Base station switching method, device and equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a base station switching method, apparatus and equipment, wherein the base station switching method includes: obtaining a judgment result of whether a terminal is allowed to switch to a target base station based on first information; the base station type of the target base station is a ground base station or a satellite base station; when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch, determining, based on second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway; receiving a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; triggering a second core network device to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station based on the first session response; this solution can support the use of the NTN gateway as the UPF for user plane data transmission, and effectively solves the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a base station switching method, apparatus, and device. Background Art

[0002] Existing technologies implement handover between ground base stations via the N2 interface due to UE mobility in the ground network to ensure service continuity. However, a network architecture solution for base stations on satellites is currently being promoted. Under this architecture, due to user mobility, a user may switch from a ground base station to a satellite base station, resulting in a ground-to-satellite base station handover. Simultaneously, due to satellite mobility, a user may switch from a satellite base station to a ground base station, resulting in a satellite-to-ground base station handover. Currently, there are no corresponding service continuity assurance solutions for these two scenarios, which will pose the following problems for established ground and / or satellite communications:

[0003] When satellite-to-ground and / or ground-to-satellite handover occurs, the user plane path is too long, resulting in excessive latency, which will affect the user service experience. Specifically, in the satellite-to-ground handover scenario, user plane data passing through the satellite base station must also pass through the NTN gateway, and then be sent from the NTN gateway to the UPF. Compared with the terrestrial network, the user plane path is increased, resulting in longer latency for user services, affecting the user service experience.

[0004] As described above, the existing technology for base station switching solutions between ground base stations and satellite base stations has problems such as large switching delay affecting service experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a base station switching method, device and equipment to solve the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a first core network device, including:

[0007] Obtaining, based on the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station; the first information includes a base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0008] If the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is allowed, determining, based on the second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data;

[0009] Sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway;

[0010] receiving a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; wherein the first session response carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0011] According to the first session response, the second core network device is triggered to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

[0012] Optionally, before obtaining, according to the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the method further includes:

[0013] The base station type of the target base station is determined according to the identification information of the target base station.

[0014] Optionally, the first session response also carries information of a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0015] Optionally, also include:

[0016] Sending a session update request to the target NTN gateway;

[0017] Receive a session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the session update response carries information about a third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0018] Optionally, before obtaining, according to the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the method further includes:

[0019] Sending an NTN gateway address query request to a network storage function NRF device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station;

[0020] Receive an NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device; the NTN gateway address query response carries NTN gateway address information.

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a target NTN gateway and includes:

[0022] Receiving a first session request sent by a first core network device;

[0023] Feedback a first session response to the first core network device;

[0024] The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0025] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data;

[0026] The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station.

[0027] Optionally, the first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

[0028] Optionally, also include:

[0029] Receiving a session update request sent by the first core network device;

[0030] Feedback a session update response to the first core network device; the session update response carries information about the third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0031] Optionally, also include:

[0032] Send a registration request to the NRF device;

[0033] The registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0034] Optionally, also include:

[0035] receiving a handover request sent by a second core network device, wherein the handover request carries information about the first tunnel;

[0036] Determining address information of the target base station according to the handover request, the base station type, and identification information of the target base station;

[0037] The handover request is sent to the target base station according to the address information of the target base station.

[0038] Optionally, also include:

[0039] receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station, where the handover response carries information about the first tunnel and information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0040] Send the switching response to the second core network device.

[0041] Optionally, also include:

[0042] receiving a handover indication sent by a second core network device, wherein the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station;

[0043] Acquiring address information of the target base station according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0044] Sending a handover instruction to the target base station according to the address information of the target base station.

[0045] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a target base station and includes:

[0046] receiving a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station;

[0047] According to the switching request, a switching response is fed back directly or indirectly to the second core network device; the switching response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0048] Optionally, receiving a handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device includes:

[0049] Receive a handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

[0050] Optionally, indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request includes:

[0051] Feedback a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device;

[0052] The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0053] Optionally, also include:

[0054] Determining, based on the terminal's location information, a radio resource control (RRC) measurement report, and satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station, whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station and enters the coverage of a ground base station within a first time period;

[0055] If yes, trigger the second core network device to send the switching request.

[0056] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching method, which is applied to an NRF device, including:

[0057] Receiving an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station;

[0058] Obtaining the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0059] Feedback an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0060] Optionally, also include:

[0061] Receive a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway;

[0062] The address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway are stored, and the target NTN gateway is marked as available for use.

[0063] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a second core network device, including:

[0064] Acquire the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway;

[0065] Sending a session context update request to the first core network device according to the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station according to the first information;

[0066] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0067] The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal.

[0068] Optionally, also include:

[0069] Sending a handover request directly or indirectly to the target base station; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0070] Directly or indirectly receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station; the handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0071] Optionally, the indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes:

[0072] Sending a handover request to a target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station;

[0073] The indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes:

[0074] receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway;

[0075] The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0076] Optionally, also include:

[0077] According to the handover response, a handover indication is sent to the target NTN gateway; the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station.

[0078] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, applied to a first core network device, including:

[0079] A first acquisition module is configured to obtain, based on first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to a target base station; the first information includes a base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0080] A first determining module is configured to, if the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is permitted, determine, based on second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, if the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data;

[0081] A first sending module, configured to send a first session request to the target NTN gateway;

[0082] A first receiving module is configured to receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0083] The first processing module is used to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station according to the first session response; the switching request carries information about the first tunnel.

[0084] Optionally, also include:

[0085] The second determining module is configured to determine the base station type of the target base station according to identification information of the target base station before obtaining a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station according to the first information.

[0086] Optionally, the first session response also carries information of a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0087] Optionally, also include:

[0088] A second sending module is used to send a session update request to the target NTN gateway;

[0089] The second receiving module is used to receive the session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the session update response carries information of the third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0090] Optionally, also include:

[0091] A third sending module is configured to send an NTN gateway address query request to a network storage function NRF device before obtaining a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station based on the first information; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station;

[0092] The third receiving module is configured to receive an NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device; the NTN gateway address query response carries NTN gateway address information.

[0093] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a target NTN gateway and includes:

[0094] A fourth receiving module, configured to receive a first session request sent by the first core network device;

[0095] A first feedback module, configured to feed back a first session response to the first core network device;

[0096] The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0097] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data;

[0098] The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station.

[0099] Optionally, the first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

[0100] Optionally, also include:

[0101] a fifth receiving module, configured to receive a session update request sent by the first core network device;

[0102] The second feedback module is used to feedback a session update response to the first core network device; the session update response carries information about the third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0103] Optionally, also include:

[0104] The fourth sending module is used to send a registration request to the NRF device;

[0105] The registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0106] Optionally, also include:

[0107] a sixth receiving module, configured to receive a handover request sent by a second core network device; the handover request carrying information about the first tunnel;

[0108] a third determining module, configured to determine the address information of the target base station according to the handover request, the base station type, and the identification information of the target base station;

[0109] A fifth sending module is configured to send the handover request to the target base station according to the address information of the target base station.

[0110] Optionally, also include:

[0111] a seventh receiving module, configured to receive a handover response fed back by the target base station, the handover response carrying information about the first tunnel and information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0112] The sixth sending module is used to send the switching response to the second core network device.

[0113] Optionally, also include:

[0114] an eighth receiving module, configured to receive a handover indication sent by the second core network device; the handover indication carrying identification information of the target base station;

[0115] A second acquisition module is used to acquire the address information of the target base station according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0116] A seventh sending module is configured to send a handover indication to the target base station according to the address information of the target base station.

[0117] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a target base station and includes:

[0118] a ninth receiving module, configured to receive a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station;

[0119] The third feedback module is used to directly or indirectly feed back a switching response to the second core network device according to the switching request; the switching response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0120] Optionally, receiving a handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device includes:

[0121] Receive a handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

[0122] Optionally, indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request includes:

[0123] Feedback a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device;

[0124] The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0125] Optionally, also include:

[0126] A second processing module is configured to determine whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station and enters the coverage of the ground base station within a first time period based on the terminal's location information, the radio resource control RRC measurement report, and the satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station;

[0127] The third processing module is used to trigger the second core network device to send the switching request if yes.

[0128] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to an NRF device, including:

[0129] a tenth receiving module, configured to receive an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station;

[0130] A third acquisition module is used to obtain the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0131] The fourth feedback module is configured to feed back an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0132] Optionally, also include:

[0133] an eleventh receiving module, configured to receive a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries at least one of address information of the target NTN gateway and identification information of a satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway;

[0134] The fourth processing module is configured to store the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station to which the target NTN gateway is connected, and mark the target NTN gateway as being available for use.

[0135] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a second core network device, including:

[0136] A fourth acquisition module is used to acquire the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway;

[0137] an eighth sending module, configured to send a session context update request to the first core network device according to the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station according to the first information;

[0138] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0139] The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal.

[0140] Optionally, also include:

[0141] a ninth sending module, configured to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0142] A twelfth receiving module is configured to directly or indirectly receive a handover response fed back by the target base station; the handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0143] Optionally, the indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes:

[0144] Sending a handover request to a target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station;

[0145] The indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes:

[0146] receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway;

[0147] The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0148] Optionally, also include:

[0149] A tenth sending module is configured to send a handover indication to the target NTN gateway according to the handover response; the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station.

[0150] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, the base station switching device being a first core network device, comprising: a processor and a transceiver;

[0151] The processor is configured to obtain, based on first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to a target base station; the first information includes a base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0152] If the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is allowed, determining, based on the second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data;

[0153] Sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway via the transceiver;

[0154] receiving, through the transceiver, a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway, wherein the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0155] According to the first session response, the second core network device is triggered to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

[0156] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0157] Before obtaining, according to the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the base station type of the target base station is determined according to the identification information of the target base station.

