US-12621737-B2 - Non-terrestrial network connection management

US12621737B2US 12621737 B2US12621737 B2US 12621737B2US-12621737-B2

Abstract

The described technology is generally directed towards non-terrestrial network connection management. Mobile device transitions between terrestrial and non-terrestrial network connections can be streamlined by predicting transitions in advance and by advance mobile device acquisition of network transition data. Terrestrial and non-terrestrial network functions can provide prediction data and network transition data to mobile devices. Furthermore, techniques are provided to manage mobile device searches for terrestrial network connections while a mobile device has an active non-terrestrial network connection.

Inventors

Yupeng Jia
Hongyan Lei

Assignees

AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221011

Claims (20)

1 . A method, comprising: obtaining, by a device comprising a processor, terrestrial network coverage information comprising a first representation of a first geographic area, wherein a terrestrial network has been predicted to be available to provide terrestrial network communication service when the device is located within the first geographic area; obtaining, by the device, non-terrestrial network coverage information comprising a second representation of a second geographic area, wherein a non-terrestrial network has been predicted to be available to provide non-terrestrial network communication service when the device is located within the second geographic area; predicting, by the device, while the device is connected to the terrestrial network communication service, a movement out of the first geographic area by the device; predicting, by the device, while the device is connected to the terrestrial network communication service, a probability that the device will be in the second geographic area after the movement out of the first geographic area; in response to predicting the probability that the device will be in the second geographic area after the movement out of the first geographic area, preparing, by the device, while the device is connected to the terrestrial network communication service, non-terrestrial network data to enable the non-terrestrial network communication service to be provided to the device after the movement out of the first geographic area; activating, by the device, the non-terrestrial network communication service in response to the device becoming disconnected from the terrestrial network communication service; and subsequent to the activating the non-terrestrial network communication service, initiating, by the device, a terrestrial sleep mode of the device, wherein the terrestrial sleep mode comprises a non-decoding availability check to check availability of the terrestrial network communication service, and wherein the non-decoding availability check comprises checking for an existence of a waveform without decoding the waveform.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing, by the device, a search for available network communication services, and, based on search results resulting from the performing of the search, identifying, by the device, terrestrial network information applicable to obtain the terrestrial network coverage information and identifying, by the device, non-terrestrial network information applicable to obtain the non-terrestrial network coverage information.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the terrestrial network communication service comprises service via network nodes positioned on an Earth surface, and wherein the non-terrestrial network communication service comprises service via a satellite above the Earth surface.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein checking availability of the terrestrial network communication service is a second terrestrial network communication service availability check, and wherein the method further comprise: performing a first terrestrial network communication service availability check; and in response to the first terrestrial network communication service availability check not identifying an available terrestrial node of the terrestrial network communication service, maintaining a connection to the non-terrestrial network communication service.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the terrestrial sleep mode comprises an extended time interval between terrestrial network communication service availability checks, and wherein the extended time interval is longer than a time interval used between the terrestrial network communication service availability checks while the device is not in the terrestrial sleep mode.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting, by the device, a length of the extended time interval based on at least one of a location of the device, or a motion of the device.
7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting, by the device, a length of the extended time interval based on interval adjustment information received via the non-terrestrial network communication service.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the terrestrial sleep mode comprises different sleep levels activated via expirations of different time intervals.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the device, an exit instruction via the non-terrestrial network communication service, and exiting, by the device, the terrestrial sleep mode in response to the exit instruction.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying, by the device, a terrestrial node of the terrestrial network communication service for use by the device subsequent to a disconnection of the device from the non-terrestrial network communication service.
11 . A user equipment, comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: switching from a terrestrial network communication service to a non-terrestrial network communication service; in response to switching to the non-terrestrial network communication service, initiating a terrestrial sleep mode comprising an extended time interval between terrestrial network communication service availability checks, wherein the extended time interval is longer than a time interval used between the terrestrial network communication service availability checks while the user equipment is not in the terrestrial sleep mode, and wherein the terrestrial network communication service availability checks comprise a non-decoding availability check adapted to check for a waveform without decoding the waveform; performing a terrestrial network communication service availability check according to the extended time interval; and in response to the terrestrial network communication service availability check identifying an available terrestrial node of the terrestrial network communication service, switching from the non-terrestrial network communication service to the terrestrial network communication service.
