Communication method and apparatus for time synchronization of terminal devices

A communications apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the communications apparatus to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a first indication message, wherein the first indication message is used to trigger an access network device to send time information to a terminal device in unicast mode, the first indication message comprises at least two time types supported by the terminal device and priority information of the at least two time types to enable the access network device to determine a target time type based on a priority of the at least two time types;
• sending the time information including the target time type to the terminal device, wherein the time information is used for synchronizing a time of the terminal device;
• receiving a third indication message from the terminal device, wherein the third indication message is used to indicate to deactivate the access network device to send the time information to the terminal device;
• and
• wherein the at least two time types are clock sources.

A communication method, comprising:

• receiving, by an access network device from a terminal device, a first indication message, wherein the first indication message is used to trigger the access network device to send time information to the terminal device in unicast mode, the first indication message comprises at least two time types supported by the terminal device and priority information of the at least two time types to enable the access network device to determine a target time type based on a priority of the at least two time types;
• sending, by the access network device, the time information including the target time type to the terminal device;
• synchronizing, by the terminal device, a time of the terminal device based on the time information;
• sending, by the terminal device, a third indication message to the access network device, wherein the third indication message is used to indicate to deactivate the access network device to send the time information to the terminal device;
• and
• wherein the at least two time types are clock sources.

A communication system comprising:

• a terminal device and an access network device, wherein
• the terminal device comprises;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor of the terminal device, wherein the memory of the terminal device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor of the terminal device, causes the terminal device to perform operations comprising:
• sending a first indication message, wherein the first indication message is used to trigger the access network device to send time information to the terminal device in unicast mode, the first indication message comprises at least two time types supported by the terminal device and priority information of the at least two time types to enable the access network device to determine a target time type based on a priority of the at least two time types;
• receiving the time information including the target time type from the access network device;
• synchronizing a time of the terminal device based on the time information;
• sending a third indication message to the access network device, wherein the third indication message is used to indicate to deactivate the access network device to send the time information to the terminal device;
• and
• the access network device comprises:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor of the access network device, wherein the memory of the access network device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor of the access network device, causes the access network device to perform operations comprising:
• receiving the first indication message from the terminal device;
• sending the time information to the terminal device, wherein the time information is used for synchronizing the time of the terminal device;
• receiving the third indication message from the terminal device;
• and
• wherein the at least two time types are clock sources.