A YANG Model-Based Approach for Configuration and Management of 5G-TSN Bridges

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and especially its integration into private 5 G networks is becoming increasingly important for industrial applications. By introducing 5G-TSN bridges, the combination of the strengths from both technologies would allow high-performance, reliable deterministic wireless networks, which are flexible in the sense of the network topology and its dynamic behavior. In addition, converged networks become real, avoiding the need of separation between Operation Technology and Information Technology. The basic mechanisms of TSN, such as time synchronization or scheduling inside a private 5 G network and through a 5 G TSN bridge, have already been specified, investigated and proven in different research and prototype works. However, to make use of these features in a fully operational environment, such a bridge must be properly configured. Starting from declaring, enabling and configuring available ports, other processes, such as port and device discovery, need to be covered to allow a seamless integration of a 5G-TSN bridge into the overall network. At least from the design and implementation side, the internal configuration of such a 5 G -TSN bridge is not yet fully available. This work proposes a novel standard-compatible YANG (Yet Another Modeling Language) model-based approach and architecture to model and access the configuration and maintenance of a 5G-TSN bridge within a TSN network. We break down the single processes and structures at the involved entities and present a reference design for the practical implementation of such a configuration and management interface, while corresponding to the YANG model-based configuration methods from TSN networks.