Methods and apparatus for satellite access network measurement

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for satellite access network measurement. Various solutions for satellite access network (SAN) or non-terrestrial network (NTN) measurements of user equipment and network devices in mobile communications are described. The apparatus can determine a first number of overlapping synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) or SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configurations (SMTCs). The apparatus can determine a second number of satellites to be measured in the various SMTCs. The apparatus can calculate a scaling factor based on the first and second numbers. The apparatus can determine the measurement period by applying the scaling factor. The apparatus can perform measurements on the satellites within the measurement period.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 297,843, filed January 10, 2022. The entire contents of the foregoing application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates generally to mobile communications, and more specifically to measurements of user equipment (UE) and network devices in mobile communications via satellite access networks (SANs) or non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). Background Technology

[0004] Unless otherwise stated in this invention, the methods described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below, and are not acknowledged as prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

[0005] In mobile / wireless communications, satellite communications are receiving increasing attention and participation, with companies and organizations recognizing the market potential of integrating satellite and terrestrial network infrastructure within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G standard framework. Satellites refer to spaceborne vehicles in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), or Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO). The 5G standard makes Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) (including satellite segments) a recognized part of the 3GPP 5G connectivity infrastructure. Low Earth Orbit is a geocentric orbit with an altitude of 2,000 km or less, a period of 128 minutes or less (i.e., at least 11.25 orbits per day), and an eccentricity of less than 0.25. Most man-made objects in outer space reside in non-geostationary satellite orbits (NGSO) (such as LEO or MEO), at an altitude not exceeding one-third of the Earth's radius. NGSO satellites orbit the Earth at high speeds (maneuvering), but their orbits are predictable or deterministic.

[0006] One of the challenges in NGSO communications is the significant Doppler shift due to the high speeds of NGSO satellites. The Doppler shift in a LEO-600km network can reach as high as 24 parts per million (ppm). For example, in a 2 GHz carrier, the maximum Doppler shift of a LEO satellite can be as high as + / - 48 kHz. Therefore, satellite / cell measurements in NGSO-based NTNs can be completely different from those in terrestrial networks. In terrestrial networks, cells / base stations are well-synchronized in frequency, and the Doppler shift between cells / base stations is small. The Doppler effect does not need to be considered when performing measurements. However, in NTNs or SANs, the Doppler effect is significant, and the Doppler shift between satellites / cells is large. This results in an additional burden on the UE to handle frequency drift when performing satellite / cell measurements. The hardware and software capabilities / cost requirements for the UE become more complex and expensive.

[0007] Therefore, overcoming large Doppler shifts has become a crucial issue in emerging wireless communication networks, particularly in satellite communications. Consequently, appropriate solutions are needed to perform satellite / cell measurements without increasing the burden and requirements on the UE (User Equipment). Summary of the Invention

[0008] The following overview is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, it is provided to introduce the novel and non-obvious technical concepts, highlights, benefits, and advantages described in this invention. Selected implementations are further described in the detailed description below. Therefore, the following overview is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a solution or approach to the aforementioned problems related to SAN or NTN measurements of user equipment and network devices in mobile communications.

[0010] In one aspect, a method is provided that may include means determining a first number of overlapping synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) or SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configurations (SMTCs) in the time domain. The method may further include means determining a second number of satellites to be measured in the various SMTCs. The method may further include means calculating a scaling factor based on the first and second numbers. The method may further include means determining a measurement period by applying the scaling factor. The method may further include means performing measurements on the satellites within the measurement period.

[0011] In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that may include a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with at least one network node of a wireless network during operation. The apparatus may also include a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver. During operation, the processor may perform operations including: determining a first number of overlapping SMTCs in the time domain; determining a second number of satellites to be measured in the respective SMTCs of the SMTCs; calculating a scaling factor based on the first and second numbers; determining a measurement period by applying the scaling factor; and measuring the satellites via the transceiver during the measurement period.

[0012] The method and apparatus for satellite access network measurement provided by the present invention enable the apparatus to support SAN / NTN measurements on multiple cells / satellites and mobility performance using measurement constraints, without significantly increasing the measurement resources / hardware / software complexity of the apparatus, while avoiding frequency offset conflicts between different cells / satellites.

[0013] It is worth noting that although the descriptions provided in this invention may be in the context of certain radio access technologies, networks, and network topologies, such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, LTE-Advanced Pro, 5th Generation (5G), New Radio (NR), Internet-of-Things (IoT), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and 6th Generation (6G), the proposed concepts, schemes, and any variations / derivatives thereof can be implemented in, for, and by other types of radio access technologies, networks, and network topologies. Therefore, the scope of this invention is not limited to the examples described herein. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this invention. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, as some components may be shown out of proportion to actual dimensions in order to clearly illustrate the concepts of the invention.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example scenario under an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of an example communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of an example process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] This invention discloses detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed subject matter. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely illustrative of the claimed subject matter, which can be embodied in various forms. The invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided so that the description of the invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the following description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations.

