Measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in internet of things (IOT) non-terrestrial network (NTN)

By transmitting Doppler frequency shift information in the Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN), adjusting the measurement process of wireless device (WD), the signal interference and measurement errors caused by Doppler frequency shift are solved, and the measurement efficiency and stability of cell handover are improved.

CN119948780APending Publication Date: 2025-05-06TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202380065436.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-08-10
Filing Date
2023-08-10
Publication Date
2025-05-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

There are challenges in the measurement and mobility processes caused by Doppler shift problems in the Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN), especially in satellite communications, where Doppler shift causes carrier frequency drift, affecting signal measurement and cell handover.

Method used

By passing Doppler shift information between the wireless device (WD) and the network node, the cell changes and measurement processes are adjusted, including reducing priority, discarding, ignoring or skipping measurements of certain neighboring cells, modifying the measurement process according to predefined rules.

Benefits of technology

It effectively reduces signal interference and measurement errors caused by Doppler shift, improves the measurement efficiency of WD and the stability of cell handover in IoT NTN, and extends the battery life of the device.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Methods, network nodes and wireless devices (WDs) for measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in an Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN) are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in WD includes determining at least one neighbor cell and at least one frequency layer for which a measurement procedure is to be modified due to a Doppler shift. The method comprises modifying a measurement procedure for at least one neighbor cell and at least one frequency layer, comprising at least one of: prioritizing measurements for at least one of a neighboring cell of the determined at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer, discarding a measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell of the determined at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer, measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell of the determined at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer is ignored and measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell of the determined at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer is skipped.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). Background Art

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed and is developing standards for fourth generation (4G) (also known as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and fifth generation (5G) (also known as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. Such systems provide, among other features, broadband communications between network nodes such as base stations and mobile wireless devices (WDs), as well as communications between network nodes and between WDs. 3GPP is also developing standards for sixth generation (6G) wireless communication networks.

[0003] In 3GPP, 5G System (5GS) is a new generation of radio access technology, intended to serve use cases such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC), narrowband (NB)-IOT, and machine type communications (mMTC). 5G includes the new radio (NR) access layer interface and the 5G core network (5GC). The NR physical layer and higher layers reuse parts of the LTE specification and add required components when inspired by new use cases. In order to benefit from a strong mobile ecosystem and economies of scale, satellite networks based on terrestrial wireless access technologies including LTE and NR are being specified in 3GPP standards.

[0004] IoT NTN and NTN characteristics

[0005] Satellite radio access networks typically include the following components:

[0006] ■ refers to satellites on spaceborne platforms;

[0007] ■ Earth-based gateways that connect satellites to base stations or core networks, depending on the choice of architecture;

[0008] ■ a feeder link which refers to the link between the gateway and the satellite; and

[0009] ■ Refers to the access link or service link of the link between the satellite and the WD.

[0010] Depending on the orbital altitude, satellites may be classified as low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), or geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites.

[0011] LEO: Typical altitudes are between 250 and 1,500 km, with orbital periods between 90 and 120 minutes.

[0012] ■ MEO: Typical altitudes are in the range of 5,000-25,000 km, with orbital periods in the range of 3-15 hours; and

[0013] ■GEO: Altitude is about 35,786 km, with an orbital period of 24 hours.

[0014] Depending on the functionality of the satellites in the system, two basic architectures can be distinguished for satellite communication networks. Transparent payload (also known as bent pipe architecture) and regenerative payload. In the bent pipe architecture, the satellite forwards the received signal between the network equipment on the ground and the terminal, where only amplification and shifting from the uplink frequency to the downlink frequency are performed. When applied to the general 3GPP architecture and terminology, the transparent payload architecture means that the gNB is located on the ground and the satellite forwards the signal / data between the gNB and the WD. In the regenerative payload architecture, the satellite includes on-board processing to demodulate and decode the received signal and regenerate the signal before sending it back to the earth. When applied to the general 3GPP architecture and terminology, the regenerative payload architecture means that the gNB is located in the satellite.

[0015] In the work items of NRNTN in 3GPP Technology Release 17 (3GPP Rel-17), only transparent payload architecture is considered.

[0016] Satellite networks or satellite-based mobile networks may also be referred to as non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). On the other hand, mobile networks with base stations in a group may also be referred to as terrestrial networks (TNs) or non-NTN networks. Satellites within NTNs may be referred to as NTN nodes, NTN satellites, or simply satellites.

[0017] Figure 1 An example architecture of a satellite network with bent pipe transponders (ie, a transparent payload architecture) is shown.

[0018] Communication satellites usually generate several beams over a given area. The footprint of a beam is usually elliptical, which has traditionally been considered a cell. However, cells including the coverage of multiple beams are not excluded in the 3GPP work. The coverage of a beam is also often referred to as a spot beam. The coverage of a beam can move on the surface of the earth as the satellite moves or can be fixed to the earth to compensate for the movement of the satellite using a beam pointing mechanism used by the satellite. The size of the spot beam depends on the system design, which can be distributed in a range from tens of kilometers to thousands of kilometers.

[0019] In LEO or MEO communication systems, a large number of satellites deployed in a series of orbits are required to provide continuous coverage across the globe. Launching a giant satellite constellation is an expensive and time-consuming process. Therefore, it is expected that all LEO and MEO satellite constellations will provide only partial earth coverage for a period of time. In the case of some constellations dedicated to large-scale IoT services with relaxed latency requirements, it may not even be necessary to support complete earth coverage. It may be sufficient to provide occasional or periodic coverage depending on the orbital period of the constellation.

[0020] 3GPP devices in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state are required to perform a number of procedures including measurements for mobility purposes, paging monitoring, logging of measurements, tracking area updates, and searching for new public land mobile networks (PLMNs) (to mention a few). These procedures will consume power in the device, and the general trend in 3GPP has been to consider relaxing these procedures to extend device battery life. This trend has been particularly evident for IoT devices supported by reduced capability (redcap), NB IoT, and LTE M.

[0021] Propagation delay is an important aspect of satellite communications, which is different from the delay expected in terrestrial mobile systems. For bent-pipe satellite networks, the round-trip delay can range from tens of milliseconds (ms) in the case of LEO satellites to hundreds of ms for GEO satellites, depending on the orbital altitude. For comparison, the round-trip delay in terrestrial cellular networks is typically less than 1 ms.

[0022] Depending on the position of the satellite and therefore the elevation angle ε seen by the WD, the distance between the WD and the satellite may vary significantly. Assuming a circular orbit, the minimum distance is achieved when the satellite is directly above the WD (ε = 90°), and the maximum distance is achieved when the satellite is at the minimum possible elevation angle. Table 1 shows the distance between the satellite and the WD for different orbital altitudes and elevation angles together with the one-way propagation delay and the maximum propagation delay difference (the difference from the propagation delay when ε = 90°). Note that this table assumes a regenerative payload architecture. For the transparent payload case, the propagation delay between the gateway and the satellite also needs to be considered, unless the base station corrects for that.

[0023] Table 1: Propagation delays for different orbit altitudes and elevation angles.

[0024]

[0025] Due to the high speeds of LEO and MEO satellites, propagation delays can also vary widely and vary by about 10-100 μs per second, depending on orbital altitude and satellite speed.

[0026] Ephemeris data

[0027] In 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 38.821, it has been considered that ephemeris data should be provided to WDs, for example to assist in pointing a directional antenna (or antenna beam) to a satellite. Thanks to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) support, a WD that knows its own position can also use ephemeris data to calculate the correct timing correlation and / or frequency drift, such as timing advance (TA) and Doppler shift. The content of ephemeris data and the process of how to provide and update such data have not yet been studied in detail.

[0028] A satellite orbit can be fully described using 6 parameters. It is up to the user to decide exactly which set of parameters to use; many different representations are possible. For example, a choice of parameters often used in astronomy is the set (a, ε, i, Ω, ω, t). Here, the semi-major axis a and the eccentricity ε describe the shape and size of the orbital ellipse; the inclination i, the right ascension Ω of the ascending node, and the argument ω of the periapsis determine its position in space, and the epoch t determines the reference time (e.g., the time when the satellite moved through the periapsis). In Figure 2 The set of these parameters is described in .

[0029] A two-line element set (TLE) is a data format that encodes a list of orbital elements of an Earth-orbiting object at a given point in time, i.e., an epoch. As an example of a different parameterization, TLE uses mean motion n and mean anomaly M instead of a and t.

[0030] A completely different set of parameters is the satellite's position and velocity vector (x, y, z, v x , v y , v z ). These are sometimes called orbital state vectors. They can be derived from orbital elements and vice versa, as the information they contain is equivalent. All of these expressions (and many others) are possible choices for the format of ephemeris data to be used in the NTN.

[0031] Additionally, the ephemeris data may be accompanied by information about the likely coverage area, or timing information about when the satellite will serve a certain geographic area on the Earth.

[0032] IoT

[0033] NB-IoT Operation

[0034] Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) addresses improved indoor coverage, support for a large number of low-throughput devices, low latency sensitivity, ultra-low device cost, low device power consumption and (optimized) network architecture. The NB-IoT carrier BW (Bw2) is 200KHz.

[0035] NB-IoT supports three different deployment scenarios or operation modes:

[0036] 1) "Standalone operation" utilizing spectrum currently being used by, for example, the Global System for Mobile (GSM) Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN) system as an alternative to one or more GSM carriers. In principle, it operates on any carrier frequency that is neither within the carrier of another system nor within the guard band of the operating carrier of another system. The other system can be another NB-IoT operation or any other radio access technology (RAT), such as LTE.

[0037] 2) "Guard band operation" utilizing unused resource blocks within the guard band of the LTE carrier. The term guard band may also be interchangeably referred to as guard bandwidth. As an example, in the case of a 20MHz LTE BW (i.e., Bw1 = 20MHz or 100 RBs), the guard band operation of NB-IoT may be placed anywhere outside the center 18MHz but within the 20MHz LTE BW.

[0038] 3) "In-band operation" utilizing resource blocks within a normal LTE carrier. In-band operation may also be interchangeably referred to as in-band operation. More generally, operation of one RAT within the BW of another RAT is also referred to as in-band operation. As an example, in an LTE BW of 50 resource blocks (RBs) (i.e., Bw1 = 10 MHz or 50 RBs), NB-IoT operation on one resource block (RB) within 50 RBs is referred to as in-band operation.

