WO2023017296A1 - Procédé et appareil pour système de communication impliquant la synchronisation d'horloges locales - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour système de communication impliquant la synchronisation d'horloges locales Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023017296A1
WO2023017296A1 PCT/IB2021/057415 IB2021057415W WO2023017296A1 WO 2023017296 A1 WO2023017296 A1 WO 2023017296A1 IB 2021057415 W IB2021057415 W IB 2021057415W WO 2023017296 A1 WO2023017296 A1 WO 2023017296A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user equipment
equipment device
clock
network node
radio access
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2021/057415
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pilar ANDRÉS MALDONADO
Rakash SIVASIVA GANESAN
Troels Emil Kolding
Original Assignee
Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nokia Technologies Oy filed Critical Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority to PCT/IB2021/057415 priority Critical patent/WO2023017296A1/fr
Publication of WO2023017296A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023017296A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W56/00—Synchronisation arrangements
    • H04W56/001—Synchronization between nodes
    • H04W56/0015—Synchronization between nodes one node acting as a reference for the others
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
    • H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
    • H04J3/02—Details
    • H04J3/06—Synchronising arrangements
    • H04J3/0635—Clock or time synchronisation in a network
    • H04J3/0638—Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation
    • H04J3/0658—Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
    • H04J3/0661—Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes using timestamps
    • H04J3/0667—Bidirectional timestamps, e.g. NTP or PTP for compensation of clock drift and for compensation of propagation delays

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to apparatus, a method, and a computer program, and in particular to apparatus, methods and computer programs for a communication system involving synchronisation of local clocks.
  • Some services involving a communication system may require good synchronisation between a local clock at a user equipment device of the communication system, and a local clock at a radio access network node of the communication system, which may itself be synchronised to another local clock at another node of the communication system.
  • Synchronisation between a local clock at a user equipment device of the communication system and a local clock at a radio access network node of the communication system may involve the radio access network node providing time information to the user equipment device.
  • a method comprising: adapting, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending one or more messages including a timestamp based on the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment may comprise synchronising a second clock at the user equipment device using the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending from the user equipment device a message indicating a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise: receiving at the user equipment device a message indicating a send time according to a first clock at a sending node of the communication system and a send time according to a second clock at the sending node of the communication system; and adjusting a second clock at the user equipment device based on the send time according to the second clock at the sending node, and a difference in time between the send time according to the first clock at the sending node and a receiving time according to the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the message may comprise a precision time protocol message according to the IEEE 1588 standard or generic precision time protocol message according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment device may comprise using the first clock at the user equipment device to control the timing of one or more operations outside the communication system.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise a holdover capability of the user equipment device.
  • Adapting timing of one or more time information transmissions may comprise adapting a periodicity of a sequence of time information transmissions.
  • the method may comprise receiving information about the one or more parameters of the user equipment device from a core network node of the communication system, wherein the core network node implements access management functionality for the user equipment device, or implements session management functionality for a packet data unit session involving the user equipment device.
  • the information from the core network node of the communication system may comprise extended time sensitive communication assistance information.
  • the information from the core network node of the communication system may comprise one or more flags triggering the radio access network node to adapt timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to one or more parameters of the user equipment device,
  • the method may comprise: determining the one or more parameters of the user equipment device based on analysis of the user equipment device at the radio access network node.
  • the method may comprise determining the one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device based on analysis at the radio access network node of timing of packets received at the radio access network node for the user equipment device.
  • a method comprising: receiving, at an access management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device.
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may be one or more parameters of a set of user equipment devices including the user equipment device.
  • a method comprising: receiving, at a session management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the packet data unit session may be for sending to the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to a first clock at a sending node of the communication system and a send time according to a second clock at the sending node of the communication system; and/or sending from the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device .
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • a method comprising: directing, from an application function of a communication system to a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • a method comprising: adapting timing of one or more operations at a user equipment device to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment device may comprise sending one or more messages indicating a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more messages may comprise one or more precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 1588 standard or one or more generic precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending away from the communication system one or more messages including a timestamp based on the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • a method comprising: adapting timing of one or more operations at a node of a communication system to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the node of the communication system may be a user plane function node of the communication system, and the one or more operations at the user plane function node may comprise sending to the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to a first clock at the user plane function node and a send time according to a second clock at the user plane function node.
  • the one or more messages may comprise one or more precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 1588 standard or one or more generic precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the node of the communication system may be the radio access network node, and the one or more operations may comprise scheduling transmission to the user equipment device of one or more messages comprising a timestamp.
  • Apparatus comprising: means for adapting, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the apparatus.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending one or more messages including a timestamp based on the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment may comprise synchronising a second clock at the user equipment device using the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending from the user equipment device a message indicating a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise: receiving at the user equipment device a message indicating a send time according to a first clock at a sending node of the communication system and a send time according to a second clock at the sending node of the communication system; and adjusting a second clock at the user equipment device based on the send time according to the second clock at the sending node, and a difference in time between the send time according to the first clock at the sending node and a receiving time according to the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the message may comprise a precision time protocol message according to the IEEE 1588 standard or generic precision time protocol message according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment device may comprise using the first clock at the user equipment device to control the timing of one or more operations outside the communication system.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise a holdover capability of the user equipment device.
  • the means for adapting timing of one or more time information transmissions may comprise means for adapting a periodicity of a sequence of time information transmissions.
  • the apparatus may comprise means for receiving information about the one or more parameters of the user equipment device from a core network node of the communication system, wherein the core network node implements access management functionality for the user equipment device, or implements session management functionality for a packet data unit session involving the user equipment device.
  • the information from the core network node of the communication system may comprise extended time sensitive communication assistance information.
