Communication method and device based on satellite communication

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication method and device based on satellite communication. The method comprises: after determining a first RNA of a terminal at a first moment, a first device can determine one or more first satellites as a target service access network device of the terminal according to the first RNA. Wherein the first RNA comprises service areas corresponding to partial or all cells of the N satellites; the first device first satellite is a satellite in N satellites. The first device may send a context of the terminal to the first satellite; alternatively, the first device instructs one or more second satellites to transmit the context of the terminal to the first satellite. By means of the method, RNA can be applied to NTN communication scenarios. Moreover, in the method, the first device can send the context of the terminal to the first satellite in the first RNA according to the first RNA, or instruct the second satellite to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite, so that the access network equipment in the updated RNA can obtain the context of the terminal in time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device based on satellite communication. Background Art

[0002] In order to balance the power consumption of the terminal and the service transmission delay, the inactive state is introduced. When the terminal is in the inactive state, there is no service transmission and the power consumption is low. At this time, the connection between the terminal and the access network device is disconnected, but the access network device and the core network device are still connected. In this way, when the terminal service is restored, the service transmission delay is small.

[0003] When the terminal enters the inactive state from the connected state, the access network device will configure the RAN-based notification area (RNA) for the terminal. If the terminal moves within the RNA, the terminal does not need to notify the network side. If the terminal moves out of the RNA, the RNA update process needs to be initiated.

[0004] At present, RNA is mainly used in terrestrial communication scenarios. How to apply RNA to non-terrestrial networks (NTN) communication scenarios requires further research. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and device for applying RNA to NTN communication scenarios.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method may be performed by a first device. The first device may be a terminal, an access network device, or a core network device, or a module applied to the terminal, the access network device, or the core network device, such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal, the access network device, or the core network device.

[0007] The method includes: a first device determines a first RNA of a terminal at a first moment, the first RNA including a service area corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer. The first device may determine, based on the first RNA, one or more first satellites as target service access network devices for the terminal, the first satellite being a satellite among the N satellites. Then, the first device may send the context of the terminal to the first satellite; or, the first device may instruct one or more second satellites to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

[0008] Through this method, RNA can be applied to NTN communication scenarios. In addition, in this method, the first device can send the context of the terminal to the first satellite in the first RNA according to the first RNA, or instruct the second satellite to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite, so that the access network device in the updated RNA can obtain the context of the terminal in time. In this way, when the terminal needs to perform uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission, the access network device in the updated RNA can quickly provide services to the terminal, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the terminal's business.

[0009] In a possible design, the first device may also determine a second RNA of the terminal at a second moment. The second RNA is different from the first RNA, and the second RNA includes a service area corresponding to some or all cells of M satellites, where M is a positive integer. In this way, the RNA of the terminal may be different at different moments, so that the RNA of the terminal can be flexibly set.

[0010] Optionally, the difference between the first RNA and the second RNA may be determined according to the mobility of the N satellites and the M satellites. In this way, the RNA may be updated based on the mobility of the satellites, thereby being applicable to NTN communication scenarios.

[0011] In some possible ways, before the first device determines the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment, the first device may also receive first information, the first information including indication information of the second RNA. In this way, the first device can accurately determine the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment based on the first information.

[0012] In some other possible ways, the first device may determine the second RNA according to the mobility of the M satellites at the second moment. In this way, the first device may determine the second RNA according to the mobility of the M satellites at the second moment, thereby eliminating the need to transmit indication information of the second RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0013] In some possible implementations, before the first device determines the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, the first device may receive second information, the second information including indication information of the first RNA. Through this implementation, the first device can accurately determine the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment based on the second information.

[0014] In some other possible implementations, the first device determines the first RNA according to the mobility of the N satellites at the first moment. Through this implementation, the first device can determine the first RNA according to the mobility of the N satellites at the first moment, thereby eliminating the need to transmit indication information of the first RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0015] In a possible design, the first device can determine that the first satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal according to the ephemeris of the second satellite and the ephemeris of the first satellite. Through this design, the first device can quickly and accurately determine that the first satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal.

[0016] In one possible design, the first device is a first satellite. The first device may send third information to the core network device, where the third information is used to indicate that the first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal. With this design, the core network device can update parameters used to indicate the target service access network device of the terminal without the terminal triggering an RNA update process, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0017] Optionally, the third satellite is any satellite among the N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more satellites among the N satellites. In this way, any satellite among the N satellites can communicate directly or indirectly with other satellites among the N satellites.

[0018] In one possible design, the first device is a terminal. When the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, the first device selects a satellite from one or more satellites for communication. Optionally, the movement direction of the one or more satellites is the same as the movement direction of the third satellite. Since there is a communication interface between the third satellite and the one or more satellites, through this design, the selected satellite can obtain the context of the terminal from the third satellite, thereby quickly providing services to the terminal and reducing the latency of the terminal service. In addition, through this design, the terminal can be prevented from frequently falling back to the idle state.

[0019] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method may be performed by a first device. The first device may be a terminal, an access network device, or a core network device, or a module applied to a terminal, an access network device, or a core network device, such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of a terminal, an access network device, or a core network device.

[0020] The method includes: a first device determines a first RNA of a terminal at a first moment, the first RNA includes a service area corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, N is a positive integer, and the N satellites are satellites on a first orbit. The first device can determine, based on the first RNA, one or more first satellites as target service access network devices of the terminal, the first satellite being a satellite among the N satellites.

[0021] Through this method, RNA can be applied to NTN communication scenarios. In addition, in this method, the first satellite stores the context of the terminal. In this way, when the terminal needs to perform uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission, the access network equipment other than the first satellite in the first RNA can easily obtain the context of the terminal from the first satellite, so as to quickly provide services to the terminal, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the terminal's services.