[0158] Optionally, the first session response also carries information of a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0159] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0160] Sending a session update request to the target NTN gateway via the transceiver;

[0161] The transceiver receives a session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the session update response carries information of a third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0162] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0163] Before obtaining a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station based on the first information, sending an NTN gateway address query request to the network storage function NRF device through the transceiver; the NTN gateway address query request carries the identification information of the target base station;

[0164] The NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device is received through the transceiver; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0165] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, the base station switching device being a target NTN gateway, comprising: a processor and a transceiver;

[0166] The processor is configured to receive, through the transceiver, a first session request sent by a first core network device;

[0167] Feedback a first session response to the first core network device through the transceiver;

[0168] The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0169] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data;

[0170] The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station.

[0171] Optionally, the first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

[0172] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0173] Receiving, via the transceiver, a session update request sent by the first core network device;

[0174] Through the transceiver, a session update response is fed back to the first core network device; the session update response carries information of the third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0175] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0176] Sending a registration request to the NRF device via the transceiver;

[0177] The registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0178] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0179] Receiving, through the transceiver, a handover request sent by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel;

[0180] Determining address information of the target base station according to the handover request, the base station type, and identification information of the target base station;

[0181] The handover request is sent to the target base station through the transceiver according to the address information of the target base station.

[0182] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0183] receiving, through the transceiver, a handover response fed back by the target base station, where the handover response carries information about the first tunnel and information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0184] The switching response is sent to the second core network device through the transceiver.

[0185] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0186] Receiving, by the transceiver, a handover indication sent by a second core network device; wherein the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station;

[0187] Acquiring address information of the target base station according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0188] According to the address information of the target base station, a handover instruction is sent to the target base station through the transceiver.

[0189] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, the base station switching device being a target base station, comprising: a processor and a transceiver;

[0190] The processor is configured to receive, through the transceiver, a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station;

[0191] According to the switching request, a switching response is fed back directly or indirectly to the second core network device; the switching response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0192] Optionally, receiving a handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device includes:

[0193] Receive a handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

[0194] Optionally, indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request includes:

[0195] Feedback a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device;

[0196] The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0197] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0198] Determining, based on the terminal's location information, a radio resource control (RRC) measurement report, and satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station, whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station and enters the coverage of a ground base station within a first time period;

[0199] If yes, trigger the second core network device to send the switching request.

[0200] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is an NRF device, including: a processor and a transceiver;

[0201] The processor is configured to receive, through the transceiver, an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station;

[0202] Obtaining the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0203] Feedback an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0204] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0205] Receiving, by the transceiver, a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of a satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway;

[0206] The address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway are stored, and the target NTN gateway is marked as available for use.

[0207] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, the base station switching device being a second core network device, comprising: a processor and a transceiver;

[0208] The processor is configured to obtain location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway;

[0209] Sending a session context update request to the first core network device through the transceiver according to the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station according to the first information;

[0210] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0211] The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal.

[0212] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0213] Sending a handover request directly or indirectly to the target base station through the transceiver; the handover request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0214] A handover response fed back by the target base station is directly or indirectly received through the transceiver; the handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0215] Optionally, the indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes:

[0216] Sending a handover request to a target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station;

[0217] The indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes:

[0218] receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway;

[0219] The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0220] Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

[0221] According to the handover response, a handover indication is sent to the target NTN gateway via the transceiver; the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station.

[0222] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a program stored on the memory and runnable on the processor; when the processor executes the program, the base station switching method on the first core network device side, the target NTN gateway side, the target base station side, the NRF device side, or the second core network device side is implemented.

[0223] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a readable storage medium on which a program is stored. When the program is executed by a processor, the steps in the base station switching method on the first core network device side, the target NTN gateway side, the target base station side, the NRF device side or the second core network device side are implemented.

[0224] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution of the present invention are as follows:

[0225] In the above solution, the base station switching method obtains a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on first information; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; if the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch, the target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway is determined to be the target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data based on second information; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; a first session request is sent to the target NTN gateway; Receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station according to the first session response; the switching request carries information about the first tunnel; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user-plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user-plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which is a good solution to the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the existing technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0226] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a handover process between ground base stations according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0227] Figure 2 The base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 ;

[0228] Figure 3 The base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0229] Figure 4 The base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 3 ;

[0230] Figure 5 The base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 4 ;

[0231] Figure 6 The base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 5 ;

[0232] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a base station switching method implementation framework according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0233] Figure 8 The specific implementation process of the base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown as follows Figure 1 ;

[0234] Figure 9 The specific implementation process of the base station switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown as follows Figure 2 ;

[0235] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0236] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0237] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 ;

[0238] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 ;

[0239] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 5 ;

[0240] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the base station switching device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0241] Figure 16 A schematic diagram of the base station switching device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0242] Figure 17 A schematic diagram of the base station switching device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 ;

[0243] Figure 18 A schematic diagram of the base station switching device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 ;

[0244] Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the base station switching device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 5 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0245] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages to be solved by the present invention clearer, a detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0246] The following first introduces the relevant contents of this plan.

[0247] Currently, there is no satellite-to-ground handover solution. The main handover solution is the N2 interface-based handover solution adopted by the 5G ground network. The solution process is as follows: Figure 1 As shown in the (message sequence diagram of handover between base stations after session establishment), the following steps are included:

[0248] 1. After the terminal successfully registers with the 5G network and establishes communication through the S-NG-RAN (source 5G radio access network), AMF (access and mobility management function), SMF (session management function), S-UPF (source user plane function) and PSA-UPF (anchor user plane function), due to the movement of the terminal, the S-NG-RAN determines to perform inter-gNB (base station) handover based on the N2 interface, and the S-NG-RAN initiates a handover request to the AMF (handover required).

[0249] 2. After receiving the handover request, AMF sends a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session context update request to SMF.

[0250] 3. After receiving the request, SMF selects T (target)-UPF based on UE location, DNN (data network name) and other information, that is, performs UPF selection.

[0251] 4. After selecting T-UPF, SMF sends N4 session modification request to PSA-UPF, PSA-UPF updates N9 tunnel information and returns a response.

[0252] 5. After receiving the response, SMF sends an N4 session establishment request to T-UPF, carrying the PSA-UPF N9 address (i.e., N9 tunnel information).

[0253] 6. After receiving the request, T-UPF returns an N4 session establishment response to SMF, which carries the T-UPF N3 address.

[0254] 7. After receiving the response, SMF sends a PDU session context update response to AMF.

[0255] 8. After receiving the response, AMF sends a handover request to T-NG-RAN (target 5G radio access network).

[0256] 9. After receiving the handover request, T-NG-RAN sends a handover confirmation message (Handover request ACK) to AMF.

[0257] 10. After receiving the confirmation message, AMF sends a PDU session context update request to SMF.

[0258] 11. After receiving the request, SMF sends an N4 session modification request to T-UPF, and the message carries the T-NG-RAN N3 address.

[0259] 12. After receiving the request, T-UPF returns N4 session modification response to SMF, which carries T-UPF N3 address.

[0260] 13. After receiving the response, SMF sends an N4 session modification request to S-UPF, carrying the T-UPF N3 address.

[0261] 14. After receiving the request, S-UPF returns N4 session modification response to SMF, which carries S-UPF N3 address.

[0262] 15. After receiving the response, SMF sends a PDU session context update response to AMF.

[0263] 16. After receiving the response, the AMF sends a handover indication to the S-NG-RAN, which forwards the indication to the UE.

[0264] 17. After receiving the instruction, the UE waits for synchronization to the new cell (i.e., the UE synchronizes to the target cell) and then sends a handover confirmation instruction (Handover confirm) to the T-NG-RAN.

[0265] 18. After receiving the message, T-NG-RAN sends a handover notification (Handover Notify) to AMF.

[0266] 19. After receiving the notification, AMF initiates a PDU session context update request to SMF.

[0267] 20. After receiving the request, the SMF sends an N4 session modification request to the T-UPF to update the forwarding rules. After receiving the request, the T-UPF returns an N4 session modification response to complete the handover of the target UPF.

[0268] 21. After receiving the request, the SMF sends an N4 session modification request to the PSA-UPF, which carries the T-UPF N9 address. After receiving the request, the PSA-UPF returns an N4 session modification response.

[0269] 22. After receiving the response, SMF sends a PDU session context update response to AMF.

[0270] 23. After the UE completes the registration update, the SMF and AMF interact with the S-NG-RAN and S-UPF to release radio resources. Specifically, the UE executes the 5GC registration process - Mobility Registration Update; the AMF sends a UE Context Release Indication to the S-NG-RAN, which responds with a UE Context Release Completed message; the SMF sends an N4 Session Release Request to the S-UPF, which responds with an N4 Session Release Response.

[0271] In addition, for the above-mentioned satellite-to-ground handover scenario, the following problems will also exist for the established ground and / or satellite communications:

[0272] When satellite-to-ground switching occurs, switching failure is likely to occur, affecting the user's business continuity.

[0273] Specifically, there is currently a lack of solutions for ensuring service continuity through satellite-to-ground handovers. Due to the high mobility of satellites, when a terminal transitions from satellite coverage to ground coverage, the coverage period of a single satellite is short. During this base station handover, the connection between the satellite base station and the user and / or core network is easily disconnected. Consequently, handover failures can occur during base station handovers, leading to service interruptions and impacting service continuity.

