Improving Time Synchronization Accuracy in a Wireless Network

A method performed by a controller of a plurality of user equipment (UEs) that are served by a radio access network (RAN) node, the method comprising:

• receiving information about the following from each of the UEs:
• first measurements, UEDL,Rx, of respective timing events of the radio link between the UE and the RAN node;
• and
• second measurements, UERxTxDiff, of respective time differences between the UE receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal (RS) and transmitting a corresponding uplink (UL) RS;
• and
• based on the received information, selecting one of the plurality of UEs to provide a time-sensitive network (TSN) end station with a TSN message timestamped by a system clock time that is associated with the RAN and that is based on at least one first measurement and at least one second measurement.

A method for a user equipment (UE) configured to operate in a radio access network (RAN) as one of a plurality of UEs coupled to a time sensitive network (TSN) end station, the method comprising:

• performing the following measurements:
• first measurements, UEDL,Rx, of respective timing events of the radio link between the UE and a RAN node;
• and
• second measurements, UERxTxDiff, of respective time differences between the UE receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal (RS) and transmitting a corresponding uplink (UL) RS;
• sending information about the first measurements and information about the second measurements to a controller of the plurality of UEs;
• and
• based on an indication received from the controller, providing the TSN end station with a TSN message timestamped by a system clock time that is associated with the RAN and that is based on at least one first measurement and on at least one second measurement.

A controller for a plurality of user equipment (UEs) that are served by a radio access network (RAN) node, the controller comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with the UEs and with a time-sensitive network (TSN) end station;
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to:
• receive information about the following from each of the UEs:
• first measurements, UEDL,Rx, of respective timing events of the radio link between the UE and the RAN node;
• and
• second measurements, UERxTxDiff, of respective time differences between the UE receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal (RS) and transmitting a corresponding uplink (UL) RS;
• based on the received information, select one of the plurality of UEs to provide the TSN end station with a TSN message timestamped by a system clock time that is associated with the RAN and that is based on at least one first measurement and at least one second measurement.

A user equipment (UE) configured to operate in a radio access network (RAN) as one of a plurality of UEs coupled to a time sensitive network (TSN) end station, the UE comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with a RAN node, with the TSN end station, and with a controller for the plurality of UEs;
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication circuitry are configured to:
• perform the following measurements:
• first measurements, UEDL,Rx, of respective timing events of the radio link between the UE and the RAN node;
• and
• second measurements, UERxTxDiff, of respective time differences between the UE receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal (RS) and transmitting a corresponding uplink (UL) RS;
• send information about the first measurements and information about the second measurements to the controller;
• and
• based on an indication received from the controller, provide the TSN end station with a TSN message timestamped by a system clock time that is associated with the RAN and that is based on at least one first measurement and on at least one second measurement.