Communication method and device and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

A communication method and device, and a computer readable storage medium, the method comprising: receiving a first signaling, the first signaling comprising time efficiency information, the time efficiency information being used for indicating the time efficiency of the first signaling; a second signaling is sent, the second signaling is used for requesting to update the context of the terminal to which the first signaling points, and the second signaling comprises time efficiency information of the first signaling; first information is received, and if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling is invalid, the first information is used for indicating that updating of the context of the terminal pointed by the first signaling is rejected. Through the scheme of the invention, the registration process can be prevented from being interrupted by mistakes when communication is carried out in a store-and-forward mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] A common architecture in the satellite communication scenario is that the base station is set on the satellite, and the core network-related network elements are set on the ground. The satellite connects to the core network elements through a ground gateway (also called a ground station, a ground base station). The terminal communicates with the core network through the satellite. In the initial stage of satellite network deployment, the number of satellites is relatively small, and the number of ground stations is also relatively small. There may be a situation where when the satellite connects to the terminal, it cannot connect to the ground station, or when the satellite connects to the ground station, it cannot connect to the terminal. This results in the end-to-end (i.e., from the terminal to the core network) link being intermittent, and the data transmission is also intermittent.

[0003] In response to this situation, a store-and-forward mechanism is introduced. Briefly speaking, for uplink data, when the satellite and the terminal are connected, the terminal sends data to the satellite, and the satellite stores it. When the satellite moves to a suitable position to connect to the ground gateway, it forwards the uplink data to the ground gateway. The processing of downlink data is similar. The ground gateway first sends the downlink data to the satellite. The satellite stores the received downlink data and forwards the downlink data to the terminal when it moves above the terminal and can establish a connection with the terminal.

[0004] However, consider the following scenario. When the terminal initiates a registration process (such as initial registration, periodic registration, or mobility registration), when the satellite is not connected to the core network, the terminal can start the registration process on the satellite, and the satellite stores the terminal's registration request locally. During the process of the satellite moving towards the ground core network area, the terminal may perform a cell reselection due to its own movement and reselect back to the ground cell, and then initiate a new registration process and register successfully in the new core network. However, after that, when the satellite connects to the core network, the old registration request stored on the satellite will cause the core network to mistakenly think that the terminal has initiated a registration in the satellite cell again, and thus perform a deregistration operation on the terminal's registration in the ground cell. This deregistration operation is obviously inappropriate and will affect the normal communication between the terminal and the core network. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem solved by this application is how to avoid the registration process from being wrongly interrupted when using the store-and-forward mode for communication.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: receiving a first signaling, where the first signaling includes timeliness information for indicating the timeliness of the first signaling; sending a second signaling for requesting to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, where the second signaling includes the timeliness information of the first signaling; receiving a first information, where if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first information is used to indicate rejecting the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0007] Optionally, if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling is valid, the first information is used to confirm the deletion of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0008] Optionally, the timeliness information includes: timestamp information and / or serial number information, and the serial number information increases as the number of transmissions of the first signaling increases.

[0009] Optionally, the first signaling is selected from: an attachment request signaling, a tracking area update request signaling, and an initial user equipment message.

[0010] Optionally, the second signaling is selected from: a context request signaling and a location update request signaling.

[0011] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, including: sending a first signaling, where the first signaling includes timeliness information for indicating the timeliness of the first signaling.

[0012] Optionally, the method further includes: before a first timer expires, if the signal quality of the cell pointed to by the first signaling is greater than a first preset threshold, suspending the execution of the cell reselection operation.

[0013] Optionally, the first preset threshold is less than the standard threshold for triggering the cell reselection operation.

[0014] Optionally, the timeliness information includes: timestamp information and / or serial number information, and the serial number information increases as the number of transmissions of the first signaling increases.

[0015] Optionally, the first signaling is selected from: an attachment request signaling, a tracking area update request signaling, and an initial user equipment message.

[0016] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, including: receiving a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by a first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; sending a first message, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first message is used to indicate a rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0017] Optionally, the sending of the first message includes: if a third signaling pointing to the same terminal and having a later aging than the first signaling has been received, sending the first message, and the first message is used to indicate a rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0018] Optionally, the sending of the first message further includes: if the aging of the first signaling is later than that of all the signals received historically and pointing to the same terminal, sending the first message, and the first message is used to indicate an acceptance of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0019] Optionally, the aging information includes: timestamp information and / or serial number information, and the serial number information increases as the number of times the first signaling is sent increases.

[0020] Optionally, the first signaling is selected from: an attachment request signaling, a tracking area update request signaling, and an initial user equipment message.

[0021] Optionally, the second signaling is selected from: a context request signaling and a positioning update request signaling.

