IP Library Granted Patent US 12,308,951
Granted Patent B2
US 12,308,951 · App. 17/886,019 · Granted May 20, 2025

Time synchronization method using 5G reference time distribution and network entity performing the same

Inventors: Yoo Hwa Kang (Daejeon, KR); Changki Kim (Daejeon, KR)
Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
H04J3/0682H04J3/0655H04W56/001H04W56/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,308,951
App. No.
17/886,019
Filed
Aug 11, 2022
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
HSU, ALPUS
Art Unit
2465
USPC
370/329
Abstract

Provided are a time synchronization method using 5G reference time distribution and a network entity performing the same. The time synchronization method may include receiving, by a time sensitive communication time synchronization function (TSCTSF), a 5G reference time distribution request including time synchronization parameter values from an application function (AF); performing, by the TSCTSF, policy modification; and transmitting, by the TSCTSF, a setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the AF.

Claims (57)

1. A time synchronization method using 5G reference time distribution comprising:

receiving, by a time sensitive communication time synchronization function (TSCTSF), a 5G reference time distribution request including time synchronization parameter values from an application function (AF);

performing, by the TSCTSF, policy modification; and

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, a setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the AF based on the policy modification.

2. The time synchronization method of claim 1 , wherein:

the receiving, by the TSCTSF, of the 5G reference time distribution request from the AF comprises

receiving, by the TSCTSF, the 5G reference time distribution request from a network exposure function (NEF).

3. The time synchronization method of claim 2 , wherein:

the receiving, by the TSCTSF, of the 5G reference time distribution request from the NEF comprises

receiving the 5G reference time distribution request through an Ntsctsf_Access Stratum Time Distribution Create Request (Ntsctsf_ASTI_Create Request).

4. The time synchronization method of claim 3 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, an Ntsctsf_ASTI_Create Response to the NEF in response to the 5G reference time distribution request.

5. The time synchronization method of claim 3 , wherein:

the 5G reference time distribution request is transmitted from the AF to the NEF through an Nnef_ASTI_Create Request.

6. The time synchronization method of claim 1 , wherein:

the performing, by the TSCTSF, of the policy modification comprises

requesting, by the TSCTSF, a policy control function (PCF) initiated access and mobility management (AM) Policy Association Modification procedure.

7. The time synchronization method of claim 6 , wherein:

the requesting, by the TSCTSF, of the PCF initiated AM Policy Association Modification procedure comprises

requesting, by the TSCTSF, the PCF initiated AM Policy Association Modification procedure using an Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service.

8. The time synchronization method of claim 6 , wherein:

the performing, by the TSCTSF, of the policy modification comprises

generating, by the TSCTSF, a port management information container (PMIC) and a user plane node management information container (UMIC); and

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, the time synchronization parameter values to a device side time sensitive networking (TSN) translator (DS-TT)/network side TSN translator (NW-TT).

9. The time synchronization method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, time synchronization accuracy information to a radio access network (RAN).

10. The time synchronization method of claim 9 , wherein:

the transmitting, by the TSCTSF, of the time synchronization accuracy information to the RAN comprises

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, the time synchronization accuracy information to the RAN using an Ndur_Data_Management_Create (Ndur_DM_Create)/Update/Delete service.

11. The time synchronization method of claim 10 , wherein:

the time synchronization accuracy information is transmitted from a unified data repository (UDR) to a policy control function (PCF) through Ndur_DM_Notify, and

the time synchronization accuracy information transmitted to the PCF is transmitted to an access and mobility management function (AMF) through an access and mobility management (AM) policy association modification procedure.

12. The time synchronization method of claim 11 , wherein:

the time synchronization accuracy information transmitted to the AMF is transmitted to the RAN.

13. The time synchronization method of claim 1 , wherein:

the transmitting, by the TSCTSF, of the setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the AF comprises

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, the setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the NEF.

14. The time synchronization method of claim 13 , wherein:

the transmitting, by the TSCTSF, of the setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the NEF comprises

transmitting, by the TSCTSF, the setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the NEF through Ntsctsf_ASTI_Create/Update/Delete/Get Response.

15. A network entity of performing a time synchronization method using 5G reference time distribution comprising:

a network interface configured to transmit and receive data with other network entities; and

a processor configured to receive a 5G reference time distribution request including time synchronization parameter values from an application function (AF), perform policy modification, and transmit a setting of the 5G reference time distribution to the AF.

16. The network entity of claim 15 , wherein:

the performing of the policy modification comprises

requesting a policy control function (PCF) initiated access and mobility management (AM) Policy Association Modification procedure.

17. The network entity of claim 16 , wherein:

the performing of the policy modification comprises

generating a port management information container (PMIC) and a user plane node management information container (UMIC) and transmitting the time synchronization parameter values to a device side time sensitive networking (TSN) translator (DS-TT)/network side TSN translator (NW-TT).

18. The network entity of claim 17 , wherein:

the processor transmits time synchronization accuracy information to a radio access network (RAN).

19. The network entity of claim 18 , wherein:

the transmitting of the time synchronization accuracy information to the RAN comprises transmitting the time synchronization accuracy information to the RAN through an Ndur_Data_Management_Create (Ndur_DM_Create)/Update/Delete service.

20. The network entity of claim 19 , wherein:

the time synchronization accuracy information is transmitted to a unified data repository (UDR) through Ndur_DM_Notify,

the time synchronization accuracy information transmitted to the PCF is transmitted to the AMF through an AM Policy association modification procedure, and

the time synchronization accuracy information transmitted to the AMF is transmitted to the RAN.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2022
From: KANG, YOO HWA; KIM, CHANGKI
To: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 060786/0053 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2021-0105746 · Aug 11, 2021 · national
KR 10-2022-0100090 · Aug 10, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230048519A1 · Feb 16, 2023
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Cited By (1)
US 12,745,153