The growing complexity of industrial communication networks, driven by Industry 4.0, necessitates the integration of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) into heterogeneous networks to ensure deterministic, low-latency, and high-reliability communication. This survey provides a comprehensive review of existing research on TSN in heterogeneous networks, focusing on monitoring and network management. We analyze key TSN management frameworks, control mechanisms, and monitoring strategies while identifying challenges in interoperability, synchronization, scalability, and real-time control. By highlighting existing research gaps, this work proposes potential directions for future research to advance TSN deployment in heterogeneous industrial environments.

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.

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) promises deterministic, seamless and vendor independent communication in modern networked systems, utilizing the generalized Precision Time Protocol (gPTP) as governed by IEEE 802.1AS for precise time synchronization. As network complexity increases, effective monitoring of synchronization accuracy, incorporating both advanced and traditional methods, becomes crucial. This paper examines the implementation and performance of time synchronization monitoring methods for gPTP, including Monitoring Type Length Value (TLV) for Ingress & Egress messages, Reverse Sync, and Pulse per Second (PPS) techniques across varied hardware environments and operational conditions. We detail the integration process, discuss the adaptability of these methods under stress tests, and evaluate their effectiveness through rigorous assessments. The findings contribute to refining monitoring deployment strategies by identifying the most effective combinations of monitoring techniques to enhance synchronization accuracy and network reliability.

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is becoming increasingly important. Especially in the field of industrial applications, the demand for uniform, converged real-time networks is continuously increasing. Furthermore, the request to integrate wireless, mobile, and real-time capable network elements is getting more and more relevant to industrial automation use cases. To address these requests, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has extended their specifications for mobile telecommunication protocols by descriptions to integrate 5G mobile networks into TSN starting from Release 16 onwards. While the specifications provide a good theoretical overview, there is still a lack of real implementations or even proof of concepts. Therefore, we started an implementation of a 5G network that is ready to be integrated into existing TSN. This work gives an overview of the current work in progress, mainly focusing on the implementation of the TSN Application Function (TSN AF) and the time synchronization features within the TSN Translators (DS-TT and NW-TT). It also shows current limitations and difficulties and how we have overcome them with our setup.

TSN, or Time Sensitive Networking, is becoming an essential technology for integrated networks, enabling deterministic and best effort traffic to coexist on the same infrastructure. In order to properly configure, run and secure such TSN, monitoring functionality is a must. The TSN standard already has some preparations to provide such functionality and there are different methods to choose from. We implemented different methods to measure the time synchronisation accuracy between devices as a C library and compared the measurement results. Furthermore, the library has been integrated into the ControlTSN engineering framework.

Wireless communication networks are crucial for enabling megatrends like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0. However, testing these networks can be challenging due to the complex network topology and RF characteristics, requiring a multitude of scenarios to be tested. To address this challenge, the authors developed and extended an automated testbed called Automated Physical TestBed (APTB). This testbed provides the means to conduct controlled tests, analyze coexistence, emulate multiple propagation paths, and model dependable channel conditions. Additionally, the platform supports test automation to facilitate efficient and systematic experimentation. This paper describes the extended architecture, implementation, and performance evaluation of the APTB testbed. The APTB testbed provides a reliable and efficient solution for testing wireless communication networks under various scenarios. The implementation and performance verification of the testbed demonstrate its effectiveness and usefulness for researchers and industry practitioners.

One of the main requirements of spatially distributed Internet of Things (IoT) solutions is to have networks with wider coverage to connect many low-power devices. Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) and Cellular IoT(cIOT) networks are promising candidates in this space. LPWAN approaches are based on enhanced physical layer (PHY) implementations to achieve long range such as LoRaWAN, SigFox, MIOTY. Narrowband versions of cellular network offer reduced bandwidth and, simplified node and network management mechanisms, such as Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) and Long-Term Evolution for Machines (LTE-M). Since the underlying use cases come with various requirements it is essential to perform a comparative analysis of competing technologies. This article provides systematic performance measurement and comparison of LPWAN and NB-IoT technologies in a unified testbed, also discusses the necessity of future fifth generation (5G) LPWAN solutions.