Communication method and device of NTN (Network Temporary Network), terminal and network side equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses an NTN communication method and device, a terminal and network side equipment, and belongs to the technical field of communication, and the NTN communication method comprises the steps that the terminal obtains first information, and the first information comprises at least one of the following items: a network supports a storage and forwarding communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a storage and forwarding communication mode based on satellite communication; and the terminal executes a first operation of a storage and forwarding communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, wherein the first operation comprises an attachment operation or a registration operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of communication technologies, and particularly relates to a communication method, apparatus, terminal, and network-side device for a Non Terrestrial Network (NTN). Background Art

[0002] In some related technologies, the attachment and registration processes of a terminal are often based on a terrestrial network, and the prerequisite for the attachment and registration processes is that the link between the terminal and the network side is always in an available state. This results in the attachment and registration processes of the terminal only supporting terrestrial networks, making the communication performance of the terminal relatively poor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of this application provide a communication method, apparatus, terminal, and network-side device for an NTN, which can solve the problem of relatively poor communication performance of the terminal.

[0004] In a first aspect, a communication method for an NTN is provided, which is characterized by including:

[0005] A terminal obtains first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0006] The terminal performs a first operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

[0007] In a second aspect, a communication method for an NTN is provided, which is characterized by including:

[0008] A first core network element obtains third information;

[0009] The first core network element performs an attachment operation or a registration operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information.

[0010] In a third aspect, a communication method for an NTN is provided, including:

[0011] An access network device obtains fourth information;

[0012] The access network device performs an attachment operation or a registration operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the fourth information;

[0013] where the fourth information includes at least one of the following:

[0014] A second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0015] The second local configuration information, where the second local configuration information indicates that the access network device is in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0016] In a fourth aspect, a communication device for NTN is provided, including:

[0017] An acquisition module, configured to acquire first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0018] An execution module, configured to perform a first operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, where the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

[0019] In a fifth aspect, a communication device for NTN is provided, including:

[0020] An acquisition module, configured to acquire third information;

[0021] An execution module, configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information.

[0022] In a sixth aspect, a communication device for NTN is provided, including:

[0023] An acquisition module, configured to acquire fourth information;

[0024] An execution module, configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the fourth information;

[0025] where the fourth information includes at least one of the following:

[0026] A second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0027] The second local configuration information, where the second local configuration information indicates that the access network device is in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0028] In a seventh aspect, a terminal is provided, where the terminal includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores a program or instruction that can run on the processor, and when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the steps of the method described in the first aspect are implemented.

[0029] In an eighth aspect, a terminal is provided, including a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to obtain first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; perform a first operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

[0030] In a ninth aspect, a network-side device is provided. The network-side device includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores a program or instructions that can run on the processor. When the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the method described in the second aspect are implemented, and when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the method described in the third aspect are implemented.

[0031] In a tenth aspect, a network-side device is provided, including a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to obtain third information; the communication interface or the processor is configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information. Alternatively, the communication interface is configured to obtain fourth information; perform an attachment operation or a registration operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the fourth information; where the fourth information includes at least one of the following: second indication information for indicating that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; second local configuration information for indicating that the access network device is a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0032] In an eleventh aspect, a readable storage medium is provided. A program or instructions are stored on the readable storage medium. When the program or instructions are executed by a processor, the steps of the method described in the first aspect are implemented, or the steps of the method described in the second aspect are implemented, or the steps of the method described in the third aspect are implemented.

[0033] In a twelfth aspect, a wireless communication system is provided, including: a terminal, an access network device, and a first core network element. The terminal can be used to execute the steps of the method described in the first aspect, the first core network element can be used to execute the steps of the method described in the second aspect, and the access network device can be used to execute the steps of the method described in the third aspect.

[0034] In a thirteenth aspect, a chip is provided. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to run a program or instructions to implement the method described in the first aspect, or implement the method described in the second aspect, or implement the method described in the third aspect.

