CN114303428A

CN114303428A - Method for determining timestamp, terminal equipment, access network node and core network equipment

Info

Publication number: CN114303428A
Application number: CN201980099923.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: ***; 付喆
Original assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-20
Filing date: 2019-11-20
Publication date: 2022-04-08
Also published as: WO2021097726A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for determining a timestamp, a terminal device, an access network node, a core network device, a chip, a computer readable storage medium, a computer program product and a computer program, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or at least two cells simultaneously; and the terminal equipment sets a data input timestamp and a data output timestamp based on the reference clock.

Description

Method for determining timestamp, terminal equipment, access network node and core network equipment

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method for determining a timestamp, a terminal device, an access network node, a core network device, a chip, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program.

Background

In a communication system, TA (timing advance) is usually adopted to compensate for propagation delay. The terminal equipment has different modes for acquiring TA in an idle state and a connected state. In supporting Time Sensitive Networks (TSNs) with 5GS, the TSN clocks need to be synchronized. The requirement of the current synchronization mechanism is to have a reference clock within the 5GS to set the data in timestamp and the data out timestamp. In some scenarios, the terminal may connect to different base stations at the same time, however, how to set the reference clock of the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp in such scenarios is a problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

To solve the foregoing technical problem, embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a terminal device, an access network node, a core network device, a chip, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program for determining a timestamp.

In a first aspect, a method for determining a timestamp is provided, including:

the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock, and is simultaneously connected with at least two access network nodes or at least two cells;

and the terminal equipment sets a data input timestamp and a data output timestamp based on the reference clock.

In a second aspect, a method for determining a timestamp is provided, including:

under the condition that the terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously, the main access network node determines that the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

In a third aspect, a method for determining a timestamp is provided, including:

under the condition that terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously, core network equipment determines that the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

In a fourth aspect, a terminal device is provided, where the terminal device connects to at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connects to at least two cells simultaneously, and the terminal device includes:

the first processing unit adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; and setting a data-in timestamp and a data-out timestamp based on the reference clock.

In a fifth aspect, an access network node is provided, comprising:

the second processing unit is used for determining that the terminal equipment adopts the clock of the first access network node or the first cell as a reference clock under the condition that the terminal equipment is simultaneously connected with at least two access network nodes or at least two cells; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

In a sixth aspect, a core network device is provided, including:

a third processing unit, configured to determine that the terminal device uses a clock of the first access network node or the first cell as a reference clock when the terminal device is connected to at least two access network nodes or connected to at least two cells at the same time; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

In a seventh aspect, a terminal device is provided, including: a processor and a memory for storing a computer program capable of running on the processor,

the memory is used for storing computer programs, and the processor is used for calling and running the computer programs stored in the memory to execute the steps of the method.

In an eighth aspect, an access network node is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory for storing a computer program capable of running on the processor,

In a ninth aspect, a core network device is provided, which includes: a processor and a memory for storing a computer program capable of running on the processor,

In a tenth aspect, there is provided a chip comprising: and the processor is used for calling and running the computer program from the memory so that the equipment provided with the chip executes the method.

In an eleventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program for causing a computer to perform the steps of the method as described above.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer program instructions for causing a computer to perform the method as described above.

In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program is provided, which causes a computer to perform the method as described above.

By adopting the above scheme, when the terminal device is connected with a plurality of access network nodes or a plurality of cells, it can be determined that the clock of the first access network node or the first cell is used for setting the reference clock, and then the data entry timestamp and the data exit timestamp are determined based on the reference clock. Therefore, the problem that the time stamp cannot be set in the asynchronous network in the prior art is solved.

Drawings

Fig. 1-1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 1-2 are schematic diagrams of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 1-3 are schematic diagrams illustrating a scenario of generating a synchronization error according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 1-4 are schematic diagrams illustrating a synchronization process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a first flowchart illustrating a method for determining a timestamp according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a timestamp according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a timestamp according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an access network node structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

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

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram two of a communication system architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

So that the manner in which the features and aspects of the embodiments of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

Technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) System, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) System, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) System, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE) System, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) System, an LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication System, or a 5G System.