[0026] Overview

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention relate to various techniques, methods, schemes, and / or solutions for SAN or NTN measurements of user equipment and network devices in mobile communications. According to the present invention, multiple possible schemes can be implemented individually or in combination. That is, although these possible solutions may be described individually below, two or more of these possible solutions may be implemented in one or another combination.

[0028] According to the reference scenario parameters in Table 4.2-2 of 3GPP TR 38.821, the maximum Doppler shift of a LEO-600km network can reach 24ppm. Furthermore, the Doppler signals of the serving satellite and neighboring satellites may have different symbols (e.g., the serving satellite is leaving the UE while a neighboring cell is approaching the UE). Figure 1 An example scenario 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scenario 100 includes at least one UE and multiple network nodes (e.g., satellites), which may be part of a wireless communication network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). Figure 1 As shown, satellites are deployed in LEO or NGSO, orbiting the Earth at high speed. UEs on the ground need to connect to the serving satellite for SAN or NTN communication. The UE may also need to perform some measurements on neighboring satellites for mobility management. In scenario 100, the UE is located between two satellites. Therefore, the serving satellite is moving away from the UE, while a neighboring cell is approaching the UE. In this case, the Doppler shift will become large / significant. For example, the Doppler shift of the serving satellite observed at the UE might be -50kHz, while the Doppler shift of the neighboring satellite observed at the UE might be +50kHz. This results in a frequency spacing of up to 100kHz between the serving satellite and the neighboring satellite.

[0029] Figure 2 An example scenario 200 is illustrated under an embodiment of the present invention. The Doppler shift between 2 GHz reference signals (e.g., synchronization signal blocks, SSBs) from the serving satellite and neighboring satellites can reach up to 100 kHz. In other words, if two satellites with the same absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) are configured in a measurement object (MO), a Doppler shift of up to 100 kHz can be observed. Therefore, additional hardware is required to receive / measure different satellites. For example, the UE may need to be equipped with two transceivers to perform measurements on neighboring satellites while connected to the serving satellite. Simultaneous communication with two satellites may also require additional hardware / software costs.

[0030] In view of this, the present invention proposes several schemes related to measurements of UE and network devices in a SAN or NTN. According to the schemes of the present invention, time-division multiplexing (TDM) methods can be introduced to address the aforementioned problems in performing serving cell / satellite measurements and neighboring cell / satellite measurements. The TDM method may include the use of scaling / sharing factors or measurement constraints when performing measurements. The UE can apply the scaling / sharing factor when certain conditions are met. The scaling / sharing factor is used to extend the measurement period. Therefore, the UE can have more measurement time for performing measurements on different cells / satellites separately rather than simultaneously. Alternatively, the UE can apply measurement constraints when certain conditions are met. It is not expected that the UE will perform measurements on reference signals with measurement constraints. Using these measurement constraints, conflicts between different cells / satellites can be avoided. Therefore, the UE can support SAN / NTN measurements on multiple cells / satellites and mobility performance without significantly increasing UE measurement resources (e.g., hardware / software resources). A balance can be achieved between mobility performance and UE design costs.

[0031] Specifically, the UE can connect to the serving cell for data reception / transmission. The cell mentioned in this invention can include a satellite, network node, or base station. The serving cell can configure some frequency bands / frequency points for the UE (e.g., via radio resource control (RRC)) to perform measurements on possible neighboring cells or a target cell. Measurements can be configured within measurement gaps (e.g., gap-based measurements) or outside measurement gaps (e.g., gapless measurements). Measurements can be performed within measurement gaps if the UE receives a measurement gap. Measurements can be performed outside measurement gaps if the UE determines that no measurement gap is configured for measurement. Measurements can include at least one of intra-frequency measurements and inter-frequency measurements.

[0032] For NTN / SAN measurements, the satellites are deployed in LEO and orbit the Earth at high speed. The UE on the ground connects to the serving satellite used for SAN or NTN communication. The UE needs to perform measurements on neighboring satellites for mobility management. First, the UE can receive the first ephemeris of the serving satellite and the second ephemeris of the neighboring satellites. The UE can also receive the configuration of measurement gaps (if any) from the serving satellite. Then, the UE needs to determine whether to perform measurements on the neighboring satellites by determining whether the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites. Neighboring satellite measurements can be intra-frequency measurements and / or inter-frequency measurements. After determining that measurements on neighboring satellites are needed, the UE needs to determine the measurement period used to perform the measurements.