[0274] Based on the above, the present invention aims at the problem of long switching delay in the base station switching solution between the ground base station and the satellite base station in the existing technology, and provides a base station switching method applied to the first core network device, such as Figure 2 Shown, including:

[0275] Step 21: Obtain a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to a target base station based on the first information; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0276] Step 22: If the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is permitted, determine, based on the second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function (UPF) device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, if the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data;

[0277] Step 23: Sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway;

[0278] Step 24: Receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0279] Step 25: According to the first session response, trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

[0280] Among them, the first core network device can be implemented as a session management function SMF (device); the first information may also include: identification information of the target base station, and at least one of the protocol data unit session identifiers (PDU session ID); the information of the first tunnel may be N3 tunnel information of the NTN gateway (side); the second core network device may be implemented as an access and mobility management function AMF (device); step 25 may specifically include: according to the first session response, sending an update session context response to the second core network device, the response carrying the information of the first tunnel, triggering the second core network device to send a handover request to the target base station through the target NTN gateway or the second core network device directly sends a handover request to the target base station; subsequently, the target base station may send a handover response handover ACK to the second core network device through the target NTN gateway or the target base station directly sends a handover response handover ACK to the second core network device, which is not limited here.

[0281] The base station switching method provided in an embodiment of the present invention obtains a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on first information; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch, according to the second information, it is determined to use the target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as the target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway ; Receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; based on the first session response, trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station; the switching request carries information about the first tunnel; can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user-plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user-plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which is a good solution to the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0282] Furthermore, before obtaining the judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station according to the first information, the method further includes: determining the base station type of the target base station according to the identification information of the target base station.

[0283] In this way, the base station type of the target base station can be accurately obtained.

[0284] The first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0285] In this way, the information of the second tunnel can be accurately transmitted. The information of the second tunnel can be NTN gateway N9 tunnel information, but is not limited thereto.

[0286] Furthermore, the base station switching method also includes: sending a session update request to the target NTN gateway; receiving a session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the session update response carries information of a third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0287] In this way, the relevant information is updated. The session update response may also carry identification information of the target base station, the session may be an N4 session, and the third tunnel information may be N9 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the NTN gateway side, which is not limited here.

[0288] In an embodiment of the present invention, before obtaining a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information, the method further includes: sending an NTN gateway address query request to a network storage function NRF device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; receiving an NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device; the NTN gateway address query response carries NTN gateway address information.

[0289] In this way, the NTN gateway address information can be accurately obtained. The NTN gateway address query response may also carry the identification information of the target base station, which is not limited here.

[0290] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a target NTN gateway, such as Figure 3 Shown, including:

[0291] Step 31: Receive a first session request sent by a first core network device;

[0292] Step 32: Feedback a first session response to the first core network device; wherein the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station.

[0293] The first core network device may be implemented as a session management function SMF (device); the information of the first tunnel may be NTN gateway N3 tunnel information, which is not limited here.

[0294] The base station switching method provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives a first session request sent by a first core network device; and feeds back a first session response to the first core network device; wherein the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, thereby effectively solving the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0295] Among them, the first session response also carries information about the second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to the connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

[0296] In this way, the information of the second tunnel can be accurately transmitted. The information of the second tunnel can be NTN gateway N9 tunnel information, but is not limited thereto.

[0297] Furthermore, the base station switching method also includes: receiving a session update request sent by the first core network device; feeding back a session update response to the first core network device; the session update response carries information of a third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0298] In this way, the relevant information is updated. The session update response may also carry identification information of the target base station, the session may be an N4 session, and the third tunnel information may be N9 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the NTN gateway side, which is not limited here.

[0299] In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station switching method further includes: sending a registration request to the NRF device; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0300] This enables registration of the target NTN gateway.

[0301] Furthermore, the base station switching method also includes: receiving a switching request sent by a second core network device; the switching request carries information of the first tunnel; determining the address information of the target base station based on the switching request, the base station type and the identification information of the target base station; and sending the switching request to the target base station based on the address information of the target base station.

[0302] This can support base station switching.

[0303] In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station switching method further includes: receiving a switching response fed back by the target base station, the switching response carrying information of the first tunnel and information of the fourth tunnel, the fourth tunnel referring to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; and sending the switching response to the second core network device.

[0304] This can support clear completion of base station handover. The information of the first tunnel here can be N3 tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side, and the information of the fourth tunnel can be N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side, but is not limited thereto (for example, the information of the fourth tunnel can also be N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the ground base station side, etc.).

[0305] Furthermore, the base station switching method also includes: receiving a switching indication sent by a second core network device; the switching indication carries identification information of the target base station; obtaining address information of the target base station based on the identification information of the target base station; and sending a switching indication to the target base station based on the address information of the target base station.

[0306] This can support base station switching.

[0307] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a target base station, such as Figure 4 Shown, including:

[0308] Step 41: Receive a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station;

[0309] Step 42: According to the handover request, directly or indirectly feed back a handover response to the second core network device; the handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0310] Among them, the information of the first tunnel carried by the handover request may be the N3 tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side, the information of the first tunnel carried by the handover response may be the N3 tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side or the N3 tunnel information on the TER-RAN side, and the second core network device may be implemented as an access and mobility management function AMF (device), which is not limited here.

[0311] The base station switching method provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives a switching request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the switching request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; based on the switching request, a switching response is directly or indirectly fed back to the second core network device; the switching response carries information about the first tunnel; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed through the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, which well solves the problem of large switching delay in the prior art for base station switching solutions between ground base stations and satellite base stations.

[0312] The step of receiving the handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device includes: receiving the handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

[0313] This allows for indirect transmission of handover requests.

[0314] In an embodiment of the present invention, indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request includes: feeding back a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device; wherein the handover response also carries information of a fourth tunnel, and the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0315] This can support clear completion of base station handover. The information of the fourth tunnel can be the indirect forwarding tunnel information of N3 on the SAT-RAN side, but is not limited thereto.

[0316] Furthermore, the base station switching method also includes: judging whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station within the first time period and enters the coverage of the ground base station based on the terminal's location information, the wireless resource control RRC measurement report and the satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station; if yes (that is, it is judged that the terminal will leave the coverage of the target base station within the first time period and enter the coverage of the ground base station), triggering the second core network device to send the switching request.

[0317] This allows for pre-switching based on satellite ephemeris information, avoiding handover failures and ensuring service continuity. This also prevents handover failures that can occur during satellite-to-ground handovers, which can impact user service continuity. In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station handover method may further include receiving a handover instruction from a target NTN gateway, but is not limited thereto.

[0318] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching method, which is applied to NRF equipment, such as Figure 5 Shown, including:

[0319] Step 51: Receive an NTN gateway address query request sent by a first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of a target base station;

[0320] Step 52: Obtain the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0321] Step 53: Feedback an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0322] The NTN gateway address query response may also carry identification information of the target base station, which is not limited here.

[0323] The base station switching method provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives an NTN gateway address query request sent by a first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of a target base station; obtains corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; feeds back an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which well solves the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0324] Furthermore, the base station switching method further includes: receiving a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries the address information of the target NTN gateway and at least one of the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway; storing the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway, and marking the target NTN gateway as available for use.

[0325] This enables registration of the target NTN gateway.

[0326] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching method, which is applied to a second core network device, such as Figure 6 Shown, including:

[0327] Step 61: Acquire the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway;

[0328] Step 62: Based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, a session context update request is sent to the first core network device, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information; wherein the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal.

[0329] Among them, the first core network device can be implemented as a session management function SMF (device); the second core network device can be implemented as an access and mobility management function AMF (device), which is not limited here.

[0330] The base station handover method provided in an embodiment of the present invention obtains the location information of the target NTN gateway based on the address information of the target NTN gateway; sends a session context update request to the first core network device based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to hand over to the target base station based on the first information; wherein the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, the base station type being a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station handover process (which can be understood as achieving handover through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed through the handover path (i.e., shortening the handover path), reducing the handover delay (avoiding a large user plane handover delay), and thus ensuring service continuity. This effectively solves the problem of large handover delay in the prior art for base station handover solutions between terrestrial base stations and satellite base stations.

[0331] Furthermore, the base station switching method further includes: directly or indirectly sending a switching request to the target base station; the switching request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; and directly or indirectly receiving a switching response fed back by the target base station; the switching response carries information of the first tunnel.

[0332] This supports multiple methods for base station handover. The information of the first tunnel carried in the handover request may be NTN gateway N3 tunnel information, and the information of the first tunnel carried in the handover response may be SAT-RAN side N3 tunnel information or TER-RAN side N3 tunnel information, but is not limited thereto.

[0333] The indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes: sending the handover request to the target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station; the indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes: receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway; wherein the handover response also carries information of a fourth tunnel, and the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0334] In this way, base station handover can be accurately achieved in the scenario of indirect interaction between the second core network device and the target base station. The fourth tunnel information carried in the handover response can be the indirect forwarding tunnel information of N3 on the SAT-RAN side, but is not limited thereto.

[0335] Furthermore, the base station switching method further includes: sending a switching indication to the target NTN gateway according to the switching response; the switching indication carries identification information of the target base station.

[0336] This can support base station switching.

[0337] It is noted that the relevant contents of the above-mentioned methods on each side can be referenced to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated. In addition, when the message sender is the target base station, target NTN gateway or UPF, the above-mentioned tunnel information carried can generally be specifically the tunnel information on the sender side. For example, the information of the first tunnel carried in the message sent by SAT-RAN can generally be the information of the first tunnel on the SAT-RAN side, specifically the N3 tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side, but is not limited to this (for example, the information of the first tunnel and the fourth tunnel carried in the handover response sent by the target NTN gateway to the second core network device can be the information of the first tunnel and the fourth tunnel on the target base station side, such as: N3 tunnel information on the AT-RAN side, and N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side);

[0338] When the message sender is a first core network device or a second core network device, the above-mentioned tunnel information carried can generally be specifically the tunnel information of the previous network element side for interaction. The information of the first tunnel carried in the message sent after the second core network device interacts with the NTN gateway can be the N3 tunnel information of the NTN gateway, but is not limited to this.