[0022] In one possible design, before the first device determines the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, the first device may receive the second information. The second information includes indication information of the first RNA; the indication information of the first RNA includes at least one of the following: indication information of some or all of the N satellites, or indication information of the first orbit. Through this design, the first device can quickly and accurately determine the first RNA based on the second information. In addition, when the indication information of the first RNA includes at least one of the following: indication information of some of the N satellites, or indication information of the first orbit, the second information does not need to include the indication information of all satellites corresponding to the first RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0023] Optionally, the third satellite is any satellite among the N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more satellites among the N satellites. In this way, any satellite among the N satellites can communicate directly or indirectly with other satellites among the N satellites.

[0024] In one possible design, the first device is a terminal. When the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, the first device selects a satellite from one or more satellites for communication. Optionally, the movement direction of the one or more satellites is the same as the movement direction of the third satellite. Since there is a communication interface between the third satellite and the one or more satellites, through this design, the selected satellite can obtain the context of the terminal from the third satellite, thereby quickly providing services to the terminal and reducing the latency of the terminal service. In addition, through this design, the terminal can be prevented from frequently falling back to the idle state.

[0025] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a unit for executing each step in any of the above aspects.

[0026] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor, wherein the processor is used to execute the methods described in the above aspects.

[0027] Optionally, the device may further include a memory for storing instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and when the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, the methods described in the above aspects may be implemented.

[0028] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, comprising: a first device for executing the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0029] Optionally, when the first device is a terminal, the communication system may further include at least one of the following: a first satellite, a second satellite, or a core network device. When the first device is a core network device, the communication system may further include at least one of the following: a terminal, a first satellite, or a second satellite. When the first device is a first satellite, the communication system may further include at least one of the following: a terminal, a second satellite, or a core network device. When the first device is a second satellite, the communication system may further include at least one of the following: a terminal, a first satellite, or a core network device.

[0030] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions, and when the computer program product is run, part or all of the steps of the method described in any of the above aspects are executed.

[0031] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in any of the above aspects.

[0032] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory and execute the method provided in any of the above aspects.

[0033] Optionally, the chip is coupled to a memory, or the memory is a part of the chip.

[0034] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the method provided in any of the above aspects. In a possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data of the computer device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0035] The technical effects that can be achieved in any of the third to ninth aspects mentioned above can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved by any possible design in any of the first or second aspects mentioned above, and the repetitions will not be discussed here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 3 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 4 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to more clearly describe the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application, the communication method and device provided in the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0043] The communication method and device provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to non-terrestrial networks (NTN) communication scenarios. The NTN communication system can include networking using drones, high altitude platforms (HAPS), satellites and other equipment to provide data transmission, voice communication and other services for terminals. In addition, the NTN system can also include other aerial network equipment, which is not limited in the present application.

[0044] For example, Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an NTN scenario applicable to the embodiment of the present application is shown, and the NTN scenario can be an application scenario of a transparent forwarding architecture. Figure 1 In the scenario shown, the terminal can communicate with the core network (CN) through the access network, and then connect to the data network (DN) through the CN. The satellite and NTN gateway can act as relay devices between the terminal and the access network equipment or as the remote radio unit (RRU) of the access network equipment.

[0045] For example, Figure 2 Another NTN scenario schematic diagram applicable to the embodiment of the present application is shown, and the NTN scenario can be an application scenario of a regeneration architecture. Figure 2 In the scenario shown, the satellite can be used as an access network device to form an access network with the NTN gateway and communicate with the core network through the NTN gateway. In addition, the satellite can also provide wireless access services for terminals. Figure 2A regenerative satellite architecture without intersatellite links is illustrated.

[0046] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2 Only one satellite and one NTN gateway are shown. In actual use, a plurality of satellites and / or a plurality of NTN gateways may be used as required. Each satellite may provide services to one or more terminals, each NTN gateway may correspond to one or more satellites, and each satellite may correspond to one or more NTN gateways, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0047] It should be noted that Figure 1 and Figure 2 It is only an example of an NTN scenario. The NTN scenario may also include other specific scenarios, which are not limited in this application.

[0048] The devices involved in the embodiments of the present application include terminals, access network devices and core network devices. Among them:

[0049] A terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc., and refers to a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user. For example, a terminal may be a handheld device, a vehicle-mounted device, etc., with a wireless connection function. At present, some examples of terminals may include: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, etc.

[0050] Access network equipment is equipment in the radio access network (RAN), and may also be called RAN equipment or node, base station, etc.

[0051] In one possible scenario, the access network device may be an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. The access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node. Optionally, the access network device may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an on-board device, etc. For example, the access network device in the vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the access network device in the present application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The access network device in the present application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0052] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, and different access network devices respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the access network device can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or can also be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU) or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0053] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU are described as examples in this application. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0054] It can be understood that in the NTN network, the access network equipment can be deployed on satellites or other non-terrestrial equipment, or on the ground.

[0055] Core network equipment refers to equipment in the core network that provides service support for terminals. At present, some examples of core network equipment are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, session management function (SMF) entity, user plane function (UPF) entity, etc., which are not listed here one by one. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for terminal access management and mobility management; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment, etc.; the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting to the external network. It should be noted that the entity in this application can also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity. For example, the AMF entity can also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. For another example, the SMF entity can also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, etc.

[0056] In this application, the NTN network supports communication between terminals and non-ground devices. The non-ground devices can be aircraft or satellites with processing functions of access network devices in the regeneration architecture, or can be deployed in the air or in the atmosphere as relay nodes or amplifiers with processing functions of access network devices in the transparent forwarding architecture. Figure 1 or Figure 2 In the illustrated architecture, non-terrestrial devices may include satellites (or aircraft, etc.). Figure 1 or Figure 2 In the architecture shown, the satellite, NTN gateway, access network equipment, nodes in the CN and nodes in the DN can be collectively referred to as network equipment, and the NTN gateway and access network equipment can be collectively referred to as ground stations.