[0035] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer program / program product is provided. The computer program / program product is stored in a storage medium and is executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the method described in the first aspect, or the program / program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the method described in the second aspect, or the program / program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the method described in the third aspect.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal obtains first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the terminal performs a first operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation. In this way, according to the first information, the terminal can perform the first operation of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation, so that the terminal can support the attachment or registration of NTN, thereby improving the communication performance of the terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system to which embodiments of the present application can be applied;

[0038] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another wireless communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a communication method for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 5 is a flowchart of another communication method for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 6 is a flowchart of another communication method for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another communication for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another communication for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of another NTN communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 11 It is a schematic diagram of another NTN communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 12a It is a schematic diagram of another NTN communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 12b It is a schematic diagram of another NTN communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 13 It is a structural diagram of an NTN communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 14 It is a structural diagram of another NTN communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figure 15 It is a structural diagram of another NTN communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 16 It is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 17 It is a structural diagram of a device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 18 It is a structural diagram of another device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 19 It is a structural diagram of another device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0057] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0058] The terms "first", "second", etc. in this application are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of this application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first" and "second" are generally of the same type, and do not limit the number of objects. For example, the first object can be one or more. In addition, "or" in this application means at least one of the connected objects. For example, "A or B" covers three scenarios, namely, Scenario 1: including A and not including B; Scenario 2: including B and not including A; Scenario 3: including both A and B. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0059] The term "indication" in this application can be either a direct indication (or an explicit indication) or an indirect indication (or an implicit indication). Among them, a direct indication can be understood as that the sender clearly informs the receiver of specific information, operations to be performed, or request results, etc. in the sent indication; an indirect indication can be understood as that the receiver determines the corresponding information according to the indication sent by the sender, or makes a judgment and determines the operations to be performed or request results, etc. according to the judgment result.

[0060] It is worth noting that the technology described in the embodiments of this application is not limited to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) / LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, and can also be used in other wireless communication systems, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single-carrier Frequency-Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), or other systems. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of this application are often used interchangeably, and the described technology can be used not only in the systems and radio technologies mentioned above, but also in other systems and radio technologies. The following description describes the New Radio (NR) system for example purposes, and uses NR terms in most of the following descriptions, but these technologies can also be applied to systems other than the NR system, such as the 6th generation (6 thGeneration, 6G) communication system.

[0061] Figure 1 The block diagram of a wireless communication system to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied is shown. The wireless communication system includes a terminal 11 and a network-side device 12. Among them, the terminal 11 can be a mobile phone, a tablet personal computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a netbook, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a mobile internet device (MID), an augmented reality (AR), a virtual reality (VR) device, a robot, a wearable device, a flight vehicle, a vehicle user equipment (VUE), a shipborne device, a pedestrian user equipment (PUE), a smart home (home appliances with wireless communication functions, such as refrigerators, TVs, washing machines or furniture, etc.), a game console, a personal computer (PC), an ATM or a self-service machine, etc. Wearable devices include: smart watches, smart bracelets, smart earphones, smart glasses, smart jewelry (smart bracelets, smart bracelets, smart rings, smart necklaces, smart anklets, smart ankle chains, etc.), smart wristbands, smart clothing, etc. Among them, the vehicle user equipment can also be called a vehicle terminal, a vehicle controller, a vehicle module, a vehicle component, a vehicle chip or a vehicle unit, etc. It should be noted that the specific type of the terminal 11 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0062] The network-side device 12 may include an access network device or a core network device. Among them, the access network device may also be referred to as a radio access network (RAN) device, a radio access network function, or a radio access network unit. The access network device may include a base station, a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) node, etc. Among them, the base station may be referred to as Node B (NB), evolved Node B (eNB), next generation Node B (gNB), new radio Node B (NR Node B), access point, relay base station (RBS), serving base station (SBS), base transceiver station (BTS), radio base station, radio transceiver, basic service set (BSS), extended service set (ESS), home Node B (HNB), home evolved Node B, transmission reception point (TRP), on-board access network device, centralized unit (CU) of the on-board access network device, CU of the on-board access network device, or some other suitable term in the art. As long as the same technical effect is achieved, the base station is not limited to specific technical terms. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, only the base station in the NR system is taken as an example for introduction, and the specific type of the base station is not limited.

