Satellite communication method and system

Abstract

The invention discloses a satellite communication method and system. The method comprises the following steps: after a mobile management entity receives a paging message, judging whether the paging message is a message from a circuit switched fallback (CSFB), and judging whether the mobile management entity negotiates with user equipment to start an idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) function; and if the mobile management entity determines that the paging message is from the CSFB and determines that the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to open the ISR function, paging the user equipment to a 2G or 3G network. According to the invention, the technical problem of air interface resource waste caused by the fact that the mobile management entity triggers paging in LTE and 2 / 3G networks based on the ISR technology when the downlink voice service arrives is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of wireless communications, and in particular, to a satellite communication method and system. Background Art

[0002] With the development of mobile communication technology, interoperability and integration between different networks have become increasingly important, especially when user equipment moves between the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and the traditional Circuit Switched (CS) network. For user equipment that supports Idle State Signaling Reduction (ISR) technology, it can reselect between different networks without updating the Core Network (CN), which to a certain extent reduces the network load and optimizes the battery life of user equipment. However, in a system based on the Internet of Things Non-Terrestrial Network (IoTNTN), when the user equipment is in the idle state of the evolved control plane, the paging process under the traditional ISR mechanism has the problem of resource waste.

[0003] Specifically, in the above case, when a voice call arrives at the mobile terminal, the network will initiate paging in both the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and the 2 / 3G network, even though the ISR mechanism has been activated and the user equipment may have reselected to the 2 / 3G network. This redundant paging process is particularly prominent in satellite communication scenarios, because satellite air interface resources are extremely valuable, and unnecessary paging will consume valuable satellite bandwidth resources.

[0004] In response to the above problems, the existing paging optimization method does not fully consider the fact that the user equipment may have reselected to the 2 / 3G network when the user equipment is in the ECM-IDLE state and the ISR function is activated. When a mobile terminal voice call arrives, although the user equipment may already be in the 2 / 3G network, the network will still initiate paging through the mobile management entity of the LTE network, and send a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface, requiring the serving general packet radio service support node to also perform paging in the 2 / 3G network. This paging mechanism will lead to resource waste in specific scenarios, such as IoT NTN (non-terrestrial network), especially in an environment where satellite network resources are scarce, which will have a negative impact on network performance and user experience.

[0005] To address the above-mentioned problems, no effective solution has been proposed yet. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present application provides a satellite communication method and system to at least solve the technical problem of waste of air interface resources caused by the mobile management entity triggering paging in LTE and 2 / 3G networks based on ISR technology when downlink voice services arrive.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present application, a satellite communication method is provided, comprising: after a mobile management entity receives a paging message, determining whether the paging message is a message from a circuit domain fallback (CSFB), and determining whether the mobile management entity has negotiated with a user equipment to enable an idle mode signaling to reduce ISR function; if the mobile management entity determines that the paging message is a message from a CSFB, and determines that the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function, paging the user equipment to a 2G or 3G network.

[0008] Optionally, the method also includes: after the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G network for a first preset duration, starting the timer; if the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G network, and the mobile management entity does not receive a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 2G network; after the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 3G network for a second preset duration, starting the timer; if the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity does not receive a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 3G network.

[0009] Optionally, the method further includes: the mobile management entity receives a paging message sent by a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, wherein the mobile switching center or the visitor location register is used to receive an initial address message IAM sent by a home subscriber server and send a paging message to the mobile management entity.

[0010] Optionally, the mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

[0011] Optionally, the mobile management entity has established an S3 interface connection with the serving general packet radio service support node; paging the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network includes: the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network through the S3 interface according to the functional definition information of the ISR function, wherein the user equipment has activated the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present application, a satellite communication method is also provided, including: a mobile management entity receives a paging message carrying indication identification information sent by a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, and pages a user equipment to a 2G or 3G network, wherein the network where the mobile management entity is located supports an idle mode signaling to reduce an ISR function, and the mobile switching center or the visitor location register is used to set the indication identification information after receiving a mobile terminal voice call message from a circuit domain fallback CSFB, and the indication identification information is used to instruct the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network.

[0013] Optionally, after the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G network for a first preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 2G network. After the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 3G network for a second preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 3G network.

[0014] Optionally, the mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present application, a satellite communication system is also provided, including: a mobile management entity, a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, and a user equipment, wherein the mobile management entity is used to receive a paging message carrying indication identification information sent by the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and page the user equipment to a 2G or 3G network, wherein the network where the mobile management entity is located supports an idle mode signaling to reduce the ISR function; the mobile switching center or the visitor location register is used to set the indication identification information after receiving a mobile terminal voice call message from a circuit domain fallback CSFB, and the indication identification information is used to instruct the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network.