For example, the communication system 100 applied in the embodiment of the present application may be as shown in fig. 1-1. The communication system 100 may include a network device 110, and the network device 110 may be a device that communicates with a UE120 (or referred to as a communication terminal, terminal). Network device 110 may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area and may communicate with UEs located within that coverage area. Optionally, the Network device 110 may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a GSM system or a CDMA system, a Network device (NodeB, NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN), or a Network device in a Mobile switching center, a relay Station, an Access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a hub, a switch, a bridge, a router, a Network side device in a 5G Network, or a Network device in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) for future evolution, or the like.

The communication system 100 also includes at least one UE120 located within the coverage area of the network device 110. "UE" as used herein includes, but is not limited to, connections via wireline, such as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Digital cable, direct cable connection; and/or another data connection/network; and/or via a Wireless interface, e.g., to a cellular Network, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a digital television Network such as a DVB-H Network, a satellite Network, an AM-FM broadcast transmitter; and/or another UE's device configured to receive/transmit communication signals; and/or Internet of Things (IoT) devices. A UE that is arranged to communicate over a radio interface may be referred to as a "radio communication terminal", "radio terminal" or "mobile terminal".

Optionally, a Device to Device (D2D) communication may be performed between UEs 120.

The 5G IIoT needs to support the transmission of services such as industrial automation Factory automation, transmission automation Industry, intelligent electric Power electric Distribution and the like in a 5G system. IIoT introduces the concept of a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) network or TSC based on its transmission requirements of latency and reliability. In the TSN network, the 5C network will serve as a TSN bridge (see fig. 1-2) for the TSN network and traffic. In this regard, NR systems need to provide lower latency guarantees, and higher clock synchronization accuracy. So that the operation and connection of each point of mechanical operation are accurate and time-meeting when the industrial automation service is transmitted in the 5G network.

Based on the requirement of TSN service transmission, when the TSN service is transmitted in 5G, the requirement of 1us of time synchronization precision needs to be satisfied. Whether 1us of time accuracy can be achieved or not is determined by RAN1, as shown in fig. 1-3, from the air interface, the time synchronization accuracy (accurve) notified by the network is correlated with the time synchronization accuracy error (delta) at the UE side, and the synchronization error at the UE side is determined by RAN1, and the error is correlated with many factors, such as propagation loss and device limitation.

The time synchronization information and the time synchronization accuracy information notified by the network are contained in the TimeReferenceInfo IE.

In some scenarios, propagation delay compensation is required, so that the time synchronization accuracy error of the physical layer is within a required range, and it is finally ensured that the time synchronization accuracy requirement of 1us is met when the TSN service is transmitted within 5G.

A method for realizing transmission delay compensation in a scene with a distance greater than 200m needs to be considered. For example, TA may be used for propagation delay compensation.

In a communication system, TA is generally used to compensate for propagation delay. The UE has different TA acquisition modes in the idle state and the connected state. When the UE is in an idle state or an inactive state inactive, time synchronization with the network side is not maintained, so the UE needs to obtain ta (timing advance) in an initial access process through an RA process to perform synchronization calibration. In the connected state, the UE acquires ta (timing advance) according to tac (ta command) sent by the network, and performs synchronization calibration. The existing conditions for triggering the RA procedure are as follows: initial access by an RRC idle state; RRC connection re-establishment processing; switching; when in RRC connection state, the uplink synchronous state is 'asynchronous', and uplink or downlink data is transmitted; transmission in an RRC inactive state; in the auxiliary cell To estimate time alignment at SCell addition; requesting other SIs; and recovering the beam failure.