[0063] The core network device, also known as a core network element, may include but is not limited to at least one of the following: core network node, core network function, Mobility Management Entity (MME), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), User Plane Function (UPF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Serving Gate Way (SGW), PDN Gate Way (PGW), Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Edge Application Server Discovery Function (EASDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Unified Data Repository (UDR), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Centralized network configuration (CNC), Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), Local NEF (L-NEF), Binding Support Function (BSF), Application Function (AF), etc. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, only the core network devices in the NR system are taken as examples for introduction, and the specific types of core network devices are not limited.

[0064] In the NTN communication system, to enable data or signaling interaction between the terminal and the terrestrial network, it is necessary to ensure that the service link (i.e., Figure 2 the link between the terminal and the satellite) and the feeder link ( Figure 2 the link between the satellite and the ground station) can both remain connected simultaneously.

[0065] In some cases, such as in the initial stage of satellite network deployment, it cannot be guaranteed that the service link and the feeder link can maintain connections simultaneously. To support data transmission (e.g., delay-tolerant service data), an embodiment of the present application proposes a store and forward communication (S&F) mode, as Figure 3 shown. Taking the uplink data transmission as an example, when the terminal has uplink data to send, it can first send the data to the satellite through the service link (as shown in step A in the figure), and the satellite stores the relevant data (or the network device on the satellite stores the relevant data). When the satellite moves to a position where the feeder link is available, it forwards the stored data to the ground network (as shown in step B in the figure). Similarly, when there is downlink data to be sent to the terminal, the ground network first sends the data to the satellite, and the satellite stores the relevant downlink data. When the satellite moves to a position where the service link is available, it forwards the stored data to the terminal.

[0066] Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a communication method, device, terminal, and network-side device of NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail through some embodiments and their application scenarios.

[0067] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 which is a flowchart of a communication method of NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application, as Figure 4 shown, and includes the following steps:

[0068] Step 401: The terminal obtains first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0069] Among them, the above-mentioned terminal obtaining the first information may be that the terminal obtains the first information sent by the network-side device. In some implementation manners, it may also be that the terminal generates the above-mentioned first information. For example, based on the information that has been obtained or pre-configured, the terminal determines that the above-mentioned network supports the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication, or the network executes the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0070] Step 402: The terminal performs a first operation of the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

[0071] Among them, the above-mentioned performing the first operation of the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information may be to determine that the network supports the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication, or the network executes the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the above-mentioned first information, and then perform the first operation of the store and forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0072] Among them, the above attachment operation may be an attachment request operation, specifically an attachment request operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; the above registration operation may be a registration operation, specifically a registration request operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0073] In the embodiment of the present application, through the above steps, it is possible to implement an attachment operation or a registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication according to the first information, thereby supporting the attachment or registration of NTN, and further improving the communication performance of the terminal.

[0074] As an alternative embodiment, the attachment operation includes:

[0075] Sending an attachment request message of the first type, and the attachment of the attachment request message of the first type is an attachment type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0076] The registration operation includes:

[0077] Sending a registration request message of the first type, and the registration of the registration request message of the first type is a registration type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0078] The above attachment request message of the first type may be an attachment request indicated by the attachment request message that is an attachment request based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0079] The above registration request message of the first type may be a registration request indicated by the registration request message that is a registration request based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0080] In this embodiment, since the attachment request message of the first type is sent, it is possible to support the attachment in the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication, thereby better attaching in NTN. Since the request message of the first type is sent, it is possible to support the request in the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication, thereby better making a request in NTN.

[0081] As an alternative embodiment, the first operation further includes:

[0082] Sending first indication information;

[0083] Sending second indication information;

[0084] Among them, the first indication information is carried in the attachment request message or the registration request message, and the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0085] Indicating to use the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0086] Indicates the ability to support the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0087] The second indication information is carried in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message sent to the RAN, indicating that the terminal uses the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0088] Wherein, the first indication information may be a first S&F indication, and the second indication information may be a second S&F indication.

