# US 2024/0205166 A1 · Method for scheduling tsn flows, communication system, and central network configuration entity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0205166 A1 - Document ID: US20240205166A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/278,729 - Filed: 2021-11-04 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-01 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Herve BONNEVILLE; Nicolas GRESSET; Artem BORYSKIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240205166A1 ## CPC - H04L 47/2491: Mapping quality of service [QoS] requirements between different networks - H04L 47/826: {Involving periods of time} - H04L 47/28: in relation to timing considerations - H04L 47/283: in response to processing delays, e.g. caused by jitter or round trip time [RTT] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The disclosure relates to a method for scheduling TSN flows in a communication system within a time-sensitive network. The method is implemented at a central network configuration entity. Assistance information relating to a time granularity of transmission opportunities within a radio frame is obtained from at least one TSN bridge. Based on the obtained assistance information, a plurality of TSN flows is scheduled by computing time sequences of said TSN flows down to said time granularity. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding communication system and a corresponding central network configuration entity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for scheduling TSN flows in a communication system within a time-sensitive network, TSN, the method being implemented at a central network configuration entity and comprising: obtaining, from at least one TSN bridge having internal time constraints, assistance information relating to a time granularity of transmission opportunities within a transmission frame divided in slots, the slots being split in said transmission opportunities, and based on the obtained assistance information, scheduling a plurality of TSN flows by computing time sequences of said TSN flows down to said time granularity by considering a transmission delay, through said TSN bridge, that is smaller than the full duration of a slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the assistance information from a TSN bridge comprises a period and an offset, said offset being defined with respect to a clock common to the central network configuration entity and to said TSN bridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the assistance information from a TSN bridge comprises a period and further comprises, for a plurality of oriented port pairs, a corresponding offset, said offsets being defined with respect to a clock common to the central network configuration entity and to said TSN bridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the period corresponds to a slot duration and the offset indicates the beginning of a slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the period corresponds to a slot duration, a first offset indicates the beginning of a first group of transmission opportunities statically allocated to a first direction of transmission and a second offset indicates the beginning of a second group of transmission opportunities statically allocated to a second direction of transmission. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the assistance information from a TSN bridge further comprises an indication of an allocation of each transmission opportunity, within a slot, between a first and a second directions of transmission. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein said indication comprises, for a plurality of oriented port pairs, a corresponding bitmap of an availability status of each transmission opportunity within a slot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein said indication comprises: a plurality of bitmaps of an availability status of each transmission opportunity, within a slot, for a given direction of transmission, a bitmap corresponding to a predetermined possible slot structure, and for a plurality of oriented port pairs, a corresponding index to a specific bitmap of said plurality of bitmaps. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the assistance information from a TSN bridge further comprises: an indication of a corresponding nature of each transmission opportunity, each said nature being either flexible or fixed, a flexible nature being associated to a flexible usage for a first and of a second directions of transmission, a fixed nature being associated to a fixed usage for only one direction of transmission among the first and the second directions of transmission, and for a plurality of oriented port pairs, an indication of a corresponding direction of transmission among the first and second directions of transmission. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the assistance information from a TSN bridge further comprises: a plurality of sets of values, a set of value corresponding to a predetermined possible slot structure and indicating an availability status of each transmission opportunity, within a slot, for each of a first and a second direction of transmission, and for a plurality of oriented port pairs, a corresponding index to a specific set of values of said plurality of sets of values, and an indication of a corresponding direction of transmission among the first and second directions of transmission. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 A central network configuration entity for a communication system within a time-sensitive network, TSN, the central network configuration entity being configured for: obtaining, from at least one TSN bridge having internal time constraints, assistance information relating to a time granularity of transmission opportunities within a transmission frame divided in slots, the slots being split in said transmission opportunities, and based on the obtained assistance information, scheduling a plurality of TSN flows by computing time sequences of said TSN flows down to said time granularity by considering a transmission delay, through said TSN bridge, that is smaller than the full duration of a slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A communication system within a time-sensitive network, the communication system comprising at least one TSN bridge having internal time constraints and a central network configuration entity according to claim 12.