[0057] In this application, "sending information to...(terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal, and can include directly or indirectly sending information to the terminal. "Receiving information from...(terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and can include directly or indirectly receiving information from the terminal. The information may be processed as necessary between the source and destination of the information, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated here.

[0058] The communication system and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. A person of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0059] The following first explains the relevant terms involved in the embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that these explanations are intended to make the embodiments of the present application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection claimed by the present application.

[0060] 1) Radio resource control (RRC) connection status.

[0061] In a communication system, the RRC connection state of a terminal includes three types: RRC connected state (RRC_connected, referred to as connected state), RRC idle state (RRC_idle, referred to as idle state), and RRC inactive state (RRC_inactive, referred to as inactive state). Among them, the idle state and the inactive state can be collectively referred to as the RRC inactive state.

[0062] When the terminal is in an idle state, the RRC connection between the terminal and the access network device is released, the access network device and the terminal no longer save the context of the terminal, and the terminal can receive broadcast information (such as system information) and paging messages sent by the access network device.

[0063] When the terminal is in an inactive state, the RRC connection between the terminal and the access network device is suspended, but the access network device and the terminal will continue to save the context of the terminal, and the connection between the access network device and the core network device will remain. When the terminal enters the connected state from the inactive state, the access network device and the terminal can quickly restore the RRC connection between the terminal and the access network device based on the saved context of the terminal, so that the terminal can quickly return to the connected state.

[0064] When the terminal is in a connected state, there is an RRC connection between the terminal and the access network device, and the two can communicate based on the RRC connection.

[0065] 2) Ascending orbit and descending orbit.

[0066] According to the direction of the satellite's movement, the satellite's orbit can be divided into an ascending orbit and a descending orbit. When the satellite is in an ascending orbit, it moves toward the North Pole; when it is in a descending orbit, it moves toward the South Pole. Since the satellite orbits the earth, a satellite's orbit includes both an ascending orbit and a descending orbit.

[0067] 3) In this application, the service area corresponding to a cell may also be referred to as an area covered by the cell or a service area of ​​the cell.

[0068] 4) RNA.

[0069] When the terminal enters the inactive state from the connected state, the access network device that last served the terminal (for example, the last serving gNB) may send information indicating RNA to the terminal. The RNA may be an area configured for the access network device that last served the terminal, including the service area of ​​one or more cells. When the terminal moves within the RNA, the terminal does not need to notify the network side. When the terminal moves out of the RNA, the terminal may initiate an RNA update process. For example, the service range of access network device 1 is outside the RNA range. When the terminal moves within the service range of access network device 1, the terminal may initiate an RNA update process. Access network device 1 may obtain the context of the terminal from the access network device that last served the terminal, thereby providing services to the terminal.

[0070] At present, RNA is mainly used in terrestrial networks. How to apply RNA to NTN communication scenarios requires further research. In addition, in terrestrial networks, the update of RNA is mainly triggered by the movement of terminals. In NTN communication scenarios, since access network devices such as satellites are also mobile, even if the terminal does not move, it may no longer be in the original RNA, thus triggering the update of RNA. How to enable the access network device in the updated RNA to obtain the context of the terminal also requires further research.

[0071] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. Figure 3 A flow chart corresponding to the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 3The method is illustrated by taking the first device as an example of the execution subject, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction illustration. For example, the first device can be a terminal, an access network device or a core network device, or a module applied to a terminal, an access network device or a core network device, such as a chip, a chip system or a processor, or a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal, the access network device or the core network device. Among them, the access network device is, for example, a satellite, and the core network device is, for example, an AMF. The following description takes the first device as a terminal, an access network device or a core network device as an example.

[0072] like Figure 3 As shown, the method comprises the following steps:

[0073] S301: The first device determines a first RNA of a terminal at a first moment.

[0074] The first RNA includes service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer. The service area of ​​each satellite in the N satellites may correspond to a RAN area and may correspond to a RAN identifier (ID). The RAN IDs of different satellites are different.

[0075] It is understandable that the N satellites may be satellites on the same orbit (e.g., the first orbit). Alternatively, the N satellites may also be satellites on at least two orbits. For example, the N satellites include: satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. Satellite 1 is a satellite on orbit 1, and satellite 2 and satellite 3 are satellites on orbit 2.

[0076] Exemplarily, the third satellite is any satellite among the N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more other satellites among the N satellites. The communication interface is, for example, an Xn interface. For example, the N satellites include: satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. There is a communication interface between satellite 1 and satellite 2, and there may also be a communication interface between satellite 2 and satellite 3. In this way, any satellite among the N satellites may communicate directly or indirectly with other satellites among the N satellites.

[0077] The manner in which the first device determines the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment will be described in the following description of “for S301” and will not be expanded here.

[0078] S302: The first device determines, based on the first RNA, that a first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal, and the first satellite is a satellite among N satellites corresponding to the first RNA.

[0079] The target service access network device may be an access network device for which the context of the terminal needs to be obtained. Exemplarily, the first satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal at the first moment; thus, at the first moment, the first satellite may be a device for which the context of the terminal needs to be obtained. Optionally, at the first moment, the terminal may be located in the service area of ​​the first satellite. Thus, if the terminal needs to perform uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission, after the first satellite obtains the context of the terminal, the first satellite can quickly provide services to the terminal.

[0080] The manner in which the first device determines the first satellite as the target service access network device of the terminal will be described in the following description of “for S302” and will not be expanded here.

[0081] It should be understood that the first satellite may be one or more satellites.

