transmits time synchronization request to TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element;

s202, a TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element sends response information to the AF network element according to the time synchronization request;

s203, a TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element generates first information; optionally, the first information includes a first threshold; the first threshold is the difference between the time synchronization error budget and the Uu error budget; the time synchronization error budget may be obtained through the time synchronization request in step S201, and the Uu error budget may be determined by the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element according to a comparison between the Uu error budget subscribed by the user and the Uu error budget of the service, where the Uu error budget is equal to the smaller of the Uu error budget subscribed by the user and the Uu error budget of the service;

S204, the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element transmits a time sensitive communication auxiliary container (Time Sensitive Communication Assistance Container, TSCAC) to the SMF network element through the PCF network element;

s205, (optionally, if step S203 is performed, the step S205 skips) the SMF network element generating TSCAI and the first information, optionally, the first information including a first threshold. The first threshold is the difference between the time synchronization error budget and the Uu error budget; the time synchronization error budget may be obtained by the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element through the time synchronization request in step S201 and then sent to the SMF network element; the Uu error budget can be calculated by the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element and then sent to the SMF network element;

s206, the SMF network element transmits the TSCAI and the first information to the first network side equipment (NG-RAN network element) through the AMF network element.

With this embodiment, after the AF issues the time synchronization request, the first network side device (NG-RAN network element) may obtain the first information by the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element or the SMF network element.

Second embodiment

Referring to fig. 3, in one implementation manner of the embodiment of the present invention, a process of obtaining first information by a first network side device (NG-RAN) includes the following steps:

s301, an AF network element subscribes/requests time synchronization state information to a TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element;

S302, a TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element determines target terminals UEs requested by an AF network element;

s303, the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element performs network element selection, such as selecting corresponding AMF network element, UPF network element and the like;

s304, the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element subscribes/requests the time synchronization state information of the first network side equipment (NG-RAN network element), namely, the time synchronization state information is sent to the AMF network element, and the time synchronization state information carries the first information at the same time; optionally, the first information includes a first threshold. Wherein the first threshold is a difference between the time synchronization error budget and the Uu error budget; the time synchronization error budget can be obtained by the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element through the time synchronization status information in step S301; the Uu error budget can be obtained by calculation of a TSCTSF network element/a TSN AF network element;

s305, the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element transmits response information of the time synchronization state information to the AF network element;

s306, the AMF network element subscribes/requests the time synchronization status information of the NG-RAN, and carries the obtained first information, namely, the AMF network element sends the time synchronization status information comprising the first information to the NG-RAN.

With this embodiment, after the AF subscribes to/requests time synchronization status information from the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element, the first network side device (NG-RAN network element) may obtain, through the AMF network element, first information sent by the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element.

Embodiment III

In this embodiment, the first network side device (NG-RAN network element) may perform, according to the obtained first information, abnormal judgment of the time synchronization service, as shown in fig. 4, a specific implementation process includes:

s401, the NG-RAN monitors/detects whether the network time synchronization state meets a first condition, and determines a first user and a first operation executed on the first user according to a monitoring result. Wherein the first operation indicates a status of the first user;

optionally, in combination with the first condition, a selection example of the first operation is as follows:

1) If the (master) clock source is abnormal and the clock accuracy is greater than a first threshold or the sum of the clock accuracy and Uu error budget is greater than the time synchronization error budget, the first operation is "deactivating" the first user;

2) If the (master) clock source is abnormal and the clock accuracy is less than the first threshold or the sum of the clock accuracy and Uu error budget is less than the time synchronization error budget, the second operation is that the state of the first user is 'unchanged';

3) If the (master) clock source recovers and the clock accuracy is greater than the first threshold or the sum of the clock accuracy and Uu error budget is greater than the time synchronization error budget, the second operation is the state "unchanged" of the first user;

4) The second operation is to "activate" the first user if the (master) clock source recovers and the clock accuracy is less than the first threshold or the sum of the clock accuracy and the Uu error budget is less than the time synchronization error budget.

S402, reporting a network time synchronization state to an AMF network element by the NG-RAN, wherein the network time synchronization state carries user information of a first user and operation indication information of a first operation;

s403, the AMF network element reports the network time synchronization state of the NG-RAN to the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element, wherein the network time synchronization state carries user information of a first user and operation indication information of a first operation;

s404, the TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element reports the network time synchronization state to the AF network element;

s405, the (optional) TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element decides to inform the first user according to the operation indication information of the first operation;

s406, a (optional) TSCTSF network element/TSN AF network element initiates a network triggering process and notifies a first user;

s407, (optionally) if step S405 is performed, the step is skipped; the NG-RAN network element decides to inform a first user according to operation indication information of a first operation;

s408, the NG-RAN network element sends the network time synchronization status update to the first user for indicating to activate/deactivate the user, optionally, the network time synchronization status is sent to the first user through SIB9 signaling or RRC signaling;

s409, the (optional) NG-RAN network element informs the TSCTSF/TSN AF that the network time synchronization status of the first user has been updated.