[0089] The RRC message may carry the attachment request message or the registration request message.

[0090] For example: The terminal sends an attachment request message to the access network device through an RRC message. The attachment request message carries a first S&F indication, and the first S&F indication is used to indicate to a first core network element MME that the terminal has S&F communication capabilities or indicates that the terminal uses S&F communication. The RRC message carries a second S&F indication, and the second S&F indication is used to indicate to the access network device that the above terminal uses S&F communication. The S&F communication refers to the communication in which the terminal uses the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the attachment or registration of the terminal's store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication is explicitly indicated to the core network or the access network through the first indication information or the second indication information.

[0092] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, it is not limited to explicitly indicating the attachment or registration of the terminal's store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication to the core network or the access network through the first indication information or the second indication information. It may also be an implicit indication to the core network or the access network to indicate the attachment or registration of the terminal's store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication, and this is not limited. For example, if the core network or the access network currently only supports or only allows the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication, then when receiving the UE's attachment, registration, or other NAS messages, it can be considered that the terminal is using the communication in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication or has the ability of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0093] As an optional implementation manner, the method further includes:

[0094] The terminal receives second information sent by the network side, and the second information includes at least one of the following:

[0095] Satellite cycle;

[0096] The time or time window for the next access of the terminal;

[0097] The cell information for the next access of the terminal;

[0098] Indication that an attach request, a registration request, or a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended;

[0099] The effective duration for the terminal to resume attachment or registration;

[0100] Registration resume indication;

[0101] NAS signaling or process suspension resume indication.

[0102] Wherein, the above second information can be sent by a first core network element or an access network device, and the above second information can be sent through one or more messages.

[0103] The above satellite cycle can be used for the terminal to calculate the time or time window for the next access.

[0104] The time for the next access of the terminal can be the effective time for the terminal to access the network next time, and the time window for the next access of the terminal can be the effective time range for the terminal to access the network next time.

[0105] The time or time window for the next access of the terminal can be used for the terminal to determine the time for the next execution of attach or registration resume, and it can also be a periodic time such as (3:00 - 3:15, 6:00 - 6:15, 9:00 - 9:15, with an interval period of 3 hours), or it can be a specific time period such as (3:00 - 3:15).

[0106] The cell information for the next access of the terminal can be the cell identifier for the next access of the terminal.

[0107] The above NAS signaling or process suspension resume indication represents the above NAS signaling suspension resume indication, or the above NAS signaling or process suspension resume indication.

[0108] The above NAS signaling is an NAS signaling related to attach or registration, or other NAS signaling or processes, such as PDN establishment, PDN establishment completion, or service request, etc.

[0109] The effective duration for the terminal to resume attachment or registration can be the effective retention time for attachment or registration. That is, the effective duration for the network side to save the context for the UE or save the suspended signaling data, ensuring that the UE can initiate registration resume or other NAS signaling or process resume within the effective duration.

[0110] In this embodiment, the second information includes the satellite cycle, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal, the cell information for the next access of the terminal, an attach request, a registration request, or a NAS signaling suspension indication, or the effective duration for the terminal to resume attachment or registration. Based on this information, an attach or registration resume can be initiated to improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0111] It should be noted that in the case where the attach request, the registration request, or the NAS signaling suspension indication is not included in the above second information, the attach request, the registration request, or the NAS signaling suspension can also be implicitly indicated by the remaining information in the above second information.

[0112] As an alternative embodiment, the method further includes:

[0113] When a satellite cycle is satisfied, the time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration or attach resume indication is received, a NAS signaling or process suspension resume indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available, an attach or registration resume process is initiated.

[0114] Among them, the above-mentioned situation of initiating an attach or registration resume process when a satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration or attach resume indication is received, a NAS signaling or process suspension resume indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available can be understood as initiating an attach or registration resume process when any one or more of the following are satisfied:

[0115] A satellite cycle is satisfied;

[0116] The time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached;

[0117] The cell for the next access of the terminal is matched.