[0082] S303: The first device sends the context of the terminal to the first satellite; or the first device instructs the second satellite to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

[0083] When the first device sends the context of the terminal to the first satellite, the first device may be the second satellite. The second satellite may be a satellite storing the context of the terminal. For example, the second satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal at the second moment. The second satellite acquires the context of the terminal at or before the second moment. When the time changes from the second moment to the first moment, the second satellite may send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

[0084] When the first device instructs the second satellite to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite, the first device may be one of the following: the first satellite, the core network device, or the terminal. In this way, the second satellite may send the context of the terminal to the first satellite based on the instruction of the first device. The specific content of the second satellite can be referred to above and will not be repeated here. For example, after determining that the first satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal, the first device may send information 1 to the second satellite, and the information 1 is used to indicate that the second satellite can send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

[0085] Optionally, after sending the context of the terminal to the first satellite, the second satellite may delete the context of the terminal stored locally, thereby releasing the storage resources of the second satellite in time.

[0086] It should be understood that the second satellite may be one or more satellites. The second satellite may belong to the N satellites, or may not belong to the N satellites.

[0087] In some possible ways, if the first satellite fails to obtain the context of the terminal, the terminal may fall back from the non-connected state to the idle state. For example, if the first satellite fails to obtain the context of the terminal, the first satellite may instruct the terminal to fall back from the non-connected state to the idle state. After falling back to the idle state, the terminal may initiate a random access process to the first satellite. The present application does not limit the specific content of the random access process.

[0088] pass Figure 3 The method shown can apply RNA to NTN communication scenarios. In addition, in this method, the first device can send the context of the terminal to the first satellite in the first RNA according to the first RNA, or instruct the second satellite to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite, so that the access network device in the updated RNA can obtain the context of the terminal in time. In this way, when the terminal needs to perform uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission, the access network device in the updated RNA can quickly provide services to the terminal, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the terminal's business.

[0089] Some possible ways are Figure 3 In the method shown, the RNA of the terminal at different times may be different. The following description is made by taking the RNA of the terminal at the first time as the first RNA, the RNA of the terminal at the second time as the second RNA, and the second RNA being different from the first RNA as an example.

[0090] The content of the first RNA can refer to the description of the first RNA in S301, which will not be repeated here.

[0091] The second RNA includes service areas corresponding to some or all cells of M satellites, where M is a positive integer. The service area of ​​each satellite in the M satellites may correspond to a RAN area and may correspond to a RAN ID. The RAN IDs of different satellites are different. The M satellites may be completely different from the N satellites, or may partially overlap with the N satellites.

[0092] It can be understood that any satellite among the M satellites may have a communication interface with one or more other satellites among the M satellites. The communication interface is, for example, an Xn interface. For example, the M satellites include: satellite 4, satellite 5, and satellite 6. There is a communication interface between satellite 4 and satellite 5, and there is also a communication interface between satellite 4 and satellite 6. In this way, any satellite among the M satellites may communicate directly or indirectly with other satellites among the M satellites.

[0093] In some possible ways, the difference between the first RNA and the second RNA is determined based on the mobility of N satellites and M satellites. The mobility of the N satellites may be determined based on the ephemeris of the N satellites, and the mobility of the M satellites may be determined based on the ephemeris of the M satellites. The ephemeris of the N satellites and the M satellites may be pre-configured, or may be obtained by the first device from other devices. Exemplarily, according to the ephemeris of the N satellites, it can be known that: at the first moment, the service area corresponding to some or all of the cells of the N satellites is range 1. According to the ephemeris of the M satellites, it can be known that: at the second moment, the service area corresponding to some or all of the cells of the M satellites is also range 1.

[0094] Optional, Figure 3 Each step in the method shown can be implemented as follows.

[0095] 1. For S301:

[0096] There are many ways for the first device to determine the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, for example, way a1 or way a2.

[0097] Mode a1: The first device receives the second information, and the second information includes the indication information of the first RNA. In this way, the first device can determine the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment according to the second information.

[0098] The indication information of the first RNA may include indication information (eg, ID) of the N satellites. Thus, after receiving the second information, the first device can determine the first RNA according to the indication information of the N satellites.

[0099] In mode a1, the first device may be a terminal, a core network device or a second satellite, and the second satellite is, for example, a target service access network device of the terminal at the second moment. The following example illustrates a mode in which the first device receives the second information.

[0100] In some examples, the first device is a terminal. When the terminal enters an inactive state from a connected state, the access network device that last served the terminal (hereinafter referred to as access network device A) may send the second information to the terminal; correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information from access network device A.

[0101] In some other examples, the first device is a core network device. For example, when the terminal enters an inactive state from a connected state, or the RNA of the terminal changes from the second RNA to another RNA (for example, the first RNA), the access network device A sends the second information to the core network device; accordingly, the core network device receives the second information from the access network device A. For another example, at the second moment, the core network device receives the second information from the second satellite, wherein the second satellite can obtain the second information from the access network device A.

[0102] In some other examples, the first device is a second satellite. For example, when the terminal enters an inactive state from a connected state, the access network device A sends the second information to the second satellite; accordingly, the second satellite receives the second information from the access network device A. For another example, when the RNA of the terminal changes, the second satellite receives the second information from the access network device A or other access network devices. The other access network devices may be the target service access network devices of the terminal before the RNA changes.

[0103] Optionally, the second information may further include indication information of the first moment. For example, the indication information of the first moment may be the first moment, or may be indication information of a time period including the first moment. The indication information of the time period may include the start moment and end moment of the time period, or may include the start moment and duration of the time period, or may include the end moment and duration of the time period.

[0104] It should be understood that the second information can be carried in existing information or in new information, and this application does not limit this.

[0105] Through the method a1, the first device can accurately determine the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment according to the second information.

[0106] Mode a2: The first device may determine the first RNA according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment; that is, the first RNA is determined according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment.

