Communication network nodes and methods performed therein

• US 9,295,018 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ruffini, Stefano, Forsman, Mats, Thyni, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tse, Young T
• Application Number:
  US14/420,969
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 375/354, 375/356, 370/337, 370/338, 370/342, 370/344, 370/350, 455/456.5, 455/13.2, 455/524, 455/525
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0641 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0658 Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A synchronization module is associated with a network node of a communication network which comprises at least one Synchronization Master entity. The synchronization module has knowledge of a plurality of Synchronization Master references. Endpoints of paths of the plurality of Synchronization Master references are obtained. Each of the paths extends between one Synchronization Master Entity and the first or the second access network node. The paths are obtained from a synchronization report module based on the obtained endpoints. For each of the Synchronization Master references, a first path and a second path of the obtained paths are selected. A time synchronization inaccuracy value between the first and the second access network node is calculated based on the selected paths. A Synchronization Master reference is selected based on the calculated time synchronization inaccuracy values, and the first and the second access network node are notified which Synchronization Master reference was selected.

Claims

1. A method performed by a synchronisation report module for providing paths to a synchronisation module, the synchronisation report module being associated with a network node of a communication network, the communication network comprising at least one Synchronisation Master entity, the method comprising:

receiving a request for two paths of a first Synchronisation Master reference and two paths of a second Synchronisation Master reference from the synchronisation module, the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the first Synchronisation Master reference and respective ones of a first access network node and a second access network node and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the second Synchronisation Master reference and the respective ones of the first access network node and the second access network node,

in response to the received requests, determining the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference based on a Path Computation Engine (PCE), and

sending the determined paths to the synchronisation module,

the sent paths to be received by the synchronisation module for being utilised when selecting which one of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the second Synchronisation Master reference to be applied by the first access network node and the second access network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for synchronisation characteristics related to the network node from the synchronisation module, obtaining the requested synchronisation characteristics, and sending the obtained synchronisation characteristics to the synchronisation module.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein obtaining the synchronisation characteristics comprises determining synchronisation characteristics from a set of available synchronisation references at the network node, time delay values, jitter values, or asymmetry values of the network node, or of links associated to the network node.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of sending the determined paths, and sending the obtained synchronisation characteristics, is performed in accordance with a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) via the first access network node to the synchronisation module.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of sending the determined paths, and sending the obtained synchronisation characteristics, is performed in accordance with a routing protocol or Software-defined Networking (SDN) protocol to the synchronisation module.

6. A synchronisation report module for providing paths to a synchronisation module, the synchronisation report module being associated with a network node of a communication network, the communication network comprising at least one Synchronisation Master entity, the synchronisation report module comprising:

a communication unit adapted to receive a request for two paths of a first Synchronisation Master reference and two paths of a second Synchronisation Master reference from the synchronisation module, the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the first Synchronisation Master reference and respective ones of a first access network node and a second access network node, and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the second Synchronisation Master reference and the respective ones of the first access network node and the second access network node, and

a controller adapted to, in response to the received request, determine the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference based on a Path Computation Engine (PCE),

the communication unit being further adapted to send the determined paths to the synchronisation module,

such that the synchronisation module can receive the sent paths and utilise when selecting which one of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the second Synchronisation Master reference to be applied by the first access network node and the second access network node.

7. The synchronisation report module according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit is further adapted to receive a request for synchronisation characteristics related to the network node from the synchronisation module, obtain the requested synchronisation characteristics, and send the obtained synchronisation characteristics to the synchronisation module.

8. The synchronisation report module according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further adapted to obtain the synchronisation characteristics by determining synchronisation characteristics from a set of available synchronisation references at the network node, time delay values, jitter values, or asymmetry values of the network node, or of links associated to the network node.

9. The synchronisation report module according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit is adapted to send at least one of the determined paths, and the obtained synchronisation characteristics, in accordance with a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) to the synchronisation module.

10. The synchronisation report module according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit is adapted to send at least one of the determined paths, and the obtained synchronisation characteristics, in accordance with a routing protocol or Software-defined Networking (SDN) protocol to the synchronisation module.

11. A network node comprising a synchronisation report module, wherein the network node is one of an access network node, a transport network node, or a Synchronisation Master entity, wherein the synchronisation report module provides paths to a synchronisation module, the synchronisation report module being associated with a network node of a communication network, the communication network comprising at least one Synchronisation Master entity, the synchronisation report module comprising:

a communication unit adapted to receive a request for two paths of a first Synchronisation Master reference and two paths of a second Synchronisation Master reference from the synchronisation module, the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the first Synchronisation Master reference and respective ones of a first access network node and a second access network node, and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the second Synchronisation Master reference and the respective ones of the first access network node and the second access network node, and

a controller adapted to, in response to the received requests, determine the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference based on a Path Computation Engine (PCE),

the communication unit being further adapted to send the determined paths to the synchronisation module,

such that the synchronisation module can receive the sent paths and utilise when selecting which one of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the second Synchronisation Master reference to be applied by the first access network node and the second access network node.