Based on TAC or RA process, the transmission advance of the uplink frame is (N)_TA+N _{TA offset})×T _c. Wherein NTA is associated with an indicated TA command carried in TAC or RAR. Given in TA command is the index of the timing advance adjustment. For the scene carrying TA command in RAR, N_TA＝T _A·16·64/2 ^μWherein, T_ATA command, which takes the values: 0,1,2,...,3846. For scenarios where TA command is indicated by a dedicated TAC MAC CE, N_{TA_new}＝N _{TA_old}+(T _A-31)·16·64/2 ^μWherein, T_ATA command, which takes the values: 0,1,2,...,63. In addition, TC is the physical layer minimum time unit, T_c＝1/(Δf _max·N _f)whereΔf _max＝480·10 ³Hz and N _f4096. NTA offset is given in table 1 below.

TABLE 1

RAN4 sets requirements for the accuracy of TA adjustment, the minimum requirements of which are shown in table 2 below

TABLE 2

In the process of supporting the TSN network by using 5GS, the TSN clock needs to be synchronized, and a specific synchronization manner may be as shown in fig. 1 to 4:

in the figure, when the synchronization messages "SYNC" "SYNC _ Follow _ Up" to 5GS Ingress from the downlink are normally TT functional entities of UPF, 5GS Ingress adds a timestamp Ti with 5GS system clock as reference clock to the two messages, and then sends the message to 5GS Egress, which is normally referred to as TT functional entity of the terminal. After receiving the message, the 5GS Egress marks the arrival time Te with the 5GS clock as the reference clock. The requirement of the related art synchronization mechanism is that 5GS ingress5GS (5G input) and 5GS egress (5G output) have the same reference clock within the 5GS clock to set Ti (data in timestamp) and Te (data out timestamp).

It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein. The term "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B, may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a synchronization method, as shown in fig. 2, including:

step 21: the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock, and is simultaneously connected with at least two access network nodes or at least two cells.

Step 22: and the terminal equipment sets a data input timestamp and a data output timestamp based on the reference clock.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a synchronization method, as shown in fig. 3, including:

step 31: under the condition that the terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously, the main access network node determines that the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a synchronization method, as shown in fig. 4, including:

step 41: under the condition that terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously, core network equipment determines that the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

In some scenarios, such as in NSA (5G non-independent networking), the terminal may be connected to different base stations at the same time, and the two base stations may not be synchronized in clock, so it is currently unclear which reference clock should be used when setting Ti and Te. The present embodiment solves the above problem by determining the manner in which Ti and Te are determined using the clock of the first access network node or the clock of the first cell as a reference clock.

The 5GS ingress (5G input terminal) and the 5GS egress (5G output terminal) set the data entry time stamp Ti and the data exit time stamp Te with reference to the following references when setting the data entry time stamp Ti and the data exit time stamp Te with reference to the 5G internal clock.

Ti (data in timestamp) and Te (data out timestamp), which are synchronized with the reference clock, use the same clock.

Ti (data-in timestamp) indicates the point in time when the data arrives at the input, and Te (data-out timestamp) indicates the point in time when the data arrives at the output.

In the solution provided in this embodiment, the 5GS ingress may be a UPF/NW-TT (Network-side TSN translator) or a UE/DS-TT. The 5GS offsets may be UE/DS-TT or UPF/NW-TT. In the following, 5GS ingress is UPF/NW-TT, and 5GS egr is UE/DS-TT. Of course, the reverse is also possible, and the embodiments are not exhaustive.

The first access network node is one of:

the access network node comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node;

the first cell is one of:

a main cell of the main access network, a main cell of the auxiliary access network and a designated cell.

Wherein the at least two access network nodes comprise the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.

In conjunction with the above description, the present embodiment is mainly applied to a case where, when a terminal device is connected to two or more cells or multiple base stations simultaneously, or resides in two or more cells or base stations simultaneously, a terminal device and a core network device (e.g., UPF) that start time-sensitive network (TSN) clock synchronization in this case perform processing according to one of the following multiple examples:

examples 1, 1,

The first access network node may be a primary access network node, or a secondary access network node. Specifically, the method comprises the following steps:

specifically, the terminal device and the network side are both set according to the clock of the master access network node as a reference clock; correspondingly, the network side, such as the core network device or the first access network device, uses the clock of the master access network node as the reference clock. And the terminal equipment and the network side determine corresponding Ti and Te according to the reference clock.