[0107] In some possible ways, the first RNA may be the RNA determined when the terminal enters the inactive state from the connected state, and the first device may be the access network device that served the terminal last time (hereinafter referred to as access network device A). The first device may determine the first RNA based on the mobility of N satellites at the first moment and the position 1 of the terminal when it enters the inactive state from the connected state. The mobility of the N satellites can refer to the description above and will not be repeated here. Exemplarily, if the position 1 of the terminal when it enters the inactive state from the connected state is within the service range of satellite 1, the first device may determine that the N satellites include satellite 1. Then, the first device may select N satellites including satellite 1 from the A satellites based on the ephemeris of A satellites, thereby determining the first RNA. Wherein, A is a positive integer; the A satellites may include only N satellites, or may include N satellites and satellites other than N satellites. The method for obtaining the ephemeris of the A satellites may refer to the description of the method for obtaining the ephemeris of N satellites above. Optionally, the service range of the N satellites is continuous. In this way, after determining that the N satellites include satellite 1, the first device can select N satellites from A satellites based on the ephemeris of A satellites whose service range is continuous with that of satellite 1 at the first moment, thereby determining the first RNA.

[0108] In some other possible ways, the second RNA and the first RNA are the RNA before and after the update, respectively, and the first device may be a terminal, a core network device, an access network device A or a second satellite. As mentioned above, the difference between the first RNA and the second RNA is determined based on the mobility of N satellites and M satellites. Therefore, the first device may determine the first RNA based on the mobility of N satellites and M satellites, as well as the second RNA. For example, at the second moment, the service area corresponding to some or all of the cells of the M satellites in the second RNA is range 1. If at the first moment, the service area corresponding to some or all of the cells of N satellites among the B satellites is range 1, the first device may determine that the first RNA includes the service area corresponding to some or all of the cells of the N satellites. Wherein, B is a positive integer; the B satellites may include only N satellites, or may include N satellites and satellites other than N satellites.

[0109] Through the method a2, the first device can determine the first RNA according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment, thereby eliminating the need to transmit indication information of the first RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0110] 2. For S302:

[0111] In some possible ways, the first device may determine that the first satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal according to the ephemeris of the second satellite and the ephemeris of N1 satellites among the N satellites. The second satellite may be a satellite among the M satellites corresponding to the second RNA, and the second satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal at the second moment. The N1 satellites include the first satellite, and N1 is a positive integer less than or equal to N. The N1 satellites may include only the first satellite, or may include the first satellite and satellites other than the first satellite.

[0112] For example, the second moment is before the first moment. The second RNA of the terminal at the second moment includes the service areas of satellite 1 and satellite 2; the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment includes the service areas of satellite 2 and satellite 3. The second satellite is satellite 1. According to the ephemeris of satellite 1 and satellite 3, the first device can determine that the service range of satellite 1 at the second moment is the same as the service range of satellite 3 at the first moment, so that satellite 3 can be determined to be the first satellite, that is, satellite 3 is the target service access network device of the terminal. It should be understood that in this example, the first device can determine that the service range of satellite 1 at the second moment is the same as the service range of satellite 3 at the first moment only based on the ephemeris of satellite 1 and satellite 3; it can also determine that the service range of satellite 1 at the second moment is different from the service range of satellite 2 at the first moment according to the ephemeris of satellite 1 and satellite 2, and then determine that the service range of satellite 1 at the second moment is the same as the service range of satellite 3 at the first moment according to the ephemeris of satellite 1 and satellite 3.

[0113] For another example, the second moment is before the first moment. The second RNA of the terminal at the second moment includes the service area of ​​satellite 1. The first RNA of the terminal at the first moment includes the service area of ​​satellite 2. The second satellite is satellite 1. According to the ephemeris of satellite 1 and satellite 2, the first device can determine that the service range of satellite 1 at the second moment is the same as the service range of satellite 2 at the first moment, so that satellite 2 can be determined to be the first satellite, that is, satellite 2 is the target service access network device of the terminal.

[0114] In this way, the first device can quickly and accurately determine that the first satellite is the target service access network device of the terminal.

[0115] The content of S303 can refer to the above description of S303, which will not be repeated here.

[0116] In some possible ways, the first device may also determine the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment. There may be multiple ways for the first device to determine the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment, for example, way b1 or way b2.

[0117] Mode b1: The first device receives the first information, and the first information includes the indication information of the second RNA. In this way, the first device can determine the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment according to the first information.

[0118] The indication information of the second RNA may include indication information (eg, ID) of the M satellites. Thus, after receiving the first information, the first device can determine the second RNA according to the indication information of the M satellites.

[0119] The way in which the first device receives the first information can refer to the way in which the first device receives the second information in method a1, which will not be repeated here.

[0120] Optionally, the first information further includes indication information of the second moment. The specific content of the indication information of the second moment can refer to the description of the indication information of the first moment in method a, which will not be repeated here.

[0121] It should be understood that the first information may be carried in existing information or in new information, and this application does not limit this.

[0122] Through the method b1, the first device can accurately determine the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment according to the first information.

[0123] Mode b2: The first device may determine the second RNA according to the mobility of the M satellites at the second moment; that is, the second RNA is determined according to the mobility of the M satellites at the second moment.

[0124] The first device can determine the content of the second RNA according to the mobility of M satellites at the second moment. Please refer to the description of method a2 for the first device determining the first RNA according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment, which will not be repeated here.

[0125] Through this method b2, the first device can determine the second RNA according to the mobility of M satellites at the second moment, thereby eliminating the need to transmit indication information of the second RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0126] In some possible ways, if the access network device storing the context of the terminal changes from the second satellite to the first satellite, the core network device (e.g., AMF) needs to update the locally stored first parameter from the second satellite to the first satellite. When sending downlink information to the terminal, the core network device may instruct the satellite in the first parameter to page the terminal.

[0127] In some examples, the first device may be a core network device. After S302, the first device may update the first parameter stored locally from the second satellite to the first satellite. In this way, the RNA update process triggered by the terminal may be reduced, thereby reducing the signaling overhead.