  • the information from the core network node of the communication system may comprise one or more flags triggering the radio access network node to adapt timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to one or more parameters of the user equipment device,
  • the apparatus may comprise: means for determining the one or more parameters of the user equipment device based on analysis of the user equipment device.
  • the apparatus may comprise means for determining the one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device based on analysis of timing of receiving packets for the user equipment device.
  • Apparatus comprising: means for receiving from a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and means for directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device.
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may be one or more parameters of a set of user equipment devices including the user equipment device.
  • Apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and means for directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the packet data unit session may be for sending to the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to a first clock at a sending node of the communication system and a send time according to a second clock at the sending node of the communication system; and/or sending from the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device .
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • Apparatus comprising: means for directing, to a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • Apparatus comprising: means for adapting timing of one or more operations to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the apparatus to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending one or more messages indicating a send time according to the first clock at the apparatus and a send time according to a second clock at the apparatus.
  • the one or more messages may comprise one or more precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 1588 standard or one or more generic precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending away from the communication system one or more messages including a timestamp based on the first clock at the apparatus.
  • Apparatus comprising: means for adapting timing of one or more operations to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending to the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to a first clock at the apparatus and a send time according to a second clock at the apparatus.
  • the one or more messages may comprise one or more precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 1588 standard or one or more generic precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations may comprise scheduling transmission to the user equipment device of one or more messages comprising a timestamp.
  • Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: adapting, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the apparatus.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending one or more messages including a timestamp based on the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment may comprise synchronising a second clock at the user equipment device using the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending from the user equipment device a message indicating a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the one or more operations may comprise: receiving at the user equipment device a message indicating a send time according to a first clock at a sending node of the communication system and a send time according to a second clock at the sending node of the communication system; and adjusting a second clock at the user equipment device based on the send time according to the second clock at the sending node, and a difference in time between the send time according to the first clock at the sending node and a receiving time according to the first clock at the user equipment device.
  • the message may comprise a precision time protocol message according to the IEEE 1588 standard or generic precision time protocol message according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations at the user equipment device may comprise using the first clock at the user equipment device to control the timing of one or more operations outside the communication system.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise a holdover capability of the user equipment device.
  • the at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to adapt a periodicity of a sequence of time information transmissions.
  • the at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive information about the one or more parameters of the user equipment device from a core network node of the communication system, wherein the core network node implements access management functionality for the user equipment device, or implements session management functionality for a packet data unit session involving the user equipment device.
  • the information from the core network node of the communication system may comprise extended time sensitive communication assistance information.
  • the information from the core network node of the communication system may comprise one or more flags triggering the radio access network node to adapt timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to one or more parameters of the user equipment device,
  • the at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the one or more parameters of the user equipment device based on analysis of the user equipment device.
  • the at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device based on analysis of timing of receiving packets for the user equipment device.
  • Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving from a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may comprise one or more parameters of one or more operations at the user equipment device.
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • the one or more parameters of the user equipment device may be one or more parameters of a set of user equipment devices including the user equipment device.
  • Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the packet data unit session may be for sending to the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to a first clock at a sending node of the communication system and a send time according to a second clock at the sending node of the communication system; and/or sending from the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to the first clock at the user equipment device and a send time according to a second clock at the user equipment device .
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: directing, to a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • the core network node may implement a network exposure function or a time sensitive communication and time synchronisation function.
  • Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: adapting timing of one or more operations to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the apparatus to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending one or more messages indicating a send time according to the first clock at the apparatus and a send time according to a second clock at the apparatus.
  • the one or more messages may comprise one or more precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 1588 standard or one or more generic precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending away from the communication system one or more messages including a timestamp based on the first clock at the apparatus.
  • Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: adapting timing of one or more operations to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • the one or more operations may comprise sending to the user equipment device one or more messages indicating a send time according to a first clock at the apparatus and a send time according to a second clock at the apparatus.
  • the one or more messages may comprise one or more precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 1588 standard or one or more generic precision time protocol messages according to the IEEE 802. IAS standard.
  • the one or more operations may comprise scheduling transmission to the user equipment device of one or more messages comprising a timestamp.
  • Apparatus comprising: adapting circuitry for adapting, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the apparatus.
  • Apparatus comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving from a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and directing circuitry for directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • Apparatus comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving, from a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and directing circuitry for directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • Apparatus comprising: directing circuitry for directing, to a core network node of a communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • Apparatus comprising: adapting circuitry for adapting timing of one or more operations to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the apparatus to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • Apparatus comprising: adapting circuitry for adapting timing of one or more operations to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: adapting, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, at an access management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, at a session management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: directing, from an application function of a communication system to a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: adapting timing of one or more operations at a user equipment device to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: adapting timing of one or more operations at a node of a communication system to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: adapting, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, at an access management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, at a session management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and directing to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: directing, from an application function of a communication system to a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: adapting timing of one or more operations at a user equipment device to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: adapting timing of one or more operations at a node of a communication system to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: adapt, to one or more parameters of a user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system to at least the user equipment device; wherein the one or more time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: receive, at an access management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a user equipment device; and direct to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the user equipment device, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: receive, at a session management function node of a communication system from a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more parameters of a packet data unit session for a user equipment device; and direct to a radio access network node of the communication system one or more messages triggering the radio access network node to adapt, to the one or more parameters of the packet data unit session, timing of one or more time information transmissions from the radio access network node to at least the user equipment device; wherein the time information transmissions comprise one or more transmissions of information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: direct, from an application function of a communication system to a core network node of the communication system, information about one or more time synchronisation requirements for a user equipment device or for a packet data unit session for the user equipment device; wherein the information comprises information about adapting the synchronisation of a clock at the user equipment device.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: adapt timing of one or more operations at a user equipment device to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of a communication system, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: adapt timing of one or more operations at a node of a communication system to the timing of one or more time information transmissions from a radio access network node of the communication system to a user equipment device, wherein the time information transmissions comprise information for synchronising a first clock at the user equipment device to a clock at the radio access network node.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an example system to which embodiments may be applied
  • Figure 2 shows a representation of an example of components of a 5G system to which example embodiments are applied;
  • Figure 3 shows a representation of an example of operations at components of Figure 2 according to example embodiments
  • Figure 4 shows a representation of an example of operations at components of Figure 2 subsequent to the operations of Figure 3 according to example embodiments
  • Figure 5 shows a representation of another example of operations at components of Figure 2 according to example embodiments
  • Figure 6 shows a representation of an example of operations at components of Figure 2 subsequent to the operations of Figure 5 according to example embodiments
  • Figure 7 shows a representation of an example of flag indicators used in example embodiments
  • Figure 8 shows a representation of an example of 5G system components involved in time sensitive communications using the 5G system as a bridge according to example embodiments
  • Figure 9 shows a representation of some examples of uses of example embodiments.