The embodiment of the invention provides a time synchronization method, by adopting the method, first network side equipment can obtain first information comprising at least one of time synchronization error budget, uu error budget and difference value between the two so that the first network side equipment can execute time synchronization service abnormality judgment and report abnormality according to the first information, timeliness and effectiveness of an air interface time service mechanism are ensured, and the problem that the abnormality judgment function of the time synchronization service of a user in the prior art is concentrated in TSCTSF/TSN AF is avoided.

Another embodiment of the present invention further provides a time synchronization method, which is performed by the first network element, as shown in fig. 5, and includes:

s510, sending first information to first network side equipment;

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

By adopting the time synchronization method in this embodiment, the first network element sends the first information to the first network side device, and the first network side device can execute the abnormality judgment of the time synchronization service according to the obtained first information, execute the corresponding time service (activate or deactivate the user) for the user according to the abnormality judgment result and/or report the abnormality of the time synchronization service of the user, so as to ensure the timeliness and effectiveness of the air interface time service mechanism, avoid the problem that the abnormality judgment function of the time synchronization service of the user in the prior art is concentrated on the TSCTSF/TSN AF side, the air interface time service is inflexible, and the NG-RAN needs to perform signaling interaction with the TSCTSF/TSN AF when the air interface of the user, thereby causing the increase of the signaling overhead of the core network.

Optionally, the time synchronization method, wherein the first network element includes at least one of a TSCTSF network element, a TSN AF network element, an SMF network element, and an NWDAF network element, and the second network element includes an AMF network element.

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

The time synchronization method in the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a specific implementation manner of the first network element, and may be referred to in the detailed description of the specific implementation manner of the first network side device in conjunction with fig. 1 to fig. 4, which is not repeated herein.

Another embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, where the network device is a first network side device, as shown in fig. 6, and the network device 600 includes a processor 610 and a transceiver 620, where:

the processor 610 is configured to obtain first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

Time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 610 obtains first information, including:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the transceiver 620 is configured to:

performing a first operation to a first user; and/or

Optionally, the network device, wherein the Uu error budget includes one or more of the following information:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

obtaining Uu error budget of user subscription and Uu error budget of service sent by a first network element through a second network element;

The smaller of the Uu error budget contracted by the user and the Uu error budget of the service is taken as the Uu error budget.

obtaining Uu error budget signed by a user and sent by a first network element through a second network element;

obtaining Uu error budget sent by a second network element; after the Uu error budget of the service is acquired by the second network element, determining the smaller of the Uu error budget contracted by the user and the Uu error budget of the service as the Uu error budget, and sending the Uu error budget to the first network side device; and the Uu error budget of the service acquired by the second network element is sent by the first network element.

Optionally, the network device, wherein the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

Optionally, the network device, wherein the first network element includes at least one of a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function TSCTSF network element, a time sensitive network application function TSN AF network element, a service management function SMF network element, and a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, and the second network element includes an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

Optionally, in the network device, where the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the processor 610 obtains first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Optionally, in the network device, where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the processor 610 obtains first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Optionally, the network device further includes a second information sending unit, configured to send the second information through a time sensitive communication auxiliary information TSCAI, or through a preset independent parameter.

Optionally, the network device, wherein the first network side device performs the first operation to the first user by at least one of the following manners:

SIB9 signaling;

RRC signaling.

Optionally, the network device, wherein after sending the user information of the first user and the operation instruction information of the first operation to a third network element, the processor 610 is further configured to:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the first operation includes at least one of activating and deactivating the first user.

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 610 obtains first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the user information includes a user identifier and/or a service flow identifier of a user service.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, where the network device is a first network element, as shown in fig. 7, and the network device 700 includes a transceiver 710, where:

the transceiver 710 is configured to send first information to a first network side device;

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, the network device, wherein the transceiver 710 sends the first information to the first network side device, including:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the first network element includes at least one of a TSCTSF network element, a TSN AF network element, an SMF network element, and an NWDAF network element, and the second network element includes an AMF network element.