[0128] In some other examples, the first device is a first satellite. After S302, the first device may send third information to the core network device, and the third information is used to indicate that the first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal. After receiving the third information, the core network device may update the locally stored first parameter from the second satellite to the first satellite. Among them, the third information may be carried in an existing message (for example, a path switching request message) or in a new message, and this application does not limit this.

[0129] In this way, the core network device can update the locally stored first parameter from the second satellite to the first satellite without the terminal triggering the RNA update process, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0130] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method. Figure 4 A flow chart corresponding to the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 The method is illustrated by taking the first device as an example of the execution subject, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction illustration. For example, the first device can be a terminal, an access network device or a core network device, or a module applied to a terminal, an access network device or a core network device, such as a chip, a chip system or a processor, or a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal, the access network device or the core network device. Among them, the access network device is, for example, a satellite, and the core network device is, for example, an AMF. The following description takes the first device as a terminal, an access network device or a core network device as an example.

[0131] like Figure 4 As shown, the method comprises the following steps:

[0132] S401: The first device determines a first RNA of a terminal at a first moment.

[0133] The first RNA includes service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer. The N satellites are satellites on the first orbit. Optionally, the N satellites may be all satellites on the first orbit. In this way, if the terminal does not move or moves within the first RNA, the RNA of the terminal at different times is the same, which is the first RNA.

[0134] The contents of the first RNA and the N satellites can be found in the description of the first RNA in S301, which will not be repeated here.

[0135] There are many ways for the first device to determine the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, for example, way c1 or way c2.

[0136] Mode c1: The first device receives the second information, and the second information includes the indication information of the first RNA. In this way, the first device can determine the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment according to the second information.

[0137] There are many ways to indicate the indication information of the first RNA, which are described below with examples.

[0138] In some examples, the indication information of the first RNA includes indication information of the first orbit. In this way, after receiving the second information, the first device can determine that the satellites on the first orbit are the N satellites corresponding to the first RNA based on the indication information of the first orbit, thereby determining the first RNA. For example, the first orbit is orbit 3, and the satellites on orbit 3 include: satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. The second information includes the indication information of orbit 3. After receiving the second information, the first device can determine that the first RNA includes: the service areas corresponding to some or all cells of satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. Through this example, the second information can include the indication information of the first orbit, and there is no need to include the indication information of all satellites corresponding to the first RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0139] In some other examples, the indication information of the first RNA includes: indication information (for example, ID) of some of the N satellites. In this way, after receiving the second information, the first device can determine the first orbit in which the some of the N satellites are located based on the indication information of the some of the N satellites, thereby determining that the satellites on the first orbit are the N satellites corresponding to the first RNA, and then determining the first RNA. For example, the first orbit is orbit 3, and the satellites on orbit 3 include: satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. The second information includes the indication information of satellite 1. After receiving the second information, the first device can determine that the orbit in which satellite 1 is located is orbit 3, thereby determining that the first RNA includes: service areas corresponding to some or all cells of satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. Through this example, the second information includes the indication information of some of the N satellites, and there is no need to include the indication information of all satellites corresponding to the first RNA, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0140] In some other examples, the indication information of the first RNA may include indication information (e.g., ID) of the N satellites. In this way, after receiving the second information, the first device can determine the first RNA according to the indication information of the N satellites. Through this example, the first device can quickly and accurately determine the first RNA.

[0141] Optionally, in method c1, the way in which the first device receives the second information can refer to method a1, which will not be repeated here.

[0142] It should be understood that the second information can be carried in existing information or in new information, and this application does not limit this.

[0143] Mode c2: The first device may determine the first RNA according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment; that is, the first RNA is determined according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment.

[0144] In some possible ways, the first RNA may be the RNA determined when the terminal enters the inactive state from the connected state, and the first device may be the access network device that served the terminal last time. The first device may determine the first RNA based on the mobility of N satellites at the first moment and the position 1 of the terminal when it enters the inactive state from the connected state. The mobility of the N satellites can refer to method a2, which will not be repeated here. Exemplarily, the position 1 of the terminal when it enters the inactive state from the connected state is within the service range of satellite 1. Satellite 1 is a satellite on orbit 3, and the satellites on orbit 3 include: satellite 1, satellite 2 and satellite 3. Therefore, the first device can determine that the first RNA includes: the service areas corresponding to part or all of the cells of satellite 1, satellite 2 and satellite 3.

[0145] S402: The first device determines, based on the first RNA, that a first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal, and the first satellite is a satellite among N satellites corresponding to the first RNA.

[0146] In some possible ways, the first satellite is the access network device that served the terminal last time (hereinafter referred to as access network device A), that is, when the N satellites corresponding to the first RNA are satellites on the first orbit, if the terminal does not move or moves within the first RNA, the target service access network device of the terminal may be access network device A. In this way, the context of the terminal is stored in the first satellite (i.e., access network device A).

[0147] Optionally, if the terminal is in an inactive state, any satellite of the N satellites may not obtain the context of the terminal from other satellites of the N satellites, and the core network device may not update the context of the terminal stored locally, for example, not updating the first parameter. For details of the first parameter, please refer to Figure 3 The description of the first parameter in the method shown will not be repeated here.

[0148] pass Figure 4 The method shown can apply RNA to NTN communication scenarios. In addition, in the method, the first satellite stores the context of the terminal. In this way, when the terminal needs to perform uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission, the access network equipment other than the first satellite in the first RNA can easily obtain the context of the terminal from the first satellite, so as to quickly provide services to the terminal, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the terminal's services.

