Method and system for large scale initial access management

Abstract

In one embodiment, network measurements are relayed to a target network cell by a dominant user equipment, a device-specific random access configuration is received from the target network cell, and the device-specific random access configuration is relayed to a group of user equipment to perform a random access contention to the target network cell, random access and energy consumption of a group of large user equipments (UEs) in a cellular network are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to cellular networks, and more particularly to a method and system for improving random access and energy consumption of a large group of user equipment (UE) in a cellular network. Background Art

[0002] Next generation wireless and cellular networks such as the fifth generation (5G) network may include a terrestrial network (TN) system and a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system (3GPP Rel.18WI: NR NTN (non-terrestrial network) enhancement). For example, in addition to conventional terrestrial systems, 5G systems may also include satellite-based non-terrestrial network systems.

[0003] To improve overall network coverage, non-terrestrial network systems can provide greater geographic service coverage capabilities for areas that are underserved or unserved by conventional terrestrial network systems. Such areas may include remote geographic areas, difficult-to-reach geographic areas, or areas such as lakes and oceans where terrestrial networks may not be deployed.

[0004] In addition, non-terrestrial network systems can be more resistant to infrastructure damage, such as physical attacks and natural disasters on terrestrial networks and systems. In addition, non-terrestrial network systems can provide greater service reliability, such as greater service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices or for passengers on mobile platforms such as aircraft or ships. Finally, non-terrestrial network systems can provide efficient multicast or broadcast for data delivery to the network edge or user terminals.

[0005] Therefore, non-terrestrial network systems and components will affect the coverage, user bandwidth, system capacity, service reliability or service availability, energy consumption and connection density of the entire next-generation cellular network system. Summary of the invention

[0006] Aspects of embodiments of the present application relate to a method and system for improving random access and energy consumption of a large group of user equipment (UE) in a cellular network.

[0007] According to one aspect of the embodiment, a cellular network system is provided, which includes: a network cell; a first user device, which is connected to the network cell; and a second user device, which is connected to the first user device via a local communication protocol, wherein the first user device is configured to request a random access configuration of the second user device from the network cell, and wherein the first user device is configured to send the random access configuration to the second user device.

[0008] The network cell may be a network cell of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

[0009] The random access configuration may be random access information for the second user equipment to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN).

[0010] The second user equipment may be a plurality of user equipments.

[0011] The first user equipment may be configured to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from a network cell based on a cell measurement report of the first user equipment.

[0012] The first user equipment may be configured to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from a network cell based on the cell measurement reports of the plurality of user equipments.

[0013] The first user equipment may be in a RRC_CONNECTED state connected to a network cell.

[0014] The plurality of user equipments may be in an RRC_INACTIVE state to the network cell.

[0015] The first user equipment may be configured to control the plurality of user equipments to obtain a cell measurement report to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN).

[0016] The plurality of user equipments may be configured to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN) based on the random access information.

[0017] According to one aspect of an embodiment, a user equipment is provided, which includes: a transceiver; and a control unit, which is configured to control the transceiver to connect the user equipment to a network cell, control the transceiver to connect to a second user equipment via a local communication protocol, control the transceiver to request a random access configuration of the second user equipment from the network cell, and control the transceiver to send the random access configuration to the second user equipment.

[0018] The network cell may be a network cell of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

[0019] The random access configuration may be random access information for the second user equipment to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN).

[0020] The second user equipment may be a plurality of user equipments.

[0021] The control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from a network cell based on a cell measurement report of the user equipment.

[0022] The control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from a network cell based on cell measurement reports of the plurality of user equipments.

[0023] The user equipment may be in RRC_CONNECTED state connected to a network cell.

[0024] The plurality of user equipments may be in an RRC_INACTIVE state to the network cell.

[0025] The control unit may be configured to control the plurality of user equipments to obtain cell measurement reports to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN).

[0026] The plurality of user equipments may be configured to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN) based on the random access information.

[0027] Based on one aspect of the embodiment, a user equipment is provided, which includes: a transceiver; and a control unit, which is configured to control the transceiver to connect the user equipment to a relay user equipment connected to a network cell via a local communication protocol, control the transceiver to request a random access configuration of the user equipment from the relay user equipment, and control the transceiver to connect the user equipment to a cellular network system based on the random access configuration.