[0016] Optionally, the mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present application, a non-volatile storage medium is provided, the storage medium includes a stored program, wherein when the program is executed, the device where the storage medium is located is controlled to execute the above satellite communication method.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present application, an electronic device is provided, including: a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is used to run a program stored in the memory, wherein the above satellite communication method is executed when the program is run.

[0019] According to yet another aspect of the present application, a computer program is provided, wherein the above satellite communication method is implemented when the computer program is executed by a processor.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present application, a computer program product is provided, which includes a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the above satellite communication method is implemented.

[0021] In the present application, after the mobile management entity receives the paging message, it is determined whether the paging message is a message from the circuit domain fallback CSFB, and whether the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the idle mode signaling to reduce the ISR function; if the mobile management entity determines that the paging message is a message from the CSFB, and determines that the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function, the method of paging the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network achieves the purpose of paging only in the 2G or 3G network after the downlink voice service arrives, thereby achieving the technical effect of saving air interface resources, and further solves the technical problem of wasting air interface resources due to the mobile management entity triggering paging in the LTE and 2 / 3G networks based on the ISR technology when the downlink voice service arrives. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a satellite communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of signaling interaction according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 is another signaling interaction schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of a satellite communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 5 It is a hardware structure block diagram of a computer terminal of a satellite communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of the present application, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0029] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0030] In the related art, when a downlink voice service arrives, based on the ISR technology, the mobile management entity triggers paging in the LTE and 2 / 3G networks. Specifically, the following steps are included: Step 1, a mobile terminal call arrives. The gateway mobile switching center receives the IAM. The gateway mobile switching center retrieves the routing information of the user equipment from the home user server through the Send Routing Information process. The gateway mobile switching center sends the IAM message to the mobile switching center / visitor location register of the user equipment, and the IAM message contains the call request of the user equipment. Step 2, the mobile switching center / visitor location register pages the mobile management entity. After the mobile switching center / visitor location register receives the IAM message, if the ISR function of the user equipment has been activated, it will send a paging message to the mobile management entity through the SGs interface. Among them, the paging message contains a CSdomain Indicator (CS domain indicator), which is used to identify that this is a service for the CS domain. Step 3, the mobile management entity processes the paging message. After receiving the paging message, the mobile management entity will check the status of the user equipment and the ISR activation information. If the user equipment is in the ECM-IDLE state and ISR is activated, the mobility management entity will forward the CS paging message to the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface instead of initiating paging directly in the E-UTRAN. Step 4, the serving general packet radio service support node processes the paging message. After receiving the CS paging message, the serving general packet radio service support node sends a paging command to the RNS / BSS through the Iu / Gb interface. The serving general packet radio service support node does not implement a local retransmission mechanism, which means that once the paging message is sent, it will not resend the paging message locally. Step 5, RNS / BSS initiates paging. After receiving the paging command, the RNS / BSS initiates a paging operation in the routing area where the user equipment is registered. If the user equipment is in a 2G or 3G network, it will receive the paging message. Step 6, the user equipment responds to the paging. When the user equipment receives the paging message, it will respond to the paging request and perform CS Fallback or Cell Reselection to access the CS domain. The user equipment sends a CS paging response to the RNS / BSS. Step 7, paging response delivery. After receiving the CSpaging response from the user equipment, the RNS / BSS sends the response information to the serving general packet radio service support node through the Iu / Gb interface. The serving general packet radio service support node then sends the CS paging response to the mobile management entity through the S3 interface. Step 8, the mobile management entity delivers the response to the mobile switching center / visited location register. After receiving the paging response, the mobile management entity sends the CS paging response to the mobile switching center / visited location register through the SGs interface.After receiving the response, the mobile switching center / visitor location register stops the paging response timer, starts to establish a CS connection, and completes the mobile terminal call process.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present application, a method embodiment of a satellite communication method is provided. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart of the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer executable instructions, and although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in an order different from that shown here.

[0032] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a satellite communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the method comprises the following steps:

[0033] Step S102: after receiving the paging message, the mobility management entity determines whether the paging message is a CSFB message, and determines whether the mobility management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the idle mode signaling to reduce ISR function.