[0033] In determining the measurement period, the UE also needs to determine a scaling factor. To determine the scaling factor, the UE can determine a first number of overlapping synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) or SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configurations (SMTCs) in the time domain. Overlapping SSBs or SMTCs in the time domain may include a first SSB or SMTC configured for a first satellite and a second SSB or SMTC configured for a second satellite different from the first satellite. In some scenarios, the UE can determine that two SMTCs overlap. Figure 3 Example scenarios 301 and 302 are illustrated under the implementation of the present invention. As shown in scenario 301, the UE can determine that SMTC 1 and SMTC 2 overlap when SMTC 1 and SMTC 2 partially overlap in the time domain. Alternatively, as shown in scenario 302, the UE can determine that SMTC 1 and SMTC 2 overlap when the gap (e.g., X) between SMTC 1 and SMTC 2 is less than a predetermined value (e.g., X < 4 ms).

[0034] Furthermore, the UE can determine a second number of satellites to be measured in each of the SMTCs. Figure 4 An example scenario 400 is illustrated under an implementation according to the invention. In an SMTC, a UE can be configured to measure a first satellite (e.g., satellite 1) and a second satellite (e.g., satellite 2). Reference signals (e.g., SSBs) from the first and second satellites can overlap within the SMTC. The first and second satellites are different satellites. The UE can determine the number of satellites to be measured based on how many ephemeris data are provided in the measurement object (MO) configured by the network node.

[0035] Then, the UE can calculate the scaling factor based on the first quantity and the second quantity. For example, the UE can calculate the scaling factor by summing the second quantity of each SMTC over the first quantity of all SMTCs. If the SMTCs do not overlap, the scaling factor of the measurement period is K1, which can be expressed as an equation. If SMTCs overlap, the scaling factor for the measurement period is K2, which can be expressed as an equation. In one example, assume SMTC 1 and SMTC 2 overlap. There is one satellite to be measured in SMTC 1 and two satellites to be measured in SMTC 2. The scaling factor is then determined by 1 + 2 = 3. In one example, if the target being measured is served by a geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) or GEO satellite, the second quantity can always be one.

[0036] After determining the scaling factor, the UE can determine the measurement period by applying the scaling factor. For example, when there is no SSB or SMTC overlap, the UE can be configured with a first measurement period. If the SSB or SMTC to be measured overlaps, the UE can determine a second measurement period by applying the scaling factor to the first measurement period. The second measurement period is longer than the first measurement period. Therefore, when the SSB or SMTC to be measured overlaps, the UE has more time to perform the measurement.

[0037] Regarding the determination of the measurement period, the UE can perform measurements on the satellite within the measurement period. Figure 5 Example scenarios 501 and 502 are illustrated under the scheme of the implementation according to the invention. In scenario 501, the UE is configured with a first measurement period (e.g., 200 milliseconds (ms)). Within the first measurement period, there are two SMTCs to be measured (e.g., SMTC1 and SMTC2). If these two SMTCs overlap and the first measurement period is not long enough, the UE must perform measurements on both SMTCs simultaneously. This will impose a significant burden on UE complexity and measurement resources.

[0038] In scenario 502, the UE can determine that two SMTCs (e.g., SMTC 1 and SMTC 2) overlap. Assuming the number of satellites to be measured in each SMTC is 1, the UE can determine that the scaling factor is 2 (e.g., 1+1=2). The UE can determine the second measurement period (e.g., 200ms×2=400ms) by applying the scaling factor to the first measurement period. The second measurement period is twice as long as the first measurement period. Therefore, the UE has sufficient time to perform measurements on one SMTC at a time.

[0039] The UE can perform measurements on SMTC 1 and SMTC 2 separately within the second measurement period. For example, the UE can perform measurements on only SMTC 1 in time period T1 and on only SMTC 2 in time period T2. Thus, because the measurement period is extended, the UE can perform satellite measurements within the measurement period using time division multiplexing (TDM). In other words, the UE only needs to perform measurements on one satellite at a time within the measurement period. Measurements can include at least one of serving satellite measurements and neighboring satellite measurements from the SAN or NTN. Therefore, the UE does not need to perform measurements on different satellites simultaneously. This simplifies UE design complexity and avoids additional hardware / software costs.

[0040] In some implementations, the UE can determine the scaling factor based on several other parameters. These parameters may include (but are not limited to) at least one of the following: the number of SMTC opportunities within or outside the measurement gap, the number of configured SMTCs, the UE's ability to support a number of SMTCs, the number of overlapping SMTCs in the time domain, the number of overlapping SSBs to be measured in the time domain, the number of satellite measurement opportunities within or outside the measurement gap, the number of satellites to be measured, and the number of overlapping measurement cell groups in the time domain. The number of measurement cell groups can be defined / determined by at least one of the following: cells / beams transmitted within the same SMTC, cells / beams transmitted for the same satellite, cells / beams with similar or identical timing / Doppler shifts, cells / beams belonging to the same satellite, and cells / beams with similar or identical ephemeris information. Serving cells / beams and neighboring cells / beams may belong to different measurement cell groups. Scaling / sharing factors (e.g., P) sat It can be determined based on any single parameter or combination of parameters mentioned above. The scaling / sharing factor can be used to scale the measurement period of neighboring cells and / or serving cells.