[0339] The base station switching method provided in an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated below by taking an example, the first core network device taking the session management function SMF (device) as an example, and the second core network device taking the access and mobility management function AMF (device) as an example.

[0340] In response to the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a base station switching method, which can be specifically implemented as a satellite-to-ground switching solution. Specifically, this solution proposes a base station switching solution to ensure communication service continuity when a UE (terminal) moves from the coverage of a ground base station to the coverage of a satellite base station (corresponding to the above base station type being a satellite base station); and a base station switching solution to ensure communication service continuity when a UE enters the coverage of a ground base station (corresponding to the above base station type being a ground base station) due to satellite movement. This involves:

[0341] (1) After the UE accesses the terrestrial 5G core network through the terrestrial base station and establishes a PDU session, when the UE moves from the terrestrial base station coverage to the satellite base station coverage (corresponding to the above-mentioned base station type being a satellite base station), the terrestrial base station sends a base station switching request to the AMF. The SMF selects the NTN gateway as the T-UPF (corresponding to the above-mentioned target NTN gateway being the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information) and completes the ground-to-satellite base station switching according to the switching target base station type (corresponding to the base station type of the above-mentioned target base station) to ensure the continuity of the established communication services.

[0342] (2) When the UE moves from the coverage of a satellite base station to the coverage of a ground base station (corresponding to the above-mentioned base station type being a ground base station), the satellite base station sends a base station switching request to the core network through the NTN gateway based on data such as the ephemeris information. The core network SMF completes the satellite-to-ground base station switching based on the type of the switching target base station to ensure the continuity of the established communication services.

[0343] This plan can be specifically adopted Figure 7 The architecture shown in the figure is realized (it can also be understood that the network architecture of this solution can be specifically as follows Figure 7 As shown), which involves the communication relationship between SAT-RAN (satellite base station) and NTN gateway and other network elements, ServiceLink represents the service link, Feeder Link represents the feeder link, TER-RAN represents the ground base station, N3, N4, N7, N9 and N11 represent the corresponding two network elements (such as Figure 7 As shown in the figure, N2-TER represents the interface between the ground base station and the core network AMF, N2-SAT represents the interface between the satellite base station and the core network AMF, PCF represents the policy control function, PSA-UPF represents the anchor point UPF, and NWDAF represents the network data analysis function.

[0344] based on Figure 7 The architecture shown in FIG2 is a block diagram of a schematic diagram of a ground base station and a satellite base station. The scheme includes two sub-schemes: a sub-scheme for ensuring continuity of communication services by switching from a ground base station to a satellite base station, and a sub-scheme for ensuring continuity of communication services by switching from a satellite base station to a ground base station. Specific examples are given below for each of these two sub-schemes.

[0345] Sub-solution 1: When the UE moves from the coverage of the ground base station to the coverage of the satellite base station, the base station switching to ensure the continuity of communication services can be as follows: Figure 8 As shown in the message sequence diagram of the communication service continuity scheme for handover from ground to satellite base station, the following steps are included:

[0346] 1. After the satellite enters orbit, the satellite base station starts working to connect with the NTN gateway. The SAT-RAN (satellite base station) sends an NG setup request message to the NTN gateway to establish the NG connection.

[0347] 2. After receiving the message, the NTN gateway forwards the NG setup request message to the AMF.

[0348] 3. After receiving the message, AMF returns NG setup response to the NTN gateway.

[0349] 4. After receiving the response, the NTN gateway forwards the NG setup response to the SAT-RAN (satellite radio access network, corresponding to the satellite base station).

[0350] 5. The NTN gateway sends an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_request (network function registration request) message to the NRF, which carries information such as the NTN gateway address and the satellite base station ID connected to the NTN gateway; corresponding to the above-mentioned sending of a registration request to the NRF device; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0351] 6. The NRF stores the configuration file of the NTN gateway containing the above information (i.e., the NTN gateway configuration information storage), and marks the NTN gateway as available; corresponding to the above-mentioned receiving the registration request sent by the target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries the address information of the target NTN gateway and at least one of the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway; stores the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway, and marks the target NTN gateway as available.

[0352] 7. NRF informs the NTN gateway to accept the registration through Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_response (network function registration response).

[0353] 8. After the UE completes the PDU session establishment through the terrestrial network, the TER-RAN (terrestrial base station) makes a handover decision (based on N2) according to the RRC (radio resource control) measurement report. The TER-RAN sends a handover required request (i.e., handover request) to the AMF, which carries the PDU session ID and the handover target base station ID (corresponding to the identification information of the target base station).

[0354] 9. After receiving the handover request, AMF sends an update session context request message to SMF, which carries information such as PDUsession ID and handover destination base station ID.

[0355] 10. After receiving the session context update request, the SMF determines that the target base station type is a satellite base station based on the target base station ID (corresponding to the aforementioned determination of the target base station type based on the identification information of the target base station). The SMF sends an NTN gateway address query request to the NRF, which carries information such as the target base station ID (corresponding to the aforementioned sending of the NTN gateway address query request to the network storage function NRF device; the NTN gateway address query request carries the identification information of the target base station).

[0356] 11. After receiving the request, the NRF finds the NTN gateway address information connected to the base station according to the ID of the handover target base station, and sends an NTN gateway address query response to the SMF. The message carries the handover target base station ID, NTN gateway address and other information (corresponding to the above-mentioned acquisition of the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; feedback of the NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information).

[0357] 12. The SMF determines whether handover is permitted based on the handover destination base station type (satellite) and (local) user session subscription data (obtained in step 10) (corresponding to the determination result of whether the terminal is permitted to handover to the target base station based on the first information; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a satellite base station). The SMF performs T-UPF selection (i.e., executes UPF selection) and selects the corresponding NTN gateway as the T-UPF based on the handover destination base station type (satellite) and the NTN gateway address (corresponding to the determination of using the target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as the target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data based on the second information when the determination result indicates that handover of the terminal is permitted; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information).

[0358] 13. After receiving the NTN gateway address query response, the SMF sends an N4 session establishment request to the (selected) NTN gateway (corresponding to the above-mentioned first session request sent to the target NTN gateway), and the request carries information such as the PSA-UPF N9 tunnel information.

[0359] 14. After receiving the request, the NTN gateway returns an N4 session establishment response to the SMF (corresponding to the first session response fed back to the first core network device), carrying information such as the NTN gateway N3 tunnel information (corresponding to the information of the first tunnel), the NTN gateway N9 tunnel information (corresponding to the information of the second tunnel). Among them, the N3 tunnel is the connection between the UPF (NTN gateway) and the satellite base station, and the N9 tunnel is the connection between the UPF (NTN gateway) and other UPFs (such as the core network).

[0360] 15. After receiving the N4 session establishment response, SMF sends an update session context response to AMF, carrying information such as NTN gateway N3 tunnel information and NTN gateway address information.

[0361] 16. After receiving the response, AMF sends a handover request to the NTN gateway according to the NTN gateway address. The request carries information such as NTN gateway N3 tunnel information, handover target base station type (satellite), and handover target base station ID.

[0362] 17. After receiving the handover request, the NTN gateway obtains the satellite base station address according to the handover target base station type (satellite) and the handover target base station ID, and sends a handover request to the handover target satellite base station according to the satellite base station address (corresponding to the above-mentioned handover request received from the second core network device; the handover request carries the information of the first tunnel; according to the handover request, the base station type and the identification information of the target base station, the address information of the target base station is determined; according to the address information of the target base station, the handover request is sent to the target base station). The request carries the N3 tunnel information of the NTN gateway.

[0363] 18. After receiving the handover request (corresponding to the above-mentioned reception of the handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway), the satellite base station returns a handover ACK to the NTN gateway, where the request carries the SAT-RAN side N3 tunnel information and the SAT-RAN side N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information (corresponding to the above-mentioned feedback of the handover response to the target NTN gateway based on the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feedback the handover response to the second core network device; the handover response carries the information of the first tunnel and the fourth tunnel).

[0364] 19. After receiving the message, the NTN gateway forwards the handover ACK to the AMF according to the (locally) stored AMF address (corresponding to the above-mentioned sending of the handover response to the second core network device). The message carries the SAT-RAN side N3 tunnel information, and the SAT-RAN side N3 indirectly forwards the tunnel information.

[0365] 20. After receiving the message, AMF sends a session context update request to SMF. The message may carry the SAT-RAN side N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information.

[0366] 21. After receiving the message, the SMF sends an N4 session update request to the NTN gateway (corresponding to the above-mentioned sending of a session update request to the target NTN gateway), and the message carries the N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side.

[0367] 22. After receiving the message, the NTN gateway returns an N4 session update response to the SMF, and the message carries the N9 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the NTN gateway side (corresponding to the above-mentioned feedback of the session update response to the first core network device; the session update response carries the information of the third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to the indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device).

[0368] 23. After receiving the message, SMF sends an N4 session update request to S-UPF (source UPF), which carries the N9 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the NTN gateway side.

[0369] 24. After receiving the message, S-UPF returns the N4 session update response to SMF, and the message carries the N3 tunnel information on the S-UPF side.

[0370] 25. After receiving the message, SMF sends a session update context response to AMF, which carries the N3 tunnel information on the S-UPF side.