Optionally, in the network device, where the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the transceiver 710 sends, through the second network element, first information to the first network side device, including:

Optionally, in the case where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the transceiver 710 sends, through the second network element, first information to the first network side device, including:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the transceiver 710 is further configured to:

The clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

Another embodiment of the present invention further provides a time synchronization apparatus, which is applied to a first network side device, as shown in fig. 8, and the apparatus includes:

an acquiring module 810, configured to acquire first information; wherein the first information includes one or more of the following information:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the acquiring module 810 acquires first information includes:

Optionally, the time synchronization apparatus, wherein the apparatus further includes a sending module 820 configured to:

performing a first operation to a first user; and/or

Optionally, the time synchronization apparatus, wherein the Uu error budget includes one or more of the following information:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

Uu error budget for traffic;

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

The clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the first network element includes at least one of a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function TSCTSF network element, a time sensitive network application function TSN AF network element, a service management function SMF network element, and a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, and the second network element includes an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

Optionally, in the case where the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the acquiring module 810 acquires first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Optionally, in the case where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the acquiring module 810 acquires first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Optionally, the time synchronization device is configured to send the first information through a time sensitive communication auxiliary information TSCAI, or through a preset independent parameter.

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the sending module 820 performs the first operation to the first user by at least one of:

SIB9 signaling;

RRC signaling.

Optionally, in the time synchronization apparatus, after the sending module 820 sends the user information of the first user and the operation instruction information of the first operation to the third network element, the obtaining module 810 is further configured to:

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the first operation includes at least one of activating and deactivating the first user.

Optionally, the time synchronization device, where the acquiring module 810 acquires first information sent by a first network element through a second network element includes:

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the user information includes a user identifier and/or a service flow identifier of a user service.

Another embodiment of the present invention further provides a time synchronization device, which is applied to a first network element, as shown in fig. 9, and the device includes:

a sending module 910, configured to send first information to a first network side device;

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, in the time synchronization apparatus, the sending module 910 sends first information to a first network side device, including:

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the first network element includes at least one of a TSCTSF network element, a TSN AF network element, an SMF network element, and an NWDAF network element, and the second network element includes an AMF network element.

Optionally, in the case where the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the sending module 910 sends, through the second network element, first information to the first network side device, where the sending module includes:

Optionally, in the case where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the sending module 910 sends, through a second network element, first information to a first network side device, where the sending module includes:

Optionally, the time synchronization apparatus, where the apparatus further includes a receiving module 920, configured to:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

Optionally, the time synchronization device, wherein the sending module 910 is further configured to:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

A network device according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 10, includes a transceiver 1010, a processor 1000, a memory 1020, and a program or instructions stored on the memory 1020 and executable on the processor 1000; the processor 1000, when executing the program or instructions, implements the clock selection method described above as being applied to the first network side device.

The transceiver 1010 is configured to receive and transmit data under the control of the processor 1000.

Wherein the processor 1000 executes the program or instructions for:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 1000 obtains first information, including:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 1000 is further configured to:

performing a first operation to a first user; and/or

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

The clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

Optionally, in the network device, where the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the processor 1000 obtains first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Optionally, in the network device, where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the processor 1000 obtains first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

SIB9 signaling;

RRC signaling.

Optionally, the network device, wherein after sending the user information of the first user and the operation instruction information of the first operation to a third network element, the processor 1000 is further configured to:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 1000 obtains first information sent by the first network element through the second network element, including:

Wherein in fig. 10, a bus architecture may comprise any number of interconnected buses and bridges, and in particular one or more processors represented by the processor 1000 and various circuits of the memory, represented by the memory 1020, are chained together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, power management circuits, etc., which are well known in the art and, therefore, will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1010 may be a number of elements, i.e., including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The processor 1000 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1020 may store data used by the processor 1000 in performing operations.

A network device according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 11, includes a transceiver 1110, a processor 1100, a memory 1120, and a program or instructions stored on the memory 1120 and executable on the processor 1100; the processor 1100 implements the clock selection method applied to the first network side device when executing the program or the instructions.

The transceiver 1110 is configured to receive and transmit data under the control of the processor 1100.

Wherein the processor 1100 executes the program or instructions for:

transmitting first information to first network side equipment;

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 1100 sends the first information to a first network side device, including:

Optionally, in the network device, where, in a case where the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, the processor 1100 sends, through the second network element, first information to the first network side device, including:

Optionally, in the network device, where the first network element includes an SMF network element, the processor 1100 sends, through a second network element, first information to a first network side device, including:

Optionally, the network device, wherein the processor 1100 is further configured to:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

Uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

Wherein in fig. 11, a bus architecture may comprise any number of interconnected buses and bridges, and in particular one or more processors represented by processor 1100 and various circuits of memory represented by memory 1120, linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, power management circuits, etc., which are well known in the art and, therefore, will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1110 may be a number of elements, i.e., include a transmitter and a receiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The processor 1100 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1120 may store data used by the processor 1100 in performing operations.

The readable storage medium of the embodiment of the present invention stores a program or an instruction, which when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the time synchronization method described above, and can achieve the same technical effects, and is not described herein again for avoiding repetition.

Wherein the processor is a processor in the network device described in the foregoing embodiment. The readable storage medium includes a computer readable storage medium such as a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a random access Memory (Random Access Memory RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

In embodiments of the invention, the modules may be implemented in software for execution by various types of analyzers. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different bits which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.