[0041] In some implementations, the UE may apply measurement restrictions when certain conditions are met. The UE will not perform measurements on reference signals with measurement restrictions or during periods with measurement restrictions. For example, the UE may apply measurement restrictions to at least one of the following: reference signals transmitted within the same SMTC, reference signals transmitted for the same satellite, reference signals with similar or identical timing / Doppler shifts, reference signals belonging to the same satellite, and reference signals with similar or identical ephemeris information. The UE may also apply measurement restrictions based on whether SMTCs overlap in the time domain and / or the UE's ability to support a number of SMTCs.

[0042] Figure 6Example scenarios 601 and 602 are illustrated under an implementation according to the invention. Scenario 601 and 602 involve at least one UE and multiple network nodes (e.g., satellites), which may be part of a wireless communication network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). The satellites are deployed in LEO and orbit the Earth at high speed. The UE on the ground connects to a serving satellite for SAN or NTN communication. The UE needs to perform measurements on neighboring satellites for mobility management. First, the UE may receive a first ephemeris of the serving satellite and a second ephemeris of the neighboring satellites. The UE may also receive a configuration of measurement gaps from the serving satellite. Then, the UE needs to determine whether to perform measurements on the neighboring satellites within the measurement gap (i.e., gap-based measurements) by determining whether the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites. The neighboring satellite measurements may be inter-frequency measurements.

[0043] Once the UE determines that it needs to perform neighboring satellite measurements, it can determine the measurement period for the measurements. Scenario 601 illustrates the measurement period for inter-frequency measurements with a frequency range of 1 (FR1) gap in a terrestrial network (TN). The UE can determine the measurement period (e.g., T) based on the equation in Scenario 601. SSB_measurement_period_inter For example, different equations can be used for different DRX cycles (e.g., no DRX, DRX cycle ≤ 320ms, or DRX cycle > 320ms). These equations may include parameters such as, but not limited to, the following: measurement gap repetition period (MGRP), SMTC period, carrier-specific scaling factor (CSSF), DRX cycle, etc.

[0044] For NTN or SAN measurements, the basic TN measurement period needs to be scaled up proportionally. The UE can determine the scaling factor (e.g., P) used to extend the basic TN measurement period. sat For example, the UE can determine P. sat = The number of SMTCs that overlap / partially overlap in the time domain for all types of satellites (e.g., N4). In another example, the UE can determine P sat = The number of satellites to be measured (e.g., LEO / non-geostationary (NGSO) satellites) in the overlapping SMTC (e.g., N6). Alternatively, the UE can determine P sat= The sum of P_i on overlapping / partially overlapping SMTCs in the time domain (e.g., N4), where for a given SMTC_i, P_i = N6. The UE then applies a scaling factor (e.g., P) over the basic TN measurement period. sat This determines the measurement period used for NTN / SAN measurements. Scenario 602 illustrates the measurement period for inter-frequency measurements with FR1 gaps in NTN / SAN. A scaling factor (e.g., P) is introduced / added to the equations used for TN measurements. sat The UE can be directly multiplied by a scaling factor (e.g., P). sat This is used to scale up the basic TN measurement period proportionally. After determining the measurement period, the UE can perform inter-frequency measurements within the corresponding measurement period.

[0045] Figure 7 Example scenarios 701 and 702 are illustrated under an implementation according to the invention. Scenario 701 and 702 involve at least one UE and multiple network nodes (e.g., satellites), which may be part of a wireless communication network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). The satellites are deployed in LEO and orbit the Earth at high speed. The UE on the ground connects to a serving satellite for SAN or NTN communication. The UE needs to perform measurements on neighboring satellites for mobility management. First, the UE may receive a first ephemeris of the serving satellite and a second ephemeris of the neighboring satellites. The UE may also receive a configuration of measurement gaps from the serving satellite. Then, the UE needs to determine whether to perform measurements on the neighboring satellites within the measurement gap (i.e., gap-based measurements) by determining whether the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites. Neighboring satellite measurements may be in-frequency measurements. For example, the SSB from a neighboring satellite may be outside the active bandwidth part (BWP).