[0371] 26. The AMF sends a Handover Command to the TER-RAN to notify that the handover preparation is complete. The message carries the N3 tunnel information on the S-UPF side.

[0372] 27. TER-RAN forwards the Handover Command message to the UE.

[0373] 28. After the UE successfully synchronizes to the target cell of the SAT-RAN (i.e., the UE synchronizes to a new cell), it sends a Handover Confirm message to the SAT-RAN.

[0374] 29. After receiving the Handover Confirm message, the SAT-RAN sends a HandoverNotify message to the AMF through the NTN gateway.

[0375] 30. After receiving the message (Handover Notify), AMF sends a session context update request to SMF.

[0376] 31. After receiving the request (i.e., session context update request), the SMF sends an N4 session update request to the NTN gateway, which carries the SAT-RAN side N3 tunnel information.

[0377] 32. After receiving the request (i.e., N4 session update request), the NTN gateway returns an N4 session update response to the SMF.

[0378] 33. After receiving the response, SMF sends an N4 session update request to PSA-UPF, which carries the NTN gateway N9 tunnel information.

[0379] 34. After receiving the request, PSA-UPF returns N4 session update response to SMF.

[0380] 35.SMF returns a session context update response to AMF; the handover execution process is completed.

[0381] 36. After the UE initiates a mobility registration update (i.e., the UE initiates a registration process), the SMF interacts with the S-UPF, and the AMF interacts with the TER-RAN to complete resource release. That is, the SMF interacts with the S-UPF to complete the S-UPF resource release, and the AMF interacts with the TER-RAN to complete the TER-RAN resource release.

[0382] 37.SMF sends an N4 session update request to the NTN gateway to release the indirect forwarding resources, thus completing the release of the NTN gateway's indirect forwarding resources.

[0383] Sub-Scheme 2: Due to satellite movement, the UE moves from the satellite base station coverage to the ground base station coverage. The base station switching to ensure communication service continuity solution process can be as follows: Figure 9 As shown in the message sequence diagram of the satellite-to-ground base station handover scheme to ensure communication service continuity, the following steps are included:

[0384] 1. After the UE completes the PDU session establishment through the satellite base station, NTN gateway, and terrestrial core network (AMF, SMF, PSA-UPF), when the satellite base station determines that the user is about to leave the satellite base station coverage and enter the terrestrial base station coverage based on the UE location information, satellite ephemeris information, and RRC measurement report, the SAT-RAN sends a Handover Required request to the AMF through the NTN gateway (corresponding to the above-mentioned determination of whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station within the first time period and enters the coverage of the terrestrial base station based on the terminal location information, radio resource control RRC measurement report, and satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station; if yes, triggering the second core network device to send the handover request), the request carries information such as the handover destination base station ID, satellite identifier, PDU session ID, and UE location information.

[0385] 2. After receiving the handover request, the AMF queries the NTN gateway location information according to the (local) NTN gateway address and sends an update session context request message to the SMF (corresponding to the above-mentioned acquisition of the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway; sending an update session context request to the first core network device according to the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain the judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station according to the first information). The message carries information such as PDU session ID, handover destination base station ID, NTN gateway location information, UE location information, and NTN gateway address.

[0386] 3. After receiving the session context update request, the SMF determines that the target base station type is a terrestrial base station based on the target base station ID (corresponding to determining the target base station type based on the identification information of the target base station). It determines whether to allow the handover based on the target base station ID, PDU session ID, target base station type (terrestrial), user session subscription data, and other information (corresponding to obtaining the determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to handover to the target base station based on the first information). After the SMF allows the handover (performs T-UPF selection, i.e., UPF selection), it determines whether to continue using the NTN gateway to transmit user plane data based on the target base station type (terrestrial), UE location information, NTN gateway location information, and other information (i.e., whether the NTN gateway is anchored; corresponding to determining, if the determination result indicates that the terminal handover is allowed, to use the target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as the target user plane function (UPF) device for transmitting user plane data based on the second information; the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data). In other words, the UPF remains unchanged.

[0387] 4. When the SMF determines that the NTN gateway can be selected to continue to be used as the UPF, the SMF sends an N4 session update request to the corresponding NTN gateway based on the association between the PDU Session ID and the NTN gateway address (corresponding to the above-mentioned sending of the first session request to the target NTN gateway).

[0388] 5. After receiving the response, the NTN gateway returns an N4 session update response, which carries the NTN gateway N3 tunnel information, etc. (corresponding to the above-mentioned feedback of the first session response to the first core network device; wherein the first session response carries the information of the first tunnel, and the first tunnel refers to the tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station).

[0389] 6. After receiving the N4 session update response, SMF sends an update session context response to AMF, carrying information such as the NTN gateway N3 tunnel information.

[0390] 7. After receiving the response, the AMF sends a handover request to the TER-RAN based on the handover target base station ID. The request carries information such as the N3 tunnel information of the NTN gateway (corresponding to the above-mentioned handover request sent to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel, which refers to the connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station).

[0391] 8. After receiving the message, the TER-RAN sends a handover ACK to the AMF, which carries the N3 tunnel information on the TER-RAN side (corresponding to the above-mentioned handover request directly sent by the second core network device; based on the handover request, the handover response is directly fed back to the second core network device).

[0392] 9. After receiving the message, the AMF sends a Handover Command to the NTN gateway, and the message carries the satellite identifier (corresponding to the above-mentioned sending of a handover indication to the target NTN gateway according to the handover response; the handover indication carries the identification information of the target base station).

[0393] 10. The NTN gateway obtains the satellite base station address based on the satellite identifier, and sends a Handover Command to the SAT-RAN based on the satellite base station address to notify the completion of the handover preparation (corresponding to the above-mentioned receiving the handover indication sent by the second core network device; the handover indication carries the identification information of the target base station; based on the identification information of the target base station, the address information of the target base station is obtained; based on the address information of the target base station, the handover indication is sent to the target base station).

[0394] 11. The SAT-RAN forwards the Handover Command message to the UE.

[0395] 12. After the UE synchronizes to the target cell of the TER-RAN (i.e., the UE synchronizes to the new cell), it sends a Handover Confirm message to the TER-RAN.

[0396] 13. After receiving the message, TER-RAN sends a Handover Notify message to AMF.

[0397] 14. After receiving the message, AMF sends a session context update request to SMF, which carries the TER-RAN side N3 tunnel information.

[0398] 15. After receiving the request, the SMF sends an N4 session update request to the NTN gateway (corresponding to the above-mentioned sending of a session update request to the target NTN gateway), and the request carries the TER-RAN side N3 tunnel information.

[0399] 16. After receiving the NTN gateway, it sends an N4 session update response to the SMF (corresponding to the above-mentioned feedback of the session update response to the first core network device).

[0400] 17. After receiving the response, SMF sends a PDU session context update response to AMF.

[0401] 18. After the UE initiates a mobility registration update (i.e., the UE initiates the registration process), the NTN gateway interacts with the satellite base station SAT-RAN (releasing the N3 resources between the gateway and the satellite), and the AMF interacts with the SAT-RAN to complete the resource release, that is, they jointly assist in completing the SAT-RAN resource release.

[0402] It is noted here that the relevant contents of the above two sub-plans can be referenced to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0403] Based on the above, the solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention involves the following contents:

[0404] 1. The NTN gateway supports sending a registration request to the NRF after being enabled. The message carries information such as the NTN gateway address and the satellite base station ID connected to the NTN gateway.

[0405] 2.SMF supports determining the base station type as a ground base station or a satellite base station based on the base station ID.

[0406] 3. When the SMF determines that the switching target base station type is a satellite base station, it sends an NTN gateway address query request to the NRF, and the request carries information such as the switching target base station ID.

[0407] 4. After receiving the NTN gateway address query request, NRF supports querying the corresponding NTN gateway address according to the handover target base station ID, and returns the NTN gateway address query response, which carries the handover target base station ID, NTN gateway address and other information.

[0408] 5.SMF supports judging whether users can switch from ground base stations to satellite base stations based on information such as the switching destination base station type (satellite) and user session contract data.

[0409] 6.SMF supports selecting the corresponding NTN gateway as T-UPF according to the switching destination base station type (satellite), NTN gateway address and other information when performing T-UPF selection.

[0410] 7. The NTN gateway supports receiving the N4 session establishment request sent by the SMF, and supports returning the N4 session establishment response to the SMF. The message carries the NTN gateway N9 tunnel information and the NTN gateway N3 tunnel information.

[0411] 8. The NTN gateway supports receiving the handover request sent by the AMF, and supports obtaining the satellite base station address based on the handover target base station type (satellite) and the handover target base station ID.

[0412] 9. The NTN gateway supports sending a handover request to the handover target satellite base station based on the satellite base station address, and the request carries the NTN gateway N3 tunnel information.

[0413] 10. SAT-RAN supports sending a handover ACK message to the NTN gateway. The request carries the N3 tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side and the N3 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the SAT-RAN side.

[0414] 11. The NTN gateway supports receiving the N4 session update request sent by the SMF, and supports feedback of the N9 indirect forwarding tunnel information on the NTN gateway side through the N4 session response.

[0415] 12. SAT-RAN supports judging whether a user is about to leave satellite base station coverage and enter terrestrial base station coverage based on UE location information, satellite ephemeris information, and RRC measurement reports.

[0416] 13.AMF supports obtaining NTN gateway location information based on the NTN gateway address. Examples of (1) NTN gateway address information include: IP address information; (2) NTN gateway location information (which may include geographic coordinates and the location accuracy of geographic coordinates) include: 1) NTN gateway geographic coordinates, such as latitude and longitude; and 2) location accuracy of geographic coordinates, such as accuracy radius information.