[0118] A registration or attach resume indication is received;

[0119] A NAS signaling or process suspension resume indication is received;

[0120] A service link is detected to be available;

[0121] For example: The terminal starts a timer for the next access, and the duration of this timer matches the time or time window for the next access of the terminal. In this way, when this timer times out or expires, an attach or registration resume process is initiated.

[0122] In the above embodiments, since the attachment or registration restoration process is initiated when a satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration restoration indication is received, a NAS signaling or a process suspension restoration indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available, the success rate of attachment or registration restoration can be improved.

[0123] Optionally, the initiating the attachment or registration restoration process includes at least one of the following:

[0124] Initiating an RRC connection establishment or connection restoration process;

[0125] Sending an attachment suspension restoration request, a registration suspension restoration request, an RRC signaling suspension restoration indication, or a NAS signaling suspension restoration indication.

[0126] In this embodiment, the attachment or registration restoration process can be initiated in multiple ways to meet the requirements of different scenarios and improve the compatibility of the terminal. For example, for the scenario where the access network device and the first core network element are on the satellite, an attachment suspension restoration request or a registration suspension restoration request can be sent; for the scenario where the access network device is on the satellite and the first core network element is not on the satellite, an RRC connection establishment or connection restoration process can be initiated.

[0127] In some embodiments, the above attachment suspension restoration request, registration suspension restoration request, RRC signaling suspension restoration indication, or NAS signaling suspension restoration indication may carry the identification information of the terminal, and may also carry an S&F indication, which can indicate at least one of the following:

[0128] Indicating to use the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0129] Indicating the ability to support the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0130] Optionally, when a satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration restoration indication is received, a NAS signaling or a process suspension restoration indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available, initiating the attachment or registration restoration process includes:

[0131] When a satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration restoration indication is received, a NAS signaling or a process suspension restoration indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available, and within the effective duration of the attachment or registration restoration of the terminal, initiate the attachment or registration restoration process.

[0132] In this embodiment, based on the above embodiment, conditions within the effective duration of the terminal attachment or registration restoration are added, making the attachment or registration restoration more likely to succeed, and avoiding the situation where the terminal does not initiate attachment, registration, or the restoration of NAS signaling or procedures for a long time, resulting in the network side deleting relevant information of the UE, leading to the inability to associate the suspended process and the failure of the registration or the restoration of NAS signaling or procedures.

[0133] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal obtains first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the terminal performs a first operation of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation. Thus, since the first operation of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication is performed according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation, the attachment or registration of NTN is supported, thereby improving the communication performance of the terminal.

[0134] Please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 which is a flowchart of a communication method for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 5 shown, it includes the following steps:

[0135] Step 501, a first core network element obtains third information.

[0136] Among them, the above first core network element may be an MME or other core network elements, such as an SGW or a PDN, and there is no limitation thereto.

[0137] The above first core network element obtaining the third information may be receiving the third information sent by the terminal or the access network device, or may include the local information obtained by the first core network element.

[0138] And the above obtaining the third information may be obtaining the above third information through one or more operations.

[0139] The above third information may include information related to the store-and-forward communication.

[0140] Step 502, the first core network element performs an attachment operation or a registration operation of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information.

[0141] The above first core network element performing an attachment operation or a registration operation based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode according to the third information may be that the first core network element performs an attachment operation such as attachment suspension or attachment recovery based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode according to the third information, or the first core network element performs a registration operation such as registration suspension or registration recovery based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode according to the third information.

[0142] Optionally, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0143] An indication information, which is used to indicate at least one of the following: using the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode; the ability to support the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode; the access method by which the terminal accesses through the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode;

[0144] Satellite cycle;

[0145] A first return time, which refers to the time when the access network device on the satellite next returns to access the first core network element;

[0146] A first type of attachment request message, where the attachment of the first type of attachment request message is an attachment type based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode;

[0147] A first type of registration request message, where the registration of the first type of registration request message is a registration type based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode

[0148] A first local configuration information, which indicates that the access of the terminal is through the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode.