[0046] Once the UE determines that it needs to perform neighboring satellite measurements, it can determine the measurement period for the measurements. Scenario 701 illustrates the measurement period for measurements within a frequency band with FR1 gaps in a TN. The UE can determine the measurement period (e.g., T) based on the equations in Scenario 701. SSB_measurement_period_intra For example, different equations can be used for different DRX periods (e.g., no DRX, DRX period ≤ 320ms, or DRX period > 320ms). These equations may include, for example, but are not limited to, the following parameters: MGRP, SMTC period, CSSF, DRX period, etc.

[0047] For NTN or SAN measurements, the basic TN measurement period needs to be scaled up proportionally. The UE can determine the scaling factor (e.g., P) used to extend the basic TN measurement period. satFor example, the UE can determine P. sat = The number of SMTC / satellite / measurement cell groups within the measurement gap, or P is determined based on at least one of the parameters mentioned above. sat Then, the UE applies a scaling factor (e.g., P) over the basic TN measurement period. sat The measurement period for NTN / SAN measurements is determined using [a specific method / mechanism]. Scenario 702 illustrates the measurement period for measurements within a frequency range with an FR1 gap in the NTN / SAN. A scaling factor (e.g., P) is introduced / added to the equation used for TN measurements. sat The UE can be directly multiplied by a scaling factor (e.g., P). sat This is used to scale up the basic TN measurement period proportionally. After determining the measurement period, the UE can perform in-frequency measurements within the corresponding measurement period.

[0048] Figure 8 Example scenarios 801 and 802 are illustrated under an implementation according to the invention. Scenario 801 and 802 involve at least one UE and multiple network nodes (e.g., satellites), which may be part of a wireless communication network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G / NR network, an IoT network, or a 6G network). The satellites are deployed in LEO and orbit the Earth at high speed. The UE on the ground connects to a serving satellite for SAN or NTN communication. The UE needs to perform measurements on neighboring satellites for mobility management. First, the UE may receive a first ephemeris of the serving satellite and a second ephemeris of the neighboring satellites. The UE may also receive a configuration of measurement gaps (if any) from the serving satellite. Then, the UE needs to determine whether to perform measurements outside the measurement gap (i.e., gapless measurements) on the neighboring satellites by determining whether the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites. The neighboring satellite measurements may be intra-frequency measurements or inter-frequency measurements.

[0049] Once the UE determines that it needs to perform adjacent satellite measurements within / outside the measurement gap, the UE can determine the measurement period for the measurements. Scenario 801 illustrates the measurement period for measurements within a frequency range without FR1 gaps in the TN. The UE can determine the measurement period (e.g., T) based on the equations in Scenario 801. SSB_measurement_period_intra For example, different equations can be used for different DRX periods (e.g., no DRX, DRX period ≤ 320ms, or DRX period > 320ms). These equations may include, for example, but are not limited to, the following parameters: MGRP, SMTC period, CSSF, DRX period, etc.

[0050] For NTN or SAN measurements, the basic TN measurement cycle outside / without a measurement gap needs to be scaled up. The UE can determine the scaling factor (e.g., P) used to extend the basic TN measurement cycle. sat For example, the UE can determine P. sat = The number of SMTC / satellite / measurement cell groups within the measurement gap, or P is determined based on at least one of the parameters mentioned above. sat Then, the UE applies a scaling factor (e.g., P) over the basic TN measurement period. sat This determines the measurement period for NTN / SAN measurements. Scenario 802 illustrates the measurement period for measurements within a frequency range where there is no FR1 gap in the NTN / SAN. A scaling factor (e.g., P) is introduced / added to the equation used for TN measurements. sat The UE can be directly multiplied by a scaling factor (e.g., P). sat This is used to scale up the basic TN measurement period outside / without a measurement gap. After determining the measurement period, the UE can perform in-frequency measurements within the corresponding measurement period.

[0051] In some implementations, the UE may receive a first ephemeris of the serving satellite and a second ephemeris of neighboring satellites. The UE may also receive a configuration of the measurement gap (if any) from the serving satellite. The UE then needs to determine whether to perform measurements on the neighboring satellites within the measurement gap (i.e., gap-based measurements) or outside the measurement gap (i.e., gapless measurements) by determining whether the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites. Neighboring satellite measurements can be intra-frequency measurements or inter-frequency measurements.

[0052] Once the UE determines that it needs to perform measurements on adjacent satellites within / outside the measurement gap, it can determine the measurement period for the measurements. For NTN or SAN measurements, reference signals from different satellites can overlap. The UE can determine scheduling restrictions for performing measurements on one satellite at a time. For example, the UE can determine measurement restrictions when reference signals in the same orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol belong to different SMTC / satellite / measurement cell groups. The UE can then measure one of the reference signals instead of two within the measurement period. It is not expected that the UE will measure reference signals with measurement restrictions. Reference signals can include at least one of SSB and Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS).