[0034] In step S102, when the mobility management entity receives a paging message, the mobility management entity first checks whether the message contains identification information, indicating that the paging request originates from CSFB. At the same time, the mobility management entity queries its internal database to check whether the ISR function has been activated between the user equipment and the mobile management entity.

[0035] Step S104: If the mobility management entity determines that the paging message is a message from CSFB and determines that the mobility management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function, the user equipment is paged to the 2G or 3G network.

[0036] Once the mobility management entity determines that the paging message originates from CSFB and the ISR function of the user equipment has been activated, the mobility management entity will not initiate paging in the LTE network, but will only send a paging request to the 2G or 3G network, that is, send a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node in the 2G or 3G network, and complete this operation through the S3 interface.

[0037] Preferably, the above-mentioned mobility management entity, mobile switching center or visitor location register, and user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

[0038] It is understandable that the bandwidth resources of networks in the IoT NTN environment, especially those connected via satellite, are usually more limited and expensive than those of terrestrial networks. When the mobile management entity successfully determines in step S102 that the paging message is a CSFB message and confirms that the ISR function has been enabled through negotiation with the user equipment, it can choose to initiate paging only in the 2G or 3G network (step S104). This decision helps to avoid unnecessary paging on resource-intensive satellite links, thereby saving bandwidth resources and improving the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the network. In addition, network resource management in the IoT NTN environment needs to be more sophisticated and dynamic. The mobile management entity only pages the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network in step S104. This strategy is particularly important in satellite networks because it allows network resources (such as bandwidth and power) to be dynamically adjusted according to the actual network access needs of the user equipment. This is particularly critical in an environment where multiple networks coexist, and can avoid wasting resources on inactive network connections.

[0039] Preferably, on the basis of the original step S102, the mobile management entity also needs to check whether the paging message carries the eMLPP priority identifier. If the message carries the eMLPP priority identifier, the mobile management entity will adjust its paging policy based on the priority information. Specifically, the mobile management entity receives the paging message and checks the CS domain Indicator and the eMLPP priority identifier therein. If the paging message contains both the CS domain Indicator and the eMLPP priority identifier, the mobile management entity will preferentially send the paging message to the serving general packet radio service support node in the 2 / 3G network in step S104.

[0040] In summary, the mobile management entity receives a paging message from the SGs interface, which contains a CS domainIndicator. The mobile management entity checks whether it has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function. If confirmed, this information will be recorded. The mobile management entity sends a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface, and initiates paging for the user equipment only in the 2 / 3G network. Through the above steps, in the IoT NTN environment, the user equipment is paged to the 2 / 3G network only when necessary, avoiding invalid paging in the LTE network and saving satellite bandwidth resources. The delay of the user equipment accessing the CS network is reduced, and the user's voice call experience in the IoT NTN environment is improved.

[0041] The following Figure 1 The steps shown are exemplary and explanatory.

[0042] According to some optional embodiments of the present application, after the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G network for a first preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 2G network. After the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 3G network for a second preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 3G network.

[0043] It is understandable that once the mobile management entity determines that the paging request originates from CSFB and the user equipment has negotiated to turn on the ISR function, the mobile management entity will initiate paging to the 2G network. In order to ensure paging efficiency, the mobile management entity sets a first preset duration T1 as the initial waiting time for 2G network paging. The duration can be 0s, 0.05s, 0.1s, etc. Similarly, once the mobile management entity determines that the paging request originates from CSFB and the user equipment has negotiated to turn on the ISR function, the mobile management entity can also initiate paging to the 3G network. In order to ensure paging efficiency, the mobile management entity sets a second preset duration T2 as the initial waiting time for 3G network paging. The duration can be 0s, 0.05s, 0.1s, etc.

[0044] The above steps set up a backup paging mechanism so that the mobility management entity can ensure the completion of the call even when the paging in the 2G or 3G network fails, thereby maintaining the robustness of the system and the continuity of user services.

[0045] According to some other optional embodiments of the present application, the mobile management entity receives a paging message sent by a mobile switching center or a visited location register, wherein the mobile switching center or the visited location register is used to receive an initial address message IAM sent by a home user server and send a paging message to the mobile management entity.

[0046] The mobile switching center or the visitor location register first receives the IAM sent from the home subscriber server. The IAM message includes the user identity and destination information required for call establishment, which is the key signaling in the CSFB process. After receiving the IAM, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register sends a paging message to the mobility management entity based on the information in it.

[0047] As some optional embodiments of the present application, the mobility management entity has established an S3 interface connection with the serving general packet radio service support node.