[0149] Among them, the above first return time can be applicable to the scenario where the access network device is on the satellite and the first core network element is on the ground. It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, for the embodiments without scenario description, it means that it can be applicable to all NTN scenarios.

[0150] The above first local configuration information can implicitly indicate that the access of the terminal is through the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode. For example: when the terminal enters a certain area, the first core network element determines that it has entered the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode, or the first core network element is configured to be only applicable to the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode, that is, the above indication information is not required to indicate the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode.

[0151] Optionally, the indication information includes at least one of the following:

[0152] The first indication information, the third indication information;

[0153] Among them, the first indication information is carried in an attachment request message or a registration request message, and is used to indicate at least one of the following: indicating the use of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0154] indicating the ability to support the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0155] The third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal accesses through the access method of the store-and-forward communication mode via satellite communication.

[0156] Optionally, performing an attachment operation or a registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode via satellite communication includes:

[0157] When the serving link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, suspending the attachment or registration process of the terminal, or suspending the session establishment process of the terminal.

[0158] Among them, when suspending the attachment or registration process of the terminal, or suspending the session establishment process of the terminal, the first core network element may send relevant messages to the terminal or the access network device, such as sending an attachment suspension request, a registration suspension request, a session establishment suspension request, and these requests may carry at least one of the following:

[0159] Satellite cycle;

[0160] The time or time window for the terminal to access next;

[0161] The cell information for the terminal to access next;

[0162] An indication that the attachment request, the registration request, or the non-access stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended;

[0163] The effective duration for the terminal's attachment or registration recovery.

[0164] In the above embodiments, since the attachment or registration process of the terminal is suspended, or the session establishment process of the terminal is suspended, this can well match the satellite movement in the NTN, so that the NTN can better provide attachment or registration services for the terminal.

[0165] Optionally, the above method further includes at least one of the following:

[0166] Sending at least one of the following to the terminal; satellite cycle; the time or time window for the terminal to access next; the cell information for the terminal to access next; an indication that the attachment request, the registration request, or the non-access stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended; the effective duration for the terminal's attachment or registration recovery;

[0167] When the feeder link is available, resume the suspended attachment or registration process, and the process of resuming the suspended attachment or registration includes at least one of the following: authentication of the terminal, acquisition of encryption information, and session establishment process;

[0168] When the feeder link is available or when the first return time is reached, resume the suspended attachment or registration process, and the process of resuming the suspended attachment or registration includes sending a first NAS message to the RAN, and the first NAS message includes at least one of the following: an authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attachment acceptance message, and a registration acceptance message;

[0169] When the service link is available or when an attachment resume indication of the terminal is received, send a second NAS message to the terminal, and the second NAS message includes at least one of the following: an authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attachment acceptance message, and a registration acceptance message;

[0170] When the service link is available, send a registration resume indication, or send an or NAS signaling or a process suspension resume indication to the terminal.

[0171] Among them, the above process of resuming the suspended attachment or registration may resume the suspended attachment or registration process when the first core network element receives a resume request sent by the terminal or the access network device, or may be determined by the first core network element based on the link condition (available or unavailable) or time (such as being able to connect to the terminal at 1:00:1:15).

[0172] The multiple processes included in the above process of resuming the suspended attachment or registration may be carried out in one satellite cycle or multiple satellite cycles.

[0173] The above sending of the second NAS message to the terminal may be carried out in one satellite cycle or multiple satellite cycles.

[0174] The above attachment or registration resume indication may be an attachment or registration resume request or an attachment or registration request.

[0175] In the above embodiments, multiple methods can be used to resume the suspended attachment or registration process, which can be applied to different scenarios to make the attachment or registration of the terminal more reliable. For example, it can be applied to any of the following scenarios:

[0176] The access network device, the first core network element, the SGW, and the PGW are on the satellite;

[0177] The access network device and the first core network element are on the satellite, and the SGW and the PGW are not on the satellite;

[0178] On the satellite of the access network device, the first core network element, SGW, and PGW are not on the satellite.