Or the terminal equipment is set according to the clock of the auxiliary access network node as a reference clock; correspondingly, the network side, such as the core network device or the first access network device, uses the clock of the secondary access network node as the reference clock. And the terminal equipment and the network side determine corresponding Ti and Te according to the reference clock.

In this example, the first access network node is a primary access network node or an auxiliary access network node, and may be determined based on a protocol for both the terminal device and the network side; may also be indicated for the primary access network node; or, alternatively, may be indicated for the core network device.

For example, the pre-protocol determines that the clocks of the master access network node or the auxiliary access network node are used as reference clocks, and then the terminal device and the network side (such as a core network) default to use the clock of the master access network node or the auxiliary access network node as the reference clock.

Or, if the terminal device itself determines to use the clock of the primary access network node (or the secondary access network node) as the reference clock, the core network device may be notified by the fifth indication information.

Or, if the master access network node determines to use the clock of the master access network node (or the auxiliary access network node) as the reference clock, the master access network node may send indication information to the terminal device to notify that the clock of the master access network node (or the auxiliary access network node) is used as the reference clock; also, the primary access network node may send the same indication information to the core network device as well. Thus, the network side and the terminal device can determine the same reference clock.

Or, if the core network device determines to use the clock of the primary access network node (or the secondary access network node) as the reference clock, the core network device may send indication information to the terminal device to notify that the clock of the primary access network node (or the secondary access network node) is used as the reference clock. Thus, the network side and the terminal device can determine the same reference clock.

Example 2, the first access network node is a designated access network node; or the first cell is a designated cell.

In this example, the first access network node may be a designated primary access network node, or a designated secondary access network node, or may be a designated other node besides the primary access network node and the secondary access network node. The other nodes may be other access network nodes except the main access network node and the auxiliary access network node in the plurality of access network nodes currently connected to the terminal device.

The first cell may be a primary cell of a designated primary access network node, or a primary cell of a designated secondary access network node, or may be a cell of a designated other access network than the primary access network node and the secondary access network node. The cells of the other access networks may be cells of other access networks, except for the cells of the primary access network and the cells of the secondary access network, in the plurality of cells to which the terminal device is currently connected.

That is, the clock of a specified access network node or a specified cell may be set as a reference clock. The terminal device and the core network device (such as the UPF) set Ti and Te according to the clock of the designated access network node or cell as a reference clock.

In this example, the processing is performed as follows:

mode 1, the terminal equipment receives first indication information sent by a main access network node; wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first access network node or a first cell. Correspondingly, the main access network node sends first indication information to the terminal equipment.

Wherein the first indication information is carried by an RRC message.

That is, the master access network node determines which access network or cell's clock is the reference clock and informs the terminal device through the first indication information, e.g. through an RRC message. The terminal device can determine which access network node or which cell clock is used as the reference clock by receiving the first indication information.

In addition, the main access network node sends third indication information to the core network equipment;

wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell to the core network device.

That is, the primary access network node may also send the indication information to the core network device. Correspondingly, the core network device may determine, according to the third indication information sent by the main access network node, which access network node or which cell clock the terminal device may use as the reference clock, and further determine the data-in and data-out timestamps corresponding to the terminal device.

Wherein the core network device is one of the following: an access and mobility management function AMF, a session management function SMF, and a user plane function UPF.

Preferably, the third indication information is finally required to be sent to the UPF side of the core network.

For example, the primary access network node indicates the SMF to the core network, and then the SMF indicates to the UPF;

alternatively, the primary access network node indicates the AMF to the core network, and then to the SMF and then to the UPF by the AMF.