[0039] Anchor carrier and non-anchor carrier in NB-IoT

[0040] In NB-IoT, anchor carriers and non-anchor carriers are defined. For anchor carriers, WD assumes that anchor-specific signals including narrowband primary synchronization signal (NPSS) / narrowband secondary synchronization signal (NSSS) / narrowband physical broadcast channel (NPBCH) / system information block narrowband (SIB-NB) are transmitted on the downlink. For non-anchor carriers, WD does not assume that NPSS / NSSS / NPBCH / SIB-NB are transmitted on the downlink. Anchor carriers are transmitted at least on subframes #0, #4, #5 in each frame and subframe #9 in every other frame. Additional downlink (DL) subframes in the frame can also be configured on the anchor carrier with the aid of a DL bitmap. The anchor carrier that transmits NPBCH / SIB-NB contains a narrowband reference signal (NRS). The non-anchor carrier contains NRS (during certain occasions) and WD-specific signals, such as a narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH) and a narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH). NRS, NPDCCH and NPDSCH are also transmitted on the anchor carrier. The resources for the non-anchor carrier are configured by the network node. The non-anchor carrier may be transmitted in any subframe as indicated by the DL bitmap. For example, the eNB signals the DL bitmap of the DL subframe using an RRC message (DL-Bitmap-NB) configured on the non-anchor carrier. The anchor carrier and / or the non-anchor carrier may usually be operated by the same network node (e.g., by a serving cell). However, the anchor carrier and / or the non-anchor carrier may also be operated by different network nodes.

[0041] MTC

[0042] Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication (or machine type communication (MTC)) is used to establish communication between machines and between machines and humans. Communication may include the exchange of data, signaling, measurement data, configuration information, etc. The size of the device may vary from the size of a wallet to the size of a base station. M2M devices are quite often used for applications like sensing environmental conditions (e.g. temperature readings), metering or measurement (e.g. electricity usage, etc.), troubleshooting or error detection, etc. In these applications, depending on the type of service, the M2M devices are rarely active for continuous durations, such as once every 2 seconds for about 200ms, once every 60 minutes for about 500ms, etc. M2M devices may also perform measurements on other frequencies or other RATs.

[0043] MTC devices are expected to have low cost and low complexity. Low complexity WDs for M2M operations may implement one or more low cost features, like smaller downlink and uplink maximum transport block sizes (e.g., 1000 bits) and / or a reduced downlink channel bandwidth of 1.4 MHz for data channels (e.g., PDSCH). Low cost WDs may also include half-duplex frequency division duplexing (HD-FDD) and one or more of the following additional features: a single receiver (1Rx) at the WD, a smaller downlink and / or uplink maximum transport block size (e.g., 1000 bits), and a reduced downlink channel bandwidth of 1.4 MHz for data channels. Low cost WDs may also be referred to as low complexity WDs.

[0044] eMTC

[0045] The eMTC features specified in the 3GPP specifications include a low-complexity user equipment (UE) category known as WD Category M1 (or simply Cat-M1) and coverage enhancement technologies (CE Modes A and B) that can be used with WD Category M1 or any other LTE WD category.

[0046] All eMTC features (Cat-M1 and both E-modes A and B) operate with a reduced maximum channel bandwidth compared to normal LTE. The maximum channel bandwidth in eMTC is 1.4MHz, while it is up to 20MHz in normal LTE. The eMTC WD is still able to operate within the larger LTE system bandwidth without problems. The main difference compared to normal LTE WD is that only 6 180kHz physical resource blocks (PRBs) can be used at a time to schedule eMTC.

[0047] In CE Modes A and B, the coverage of the physical channel is enhanced by various coverage enhancement techniques, most importantly repetition or retransmission. In its simplest form, this means that the 1-ms subframe to be transmitted is repeated a number of times, for example only a few times if a small coverage enhancement is required, or hundreds or thousands of times if a large coverage enhancement is required.

[0048] NB-IoT

[0049] The goal of Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is to specify radio access for cellular Internet of Things (IoT) based largely on a non-backward compatible variant of Evolved Universal Terrestrial Access (E-UTRA), which addresses improved indoor coverage, support for a large number of low-throughput devices, low latency sensitivity, ultra-low device cost, low device power consumption, and (optimized) network architecture. The NB-IoT carrier BW (Bw2) is 200KHz. Examples of operating bandwidths (Bw1) for LTE are 1.4MHz, 3MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz, 15MHz, 20MHz, etc.

[0050] In NB-IoT, downlink transmission is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with a subcarrier spacing of 15kHz for all scenarios: standalone, guard band and in-band.

[0051] • For UL transmission, both multi-tone transmission based on Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) and single-tone transmission are supported.

[0052] This means that the physical waveform of NB-IoT in the downlink and partially also in the uplink is similar to conventional LTE.

[0053] In the downlink design, NB-IoT supports both master information broadcast (MIB) and system information broadcast carried by different physical channels. For in-band operation, it is possible for the NB-IoT WD to decode the NB-PBCH without knowing the traditional physical resource block (PRB) index. NB-IoT supports both the downlink physical control channel (NB-PDCCH or NB-M-PDCCH) and the downlink physical shared channel (PDSCH). The operating mode of NB-IoT must be indicated to the WD. The current 3GPP specifications have considered indications by means of NB-SSS, NB-MIB, or perhaps other downlink signals.

[0054] Currently, the reference signals used in NB-IoT have not yet been decided. However, it is expected that the general design principles will follow those of conventional LTE. The downlink synchronization signal will most likely consist of a primary synchronization signal (NB-PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (NB-SSS).

[0055] The following may be considered as the main challenges that need to be addressed in IoT NTN: moving satellites (resulting in moving cells or switching cells) and long propagation delays.

[0056] Moving satellites (resulting in moving or switching cells): The default assumption in terrestrial network design (such as NR or LTE) is that cells are stationary. This is not the case in NTNs, especially when considering LEO satellites. A WD on the ground may only see a LEO satellite for a few seconds or minutes. There are two different options for LEO deployment. In the first option, with an earth-fixed beam, the beam / cell coverage is fixed relative to the geographic location, i.e., a steerable beam from the satellite ensures that a certain beam covers the same geographic area even when the satellite moves relative to the surface of the earth. On the other hand, in the second option, with a moving beam, the LEO satellite has a fixed antenna pointing direction relative to the surface of the earth (e.g., perpendicular to the surface of the earth), and therefore the cell / beam coverage sweeps across the earth as the satellite moves. In that case, the spot beam that is serving the WD can be switched every few seconds.

[0057] The propagation delay in terrestrial mobile systems is typically less than 1 millisecond. In contrast, the propagation delay in NTNs can be much longer, ranging from a few milliseconds (LEO) to hundreds of milliseconds (GEO), depending on the altitude of the space-based or airborne platform deployed in the IoT NTN.

[0058] In 3GPP Technical Release 18 (3GPP Rel-18), there are two work items related to IoT NTN: RP-221556 (NB-IoT / eMTC core and performance requirements for NTN) and RP-221806 (IoT NTN (non-terrestrial network) enhancements).

[0059] Based on the objectives in RP-221556, the following aspects should be considered:

[0060] The goal of the core WI

[0061] The objective of this work item is to specify the RF and RRM requirements for NB-IoT and eMTC operations over NTN functionality defined in the Rel-17 LTE_NBIOT_eMTC_NTN work item, including the following aspects:

[0062] 1) The RF requirements for satellite access nodes (SAN) and WD include the following:

[0063] [RAN4]:

[0064] • Specification of a 200kHz channel grid in the frequency band in which this is feasible.

[0065] - Specification of a 100 kHz channel raster to be used in conjunction with signaling of a "partial EARFCN" indication on the MIB (with multiple EARFCN assumptions) in frequency bands where defining a 200 kHz channel raster is not feasible.

[0066] Verification of IoT NTN coexistence with TN, reusing or extrapolating from existing coexistence results (from NRNTN or other) where appropriate, and considering additional simulations where necessary.

[0067] Leveraging studies and requirements for NTNNR bands n256 and n255 (and any related E-UTRA bands, where applicable), designate the following new FDD bands for NB-IoT / eMTC NTN operations:

[0068] ○S-band (1980-2010 MHz in UL and 2170-2200 MHz in DL)

[0069] ○ L-band (1626.5MHz-1660.5MHz in UL and 1525MHz-1559MHz in DL)

[0070] The Doppler frequency in IoT NTN can be very large, depending on the satellite deployment scenario. The Doppler frequencies corresponding to different satellite deployment scenarios are listed below in Table 1 from 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 38.811 v15.4.0. In the LEO case, the maximum Doppler shift is 48KHz. Compared with traditional TN systems, Doppler frequency is therefore a more critical issue.

[0071] TR 38.811 v15.4.0

[0072] Table 1 from TR 38.811 v15.4.0: Summary of Doppler shift and shift variation for different altitudes

[0073]

[0074] Regarding the Doppler shift characteristics in IoT NTN, Figure 3 and Figure 4 The scenario presented in shows how Doppler shift affects IoT NTN.

[0075] In one example, the center frequency of the DL carrier from the serving cell via satellite 1 is f1 and the bandwidth is BW1. The center frequency of the DL carrier from the neighboring cell via satellite 2 is f2 and the bandwidth is BW2. With proper network configuration, êf1-f2ê≥(BW1+BW2) / 2, for example, the two carriers do not overlap or conflict in the frequency domain.

[0076] Reference now Figure 3 , assuming that the Doppler shift on the link between WD and satellite 1 is increasing and the Doppler shift on the link between WD and satellite 2 is decreasing, for example, the two satellites are moving in different directions. Therefore, the Doppler shift of satellite 1 on the WD side is f1-fd1, and the Doppler shift of satellite 2 on the WD side is f2+fd2, where -fd1 and fd2 are the Doppler shifts on f1 and f2. In other words, WD receives a carrier with a frequency of f1-fd1 and a carrier with a frequency of f2+fd2 at the same time, and from the perspective of WD, the carrier with a frequency of f2+fd2 is considered as interference.

[0077] Depending on the network configuration, BW1 and BW2 may conflict completely or partially (conflict range is D_ds) in certain conditions including bandwidth, carrier frequency and Doppler shift, for example:

[0078] {(f1-fd1)–(f2+fd2)}≤(BW1+BW2) / 2

[0079] In this case, partial or complete collision between the received signal from satellite 1 at frequency f1 and interference from satellite 2 at f2 introduces significant signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) degradation at the WD when receiving from satellite 1 at frequency f1, and the same is true for reception from satellite 2 at frequency 2. This degradation becomes worse in multi-satellite scenarios.