[0022] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, including: a first receiving module, configured to receive a first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the aging of the first signaling; a sending module, configured to send a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; a second receiving module, configured to receive a first message, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first message is used to indicate a rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0023] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, including: a sending module, configured to send a first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the aging of the first signaling.

[0024] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, including: a receiving module, configured to receive a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request to update the context of a terminal pointed to by a first signaling, and the second signaling includes aging information of the first signaling; a sending module, configured to send a first information, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first information is used to indicate rejecting to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0025] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the computer-readable storage medium is a non-volatile storage medium or a non-transitory storage medium, and a computer program is stored thereon, and when the computer program is run by a processor, the steps of the above method are executed.

[0026] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, including a memory and a processor, where a computer program that can run on the processor is stored on the memory, and when the processor runs the computer program, the steps of the above method are executed.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] On the core network side, specifically, on the side of a first network element of the core network, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: receiving a first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the aging of the first signaling; sending a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; receiving a first information, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first information is used to indicate rejecting to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0029] Compared with the prior art that each signaling requesting to update the context received by the core network is executed, in the store-and-forward mode, it is very likely that the registration process will be interrupted incorrectly. In this implementation, aging information is added to the first signaling, and the second signaling sent by the first network element to the next node of the core network (for example, the second network element) carries the aging information, so that the next node can determine whether the update request has expired based on this, and then accurately determine whether to respond to this update request. Thus, it is possible to avoid the incorrect interruption of the registration process when communicating in the store-and-forward mode.

[0030] On the core network side, specifically, on the second network element side of the core network, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: receiving a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; sending a first message, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first message is used to indicate a rejection of the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0031] Compared with the existing core network that executes every signaling request for context update received, it is very likely to cause the registration process to be interrupted incorrectly in the store-and-forward mode. In this implementation, by carrying the aging information in the second signaling of the previous node (for example, the first network element) of the core network, the second network element can determine whether the update request has expired based on this, and then accurately make a decision to respond to or reject the current update request, avoiding the incorrect interruption of the registration process when communicating in the store-and-forward mode.

[0032] On the terminal side or satellite side, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: sending a first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the timeliness of the first signaling.

[0033] Compared with the existing terminal or satellite that does not carry the content related to timeliness when sending signaling, in this implementation, by adding aging information to the first signaling, the core network element (for example, the first network element) that receives the first signaling can also carry the aging information when sending an update request to the next node (for example, the second network element) of the core network, ensuring that the core network correctly makes a decision to respond to or reject the current update request.

[0034] On the terminal side, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: before the expiration of the first timer, if the signal quality of the cell pointed to by the first signaling is greater than a first preset threshold, suspending the execution of the cell reselection operation.

[0035] In the prior art, the terminal performs cell reselection after the signal quality is lower than the threshold (for example, the standard threshold). In the store-and-forward mode, it is easy to occur that the terminal has reselected to the terrestrial cell before the satellite connects to the terrestrial gateway. At this time, if the satellite sends the stored registration request to the terrestrial gateway again, it will cause the problem that the registration process of the terminal and the terrestrial cell is interrupted incorrectly. In contrast, in this implementation, by making the terminal suspend the execution of the cell reselection operation before the expiration of the first timer, a certain buffer time is given for the satellite to connect to the terrestrial gateway, reducing the possibility of incorrect deregistration operations in the store-and-forward mode from the source. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Figure 1 is a 5G NR satellite communication architecture diagram provided by the present application;

[0037] Figure 2 is a 4G LTE satellite communication architecture diagram provided by this application;

[0038] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of end-to-end link interruption provided by this application;

[0039] Figure 4 is a signaling interaction diagram of a communication method in the first embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 5 is a signaling interaction diagram in a typical application scenario of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 6 is a signaling interaction diagram of a communication method in the second embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device in the third embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device in the fourth embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device in the fifth embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation manners

[0045] In the satellite communication network (abbreviation, satellite network) in the embodiments of this application, it refers to the signaling and data between the satellite as a relay forwarding terminal and the network (for example, the core network). Specifically, it can adopt, for example, Figure 1 and Figure 2 the satellite communication architecture shown. Refer to Figure 1 , in the new air interface (New Radio, abbreviation NR, also known as new radio) technology of the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (The Fifth-Generation mobile communications, abbreviation 5G), the base station (gNB) is located on the satellite, and the core network-related network elements (for example, AMF, UPF (User Plane Function), etc.) are located on the ground. The link between the terminal and the satellite is called the service link, and the link between the satellite and the ground gateway is called the feeder link. Refer to Figure 2 , in the 4G Long Term Evolution (abbreviation LTE) technology, the base station (eNB) is also located on the satellite, and the core network-related network elements (for example, MME, S-GW (Serving GateWay), etc.) are located on the ground.