Mode 2,

The terminal equipment receives second indication information sent by core network equipment; the second indication information is used to indicate that the clock of the first access network node is used as a reference clock, or the clock of the first cell is used as a reference clock.

Correspondingly, the core network equipment sends second indication information to the terminal equipment; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell.

That is, the core network determines which access network or cell's clock is the reference clock and indicates to the terminal, e.g., via a NAS message. Correspondingly, the core network device determines the reference clock corresponding to the terminal device, and further determines the data-in and data-out time stamps corresponding to the terminal device.

The second indication information is carried by a NAS message.

In this example, the core network device may be an AMF, or an SMF, or a UPF.

Further, when the core network device is the AMF or the SMF, the core network device may send fourth indication information to the UPF, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the clock of the first access network node of the terminal device is used as the reference clock, or the clock of the first cell is used as the reference clock.

It is further noted that in this example, the designated access network node or the designated cell is taken as the first access network node or the first cell. The specified access network node is one of at least two access network nodes connected with the terminal equipment; and, the designated cell is also one of at least two cells to which the terminal device is connected.

In other words, the specified access network node may be a primary access network node, or a secondary access network node, or may be an access network node other than the primary access network node and the secondary access network node, among a plurality of access network nodes to which the terminal device is currently connected. The designated cell may be a primary cell of a primary access network, or may be a primary cell of a secondary access network, or may also be another cell, except for the primary cells of the primary access network and the secondary access network, in a plurality of cells to which the terminal device is currently connected.

Examples 3,

The first cell may be a primary cell of the primary access network, or the first cell may be a primary cell of the secondary access network.

That is, the clock of the primary cell of the primary/secondary access network node is used as a reference clock, and both the UE and the UPF are used as reference clocks according to the reference clock of the primary cell of the primary/secondary access network node; and then Ti and Te were determined.

In this example, the determination of which primary cell is used as the first cell may be determined by a predetermined protocol, may be indicated by the primary access network node, or may be indicated by the core network device.

For example, a protocol determines that a clock of a main cell of a main access network is used as a reference clock, and then both the terminal device and a network side (e.g., a core network) default to use the clock of the main cell of the main access network as the reference clock; or, the pre-protocol determines that the clock of the primary cell of the secondary access network is used as the reference clock, and then both the terminal device and the network side (such as the core network) default to the clock of the primary cell of the secondary access network as the reference clock.

Alternatively, if the terminal device itself determines to use the clock of the primary cell of the primary access network as the reference clock, the core network device may be notified by the fifth indication information.

Or, if the master access network node determines to use the clock of the master cell of the master access network (or the master cell of one of the slave small access networks) as the reference clock, the master access network may send indication information to the terminal device to notify that the clock of the master cell of the master access network (or the master cell of one of the slave small access networks) is used as the reference clock; and, the primary access network node may also send indication information to the core network device. Thus, the network side and the terminal device can determine the same reference clock.

Or, if the core network device determines to use the clock of the primary cell of the primary access network (or the primary cell of one of the secondary cell access networks) as the reference clock, the core network device may send indication information to the terminal device to notify that the clock of the primary cell of the primary access network (or the primary cell of one of the secondary cell access networks) is used as the reference clock. Thus, the network side and the terminal device can determine the same reference clock.

By adopting the above scheme, when the terminal device is connected with a plurality of access network nodes or a plurality of cells, it can be determined that the reference clock is set by using the clock of the first access network node or the first cell, and then the data entry timestamp and the data exit timestamp are determined based on the reference clock. Therefore, the problem that the time stamp cannot be set in the asynchronous network in the prior art is solved.