Indeed, a module of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Likewise, operational data may be identified within modules and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices.

Where a module may be implemented in software, taking into account the level of existing hardware technology, a module may be implemented in software, and one skilled in the art may, without regard to cost, build corresponding hardware circuitry, including conventional Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays, and existing semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components, to achieve the corresponding functions. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.

The exemplary embodiments described above are described with reference to the drawings, many different forms and embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size of the elements and relative sizes may be exaggerated for clarity. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless otherwise indicated, a range of values includes the upper and lower limits of the range and any subranges therebetween.

While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and adaptations can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention, and such modifications and adaptations are intended to be comprehended within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of time synchronization performed by a first network side device, the method comprising:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

2. The method of time synchronization according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the first information includes:

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

performing a first operation to a first user; and/or

4. The time synchronization method of claim 1, wherein the Uu error budget includes one or more of the following information:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

5. The method of time synchronization according to claim 4, wherein the acquiring the first information includes:

6. The method of time synchronization according to claim 4, wherein the acquiring the first information includes:

7. A time synchronisation method according to claim 3, wherein the first condition comprises one or more of the following conditions:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

8. The time synchronization method according to claim 2, wherein the first network element comprises at least one of a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function TSCTSF network element, a time sensitive network application function TSN AF network element, a service management function SMF network element and a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, and the second network element comprises an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

9. The time synchronization method according to claim 8, wherein, in the case that the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, obtaining first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

10. The time synchronization method according to claim 8, wherein, in the case where the first network element includes an SMF network element, acquiring the first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

11. The time synchronization method according to claim 10, wherein the first information is transmitted through time sensitive communication assistance information TSCAI or through preset independent parameters.

12. A time synchronization method according to claim 3, wherein the first network side device performs the first operation to the first user by at least one of:

system information block SIB9 signaling;

radio resource control, RRC, signaling.

13. A time synchronization method according to claim 3, characterized in that after transmitting the user information of the first user and the operation indication information of the first operation to a third network element, the method further comprises:

receiving an indication of the air interface message sent by the third network element through the second network element; the indication of the empty dictation is used for indicating that the first network side equipment is allowed to execute the first operation on the first user, or the indication of the empty dictation is used for indicating that the first network side equipment is not allowed to execute the first operation on the first user;

14. The time synchronization method of claim 3 or 13, wherein the first operation comprises at least one of activating and deactivating a first user.

15. The method for time synchronization according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring the first information sent by the first network element through the second network element includes:

16. A time synchronization method according to claim 3, characterized in that the user information comprises a user identification and/or a traffic flow identification of a user traffic.

17. A method of time synchronization performed by a first network element, the method comprising:

transmitting first information to first network side equipment;

Time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

18. The method for time synchronization according to claim 17, wherein the sending the first information to the first network side device includes:

19. The time synchronization method according to claim 18, wherein the first network element comprises at least one of a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function TSCTSF network element, a time sensitive network application function TSN AF network element, a service management function SMF network element, and a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, and the second network element comprises an access and mobility management function AMF network element.

20. The time synchronization method according to claim 19, wherein, in the case that the first network element includes a TSCTSF network element or a TSN AF network element, sending, by the second network element, the first information to the first network side device includes:

21. The time synchronization method according to claim 19, wherein, in the case where the first network element includes an SMF network element, sending, by the second network element, the first information to the first network side device includes:

22. The method of time synchronization according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

23. The time synchronization method of claim 22, wherein the first condition comprises one or more of the following conditions:

the clock source is abnormal;

recovering a clock source;

the clock precision is greater than the first threshold;

the clock precision is smaller than the first threshold value;

24. The time synchronization method of claim 22, wherein the first operation comprises at least one of activating and deactivating a first user.

25. The method of time synchronization according to claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

26. The time synchronization method of claim 17, wherein the Uu error budget includes one or more of the following information:

uu error budget contracted by the user;

uu error budget for traffic;

27. A network device, wherein the network device is a first network side device, comprising a processor, wherein:

Time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

28. A network device, wherein the network device is a first network element, comprising a transceiver, wherein:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

29. A time synchronization apparatus, applied to a first network side device, the apparatus comprising:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

30. A time synchronization device for application to a first network element, the device comprising:

time synchronization error budget;

uu error budget;

31. A network device, comprising: a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a program or instructions stored on the memory and executable on the processor; the program or instruction when executed by the processor implementing the time synchronization method of any one of claims 1-16 or the time synchronization method of any one of claims 17-26.

32. A readable storage medium having stored thereon a program or instructions, which when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the time synchronization method according to any one of claims 1-16 or the steps of the time synchronization method according to any one of claims 17-26.