[0080] Regarding IoT NTN characteristics, such as 100 / 200KHz channel grid and 200KHz BW, if fd1=fd2=48KHz, the guard band between the two carriers should be at least 2*48=96KHz to avoid the overlap mentioned above. Possible traditional methods for mitigating the Doppler shift problem are difficult to apply to IoT NTN, such as:

[0081] ■ Wider guard bands between f1 and f2. The required guard bands need to cover all satellite carrier frequencies and the maximum Doppler shift range. Also, the spectrum allocated to operators may be limited. Therefore, using guard bands between NB-IoT carriers may waste spectrum; and

[0082] ■ Advanced receiver processing, such as Interference Rejection Combining (IRC) reception, Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) reception. This is not feasible because IoT WDs are equipped with a single antenna and advanced receivers are expensive and increase power consumption that consumes WD batteries.

[0083] In another example, the center frequency of the DL carrier from the serving cell through satellite 1 is f1 and the bandwidth is BW1, and the center frequency of the DL carrier from the neighboring cell through satellite 2 is f1 and the bandwidth is BW2.

[0084] refer to Figure 4 , assuming that the Doppler shift on the link between WD and satellite 1 is increasing and the Doppler shift on the link between WD and satellite 2 is decreasing, for example, the two satellites are moving in different directions. Therefore, the Doppler shift of satellite 1 at WD is f1-fd1, and the Doppler shift of satellite 2 at WD is f1+fd2, where -fd1 and fd2 are the Doppler shifts at frequencies f1 and f2, respectively. As a result, WD simultaneously receives a carrier with a frequency of f1-fd1 and a carrier with a frequency of f1+fd2.

[0085] This means that if the WD wants to detect and measure the serving cell and the neighboring cell on the same frequency, the WD may have to re-tune the radio circuit, which depends on the conflict range D_ds between the two carriers, to measure the intra-frequency neighboring cells at frequency f1. In other words, due to the Doppler shift, the WD cannot measure the intra-frequency cells at the same time. Moreover, different neighboring cells may have non-negligible Doppler shifts relative to each other. Summary of the invention

[0086] Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems, and devices for measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).

[0087] Some embodiments provide methods for WDs in an NTN (e.g., WDs served by NTN nodes) to adaptively adjust cell changes (e.g., conditional cell changes, conditional handover (CHO), cell reselection, cell selection, etc.) and measurement procedures (e.g., the total number, duration, periodicity, number, measurement rate, etc. of carriers / frequencies / cells / satellites to be measured) based on assistance information related to Doppler shift introduced by moving satellites.

[0088] In some embodiments, Doppler shift information (DSI) for signals operating between one or more cells on a carrier frequency and the WD is estimated or determined by a network node serving the WD, for example, by measurements of the signals.

[0089] In some embodiments, Doppler shift information (DSI) for signals operating between one or more cells on a carrier frequency and the WD is estimated or determined by the WD (e.g., by measuring the signal), and the Doppler shift information (DSI) for signals operating between one or more cells on the carrier frequency and the WD is further transmitted to a network node, e.g., to a serving cell.

[0090] In some embodiments, a method in a WD includes the WD deprioritizing, discarding, ignoring, or skipping some neighbor cell measurements, and modifying a measurement process for measurements performed on one or more neighbor cells based on one or more rules. With respect to Doppler shift, the rules for modifying the measurement process may be predefined or configured by the network.

[0091] In some embodiments, a network node (e.g., an IoT NTN network node) notifies identifiers of neighboring cells that may not be measured (e.g., cell IDs or information about frequency layers (e.g., absolute radio frequency channel numbers (ARFCNs), evolved-ARFCNs, NR-ARFCNs, etc.)) and corresponding Doppler shift information. This information may include start and end times for ignoring measurements of those cells, and this information may be signaled to the WD by the network node on radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI), or media access control (MAC) control elements (CEs). Based on the received signaling, the WD may perform one or more actions related to the measurement, the one or more actions including skipping measurements of neighboring cells explicitly signaled by the network, discarding measurements of neighboring cells explicitly signaled by the network, or deprioritizing measurements of neighboring cells explicitly signaled by the network, and resuming measurements of neighboring cells adaptively or when signaled by the network node.

[0092] ■ One example rule is that the WD deprioritizes, ignores or skips measurements on neighboring cells explicitly signaled by a network node.

[0093] ■ Another example of a rule is that the WD deprioritizes, ignores or skips measurements on frequency layers explicitly signaled by a network node.

[0094] ■ Another example of a rule is that the WD allows longer measurement delays on neighboring cells that is explicitly signaled by the network node.

[0095] ■ Another example of a rule is that the WD allows longer measurement delays on frequency layers that are explicitly signaled by the network node.

[0096] One aspect or example of the method of the first embodiment is that the network node notifies the WD of the identifiers of the neighboring cells that can be measured preferentially (e.g., cell IDs or information about frequency layers (e.g., ARFCN, EARFCN, NR-ARFCN, etc.)) and the start / end time of the measurement prioritization of those cells through signaling on RRC, DCI, or MAC-CE. After the WD receives the signaling, the WD can perform the measurement process of the neighboring cells explicitly signaled by the network as a matter of priority, and adaptively or optionally resume other normal measurements that do not have priority when signaled by the network node.

[0097] Another example of an embodiment is that the WD detects and determines the identifiers (e.g., cell IDs or frequency layers) of neighboring cells whose corresponding DSIs satisfy one or more criteria predefined or configured by the network node. Therefore, the WD can perform a measurement process that skips those neighboring cells and adaptively optionally resumes measurement of them.

[0098] ■ An example of a rule is that the WD deprioritizes, ignores, or skips measurements on neighboring cells as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria.

[0099] ■ Another example of a rule is that the WD deprioritizes, ignores, or skips measurements on a frequency layer as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria.

[0100] ■ Another example of a rule is that the WD allows longer measurement delays on neighboring cells as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria.

[0101] ■ Another example of a rule is that the WD allows longer measurement delays on a frequency layer as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria.

[0102] Alternatively, the WD detects and determines, for example, the identities of neighboring cells (e.g., cell IDs or frequency layers) that can be measured preferentially, and the start / end time of measurement prioritization for those cells, whose corresponding DSI does not satisfy one or more criteria predefined or configured by the network node. Therefore, the WD can perform the measurement process for clear neighboring cells as a matter of priority and adaptively and optionally resume other normal measurements that do not have priority.

[0103] According to a second embodiment, a method in a WD includes determining that the WD starts searching for neighboring cells for cell reselection and then performing cell reselection based on one or more rules, which may be adaptively predefined or configured by a network regarding Doppler shift.

[0104] In one example of an embodiment rule is that the WD starts searching for neighboring cells only by DSI or together with signal power level or signal quality related criteria (such as R-criteria in [2]) (as long as DSI meets one or more criteria).

[0105] Another example of an embodiment is to determine the starting cell selection of a WD after failure to find a suitable cell by DSI alone or together with a predefined time period.

[0106] According to a third embodiment, a method in a WD comprises determining to apply or not to apply a requirement for detection and measurement of one or more intra-frequency cells and / or inter-frequency cells according to one or more rules.Regarding Doppler shift, an adaptive measurement procedure may be predefined or configured by the network.

[0107] An example of a rule is that as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria, detection and measurement of intra-frequency cells do not apply. In this case, the WD is not required to meet any requirements.

[0108] Another example of a rule is that detection and measurement of intra-frequency cells follows detection and measurement requirements for inter-frequency cells as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria.

[0109] Another example of a rule is that as long as the DSI meets one or more criteria, the intra-frequency neighbor cells detected and measured by the WD are counted as the inter-frequency carrier indicated by the serving cell. In other words, in the detection and measurement of neighbor cells, the intra-frequency Doppler shift is counted as the inter-frequency carrier.

[0110] Another example of a rule is that detection and measurement of intra-frequency cells where the DSI meets one or more criteria follows specifically specified measurement requirements.

[0111] Some embodiments include methods to enhance measurements and cell changes of WDs in IoT NTNs (eg, WDs served by IoT NTN nodes) based on Doppler assistance information.

[0112] According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device WD is provided, the wireless device WD being configured to communicate with a network node in a non-terrestrial network NTN. The method includes determining at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer, and modifying a measurement process for the at least one neighboring cell and the at least one frequency layer due to Doppler shift. The method includes modifying a measurement process for at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer. Modifying the measurement process includes at least one of the following: reducing the priority of measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, discarding the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, ignoring the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, and skipping the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer.

[0113] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in at least one neighboring cell determined, for which the measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in at least one frequency layer determined, for which the measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in at least one neighboring cell determined that allows additional measurement delays. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in at least one frequency layer determined that allows additional measurement delays. In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified at least in part based on whether the Doppler shift information of the neighboring cell in at least one neighboring cell determined meets the criteria predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified at least in part based on whether the Doppler shift information of the frequency layer in at least one frequency layer determined meets the criteria predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, the method includes determining the Doppler shift information at the WD based at least in part on the location information of at least one NTN node. In some embodiments, at least one of the determined at least one neighboring cell and the determined at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

[0114] According to another aspect, a wireless device WD is provided, the wireless device WD being configured to communicate with a network node in a non-terrestrial network NTN. The WD comprises a processing circuit, the processing circuit being configured to: determine at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer, for which a measurement process is to be modified due to a Doppler shift; and modify the measurement process for at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer. Modifying the measurement process comprises at least one of: deprioritizing the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, discarding the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, ignoring the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, and skipping the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer.

[0115] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell for which measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer for which measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell for which additional measurement delay is allowed. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer for which additional measurement delay is allowed. In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified at least in part based on whether the Doppler shift information of the neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell meets the criteria predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified at least in part based on whether the Doppler shift information of the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer meets the criteria predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, the processing circuit is further configured to determine the Doppler shift information based at least in part on the location information of at least one NTN node. In some embodiments, at least one of the determined at least one neighboring cell and the determined at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

[0116] According to yet another aspect, a method in a network node is provided, the network node being configured to communicate with a wireless device WD in a non-terrestrial network NTN. The method includes: transmitting an indication of at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer to the WD, for which a measurement process is to be modified due to Doppler shift; and configuring the WD to modify the measurement process performed by the WD. Configuring the WD to modify the measurement process includes configuring instructions to perform at least one of the following: deprioritizing the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, discarding the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, ignoring the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, and skipping the measurement of at least one of the neighboring cells in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer.