[0048] Furthermore, paging the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network can be achieved by the following method: the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network through the S3 interface according to the functional definition information of the ISR function, wherein the user equipment has activated the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update.

[0049] Specifically, in conventional network operation, when the user equipment activates the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update, the mobile management entity will establish an S3 interface connection with the serving general packet radio service support node. The S3 interface is used to transmit control plane information between the mobile management entity and the serving general packet radio service support node, such as location update, paging and handover operations. The establishment of this connection ensures that the mobile management entity can communicate directly with the serving general packet radio service support node, so as to effectively manage and reduce signaling interactions when the user equipment is under 2G or 3G network coverage.

[0050] When the user equipment needs to be paged, the mobile switching center / visitor location register sends a paging message to the mobile management entity. After receiving the paging message, the mobile management entity will parse the content to determine whether it is a CSFB-related paging request, and check whether the user equipment has activated the ISR function. The mobile management entity decides to page the user equipment only in the 2G or 3G network based on the CS domain indicator in the received paging message and the ISR function status of the user equipment. If the mobile management entity determines that the user equipment has activated the ISR function and the paging message is related to CSFB, the mobile management entity will send a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the established S3 interface. In the request, the mobile management entity will include specific indication information, such as the user equipment's identity and the paging reason, to guide the serving general packet radio service support node to page the user equipment in the 2G or 3G network.

[0051] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a signaling interaction according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 ,right Figure 1 The steps shown are explained in detail.

[0052] Step 1: The user equipment activates the ISR function. The user equipment negotiates with the mobility management entity to enable the ISR function through joint attach and joint location update operations.

[0053] Specifically, when the user equipment accesses the network for the first time or moves to a new tracking area, the user equipment performs a joint attachment process. The user equipment sends an attachment request to the mobile management entity, and at the same time sends an attachment request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the BSS (base station subsystem) or RNS (radio network subsystem) in the 2G or 3G network. In this way, the user equipment can register location information in the LTE network and the 2G or 3G network at the same time, so that it can be efficiently paged in both networks when ISR is activated. During the joint attachment process, the mobile management entity establishes a connection with the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface. The mobile management entity sends the context information of the user equipment to the serving general packet radio service support node, including the TA (tracking area) list and possible priority information. The serving general packet radio service support node stores this part of information for subsequent ISR paging operations. Once the user equipment completes the joint attachment and the network confirms that the user equipment supports the ISR function, the mobile management entity will activate ISR and establish an association with the serving general packet radio service support node. This means that when the user equipment is in the ECM-IDLE state, the mobility management entity will be able to communicate directly with the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface to reduce unnecessary signaling interactions. In addition, when the user equipment reselects between E-UTRAN and GERAN / UTRAN, there is no need to update the core network because the S3 interface association between the mobility management entity and the serving general packet radio service support node has been established, and the serving general packet radio service support node can track the location of the user equipment.

[0054] Step 2: The home subscriber server sends an IAM to the mobile switching center or the visitor location register.

[0055] Step 3: The mobile switching center / visited location register initiates paging. The mobile switching center / visited location register sends a paging message to the mobility management entity according to the received voice call. The message contains a CS domainIndicator, indicating that this is a paging request for a circuit switched service.

[0056] Step 4, the mobile management entity makes a decision. After receiving the paging message in step 3, the mobile management entity checks the CS domain indicator and ISR status. If the paging message sent by the mobile switching center / visited location register carries the CS domain indicator, and the mobile management entity confirms that the user equipment has activated the ISR function, the mobile management entity will make a decision to perform paging only in the 2 / 3G network to avoid wasting resources in the non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things (such as the satellite network).

[0057] Step 5: The mobility management entity pages the user equipment. Based on the decision in step 4, the mobility management entity does not page the user equipment through the LTE network, but sends a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface. In this step, the mobility management entity only pages the user equipment in the 2 / 3G network, rather than in both the LTE and 2 / 3G networks, reducing redundant paging operations.

[0058] Through the above steps, in the IoT NTN environment, the mobile management entity can accurately locate and page user devices that have activated the ISR function through intelligent decision-making and efficient use of the S3 interface connection, and paging is performed preferentially in the 2G or 3G network, avoiding unnecessary paging operations in the satellite network with limited resources, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of network resources and the user call experience.

[0059] An embodiment of the present application also provides a satellite communication method, comprising the following steps: a mobile management entity receives a paging message carrying indication identification information sent by a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, and pages a user device to a 2G or 3G network, wherein the network where the mobile management entity is located supports an idle mode signaling to reduce an ISR function, and the mobile switching center or the visitor location register is used to set the indication identification information after receiving a mobile terminal voice call message from a circuit domain fallback CSFB, and the indication identification information is used to instruct the mobile management entity to page the user device to the 2G or 3G network.