[0028] The network cell may be a network cell of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

[0029] The cellular network system may be a terrestrial network (TN), and the random access configuration includes random access information for the user equipment to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN).

[0030] The user equipment may be a user equipment among a plurality of user equipments connected as a group to the relay user equipment via a local communication protocol.

[0031] The control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to request the random access information based on a cell measurement report of the relay user equipment.

[0032] The control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to perform a cell measurement report, and control the transceiver to request random access information based on the cell measurement report.

[0033] The relay user equipment may be in RRC_CONNECTED state connected to a network cell.

[0034] The user equipment may be in RRC_INACTIVE state to the network cell.

[0035] The control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to send a cell measurement report to the relay user equipment.

[0036] The control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN) based on the random access information.

[0037] Technical issues

[0038] Many industries such as agriculture, construction, shipping, etc. are evolving to incorporate higher levels of system and vehicle automation. This includes automated interactions between automated machinery and vehicles. Therefore, network connectivity used to interconnect machinery and vehicles may be able to enable improved operations in such industries.

[0039] Limited, insufficient or unavailable mobile network coverage in remote areas poses a challenge to operations in some geographic environments. Integrated fifth generation (5G) non-terrestrial communications, such as low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and high altitude platforms (HAPS), enable advanced use cases in remote areas that are insufficiently or unavailable for service based on conventional terrestrial communications.

[0040] Therefore, automated machinery and vehicles may utilize non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems and communications to provide connectivity. When serving a large number of devices, access attempts by a large group of user equipment (UE) may result in significant random access (RA) contention, such as when members of the group of user equipment attempt network access simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. This results in random access collisions, increases the number of subsequent random access retries, and therefore increases processing and energy consumption of the user equipment and the network.

[0041] Solution to the problem

[0042] In view of the above, various aspects of the embodiments of the present application relate to a method and system for improving random access and energy consumption of a large user equipment (UE) group in a cellular network. In particular, when a large number of devices attempt to perform network connection through random access (RA) competition, the leading device can provide a device-specific quality of service (QoS) profile and a cell measurement report to the serving cell. The QoS profile is a set of parameters and metadata that characterize user-specific service requirements, application-specific service requirements, and / or device-specific service requirements. Thus, the device-specific random access configuration can be relayed from the leading device to the devices in the group. Therefore, when the devices in the group request network access through random access competition, random access conflicts can be avoided.

[0043] Beneficial Effects

[0044] Various aspects of the embodiments of the present application provide a technology for reducing the probability of random access conflicts and energy consumption of user equipment when requesting network access through random access contention by leading or relaying user equipment requests and obtaining device-specific random access configurations of user equipment before performing random access contention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The above and other aspects will be more clearly understood from the following brief description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0046] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication network according to an embodiment;

[0047] Figure 2 is a timing diagram illustrating a method of forming a group of user equipment according to an embodiment;

[0048] Figure 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a method for generating a network measurement report according to an embodiment;

[0049] Figure 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a method for generating a user equipment specific random access configuration according to an embodiment;

[0050] Figure 5 is a timing diagram illustrating a method of initiating network access according to an embodiment; and

[0051] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication network according to an embodiment.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, the communication network 100 includes a terrestrial network (TN) system 110 , a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system 120 , and a plurality of user equipments (UEs) 130 .

[0054] The ground network system 110 may include one or more network cells or Node Bs, such as eNodeBs, gNBs, etc.

[0055] The non-terrestrial network system 120 may include one or more low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and high altitude platforms (HAPS).

[0056] The terrestrial network 110 and the non-terrestrial network 120 of the communication network 100 may support cellular network communications according to one or more cellular communication standards, such as third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), long term evolution (LTE), fifth generation (5G), sixth generation (6G), etc. The terrestrial network 110 and the non-terrestrial network 120 of the communication network 100 may implement wireless data communications according to one or more of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE), etc.

[0057] The plurality of user devices 130 may be a group of user devices including a first user device 140 (which may be referred to as a master device, a leading device or a repeater) and one or more second user devices 145 (which may be referred to as slave devices, subordinate devices or members).