The embodiment of the invention provides terminal equipment, which is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously; as shown in fig. 5, the terminal device includes:

a first processing unit 51, which uses a clock of the first access network node or the first cell as a reference clock; setting a data-in timestamp and a data-out timestamp based on the reference clock.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a master access network node, as shown in fig. 6, including:

a second processing unit 61, configured to determine that a clock of a first access network node or a first cell is adopted by a terminal device as a reference clock when the terminal device is connected to at least two access network nodes or connected to at least two cells simultaneously; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a core network device, as shown in fig. 7, including:

a third processing unit 71, configured to determine that the terminal device uses the clock of the first access network node or the first cell as a reference clock when the terminal device is connected to at least two access network nodes or connected to at least two cells simultaneously; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.

The first access network node is one of:

the first cell is one of:

Wherein the primary access network node, the secondary access network node and the designated access network node are included in the at least two access network nodes;

the cell of the primary access network, the cell of the secondary access network, and the designated cell are included in the at least two cells.

In conjunction with the above description, the following describes the scheme provided by the present embodiment using a number of examples:

examples 1, 1,

when the UE is simultaneously connected to two or more cells or base stations, or when the UE simultaneously camps on two or more cells or base stations, the UE and the UPF, which start TSN clock synchronization, set Ti and Te in one manner as described below.

In this example, this designated access network node or designated cell clock is determined as follows:

mode 1, the terminal device further includes: a first communication unit 52, receiving the first indication information sent by the master access network node; wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first access network node or a first cell. Correspondingly, the primary access network node further comprises: and a second communication unit 62 for transmitting the first indication information to the terminal device.

Wherein the first indication information is carried by an RRC message.

In addition, the second communication unit 62 of the main access network node sends third indication information to the core network device; wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell to the core network device. Correspondingly, the core network device further includes: the third communication unit 72 receives the third indication information sent by the primary access network node.

Mode 2,

The first communication unit 52 of the terminal device receives the second indication information sent by the core network device; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell.

Correspondingly, the third communication unit 72 of the core network device sends second indication information to the terminal device; the second indication information is used to indicate that the clock of the first access network node is used as a reference clock, or the clock of the first cell is used as a reference clock.

The second indication information is carried by a NAS message.

In this example, the core network device may be an AMF, or an SMF, or a UPF.

Examples 3,

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the communication device in this embodiment may be embodied as one of a terminal device, an access network node, and a core network device in the foregoing embodiments. The communication device 900 shown in fig. 8 includes a processor 910, and the processor 910 can call and run a computer program from a memory to implement the method in the embodiment of the present invention.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 8, the communication device 900 may further include a memory 920. From the memory 920, the processor 910 may call and execute a computer program to implement the method in the embodiment of the present invention.

The memory 920 may be a separate device from the processor 910, or may be integrated in the processor 910.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 8, the communication device 900 may further include a transceiver 930, and the processor 910 may control the transceiver 930 to communicate with other devices, and specifically, may transmit information or data to the other devices or receive information or data transmitted by the other devices.

The transceiver 930 may include a transmitter and a receiver, among others. The transceiver 930 may further include one or more antennas.

Optionally, the communication device 900 may specifically be a network device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the communication device 900 may implement a corresponding process implemented by the network device in each method according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is not described herein again for brevity.

Optionally, the communication device 900 may specifically be a terminal device or a network device in the embodiment of the present invention, and the communication device 900 may implement a corresponding process implemented by a mobile terminal/a terminal device in each method in the embodiment of the present invention, and for brevity, details are not described here again.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip of an embodiment of the present invention. The chip 1000 shown in fig. 9 includes a processor 1010, and the processor 1010 may call and execute a computer program from a memory to implement the method in the embodiment of the present invention.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 9, the chip 1000 may further include a memory 1020. From memory 1020, processor 1010 may retrieve and execute computer programs to implement the methods of embodiments of the present invention.

The memory 1020 may be a separate device from the processor 1010 or may be integrated into the processor 1010.

Optionally, the chip 1000 may further include an input interface 1030. The processor 1010 may control the input interface 1030 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically may obtain information or data transmitted by the other devices or chips.