  • Figure 10 shows one example variation of Figure 8
  • Figure 11 shows another example variation of Figure 8
  • Figure 12 shows a representation of an example of apparatus for implementing operations at a user equipment or radio access network node according to some example embodiments
  • Figure 13 shows a representation of an example of apparatus for implementing operations at a core network node according to some example embodiments.
  • Figure 14 shows a representation of an example of non-volatile memory media.
  • example embodiments makes mention of systems (user equipments, RAN nodes, core network nodes) operating according to specific 3GPP protocols (e.g. 5G protocol), but the underlying technique is also applicable to systems operating according to other protocols, such as more evolved 3GPP protocols.
  • 3GPP protocols e.g. 5G protocol
  • UMTS universal mobile telecommunications system
  • UTRAN wireless local area network
  • WiFi wireless local area network
  • WiMAX worldwide interoperability for microwave access
  • PCS personal communications services
  • WCDMA wideband code division multiple access
  • UWB ultra-wideband
  • sensor networks mobile ad-hoc networks
  • MANETs mobile ad-hoc networks
  • IMS Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems
  • Fig. 1 depicts examples of simplified system architectures only showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown.
  • the connections shown in Fig. 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system typically comprises also other functions and structures than those shown in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 1 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network.
  • the radio access network may support sidelink communications described below in more detail.
  • Fig. 1 shows devices 100 and 102.
  • the devices 100 and 102 are configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels with a node 104.
  • the node 104 is further connected to a core network 106.
  • the node 104 may be an access node such as (e/g)NodeB serving devices in a cell.
  • the node 104 may be a non-3GPP access node.
  • the physical link from a device to a (e/g)NodeB is called uplink or reverse link and the physical link from the (e/g)NodeB to the device is called downlink or forward link.
  • (e/g)NodeBs or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point etc. entity suitable for such a usage.
  • a communications system typically comprises more than one (e/g)NodeB in which case the (e/g)NodeBs may also be configured to communicate with one another over links, wired or wireless, designed for the purpose. These links may be used for signalling purposes.
  • the (e/g)NodeB is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to.
  • the NodeB may also be referred to as a base station, an access point or any other type of interfacing device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment.
  • the (e/g)NodeB includes or is coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the (e/g)NodeB, a connection is provided to an antenna unit that establishes bi-directional radio links to devices.
  • the antenna unit may comprise a plurality of antennas or antenna elements.
  • the (e/g)NodeB is further connected to the core network 106 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the deployed technology, the (e/g)NodeB is connected to a serving and packet data network gateway (S-GW +P-GW) or user plane function (UPF), for routing and forwarding user data packets and for providing connectivity of devices to one or more external packet data networks, and to a mobile management entity (MME) or access mobility management function (AMF), for controlling access and mobility of the devices.
  • S-GW +P-GW serving and packet data network gateway
  • UPF user plane function
  • MME mobile management entity
  • AMF access mobility management function
  • Exemplary embodiments of a device are a subscriber unit, a user device, a user equipment (UE), a user terminal, a terminal device, a mobile station, a mobile device, etc
  • the device typically refers to a mobile or static device (e.g. a portable or non-portable computing device) that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating with or without an universal subscriber identification module (USIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: mobile phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handset, device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and/or touch screen computer, tablet, game console, notebook, and multimedia device.
  • a device may also be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network.
  • a device may also be a device having capability to operate in Internet of Things (loT) network which is a scenario in which objects are provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction, e.g. to be used in smart power grids and connected vehicles.
  • the device may also utilise cloud.
  • a device may comprise a user portable device with radio parts (such as a watch, earphones or eyeglasses) and the computation is carried out in the cloud.
  • the device illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface are allocated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a device may be implemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node.
  • An example of such a relay node is a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the base station.
  • the device (or in some embodiments a layer 3 relay node) is configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities.
  • CPS cyber-physical system
  • ICT interconnected information and communications technology
  • devices sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.
  • mobile cyber physical systems in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals.
  • apparatuses have been depicted as single entities, different units, processors and/or memory units (not all shown in Fig. 1) may be implemented.
  • 5G enables using multiple input - multiple output (MIMO) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available.
  • 5G mobile communications supports a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications (such as (massive) machine-type communications (rnMTC), including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control).
  • 5G is expected to have multiple radio interfaces, e.g. below 6GHz or above 24 GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also being integrable with existing legacy radio access technologies, such as the LTE.
  • Integration with the LTE may be implemented, at least in the early phase, as a system, where macro coverage is provided by the LTE and 5G radio interface access comes from small cells by aggregation to the LTE.
  • 5G is planned to support both inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-RI operability (interradio interface operability, such as below 6GHz - cmWave, 6 or above 24 GHz - cmWave and mmWave).