[0060] In the above steps, the user equipment negotiates with the mobility management entity through joint attachment and joint location update to activate the ISR function. During the negotiation process, the mobility management entity records the service general packet radio service support node information related to the user equipment for subsequent intelligent paging decisions. When the mobile terminal voice call message arrives at the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, the network component determines that this is a call for circuit domain fallback and sets the indication identification information. The identification information is encoded in the paging message to indicate that the mobility management entity only needs to page the user equipment in the 2G or 3G network when ISR is activated.

[0061] Further, the mobile management entity receives a paging message from a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, which includes indicator information. The mobile management entity parses the paging message, identifies the indicator, and determines that the user equipment has activated the ISR function. The mobile management entity makes a paging decision based on the indicator information and the ISR status, and only initiates a paging request to the 2G or 3G network, rather than paging to the LTE network and the 2G or 3G network at the same time. The mobile management entity sends a paging message to the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface, indicating that the user equipment is to be paged in the 2G or 3G network.

[0062] Preferably, the mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

[0063] Understandably, bandwidth resources in the IoT NTN environment are very valuable, especially for satellite networks, where bandwidth is limited and costly. The introduction of indicator identification information allows the mobile management entity to intelligently select a paging network based on the activity status of the user device and network conditions, using satellite resources only when needed. This can avoid unnecessary bandwidth consumption, especially when the user device may already be within the coverage of the ground network, giving priority to using 2G or 3G networks to paging the user device, which can effectively save satellite network bandwidth and optimize resource allocation.

[0064] In addition, in the IoT NTN environment, devices may frequently switch between different types of networks, such as from satellite networks to terrestrial networks (2G or 3G / LTE). The use of indicator information enhances the adaptability and robustness of the network because it allows the network to dynamically adjust the paging strategy and perform paging based on the network type that the user device is most likely to be active on, thereby improving the continuity and stability of network services.

[0065] As other optional embodiments of the present application, after the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G network for a first preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 2G network. After the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 3G network for a second preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 3G network.

[0066] It is understandable that once the mobile management entity determines that the paging request originates from CSFB and the user equipment has negotiated to turn on the ISR function, the mobile management entity will initiate paging to the 2G network. In order to ensure paging efficiency, the mobile management entity sets a first preset duration T1 as the initial waiting time for 2G network paging. The duration can be 0s, 0.05s, 0.1s, etc. Similarly, once the mobile management entity determines that the paging request originates from CSFB and the user equipment has negotiated to turn on the ISR function, the mobile management entity can also initiate paging to the 3G network. In order to ensure paging efficiency, the mobile management entity sets a second preset duration T2 as the initial waiting time for 3G network paging. The duration can be 0s, 0.05s, 0.1s, etc.

[0067] The above steps set up a backup paging mechanism so that the mobility management entity can ensure the completion of the call even when the paging in the 2G or 3G network fails, thereby maintaining the robustness of the system and the continuity of user services.

[0068] Figure 3 This is another signaling interaction diagram according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 , the above steps are explained in detail.

[0069] Step 1: The user equipment activates the ISR function. In the IoT NTN environment, the user equipment activates the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update operations. The activation of this function means that the user equipment negotiates and agrees with the mobility management entity to reduce unnecessary signaling interactions in idle mode, saving network resources and energy of the user equipment itself.

[0070] Specifically, when the user equipment accesses the network for the first time or moves to a new tracking area, the user equipment performs a joint attachment process. The user equipment sends an attachment request to the mobile management entity, and at the same time sends an attachment request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the BSS (base station subsystem) or RNS (radio network subsystem) in the 2G or 3G network. In this way, the user equipment can register location information in the LTE network and the 2G or 3G network at the same time, so that it can be efficiently paged in both networks when ISR is activated. During the joint attachment process, the mobile management entity establishes a connection with the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface. The mobile management entity sends the context information of the user equipment to the serving general packet radio service support node, including the TA (tracking area) list and possible priority information. The serving general packet radio service support node stores this part of information for subsequent ISR paging operations. Once the user equipment completes the joint attachment and the network confirms that the user equipment supports the ISR function, the mobile management entity will activate ISR and establish an association with the serving general packet radio service support node. This means that when the user equipment is in the ECM-IDLE state, the mobility management entity will be able to communicate directly with the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface to reduce unnecessary signaling interactions. In addition, when the user equipment reselects between E-UTRAN and GERAN / UTRAN, there is no need to update the core network because the S3 interface association between the mobility management entity and the serving general packet radio service support node has been established, and the serving general packet radio service support node can track the location of the user equipment.