[0417] 14.SMF supports judging whether the NTN gateway is anchored (i.e. whether to continue to use the current NTN gateway to transmit user plane data) when performing satellite-to-ground base station switching based on the switching destination base station type (ground), UE location information, NTN gateway location information and other information.

[0418] 15. The NTN gateway supports obtaining the satellite base station address based on the satellite identifier and sending a Handover Command message to the SAT-RAN based on the satellite base station address.

[0419] In summary, this solution can make handover preparations in advance based on information such as satellite ephemeris data, and can select the NTN gateway as the T-UPF when handing over from ground to satellite base stations, and anchor the NTN gateway when handing over from satellite to ground, thereby realizing satellite-to-ground handover in the base station satellite scenario.

[0420] Specifically, compared with the existing technology, this solution adds the ability to initiate satellite-to-ground handover based on ephemeris data, and to perform satellite-to-ground or ground-to-satellite handover based on parameters such as whether the user supports satellite-to-ground handover and the session handover type. This solution has the following advantages:

[0421] 1. Switching based on satellite ephemeris information can improve the success rate of satellite-to-ground handovers for established PDU sessions, reducing service interruptions. When users switch from ground coverage to satellite coverage, or vice versa, a handover path is pre-selected and established based on ephemeris data and other information, allowing for appropriate satellite-to-ground handovers. This improves the success rate of PDU sessions during handovers, increases communication duration, and ensures service continuity.

[0422] 2. NTN gateway-anchored handover can: When satellite-to-ground handover occurs, the user plane path of the handover can be limited to the one between the base station and the NTN gateway, shortening the user plane path of the handover. At the same time, it significantly reduces the signaling interaction between various network elements in the satellite-to-ground handover process, reduces the delay caused by the handover, and reduces the handover path for established PDU sessions to reduce the handover delay, thereby improving the user's communication service experience.

[0423] In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide an optimized solution for ensuring the continuity of satellite-to-ground switching services, which can reduce the impact on user service continuity and user service experience caused by satellite movement and excessively long user plane paths in satellite-to-ground switching scenarios; enhance the continuity of user services in satellite-to-ground switching and meet low-latency service requirements, provide 5G service guarantees in scenarios with high requirements for continuity, and at the same time ensure the provision of 5G services in scenarios with high requirements for low latency, so that related services can be widely used in the satellite and 5G convergence market, thereby increasing 5G-related business revenue.

[0424] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a first core network device, such as Figure 10 Shown, including:

[0425] A first acquisition module 101 is configured to obtain a determination result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to a target base station based on first information; the first information includes a base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0426] A first determining module 102 is configured to, if the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is permitted, determine, based on second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function (UPF) device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, if the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data;

[0427] A first sending module 103 is configured to send a first session request to the target NTN gateway;

[0428] The first receiving module 104 is configured to receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0429] The first processing module 105 is configured to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station according to the first session response; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

[0430] The base station switching device provided in an embodiment of the present invention obtains a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch, according to the second information, it is determined to use the target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as the target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway ; Receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; based on the first session response, trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station; the switching request carries information about the first tunnel; can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user-plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user-plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which is a good solution to the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0431] Furthermore, the base station switching device also includes: a second determination module, which is used to determine the base station type of the target base station based on the identification information of the target base station before obtaining the judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information.

[0432] The first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0433] Furthermore, the base station switching device also includes: a second sending module, used to send a session update request to the target NTN gateway; a second receiving module, used to receive a session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the session update response carries information of a third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0434] In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station switching device further includes: a third sending module, configured to send an NTN gateway address query request to a network storage function NRF device before obtaining a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; and a third receiving module, configured to receive an NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device; the NTN gateway address query response carries NTN gateway address information.

[0435] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned first core network device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0436] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a target NTN gateway, such as Figure 11 Shown, including:

[0437] The fourth receiving module 111 is configured to receive a first session request sent by the first core network device;

[0438] A first feedback module 112 is configured to feed back a first session response to the first core network device;

[0439] The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0440] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data;

[0441] The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station.

[0442] The base station switching apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives a first session request sent by a first core network device; and feeds back a first session response to the first core network device; wherein the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed through the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, thereby effectively solving the problem of large switching delay in the prior art for base station switching solutions between ground base stations and satellite base stations.

[0443] Among them, the first session response also carries information about the second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to the connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

[0444] Furthermore, the base station switching device also includes: a fifth receiving module, used to receive a session update request sent by the first core network device; a second feedback module, used to feedback a session update response to the first core network device; the session update response carries information of the third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0445] The base station switching device further includes: a fourth sending module, configured to send a registration request to the NRF device; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0446] In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station switching device further includes: a sixth receiving module, used to receive a switching request sent by the second core network device; the switching request carries information of the first tunnel; a third determination module, used to determine the address information of the target base station based on the switching request, the base station type and the identification information of the target base station; a fifth sending module, used to send the switching request to the target base station based on the address information of the target base station.

[0447] Furthermore, the base station switching device further includes: a seventh receiving module, configured to receive a switching response fed back by the target base station, the switching response carrying information of the first tunnel and information of the fourth tunnel, the fourth tunnel referring to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; and a sixth sending module, configured to send the switching response to the second core network device.

[0448] In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station switching device further includes: an eighth receiving module for receiving a switching indication sent by a second core network device; the switching indication carries identification information of the target base station; a second acquisition module for acquiring the address information of the target base station based on the identification information of the target base station; and a seventh sending module for sending a switching indication to the target base station based on the address information of the target base station.

[0449] The implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the target NTN gateway side are applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can achieve the same technical effects.

[0450] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a target base station, such as Figure 12 Shown, including:

[0451] A ninth receiving module 121 is configured to receive a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station;

[0452] The third feedback module 122 is configured to directly or indirectly feed back a switching response to the second core network device according to the switching request; the switching response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0453] The base station switching apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; based on the handover request, directly or indirectly feeds back a handover response to the second core network device; the handover response carries information about the first tunnel; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station handover process (which can be understood as achieving handover through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed through the handover path (i.e., shortening the handover path), reducing the handover delay (avoiding a large user plane handover delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, thereby effectively solving the problem of large handover delay in the prior art for base station handover solutions between terrestrial base stations and satellite base stations.

[0454] The step of receiving the handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device includes: receiving the handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

[0455] In an embodiment of the present invention, indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request includes: feeding back a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device; wherein the handover response also carries information of a fourth tunnel, and the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0456] Furthermore, the base station switching device also includes: a second processing module, used to determine whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station within the first time period and enters the coverage of the ground base station based on the terminal's location information, the wireless resource control RRC measurement report and the satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station; a third processing module, used to trigger the second core network device to send the switching request if yes.

[0457] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the target base station side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0458] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching device, which is applied to NRF equipment, such as Figure 13 Shown, including:

[0459] A tenth receiving module 131 is configured to receive an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of a target base station;

[0460] The third acquisition module 132 is configured to acquire the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0461] The fourth feedback module 133 is configured to feed back an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0462] The base station switching device provided by the embodiment of the present invention receives an NTN gateway address query request sent by a first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries the identification information of the target base station; obtains the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; and feeds back an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as the UPF for user plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which well solves the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0463] Furthermore, the base station switching device further includes: an eleventh receiving module, configured to receive a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries the address information of the target NTN gateway and at least one of the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway; and a fourth processing module, configured to store the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway, and mark the target NTN gateway as available for use.

[0464] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned NRF device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0465] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, which is applied to a second core network device, such as Figure 14 Shown, including:

[0466] The fourth acquisition module 141 is configured to acquire the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway;

[0467] An eighth sending module 142 is configured to send a session context update request to the first core network device according to the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a determination result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station according to the first information;

[0468] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0469] The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal.

[0470] The base station switching apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present invention obtains the location information of the target NTN gateway based on the address information of the target NTN gateway; sends a session context update request to the first core network device based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a determination result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station based on the first information; wherein the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, the base station type being a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station handover process (which can be understood as achieving handover through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the number of network elements traversed by the handover path (i.e., shortening the handover path), reducing the handover delay (avoiding a large user plane handover delay), and thus ensuring service continuity. This effectively solves the problem of large handover delay in base station handover solutions between terrestrial base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0471] Furthermore, the base station switching device further includes: a ninth sending module, configured to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station; the switching request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; and a twelfth receiving module, configured to directly or indirectly receive a switching response fed back by the target base station; the switching response carries information of the first tunnel.

[0472] The indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes: sending the handover request to the target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station; the indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes: receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway; wherein the handover response also carries information of a fourth tunnel, and the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0473] Furthermore, the base station switching device further includes: a tenth sending module, configured to send a switching indication to the target NTN gateway according to the switching response; the switching indication carries identification information of the target base station.

[0474] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned second core network device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0475] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is a first core network device, such as Figure 15 As shown, it includes: a processor 151 and a transceiver 152;

[0476] The processor 151 is configured to obtain, based on first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to a target base station; the first information includes a base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0477] If the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is allowed, determining, based on the second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data;

[0478] Sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway via the transceiver 152;

[0479] receiving, through the transceiver 152, a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; wherein the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0480] According to the first session response, the second core network device is triggered to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

[0481] The base station switching device provided in an embodiment of the present invention obtains a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch, according to the second information, it is determined to use the target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as the target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway ; Receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; based on the first session response, trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a switching request to the target base station; the switching request carries information about the first tunnel; can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user-plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user-plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which is a good solution to the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0482] Furthermore, the processor is further configured to: before obtaining a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information, determine the base station type of the target base station based on identification information of the target base station.