[0053] Illustrative Implementation

[0054] Figure 9 An example communication system 900 with an example communication device 910 and an example network device 920 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Each of the communication device 910 and the network device 920 can perform various functions to implement the schemes, techniques, processes, and methods described in this invention for SAN or NTN measurements of user equipment and network devices in mobile communications, including the scenarios / schemes described above and the process 1000 described below.

[0055] The communication device 910 may be part of an electronic device, which may be a UE such as a portable or mobile device, a wearable device, a wireless communication device, or a computing device. For example, the communication device 910 may be implemented in a smartphone, smartwatch, personal digital assistant, digital camera, or computing device such as a tablet, laptop, or notebook computer. The communication device 910 may also be part of a machine-type device, which may be an IoT, NB-IoT, or IIoT device, such as a stationary or fixed device, a home appliance, a wired communication device, or a computing device. For example, the communication device 910 may be implemented in a smart thermostat, a smart refrigerator, a smart door lock, a wireless speaker, or a home control center. Alternatively, the communication device 910 may be implemented as one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips, such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more reduced-instruction-set computing (RISC) processors, or one or more complex-instruction-set computing (CISC) processors. The communication device 910 may include... Figure 9 At least some of the components shown. For example Figure 9 The processor 912 in the communication device 910 may also include one or more other components unrelated to the proposed embodiments of the present invention (e.g., internal power supply, display device, and / or user interface device), and therefore, none of such one or more components of the communication device 910 are included in the present invention. Figure 9 As shown in the image, for the sake of simplicity and brevity, no further description is provided below.

[0056] Network device 920 may be part of a network device, which may be a network node such as a satellite, base station, small cell, router, or gateway. For example, network device 920 may be implemented in an eNodeB in an LTE network, in a gNB in ​​a 5G / NR, IoT, NB-IoT, or IIoT network, or in a satellite or base station in a 6G network. Alternatively, network device 920 may be implemented as one or more IC chips, such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, or one or more RISC or CISC processors. Network device 920 may include... Figure 9 At least some of the components shown, such as processor 922. Network device 920 may also include one or more other components unrelated to the proposed embodiments of the invention (e.g., internal power supply, display device, and / or user interface device), and therefore, one or more such components of network device 920 in Figure 9 None of them are shown in the image, and for the sake of simplicity and brevity, they are not described below.

[0057] In one aspect, each of processors 912 and 922 may be implemented as one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, or one or more CISC processors. That is, even though the singular term "one processor" is used herein to refer to processors 912 and 922, according to the invention, each of processors 912 and 922 may include multiple processors in some embodiments and a single processor in other implementations. In another aspect, each of processors 912 and 922 may be implemented as hardware (and, optionally, firmware) having electronic components, including, for example, but not limited to, one or more transistors, one or more diodes, one or more capacitors, one or more resistors, one or more inductors, one or more memristors, and / or one or more varistors, configured and arranged to achieve a specific purpose according to the invention. In other words, in at least some embodiments, each of processors 912 and 922 is a dedicated machine specifically designed, arranged, and configured to perform a specific task, including autonomous reliability enhancements in the device (e.g., as represented by communication device 910) and networks according to various embodiments of the invention (e.g., as represented by network device 920).

[0058] In some embodiments, the communication device 910 may further include a transceiver 916 coupled to the processor 912 and capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the communication device 910 may further include a memory 914 coupled to the processor 912, accessible by the processor 912, and capable of storing data therein. In some embodiments, the network device 920 may further include a transceiver 926 coupled to the processor 922 and capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the network device 920 may further include a memory 924 coupled to the processor 922, accessible by the processor 922, and capable of storing data therein. Therefore, the communication device 910 and the network device 920 may wirelessly communicate with each other via transceiver 916 and transceiver 926, respectively. To aid in better understanding, the following description of the operation, function, and capabilities of each of the communication device 910 and the network device 920 is provided in the context of a mobile communication environment in which the communication device 910 is implemented in or as a communication device / UE, and the network device 920 is implemented in or as a network node of a communication network.

[0059] In some implementations, processor 912 can determine a first number of SMTCs overlapping in the time domain. Processor 912 can also determine a second number of satellites to be measured in each of the individual SMTCs. Processor 912 can calculate a scaling factor based on the first and second numbers. Processor 912 can determine a measurement period by applying the scaling factor. Processor 912 can perform measurements on the satellites within the measurement period.

[0060] In some implementations, the processor 912 can perform measurements on the satellite during the measurement cycle via TDM.

[0061] In some implementations, the processor 912 can calculate the scaling factor by summing a second number of the individual SMTCs over a first number of all SMTCs.

[0062] In some implementations, processor 912 may receive a first ephemeris of the serving satellite and a second ephemeris of the neighboring satellites via transceiver 916. Processor 912 may determine, based on the first and second ephemeris, that the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites.