[0071] Step 2: The home subscriber server sends an IAM to the mobile switching center or the visitor location register.

[0072] Step 3, MSC or VLR decision and indicator flag setting. After receiving the IAM message, the MSC or VLR checks whether it is a CSFB call and determines whether the UE has activated the ISR function. If so, the MSC or VLR sets the indicator flag information and attaches it to the paging message. The indicator flag is used to inform the MME that the UE may be in a 2G or 3G network, so paging only needs to be performed in these networks.

[0073] Step 4: The mobility management entity receives a paging message. The mobility management entity receives a paging message carrying indicator information from a mobile switching center or a visitor location register. The mobility management entity checks the indicator to understand whether it needs to follow the optimized paging policy.

[0074] Step 5: The mobile management entity decides the target paging network. Based on the indication information, the mobile management entity makes a decision to send a paging request only to the 2G or 3G network, thus avoiding redundant paging operations in both the IoT NTN and the 2G or 3G network. Especially in satellite networks, this optimization can significantly improve resource utilization and reduce bandwidth consumption and energy waste.

[0075] Step 6: The mobility management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network through the S3 interface. The mobility management entity sends a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the S3 interface, requesting that the user equipment be paged in the 2G or 3G network. The serving general packet radio service support node is a core component of the 2G or 3G network, responsible for managing the control plane information of the general packet radio service, including the paging function.

[0076] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of a satellite communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 4 As shown, the system includes: a mobile management entity 41, a mobile switching center or a visitor location register 42, and a user equipment 43, wherein:

[0077] The mobility management entity 41 is used to receive a paging message carrying indication identification information sent by a mobile switching center or a visitor location register 42, and to page a user equipment 43 to a 2G or 3G network, wherein the network where the mobility management entity 41 is located supports an idle mode signaling reduction ISR function;

[0078] The mobile switching center or visitor location register 42 is used to set indication identification information after receiving a mobile terminal voice call message from the circuit domain fallback CSFB, and the indication identification information is used to instruct the mobility management entity 41 to page the user equipment 43 to the 2G or 3G network.

[0079] According to some optional embodiments of the present application, after the mobile management entity 41 pages the user equipment 43 to the 2G network for a first preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity 41 to page the user equipment 43 to the 2G network, and the mobile management entity 41 does not receive a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobile management entity 41 pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment 43 to access the 2G network; after the mobile management entity 41 pages the user equipment 43 to the 3G network for a second preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity 41 to page the user equipment 43 to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity 41 does not receive a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity 41 pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment 43 to access the 3G network.

[0080] It is understandable that once the mobile management entity 41 determines that the paging request originates from CSFB and the user equipment 43 has negotiated to turn on the ISR function, the mobile management entity 41 will initiate paging to the 2G network. In order to ensure paging efficiency, the mobile management entity 41 sets a first preset duration T1 as the initial waiting duration for 2G network paging. The duration can be 0s, 0.05s, 0.1s, etc. Similarly, once the mobile management entity 41 determines that the paging request originates from CSFB and the user equipment 43 has negotiated to turn on the ISR function, the mobile management entity 41 can also initiate paging to the 3G network. In order to ensure paging efficiency, the mobile management entity 41 sets a second preset duration T2 as the initial waiting duration for 3G network paging. The duration can be 0s, 0.05s, 0.1s, etc.

[0081] The above steps set up a backup paging mechanism so that even if the paging in the 2G or 3G network fails, the mobility management entity 41 can ensure the completion of the call, thereby maintaining the robustness of the system and the continuity of user services.

[0082] As some optional embodiments of the present application, the mobility management entity 41 has established an S3 interface connection with the serving general packet radio service support node.

[0083] Furthermore, paging the user equipment 43 to the 2G or 3G network can be achieved by the following method: the mobile management entity 41 pages the user equipment 43 to the 2G or 3G network through the S3 interface according to the functional definition information of the ISR function, wherein the user equipment 43 has activated the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update.