[0046] In the store-and-forward mode in the embodiments of this application, it may refer to that when an end-to-end link interruption situation as shown in Figure 3 occurs, the satellite can complete the signaling / data transfer between the terminal and the core network through the store-and-forward method. Referring to Figure 3 , at time T1, the satellite moves above the terminal and establishes a connection with the terminal, but cannot connect to the terrestrial gateway. At this time, the satellite receives the data sent by the terminal and stores it. At time T3, the satellite moves above the terrestrial gateway, establishes a connection with the terrestrial gateway and establishes a connection with the core network elements (such as AMF, UPF) through the terrestrial gateway, but cannot connect to the terminal. At this time, the satellite transmits the data sent by the terminal at time T1 stored before to the core network elements.

[0047] As described in the background art, in a satellite network, the satellite relays and forwards the signaling and data between the terminal and the network. When the store-and-forward mode is adopted, if the terminal initiates an initial registration process, the registration process will be interrupted due to the movement of the satellite (for example, the terminal sends a registration request to the satellite at time T1, and the satellite needs to reach time T3 to connect to the core network and forward the registration request to it). If during the movement of the satellite, the terminal reselects back to the terrestrial cell at time T2 (the time point is between time T1 and time T3), then after the satellite moves to connect to the core network at time T3, the registration of the terminal in the terrestrial cell at time T2 will be wrongly deregistered due to the registration request at time T1 stored and forwarded by the satellite side.

[0048] To solve the above technical problems, the embodiments of this application provide a communication method, including: receiving a first signaling, the first signaling includes timeliness information, and the timeliness information is used to indicate the timeliness of the first signaling; sending a second signaling, the second signaling is used to request to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the timeliness information of the first signaling; receiving a first information, wherein if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first information is used to indicate rejecting to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0049] Through this implementation solution, timeliness information is added to the first signaling, and the second signaling sent by the first network element to the next node of the core network (for example, the second network element) carries this timeliness information, so that the next node can judge whether the update request has expired based on this, and then accurately judge whether to respond to this update request. Thus, it is possible to avoid the wrong interruption of the registration process when communicating using the store-and-forward mode.

[0050] The first signaling in the embodiments of the present application is used to initiate an attachment process or a tracking area update process. In some embodiments, the first signaling may be, for example, an Attach Request signaling, which can be sent by a terminal to a core network element through a base station. In some embodiments, the first signaling may be, for example, a Tracking Area Update Request signaling, which can be sent by a terminal to a core network element through a base station. In some embodiments, the first signaling may also be, for example, an Initial UE message, which can be generated and sent by a base station to a core network element in response to a terminal initiating an attachment process or a tracking area update process.

[0051] The base stations in the embodiments of the present application may include base stations deployed on satellites and base stations deployed on the ground. For ease of distinction, in the embodiments of the present application, the base stations deployed on satellites are referred to as satellites, and the base stations deployed on the ground are referred to as base stations. In the store-and-forward mode, there is such a situation that the terminal sends the first signaling to the satellite at time T1 and sends the first signaling to the base station at time T2, and the base station sends the first signaling to the core network element at time T2 (or at the latest before time T3), while the satellite sends the first signaling sent by the terminal at time T1 to the core network element at time T3.

[0052] The first network element in the embodiments of the present application refers to the core network element that receives the first signaling latest, such as the core network element that receives the first signaling sent by the satellite at time T3 as described above. Further, the first network element may be a network element for managing mobility, such as an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) or an MME (Mobility Management Entity). Taking the MME as an example, the first network element can be understood as a new MME. However, in fact, in the store-and-forward mode, the new MME receives the first signaling sent by the terminal at time T1.

[0053] The second network element in the embodiments of the present application may be an HSS (Home Subscriber Server) in the attachment process and an old MME in the tracking area update process.

[0054] The third network element in the embodiments of the present application refers to the core network element that received the first signaling last time, such as the core network element that received the first signaling sent by the base station at time T2 as described above. Taking the MME as an example, the third network element can be understood as an old MME. However, in fact, in the store-and-forward mode, the old MME receives the more "new" first signaling sent by the terminal at time T2.

[0055] The second signaling and the third signaling in the embodiments of the present application are the same in content. For example, they can be the signaling sent by the first network element to the second network element in an attachment procedure or a tracking area update procedure, and are used to request an update of positioning or context. In some embodiments, either the second signaling or the third signaling can be, for example, a ContextRequest signaling sent by the new MME to the old MME. In some embodiments, either the second signaling or the third signaling can be, for example, a positioning update request signaling sent by the new MME to the HSS.