[0117] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in at least one indicated neighboring cell, for which the measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in at least one indicated frequency layer, for which the measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in at least one indicated neighboring cell that allows additional measurement delays. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in at least one indicated frequency layer that allows additional measurement delays. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a criterion so that the WD can determine whether the Doppler shift information of the neighboring cell in at least one indicated neighboring cell satisfies the criterion. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a criterion so that the WD can determine whether the Doppler shift information of the frequency layer in at least one indicated frequency layer satisfies the criterion. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting Doppler shift information to the WD, and the Doppler shift information is based at least in part on the location information of at least one NTN node. In some embodiments, at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the indicated at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

[0118] According to another aspect, a network node is provided, the network node being configured to communicate with a wireless device WD in a non-terrestrial network NTN. The network node comprises: a radio interface configured to transmit an indication of at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer to the WD, for which a measurement process is to be modified due to a Doppler shift; and a processing circuit, the processing circuit being in communication with the radio interface and configured to configure the WD to modify a measurement process performed by the WD. Configuring the WD to modify the measurement process comprises configuring instructions to perform at least one of the following: deprioritizing a measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, discarding a measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, ignoring a measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, and skipping a measurement of at least one of a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell and a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer.

[0119] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in at least one indicated neighboring cell, for which the measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in at least one indicated frequency layer, for which the measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in at least one indicated neighboring cell that allows additional measurement delays. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in at least one indicated frequency layer that allows additional measurement delays. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit criteria so that the WD can determine whether the Doppler shift information of the neighboring cell in at least one indicated neighboring cell meets the criteria. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit criteria so that the WD can determine whether the Doppler shift information of the frequency layer in at least one indicated frequency layer meets the criteria. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit Doppler shift information to the WD, and the Doppler shift information is based at least in part on the location information of at least one NTN node. In some embodiments, at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the indicated at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0120] A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and its attendant advantages and features will be more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0121] Figure 1 is an example satellite network architecture;

[0122] Figure 2 is the description of the orbital element;

[0123] Figure 3 is an example of Doppler shift in IoT NTN in downlink transmission;

[0124] Figure 4 is another example of Doppler shift in IoT NTN in downlink transmission;

[0125] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network architecture of a communication system connected to a host computer via an intermediate network according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0126] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating with a wireless device via a network node over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0127] Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for executing a client application at a wireless device implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0128] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for receiving user data at a wireless device implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0129] Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device for receiving user data from a wireless device at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0130] Fig.10 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for receiving user data at a host computer implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0131] Fig.11 is a flow chart of an exemplary procedure in a network node for measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in an Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN).

[0132] Fig.12 is a flow chart of an exemplary process in a wireless device for measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in an Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0133] Before describing the exemplary embodiments in detail, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in a combination of device components and processing steps related to measurement and mobility processes due to Doppler problems in Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). Therefore, components have been represented by conventional symbols where appropriate in the figures, which show only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Throughout the description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements.

[0134] As used herein, relational terms such as "first" and "second", "top" and "bottom", etc., may be used only to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element, without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to be limitations of the concepts described herein. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well. It will be further understood that when used herein, the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", and / or "including" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0135] In the embodiments described herein, connection terms "in communication with" and the like may be used to indicate electrical or data communications that may be achieved through, for example, physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling, or optical signaling. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various components may interoperate and that modifications and variations are possible to achieve electrical and data communications.

[0136] In some embodiments described herein, the terms "coupled," "connected," and the like may be used herein to indicate connection (although not necessarily direct) and may include wired and / or wireless connections.

[0137] The term "network node" used herein may be any kind of network node included in a radio network, which may further include any of the following: a base station (BS), a radio base station, a base transceiver station (BTS), a base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), a gNodeB (gNB), an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB), a NodeB, a multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as an MSR BS, a multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, a donor node controlling a relay, a radio access point (AP), a transmission point, a transmission node, a remote radio unit (RRU) remote radio head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., a mobile management entity (MME), a self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordination node, a positioning node, an MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., a third-party node, a node outside the current network), a node in a distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also include a test device. The term "radio node" as used herein may also be used to refer to a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node such as a wireless device (WD).

[0138] In some embodiments, non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. WD herein can be any type of wireless device such as a wireless device (WD) that can communicate with a network node or another WD via a radio signal. WD can also be a radio communication device, a target device, a device-to-device (D2D) WD, a machine type WD, or a WD capable of machine-to-machine communication (M2M), a low-cost and / or low-complexity WD, a sensor equipped with a WD, a tablet computer, a mobile terminal, a smart phone, a laptop embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop mounted device (LME), a USB dongle, a customer premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or a narrowband IoT (NB-IOT) device, etc. The term "WD" can also refer to any type of wireless device that communicates with another WD and / or a network node in a cellular or mobile communication system.

[0139] Moreover, in some embodiments, the general term "radio network node" is used. It can be any kind of radio network node, which can include any of the following: base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, remote radio unit (RRU) remote radio head (RRH).

[0140] Note that while terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3GPP LTE and / or New Radio (NR), may be used in the present disclosure, this should not be viewed as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned systems. Other wireless systems, including but not limited to Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from utilizing the ideas included in the present disclosure.

[0141] In the present disclosure, the term "satellite" is used to include "radio network nodes (RN nodes) associated with satellites". The term RN node may refer to any type of radio node associated with a satellite. Examples of RN nodes are radio access network nodes, base stations (BS), eNBs, gNBs, etc. The term "satellite" may also be referred to as satellite nodes, satellite access nodes (SANs), NTN nodes, high altitude platforms (HAPSs), nodes in the Earth's atmosphere, nodes in space, etc. Here, radio access nodes associated with satellites (e.g., eNBs, gNBs, BSs, etc.) may include both regenerative satellites or transparent satellites, in which the RN nodes (e.g., eNBs, gNBs, BSs, etc.) are satellite payloads, i.e., the RN nodes (e.g., eNBs, gNBs, BSs, etc.) are integrated with satellites, and in transparent satellites, the satellite payload is a relay and the RN nodes (i.e., eNBs, gNBs, BSs, etc.) are on the ground (i.e., the satellite relays the communication between the RN nodes (e.g., eNBs, gNBs, BSs, etc.) on the ground and the WDs).

[0142] “Coverage time”, “service time”, “network availability”, “dwell time” or “stay time”, etc. are time periods or durations during which a WD can maintain a connection to a satellite or RN node (e.g., eNB, gNB, BS, etc.), or can reside on a satellite or RN node (e.g., eNB, gNB, BS, etc.), or can maintain communications to a satellite or RN node (e.g., eNB, gNB, BS, etc.), etc. The term “non-coverage time” (also known as “non-service time” or “network unavailability”, or “non-dwell time” or “non-dwell time”) refers to a time period during which a satellite or RN node (e.g., eNB, gNB, BS, etc.) is unable to serve or communicate or provide coverage to the WD. Another way to explain availability is that the WD may not need to measure cells that are unlikely to be serving cells (via satellites that broadcast serving cells). In this case, the terminology may still be the same as the non-coverage case, or it may be different, such as “no measurement required”.

[0143] The term "node" may refer to a network node or a user equipment (UE). Examples of network nodes are NodeB, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node (such as a multi-standard radio (MSR) base station (BS)), eNodeB, gNodeB, MeNB, SeNB, location measurement unit (LMU), integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), repeater, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), central unit (such as in gNB), distributed unit (such as in gNB), baseband unit, centralized baseband, C-RAN, access point (AP), transmission point, transmission node, transmission reception point (TRP), remote radio unit (RRU), remote radio head (RRH), node in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (such as mobile switching center (MSC), mobility management entity (MME)), etc.), operation and maintenance (O&M), operation support system (OSS), self-organizing network (SON), positioning node (such as e-service mobile location center (SMLC)), etc.

[0144] The term radio access technology or RAT may refer to any RAT, such as UTRA, E-UTRA, Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, next generation RAT, New Radio (NR), 4G, 5G, NRNTN, IoT NTN, LTENTN, 6G, etc. Any of the devices denoted by the term node, network node or radio network node may be capable of supporting a single or multiple RATs.

[0145] It is further noted that the functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed to multiple wireless devices and / or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network nodes and wireless devices described herein are not restricted to being performed by a single physical device and may in fact be distributed to several physical devices.

[0146] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that the terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meanings in the context of this specification and in the relevant field, and unless explicitly defined as such herein, the terms used herein will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0147] Some embodiments provide measurement and mobility procedures due to Doppler issues in Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).

[0148] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are referenced by like reference numerals, Figure 5 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 10 according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that can support standards such as LTE and / or NR (5G), the communication system 10 including an access network 12 such as a radio access network and a core network 14. The communication network 10 includes one or more satellites 15 in communication with a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as network nodes 16) such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each network node defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (collectively referred to as coverage area 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 via a wired or wireless connection 20. The satellite(s) 15 and the network node 16 can communicate with a first wireless device (WD) 22a located in the coverage area 18a. The WD 22a is configured to wirelessly connect to the corresponding network node 16a and / or the satellite(s) 15, or to be paged by the corresponding network node 16a and / or the satellite(s) 15. A second WD 22b in the coverage area 18b may be wirelessly connected to a corresponding network node 16b and / or (one or more) satellites 15. Although multiple WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to situations where a sole WD is in the coverage area or where a sole WD is connecting to a corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

[0149] Moreover, it is contemplated that the WD 22 may communicate simultaneously with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16 and / or be configured to communicate with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16, respectively. For example, the WD 22 may have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and with the same or different network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, the WD 22 may communicate with an eNB for LTE / E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR / NG-RAN.

[0150] The communication system 10 itself can be connected to a host computer 24, which can be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a stand-alone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as a processing resource in a server farm. The host computer 24 can be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or can be operated by a service provider or operated on behalf of a service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 can extend directly from the core node 14 to the host computer 24 or can extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 can be one of a public, private, or managed network or a combination of more than one of a public, private, or managed network. The intermediate network 30 (if any) can be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 can include two or more subnetworks (not shown).

[0151] Figure 5 The communication system as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. Connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to use the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30, and possible additional infrastructure (not shown) as an intermediary to transfer data and / or signaling via the OTT connection. The OTT connection can be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes do not know the routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, the network node 16 may not be notified or need not be notified of the past routing of incoming downlink communications, where data originating from the host computer 24 is to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to the connected WD 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 does not need to know the future routing of outgoing uplink communications originating from the WD 22a toward the host computer 24.