[0149] Some possible ways are Figure 3 or Figure 4 In the method shown, the first device is a terminal. The third satellite is any satellite among N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more satellites among the N satellites. When the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal, and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, the first device may select a satellite among the one or more satellites for communication. For example, the N satellites include: satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3. There is a communication interface between satellite 1 and satellite 2, and there is a communication interface between satellite 2 and satellite 3. Satellite 1 is a service access network device for the terminal. If the terminal is no longer within the service range of satellite 1, the terminal may choose to communicate with satellite 2. Since there is a communication interface between satellite 1 and satellite 2, satellite 2 can quickly obtain the context of the terminal from satellite 1, thereby quickly providing services to the terminal and reducing the latency of the terminal service.

[0150] At present, when the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, the terminal can perform cell reselection or cell switching. When the terminal performs cell reselection or cell switching, the terminal selects the target satellite for reselection or switching according to the signal quality of the satellite. However, if the target satellite is selected only based on the signal quality, the target satellite and the third satellite may have different movement directions, and there is no communication interface between satellites with different movement directions, which will quickly cause the terminal to fall back to the idle state, for example, from the inactive state to the idle state.

[0151] To avoid frequent fallback to the idle state, when the terminal selects a satellite from the one or more satellites for communication, the movement direction of the one or more satellites is the same as the movement direction of the third satellite. For example, the terminal may preferentially select a satellite with the same movement direction as the third satellite for communication under the condition that the signal quality is met. The one or more satellites and the third satellite may both be satellites in a descending orbit, or the one or more satellites and the third satellite may both be satellites in an ascending orbit.

[0152] In some possible ways, after S302 or S402, if the terminal is converted from an inactive state to an active state, the target access network device of the terminal may obtain the context of the terminal from the first satellite. For example, the target access network device of the terminal may obtain the context of the terminal from the first satellite through an Xn interface between the first satellite and the target access network device. Optionally, the target access network device of the terminal may send information indicating the update of the context of the terminal to the core network device (e.g., AMF), and then the core network device may update the context of the terminal stored locally.

[0153] Based on Figure 3 to Figure 4 The same technical concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application is Figure 5 A communication device is provided, which can be used to perform the functions of the relevant steps in the above method embodiment. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by software or hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. The structure of the communication device is as follows Figure 5 As shown, it includes a communication unit 501 and a processing unit 502. The communication device 500 can be applied to Figure 3 or Figure 4 The first device in the method shown can implement the communication method provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application. The functions of each unit in the communication device 500 are introduced below.

[0154] The communication unit 501 is used to receive and send information. In some embodiments, the communication unit 501 can be implemented by a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, and an input / output interface. The communication device 500 can be connected to a network cable or a cable through the communication unit to establish a physical connection with other devices. In other embodiments, the communication unit 501 can be implemented by a transceiver, for example, a mobile communication module. Among them, the mobile communication module may include at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), etc.

[0155] The processing unit 502 can be used to support the communication device 500 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiment. The processing unit 502 can be implemented by a processor. For example, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0156] In one embodiment, the communication device 500 is applied to Figure 3 The first device in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The specific functions of the processing unit 502 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0157] The processing unit 502 is used to: determine a first RNA of the terminal at a first moment, the first RNA including service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer; determine one or more first satellites as target service access network devices for the terminal according to the first RNA, where the first satellite is a satellite among the N satellites; send the context of the terminal to the first satellite through the communication unit 501; or, instruct one or more second satellites to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

[0158] In some possible embodiments, the processing unit 502 is further used to: determine a second RNA of the terminal at a second moment, the second RNA is different from the first RNA, and the second RNA includes service areas corresponding to some or all cells of M satellites, where M is a positive integer.

[0159] In some examples, the processing unit 502 may be used to: before determining the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment, receive the first information through the communication unit 501, the first information including the indication information of the second RNA. In other examples, the processing unit 502 may also be used to: determine the second RNA according to the mobility of the M satellites at the second moment.

[0160] In some possible ways, the processing unit 502 may be used to: before determining the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, receive second information through the communication unit 501, where the second information includes indication information of the first RNA. In some other possible ways, the processing unit 502 may also be used to: determine the first RNA according to the mobility of N satellites at the first moment.

[0161] Optionally, the processing unit 502 is configured to: determine, according to the ephemeris of the second satellite and the ephemeris of the first satellite, that the first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal.

[0162] In some possible designs, the communication device 500 is a first satellite, and the processing unit 502 is also used to: send third information to the core network device through the communication unit 501, and the third information is used to indicate that the first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal.

[0163] Optionally, the third satellite is any satellite among the N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more satellites among the N satellites.

[0164] In some possible designs, the communication device 500 is a terminal, and the processing unit 502 is also used to: when the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, select a satellite from one or more satellites for communication.

[0165] In another embodiment, the communication device 500 is applied to Figure 4 The first device in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The specific functions of the processing unit 502 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0166] The processing unit 502 is used to: determine a first wireless access network-based notification area RNA of the terminal at a first moment, the first RNA including service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, N is a positive integer, and the N satellites are satellites on a first orbit; according to the first RNA, determine one or more first satellites as target service access network devices of the terminal, the first satellite being a satellite among the N satellites.

[0167] In some possible embodiments, the processing unit 502 is also used to: before determining the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, receive second information through the communication unit 501, the second information includes indication information of the first RNA, and the indication information of the first RNA includes at least one of the following: indication information of some or all of the N satellites, or indication information of the first orbit.

[0168] Optionally, the third satellite is any satellite among the N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more satellites among the N satellites.

[0169] In some possible designs, the communication device 500 is a terminal, and the processing unit 502 is also used to: when the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, select a satellite from one or more satellites for communication.

[0170] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 502 and the communication unit 501, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The relevant description in the method embodiment shown is directly obtained and will not be repeated here.

[0171] It should be noted that the division of modules in the above embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processing unit, or may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0172] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes.