[0084] Specifically, in conventional network operation, when the user equipment 43 activates the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update, the mobile management entity 41 will establish an S3 interface connection with the serving general packet radio service support node. The S3 interface is used to transmit control plane information between the mobile management entity 41 and the serving general packet radio service support node, such as location update, paging and handover operations. The establishment of this connection ensures that the mobile management entity 41 can communicate directly with the serving general packet radio service support node, so as to effectively manage and reduce signaling interactions when the user equipment 43 is under 2G or 3G network coverage.

[0085] When the user equipment 43 needs to be paged, the mobile switching center / visitor location register sends a paging message to the mobile management entity 41. After receiving the paging message, the mobile management entity 41 will parse the content therein to determine whether it is a paging request related to CSFB, and check whether the user equipment 43 has activated the ISR function. The mobile management entity 41 decides to page the user equipment 43 only in the 2G or 3G network based on the CS domain indicator in the received paging message and the ISR function status of the user equipment 43. If the mobile management entity 41 determines that the user equipment 43 has activated the ISR function and the paging message is related to CSFB, the mobile management entity 41 will send a paging request to the serving general packet radio service support node through the established S3 interface. In the request, the mobile management entity 41 will include specific indication information, such as the identity of the user equipment 43 and the paging reason, to guide the serving general packet radio service support node to page the user equipment 43 in the 2G or 3G network.

[0086] Figure 5 FIG. 1 shows a hardware structure block diagram of a computer terminal for implementing a satellite communication method. Figure 5 As shown, the computer terminal 50 may include one or more (502a, 502b, ..., 502n are used to illustrate) processors 502 (the processor 502 may include but is not limited to a processing device such as a microprocessor MCU or a programmable logic device FPGA), a memory 504 for storing data, and a transmission module 506 for communication functions. In addition, it may also include: a display, an input / output interface (I / O interface), a universal serial bus (USB) port (which may be included as one of the ports of the BUS bus), a network interface, a power supply or a camera. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that Figure 5 The structure shown is only for illustration and does not limit the structure of the above electronic device. Figure 5 More or fewer components as shown, or with Figure 5 Different configurations are shown.

[0087] It should be noted that the one or more processors 502 or other data processing circuits described above may generally be referred to herein as "data processing circuits". The data processing circuits may be embodied in whole or in part as software, hardware, firmware, or any other combination thereof. In addition, the data processing circuit may be a single independent processing module, or may be incorporated in whole or in part into any of the other components in the computer terminal 50. As involved in the embodiments of the present application, the data processing circuit acts as a processor control (e.g., selection of a variable resistor terminal path connected to an interface).

[0088] The memory 504 can be used to store software programs and modules of application software, such as the program instructions / data storage device corresponding to the satellite communication method in the embodiment of the present application. The processor 502 executes various functional applications and data processing by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory 504, that is, realizing the above-mentioned satellite communication method. The memory 504 may include a high-speed random access memory, and may also include a non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic storage devices, flash memory, or other non-volatile solid-state memory. In some examples, the memory 504 may further include a memory remotely arranged relative to the processor 502, and these remote memories may be connected to the computer terminal 50 via a network. Examples of the above-mentioned network include, but are not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and combinations thereof.

[0089] The transmission module 506 is used to receive or send data via a network. The specific example of the above network may include a wireless network provided by a communication provider of the computer terminal 50. In one example, the transmission module 506 includes a network adapter (Network Interface Controller, NIC), which can be connected to other network devices through a base station so as to communicate with the Internet. In one example, the transmission module 506 can be a radio frequency (RF) module, which is used to communicate with the Internet wirelessly.

[0090] The display may be, for example, a touch screen liquid crystal display (LCD) that enables a user to interact with a user interface of the computer terminal 50 .

[0091] It should be noted that, in some optional embodiments, the above Figure 5 The computer terminal shown may include hardware elements (including circuits), software elements (including computer code stored on a computer-readable medium), or a combination of hardware elements and software elements. It should be noted that Figure 5This is merely one example of a particular embodiment and is intended to illustrate the types of components that may be present in the computer terminal described above.

[0092] It should be noted that Figure 5 The computer terminal shown is used to execute Figure 1 The satellite communication method shown, therefore the relevant explanations in the execution method of the above command are also applicable to the electronic device and will not be repeated here.

[0093] An embodiment of the present application further provides a non-volatile storage medium, which includes a stored program, wherein when the program is executed, the device where the storage medium is located is controlled to execute the above satellite communication method.

[0094] The non-volatile storage medium performs the following functions: after the mobile management entity receives the paging message, it determines whether the paging message is a message from the circuit domain fallback CSFB, and determines whether the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the idle mode signaling to reduce the ISR function; if the mobile management entity determines that the paging message is a message from the CSFB, and determines that the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function, it pages the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network.

