Communication network nodes and methods performed therein

• US 9,661,595 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Thyni, Tomas, Forsman, Mats, Ruffini, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Tse, Young T
• Application Number:
  US15/051,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 375354, 375356, 370337, 370338, 370342, 370344, 370350, 4554565, 455 132, 455524, 455525
• 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 includes 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 nodes are notified which Synchronization Master reference was selected.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions, which when executed by a processor in a network node of a communication network that includes at least one synchronisation master entity, causes the network node to perform operations comprising:

obtaining endpoints of paths of a plurality of synchronisation master references, wherein respective paths extend between one of the at least one synchronisation master entity and a first access network node or a second access network node;

obtaining the paths based on the obtained endpoints;

for respective synchronisation master references of the plurality of synchronisation master references;

selecting a first path of the obtained paths, in which the first path extends between one of the at least one synchronisation master entity and the first access network node;

selecting a second path of the obtained paths, in which the second path extends 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, for notifying the first access network node and the second access network node as to which synchronisation master reference of the plurality of synchronisation master references was selected.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to further perform operations comprising:

obtaining one or more synchronisation characteristics; and

utilizing the obtained one or more synchronisation characteristics when calculating the time synchronisation inaccuracy values.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the instructions, when obtaining the one or more synchronisation characteristics, causes the network node to obtain the one or more synchronisation characteristics from a set of:

available synchronisation references, time delay values, jitter values, asymmetry values, or associated node links.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the instructions, when selecting the synchronisation master reference, causes the network node to select a common communication network node of the first path and the second path.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to operate in the communication network which has more than one synchronisation master entity.

6. An apparatus to operate with a communication network that includes at least one synchronisation master entity, the apparatus comprising:

a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to perform operations to;

obtain endpoints of paths of a plurality of synchronisation master references, wherein respective paths extend between one of the at least one synchronisation master entity and a first access network node or a second access network node;

obtain the paths based on the obtained endpoints;

for respective synchronisation master references of the plurality of synchronisation master references;

select a first path of the obtained paths, in which the first path extends between one of the at least one synchronisation master entity and the first access network node;

select a second path of the obtained paths, in which the second path extends 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

select a synchronisation master reference from the plurality of synchronisation master references based on the calculated time synchronisation inaccuracy values, for notifying the first access network node and the second access network node as to which synchronisation master reference of the plurality of synchronisation master references was selected.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to further:

obtain one or more synchronisation characteristics; and

utilize the obtained one or more synchronisation characteristics when calculating the time synchronisation inaccuracy values.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the instructions, when obtaining the one or more synchronisation characteristics, causes the apparatus to obtain the one or more synchronisation characteristics from a set of:

available synchronisation references, time delay values, jitter values, asymmetry values, or associated node links.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the instructions, when selecting the synchronisation master reference, causes the apparatus to select a common communication network node of the first path and the second path.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to operate in the communication network which has more than one synchronisation master entity.

11. An apparatus to operate with a communication network that includes at least one synchronisation master entity, the apparatus comprising:

a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to perform operations to;

receive a request for two paths of a first synchronisation master reference and two paths of a second synchronisation master reference, wherein 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 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; and

send the determined paths for selection of the first synchronisation master reference or the second synchronisation master reference for use by the first access network node and the second access network node.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising receiving a request for synchronisation characteristics, wherein the instructions cause the apparatus to obtain the requested synchronisation characteristics and send the obtained synchronisation characteristics.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the apparatus obtains the synchronisation characteristics, the apparatus determines the synchronisation characteristics from a set of:

available synchronisation references, time delay values, jitter values, asymmetry values, or associated node links.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus, when sending the determined paths or sending the obtained synchronisation characteristics, performs one or both sending operations in accordance with a Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus, when sending the determined paths or sending the obtained synchronisation characteristics, performs one or both sending operations in accordance with a routing protocol or Software-defined Networking (SDN) protocol.