12 . The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein the terrestrial network communication service comprises service via network nodes positioned on an Earth surface, and wherein the non-terrestrial network communication service comprises service via a satellite above the Earth surface.
13 . The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a length of the extended time interval based on interval adjustment information received via the non-terrestrial network communication service.
14 . The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise: activating the non-terrestrial network communication service in response to the user equipment becoming disconnected from the terrestrial network communication service; and subsequent to activating the non-terrestrial network communication service, the terrestrial sleep mode is initiated.
15 . The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a push notification via the non-terrestrial network communication service and exiting the terrestrial sleep mode in response to receiving the push notification.
16 . The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein the terrestrial network communication service availability check is a second terrestrial network communication service availability check, and wherein the operations further comprise: performing a first terrestrial network communication service availability check; and in response to the first terrestrial network communication service availability check not identifying the available terrestrial node of the terrestrial network communication service, maintaining a connection to the non-terrestrial network communication service.
17 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: switching from a terrestrial wireless communication service to a non-terrestrial wireless communication service; in response to switching to the non-terrestrial wireless communication service, initiating a terrestrial sleep mode comprising an extended time interval between terrestrial wireless communication service availability checks, wherein the extended time interval is longer than a time interval used between the terrestrial wireless communication service availability checks in a different mode other than the terrestrial sleep mode, and wherein the terrestrial wireless communication service availability checks comprise a non-decoding availability check adapted to check for a waveform without decoding the waveform; receiving an exit instruction via the non-terrestrial wireless communication service; and exiting the terrestrial sleep mode in response to the exit instruction.
18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the exit instruction comprises terrestrial node identification information that identifies a terrestrial node of the terrestrial wireless communication service, and wherein the operations further comprise switching from the non-terrestrial wireless communication service to service via the terrestrial node of the terrestrial wireless communication service.
19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise switching from the non-terrestrial wireless communication service to the terrestrial wireless communication service subsequent to exiting the terrestrial sleep mode.
20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise, in response to exiting the terrestrial sleep mode, searching for available terrestrial nodes of the terrestrial wireless communication service.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The subject application is related to electronic communications, and more particularly, to providing wireless communication service to mobile devices. BACKGROUND Satellite communications are rapidly changing and improving. While so-called “satellite dish” antennas have supported satellite communications for decades, satellite communication technology has historically remained too large, cumbersome, and expensive to support direct satellite communication by most mobile “cell phone” type devices. However, there is presently renewed interest and investment in building technologies that will support direct satellite communication by mobile devices. Direct satellite communication by mobile devices will create opportunities for wireless service providers to improve their service by providing non-terrestrial (satellite) communication service, particularly in remote areas where terrestrial communication service has not been deployed. However, numerous advancements are needed to integrate non-terrestrial and terrestrial communication service. The above-described background is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the subject disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates travel of a user equipment (UE) from a geographical area served by a terrestrial network into a geographical area served by a non-terrestrial network, and return of the UE to a geographical area served by the terrestrial network, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE comprising a non-terrestrial transition manager and a terrestrial sleep manager, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates an example non-terrestrial transition manager, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates an example terrestrial sleep manager, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates example operations that can be performed by a UE configured in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIGS. 7A and 7B provide a flow diagram representing example operations to manage non-terrestrial network transitions, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram representing example operations to manage a terrestrial network sleep mode, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram representing further example operations to manage a terrestrial network sleep mode, in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example computer that can be operable to execute processes and methods in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION One or more embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It is evident, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without these specific details, and without applying to any particular networked environment or standard. One or more aspects of the technology described herein are generally directed towards non-terrestrial network connection management. Mobile device transitions between terrestrial and non-terrestrial network connections can be streamlined by predicting transitions in advance and by advance mobile device acquisition of network transition data. Terrestrial and non-terrestrial network functions can provide prediction data and network transition data to mobile devices. Furthermore, techniques are provided to manage mobile device searches for terrestrial network connections while a mobile device has an active non-terrestrial network connection. Further aspects and embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below. As used in this disclosure, in some embodiments, the terms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, or comprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and s