Method and apparatus for providing time synchronization between wireless user equipment

1 . A method performed by an entity in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

obtaining requirement information for time synchronization from multiple terminals, the requirement information including synchronization error budget;

identifying location information for 5G system synchronization based on a subscription data stored in a unified data management (UDM), wherein the location information comprises information whether the 5G system synchronization is available;

determining synchronization accuracy based on requirement of at least one terminal matching the location information among the multiple terminals; and

transmitting timing information for the time synchronization to the at least one terminal comprising the determined synchronization accuracy.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the requirement information further comprises information related to a time synchronization coverage area.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying whether an existing synchronization service is available based on at least one of information of the existing synchronization service received from a distributed base station or an external application function (AF), or a signal received from the multiple terminals.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from an Access and Mobility Management (AMF) entity, information about the multiple terminals requiring provision of a synchronization service based on location information of the multiple terminals.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

correlating the location information with location information related to the multiple terminals; and

identifying the at least one terminal based on the correlation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the timing information is transmitted via at least one of access and mobility management non-access stratum (AM NAS), session management non-access stratum (SM NAS), or access stratum (AS).

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying whether a synchronization service is required based on information obtained from an AF.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

requesting, to another entity, a changed requirement of the multiple terminals; and

receiving, from the other entity, the changed requirement of the multiple terminals.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving modified information comprising information regarding at least one of synchronization accuracy, time error budget, or holdover time; and

determining a period of a system information block (SIB) or a delay time measurement period for measuring a timing advance value with the multiple terminals.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing the requirement of the at least one terminal with a current synchronization accuracy of a synchronization service; and

determining, based on a result of the comparing, whether the synchronization service is available or the synchronization accuracy.

11 . An entity for performing communication in a wireless communication system, the entity comprising:

a transceiver; and

at least one processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to:

obtain requirement information for time synchronization from multiple terminals, the requirement information including synchronization error budget,

identify location information for 5G system synchronization based on a subscription data stored in a unified data management (UDM), wherein the location information comprises information whether the 5G system synchronization is available,

determine synchronization accuracy based on requirement of at least one terminal matching the location information among the multiple terminals, and

transmit timing information for the time synchronization to the at least one terminal comprising the determined synchronization accuracy.

12 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the requirement information further comprises information related to a time synchronization coverage area.

13 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify whether an existing synchronization service is available based on at least one of information of the existing synchronization service received from a distributed base station or an external application function (AF), or a signal received from the multiple terminals.

14 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive, from an access and mobility management (AMF) entity, information about the multiple terminals requiring provision of a synchronization service based on location information of the multiple terminals.

15 . The entity of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

correlate the location information with location information related to the multiple terminals; and

identify the at least one terminal based on the correlation.

16 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the timing information is transmitted via at least one of access and mobility management non-access stratum (AM NAS), session management non-access stratum (SM NAS), or access stratum (AS).

17 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify whether a synchronization service is required based on information obtained from an AF.

18 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

request, to another entity, a changed requirement of the multiple terminals, and

receive, from the other entity, the changed requirement of the multiple terminals.

19 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive modified information comprising information regarding at least one of synchronization accuracy, time error budget, or holdover time, and

determine a period of a system information block (SIB) or a delay time measurement period for measuring a timing advance value with the multiple terminals.

20 . The entity of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

compare the requirement of the at least one terminal with a current synchronization accuracy of a synchronization service, and

determine, based on a result of the comparing, whether the synchronization service is available or the synchronization accuracy.