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.

Blockchain technology, renowned for its foundational attributes of decentralization, security, and immutability, offers substantial potential for diverse applications. At the heart of blockchain functionality are consensus mechanisms, crucial for preserving the decentralized integrity of the network. However, traditional consensus algorithms like Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) typically require significant computational and communication resources, which may not be feasible for resource‐limited environments. The purpose of this paper is to explore hybrid consensus algorithms that integrate conventional consensus mechanisms with advanced nonlinear data structures. We comprehensively analyze a wide range of hybrid consensus mechanisms, emphasizing their architectural design, operational efficiencies, and ability to address both consensus‐specific vulnerabilities and network‐level threats, such as Sybil attacks, double‐spending, and partitioning attacks. To achieve this, we employ a set of comprehensive evaluation criteria for blockchain technologies, namely, validation, IoT, real‐time processing, application suitability, security, and implementation. These criteria help assess the adaptability and efficacy of each mechanism in diverse operational contexts. Through this examination, the paper seeks to illuminate the significant contributions and implications of hybrid consensus mechanisms, guiding stakeholders, researchers, and developers toward making informed decisions about optimizing blockchain technology for their specific needs and inspiring the development of innovative solutions.

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.

As industrial networks continue to expand and connect more devices and users, they face growing security challenges such as unauthorized access and data breaches. This paper delves into the crucial role of security and trust in industrial networks and how trust management systems (TMS) can mitigate malicious access to these networks.The TMS presented in this paper leverages distributed ledger technology (blockchain) to evaluate the trustworthiness of blockchain nodes, including devices and users, and make access decisions accordingly. While this approach is applicable to blockchain, it can also be extended to other areas. This approach can help prevent malicious actors from penetrating industrial networks and causing harm. The paper also presents the results of a simulation to demonstrate the behavior of the TMS and provide insights into its effectiveness.

Abstract Blockchain technology has been increasingly adopted over the past few years since the introduction of Bitcoin, with several blockchain architectures and solutions being proposed. Most proposed solutions have been developed in isolation, without a standard protocol or cryptographic structure to work with. This has led to the problem of interoperability, where solutions running on different blockchain platforms are unable to communicate, limiting the scope of use. With blockchains being adopted in a variety of fields such as the Internet of Things, it is expected that the problem of interoperability if not addressed quickly, will stifle technology advancement. This paper presents the current state of interoperability solutions proposed for heterogenous blockchain systems. A look is taken at interoperability solutions, not only for cryptocurrencies, but also for general data‐based use cases. Current open issues in heterogenous blockchain interoperability are presented. Additionally, some possible research directions are presented to enhance and to extend the existing blockchain interoperability solutions. It was discovered that though there are a number of proposed solutions in literature, few have seen real‐world implementation. The lack of blockchain‐specific standards has slowed the progress of interoperability. It was also realized that most of the proposed solutions are developed targeting cryptocurrency‐based applications.