[0056] The difference between the second signaling and the third signaling lies in that the sending ends and time effects of the first signaling that triggers the sending of the two are different. Specifically, in the store-and-forward mode, the terminal sends the first signaling to the satellite at time T1, and the satellite sends the first signaling to the first network element at time T3, and the first network element sends the second signaling to the second network element. On the other hand, the terminal sends a new first signaling to the base station at time T2, and the base station sends the new first signaling to the third network element at time T2, and the third network element sends the third signaling to the second network element. That is to say, the second signaling is sent by the first network element in response to the first signaling sent by the satellite, and the third signaling is sent by the third network element in response to the first signaling sent by the base station. The first signaling that triggers the second signaling is sent from the terminal side earlier than the first signaling that triggers the third signaling, but the second signaling arrives at the second network element later than the third signaling.

[0057] To make the above objects, features, and beneficial effects of the present application more obvious and understandable, the following detailed description will be given to the specific embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] Figure 4 It is a signaling interaction diagram of a communication method according to the first embodiment of the present application.

[0059] This implementation scheme can be applied to a communication scenario where the satellite network adopts the store-and-forward mode.

[0060] In specific implementation, in the communication method provided by the following steps S101 to S103, the steps implemented by the terminal can be executed by a chip with communication functions in the terminal or by a baseband chip in the terminal; the steps implemented by the network device can be executed by a chip with communication functions in the network device or by a baseband chip in the network device. The network device can include a first network element, a second network element, a third network element, a satellite, a base station, etc.

[0061] Specifically, referring to Figure 4 , the communication method described in this implementation scheme can include the following steps:

[0062] Step S101, the terminal sends a first signaling to a first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first signaling. The first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the timeliness of the first signaling.

[0063] In some embodiments, the aging information may include timestamp information, which is used to represent the timestamp when the terminal sends the first signaling. For example, if the terminal sends the first signaling at time T1, the timestamp information included in the first signaling may be time T1.

[0064] In some embodiments, the aging information may include numbering information, which is used to indicate the number of times the terminal sends the first signaling. Specifically, the numbering information increases as the number of times the first signaling is sent increases. For example, if the terminal sends the first signaling at time T1, the numbering information carried by the first signaling is number 1. Next, if the terminal sends the first signaling again at time T2, the numbering information carried by the first signaling is number 2.

[0065] In some embodiments, the aging information may include timestamp information and numbering information. For example, if the terminal sends the first signaling at time T1, the aging information in the first signaling is time T1 and the number is 1. Next, if the terminal sends the first signaling again at time T2, the aging information in the first signaling is time T2 and the number is 2.

[0066] For another example, if the terminal sends the first signaling at time T1, the aging information in the first signaling is number 1. In response to receiving the first signaling, the satellite further adds timestamp information (corresponding to the timestamp when the terminal sends the first signaling) as time T1 to the aging information of the first signaling.

[0067] In a specific implementation, continue to refer to Figure 4 , in response to receiving the first signaling, the first network element may execute step S102, and the first network element sends a second signaling to a second network element. Correspondingly, the second network element receives the second signaling. The second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling.

[0068] Taking the first signaling being used to initiate an attachment process as an example, the first network element may carry the aging information in the first signaling in a location update request signaling and send it to the HSS.

[0069] Taking the first signaling being used to initiate a tracking area update process as an example, the first network element may carry the aging information in the first signaling in a context request signaling and send it to a third network element.

[0070] In a specific implementation, continue to refer to Figure 4, in response to receiving the second signaling, the second network element may execute step S103. The second network element sends the first information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first information. Among them, if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first information is used to indicate the rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0071] Specifically, the second network element may determine whether it has received a third signaling that points to the same terminal and whose timeliness is later than that of the first signaling.

[0072] If the determination result indicates that it has received a third signaling that points to the same terminal and whose timeliness is later than that of the first signaling, the second network element sends the first information, and the first information is used to indicate the rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0073] If the determination result indicates that the timeliness of the first signaling is later than all the signals received in history that point to the same terminal, the first information is sent, and the first information is used to indicate the acceptance of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling. In other words, in this example, the first information is used to confirm the deletion of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0074] In a typical application scenario, continue to refer to Figure 4 , at time T1, the terminal sends the first signaling to the satellite, and at time T3, the satellite sends the first signaling to the first network element. At this time, the timeliness information of the first signaling (denoted as timeliness information A) is time T1 and / or number 1. The second signaling sent by the first network element to the second network element contains timeliness information A and is used to request the update of the terminal context.

[0075] During this period, at time T2, the terminal sends the first signaling to the third network element through the base station again. At this time, the timeliness information of the first signaling (denoted as timeliness information B) is time T2 and / or number 2. The third signaling sent by the third network element to the second network element contains timeliness information B and is used to request the update of the terminal context.