[0058] The plurality of user devices 130 may be implemented as an automated vehicle group that is configured or controlled to perform one or more automated tasks of application-specific programs, such as crop harvesting, crop seeding, and other functions associated with navigation and position control of the plurality of user devices 130 .

[0059] The first user equipment 140 may be connected to the non-terrestrial network 120. As an example, for cost reasons, only the first user equipment 140 among the plurality of user equipments 130 may be equipped with a transceiver and antenna system capable of communicating with the non-terrestrial network 120. Thus, the first user equipment 140 may perform network communication via the non-terrestrial network 120 and the terrestrial network 110.

[0060] The first user equipment 140 may also be connected to each of the one or more second user equipments 145. The communication connection between the first user equipment 140 and the second user equipment 145 may be established locally according to one or more communication protocols, such as multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) via WiFi, ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox, Bluetooth, or 3GPP sidelink. Thus, the application layer of the first user equipment 140 may control the communication between the first user equipment 140 and the second user equipment 145 for coordination and control, including mission planning, group formation, group decomposition, etc.

[0061] Because only the first user device 140 can connect to the non-terrestrial network 120, the first user device performs all network communications under the non-terrestrial network coverage on behalf of the plurality of user devices 130. Thus, the first user device 140 can act as a relay for the second user device 145 to perform network communications via the non-terrestrial network 120 and the terrestrial network 110.

[0062] In order to reduce the energy consumption of the plurality of user devices 130, although being able to communicate with the ground network 110, the plurality of user devices may not be connected to the ground network 110 while operating in conjunction with the first user device 120. For example, since the ground network 110 has a geographical range, the plurality of user devices 130 may be geographically located outside the communication range of the ground network 110. Alternatively, for reasons of security, quality of service requirements, etc., one or more of the first user device 140 and the second user device 145 may be controlled to be disconnected from the ground network 110.

[0063] In scenarios such as transitioning between non-terrestrial network coverage and terrestrial network coverage or simultaneously or substantially simultaneously under the control of an application-specific program of the first user device 140, network access attempts by a large group of user devices may result in significant random access (RA) contention to the terrestrial network 110, which may result in an increase in the number of subsequent random access retries and, thereby, an increase in energy consumption of the second user device 145.

[0064] In order to avoid random access competition of the multiple user equipments 130 to the ground network 110 , under the guidance of the application specific program of the first user equipment 140 , the first user equipment 130 can assist the second user equipment 145 in establishing a connection with the ground network 110 .

[0065] Therefore, at least one of the first user equipment 140 and the second user equipment 145 among the plurality of user equipments 130 may detect the coverage of the ground network 110 to separately establish a connection with the ground network 110. For example, the first user equipment 140 may be controlled to perform network detection and signal measurement of the ground network 110. Alternatively, the first user equipment 140 may control the second user equipment 145 to perform network detection and signal measurement of the ground network 110. The network detection and signal measurement of the ground network 110 may be sent from the second user equipment 145 to the first user equipment 140.

[0066] The first user equipment 140 reports network detection and signal measurements to the terrestrial network 110, for example, via the non-terrestrial network 120 or directly through the terrestrial network 110. In a configuration connected to the terrestrial network 110 via the non-terrestrial network 120, the network detection and signal measurements may be forwarded by a serving cell from the non-terrestrial network 120 to a target cell of the terrestrial network 110 via a logical interface such as an Xn interface for interconnection between radio access network (RAN) nodes such as gNB, eLTE, etc.

[0067] The network detection and signal measurement may include the identification and number of the plurality of user equipments 130 , a user equipment specific quality of service profile and a cell measurement report. Therefore, the first user equipment 140 requests the terrestrial network 110 for a user equipment specific random access configuration.

[0068] The serving cell of the terrestrial network 110 may provide the first user equipment 140 with a user equipment specific random access configuration for the plurality of user equipments 130. For example, the first user equipment 140 may receive the user equipment specific random access configuration from a target cell of the terrestrial network 110 via a serving cell of the non-terrestrial network 120 and a logical interface such as an Xn interface for interconnection between radio access network (RAN) nodes such as gNB, eLTE, etc.

[0069] The first user equipment 140 may send the user equipment specific random access configuration to the second user equipment 145 via locally established communication according to one or more communication protocols, such as multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) via WiFi, ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox, Bluetooth, or a 3GPP sidelink.