[0179] It should be noted that, as an implementation manner of the first core network element corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the specific implementation manner can refer to the relevant description of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 For the sake of avoiding repeated description, this embodiment will not be elaborated here.

[0180] Please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 which is a flowchart of a communication method for NTN provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6 , it includes the following steps:

[0181] Step 601: The access network device obtains the fourth information;

[0182] Step 602: The access network device performs an attachment operation or a registration operation based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode according to the fourth information;

[0183] Among them, the fourth information includes at least one of the following:

[0184] The second indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal uses the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode;

[0185] The second local configuration information, which indicates that the access network device is based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode.

[0186] Among them, the above-mentioned access network device obtaining the fourth information can be received from the terminal, or can be determined by the access network device based on local information.

[0187] The above-mentioned second local configuration information can implicitly indicate that the terminal's access is through the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode. For example: when the terminal enters a certain area, the access network device determines that it has entered the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode, or the access network device is configured to be only applicable to the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode, that is, there is no need for the above indication information to indicate the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode.

[0188] The above-mentioned access network device can be on the satellite.

[0189] Optionally, the second indication information is carried in the radio resource control (RRC) message sent to the radio access network (RAN).

[0190] Optionally, the performing the attachment operation or the registration operation based on the satellite communication's store-and-forward communication mode includes at least one of the following:

[0191] When the service link is unavailable, suspend the third NAS message, where the third NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication reply of the terminal, the security command reply, the security command, the authentication request, the attachment acceptance message, and the registration acceptance message.

[0192] When the service link is available, forward the fourth NAS message to the first core network device, where the fourth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication recovery of the terminal, the security command reply, the attachment completion message, and the registration completion message;

[0193] When the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, send at least one of the following to the terminal:

[0194] The satellite cycle;

[0195] The time or time window for the terminal to access next;

[0196] The cell information for the terminal to access next;

[0197] The attachment request, the registration request, or the indication that the NAS signaling is suspended;

[0198] The registration recovery indication;

[0199] The NAS signaling or the process suspension recovery indication.

[0200] It should be noted that all the forwarding in the embodiments of this application can be expressed as sending.

[0201] Among them, the suspension of the third NAS message can be executed in one satellite cycle or multiple satellite cycles.

[0202] The forwarding of the fourth NAS message to the first core network device above can be executed in one satellite cycle or multiple satellite cycles.

[0203] The information sent to the terminal above can be executed in one satellite cycle or multiple satellite cycles.

[0204] The above embodiments can be applied to the scenario where the access network device is on the satellite and the first core network element is on the ground. Of course, this is not limited thereto. For example, it can also be applied to the scenario where both the access network device and the first core network element are on the satellite.

[0205] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0206] When the service link is available, or the RRC connection is restored, or a non-access stratum (NAS) connection restoration indication of the terminal is received, forward a fifth NAS message to the terminal, where the fifth NAS message includes at least one of the following: an authentication request sent by a first core network device to the terminal, a security command sent by the first core network device to the terminal, an attachment acceptance message, and a registration acceptance message.

[0207] The above forwarding of the fifth NAS message to the terminal may be performed in one satellite cycle or multiple satellite cycles.

[0208] The above embodiment can be applied to a scenario where the access network device is on a satellite and the first core network element is on the ground. Of course, this is not limited thereto, and it can also be applied to a scenario where both the access network device and the first core network element are on the satellite.

[0209] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0210] The access network device selects a first core network element that supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0211] The above selection by the access network device of a first core network element that supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication may be performed when an attachment request or a registration request of the terminal is received, so that the terminal performs attachment or registration in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0212] The access network device always selects the first core network element on the satellite.

[0213] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0214] When the feeder link is available, send a satellite cycle or a second return time to the first core network element, where the second return time refers to the time when the access network device next returns to access the first core network element.