[0152] The network node 16 is configured to include a configuration unit 32 which may be configured to configure the WD 22 to modify the measurement procedure performed by the WD 22. The wireless device 22 is configured to include a modification unit 34 which may be configured to modify the measurement procedure for at least one neighbor cell and at least one frequency layer.

[0153] Now refer to Figure 21 to describe an example implementation according to an embodiment of the WD 22, network node 16, and host computer 24 discussed in the previous paragraphs. In the communication system 10, the host computer 24 includes hardware (HW) 38, which includes a communication interface 40 configured to establish and maintain a wired or wireless connection with different communication devices of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further includes a processing circuit 42, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. The processing circuit 42 may include a processor 44 and a memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor such as a central processing unit and a memory, the processing circuit 42 may also include, for example, one or more processors and / or processor cores suitable for executing instructions and / or an integrated circuit of an FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) for processing and / or control. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) a memory 46, which may include any kind of volatile and / or non-volatile memory such as a cache memory and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (random access memory) and / or ROM (read only memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory).

[0154] Processing circuitry 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or configured to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by host computer 24. Processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing the functions of host computer 24 described herein. Host computer 24 includes memory 46 configured to store data, programmed software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, software 48 and / or host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42, cause processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with host computer 24.

[0155] The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuit 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide services to remote users such as WD22 connected via an OTT connection 52 terminated at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. When providing services to remote users, the host application 50 may provide user data transmitted using the OTT connection 52. "User data" may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured to provide control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuit 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and / or receive from the network node 16 and / or the wireless device 22.

[0156] The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16 provided in the communication system 10 and including hardware 58 that enables it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for establishing and maintaining a wired or wireless connection to the interface of different communication devices of the communication system 10, and a radio interface 62 for establishing and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with the WD 22 located in the coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or it may be through the core node 14 of the communication system 10 and / or through one or more intermediate networks 30 external to the communication system 10.

[0157] In the illustrated embodiment, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes a processing circuit 68. The processing circuit 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, the processing circuit 68 may include, in addition to or in lieu of a processor such as a central processing unit and a memory, one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or an integrated circuit such as an FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) adapted to execute instructions for processing and / or control. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g. write to and / or read from) a memory 72, which may include, for example, a cache memory and / or a buffer memory and / or a RAM (random access memory) and / or a ROM (read only memory) and / or an optical memory and / or an EPROM (erasable programmable read only memory) of any kind of volatile and / or non-volatile memory.

[0158] Therefore, the network node 16 further has software 74, which is stored internally, for example, in the memory 72 or stored in an external memory (e.g., a database, a storage array, a network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by the processing circuit 68. The processing circuit 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or configured to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by the network node 16. The processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing the network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmed software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and / or the processing circuit 68, cause the processor 70 and / or the processing circuit 68 to perform the process described herein with respect to the network node 16. For example, the processing circuit 68 of the network node 16 may include a configuration unit 32, which may be configured to configure the WD 22 to modify the measurement process performed by the WD 22.

[0159] The communication system 10 further includes the already mentioned WD 22. The WD 22 may have hardware 80 that may include a radio interface 82 configured to establish and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving the coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers.

[0160] The hardware 80 of the WD 22 further includes a processing circuit 84. The processing circuit 84 may include a processor 86 and a memory 88. In particular, in addition to or in place of a processor such as a central processing unit and a memory such as a central processing unit, the processing circuit 84 may also include, for example, one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) and / or ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) suitable for executing instructions, for processing and / or control. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) a memory 88, which may include, for example, a cache memory and / or a buffer memory and / or a RAM (random access memory) and / or a ROM (read-only memory) and / or an optical memory and / or an EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) of any kind of volatile and / or non-volatile memory.

[0161] Therefore, WD 22 may further include software 90, which is stored in, for example, a memory 88 at WD 22 or in an external memory (e.g., a database, a storage array, a network storage device, etc.) accessible by WD 22. Software 90 may be executable by processing circuit 84. Software 90 may include client application 92. With the support of host computer 24, client application 92 may be operable to provide services to human or non-human users via WD 22. In host computer 24, the executing host application 50 may communicate with the executing client application 92 via an OTT connection 52 terminated at WD 22 and host computer 24. When providing services to users, client application 92 may receive request data from host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection 52 may transmit both request data and user data. Client application 92 may interact with the user to generate the user data it provides.

[0162] The processing circuit 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or configured to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by the WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing the WD 22 functions described herein. The WD 22 includes a memory 88 configured to store data, programmed software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and / or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and / or the processing circuit 84, cause the processor 86 and / or the processing circuit 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to the WD 22. For example, the processing circuit 84 of the wireless device 22 may include a modification unit 34, which may be configured to modify the measurement process for at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer.

[0163] In some embodiments, the internal workings of network node 16, WD 22, and host computer 24 may be as follows: Figure 6 As shown in , and independently, the surrounding network topology can be Figure 5 The surrounding network topology.

[0164] exist Figure 6, the OTT connection 52 has been abstractly drawn to illustrate the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, without explicitly mentioning any intermediate devices and the precise routing of the messages via these devices. The network infrastructure can determine the routing, which can be configured to be hidden from the WD 22 or hidden from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or hidden from both. When the OTT connection 52 is active, the network infrastructure can further make decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., based on load balancing considerations or reconfiguration of the network).

[0165] The wireless connection 64 between the WD 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improves the performance of an OTT service provided to the WD 22 using the OTT connection 52, where the wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More specifically, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve data rates, latency, and / or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, looser restrictions on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery life, and the like.

[0166] In some embodiments, a measurement process may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rates, latency, and other factors that are improved by one or more embodiments. In response to changes in the measurement results, there may be further optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and the WD 22. The measurement process and / or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the WD 22 or in both. In an embodiment, a sensor (not shown) may be deployed in a communication device through which the OTT connection 52 passes or may be associated with a communication device through which the OTT connection 52 passes; the sensor may participate in the measurement process by providing the value of the monitoring quantity exemplified above or providing the value of other physical quantities by which the software 48, 90 can calculate or estimate the monitoring quantity. The reconfiguration of the OTT connection 52 may include message formats, retransmission settings, preferred routing selection, etc.; the reconfiguration does not need to affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such processes and functionalities may be known and implemented in the art. In some embodiments, the measurements may involve proprietary WD signaling that facilitates measurement of the host computer 24 of throughput, propagation time, latency, etc. In some embodiments, the measurements may be achieved because the software 48, 90 uses the OTT connection 52 to cause messages to be transmitted, particularly empty messages or "fake" messages to be transmitted, while the software 48, 90 monitors propagation time, errors, etc.

[0167] Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes a network node 16 having a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured and / or the processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 is configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / terminating transmissions to the WD 22 and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / terminating reception of transmissions from the WD 22.

[0168] In some embodiments, host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from transmissions from WD 22 to network node 16. In some embodiments, WD 22 is configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending transmissions to network node 16 and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending reception of transmissions from network node 16 and / or includes a radio interface 82 and / or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending transmissions to network node 16 and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending reception of transmissions from network node 16.

[0169] Although Figure 5 and Figure 6 Various "units" such as configuration unit 32 and modification unit 34 are shown as being within respective processors, but it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented within the processing circuitry in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software.

[0170] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for transmitting a signal in a communication system (such as, for example, Figure 5 and Figure 6 The communication system may include a flow chart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system of Figure 6The method includes a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22 as described above. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (box S100). In an optional sub-step of the first step, the host computer 24 provides user data by executing a host application (such as, for example, the host application 50) (box S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (box S104). In an optional third step, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure, the network node 16 transmits the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the host computer 24 to the WD 22 (box S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application (such as, for example, the client application 92) associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (box S108).

[0171] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for transmitting a signal in a communication system (such as, for example, Figure 5 The communication system may include a flow chart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system of Figure 5 and Figure 6 The method includes a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22 as described above. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block S110). In an optional substep (not shown), the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application (such as, for example, the host application 50). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission to the WD 22 carrying the user data (block S112). According to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure, the transmission can pass through the network node 16. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (block S114).

[0172] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for transmitting a signal in a communication system (such as, for example, Figure 5 The communication system may include a flow chart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system of Figure 5 and Figure 6The host computer 24, network node 16 and WD 22 described above are described above. In an optional first step of the method, WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (box S116). In an optional sub-step of the first step, WD 22 executes the client application 92, which provides user data as a reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (box S118). In addition or alternatively, in an optional second step, WD 22 provides user data (box S120). In an optional sub-step of the second step, WD provides user data by executing a client application (such as, for example, client application 92) (box S122). When providing user data, the executed client application 92 can further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data is provided, WD 22 can initiate the transmission of user data to the host computer 24 in an optional third sub-step (box S124). In a fourth step of the method, host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from WD 22 (block S126 ), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

[0173] Fig.10 is a diagram illustrating a method for transmitting a signal in a communication system (such as, for example, Figure 5 The communication system may include a flow chart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system of Figure 5 and Figure 6 The host computer 24, network node 16, and WD 22 described above are described above. In an optional first step of the method, the network node 16 receives user data from the WD 22 in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure (block S128). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates a transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (block S130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (block S132).

[0174] Fig.11Flowchart of an exemplary process for measurement and mobility process due to Doppler problem in Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN) in network node 16. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16, such as one or more of processing circuit 68 (including configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62, communication interface 60. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more of processing circuit 68 (including configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62, communication interface 60. Network node 16 (such as by means of processing circuit 68 and / or processor 70 and / or radio interface 62 and / or communication interface 60) is configured to transmit an indication of at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer to WD 22, and the measurement process is to be modified for the at least one neighboring cell and the at least one frequency layer due to Doppler shift (block S134). The process also includes configuring WD 22 to modify the measurement process performed by WD 22. Configuring WD 22 to modify the measurement process includes configuring instructions to perform at least one of the following: deprioritizing measurements of at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers, discarding measurements of at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers, ignoring measurements of at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers, and skipping measurements of at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers (box S136).