[0076] Assume that the second network element receives the third signaling first and then the second signaling. Since the timeliness information A carried by the second signaling is earlier than the timeliness information B carried by the previously received third signaling, the second network element rejects the update request of the first network element.

[0077] Assume that the second network element receives the second signaling first and then the third signaling. Since the timeliness information B carried by the third signaling is later than the timeliness information A carried by the previously received second signaling, the second network element accepts the update request of the third network element.

[0078] As described above, by adopting this implementation solution, aging information is added to the first signaling, and the second signaling sent by the first network element to the next node of the core network (for example, the second network element) carries this aging information, so that the next node can determine whether the update request has expired based on this, and then accurately determine whether to respond to this update request. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the incorrect interruption of the registration process when communicating using the store-and-forward mode.

[0079] In a typical application scenario, taking the attachment process (also known as the initial registration process) in 4G LTE as an example, the terminal can be in the idle state and has not been registered in the network before, such as when it is powered on for the first time or restarted.

[0080] Reference Figure 5 , on the basis of an established Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling connection, the terminal performs operation s1 and initiates the attachment process by sending an attachment request (ATTACH REQUEST) signaling (i.e., the first signaling) to the MME. The attachment request signaling contains aging information, and further may also contain: IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identification Number), or GUTI (Globally Unique Temporary UE Identity), the last visited Tracking Area Identity (TAI) (Last Visited TAI), the terminal network capability (UE Network Capability), the Packet Data Network (PDN) Internet Protocol (IP) option (PDN IP Option), the connection type (Connect Type), etc.

[0081] The satellite performs operation s2, selects the MME and sends the attachment request signaling. In a possible example, when the terminal initiates the attachment process, the satellite includes timestamp information in the Initial UE message sent to the new MME.

[0082] If the new MME (corresponding to the first network element) to which the terminal is newly connected is not the same as the old MME (corresponding to the third network element) to which it was connected when it last left the network, then the new MME will perform operation s3 to send an ID request to the old MME to apply for the IMSI of the current terminal for reassigning the GUTI for the current terminal.

[0083] If neither the new MME nor the old MME can recognize the current terminal, then the new MME performs operation s4 to send an ID request to the terminal. Subsequently, the terminal shall tell the new MME its IMSI.

[0084] If there is no security context of the terminal in the current network, then the new MME initiates an authentication process. After the terminal and the new MME authenticate each other, relevant security contexts will be generated on both sides.

[0085] In operation s5a, in the case of roaming, the new MME shall obtain the subscription information of the terminal from the HSS and other content.

[0086] In operation s5b, after authentication, the new MME may send a Mobile Equipment Identity Check Request to the EIR (Equipment Identity Register, UE ID register). The operator of the new MME may check the Mobile Equipment Identity in the EIR. At least during roaming, the new MME shall send the Mobile Equipment Identity to the HSS.

[0087] Then, operation s6 is executed, and the encryption options are updated between the new MME and the terminal.

[0088] If there is an active default bearer context in the new MME (for example, a bearer has been created when a previous connection attempt failed), then the new MME performs operation s7 to send a message to each PDN GW (abbreviation: P-GW) to delete these invalid bearer contexts.

[0089] Due to the change in the terminal's location (resulting in a change in the MME), the new MME performs operation s8 to send a Location Update Request signaling (also known as the Location Update Request signaling, location update request, that is, the second signaling) to the HSS. The Location Update Request signaling contains the timeliness information of the Attach Request signaling, and further can indicate the MME identity, IMSI, ME ID, etc.

[0090] The HSS determines whether the Attach Request signaling of the new MME has expired according to the timeliness information carried in the Location Update Request signaling. If the Attach Request signaling of the new MME is valid, then operations s9 and s10 are executed, and the old MME deletes the location information of the terminal and the corresponding bearer context saved therein. Further, the HSS performs operation s11, and the HSS replies to the new MME with Location Update Response information (that is, the first information), indicating acceptance of the new MME's Location Update Request (Update location ack).

[0091] If the attachment request signaling of the new MME has expired, operation s11’ is executed, and the HSS sends a location update response message (i.e., the first message) to the new MME, indicating a rejection of the location update request of the new MME (Update location reject). Also, in this example, operations s9 and s10 are not executed, thus avoiding the incorrect deletion of the context of the terminal on the old MME due to the expired attachment request. Further, the new MME rejects the attachment request of the terminal.

[0092] In another typical application scenario, taking the tracking area update process initiated by the terminal as an example, the terminal has been registered to the network but is still in the idle state. The base station or the core network can configure a tracking area list for the terminal, and one tracking area includes multiple cells. The terminal does not need to inform the network during its movement within the tracking areas in the tracking area list. If the terminal moves out of the tracking areas configured in the tracking area list, it needs to initiate a tracking area update process.