  • inter-RAT operability such as LTE-5G
  • inter-RI operability interradio interface operability, such as below 6GHz - cmWave, 6 or above 24 GHz - cmWave and mmWave.
  • One of the concepts considered to be used in 5G networks is network slicing in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.
  • the current architecture in LTE networks is fully distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network.
  • the low latency applications and services in 5G require to bring the content close to the radio which leads to local break out and multi-access edge computing (MEC).
  • MEC multi-access edge computing
  • 5G enables analytics and knowledge generation to occur at the source of the data. This approach requires leveraging resources that may not be continuously connected to a network such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and sensors.
  • MEC provides a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It also has the ability to store and process content in close proximity to cellular subscribers for faster response time.
  • Edge computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature analysis, cooperative distributed peer-to-peer ad hoc networking and processing also classifiable as local cloud/fog computing and grid/mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing, cloudlet, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomic self-healing networks, remote cloud services, augmented and virtual reality, data caching, Internet of Things (massive connectivity and/or latency critical), critical communications (autonomous vehicles, traffic safety, real-time analytics, time-critical control, healthcare applications).
  • the communication system is also able to communicate with other networks 112, such as a public switched telephone network, or a VoIP network, or the Internet, or a private network, or utilize services provided by them.
  • the communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services, for example at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in Fig. 1 by “cloud” 114).
  • the communication system may also comprise a central control entity, or a like, providing facilities for networks of different operators to cooperate for example in spectrum sharing.
  • Edge cloud may be brought into a radio access network (RAN) by utilizing network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN).
  • RAN radio access network
  • NFV network function virtualization
  • SDN software defined networking
  • Using the technology of edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node operationally coupled to a remote radio head or base station comprising radio parts. It is also possible that node operations will be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts.
  • Application of cloudRAN architecture enables RAN real time functions being carried out at or close to a remote antenna site (in a distributed unit, DU 108) and non-real time functions being carried out in a centralized manner (in a centralized unit, CU 110).
  • 5G new radio, NR
  • 5G may also utilize satellite communication to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling.
  • Satellite communication may utilise geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano)satellites are deployed).
  • GEO geostationary earth orbit
  • LEO low earth orbit
  • Each satellite in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite-enabled network entities that create on- ground cells.
  • the on-ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay node or by a gNB located on-ground or in a satellite.
  • the depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system and in practice, the system may comprise a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs, the device may have an access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may comprise also other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements, etc. At least one of the (e/g)NodeBs or may be a Home(e/g)nodeB. Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio communication system a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be provided.
  • Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which are large cells, usually having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells.
  • the (e/g)NodeBs of Fig. 1 may provide any kind of these cells.
  • a cellular radio system may be implemented as a multilayer network including several kinds of cells. Typically, in multilayer networks, one access node provides one kind of a cell or cells, and thus a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs are required to provide such a network structure.
  • a network which is able to use “plug-and-play” (e/g)Node Bs includes, in addition to Home (e/g)NodeBs (H(e/g)nodeBs), a home node B gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in Fig. 1).
  • HNB-GW HNB Gateway
  • a HNB Gateway (HNB-GW) which is typically installed within an operator’s network may aggregate traffic from a large number of HNBs back to a core network.
  • Figure 2 shows an example of components of a 5G system in example embodiments involving the synchronisation of a local 5G clock 50 at a user equipment (UE) device to a 5G GM clock 30 viaa local 5G clock at a 5G base station (gNodeB (gNB)).
  • the user equipment device in this example may be any device implementing 3GPP 5G UE functionality, including, for example, a machine or vehicle also having other functionality.
  • the user equipment device 100 comprises an entity implementing 3GPP 5G UE functionality, and an entity implementing TSN (time sensitive networking) translator (TT) functionality or generic Precision Time Protocol (gPTP) functionality or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) functionality.
  • the user equipment device 100 may, for example, be UE device 100 in Figure 1; and the base station may be access point AP 104 in Figure 1.
  • synchronisation of a local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 to 5G GM clock 30 via a local 5G clock 50 at 5G base station (gNodeB (gNB)) 104 may, for example, be control plane synchronisation performed for the purpose of (a) assisting the control of some operation at UE device 100, and/or some operation at a device downstream of UE device 100.
  • the periodicity at which UE device 100 requires time information (TI) from gNB 104 is not related to user plane traffic forwarded by the 5G system for UE device 100.
  • the time information received at UE device 100 may be used at UE device 100 to timestamp packets towards end stations downstream of UE 100, or may be used for other UE operations not involving a PDU session via the 5G system.
  • synchronisation of a local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 may be user plane synchronisation performed for a purpose (b) related to user plane traffic through the 5G system (either from UE device 100 via gNB 104 to UPF node 26, or from UE device 100 to another UE via gNB 104, UPF node 26, and the gNB serving the another UE device (which may be gNB 104 or another gNB).
  • UE device 100 may comprise another local clock (in addition to the local 5G clock 50 at UE 100) whose synchronisation depends on user plane traffic (e.g. (g)PTP messages) via the 5G system.
  • good synchronisation of the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 may be required when UE device 100 is time-stamping user plane traffic at UE device 100 or when UE device 100 is controlling traffic delivery.
  • time information comprises information indicating the time (according to the local 5G clock 50 at gNB 104) at the ending boundary of the system frame indicated by referenceSFN.
  • Figure 3 shows a representation of an example of operations at components of Figure 2 according to an example embodiment for purpose (a) mentioned above.
  • UE device 100 initiates registration to the 5G system (5GS).
  • An application function (AF) 38 is subscribed to access and mobility information from the access management function (AMF) via a network exposure function (NEF) 36, and has thus become aware of the connectivity status of UE 100 (OPERATION 300).
  • AMF access management function
  • NEF network exposure function
  • the time synchronisation service request sent from AF 38 to NEF 36 includes time synchronisation parameters (e.g. time domain, synchronisation accuracy etc..).