[0063] In some implementations, overlapping SSBs or SMTCs in the time domain may include a first SSB or SMTC configured for a first satellite and a second SSB or SMTC configured for a second satellite different from the first satellite.

[0064] In some implementations, the measurements performed by the processor 912 may include at least one of intra-frequency measurements and inter-frequency measurements.

[0065] In some implementations, if the gap between the first SSB or SMTC and the second SSB or SMTC is less than a predetermined value, the processor 912 may determine that the first SSB or SMTC overlaps with the second SSB or SMTC in the first time domain.

[0066] In some implementations, processor 912 may receive the measurement gap via transceiver 916. Processor 912 may perform measurements within the measurement gap.

[0067] In some implementations, the processor 912 may determine that no measurement gap is configured for measurement, and the processor 912 may perform the measurement outside the measurement gap.

[0068] In some implementations, the measurements performed by the processor 912 may include at least one of serving satellite measurements and neighboring satellite measurements in a SAN or NTN.

[0069] Explanatory process

[0070] Figure 10 An example process 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Process 1000 may be an example implementation, either partially or completely, of the above scenarios / solutions regarding SAN or NTN measurements of the present invention. Process 1000 may represent one aspect of an embodiment of the features of communication device 910. Process 1000 may include one or more operations, actions, or functions, as illustrated in one or more of blocks 1010, 1020, and 1030. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, the various blocks of process 1000 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation. Furthermore, the blocks of process 1000 may... Figure 10 The process 1000 may be executed in the order shown, or alternatively, in a different order. Process 1000 may be implemented by communication device 910 or any suitable UE or machine type device. For illustrative purposes only and not as a limitation, process 1000 is described below in the context of communication device 910. Process 1000 may begin at block 1010.

[0071] At 1010, process 1000 may include the processor 912 of communication device 910 determining a first number of overlapping SMTCs in the time domain. Process 1000 proceeds from 1010 to 1020.

[0072] At 1020, process 1000 may include processor 912 determining a second number of satellites to be measured in each of the various SMTCs. Process 1000 proceeds from 1020 to 1030.

[0073] At 1030, process 1000 may include processor 912 calculating a scaling factor based on a first quantity and a second quantity. Process 1000 proceeds from 1030 to 1040.

[0074] At 1040, process 1000 may include processor 912 determining the measurement cycle by applying a scaling factor. Process 1000 proceeds from 1040 to 1050.

[0075] In 1050, process 1000 may include processor 912 performing measurements on the satellite during the measurement cycle.

[0076] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include processor 912 performing measurements on the satellite during a measurement period via TDM.

[0077] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include processor 912 calculating a scaling factor by summing a second number of the individual SMTCs over a first number of all SMTCs.

[0078] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include processor 912 receiving a first ephemeris of the serving satellite and a second ephemeris of neighboring satellites, and determining, based on the first and second ephemeris, that the serving satellite and the neighboring satellites are different satellites.

[0079] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include determining that the first SSB or SMTC overlaps with the second SSB or SMTC if the gap between the first SSB or SMTC and the second SSB or SMTC in the first time domain is less than a predetermined value.

[0080] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include processor 912 receiving measurement gaps and performing measurements within the measurement gaps.

[0081] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include processor 912 determining that no measurement gap is configured for measurement, and performing measurement outside of that measurement gap.

[0082] In some implementations, process 1000 may further include processor 912 performing at least one of serving satellite measurements and neighboring satellite measurements in a SAN or NTN.

[0083] Additional notes

[0084] The subject matter described in this invention sometimes illustrates different components contained within or connected to other components. It should be understood that the depicted architecture is merely an example, and many other architectures that achieve the same functionality can actually be implemented. Conceptually, any arrangement of components achieving the same function is effectively “associated” to achieve the desired function. Therefore, regardless of the architecture or intermediate components, any two components of this invention combined to achieve a specific function can be considered “associated” with each other to achieve the desired function. Similarly, any two such associated components can also be considered “operationally connected” or “operationally coupled” to achieve the desired function, and any two components that can be suchly associated can also be considered “operationally coupled” to achieve the desired function. Specific examples of operationally coupled components include, but are not limited to: physically mating and / or physically interacting components and / or wirelessly interacting components and / or logically interacting and / or logically interactable components.

[0085] Furthermore, regarding the extensive use of any plural and / or singular terms in this invention, those skilled in the art can, depending on the context and / or application, convert from plural to singular and / or from singular to plural. For clarity, various singular / plural interchanges can be explicitly described in this invention.