[0175] In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell for which measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer for which measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell for which additional measurement delay is allowed. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer for which additional measurement delay is allowed. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a criterion so that the WD 22 can determine whether Doppler shift information of a neighboring cell in the indicated at least one neighboring cell satisfies the criterion. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a criterion so that the WD 22 can determine whether Doppler shift information of a frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer satisfies the criterion. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting Doppler shift information to the WD 22, the Doppler shift information being based at least in part on location information of at least one NTN node. In some embodiments, at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the indicated at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

[0176] Fig.12is a flow chart of an exemplary process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as one or more of the processing circuit 84 (including the modification unit 34), the processor 86, the radio interface 82, and / or the communication interface 60. The wireless device 22 (such as by means of the processing circuit 84 and / or the processor 86 and / or the radio interface 82) is configured to determine at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer for which a measurement process is to be modified due to a Doppler shift (block S138). The method includes modifying the measurement process for at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer (block S140). Modifying the measurement process includes at least one of the following: lowering the priority of measurements on at least one neighboring cell among the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer among the determined at least one frequency layer, discarding measurements on at least one neighboring cell among the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer among the determined at least one frequency layer, ignoring measurements on at least one neighboring cell among the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer among the determined at least one frequency layer, and skipping measurements on at least one neighboring cell among the determined at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer among the determined at least one frequency layer.

[0177] In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell for which measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer for which measurement is to be deprioritized, discarded, ignored, or skipped. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell for which additional measurement delay is allowed. In some embodiments, at least one rule indicates a frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer for which additional measurement delay is allowed. In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified at least in part based on whether Doppler shift information of a neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell meets criteria predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, the measurement process is modified at least in part based on whether Doppler shift information of a frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer meets criteria predefined or configured by the network node. In some embodiments, the method includes determining Doppler shift information at WD 22 based at least in part on location information of at least one NTN node. In some embodiments, at least one of the determined at least one neighboring cell and the determined at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

[0178] Having described the general process flow of the disclosed arrangement and provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the disclosed processes and functions, the following section provides details and examples of arrangements for measurement and mobility processes due to Doppler problems in Internet of Things (IoT) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).

[0179] Example

[0180] Scenarios and definitions

[0181] Doppler shift information (DSI):

[0182] In the present disclosure, for embodiments regarding measurement and cell change, the network node or WD 22 may acquire Doppler shift information (i.e., DSI) based on valid position information of the satellite and WD 22 (e.g., ephemeris data of the satellite and the GNSS position of the WD 22). DSI may include, for example:

[0183] ■D_ds: is defined as the at least partially overlapping conflict range in the frequency domain between the carrier frequency of the serving cell and at least one carrier frequency of one or more neighboring cells or between the carrier frequencies of neighboring cells due to Doppler shift. It can be noted that the conflict range can be represented by the offset between carriers, the distance between the closest boundaries of carriers in the frequency domain, etc. to indicate the mutually overlapping carriers in the frequency domain. As a

[0184] As a general rule, the conflict range can be represented by the following function:

[0185] ○D_ds=f(BW1,BW2,f1,f2,fd1,fd2,k1,k2), where,

[0186] k1 is a scaling factor associated with the first carrier or a parameter associated with the first carrier (eg, BW1, f1, fd1, etc.);

[0187] k2 is a scaling factor associated with the second carrier or a parameter associated with the second carrier (eg, BW2, f2, fd2, etc.);

[0188] o Examples of functions are: sum, difference, maximum, minimum, product, ratio, mean, xth percentile, upper limit, lower limit, etc., or a combination of two or more functions;

[0189] ○ In one example:

[0190] ○D_ds=((BW1+BW2) / 2-(f1-fd1)–(f2+fd2))

[0191] ○ In another example, D_ds is not an explicit conflict range, but instead is an indication of the conflict range, such as greater than a threshold (H5), or greater than a threshold (H5)

[0192] and is less than the threshold value (H6);

[0193] ■T1: The difference between the carrier of the serving cell and the carrier of the adjacent cell due to Doppler frequency shift

[0194] The start time of the conflict between carriers of adjacent cells or between carriers of adjacent cells;

[0195] ■T2: End time of the conflict between the carrier of the serving cell and the carrier of the neighboring cell or between the carriers of the neighboring cells due to Doppler shift. T2 can also be called (T1 + duration of conflict (T_ds):

[0196] o Wherein T1, T2 may be acquired and evaluated by the network node or WD 22 or may be predefined or configured by the network node with respect to the position information of WD 22 and the satellite. One example of the format of T1 and T2 is absolute time, and another example of T1 and T2 is relative time relative to a common reference;

[0197] ■ P_ds: The power level of the Doppler shifted signal, P_ds may be based on measurements or path loss estimates associated with the positions of the WD 22 and the satellites.

[0198] DSI Limitation Criteria (DSILC):

[0199] In one example, the Doppler shift information (eg, D_ds, T1, T2, and P_ds) is per-cell or per-satellite for neighboring cells, and means that each satellite or cell is associated with dedicated Doppler shift information.

[0200] In another example, the Doppler shift information (eg, D_ds, T1, T2, and P_ds) is per frequency or frequency layer of the neighboring cells, and means that each frequency or frequency layer is associated with frequency-specific Doppler shift information.

[0201] In another example, the Doppler shift information (eg, D_ds, T1, T2, and P_ds) corresponds to the serving satellite or cell perspective. It means that DSI only reflects the influence of the serving satellite or cell, but cannot identify the characteristics of neighboring cells.

[0202] In view of this, a set of (one or more) criteria used to evaluate the impact of DSI is defined and referred to as DSI Impact Criteria (DSILC). In some embodiments, DSILC is satisfied when one or more of the following conditions are met:

[0203] ■D_ds>TH_D1;

[0204] ■D_ds>TH_D1 and (T2-T1)>some threshold;

[0205] ■P_ds>TH_P1;

[0206] ■P_ds>TH_P1 and (T2-T1)>some threshold;

[0207] ■D_ds>TH_D1 and P_ds>TH_P1;

[0208] ■ D_ds>TH_D1 and P_ds>TH_P1 and (T2-T1)>some threshold where TH_D1, TH_P1 may be configured or predefined by the network node.

[0209] In addition, the DSILC may include time information for indicating when the impact of the Doppler shift starts or ends.

[0210] In one example, the DSILC is satisfied if T1 < current time instance < T2, where:

[0211] ■ T1 is the time instance when D_ds > TH_D1; and

[0212] ■ T2 is the time instance when D_ds ≤ TH_D1;

[0213] ○ Or;

[0214] ■ T1 is the time instance when P_ds > TH_P1; and

[0215] ■ T2 is the time instance when P_ds ≤ TH_P1;

[0216] ○ Or;

[0217] ■ T1 is the time instance when D_ds > TH_D1 and P_ds > TH_P1; and

[0218] ■ T2 is the time instance when D_ds ≤ TH_D1 and P_ds ≤ TH_P1.

[0219] Get DSI:

[0220] In an embodiment, the network node obtains Doppler shift information (DSI, such as including the frequency range of the conflict between the carrier of the serving cell and the carrier of the neighboring cell or between the carriers of the neighboring cells due to the Doppler shift, the start time, end time and duration of the conflict due to the Doppler shift, the estimated interference signal power level or the ratio between the wanted signal level and the interference signal power level due to the Doppler shift, etc.) based on the position information of the satellite and the WD 22 (such as the ephemeris data of the satellite and the GNSS position of the WD22).

[0221] Alternatively, in an embodiment, the WD 22 estimates and determines the DSI, and the WD 22 may report it to the network node through signaling containing the estimated DSI or signaling including an indication identifying the estimated DSI (e.g., to reduce signaling overhead). Determining the capabilities of the WD and the DSI may be optional.

[0222] WD Report on DSI:

[0223] If the DSI is estimated and determined by the WD 22 and the WD 22 is able to acquire valid position information of the satellite and the WD 22, the WD 22 may report the DSI to the network node through signaling containing the estimated DSI or the signaling may include an indication identifying the estimated DSI (e.g., to reduce signaling overhead). Examples of DSI (the latter type of signaling) may include:

[0224] ■ an indication of whether the WD 22 has estimated, encountered or experienced a Doppler shift, such as a 1-bit (yes / no) indication;

[0225] ■ an indication of whether the frequency range of the useful signal affected by Doppler is above a certain threshold (H1) (for example, above H1 Hz);

[0226] ■ an indication of whether the frequency range of the useful signal affected by Doppler is below a certain threshold (H2) (e.g. below H2 Hz);

[0227] ■ an indication of whether the power level of the signal of the Doppler frequency shift on the useful signal is above a certain threshold (H3) (e.g., above H3 dBm);

[0228] ■ an indication of whether the power level of the signal with Doppler frequency shift on the useful signal is below a certain threshold (H4) (e.g. below H4 dBm);

[0229] ■ an indication of whether the Doppler frequency over the frequency range of the useful signal is within a set of thresholds (H5 and H6) (e.g. within H5 Hz and H6 Hz);

[0230] ■ an indication whether the Doppler frequency over the frequency range of the useful signal is outside the set of thresholds (H7 and H8) (e.g. outside H5 Hz and H6 Hz or not within H5 Hz and H6 Hz);

[0231] ■ an indication of whether the power level of the Doppler frequency over the frequency range of the useful signal is within a set of thresholds (H9 and H10) (e.g., within H9 Hz and H10 Hz);

[0232] ■ an indication of whether the power level of the Doppler frequency over the frequency range of the wanted signal is outside the set of thresholds (H11 and H12) (e.g. outside H11 Hz and H12 Hz or not within H11 Hz and H12 Hz); and / or

[0233] ■ An indication including an identifier (Doppler ID) of the Doppler shift estimated or acquired or experienced by the WD 22, where the DSI falls within one of the predefined ranges. In one example, if the estimated DSI is within a first range, Doppler #0 is reported, if the estimated DSIn is within a second range, Doppler #1 is reported, and so on.

[0234] H1, H2, H3 and H4 may be configured or predefined by the network node.

[0235] First embodiment: selection of neighboring cells for reselection

[0236] In a first embodiment, the measurements of neighboring cells (including detection and measurement of intra-frequency cells and inter-frequency cells) are modified based on Doppler shift information.

[0237] Refer to chapter 4.2.2.3 in 3GPP TS 38.133 version 17.6.0:

[0238] The WD may be able to identify new intra-frequency cells and perform SS-reference signal received power (RSRP) and SS-reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurements of the identified intra-frequency cells without requiring an explicit intra-frequency neighbor list containing physical layer cell identities.

[0239] For intra-frequency cells that have been detected but not yet reselected, filtering may be performed such that, as specified in Table 4.2.2.3-1 or Table 4.2.2.3-2 and with reference to Chapter 4.2.2.4 in 3GPP TS 38.133 Version 17.6.0, when Treselection = 0, the WD may be able to evaluate within Tevaluate, NR_Intra that the intra-frequency cell has met the reselection criteria defined in 3GPP TS 38.304.