  • the time synchronisation service request includes time sensitive communication assistance information (TSCAI) comprising an extended TSCAI set of attributes, and two flags referred to here as TSCAI for U-plane (AIU) and TI dependency (TID) flags.
  • TSCAI time sensitive communication assistance information
  • the 1 -bit AIU flag indicates whether or not the TSCAI relates to user plane traffic through the 5GS (or, in other words, whether the TSCAI relates to user plane synchronisation or control plane synchronisation); and if the AIU flag indicates that the TSCAI relates to user plane traffic (i.e. user plane synchronisation), the 1 -bit TID flag indicates whether the time synchronisation depends on the provision of 5G time information from the base station 104 to UE device 100.
  • the AIU flag indicates whether or not time-synchronisation is needed only at gated time-instances. For example of a TSC flow, the AIU flag indicates whether accurate time synchronisation is needed outside of given TSC flow parameters.
  • the synchronisation is control-plane synchronisation unrelated to user plane traffic through the 5G system. Accordingly, the AIU flag is set to OFF, and the TID flag is set to ON.
  • 5G clock synchronisation is the distribution method to configure in the 5GS; and the TSCAI is expressed in 5G clock time. This combination of AIU and TID flag values indicates that the TSCAI pattern applies to time synchronisation needs for operations at UE device 100 or operations at a device downstream of UE device 100.
  • NEF 36 authorises the request from AF 38 (OPERATION 304); and sends a response message to AF 38 (OPERATION 306).
  • NEF 36 communicates with AMF 32 to forward the time synchronisation configuration (e.g. synchronisation accuracy and proposed extended TSCAI) to AMF 32 (OPERATION 308). This may, for example, involve updating unified data repository/management UDR/UDM, and UDM notifying AMF 32.
  • time synchronisation configuration e.g. synchronisation accuracy and proposed extended TSCAI
  • AMF 32 forwards the time synchronisation configuration to gNB 104 serving UE device 100 (OPERATION 310).
  • time synchronisation is not coupled to a packet data unit (PDU) session; and new generation application protocol (NGAP) UE context management procedures are used between AMF 32 and gNB 104.
  • gNB 104 determines how to deliver reference time information (TI) to UE device 100, taking into account the required time synchronisation accuracy and any TSCAI description about when time synchronisation is required at UE device 100.
  • TI reference time information
  • gNB 104 determines if the current periodicity of providing UE device 100 with time information matches the received time synchronisation requirements indicated by the received extended TSCAI description (OPERATION 412). If the result of this determination is negative, gNB 104 determines a new periodicity for providing UE device 100 with time information to adapt to the time synchronisation requirements indicated by the received extended TSCAI description from AMF 32 (OPERATION 414), and provides UE device 100 with time information at the new periodicity (OPERATION 416).
  • the time information (TI) may comprise a referenceTimelnfo information element (IE) included in system information block #9 (SIB9).
  • gNB 104 may determine whether the current periodicity of broadcasting SIB9 matches the received time synchronisation requirements for UE device 100 indicated by the received extended TSCAI description. If the result of this determination is negative, gNB 104 may adopt a new periodicity for broadcasting SIB9 (if there is an option to broadcast SIB9 at an increased periodicity that meets the time synchronisation requirements for UE device 100). gNB 104 indicates the new periodicity for SIB9 in system block information #1 (SIB1).
  • SIB1 system block information #1
  • gNB 104 may determine to provide UE device 100 with dedicated time information (TI) by periodically transmitting to UE device 100 a RRC DLInformationTransfer message (including the reference Timeinfo IE) at a periodicity that meets the time synchronisation requirements for UE device 100.
  • TI dedicated time information
  • RRC DLInformationTransfer message including the reference Timeinfo IE
  • gNB 104 may determine a new periodicity for this dedicated RRC messaging, and transmit this RRC dedicated messaging at the new periodicity.
  • the AF 38 can target UE device 100 with an identifier such as a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), a 5G globally unique Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), an External Group Identifier (which identifies a group made up of one or more subscriptions associated to a group of IMSIs (international mobile subscriber identities), or an Internal Group Identifier (which identifies a set of SUPIs).
  • GPSI Generic Public Subscription Identifier
  • SUPI 5G globally unique Subscription Permanent Identifier
  • an External Group Identifier which identifies a group made up of one or more subscriptions associated to a group of IMSIs (international mobile subscriber identities), or an Internal Group Identifier (which identifies a set of SUPIs).
  • An AMF services extension can enable AMF 32 to control/assist time synchronization service at the gNB 104 (distribution of 5G internal clock) based on notifications received from NEF/UDM without involvement of any SMF.
  • TSCAI is decoupled from user plane traffic.
  • the TSCAI is based on 5G clock time for control plane time synchronisation service; and can be directly forwarded (without any conversion) via control plane entities configuring the control plane time synchronisation service.
  • TSCAI attributes are forwarded using UE context management procedures.
  • Figure 5 shows a representation of an example of operations at components of Figure 2 according to an example embodiment for purpose (b) mentioned above.
  • PDU session procedures are reused to forward extended TSCAI to serving gNB 104.
  • UE device 100 has established a PDU session with the 5G system.
  • An application function (AF) 38 is subscribed to receiving information about such an event, and has thus become aware of the connectivity status of UE device 100 (OPERATION 500).
  • AF 38 sends to NEF/PCF 36 a request for a PDU session with a required Quality of Service (QoS) (OPERATION 502).
  • QoS Quality of Service
  • the request indicates the following: the target UE (UE device 100); the QoS parameters for the session; the time domain for the session; extended TSCAI for the session; burst arrival time (BAT) and burst periodicity for the session; and the AIU and TDI flags mentioned above for the Figure 3 example.
  • both the AIU and TID flags are set to “ON”.