[0173] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application are Figure 6A communication device is provided, which can be used to perform the relevant steps in the above method embodiment. The communication device can be applied to Figure 3 or Figure 4 The first device in the method shown can implement the communication method provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, and has Figure 5 The functions of the communication device shown. Figure 6 As shown, the communication device 600 includes: a processor 602. Optionally, the communication device 600 also includes: a transceiver 601 and a memory 603. The transceiver 601, the processor 602 and the memory 603 are interconnected.

[0174] Optionally, the transceiver 601, the processor 602, and the memory 603 are interconnected via a bus 604. The bus 604 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 6 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0175] The transceiver 601 is used to receive and send information to realize communication interaction with other devices. For example, the transceiver 601 can be realized by a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, and an input / output interface.

[0176] The processor 602 may be used to support the communication device 600 in executing the processing actions in the above method embodiment. When the communication device 600 is used to implement the above method embodiment, the processor 602 may also be used to implement the functions of the above processing unit 502. The processor 602 may be a CPU, or other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor.

[0177] In one embodiment, the communication device 600 is applied to Figure 3 The first device in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The specific functions of the processor 602 in this implementation are introduced below.

[0178] The processor 602 is used to: determine a first RNA of the terminal at a first moment, the first RNA including service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer; determine, according to the first RNA, that the first satellite is a target service access network device for the terminal, the first satellite being a satellite among the N satellites; send the context of the terminal to the first satellite through the transceiver 601; or, instruct the second satellite to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

[0179] In another embodiment, the communication device 600 is applied to Figure 4 The first device in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The specific functions of the processor 602 in this implementation are introduced below.

[0180] The processor 602 is used to: determine a first wireless access network-based notification area RNA of the terminal at a first moment, the first RNA including service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, N is a positive integer, and the N satellites are satellites on a first orbit; according to the first RNA, determine that the first satellite is a target service access network device of the terminal, and the first satellite is a satellite among the N satellites.

[0181] The specific functions of the processor 602 may refer to the description of the communication method provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, and Figure 5 The specific functional description of the communication device 500 in the embodiment of the present application is not repeated here.

[0182] The memory 603 is used to store program instructions and / or data, etc. Specifically, the program instructions may include program codes, and the program codes include computer operation instructions. The memory 603 may include RAM, and may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk storage. The processor 602 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 603, and uses the data stored in the memory 603 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the communication method provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The memory 603 can be integrated with the processor 602, or it can be a memory outside the communication device.

[0183] It is understandable that this application Figure 6The memory 603 in can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a ROM, a programmable read-only memory (Programmable ROM, PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable PROM, EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically EPROM, EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a RAM, which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (Dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DoubleData Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous connection dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct memory bus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0184] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product including computer executable instructions. When the computer program product is run, the method provided in the above embodiments is executed.

[0185] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0186] The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. For example, but not limited to, a computer-readable medium may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0187] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0188] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application provide a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the functions involved in each device in the above embodiments. In a possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data for the computer device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0189] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0190] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application may adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application may adopt the form of a computer program product implemented in one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that include computer-usable program code.

[0191] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or boxes in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0192] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A function specified in one or more boxes.

[0193] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for implementing the process in the computer or other programmable device. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps for the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0194] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0195] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0196] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first device determines a first notification area RNA based on a wireless access network of the terminal at a first moment, wherein the first RNA includes service areas corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer; The first device determines, according to the first RNA, one or more first satellites as target service access network devices of the terminal, the first satellite being a satellite among the N satellites; The first device sends the context of the terminal to the first satellite; Alternatively, the first device instructs one or more second satellites to send the context of the terminal to the first satellite.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: The first device determines a second RNA of the terminal at a second moment, where the second RNA is different from the first RNA and includes service areas corresponding to some or all cells of M satellites, where M is a positive integer.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The difference is determined according to the mobility of the N satellites and the M satellites.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that Before the first device determines the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment, the method further includes: The first device receives first information, and the first information includes indication information of the second RNA.

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The first device determines the second RNA of the terminal at the second moment, including: The first device determines the second RNA according to the mobility of the M satellites at the second moment.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Before the first device determines the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, the method further includes: The first device receives second information, and the second information includes indication information of the first RNA.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first device determines a first RNA of a terminal at a first moment, including: The first device determines the first RNA according to the mobility of the N satellites at the first moment.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first device determines, according to the first RNA, one or more first satellites as target service access network devices of the terminal, including: The first device determines that the first satellite is a target service access network device for the terminal according to the ephemeris of the second satellite and the ephemeris of the first satellite.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The first device is the first satellite, and further includes: The first device sends third information to the core network device, where the third information is used to indicate that the first satellite is a target service access network device for the terminal.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first device determines a first wireless access network-based notification area RNA of the terminal at a first moment, wherein the first RNA includes a service area corresponding to some or all cells of N satellites, where N is a positive integer and the N satellites are satellites on a first orbit; The first device determines, based on the first RNA, one or more first satellites as target service access network devices for the terminal, and the first satellite is a satellite among the N satellites.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Before the first device determines the first RNA of the terminal at the first moment, the method further includes: The first device receives second information, the second information includes indication information of the first RNA, the indication information of the first RNA includes at least one of the following: indication information of some or all of the N satellites, or indication information of the first orbit.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The third satellite is any one of the N satellites, and a communication interface exists between the third satellite and one or more of the N satellites.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first device is the terminal, and further includes: When the third satellite is a service access network device of the terminal and the terminal is no longer within the service range of the third satellite, the first device selects a satellite from the one or more satellites for communication.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The movement direction of the one or more satellites is the same as the movement direction of the third satellite.

15. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A communication unit for receiving and sending information; A processing unit, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 through the communication unit.

16. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

17. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises a first device, wherein the first device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-14.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is implemented.

19. A chip, characterized in that: The chip reads the computer program stored in the memory and executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

20. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises: a computer program code, and when the computer program code is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is implemented.

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