[0240] If carrier frequency information is provided by the serving cell, the WD may be able to identify new inter-frequency cells and perform SS-RSRP or SS-RSRQ measurements of the identified inter-frequency cells even if no explicit neighbor list with physical layer cell identities is provided.

[0241] If at least carrier frequency information is provided by the serving cell for the inter-frequency neighboring cell when Treselection=0, the WD may be able to evaluate within Kcarrier*Tdetect,NR_Inter whether the newly detected inter-frequency cell meets the reselection criteria defined in 3GPP TS 38.304 Version 17.6.0. The premise is that the reselection criteria are met by the following margins: at least 5dB (in FR1) or 6.5dB (in FR2) for ranking-based reselection, or 6dB (in FR1) or 7.5dB (in FR2) for SS-RSRP reselection based on absolute priority, or 4dB (in FR1) and 4dB (in FR2) for SS-RSRQ reselection based on absolute priority.

[0242] The parameter Kcarrier is the number of NR inter-frequency carriers indicated by the serving cell.

[0243] With regard to the above quote, WD's behavior can be explained and summarized as follows:

[0244] ■ The identification and measurement of neighbor cells may be performed continuously by the WD 22 without the need for exclusion rules regarding any possible neighbor cells; and / or

[0245] ■ For neighboring cells, if the signal level or signal quality at WD 22 is not satisfactory or is not the best among all neighboring cells, reselection to the neighboring cell may not occur even if the neighboring cell is detected.

[0246] It may make sense not to detect and measure neighboring cells that face poor signal quality, which are not targets for supported cell reselection using associated information. In this way, detection and measurement of neighboring cells may exclude those cells when the DSI meets one or more criteria.

[0247] In one example, for neighboring cells, considering the DSI, if the DSI on the neighboring cell satisfies the DSILC, the WD22 will not perform detection and measurement on the cell at least from T1 onwards.

[0248] One rule may be expressed as: if the DSI is indicated to satisfy the DSILC, then starting at least from T1, WD 22 may not consider the NR neighbor cell in cell reselection (it may be interpreted as that WD 22 does not detect, search, measure, or select a neighbor cell or does not perform other operations to ignore or skip the neighbor cell in reselection).

[0249] Detection and measurement affected by Doppler information depends on the timing of the appearance and disappearance of collisions. Some examples of timing relationships can include:

[0250] ■ In one example, as long as the NR neighbor cell is indicated that the DSI satisfies the DSILC, the WD 22 may not consider the NR neighbor cell in the cell reselection during the explicit time period [T1, T2];

[0251] ■ In another example, no explicit T1 and T2 are available. Instead, the start and end times rely on other implicit timing information. Once the location information of the network or WD 22 is updated, such as an update of the SIB containing ephemeris data for satellites of the serving cell and neighboring cells, the DSILC can be evaluated again and detection and measurements performed depending on whether the DSILC is satisfied;

[0252] o This example may be interpreted as: as long as the NR neighbor cell is indicated as DSI satisfying DSILC during the validity period of each update of the ephemeris data before expiration, the WD 22 may not consider the NR neighbor cell in the cell reselection;

[0253] ■ In another example, there is no explicit T1, T2 information. Once there is a risk that the DSI meets the DSILC (this can be determined by the network node or WD 22), measurements on the cell can be excluded before RRC reconfiguration (i.e. semi-statically);

[0254] o In some embodiments, longer detection and measurement of neighbor cells is allowed as long as DSILC is met;

[0255] ■ In one example, on a neighboring cell, if the DSI on the neighboring cell satisfies the DSILC, a longer detection and measurement of the cell is allowed at least during [T1, T2];

[0256] ■ In another example, on neighboring cells, if the DSI on the frequency layer in any neighboring cell satisfies DSILC, then longer measurements on the cell with the frequency layer are allowed at least during [T1, T2]:

[0257] ○ In one example, as a reference, the inter-frequency NR is captured in Table 2 below

[0258] Traditional measurement delay of a cell:

[0259] Table 2: T detect,NR_Inter 、T measure,NR_Inter and T evaluate,NR_Inter

[0260]

[0261]

[0262] According to the above rules, in one example, as shown in Table 3 below, when DSI satisfies DSILC, the measurement delay of the inter-frequency NR cell can be updated with more samples, where N2 is the scaling factor when DSI satisfies DSILC. For example, N2 can be 1, 2, or 3.

[0263] Table 3: T when DSI meets the criteria detect,NR_Inter 、T measure,NR_Inter and T evaluate,NR_Inter

[0264]

[0265] Another example of a rule for measurement of inter-frequency NR cells may be expressed as: if it is indicated that DSI satisfies DSILC, measurement of inter-frequency cells is expected to be longer compared to Table 2.

[0266] Another aspect of an embodiment is to limit the number of simultaneous measurements on the serving cell / satellite and neighboring cells / satellites as long as DSILC is satisfied.

[0267] ■ In one example, on a neighboring cell, if the DSI on the neighboring cell / satellite satisfies the DSILC or is at risk of satisfying the DSILC, simultaneous measurements on only one neighboring cell / satellite may be assumed by the WD 22 at least during [T1, T2] or semi-statically or statically. One result is a longer measurement of the neighboring cell. In some embodiments, simultaneous measurements on only one neighboring cell / satellite may be assumed by the WD 22 in the IoT NTN;

[0268] ■ In another example, on a neighboring cell, if the DSI on the neighboring cell / satellite satisfies the DSILC or is at risk of satisfying the DSILC, simultaneous measurements of only one of the serving cell / satellite and the neighboring cell / satellite may be assumed by the WD 22 at least during [T1, T2] or semi-statically or statically. One result is longer measurements of the serving cell and the neighboring cell and measurements shared between them. A specific example is that simultaneous measurements of only one of the serving cell / satellite and the neighboring cell / satellite may be assumed by the WD 22 in the IoT NTN.

[0269] In some embodiments, DSI and DSILC and their relationship to reselection and neighbor cell search, detection and measurement for reselection can be applied to other cell mobility procedures or cell changes, such as handover, cell selection, cell reselection, RRC connection release with redirection, RRC connection reestablishment, conditional handover, etc.

[0270] Second embodiment: Criteria for starting a neighbor cell search

[0271] In a second embodiment, the criteria by which the WD 22 starts searching for neighboring cells for cell reselection and then performs cell reselection are modified based on the determined Doppler shift information.

[0272] Refer to Chapter 4.2.2.4 in 3GPP TS 38.133 Version 17.6.0, where searching for neighbor cells depends on Srxlev and / or Squal.

[0273] If Srxlev>SnonIntraSearchP and Squal>SnonIntraSearchQ, the WD may search for a higher priority inter-frequency layer at least per Thigher_priority_search, where Thigher_priority_search is described in clause 4.2.2.7. If Srxlev≤SnonIntraSearchP or Squal≤SnonIntraSearchQ, the WD may search and measure a higher, equal or lower priority inter-frequency layer to prepare for possible reselection.

[0274] Taking into account the Doppler shift, one or more criteria for starting to search for neighboring cells are affected. For example, if it is known that performance degradation on the serving cell due to Doppler shift is occurring or will occur, the WD 22 can begin searching for a higher priority inter-frequency layer or searching and measuring a higher, equal, or lower priority inter-frequency layer to prepare for possible reselection.

[0275] ■ In one example, on the serving cell, if the DSI on the serving cell satisfies the DSILC, the WD 22 may initiate a search for a higher priority inter-frequency layer or search and measure a higher, equal or lower priority inter-frequency layer at least before T1, thereby preparing for possible reselection;

[0276] ■In another example, on the serving cell, if the DSI on the serving cell satisfies DSILC and Srxlev / Squal satisfies the conventional corresponding criteria, WD 22 may initiate a search for a higher priority inter-frequency layer or search and measure a higher, equal, or lower priority inter-frequency layer at least before T1, thereby preparing for possible reselection.

[0277] Referring to Chapter 4.2.2.2 in 3GPP TS 38.133 Version 17.6.0, if a suitable cell cannot be found within a predefined period of time, the WD 22 may start cell selection.

[0278] If a WD in RRC_IDLE has not found any new suitable cell within 10s based on search and measurement using intra-frequency, inter-frequency and inter-RAT information indicated in system information, the WD may initiate a cell selection procedure for the selected PLMN as defined in 3GPP TS38.304.

[0279] In some embodiments, DSI may affect the initial cell search process of the WD when a suitable cell cannot be found during a predefined time period. In one example, if the DSI satisfies the DSILC starting from T1, the WD 22 may initiate a cell selection process at T1 (even before the predefined time period has not passed or exceeded (e.g., 10s) and has not expired for search and measurement).

[0280] Third embodiment: Conversion between intra-frequency measurement and inter-frequency measurement

[0281] In a third embodiment, one or more criteria used to distinguish between intra-frequency measurements and inter-frequency measurements are changed or modified based on the determined Doppler shift information.

[0282] Doppler shifts introduce or cause frequency offsets. Depending on the capabilities of the WD, the WD 22 may need to re-tune its radio circuitry to receive the intra-frequency carrier at various Doppler shifts, ie, apply an inter-frequency measurement procedure.

[0283] ■ In one example, on at least the intra-frequency neighboring cells, if the DSI on the neighboring cell(s) satisfies the DSILC, then the intra-frequency measurement requirement does not apply to the neighboring cell(s), or at least there is no measurement requirement for the neighboring cell(s) in [T1, T2]. In this case, WD 22 discards the measurement on those intra-frequency carriers;

[0284] ■ In another example, on at least the intra-frequency neighboring cells, if the DSI on (one or more) neighboring cells satisfies the DSILC, the WD 22 may apply the inter-frequency measurement procedure for the intra-frequency neighboring cells at least during [T1, T2]. This means that the intra-frequency carriers are processed in the same way as the inter-frequency carriers, and therefore, the WD 22 may meet the requirements associated with the inter-frequency carriers. A specific example is that the number of measurements on the inter-frequency cells may be Kcarrier (the number of NR inter-frequency carriers indicated by the serving cell) + K carrier_ds (Number of carriers within the NR frequency that are Doppler shifted). carrier_ds The value of depends on the DSI, such as the value of D_ds and the capability of the WD. In one example, as long as the DSI on the intra-frequency cells satisfies the DSILC, the number of intra-frequency cells can be added to K carrier_ds .