  • the request from AF 38 may also include an indication of the required time synchronisation accuracy for the PDU session. If the request does not specify the required time synchronisation accuracy, the 5G system may determine the required time synchronisation accuracy based on the Uu interface constraints.
  • the request from AF 38 may also indicate whether the TSCAI parameters for the PDU session may be adapted. For example, the request may indicate whether the BAT may be shifted to match SIB9 periodicity.
  • PCF/NEF 36 authorises the request from AF 38 (OPERATION 504), and returns a response to AF 38 (OPERATION 506).
  • PCF 36 derives the required QoS for the PDU session, and provides policy charging and control (PCC) rules for the PDU session to SMF 34. Depending on the time domain indicated in the request from AMF 32, SMF 34 adjusts the TSCAI for the PDU session. Based on the PCC rules received from PCF 36, SMF 34 may determine QoS flow and access-specific QoS parameters for the PDU session, and may configure the N4 session at the user plane function (UPF) 26 for the PDU session (OPERATION 508).
  • PCC policy charging and control
  • SMF 34 initiates a PDU Session modification procedure (OPERATION 510). This procedure involves forwarding to serving gNB 104 of the radio access network (RAN) the updated extended TSCAI (and required synchronisation accuracy, if specified in the request from AF 38).
  • RAN radio access network
  • gNB 104 optimises the RAN (radio access network) scheduling for the PDU session.
  • gNB 104 schedules Uu plane resources for the PDU session using the TSCAI received from SMF 34 (OPERATION 512).
  • the serving gNB 104 determines how to deliver time information to UE device 100. This determination takes into account (a) the required time synchronization accuracy specified for the PDU session (if indicated in the PDU Session Modification request from SMF 34) or e.g.
  • Uu interface constraints if the required time synchronisation accuracy was not specified in the PDU Session Modification Request from SMF 34; and (b) information included in the TSCAI description (e.g. BAT, burst periodicity) about when time information (TI) is required at UE device 100 for the PDU session.
  • information included in the TSCAI description e.g. BAT, burst periodicity
  • gNB 104 determines if the current periodicity of providing UE device 100 with time information matches the received time synchronisation requirements for the PDU session as indicated by the received extended TSCAI description (OPERATION 614). If the result of this determination is negative, gNB 104 determines a new periodicity for providing UE device 100 with time information (TI) to adapt to the time synchronisation requirements for the PDU session indicated by the received extended TSCAI description from SMF 32 (OPERATION 616), and provides UE device 100 with time information (TI) at the new periodicity (OPERATION 618).
  • TI time information
  • the time information may comprise a referenceTimelnfo information element (IE) included in system information block #9 (SIB9) broadcast on a downlink shared channel (DL-SCH).
  • gNB 104 may determine whether the current periodicity of broadcasting SIB9 matches the received time synchronisation requirements for the PDU session indicated by the received extended TSCAI description. If the result of this determination is negative, gNB 104 may adopt a new periodicity for broadcasting SIB9 (if there is an option to broadcast SIB9 at an increased periodicity that meets the time synchronisation requirements for the PDU session). gNB 104 indicates the new periodicity for SIB9 in system information block #1 (SIB1).
  • SIB1 system information block #1
  • gNB 104 may determine to provide UE 100 with dedicated time information by periodically transmitting a RRC DLInformationTransfer message (including reference Timeinfo IE) at a periodicity that meets the time synchronisation requirements for the PDU session.
  • a RRC DLInformationTransfer message including reference Timeinfo IE
  • gNB 104 may determine a new periodicity for this dedicated RRC messaging, and transmit the RRC dedicated messaging at the new periodicity.
  • the information received at gNB 104 from AMF/SMF specifies a periodicity for synchronising UE device 100 (i.e. providing UE device 100 with time information for adjusting the local 5G clock at UE device 100).
  • the information received at gNB 104 from AMF/SMF could specify a periodicity for synchronising UE device 100, and a length of time over which UE device 100 is to be synchronised at the specified periodicity.
  • the periodicity may be determined based on the planned periodicity for PTP messages to/from UE device 100 and information about the holdover capability of UE device 100 (i.e. the rate at which clocks at UE device 100 drift over time in the absence of synchronisation) .
  • time information (TI) is adapted to the particular needs of UE device 100. Determining when time information (TI) is needed at UE device 100 may be (i) derived from information about time synchronisation requirements provided by AF 38, (ii) derived by tracking the time instants at which consecutive packets for the UE device 100 arrive at gNB 104, (iii) based on the egress port configuration (e.g. IEEE 802.1Qbv schedule, hold and forward buffer) at UE device 100; and/or (iv) based on time sensitive communication assistance information (TSCAI).
  • TSCAI time sensitive communication assistance information
  • information about when time information (TI) is needed at UE device 100 is explicitly provided to gNB 104 so that the gNB 104 can provide the TI to UE device 100 just before it is needed at UE device 100.
  • the TSCAI is extended to explicitly indicate time windows where good synchronisation of the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 is required, and/or if TI is even needed at UE device 100.
  • a flag is used to indicate to gNB 104 that gNB 104 is to determine when TI is needed at UE device 100, and accordingly adapt the timing/periodicity of providing TI to UE device 100.
  • the timing of providing UE device 100 with TI is additionally based on information about the holdover capability of UE device 100, i.e. information about the rate at which clocks at UE device 100 drift in the absence of synchronisation.
  • This enhancement can further reduce the amount of signalling required for providing UE device 100 with TI while ensuring that the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 is sufficiently synchronised to meet the needs of UE device 100.
  • good matching between the provision of TI to UE device 100 and the needs of UE device 100 is instead achieved by adapting the time instants of UE operations requiring good synchronisation of the local 5G clock at UE device 100.
