EP-4736475-A1 - TECHNOLOGIES FOR NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK NODE SWITCHING

Abstract

The present application relates to devices and components including apparatus, systems, and methods for a non-terrestrial network node switching procedures in wireless networks.

Inventors

• XU, FANGLI
• SIROTKIN, ALEXANDER
• HU, HAIJING
• KUO, PING-HENG
• Gurumoorthy, Sethuraman
• ROSSBACH, Ralf
• CHENG, PENG
• PALLE VENKATA, Naveen Kumar R
• CHEN, YUQIN

Assignees

• Apple Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20230807

Claims (20)

1. One or more computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a user equipment (UE) to: establish a communication link with a network via a first satellite that provides service for a geographical area; receive, from the network, satellite information associated with a second satellite that is to provide service for the geographical area after the first satellite, the satellite information to include timing information associated with service for the geographical area being switched from provided by the first satellite to provided by the second satellite; and after service for the geographical areas is switched to the second satellite, attempt to re-synchronize the communication link with the second satellite based on the satellite information.
2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the satellite information includes ephemeris information for the second satellite.
3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first satellite is to provide a first cell at the geographical area and the second satellite is to provide a second cell at the geographical area, wherein the timing information comprises a serving time period with a physical cell identity or frequency associated with the second cell.
4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein to attempt to re-synchronize the communication link comprises to successfully resynchronize the communication link and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: after successfully re-synchronizing the communication link with the second satellite, determine whether to initiate a random access channel (RACH) procedure in a cell provided by the second satellite.
5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: detect a condition or indication from the network; and determine whether to initiate the RACH procedure in the cell provided by the second satellite based on detection of the condition or indication from the network.
6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein to detect a condition or an indication comprises to detect a condition based on a signal quality of the cell provided by the second satellite or a change in location of the UE.
7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein to attempt to re-synchronize the communication link comprises to unsuccessfully re-synchronize the communication link and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: initiate a radio resource control reestablishment procedure; or determine a conditional handover (CHO) condition is met and initiate a CHO.
8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: receive, from the network before a switching period in which service for the geographical area is switched from being provided by the first satellite to being provided by the second satellite, a CHO command with respect to a third satellite; unsuccessfully re-synchronize the communication link with the second satellite; and determine a CHO condition is met based on the CHO command and an unsuccessful re-synchronization of the communication link with the second satellite; and perform a CHO operation with respect to the third satellite based on a determination that the CHO condition is met.
9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: start a timer at a beginning or end of the switching period; and determine whether an attempt to resynchronize is successful based on the timer.
10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein to receive the satellite information comprises: to receive the satellite information in a system information block (SIB) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein the timing information comprises: a start time of the switching period; and a stop time of the switching period or a length of an interruption gap.
12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein the timing information is to indicate a service period in which the second satellite is to provide service for the geographical information, wherein the timing information comprises: a start time of the service period and a stop time of the service period; a start time of the service period and a length of the service period; or a length of the service period and a stop time of the service period.
13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 or 2, wherein the satellite information is first satellite information and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: receive a list that includes a plurality of satellite information including the first satellite information, wherein the plurality of satellite information respectively corresponds to a plurality of satellites that are to provide consecutive service periods for the geographical area, wherein the plurality of satellite information is ordered in the list according to a sequence of occurrence of the associated service periods.
14. A method to be implemented by a base station, the method comprising: establishing a communication link with a user equipment (UE) via a first satellite that provides service for a geographical area; and transmitting, to the UE, satellite information associated with a second satellite that is to provide service for the geographical area after the first satellite, the satellite information to include timing information associated with service for the geographical area being switched from provided by the first satellite to provided by the second satellite.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first satellite is to provide a first cell at the geographical area and the second satellite is to provide a second cell at the geographical area, wherein the timing information comprises a serving time period with a physical cell identity or frequency associated with the second cell.
16. The method of claim 14 or 15, further comprising: transmitting, to the UE before a switching period in which service for the geographical area is switched from being provided by the first satellite to being provided by the second satellite, a conditional handover (CHO) command with respect to a third satellite.
17. The method of claim 14 or 15, further comprising: transmitting the satellite information in a system information block (SIB) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
18. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the timing information comprises: a start time of the switching period; and a stop time of the switching period or a length of an interruption gap.
19. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the timing information is to indicate a service period in which the second satellite is to provide service for the geographical information, wherein the timing information comprises: a start time of the service period and a stop time of the service period; a start time of the service period and a length of the service period; or a length of the service period and a stop time of the service period.
20. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the satellite information is first satellite information and the method further comprises: transmitting a list that includes a plurality of satellite information including the first satellite information, wherein the plurality of satellite information respectively corresponds to a plurality of satellites that are to provide consecutive service periods for the geographical area, wherein the plurality of satellite information is ordered in the list according to a sequence of occurrence of the associated service periods.

Description

TECHNOLOGIES FOR NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK NODE SWITCHING TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to the field of wireless networks and, in particular, to technologies for non-terrestrial network node switching. BACKGROUND As wireless networks have developed, the networks have developed to service more areas and more remote areas. An approach that has been proposed for the wireless networks to service more areas and more remote areas is the utilization of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) . In particular, satellites may be utilized within the NTNs to provide radio access network (RAN) service. This may address mobile broadband needs and public safety needs in unserved or underserved areas. NTNs may improve connectivity in a variety of scenarios including, for example, maritime, airplane, and railway scenarios. The use of the satellites within the NTNs presents many challenges. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a network arrangement in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 2 illustrates a signaling diagram in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 3 illustrates an operational flow/algorithmic structure in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 4 illustrates a sequence diagram in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 5 illustrates a satellite information list configuration in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 6 illustrates another signaling diagram in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 7 illustrates another signaling diagram in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 8 illustrates another signaling diagram in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 9 illustrates another operational flow/algorithmic structure in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 10 illustrates another operational flow/algorithmic structure in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 11 illustrates a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. Figure 12 illustrates a network device in accordance with some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used in different drawings to identify the same or similar elements. In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular structures, architectures, interfaces, and techniques in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the various aspects of the various embodiments may be practiced in other examples that depart from these specific details. In certain instances, descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the various embodiments with unnecessary detail. For the purposes of the present document, the phrases “A/B” and “A or B” mean (A) , (B) , or (A and B) ; the phrase “ (A) B” means (B) or (A and B) , that is, A is optional; and the phrase “based on A” means “based at least in part on A, ” for example, it could be “based solely on A” or it could be “based in part on A. ” The following is a glossary of terms that may be used in this disclosure. The term “circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes hardware components that are configured to provide the described functionality. The hardware  components may include an electronic circuit, a logic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) , an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a field-programmable device (FPD) (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) , a programmable logic device (PLD) , a complex PLD (CPLD) , a high-capacity PLD (HCPLD) , a structured ASIC, or a programmable system-on-a-chip (SoC) ) , or a digital signal processor (DSP) . In some embodiments, the circuitry may execute one or more software or firmware programs to provide at least some of the described functionality. The term “circuitry” may also refer to a combination of one or more hardware elements (or a combination of circuits used in an electrical or electronic system) with the program code used to carry out the functionality of that program code. In these embodiments, the combination of hardware elements and program code may be referred to as a particular type of circuitry. The term “processor circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry capable of sequentially and automatically carrying out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations, or recording, storing, or transferring digital data. The term “processor circuitry” may refer to an application processor, baseband processor, a central processing unit (CPU) , a graphics processing unit, a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a triple-core processor, a quad-core processor, or any other device capable of executing or otherwise operating computer-executable instructi