[0285] ■ In another example, the requirement for measurement on intra-frequency cells may be relaxed at least in [T1, T2]. For example, as long as the DSI on the intra-frequency cells satisfies the DSILC, the following Table 4 may be updated with more samples.

[0286] Table 4: T detect,NR_Intra 、T measure,NR_Intra and T evaluate,NR_Intra

[0287]

[0288]

[0289] An example of the update is shown below in Table 5, where N4 is the scaling factor when the DSI satisfies the DSILC. N4 may be 1, 2, or 3, etc., or may be proportional to the number of intra-frequency cells for which the DSI satisfies the DSILC.

[0290] Table 5: T when DSI meets the criteria detect,NR_Intra 、T measure,NR_Intra and T evaluate,NR_Intra

[0291]

[0292]

[0293] Another example of a rule for measurement of intra-frequency NR cells may be expressed as: if it is indicated that the DSI satisfies the DSILC, the measurement of the intra-frequency cells is expected to be longer compared to Table 4.

[0294] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as methods, data processing systems, computer program products, and / or computer storage media storing executable computer programs. Thus, the concepts described herein may take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or a combination of software and hardware embodiments generally referred to herein as "circuits" or "modules". Any process, step, action, and / or functionality described herein may be performed by a corresponding module and / or any process, step, action, and / or functionality described herein may be associated to a corresponding module, which may be implemented with software and / or firmware and / or hardware. In addition, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer-usable storage medium, the computer program product having a computer program code executable by a computer included in the medium. Any suitable tangible computer-readable medium may be utilized, including a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an electronic storage device, an optical storage device, or a magnetic storage device.

[0295] Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, systems, and computer program products. It will be appreciated that each frame of the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram and the combination of frames in the flowchart illustration 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 (thereby creating a special-purpose computer), a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that instructions executed by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing device create components for implementing the functions / actions specified in a flowchart and / or block diagram frame or multiple flowcharts and / or block diagram frames.

[0296] These computer program instructions that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner may also be stored in a computer-readable memory or storage medium, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction components that implement the functions / actions specified in a flowchart and / or block diagram or multiple flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0297] Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions / actions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or multiple flowcharts and / or block diagram blocks.

[0298] It is to be understood that the functions / actions annotated in the blocks may not occur in the order annotated in the operating instructions. For example, depending on the functionality / actions involved, two blocks shown in succession may actually be executed substantially simultaneously or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order. Although some of the figures in the figures include arrows on the communication paths to illustrate the primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the direction opposite to the arrows depicted.

[0299] You can use Python, The computer program code for performing the operation of the concept described herein can be written in an object-oriented programming language such as C++ or C++. However, the computer program code for performing the disclosed operation can also be written in a conventional process programming language such as "C" programming language. The program code can be executed completely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, executed as an independent software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or executed completely on a remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or (for example, using an Internet service provider through the Internet) can be made to be connected to an external computer.

[0300] Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein in conjunction with the above description and figures. It will be understood that literally describing and illustrating every combination and subcombination of these embodiments would be overly repetitive and obscure. Therefore, all embodiments may be combined in any manner and / or combination, and this specification including the figures should be interpreted as constituting a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein and the manner and process of making and using them, and this specification including the figures should support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

[0301] Abbreviations that may be used in the preceding description include:

[0302] 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

[0303] 5G Fifth Generation

[0304] BS Base Station

[0305] CHO Conditional Switching

[0306] eNB Evolved NodeB (LTE base station)

[0307] GEO Geosynchronous Orbit

[0308] gNB Base station in NR.

[0309] GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System

[0310] HO Handover

[0311] LEO Low Earth Orbit

[0312] LTE Long Term Evolution

[0313] MAC Media Access Control

[0314] NR New Radio

[0315] NW Network

[0316] NTN Non-Terrestrial Network

[0317] RAT Radio Access Technology

[0318] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0319] RRM Radio Resource Management

[0320] RS reference signal

[0321] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

[0322] SMTC SSB measurement timing configuration

[0323] SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

[0324] UE User Equipment

[0325] WD Wireless Devices

[0326] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described above. In addition, unless otherwise mentioned above, it should be noted that all figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale. Various modifications and variations are possible according to the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless device WD (22), the wireless device WD (22) being configured to communicate with a network node (16) in a non-terrestrial network NTN, the method comprising: determining (S138) at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer for which a measurement process is to be modified due to Doppler shift; as well as The measurement process is modified (S140) for the at least one neighboring cell and the at least one frequency layer, and the modification of the measurement process includes at least one of the following: lowering the priority of the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, discarding the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, ignoring the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, and skipping the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: The measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node (16).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: The at least one rule instructs the neighbor cell of the determined at least one neighbor cell for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

4. The method according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a neighbor cell of the determined at least one neighbor cell for which an additional measurement delay is allowed.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer that allows an additional measurement delay.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: Modifying the measurement process is based at least in part on whether the determined Doppler shift information of a neighboring cell in the at least one neighboring cell satisfies a criterion predefined or configured by the network node (16).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: Modifying the measurement process is based at least in part on whether the determined Doppler shift information of a frequency layer in the at least one frequency layer satisfies a criterion predefined or configured by the network node (16).

9. The method of any one of claims 7 and 8, further comprising determining the Doppler shift information at the WD (22) based at least in part on location information of at least one NTN node.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: At least one of the determined at least one neighboring cell and the determined at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

11. A wireless device WD (22), the wireless device WD (22) being configured to communicate with a network node (16) in a non-terrestrial network NTN, the WD (22) comprising a processing circuit (84), the processing circuit (84) being configured to: determining at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer for which a measurement process is to be modified due to Doppler shift; and The measurement process is modified for the at least one neighboring cell and the at least one frequency layer, and the modification of the measurement process includes at least one of the following: lowering the priority of the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, discarding the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, ignoring the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer, and skipping the measurement of at least one neighboring cell in the determined at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the determined at least one frequency layer.

12. The WD (22) according to claim 11, wherein The measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node (16).

13. The WD (22) according to claim 12, wherein: The at least one rule instructs the neighbor cell of the determined at least one neighbor cell for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

14. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 12 and 13, wherein The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

15. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein The at least one rule indicates a neighbor cell of the determined at least one neighbor cell for which an additional measurement delay is allowed.

16. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the determined at least one frequency layer that allows additional measurement delay.

17. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein Modifying the measurement process is based at least in part on whether the determined Doppler shift information of a neighboring cell in the at least one neighboring cell satisfies a criterion predefined or configured by the network node (16).

18. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein Modifying the measurement process is based at least in part on whether the determined Doppler shift information of a frequency layer in the at least one frequency layer satisfies a criterion predefined or configured by the network node (16).

19. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 17 and 18, wherein The processing circuit (84) is further configured to determine the Doppler shift information based at least in part on location information of at least one NTN node.

20. The WD (22) according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein At least one of the determined at least one neighboring cell and the determined at least one frequency layer for which the measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

21. A method in a network node (16), the network node (16) being configured to communicate with a wireless device WD (22) in a non-terrestrial network NTN, the method comprising: transmitting (block S134) to the WD (22) an indication of at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer for which a measurement process is to be modified due to Doppler shift; as well as Configuring (box S136) the WD (22) to modify the measurement process performed by the WD (22), configuring the WD (22) to modify the measurement process includes configuring instructions to perform at least one of the following: lowering the priority of measurements on at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers in at least one frequency layer, discarding measurements on at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers in at least one frequency layer, ignoring measurements on at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers in at least one frequency layer, and skipping measurements on at least one of the indicated neighboring cells and at least one of the indicated frequency layers in at least one frequency layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein: The measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node (16).

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell of the indicated at least one neighboring cell for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

24. The method of any one of claims 22 and 23, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the indicated at least one frequency layer for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

25. The method of any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a neighbor cell of the indicated at least one neighbor cell for which an additional measurement delay is allowed.

26. The method of any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the indicated at least one frequency layer that allows an additional measurement delay.

27. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 26, further comprising transmitting a criterion to enable the WD (22) to determine whether the Doppler shift information of a neighbor cell of the indicated at least one neighbor cell satisfies the criterion.

28. The method of any one of claims 21 to 26, further comprising transmitting a criterion to enable the WD (22) to determine whether Doppler shift information of a frequency layer of the indicated at least one frequency layer satisfies the criterion.

29. The method of any one of claims 27 and 28, further comprising transmitting the Doppler shift information to the WD (22), the Doppler shift information being based at least in part on location information of at least one NTN node.

30. The method of any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein: At least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the indicated at least one frequency layer for which a measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.

31. A network node (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device WD (22) in a non-terrestrial network NTN, the network node (16) comprising: a radio interface (62) configured to transmit to the WD (22) an indication of at least one neighboring cell and at least one frequency layer for which a measurement process is to be modified due to a Doppler shift; as well as A processing circuit (68) is in communication with the radio interface and is configured to configure the WD (22) to modify the measurement process performed by the WD (22), wherein configuring the WD (22) to modify the measurement process includes configuring instructions to perform at least one of the following: deprioritizing measurements of at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, discarding measurements of at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, ignoring measurements of at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer, and skipping measurements of at least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the frequency layer in the indicated at least one frequency layer.

32. The network node (16) of claim 31, wherein: The measurement process is modified according to at least one rule predefined or configured by the network node (16).

33. The network node (16) of claim 32, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a neighboring cell of the indicated at least one neighboring cell for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

34. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 32 and 33, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the indicated at least one frequency layer for which measurements are to be deprioritized, dropped, ignored, or skipped.

35. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a neighbor cell of the indicated at least one neighbor cell for which an additional measurement delay is allowed.

36. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein: The at least one rule indicates a frequency layer of the indicated at least one frequency layer that allows an additional measurement delay.

37. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 31 to 36, wherein: The radio interface (62) is configured to transmit a criterion to enable the WD (22) to determine whether Doppler shift information of a neighboring cell of the indicated at least one neighboring cell satisfies the criterion.

38. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 31 to 36, wherein: The radio interface (62) is configured to transmit a criterion to enable the WD (22) to determine whether Doppler shift information of a frequency layer of the indicated at least one frequency layer satisfies the criterion.

39. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 37 and 38, wherein: The radio interface (62) is configured to transmit the Doppler shift information to the WD (22), the Doppler shift information being based at least in part on location information of at least one NTN node.

40. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 31 to 39, wherein: At least one of the indicated at least one neighboring cell and the indicated at least one frequency layer for which a measurement procedure is modified is served by the NTN node.