  • UE device 100 may adapt the time instants of arrival / transmission of messages (e.g. g(PTP) messages) requiring good synchronisation of the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 to the time instants at which TI is provided to UE device 100 by gNB 104.
  • messages e.g. g(PTP) messages
  • the generation of messages e.g.
  • (g)PTP messages) at UE device 100 for sending across the 5G system to UPF node 26, and/or (b) the generation of g(PTP) messages at UPF node 26 for sending to UE device 100 across the 5G system, or the scheduling at gNB 104 for transmitting the messages (e.g. (g)PTP messages) from UPF node 26 to the user equipment device 100, may be adjusted based on the timing at which UE device 100 receives TI so that the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 is accurately synchronised at the time of generating or receiving the g(PTP) messages at device UE 100.
  • UE device 100 may even be configured to delay the generation of a g(PTP) message until new TI is received at UE device 100 from gNB 104.
  • the grand master clock GM for the 5G system is part of the 5G system.
  • the GM for the 5G system is external to the 5G system.
  • Providing UE device 100 with time information such that a local 5G clock at UE device 100 is synchronized with a level of precision matching the actual needs of UE device 100 (e.g. the needs of a PDU session for UE device 100) can avoid providing the UE device 100 with time information at a higher periodicity than required, and can reduce unnecessary signalling overhead in the system.
  • TSN Time Sensitive Network
  • Some features of deterministic services are guaranteed packet transport with low and bounded latency, low packet delay variation, and low packet loss.
  • TSN features can be enabled for specific data streams in a network that also handles best effort type of traffic, for example, converged industrial networks, where data streams from different applications with varying timing requirements are carried together with information technology flows on the same network infrastructure.
  • the 5G system may be integrated into the external TSN network as a TSN bridge.
  • the logical TSN bridge includes TSN Translator (TT) functionality 100b, 26b at UE device 100 and UPF node 26 for interoperation between TSN system and 5G system both for user plane and control plane.
  • TT TSN Translator
  • 5G System specific procedures in the 5G core and in the 5G RAN remain hidden from the TSN network. To achieve such transparency to the TSN network (i.e.
  • the 5G System provides TSN ingress and egress ports via TSN Translator functionality 100b at UE device 100 (referred to as device side TT (DS-TT)) and via the TSN Translator functionality 26b on the 5G Core side at UPF node 26 (referred to as network side TT (NW-TT)).
  • TSN Time sensitive networking
  • Time synchronization can be a key requirement to achieve very low deterministic E2E (end-to-end) delay and to synchronously perform tasks like cooperative transport of goods.
  • the synchronisation of TSN devices and network elements connected to 5GS as a TSN bridge may rely on good synchronisation of a local TSN clock of the TSN network connected to a DS-TT entity of the UE device 100 of the 5GS bridge with a local TSN clock at the DS-TT entity, and good synchronisation of a local TSN clock of the TSN network connected to a NW-TT entity of the 5GS bridge with a local TSN clock at the NW-TT entity of the UPF node 26.
  • the local 5G clocks at UE device 100, gNB 104 and UPF node 26 of the 5G system are all synchronized.
  • Time synchronization between the local 5G clock at gNB 104 and the local 5G clock at UPF node 26 can be achieved by providing a common clock source to gNB 104 and UPF node 26 (e.g. GNSS) or by using, e.g. Precision Time Protocol (PTP) in the transport network between UPF node 26 and gNB 104.
  • PTP Precision Time Protocol
  • gNB 104 and UPF 26 is achieved by sending time information from gNB 104 to UE device 100 using either unicast or broadcast RRC signalling (DEInformationTransfer or SIB9 message, respectively).
  • a local 5G clock 50 at DS-TT entity 100b is synchronised to the local 5G clock 50 at UE entity 100a; UE entity 100a provides the 5G system time to DS-TT entity 100b.
  • a local 5G clock 50 at NW-TT entity 26b of UPF node 26 is synchronised to local 5G clock at UPF entity 26 of UPF node 26; UPF entity 26a provides the 5G system time to NW-TT entity 26b.
  • the residence time within the 5GS bridge of a g(PTP) message generated at UPF node 26 and sent to UE device 100 can be accurately measured, and indicated in the gPTP message time correction field.
  • the residence time is measured by time stamping at the ingress point (in this example, NW-TT entity 26b of UPF node 26), and at the egress point (in this example, DS-TT entity 100b of UE device 100). Further details of such a time synchronization mechanism are set out in Section 5.27.1 of TS 23.501.
  • good synchronisation of the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 with the local 5G clock 50 at UPF node 26 may be achieved by gNB 104 providing UE device 100 with time information.
  • This time information may take the form of a referenceTimelnfo information element (IE).
  • IE UE frame boundary
  • this referenceTimelnfo IE enables the local 5G clock 50 at UE device 100 to be accurately synchronized to the local 5G clock 50 at gNB 104 and thus to the local 5G clock 50 at UPF node 26.
  • UE device 100 may obtain the referenceTimelnfo IE by one or more of the following: periodic broadcasting of referenceTimelnfo IE by gNB 104 on DL-SCH; on-demand broadcasting of referenceTimelnfo IE by gNB 104 on DL-SCH; unicasting of referenceTimelnfo IE by gNB 104 on DL-SCH; on-demand unicasting of referenceTimelnfo IE by gNB 104 on DL-SCH.
  • the working clock (grand master, GM) 60 of a TSN/TSC device may reside at UE device 100 (at DS-TT entity 100b of UE device 100), and the local TSN clocks 60 of other UE devices connected to the 5G system may be synchronized to this TSN GM clock.
  • Figure 8 shows an example of such time synchronisation.
  • the TSN GM time is provided by the TSN GM to DS-TT entity 100b at UE device 100.