[0093] Specifically, the terminal can carry timestamp information and / or serial number information along with the tracking area update request (Tracking Area Update Request) signaling (i.e., the first signaling), and the serial number information is updated each time the terminal initiates a tracking area update process. Alternatively, when the terminal initiates a tracking area update process, the satellite includes timestamp information in the initial UE message (i.e., the first signaling) sent to the new MME (corresponding to the first network element).

[0094] Further, the new MME carries the aging information in the context request (Context Request) signaling (i.e., the second signaling) and sends it to the old MME (corresponding to the second network element).

[0095] Further, the old MME determines whether the tracking area update request signaling has expired based on the aging information. If it has expired, the old MME rejects the context request from the new MME.

[0096] Figure 6 It is a signaling interaction diagram of a communication method according to the second embodiment of the present application.

[0097] This implementation scheme can be applied to a communication scenario where the satellite network adopts the store-and-forward mode.

[0098] In a specific implementation, in the communication method provided in step S601 below, the steps implemented by the terminal can be executed by a chip with communication functions in the terminal or by the baseband chip in the terminal; the steps implemented by the network device can be executed by a chip with communication functions in the network device or by the baseband chip in the network device. The network device can include a satellite.

[0099] Specifically, referring to Figure 6, the terminal can execute step S601. The terminal sends a first signaling to the satellite. Correspondingly, the satellite receives the first signaling. Meanwhile, the terminal can start a first timer.

[0100] The first timer can be, for example, the T3510 timer.

[0101] Furthermore, before the first timer expires, if the signal quality of the cell pointed to by the first signaling is greater than a first preset threshold, the terminal pauses the cell reselection operation. For example, the terminal can pause sending a new first signaling to the base station.

[0102] In some embodiments, the cell pointed to by the first signaling can be a non-terrestrial cell, that is, a cell associated with the satellite.

[0103] In some embodiments, the signal quality can be characterized based on the Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and the Reference Signal Receiving Quality (RSRQ).

[0104] For example, for a terminal that initiates an attachment process in a non-terrestrial cell and returns to the idle state, when the attachment process is in the pending state (that is, T3510 is still running), if the signal quality (such as RSRP / RSRQ) of the current non-terrestrial cell is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold, the terminal pauses the cell reselection.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first preset threshold can be less than the standard threshold for triggering the cell reselection operation. The standard threshold is a threshold fixed by the existing protocol.

[0106] For example, the current protocol stipulates that cell reselection occurs when the RSRP is lower than the standard threshold (such as 10). In this implementation, the terminal initiates cell reselection only when it detects that the RSRP is lower than the first preset threshold (less than the standard threshold, for example, 5).

[0107] In a typical application scenario, the terminal sends an attachment process to the satellite. During the pending state of the attachment process, if based on the existing technology, the terminal performs cell reselection when it detects that the signal quality of the non-terrestrial cell is lower than the standard threshold. Once there is a situation where the terminal has reselected to a terrestrial cell before connecting to the terrestrial gateway via the satellite, and at this time the satellite sends the stored registration request to the terrestrial gateway again, it will cause the problem that the registration process between the terminal and the terrestrial cell is interrupted incorrectly.

[0108] However, in the store-and-forward mode, there is a possibility that the satellite can maintain a weak connection with the terminal (at this time, the signal quality is between the standard threshold and the first preset threshold), while also being connected to the core network. For example, when the terminal sends an attachment request, the satellite is not yet connected to the core network, so the satellite stores the attachment request. Subsequently, the satellite moves gradually away from the terminal but still has a weak connection and is connected to the core network. In this case, it is possible for the satellite to successfully complete the registration action of the terminal in the core network, and the terminal actually does not need to initiate a cell reselection.

[0109] Accordingly, in this implementation solution, by reducing the threshold for triggering cell reselection (i.e., reducing it to the first preset threshold), the terminal is postponed from initiating a cell reselection operation (i.e., postponing the action of the terminal to execute something similar to Figure 4 the action of sending the first signaling carrying the aging information B to the base station in

[0110] In this example, the first signaling sent in step S601 can also carry aging information.

[0111] Thus, by making the terminal postpone the cell reselection action before the expiration of the first timer, a certain buffer time is given for the satellite to connect to the ground gateway, reducing the possibility of incorrect deregistration operations in the store-and-forward mode from the source.

[0112] Figure 7 FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 7 according to a third embodiment of the present application. Those skilled in the art understand that the communication device 7 described in this embodiment can be used to implement the Figures 4 to 6 method technical solutions described in the above

[0113] Specifically, the communication device 7 described in this embodiment may include: a first receiving module 71, configured to receive the first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the timeliness of the first signaling; a sending module 72, configured to send a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; a second receiving module 73, configured to receive first information, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first information is used to indicate a rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0114] For more content regarding the working principle and working mode of the communication device 7, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions in the above Figures 4 to 6 and will not be elaborated here.