[0070] Therefore, each of the second user equipments 145 may establish a connection with the terrestrial network 110 using the user equipment specific random access configuration.

[0071] According to an embodiment, in a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, in addition to a RACH preamble assignment, a target cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), a target data radio bearer (DRB) identifier (uplink UL / downlink DL), and a target eNodeB security algorithm, a user equipment specific random access configuration may also include a random access channel (RACH) delay timer and a random access channel backoff value. The RRC reconfiguration message may be relayed from the first user equipment 140 to the second user equipment 145. Therefore, if the random access attempt of the second user equipment 145 fails, a backoff corresponding to the backoff value as determined by the target network cell based on the priority is applied. For example, a smaller backoff value may be provided to a user equipment with a higher priority, and a larger backoff value may be provided to a user equipment with a lower priority. Thereby, random access conflicts may be avoided.

[0072] Regarding the random access delay timer and the random access backoff value, the target network may store a mapping table between the service quality requirements and the random access backoff value and the random access delay timer. For example, a user equipment with QoS1 may apply a RACH delay timer D1 and a backoff value B1. On the other hand, UE2 with QoS2 may apply a RACH delay timer D2 and a backoff value B2. The user equipment applies the RACH delay timer and the backoff value based on the QoS (and the known mapping), and thus the target network (gNB) configures the QoS for the user equipment through a dedicated RRC signaling message.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the first UE 140 proposes a UE-specific random access configuration based on the ProSe application ID and application layer triggered group splitting, resulting in a smaller group led by a new relay / lead UE. Only the new lead UE is required to perform initial access to the terrestrial network.

[0074] According to an embodiment, based on a specified quality of service (QoS) class identifier (QCI) mechanism (5QI), the target network (gNB) determines and broadcasts via system information (SI) a mapping between random access opportunities and required QoS (5QI). Thus, the first network device can perform an assignment of RACH resources to a remote UE (depending on the QoS profile of the remote user equipment). Thereby, a user equipment specific random access configuration can be provided from the first user equipment to the second user equipment.

[0075] Figure 2 is a timing diagram illustrating a method for forming a group of user equipments according to an embodiment.

[0076] like Figure 2 As shown, the application may be executed by the lead user equipment. Thus, the embodiment addresses the case of "application-controlled behavior". Alternatively, all processing may occur within the 3GPP layer, and thus the lead user equipment may trigger the measurement report, but the member user equipment may also be configured to provide measurement reports regularly, as described below with respect to Figure 2 and Figure 3 Similar to what is described.

[0077] Likewise Figure 2 As shown, the leading user device may be related to Figure 1 The first user device 140 described above. Figure 2 As shown, the leading user device can communicate with the member user devices and the network. The member user devices can be about Figure 1 The second user equipment 145 described, and the network may be about Figure 1 A non-terrestrial network 120 is described.

[0078] In step 205, an application executed by the leading user device activates the connection of the leading user device. The application may be related to Figure 1 An application specific program is described for communicating with a plurality of user devices and controlling the plurality of user devices to perform one or more tasks.

[0079] In step 210, the leading user equipment may send a connection request to the network. The connection request may be performed via any suitable wireless communication protocol corresponding to the communication capabilities of the network, such as cellular communication or communication to non-terrestrial infrastructure. For example, the connection request may be a connection request for establishing 5G ProSe capabilities and ProSe (authorized by the network). Thus, the leading user equipment may be in an RRC_CONNECTED state to the network.

[0080] In step 215, the network may send a connection configuration to the lead user equipment, and in step 220, the lead user equipment establishes a connection with the network. The connection configuration may indicate that the lead user equipment is 5G ProSe authorized.

[0081] In step 225, the application of the leading user device may send an application registration request to a server. The server may be associated with the application, such as an application host corresponding to the application. The application registration request may be a request for a set of instructions or tasks for controlling the operation and location of the leading user device and the member user devices, including task scheduling, vehicle or object trajectories, network preferences (e.g., NTN) during group operation, and switching strategies. The switching strategy may be a remote control mode that enables each user device to switch from a control mode in which the leading user device controls the member user devices via local communication to a remote control mode in which each member user device is connected to the network via cellular network communication on the ground network for control.