[0095] An embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, including: a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is used to run a program stored in the memory, wherein the above satellite communication method is executed when the program is run.

[0096] The processor is used to run a program that performs the following functions: after the mobile management entity receives a paging message, it determines whether the paging message is a message from the circuit domain fallback CSFB, and determines whether the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the idle mode signaling to reduce the ISR function; if the mobile management entity determines that the paging message is a message from the CSFB, and determines that the mobile management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function, paging the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network.

[0097] The serial numbers of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application are for description only and do not represent the advantages or disadvantages of the embodiments.

[0098] In the above embodiments of the present application, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant description of other embodiments.

[0099] In the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application, the collected information is information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties, and the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure and application of the relevant data comply with relevant laws, regulations and standards, take necessary protection measures, do not violate public order and good morals, and provide corresponding operation entrances for users to choose to authorize or refuse.

[0100] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed technical content can be implemented in other ways. Among them, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units can be a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of units or modules, which can be electrical or other forms.

[0101] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0102] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0103] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the relevant technology or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, read-only memory (ROM, Read-Only Memory), random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), mobile hard disk, disk or optical disk, etc. Various media that can store program codes.

[0104] The above is only a preferred implementation of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present application. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A satellite communication method, characterized in that: include: After the mobility management entity receives the paging message, it determines whether the paging message is a message from the circuit domain fallback CSFB, and determines whether the mobility management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the idle mode signaling to reduce the ISR function; If the mobility management entity determines that the paging message is a message from the CSFB, and determines that the mobility management entity has negotiated with the user equipment to enable the ISR function, the user equipment is paged to the 2G or 3G network.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: After the mobility management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G network for a first preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobility management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G network, and the mobility management entity does not receive a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobility management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 2G network; After the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 3G network for a second preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 3G network.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: The mobility management entity receives the paging message sent by a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, wherein the mobile switching center or the visitor location register is used to receive an initial address message IAM sent by a home subscriber server and send the paging message to the mobility management entity.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The mobility management entity has established an S3 interface connection with the serving general packet radio service support node; Paging the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network includes: the mobility management entity paging the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network through the S3 interface according to the function definition information of the ISR function, wherein the user equipment has activated the ISR function through joint attachment and joint location update.

6. A satellite communication method, characterized in that: include: A mobile management entity receives a paging message carrying indication identification information sent by a mobile switching center or a visited location register, and pages a user device to a 2G or 3G network, wherein the network where the mobile management entity is located supports an idle mode signaling to reduce an ISR function, and the mobile switching center or the visited location register is used to set the indication identification information after receiving a mobile terminal voice call message from a circuit breaker fallback CSFB, and the indication identification information is used to instruct the mobile management entity to page the user device to a 2G or 3G network.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: After the mobility management entity pages the user equipment to the 2G network for a first preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobility management entity to page the user equipment to the 2G network, and the mobility management entity does not receive a response message sent by the 2G network, the mobility management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 2G network; After the mobile management entity pages the user equipment to the 3G network for a second preset duration, the timer is started. If the duration indicated by the timer exceeds the maximum duration required for the mobile management entity to page the user equipment to the 3G network, and the mobile management entity has not received a response message sent by the 3G network, the mobile management entity pages the LTE network and guides the user equipment to access the 3G network.

8. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that The mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

9. A satellite communication system, characterized in that: include: A mobile management entity, a mobile switching center or a visitor location register, a user equipment, wherein: The mobility management entity is used to receive a paging message carrying indication identification information sent by the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and page the user equipment to the 2G or 3G network, wherein the network where the mobility management entity is located supports an idle mode signaling reduction ISR function; The mobile switching center or the visitor location register is used to set the indication identification information after receiving a mobile terminal voice call message from a circuit domain fallback CSFB, and the indication identification information is used to instruct the mobility management entity to page the user equipment to a 2G or 3G network.

10. The communication system according to claim 9, characterized in that: The mobility management entity, the mobile switching center or the visitor location register, and the user equipment belong to a non-terrestrial network of the Internet of Things.

11. A non-volatile storage medium, characterized in that: The non-volatile storage medium includes a stored program, wherein when the program is running, the device where the non-volatile storage medium is located is controlled to execute the satellite communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 5 and the satellite communication method described in any one of claims 6 to 8.

12. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that When the computer program is executed by a processor, the satellite communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the satellite communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 are implemented.

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