[0115] In a specific implementation, the above-mentioned communication device 7 may correspond to a chip with communication functions in a network device, or correspond to a chip with data processing functions, such as a System-On-a-Chip (SOC for short), a baseband chip, etc.; or correspond to a chip module including a chip with communication functions in a network device; or correspond to a chip module with a data processing function chip, or correspond to a network device. In this example, the network device may be, for example, a first network element.

[0116] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 8 according to the fourth embodiment of the present application. Those skilled in the art understand that the communication device 8 described in this embodiment can be used to implement the above Figures 4 to 6 method technical solutions described in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0117] Specifically, referring to Figure 8 , the communication device 8 described in this embodiment may include: a sending module 81, configured to send a first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the timeliness of the first signaling.

[0118] For more content about the working principle and working mode of the communication device 8, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions in the above Figures 4 to 6 , which will not be elaborated here.

[0119] In a specific implementation, the above-mentioned communication device 8 may correspond to a chip with communication functions in a terminal, or correspond to a chip with data processing functions, such as a System-On-a-Chip (SOC for short), a baseband chip, etc.; or correspond to a chip module including a chip with communication functions in a terminal; or correspond to a chip module with a data processing function chip, or correspond to a terminal.

[0120] Figure 9 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 9 according to the fifth embodiment of the present application. Those skilled in the art understand that the communication device 9 described in this embodiment can be used to implement the above Figures 4 to 6 method technical solutions described in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0121] Specifically, the communication device 9 described in this embodiment may include: a receiving module 91, configured to receive a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; a sending module 92, configured to send a first message, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first message is used to indicate a rejection of updating the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

[0122] For more content about the working principle and working mode of the communication device 9, reference can be made to the aboveFigures 4 to 6 The relevant descriptions in [reference] are not elaborated here.

[0123] In a specific implementation, the above-mentioned communication device 9 may correspond to a chip with communication functions in a network device, or correspond to a chip with data processing functions, such as a System-On-a-Chip (SOC for short), a baseband chip, etc.; or correspond to a chip module including a chip with communication functions in a network device; or correspond to a chip module with a data processing function chip, or correspond to a network device. In this example, the network device may be, for example, a second network element.

[0124] In a specific implementation, for each module / unit included in each device and product described in the above embodiments, it may be a software module / unit, a hardware module / unit, or may also be partly a software module / unit and partly a hardware module / unit.

[0125] For example, for each device and product applied to or integrated into a chip, each module / unit included therein may be implemented in a hardware manner such as a circuit, or at least some of the modules / units may be implemented in a software program manner, and the software program runs on a processor integrated inside the chip, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules / units may be implemented in a hardware manner such as a circuit; for each device and product applied to or integrated into a chip module, each module / unit included therein may be implemented in a hardware manner such as a circuit, and different modules / units may be located in the same component (such as a chip, a circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some of the modules / units may be implemented in a software program manner, and the software program runs on a processor integrated inside the chip module, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules / units may be implemented in a hardware manner such as a circuit; for each device and product applied to or integrated into a terminal, each module / unit included therein may be implemented in a hardware manner such as a circuit, and different modules / units may be located in the same component (such as a chip, a circuit module, etc.) or different components inside the terminal, or at least some of the modules / units may be implemented in a software program manner, and the software program runs on a processor integrated inside the terminal, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules / units may be implemented in a hardware manner such as a circuit.

[0126] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is a non-volatile storage medium or a non-transitory storage medium, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is run by a processor, it executes the steps of the communication method provided in any of the above embodiments. Preferably, the storage medium may include computer-readable storage media such as non-volatile memory or non-transitory memory. The storage medium may include ROM, RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc.

[0127] An embodiment of the present invention further provides another communication device, including a memory and a processor. A computer program that can run on the processor is stored on the memory. When the processor runs the computer program, it executes the steps of the communication method provided in the corresponding embodiment above. Figures 4 to 6 The communication device may be integrated into a terminal / network device, or the communication device may be, for example, a terminal / network device.

[0128] The technical solution of this application is applicable to the fifth-generation (5G) communication system, and is also applicable to the fourth-generation (4G), third-generation (3G) communication systems, and is also applicable to various future new communication systems, such as the sixth-generation (6G), seventh-generation (7G), etc. The embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0129] The technical solution of this application is also applicable to different network architectures, including but not limited to relay network architecture, dual-link architecture, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) architecture, device-to-device (D2D) architecture, etc.