[0483] The first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0484] Furthermore, the processor is also used to: send a session update request to the target NTN gateway through the transceiver; receive a session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway through the transceiver; the session update response carries information of a third tunnel; the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0485] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processor is further configured to: before obtaining a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information, send an NTN gateway address query request to a network storage function NRF device through the transceiver; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; and receive, through the transceiver, an NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device; the NTN gateway address query response carries NTN gateway address information.

[0486] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned first core network device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0487] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is a target NTN gateway, such as Figure 16 As shown, it includes: a processor 161 and a transceiver 162;

[0488] The processor 161 is configured to receive, through the transceiver 162, a first session request sent by a first core network device;

[0489] Feedback a first session response to the first core network device through the transceiver 162;

[0490] The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station;

[0491] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data;

[0492] The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station.

[0493] The base station switching device provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives a first session request sent by a first core network device; and feeds back a first session response to the first core network device; wherein the first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, thereby effectively solving the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0494] Among them, the first session response also carries information about the second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to the connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

[0495] Furthermore, the processor is also used to: receive a session update request sent by the first core network device through the transceiver; and feedback a session update response to the first core network device through the transceiver; the session update response carries information of a third tunnel; and the third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

[0496] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processor is further configured to: send a registration request to the NRF device through the transceiver; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

[0497] Furthermore, the processor is also used to: receive a switching request sent by the second core network device through the transceiver; the switching request carries information of the first tunnel; determine the address information of the target base station based on the switching request, the base station type and the identification information of the target base station; and send the switching request to the target base station through the transceiver based on the address information of the target base station.

[0498] The processor is further configured to: receive, through the transceiver, a switching response fed back by the target base station, the switching response carrying information of the first tunnel and information of the fourth tunnel, the fourth tunnel referring to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; and send the switching response to the second core network device through the transceiver.

[0499] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processor is also used to: receive a switching indication sent by a second core network device through the transceiver; the switching indication carries identification information of the target base station; obtain address information of the target base station based on the identification information of the target base station; and send a switching indication to the target base station through the transceiver based on the address information of the target base station.

[0500] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the target NTN gateway side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can achieve the same technical effects.

[0501] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is a target base station, such as Figure 17 As shown, it includes: a processor 171 and a transceiver 172;

[0502] The processor 171 is configured to receive, through the transceiver 172, a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station;

[0503] According to the switching request, a switching response is fed back directly or indirectly to the second core network device; the switching response carries information about the first tunnel.

[0504] The base station switching device provided in an embodiment of the present invention receives a handover request sent directly or indirectly by a second core network device; the handover request carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between a target NTN gateway and the target base station; the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, where the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; based on the handover request, a handover response is directly or indirectly fed back to the second core network device; the handover response carries information about the first tunnel; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station handover process (which can be understood as achieving handover through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed through the handover path (i.e., shortening the handover path), reducing the handover delay (avoiding a large user plane handover delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, which effectively solves the problem of large handover delay in the prior art for base station handover solutions between ground base stations and satellite base stations.

[0505] The step of receiving the handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device includes: receiving the handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

[0506] In an embodiment of the present invention, indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request includes: feeding back a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device; wherein the handover response also carries information of a fourth tunnel, and the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0507] Furthermore, the processor is also used to: determine whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station and enters the coverage of the ground base station within the first time period based on the terminal's location information, the wireless resource control RRC measurement report and the satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station; if so, trigger the second core network device to send the switching request.

[0508] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the target base station side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0509] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is an NRF device, such as Figure 18 As shown, it includes: a processor 181 and a transceiver 182;

[0510] The processor 181 is configured to receive, through the transceiver 182, an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station;

[0511] Obtaining the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station;

[0512] Feedback an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information.

[0513] The base station switching device provided in the embodiment of the present invention receives an NTN gateway address query request sent by a first core network device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of a target base station; obtains corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; feeds back an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; the NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as a UPF for user plane data transmission, so as to avoid the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station switching process (which can be understood as achieving switching through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements passed by the switching path (i.e., shortening the switching path), reducing the switching delay (avoiding a large user plane switching delay), and thus ensuring business continuity, which well solves the problem of large switching delay in the base station switching solution between ground base stations and satellite base stations in the prior art.

[0514] Furthermore, the processor is further configured to: receive, through the transceiver, a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway; store the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway, and mark the target NTN gateway as available for use.

[0515] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned NRF device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effects.

[0516] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is a second core network device, such as Figure 19 As shown, it includes: a processor 191 and a transceiver 192;

[0517] The processor 191 is configured to obtain location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway;

[0518] According to the location information of the target NTN gateway, a session context update request is sent to the first core network device through the transceiver 192, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station according to the first information;

[0519] The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station;

[0520] The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal.

[0521] The base station switching device provided in an embodiment of the present invention obtains the location information of the target NTN gateway based on the address information of the target NTN gateway; sends a session context update request to the first core network device based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station based on the first information; wherein the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information or the NTN gateway currently used by the first core network device to transmit user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, the base station type being a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; the first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; and can support the use of the NTN gateway as the UPF for user plane data transmission, thereby avoiding the need to pass through the NTN gateway and then the UPF during the base station handover process (which can be understood as achieving handover through "NTN gateway anchoring"), thereby reducing the network elements traversed by the handover path (i.e., shortening the handover path), reducing the handover delay (avoiding a large user plane handover delay), and thus ensuring service continuity, which effectively solves the problem of large handover delay in the prior art for base station handover solutions between terrestrial base stations and satellite base stations.

[0522] Furthermore, the processor is further configured to: send a handover request directly or indirectly to the target base station through the transceiver; the handover request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; and receive a handover response fed back by the target base station directly or indirectly through the transceiver; the handover response carries information of the first tunnel.

[0523] The indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes: sending the handover request to the target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station; the indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes: receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway; wherein the handover response also carries information of a fourth tunnel, and the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

[0524] Furthermore, the processor is further configured to: send a handover indication to the target NTN gateway through the transceiver according to the handover response; the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station.

[0525] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned second core network device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can also achieve the same technical effect.

[0526] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a base station switching device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a program stored on the memory and runnable on the processor; when the processor executes the program, the base station switching method on the first core network device side, the target NTN gateway side, the target base station side, the NRF device side, or the second core network device side is implemented.

[0527] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned first core network device side, target NTN gateway side, target base station side, NRF device side or second core network device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the base station switching device and can achieve the same technical effect.

[0528] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a readable storage medium on which a program is stored. When the program is executed by a processor, the steps in the base station switching method on the first core network device side, the target NTN gateway side, the target base station side, the NRF device side or the second core network device side are implemented.

[0529] Among them, the implementation embodiments of the base station switching method on the above-mentioned first core network device side, target NTN gateway side, target base station side, NRF device side or second core network device side are all applicable to the embodiments of the readable storage medium and can achieve the same technical effect.

[0530] It should be noted that many functional components described in this specification are referred to as modules in order to more particularly emphasize the independence of their implementation methods.

[0531] In embodiments of the present invention, modules can be implemented in software so that they can be executed by various types of processors. For example, an identified executable code module can include one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, for example, which can be constructed as objects, procedures, or functions. Nevertheless, the executable code of the identified module does not need to be physically located together, but can include different instructions stored in different locations, which, when logically combined together, constitute the module and achieve the specified purpose of the module.

[0532] In fact, executable code module can be a single instruction or many instructions, and can even be distributed on a plurality of different code segments, distributed in the middle of different programs, and distributed across a plurality of memory devices.Similarly, operating data can be identified in the module, and can be implemented and organized in the data structure of any appropriate type according to any appropriate form.Described operating data can be collected as a single data set, or can be distributed in different locations (including on different storage devices), and can only be present on a system or network as an electronic signal at least in part.

[0533] When a module can be implemented using software, given the current state of hardware technology, those skilled in the art can build corresponding hardware circuits to implement the corresponding functions of the module, regardless of cost. The hardware circuits may include conventional very large scale integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays, as well as existing semiconductors such as logic chips and transistors, or other discrete components. Modules may also be implemented using programmable hardware devices, such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, or programmable logic devices.

[0534] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary personnel in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A base station switching method, applied to a first core network device, characterized in that: include: Obtaining, based on the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station; The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; If the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is allowed, determining, based on the second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; Sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway; receiving a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; triggering, according to the first session response, a second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; The handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

2. The base station switching method according to claim 1, wherein: Before obtaining, according to the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to be handed over to the target base station, the method further includes: The base station type of the target base station is determined according to the identification information of the target base station.

3. The base station switching method according to claim 1, wherein: The first session response also carries information about a second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

4. The base station switching method according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: Sending a session update request to the target NTN gateway; Receive a session update response fed back by the target NTN gateway; The session update response carries information about the third tunnel; The third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

5. The base station switching method according to claim 1, wherein: Before obtaining, according to the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to be handed over to the target base station, the method further includes: Sending an NTN gateway address query request to a network storage function NRF device; the NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; Receive an NTN gateway address query response fed back by the NRF device; the NTN gateway address query response carries NTN gateway address information.

6. A base station switching method, applied to a target NTN gateway, characterized in that: include: Receiving a first session request sent by a first core network device; The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; Feedback a first session response to the first core network device; The first session response carries information about the first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station. The first session response is used by the first core network device to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station. The handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

7. The base station switching method according to claim 6, wherein: The first session response also carries information about the second tunnel, where the second tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device, and the target UPF device refers to the UPF device determined by the first core network device for transmitting user plane data.

8. The base station switching method according to claim 7, wherein: Also includes: Receiving a session update request sent by the first core network device; Feedback a session update response to the first core network device; The session update response carries information about the third tunnel; The third tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and other UPF devices other than the target UPF device.