  • This message from TSN GM to DS-TT entity 100b is timestamped with an ingress timestamp (according to the local 5G clock 50 at DS-TT entity 100b of UE device 100, which is synchronised to the local 5G clock at UE entity 100a of UE device 100).
  • This message and the ingress timestamp is delivered to the NW-TT entity 26b of UPF node 26 via UE entity 100a, gNB 104 and UPF entity 26a.
  • NW-TT entity 26b updates its local TSN clock 60 based on the TSN GM time indicated in the message and the difference in time between the 5GS ingress timestamp and the 5GS time at which NW-TT entity 26b received the message (according to the local 5G clock 50 at NW-TT entity 26b).
  • UPF entity 26a of UPF node 26 is also capable of conducting local switching of the message and ingress timestamp, and delivering the message and ingress timestamp to another UE device connected to the 5G system.
  • the DS-TT entity at the receiving UE device can calculate the residence time of the message in the 5G system between the two DS-TT entities based on the difference in time between the ingress timestamp and the 5GS time at which the receiving DS-TT entity received the message (according to the local 5G clock 50 at the receiving DS- TT entity); and can thus synchronise its local TSN clock 60 to the local TSN clock 60 at the sending DS-TT entity 100.
  • the 5G system may offer time synchronization as a service (e.g. exposing time synchronization network capabilities, allowing an application to influence the time synchronization service, exchanging time synchronisation capabilities between UE devices and the network, etc.).
  • FIG. 9 Different methods have been identified for time synchronization using PTP depending on where the grand master clock (GM) is located, and which clock is used to derive the timing information.
  • Some examples are shown in Figure 9. These include: (#1) using (g)PTP to distribute timing information with the GM located at the data network (DN) side or UE device 100 side; (#2) 5GS time source and (g)PTP generated at NW-TT entity 26b of the UPF node 26; (#3) 5GS time source and 5G access network (5G-AN) provides reference time to UE device 100 via RAN (gNB 104); UE device 100 may downstream time to other devices behind UE device 100 by implementation specific means out of scope of 3GPP; (#4) 5GS time source and (g)PTP generated at DS-TT entity 100b of UE device 100 and downstreamed to devices behind UE device 100.
  • a node implementing a network exposure function links AF 38 and AMF 32 or SMF 34 via PCF 36.
  • the link between NEF 36 and AMF 32 or SMF 34 is via a node with the specific function of implementing time synchronization logic (time sensitive communication and time synchronization function (TSCTSF)).
  • TSCTSF time sensitive communication and time synchronization function
  • the TSN AF 38 is a trusted AF, and communicates directly with the TSCTSF 35.
  • synchronisation of the local 5G clock at UE device 100 is used to assist the synchronisation of a local TSN clock 60 at the DS-TT entity 100b of UE device 100. More generally, synchronisation of the local 5G clock at UE device 100 may, for example, be used to assist the synchronisation of any local vertical clock (at UE device 100) whose synchronisation relies on PTP messages.
  • the parameters of the user equipment device may be the parameters of a set of user equipment devices; and the above-mentioned transmission of timing information may be transmission of timing information to all user equipment devices in the set of user equipment devices.
  • Figure 12 illustrates an example of an apparatus for implementing the operations of UE device 100 or gNB 104 in the embodiments described above.
  • the apparatus may comprise at least one processor 802 coupled to one or more interfaces 808.
  • the one or more interfaces 808 may be to e.g. other equipment for which the UE functionality 100 provides radio communications.
  • the one or more interfaces 808 may be to e.g. core network nodes such as the node implementing the AMF 32 or the node implementing UPF 26.
  • the at least one processor 802 is also coupled to a radio unit 804 including one or more antennas etc. for making and receiving radio transmissions.
  • the at least one processor 802 may also be coupled to at least one memory 806.
  • the at least one processor 802 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code to perform the operations described above.
  • the software code may be stored in the memory 806.
  • Figure 13 illustrates an example of an apparatus for implementing a core network node such as the node implementing the AMF 32, the node implementing the SMF 34, the node implementing AF 38, the node implementing UPF 26, or the node implementing NEF 36 in the embodiments described above.
  • the apparatus may comprise at least one processor 902 coupled to one or more interfaces 908.
  • the one or more interfaces 908 may be for communication with RAN nodes 104 or other core network nodes.
  • the at least one processor 902 may also be coupled to at least one memory 906.
  • the at least one processor 902 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code to perform the operations described above.
  • the software code may be stored in the memory 906.
  • Figure 14 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media 1100a (e.g. computer disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) and 1100b (e.g. universal serial bus (USB) memory stick) storing instructions and/or parameters 1102 which when executed by a processor allow the processor to perform one or more of the steps of the methods described previously.
  • non-volatile memory media 1100a e.g. computer disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)
  • 1100b e.g. universal serial bus (USB) memory stick
  • embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as circuitry, in software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware and application logic.
  • the application logic, software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media.
  • a "computer-readable medium” may be any media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as the base stations or user equipment of the above-described embodiments.
  • circuitry refers to all of the following: (a) hardware- only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) to portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as the user equipment or base stations of the above-described embodiments, to perform various functions) and (c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.
  • circuitry would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.
  • circuitry would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other network device.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une technique, consistant à : adapter, à un ou plusieurs paramètres d'un dispositif d'équipement utilisateur, la synchronisation d'une ou plusieurs transmissions d'informations temporelles d'un nœud de réseau d'accès radio d'un système de communication vers le dispositif d'équipement utilisateur ; le ou les transmissions d'informations temporelles comprennent une ou plusieurs transmissions d'informations pour synchroniser une première horloge au niveau du dispositif d'équipement utilisateur avec une horloge du nœud de réseau d'accès radio.
PCT/IB2021/057415 2021-08-11 2021-08-11 Procédé et appareil pour système de communication impliquant la synchronisation d'horloges locales WO2023017296A1 (fr)

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