[0130] The devices in the embodiments of this application include network devices and terminal devices.

[0131] The network devices in the embodiments of this application include base stations and base station controllers of the access network, and may also include terminals.

[0132] The base station (BS) in the embodiments of the present application, which can also be referred to as base station equipment, is a device deployed in a radio access network (RAN) to provide wireless communication functions. For example, the equipment providing base station functions in a 2G network includes a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), the equipment providing base station functions in a 3G network includes a Node B, the equipment providing base station functions in a 4G network includes an evolved Node B (eNB), in a Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), the equipment providing base station functions is an Access Point (AP), the equipment providing base station functions in 5G New Radio (NR) is a gNB, and the next-generation evolved Node B (ng-eNB). Among them, the gNB communicates with the terminal using NR technology, and the ng-eNB communicates with the terminal using Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) technology. Both the gNB and the ng-eNB can be connected to the 5G core network. The base station in the embodiments of the present application also includes equipment that provides base station functions in future new communication systems, etc.

[0133] The base station controller in the embodiments of the present application, which can also be referred to as base station controller equipment, is a device for managing base stations. For example, the base station controller (BSC) in a 2G network, the radio network controller (RNC) in a 3G network, and it can also refer to a device for controlling and managing base stations in future new communication systems.

[0134] The terminal in the embodiments of the present application, which can also be referred to as a terminal device, can refer to various forms of user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal device can also be a cellular phone, cordless phone, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication function, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal device in the future 5G network or terminal device in the future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0135] Although the present application is disclosed as above, the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, including: receiving a first signaling, where the first signaling includes timeliness information for indicating the timeliness of the first signaling; sending a second signaling for requesting to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, where the second signaling includes the timeliness information of the first signaling; receiving a first piece of information, where if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first piece of information is used to indicate rejecting the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein If the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling is valid, the first piece of information is used to confirm deleting the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The timeliness information includes: timestamp information and / or serial number information, and the serial number information increases as the number of times the first signaling is sent increases.

4. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first signaling is selected from: an attachment request signaling, a tracking area update request signaling, and an initial user equipment message.

5. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second signaling is selected from: a context request signaling and a location update request signaling.

6. A communication method, characterized in that, including: sending a first signaling, where the first signaling includes timeliness information for indicating the timeliness of the first signaling.

7. The communication method according to claim 6, characterized in that, further including: before a first timer expires, if the signal quality of the cell pointed to by the first signaling is greater than a first preset threshold, suspending the execution of the cell reselection action.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein The first preset threshold is less than the standard threshold for triggering the cell reselection action.

9. The communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, The timeliness information includes: timestamp information and / or serial number information, and the serial number information increases as the number of times the first signaling is sent increases.

10. The communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that, The first signaling is selected from: an attachment request signaling, a tracking area update request signaling, and an initial user equipment message.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, including: receiving a second signaling for requesting to update the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, where the second signaling includes the timeliness information of the first signaling; sending a first piece of information, where if the timeliness information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first piece of information is used to indicate rejecting the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

12. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein The sending of the first piece of information includes: if a third signaling pointing to the same terminal and having a timeliness later than that of the first signaling has been received, sending the first piece of information, and the first piece of information is used to indicate rejecting the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

13. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein The sending of the first piece of information further includes: if the timeliness of the first signaling is later than all the signals received historically that point to the same terminal, sending the first piece of information, and the first piece of information is used to indicate accepting the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

14. The communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The timeliness information includes: timestamp information and / or serial number information, and the serial number information increases as the number of times the first signaling is sent increases.

15. The communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The first signaling is selected from: an attachment request signaling, a tracking area update request signaling, and an initial user equipment message.

16. The communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that The second signaling is selected from: a context request signaling and a location update request signaling.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, including: a first receiving module for receiving a first signaling, where the first signaling includes timeliness information for indicating the timeliness of the first signaling; A sending module, configured to send a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; A second receiving module, configured to receive a first piece of information, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first piece of information is used to indicate a rejection of the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, Comprising: A sending module, configured to send a first signaling, where the first signaling includes aging information, and the aging information is used to indicate the aging property of the first signaling.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, Comprising: A receiving module, configured to receive a second signaling, where the second signaling is used to request an update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling, and the second signaling includes the aging information of the first signaling; A sending module, configured to send a first piece of information, where if the aging information indicates that the first signaling has expired, the first piece of information is used to indicate a rejection of the update of the context of the terminal pointed to by the first signaling.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium being a non-volatile storage medium or a non-transitory storage medium, having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is run by a processor, it executes the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

21. A communication device, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein a computer program capable of running on the processor is stored on the memory, characterized in that, When the processor runs the computer program, it executes the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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