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Standards

Time Sensitive Communications

Deterministic, low-latency delivery over 5G for tightly synchronised professional media.

Overview

5G-MAG monitors standardisation of Time Sensitive Communication (TSC) and its application to media production workflows, such as SMPTE ST 2110 essence transport. For the technical analysis of how TSC works, see the Tech page linked below.

TSC in a media context usually runs over a private 5G deployment. For the network foundations it depends on, see Standards: Non-Public Networks first. For acronyms used here, see the Glossary.

Technology & Analysis

The 5G-as-TSN-bridge model, time synchronisation, and applying TSC to SMPTE ST 2110 production.

Specifications by Release

  • Release 16: 5G system as a TSN bridge, transparent forwarding of gPTP, DS-TT and NW-TT, TSN QoS to 5G QoS mapping. Architecture in TS 23.501, procedures in TS 23.502.
  • Release 17: Generalised time synchronisation (multiple IEEE 802.1AS/1588 clock roles), the TSCTSF, exposure of deterministic QoS and time-sync control to Application Functions via NEF, and support for TSC independent of a full TSN bridge (deterministic QoS without requiring the wired TSN control plane).
  • Release 18 and later: Further deterministic-networking and time-sync enhancements. Confirm the exact scope and placement against the 3GPP work plan.

Key Specifications

The specifications in scope of Time Sensitive Communications, grouped by the layer they define: the 3GPP service requirements and system architecture, the IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) standards 5G TSC is designed to interwork with, and the SMPTE standards for IP media production it carries.

SpecificationTitleLayer
TS 22.104Service requirements for cyber-physical control applications in vertical domainsincludes TSCService requirements
TR 22.804Study on Communication for Automation in Vertical DomainsService requirements
TS 23.501System Architecture for the 5G SystemTSN integration aspectsSystem architecture
TS 23.502Procedures for the 5G SystemTSC bridge proceduresSystem architecture
IEEE 802.1ASTiming and Synchronisation (gPTP)IEEE TSN
IEEE 802.1QbvEnhancements for Scheduled TrafficIEEE TSN
IEEE 802.1QccStream Reservation Protocol (SRP) Enhancements and Performance ImprovementsIEEE TSN
SMPTE ST 2110Professional Media Over Managed IP Networksvideo, audio and metadata essencesSMPTE
SMPTE ST 2059Synchronisation of Video Signals in IP EnvironmentsSMPTE

5G-MAG tracking and contribution focus

5G-MAG tracks how these deterministic-delivery and time-synchronisation capabilities apply to professional media, in particular the transport of SMPTE ST 2110 essence over private 5G, the alignment of the 5G and PTP time domains, and the combination with Non-Public Networks.

note

Refer to the Standards repository to contribute to this documentation.