[0082] The server may send application data to the lead user device in step 230. The application data may include a set of instructions or tasks for controlling the operation and location of the lead user device and the member user devices.

[0083] In step 240, the application of the lead user device may initiate group formation with the member user devices, and in step 245, the lead user device may send a request for the member user devices to join the user device group, which may correspond to the member user devices associated with the group. Figure 1 The plurality of user devices 130 described. The request may include a plurality of tasks and control instructions to be performed by the member user devices, as well as parameters for group communication, formation, task scheduling, and status reporting. Although group formation is shown as including task distribution from the leading user device to the member user devices, those skilled in the art will appreciate that group registration and task distribution for controlling the member user devices may be performed separately.

[0084] The communication between the lead user equipment and the member user equipment may be performed by locally established communication according to one or more communication protocols, such as multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) via WiFi, ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox, Bluetooth, or 3GPP sidelink. Thus, the member user equipment may be in an RRC_IDLE state to the network.

[0085] In step 250, the member user equipment sends a confirmation or acknowledgement message to the lead user equipment to confirm participation in the group.

[0086] The member user device sends a status report to the lead user device in step 255. The status report may include information indicating the progress of the task delegated to the member user device, the location of the member user device, and any other information indicating the operational status of the member user device.

[0087] Finally, in step 260, the leading user device and the member user devices jointly perform their corresponding tasks.

[0088] Figure 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a method for generating a network measurement report according to an embodiment.

[0089] like Figure 3 As shown, the application can be executed by the leading user device. The leading user device can be about Figure 1 The first user device 140 described above. Figure 3 As shown, the leading user device can communicate with the member user devices. The member user devices can be about Figure 1 A second user device 145 is described.

[0090] In step 305, the lead user device may complete the task or operation assigned to the lead user device by the application of the lead user device. Therefore, the handover policy criteria may be triggered according to the parameters of the application.

[0091] In step 310, the leading user equipment may initiate network detection and signal measurement. The leading user equipment may be in the RRC_CONNECTED state or the RRC_INACTIVE state.

[0092] In step 315, the lead user equipment may send a request or provide a measurement configuration to the member user equipment to perform network detection and signal measurement. Alternatively, as described above, the lead user equipment may perform serving cell and neighbor cell measurements.

[0093] In step 320 and step 325 , the member user equipment may perform network detection and signal measurement, and send the results of the network detection and signal measurement to the lead user equipment.

[0094] In step 330, the lead user equipment (ProSe application identifier ID) acting as a relay node may determine whether there are sufficient conditions for the member user equipment to connect to a cell of the target network. The target network may correspond to a cell related to Figure 1The ground network 110 described above. If the leading user device determines that there are sufficient conditions for the member user device to connect to the target network, the leading user device may send a user device-specific random access configuration to the member user device. Alternatively, if the leading user device determines that there are no conditions for the member user device to connect to the target network, the leading user device may send an instruction to position the member user device to a handover position.

[0095] Figure 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a method for generating a user equipment specific random access configuration according to an embodiment.

[0096] like Figure 4 As shown, the application can be executed by the leading user device. The leading user device can be about Figure 1 The first user device 140 described above. Figure 4 As shown, the leading user device can communicate with the member user devices and the network. The member user devices can be about Figure 1 The second user equipment 145 described, and the network may be about Figure 1 A terrestrial network 110 or a non-terrestrial network 120 is depicted.

[0097] In step 405, the application of the lead user device may determine that the lead user device and the member user devices have completed their respective tasks and operations.

[0098] In step 410, the lead user equipment may determine to activate the relay mode. The relay mode may be a mode in which the lead user equipment may request and obtain a user equipment specific random access configuration from a target network cell.

[0099] In step 415, the lead user device may send a relay mode connection request to the target network.

[0100] In step 420, the target network may send a connection configuration to the lead user equipment. The connection configuration may indicate that the lead user equipment is authorized to act as a 5G ProSe device.

[0101] In step 425, a relay mode may be established in the lead user equipment, and in step 430, the lead user equipment may collect user equipment specific data and measurement reports to obtain a user equipment specific random access configuration from the target network cell.

[0102] Figure 5 is a timing diagram illustrating a method for initiating network access according to an embodiment.