Optionally, the chip 1000 may further include an output interface 1040. The processor 1010 may control the output interface 1040 to communicate with other devices or chips, and may particularly output information or data to the other devices or chips.

Optionally, the chip may be applied to one of the terminal device, the access network node, and the core network device in the embodiment of the present invention, and the chip may implement a corresponding process implemented by the terminal device in each method in the embodiment of the present invention, and for brevity, details are not described here again.

It should be understood that the chips mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention may also be referred to as a system-on-chip, a system-on-chip or a system-on-chip.

It should be understood that the processor of embodiments of the present invention may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method embodiments may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The Processor may be a general purpose Processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other Programmable logic device, discrete Gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present invention may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps of the method in combination with hardware of the processor.

It will be appreciated that the memory in embodiments of the invention may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile Memory may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), or a flash Memory. Volatile Memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache Memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchronous link SDRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

It should be understood that the above memories are exemplary but not limiting illustrations, for example, the memories in the embodiments of the present invention may also be Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), Direct Rambus RAM (DR RAM), and the like. That is, the memory in the embodiments of the present invention is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 1100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 10, the communication system 1100 includes a terminal device 1110 and a network device 1120.

The terminal device 1110 may be configured to implement the corresponding function implemented by the UE in the foregoing method, and the network device 1120 may be configured to implement the corresponding function implemented by the network device in the foregoing method, which is not described herein again for brevity. The network device may be one of the access network node and the core network device.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a computer readable storage medium for storing the computer program.

Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to a network device or a terminal device in the embodiment of the present invention, and the computer program enables a computer to execute corresponding processes implemented by the network device in each method in the embodiment of the present invention, which is not described herein again for brevity.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer program product, which includes computer program instructions.

Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to a network device or a terminal device in the embodiment of the present invention, and the computer program instruction enables a computer to execute corresponding processes implemented by the network device in each method in the embodiment of the present invention, which is not described herein again for brevity.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a computer program.

Optionally, the computer program may be applied to the network device or the terminal device in the embodiment of the present invention, and when the computer program runs on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute corresponding processes implemented by the network device in the methods in the embodiment of the present invention, which is not described herein again for brevity.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the embodiments provided in the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

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

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present invention may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present invention. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention, and all the changes or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

A method of determining a timestamp, comprising:

the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock, and is simultaneously connected with at least two access network nodes or at least two cells;

and the terminal equipment sets a data input timestamp and a data output timestamp based on the reference clock.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first access network node is one of: the system comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node; or,

the first cell is one of: a main cell of the main access network, a main cell of the auxiliary access network and a designated cell.
The method of claim 2, wherein,

the at least two access network nodes, including the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.
The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

the terminal equipment receives first indication information sent by the main access network node;

wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first access network node or a first cell.
The method of claim 4, wherein the first indication information is carried by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.
The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

the terminal equipment receives second indication information sent by core network equipment;

wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell.
The method of claim 6, wherein the core network device is one of: an access and mobility management function AMF, a session management function SMF, and a user plane function UPF.
The method of claim 6, wherein the second indication information is carried by a non-access stratum (NAS) message.
A method of determining a timestamp, comprising:

under the condition that the terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously, the main access network node determines that the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.
The method of claim 9, wherein the first access network node is one of: the access network node comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node; or,

the first cell is one of: a main cell of the main access network node, a main cell of the auxiliary access network node and a designated cell.
The method of claim 10, wherein,

the at least two access network nodes, including the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.
The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

the main access network node sends first indication information to the terminal equipment;

wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first access network node or a first cell.
The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

the main access network node sends third indication information to core network equipment;

wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell to the core network device.
A method of determining a timestamp, comprising:

under the condition that terminal equipment is connected with at least two access network nodes simultaneously or connected with at least two cells simultaneously, core network equipment determines that the terminal equipment adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.
The method of claim 14, wherein the first access network node is one of: the access network node comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node; or,

the first cell is one of: a main cell of the main access network node, a main cell of the auxiliary access network node and a designated cell.
The method of claim 15, wherein,