12. A method performed by a synchronisation module of determining a Synchronisation Master reference to be utilised by a first access network node and a second access network node, the synchronisation module being associated with a network node of a communication network which comprises at least one Synchronisation Master entity, the synchronisation module having knowledge of a plurality of Synchronisation Master references, the method comprising:

obtaining endpoints of paths of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references, wherein each of the paths extends between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the first access network node or the second access network node,

obtaining the paths from a synchronisation report module associated with the network node based on the obtained endpoints,

for each Synchronisation Master reference of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references;

selecting a first path of the obtained paths, the first path extending between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master Entities entity and the first access network node,

selecting a second path of the obtained paths, the second path extending between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the second access network node, and

calculating a time synchronisation inaccuracy value between the first access network node and the second access network node based on the selected first path and the selected second path, and

selecting a Synchronisation Master reference from the plurality of Synchronisation Master references based on the calculated time synchronisation inaccuracy values, and notifying the first access network node and the second access network node which Synchronisation Master reference of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references was selected.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising obtaining one or more synchronisation characteristics from the synchronisation report module, and utilising the obtained one or more synchronisation characteristics when calculating the time synchronisation inaccuracy values, the one or more synchronisation characteristics being related to the network node associated with the synchronisation report module or other network nodes of the communication network.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein obtaining the synchronisation characteristics comprises obtaining synchronisation characteristics from a set of available synchronisation references at the network node associated with the synchronisation report module, time delay values, jitter values, or asymmetry values of the network node of the synchronisation report module, or of links associated with the network node associated with the synchronisation report module.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein selecting the Synchronisation Master reference is further based on which communication network node that is a first common communication network node of the first path and the second path.

16. A synchronisation module for determining a Synchronisation Master reference to be utilised by a first access network node and a second access network node, the synchronisation module being associated with a network node of a communication network which comprises at least one Synchronisation Master entity, the synchronisation module having knowledge of a plurality of Synchronisation Master references, the synchronisation module comprising:

a communication module adapted to obtain endpoints of paths of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references, wherein each of the paths extends between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the first access network node or the second access network node, and

further adapted to obtain the paths from a synchronisation report module associated with a network node based on the obtained endpoints, and

a controller adapted to, for each Synchronisation Master reference of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references;

select a first path of the obtained paths, the first path extending between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the first access network node,

select a second path of the obtained paths, the second path extending between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the second access network node, and

calculate a time synchronisation inaccuracy value between the first access network node and the second access network node based on the selected first path and the selected second path, and

further adapted to select a Synchronisation Master reference from the plurality of Synchronisation Master references based on the calculated time synchronisation inaccuracy values, and to notify the first access network node and the second access network node which Synchronisation Master reference of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references was selected.

17. The synchronisation module according to claim 16, wherein the communication module is further adapted to obtain one or more synchronisation characteristics from the synchronisation report module, and utilise the obtained one or more synchronisation characteristics when calculating the time synchronisation inaccuracy value, the one or more synchronisation characteristics being related to the network node associated with the synchronisation report module or other network nodes of the communication network.

18. The synchronisation module according to claim 17, wherein the communication module is further adapted to obtain the synchronisation characteristics by obtaining synchronisation characteristics from a set of available synchronisation references at the network node associated with the synchronisation report module, time delay values, jitter values, or asymmetry values of the network node associated with the synchronisation report module, or of links associated with the network node associated the synchronisation report module.

19. The synchronisation module according to claim 16, wherein the controller is adapted to select the Synchronisation Master reference further based on which communication network node that is a first common communication network node of the first path and the second path.

20. A network node comprising a synchronisation module, wherein the network node is one of an access network node, a transport network node, a Path Computation Engine (PCE), or a Synchronisation Master entity, wherein the synchronisation module is utilized for determining a Synchronisation Master reference to be utilised by a first access network node and a second access network node, the synchronisation module being associated with a network node of a communication network which comprises at least one Synchronisation Master entity, the synchronisation module having knowledge of a plurality of Synchronisation Master references, the synchronisation module comprising:

a communication module adapted to obtain endpoints of paths of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references, wherein each of the paths extends between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the first access network node or the second access network node, and

further adapted to obtain the paths from a synchronisation report module associated with a network node based on the obtained endpoints, and

a controller adapted to, for each Synchronisation Master reference of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references;

select a first path of the obtained paths, the first path extending between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the first access network node,

select a second path of the obtained paths, the second path extending between one of the at least one Synchronisation Master entity and the second access network node, and

calculate a time synchronisation inaccuracy value between the first access network node and the second access network node based on the selected first path and the selected second path, and

further adapted to select a Synchronisation Master reference from the plurality of Synchronisation Master references based on the calculated time synchronisation inaccuracy values, and to notify the first access network node and the second access network node which Synchronisation Master reference of the plurality of Synchronisation Master references was selected.

21. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having computer code stored therein, which when executed by a set of one or more processors of a synchronisation report module for providing paths to a synchronisation module, the synchronisation report module being associated with a network node of a communication network, the communication network comprising at least one Synchronisation Master entity, causes the synchronisation report module to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for two paths of a first Synchronisation Master reference and two paths of a second Synchronisation Master reference from the synchronisation module, the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the first Synchronisation Master reference and respective ones of a first access network node and a second access network node, and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference extending between a Synchronisation Master entity of the second Synchronisation Master reference and the respective ones of the first access network node and the second access network node,

in response to the received requests, determining the two paths of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the two paths of the second Synchronisation Master reference based on a Path Computation Engine (PCE), and

sending the determined paths to the synchronisation module,

the sent paths to be received by the synchronisation module for being utilised when selecting which one of the first Synchronisation Master reference and the second Synchronisation Master reference to be applied by the first access network node and the second access network node.