[0103] like Figure 5 As shown, the application can be executed by the leading user device. The leading user device can be about Figure 1The first user device 140 described above. Figure 5 As shown, the leading user device can communicate with the member user devices, the source network and the target network. The member user devices can be about Figure 1 The second user equipment 145 described, the source network may be about Figure 1 The non-terrestrial network 120 described above and the target network may be related to Figure 1 A ground network 110 is described.

[0104] In step 505, the lead user equipment may collect network detection and signal measurements of the target network from the member user equipments.

[0105] In step 510 and step 515, the lead user equipment may send network detection and signal measurements to the source network. The network detection and signal measurements may include the identities and numbers of member user equipments, specific quality of service profiles of the member user equipments, and cell measurement reports of the member user equipments.

[0106] In step 520 and step 525, the source network may forward network detection and signal measurements to the target network via a logical interface, such as an Xn interface for interconnection between radio access network (RAN) nodes such as gNB, eLTE, etc.

[0107] In step 530, the target network receives a request for a user equipment specific random access configuration corresponding to the member user equipment group and creates a corresponding user equipment specific random access configuration.

[0108] In step 535 and step 540, the target network sends the user equipment specific random access configuration to the lead user equipment via the source network.

[0109] In step 545, the lead user device sends a user device specific random access configuration to the member user devices via locally established communications according to one or more communication protocols, such as multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) via WiFi, ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox, Bluetooth, or 3GPP sidelink.

[0110] In step 550, the member user equipment may initiate access to the target network by performing random access using the user equipment specific random access configuration.

[0111] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0112] Figure 6 The user equipment shown in the figure may be about Figure 1 The first user device 140 or the second user device 145 is described.

[0113] The user equipment 600 includes a control unit 610 and a transceiver 620 .

[0114] The control unit 610 includes a memory 615 and a processor 617. Figure 6 The user device 600 is shown as including a memory 615 and a processor 617 , but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the user device 600 may include additional components for performing the transmission and reception functions of the user device 600 .

[0115] The memory 615 may be a random access memory (RAM), solid-state or flash memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or any other suitable data storage element for storing data and / or operating instructions, computer-readable code, applications, etc. for the user device 600. For example, the memory 615 may store an application for controlling the operation of the lead user device or the member user devices.

[0116] The processor 617 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or other suitable data processing element for controlling the operation of the user device 105 by executing operating instructions, computer readable codes, applications, etc. stored in the memory 615 of the user device 600 .

[0117] The memory 615 and processor 617 may communicate via one or more buses.

[0118] Despite Figure 6 615 and processor 617 are shown as being implemented as separate components connected via a bus, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the memory 615 and processor 617 may be integrated into a single component, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other suitable electronic component for performing cellular transmission and reception functions of the user equipment 600.

[0119] The transceiver 620 may be a communication circuit configured to perform wireless communication between the control unit 610 of the user equipment 600 and other entities of the cellular network, such as the terrestrial network 110, the non-terrestrial network 120, or other user equipment 140, 145. The transceiver 620 may be configured to perform wireless communication according to one or more cellular communication networks or protocols, such as 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, 6G, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, CDMA, EDGE, etc., and may also perform wireless communication according to one or more local communication protocols, such as multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) via WiFi, ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox, Bluetooth, or 3GPP sidelinks.

[0120] The transceiver 620 may include a control unit and an antenna. Although the transceiver 620 is described as including a control unit and an antenna, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the transceiver 620 may include additional components for performing the communication functions of the user equipment 600.

[0121] The antenna may be a multi-band mobile antenna configured to support one or more communication protocols suitable for wireless communication. The antenna may be an isotropic, omnidirectional or other antenna structurally configured to wirelessly transmit or receive data over a communication network system.

[0122] Industrial Applicability

[0123] Embodiments of the present application relate to communication networks, and more particularly to providing energy saving in situations where multiple user equipment may seek to establish a network connection simultaneously or substantially simultaneously through random access contention.