the at least two access network nodes, including the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.
The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

the core network equipment sends second indication information to the terminal equipment;

wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell.
The method of claim 15, wherein the second indication information is carried by a NAS message.
A terminal device, said terminal device being connected to at least two access network nodes simultaneously or to at least two cells simultaneously, said terminal device comprising:

the first processing unit adopts a clock of a first access network node or a first cell as a reference clock; and setting a data-in timestamp and a data-out timestamp based on the reference clock.
A terminal device according to claim 19, wherein the first access network node is one of: the system comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node; or,

the first cell is one of: a main cell of the main access network, a main cell of the auxiliary access network and a designated cell.
The terminal device of claim 20,

the at least two access network nodes, including the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.
The terminal device of claim 20, wherein the terminal device further comprises:

the first communication unit receives first indication information sent by a main access network node;

wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first access network node or a first cell.
The terminal device of claim 22, wherein the first indication information is carried by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.
The terminal device of claim 20, wherein the terminal device further comprises:

the first communication unit is used for receiving second indication information sent by the core network equipment;

wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell.
The terminal device of claim 24, wherein the core network device is one of: an access and mobility management function AMF, a session management function SMF, and a user plane function UPF.
The terminal device of claim 24, wherein the second indication information is carried by a non-access stratum (NAS) message.
An access network node, comprising:

the second processing unit is used for determining that the terminal equipment adopts the clock of the first access network node or the first cell as a reference clock under the condition that the terminal equipment is simultaneously connected with at least two access network nodes or at least two cells; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.
The access network node of claim 27, wherein the first access network node is one of: the access network node comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node; or,

the first cell is one of: a main cell of the main access network node, a main cell of the auxiliary access network node and a designated cell.
The access network node of claim 28,

the at least two access network nodes, including the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.
The access network node of claim 28, wherein the access network node further comprises:

the second communication unit is used for sending first indication information to the terminal equipment;

wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first access network node or a first cell.
The access network node of claim 28, wherein the access network node further comprises:

the second communication unit is used for sending third indication information to the core network equipment;

wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell to the core network device.
A core network device, comprising:

a third processing unit, configured to determine that the terminal device uses a clock of the first access network node or the first cell as a reference clock when the terminal device is connected to at least two access network nodes or connected to at least two cells at the same time; the reference clock is used to set the data-in timestamp and the data-out timestamp.
The core network device of claim 32, wherein the first access network node is one of: the access network node comprises a main access network node, an auxiliary access network node and a designated access network node; or,

the first cell is one of: a main cell of the main access network node, a main cell of the auxiliary access network node and a designated cell.
The core network device of claim 33,

the at least two access network nodes, including the first access network node;

or,

the at least two cells include the first cell.
The core network device of claim 33, wherein the core network device further comprises:

a third communication unit that transmits second instruction information to the terminal device;

wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first access network node or the first cell.
The core network device of claim 35, wherein the second indication information is carried by a NAS message.
A terminal device, comprising: a processor and a memory for storing a computer program capable of running on the processor,

wherein the memory is adapted to store a computer program and the processor is adapted to call and run the computer program stored in the memory to perform the steps of the method according to any of claims 1-8.
An access network node, comprising: a processor and a memory for storing a computer program capable of running on the processor,

wherein the memory is adapted to store a computer program and the processor is adapted to call and run the computer program stored in the memory to perform the steps of the method according to any of claims 9-13.
A core network device, comprising: a processor and a memory for storing a computer program capable of running on the processor,

wherein the memory is used for storing a computer program, and the processor is used for calling and running the computer program stored in the memory and executing the method according to any one of claims 14-18.
A chip, comprising: a processor for calling and running a computer program from a memory so that a device on which the chip is installed performs the method of any one of claims 1-18.
A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program for causing a computer to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.
A computer program product comprising computer program instructions to cause a computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 18.
A computer program for causing a computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-18.