[0086] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that, generally, the terminology used in this invention, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., the text of the appended claims), generally means "open" terms (e.g., the term "comprising" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," etc.). Those skilled in the art will also understand that if a particular number of claims is intentionally enumerated, this intention will be explicitly listed in the claims, and if such enumeration is absent, this intention will not exist. For example, to aid understanding, the appended claims may include the use of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" that enumerate the claims. However, the use of such phrases should not be interpreted as implying that the introduction of the indefinite article "a" or "an" by a claim list limits any particular claim containing such an introduced claim list to an embodiment containing only one such list, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrase "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article (such as "a" or "an") (e.g., "a" and / or "an" should be interpreted as meaning "at least one" or "one or more"); this also applies to the use of definite articles used to introduce claim lists. Furthermore, even when a specific number of introduced claim lists is explicitly listed, those skilled in the art will recognize that such a list should be interpreted as meaning at least the number listed (e.g., in the absence of other modifiers, an unmodified list of "two lists" means at least two lists, or two or more lists). Furthermore, in cases where the convention of "at least one of A, B, and C" is used, this interpretation generally means, as those skilled in the art will understand, that "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" includes, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, having B alone, having C alone, having A and B together, having A and C together, having B and C together, and / or having A, B, and C together. In cases where the convention of "at least one of A, B, or C" is used, this interpretation generally means, as those skilled in the art will understand, that "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" includes, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, having B alone, having C alone, having A and B together, having A and C together, having B and C together, and / or having A, B, and C together. Those skilled in the art will also understand that any transitional words and / or phrases that actually present two or more alternatives, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one, any, or both of these items. For example, the phrase “A or B” would be understood to include the possibility of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.

[0087] As can be understood from the foregoing, various embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative purposes, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the various embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limiting, and the true scope and spirit are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for satellite access network measurement, the method comprising: Determine the first number of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) or SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configurations (SMTCs) that overlap in the time domain; Determine the second number of satellites to be measured in each of the SMTCs; Calculate the scaling factor based on the first quantity and the second quantity; The measurement period is determined by applying the scaling factor; as well as Measurements are performed on the satellite during the measurement period.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The execution includes performing the measurement on the satellite within the measurement period using time division multiplexing (TDM).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The calculation includes: calculating the scaling factor by summing the second quantity of each SMTC over the first quantity of all SMTCs.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The SSB or SMTC that overlaps in the time domain includes: a first SSB or SMTC configured for a first satellite and a second SSB or SMTC configured for a second satellite different from the first satellite.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The measurement includes at least one of intra-frequency measurement and inter-frequency measurement.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The measurements include at least one of serving satellite measurements and neighboring satellite measurements in a satellite access network (SAN) or a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Receive the first ephemeris of the serving satellite and the second ephemeris of adjacent satellites; as well as Based on the first ephemeris and the second ephemeris, it is determined that the serving satellite and the neighboring satellite are different satellites.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: If the gap between the first SSB or SMTC and the second SSB or SMTC in the time domain is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the first SSB or SMTC overlaps with the second SSB or SMTC.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Configuration of the receiving measurement gap, The measurement is performed within the measurement gap.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: It is determined that no measurement gap is configured for the measurement, wherein the measurement is performed outside the measurement gap.

11. An apparatus for measuring satellite access networks, the apparatus comprising: A transceiver that communicates wirelessly with at least one network node of a wireless network during operation; as well as A processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver, performs the following operations during operation: Identify overlapping synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in the time domain or SSB-based radio resource management (RRM). Measure the first number of timing configuration SMTCs; Determine the second number of satellites to be measured in each of the SMTCs; Calculate the scaling factor based on the first quantity and the second quantity; The measurement period is determined by applying the scaling factor; as well as Measurements are performed on the satellite via the transceiver during the measurement period.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, When performing the measurement, the processor performs the measurement on the satellite within the measurement period using time division multiplexing (TDM).

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, When calculating the scaling factor, the processor calculates the scaling factor by summing the second quantity of each SMTC over the first quantity of all SMTCs.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The overlapping SSBs or SMTCs in the time domain include a first SSB or SMTC configured for a first satellite and a second SSB or SMTC configured for a second satellite different from the first satellite.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The measurement includes at least one of intra-frequency measurement and inter-frequency measurement.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The measurements include at least one of serving satellite measurements and neighboring satellite measurements in a satellite access network (SAN) or a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, During operation, the processor also performs the following operations: The transceiver receives the first ephemeris of the serving satellite and the second ephemeris of neighboring satellites; and The service satellite and the neighboring satellite are determined to be different satellites based on the first ephemeris and the second ephemeris.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, During operation, the processor also performs the following operations: If the gap between the first SSB or SMTC and the second SSB or SMTC in the time domain is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the first SSB or SMTC overlaps with the second SSB or SMTC.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, During operation, the processor also performs the following operations: The configuration of the measurement gap is received via the transceiver. The measurement is performed within the measurement gap.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, During operation, the processor also performs the following operations: It was determined that no measurement gap was configured for the measurement. The measurement is performed outside the measurement gap.

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