9. The base station switching method according to claim 6, wherein: Also includes: Send a registration request to the NRF device; The registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway.

10. The base station switching method according to claim 6, wherein: Also includes: receiving a handover request sent by the second core network device; The handover request carries information about the first tunnel; Determining address information of the target base station according to the handover request, the base station type, and identification information of the target base station; The handover request is sent to the target base station according to the address information of the target base station.

11. The base station switching method according to claim 10, wherein: Also includes: receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station, where the handover response carries information about the first tunnel and information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; Send the switching response to the second core network device.

12. The base station switching method according to claim 6, wherein: Also includes: receiving a handover indication sent by a second core network device, wherein the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station; Acquiring address information of the target base station according to the identification information of the target base station; Sending a handover instruction to the target base station according to the address information of the target base station.

13. A base station switching method, applied to a target base station, characterized in that: include: receiving a handover request sent directly or indirectly by the second core network device; The handover request is sent by the second core network device triggered by the first core network device according to the first session response, and the handover request carries information about the first tunnel; The first session response is fed back by the target NTN gateway after the first core network device sends a first session request to the target NTN gateway. The first session response carries information about the first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station. The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; Feedback a handover response directly or indirectly to the second core network device according to the handover request; The handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

14. The base station switching method according to claim 13, wherein: Receiving a handover request indirectly sent by the second core network device, including: Receive a handover request sent by the second core network device through the target NTN gateway.

15. The base station switching method according to claim 13, wherein: Indirectly feeding back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request, including: Feedback a handover response to the target NTN gateway according to the handover request, triggering the target NTN gateway to feed back the handover response to the second core network device; The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

16. The base station switching method according to claim 13, wherein: Also includes: Determining, based on the terminal's location information, a radio resource control (RRC) measurement report, and satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the target base station, whether the terminal leaves the coverage of the target base station and enters the coverage of a ground base station within a first time period; If yes, trigger the second core network device to send the switching request.

17. A base station switching method, applied to an NRF device, characterized in that: include: Receiving an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; The NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; Obtaining the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; Feedback an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; The NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information, and the NTN gateway address information is used by the first core network device to determine a target NTN gateway. The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station. The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station. The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information. The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data. The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; The target NTN gateway is configured to receive the first session request sent by the first core network device and feed back a first session response; The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the first session response is used to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

18. The base station switching method according to claim 17, wherein: Also includes: Receive a registration request sent by a target NTN gateway; wherein the registration request carries at least one of the address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway; The address information of the target NTN gateway and the identification information of the satellite base station connected to the target NTN gateway are stored, and the target NTN gateway is marked as available for use.

19. A base station switching method, applied to a second core network device, characterized in that: include: Acquire the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway; Sending a session context update request to a first core network device based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, triggering the first core network device to obtain a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station based on the first information; the target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; alternatively, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; directly or indirectly sending a handover request to the target base station; The handover request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; The handover request is triggered and sent based on a first session response, which is fed back by the target NTN gateway based on the first session request sent by the first core network device; the first session response carries information about the first tunnel.

20. The base station switching method according to claim 19, wherein: Also includes: directly or indirectly receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station; The handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

21. The base station switching method according to claim 20, wherein: The indirectly sending the handover request to the target base station includes: Sending a handover request to a target NTN gateway, triggering the target NTN gateway to send the handover request to the target base station; The indirectly receiving the handover response fed back by the target base station includes: receiving a handover response fed back by the target base station through the target NTN gateway; The handover response also carries information about a fourth tunnel, where the fourth tunnel refers to an indirect forwarding tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station.

22. The base station switching method according to claim 21, wherein: Also includes: According to the handover response, a handover indication is sent to the target NTN gateway; the handover indication carries identification information of the target base station.

23. A base station switching device, applied to a first core network device, characterized in that: include: A first acquisition module is used to obtain a judgment result of whether to allow the terminal to switch to the target base station according to the first information; The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; A first determining module is configured to, if the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is permitted, determine, based on second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, if the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; A first sending module, configured to send a first session request to the target NTN gateway; A first receiving module is configured to receive a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; A first processing module is configured to trigger, according to the first session response, a second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; The handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

24. A base station switching device, applied to a target NTN gateway, characterized in that: include: A fourth receiving module, configured to receive a first session request sent by the first core network device; The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; A first feedback module, configured to feed back a first session response to the first core network device; The first session response carries information about the first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station. The first session response is used by the first core network device to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station. The handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

25. A base station switching device, applied to a target base station, characterized in that: include: a ninth receiving module, configured to receive a handover request sent directly or indirectly by the second core network device; The handover request is sent by the second core network device triggered by the first core network device according to the first session response, and the handover request carries information about the first tunnel; The first session response is fed back by the target NTN gateway after the first core network device sends a first session request to the target NTN gateway. The first session response carries information about the first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station. The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; A third feedback module is configured to directly or indirectly feed back a handover response to the second core network device according to the handover request; The handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

26. A base station switching device, applied to NRF equipment, characterized in that: include: a tenth receiving module, configured to receive an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; The NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; A third acquisition module is used to obtain the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; A fourth feedback module, configured to feed back an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; The NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information, and the NTN gateway address information is used by the first core network device to determine a target NTN gateway. The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station. The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station. The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information. The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data. The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; The target NTN gateway is configured to receive the first session request sent by the first core network device and feed back a first session response; The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the first session response is used to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

27. A base station switching device, applied to a second core network device, characterized in that: include: A fourth acquisition module is used to acquire the location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway; an eighth sending module, configured to send a session context update request to the first core network device based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, thereby triggering the first core network device to obtain, based on the first information, a judgment result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station; the target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; alternatively, the second information includes the base station type, the terminal location information, and the NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; the first information includes the base station type and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; a ninth sending module, configured to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; The handover request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; The handover request is triggered and sent based on a first session response, which is fed back by the target NTN gateway based on the first session request sent by the first core network device; the first session response carries information about the first tunnel.

28. A base station switching device, the base station switching device being a first core network device, characterized in that: include: processor and transceiver; The processor is configured to obtain, based on the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station; The first information includes the base station type of the target base station and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; If the judgment result indicates that the terminal handover is allowed, determining, based on the second information, to use a target non-terrestrial network NTN gateway as a target user plane function UPF device for transmitting user plane data; the second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or, the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; Sending a first session request to the target NTN gateway via the transceiver; receiving, through the transceiver, a first session response fed back by the target NTN gateway; The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; triggering, according to the first session response, a second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; The handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

29. A base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is a target NTN gateway, characterized in that: include: processor and transceiver; The processor is configured to receive, through the transceiver, a first session request sent by a first core network device; The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; Feedback a first session response to the first core network device through the transceiver; The first session response carries information about the first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station. The first session response is used by the first core network device to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station. The handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

30. A base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is a target base station, characterized in that: include: processor and transceiver; The processor is configured to receive, through the transceiver, a handover request sent directly or indirectly by the second core network device; The handover request is sent by the second core network device triggered by the first core network device according to the first session response, and the handover request carries information about the first tunnel; The first session response is fed back by the target NTN gateway after the first core network device sends a first session request to the target NTN gateway. The first session response carries information about the first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station. The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information and NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; Feedback a handover response directly or indirectly to the second core network device according to the handover request; The handover response carries information about the first tunnel.

31. A base station switching device, wherein the base station switching device is an NRF device, characterized in that: include: processor and transceiver; The processor is configured to receive, through the transceiver, an NTN gateway address query request sent by the first core network device; The NTN gateway address query request carries identification information of the target base station; Obtaining the corresponding NTN gateway address information according to the identification information of the target base station; Feedback an NTN gateway address query response to the first core network device; The NTN gateway address query response carries the NTN gateway address information, and the NTN gateway address information is used by the first core network device to determine a target NTN gateway. The target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the judgment result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station. The second information includes the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station. The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; or the second information includes the base station type, terminal location information, and NTN gateway location information. The target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data. The judgment result is obtained based on first information, where the first information includes the base station type and user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a ground base station or a satellite base station; The target NTN gateway is configured to receive the first session request sent by the first core network device and feed back a first session response; The first session response carries information about a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; the first session response is used to trigger the second core network device to directly or indirectly send a handover request to the target base station; the handover request carries information about the first tunnel.

32. A base station switching device, the base station switching device being a second core network device, characterized in that: include: processor and transceiver; The processor is configured to obtain location information of the target NTN gateway according to the address information of the target NTN gateway; sending, via the transceiver, a session context update request to the first core network device based on the location information of the target NTN gateway, thereby triggering the first core network device to obtain, based on the first information, a determination result of whether the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station; the target NTN gateway is determined based on second information when the determination result indicates that the terminal is allowed to switch to the target base station, the second information including the base station type and NTN gateway address information of the target base station, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway corresponding to the second information; alternatively, the second information including the base station type, the terminal location information, and the NTN gateway location information, and the target NTN gateway is the NTN gateway currently used for transmitting user plane data; the first information including the base station type and the user session subscription data corresponding to the terminal; the base station type is a terrestrial base station or a satellite base station; The processor is further configured to: send a handover request directly or indirectly to the target base station through the transceiver; the handover request carries information of a first tunnel, where the first tunnel refers to a connection tunnel between the target NTN gateway and the target base station; The handover request is triggered and sent based on a first session response, which is fed back by the target NTN gateway based on the first session request sent by the first core network device; the first session response carries information about the first tunnel.

33. A base station switching device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor; characterized in that: When the processor executes the program, the base station switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 22 is implemented.

34. A readable storage medium having a program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the program is executed by a processor, the steps of the base station handover method according to any one of claims 1 to 22 are implemented.

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