[0124] List of Reference Numerals

[0125] 100 Communication Network

[0126] 110 Ground Network System

[0127] 120 Non-terrestrial network systems

[0128] More than 130 user devices

[0129] 140 First User Equipment

[0130] 145 Second User Device

[0131] 600 User Devices

[0132] 610 Control Unit

[0133] 620 Transceiver

[0134] 615 Memory

[0135] 617 processor

Claims

1. A cellular network system, comprising: Network community; a first user equipment, the first user equipment being connected to the network cell; as well as a second user device connected to the first user device via a local communication protocol, The first user equipment is configured to request a random access configuration of the second user equipment from the network cell, and The first user equipment is configured to send the random access configuration to the second user equipment.

2. The cellular network system according to claim 1, wherein: The network cells include network cells of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

3. The cellular network system according to claim 2, wherein: The random access configuration includes random access information for the second user equipment to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN).

4. The cellular network system according to claim 3, wherein: The second user equipment includes multiple user equipments.

5. The cellular network system according to claim 4, wherein: The first user equipment is configured to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from the network cell based on a cell measurement report of the first user equipment.

6. The cellular network system according to claim 4, wherein: The first user equipment is configured to request random access configurations of the multiple user equipments from the network cell based on the cell measurement reports of the multiple user equipments.

7. The cellular network system according to claim 6, wherein: The first user equipment is in RRC_CONNECTED state connected to the network cell.

8. The cellular network system according to claim 7, wherein: The multiple user equipments are in RRC_INACTIVE state with respect to the network cell.

9. The cellular network system according to claim 8, wherein: The first user equipment is configured to control the plurality of user equipments to obtain the cell measurement reports to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN).

10. The cellular network system according to claim 9, wherein: The plurality of user equipments are configured to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN) based on the random access information.

11. A user equipment, comprising: Transceiver; as well as A control unit configured to control the transceiver to connect the user equipment to a network cell, control the transceiver to connect to a second user equipment via a local communication protocol, control the transceiver to request a random access configuration of the second user equipment from the network cell, and control the transceiver to send the random access configuration to the second user equipment.

12. The user equipment according to claim 11, wherein: The network cells include network cells of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

13. The user equipment according to claim 12, wherein: The random access configuration includes random access information for the second user equipment to perform random access to a terrestrial network (TN).

14. The user equipment according to claim 13, wherein: The second user equipment includes multiple user equipments.

15. The user equipment according to claim 14, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the transceiver to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from the network cell based on a cell measurement report of the user equipment.

16. The user equipment according to claim 14, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the transceiver to request random access configurations of the plurality of user equipments from the network cell based on cell measurement reports of the plurality of user equipments.

17. The user equipment according to claim 16, wherein: The user equipment is in RRC_CONNECTED state connected to the network cell.

18. The user equipment according to claim 17, wherein: The multiple user equipments are in RRC_INACTIVE state with respect to the network cell.

19. The user equipment according to claim 18, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the plurality of user equipments to obtain the cell measurement reports to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN).

20. The user equipment according to claim 19, wherein: The plurality of user equipments are configured to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN) based on the random access information.

21. A user equipment, comprising: Transceiver; as well as A control unit is configured to control the transceiver to connect the user equipment to a relay user equipment connected to a network cell via a local communication protocol, control the transceiver to request a random access configuration of the user equipment from the relay user equipment, and control the transceiver to connect the user equipment to a cellular network system based on the random access configuration.

22. The user equipment according to claim 21, wherein: The network cells include network cells of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

23. The user equipment according to claim 22, wherein: The cellular network system includes a terrestrial network (TN), and The random access configuration includes random access information used by the user equipment to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN).

24. The user equipment according to claim 23, wherein: The user equipment includes a user equipment among a plurality of user equipments connected as a group to the relay user equipment via the local communication protocol.

25. The user equipment according to claim 24, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the transceiver to request the random access information based on a cell measurement report of the relay user equipment.

26. The user equipment according to claim 24, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the transceiver to perform a cell measurement report, and control the transceiver to request the random access information based on the cell measurement report.

27. The user equipment according to claim 26, wherein: The relay user equipment is in the RRC CONNECTED state connected to the network cell.

28. The user equipment according to claim 27, wherein: The user equipment is in RRC_INACTIVE state with respect to the network cell.

29. The user equipment according to claim 28, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the transceiver to send the cell measurement report to the relay user equipment.

30. The user equipment according to claim 29, wherein: The control unit is configured to control the transceiver to perform random access to the terrestrial network (TN) based on the random access information.

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