[0215] The above embodiment can be applied to a scenario where the access network device is on a satellite and the first core network element is on the ground.

[0216] It should be noted that, as an embodiment of the access network device corresponding to the embodiments shown in Figure 4 and 5 , the specific implementation manner can refer to the relevant descriptions of the embodiments shown in Figure 4 and 5 . To avoid repeated description, this embodiment will not be elaborated herein.

[0217] The following takes attachment as an example to illustrate the method provided by the embodiments of the present application through multiple embodiments:

[0218] Embodiment 1:

[0219] This embodiment mainly describes the attachment process of RAN, MME, SGW, and PGW on the satellite. The MME provides the UE with the next access time and the attachment process triggered by the NAS layer is restored.

[0220] This embodiment describes the UE attachment process of eNB, MME, SGW, and PGW on the satellite. As Figure 7 shown, it includes the following steps:

[0221] Step 0. The UE knows through the System Information Block (SIB) message that the network supports or performs S&F communication.

[0222] Step 1. The UE sends an Attach request to the eNB through an RRC message. The first S&F indication or S&F capability is carried in the attach request, and the first S&F indication or S&F capability is used to indicate to the MME that the UE has S&F communication capability or indicates that the UE uses S&F communication. A second S&F indication is carried in the RRC message, and the second S&F indication is used to indicate to the eNB that the UE uses S&F communication.

[0223] Step 2. The eNB receives the above RRC message carrying the attach request from the UE. The eNB selects an MME that supports S&F based on the second S&F indication, and the eNB forwards the attach request to the selected MME through an S1-AP message. A third S&F indication may also be carried in the S1-AP message, which is used to indicate that the UE performs S&F communication. Satellite cycle information or the time to return to UE access next time is also carried in the S1-AP message.

[0224] Step 3. After receiving the attach request of the UE forwarded by the RAN, the MME determines that the UE performs S&F communication according to the first S&F indication or S&F capability in the attach request, or determines that the UE performs S&F communication based on the third S&F indication carried in the S1-AP message.

[0225] a) The MME sends an attach suspend request to the UE. The attach suspend request is used to indicate that the UE's attach process is suspended. The MME also retains the relevant content in the UE's attach request. The attach suspend request may also carry the reason for suspension, which is that the feeder link is not available. The attach suspend request also carries the time information for the UE's next access or the cell information for the next access, identified as Cell X, and the effective retention time of the UE's attachment. The time information for the UE's next access indicates the effective time for the UE to access the network next time (i.e., if the UE initiates network access at a time other than this time, it is useless because the network side has no information about the UE and cannot complete the UE's communication), such as (3:00 - 3:15), which is used for the UE to determine the time to perform the attach resume next time. It can also be a periodic time, such as (3:00 - 3:15, 6:00 - 6:15, 9:00 - 9:15, with an interval period of 3 hours). The effective retention time of the UE's attachment indicates that the UE must initiate an attach resume within this time; otherwise, the network side will not guarantee to still retain the UE's attachment information. The UE's next access time can be determined based on the satellite cycle information provided by the eNB in step 2 or the time information for the next return to the UE's access, or it can be determined based on the configuration information stored in the MME.

[0226] b) In one implementation, at this step, after receiving the UE's attach request forwarded by the RAN, the MME may also send an attach reject message to the UE. The reason for rejection is that the attach is suspended. The attach reject message also carries the time information for the UE's next access and the effective retention time of the UE's attachment. The MME saves the information in the UE's attach request.

[0227] Step 4. After receiving the above attach suspend request or attach reject message, the UE knows that its attach is suspended. The UE performs at least one of the following:

[0228] a) The UE starts a timer for the UE's next access time. The value of the timer for the UE's next access time can be the time for the UE's next access received in step 3, or the satellite cycle pre-configured for the UE, or the satellite cycle or UE access time information provided in the SIB message in step 0, or obtained from previous communications. Or the UE performs the matching for Cell X received in step 3.

[0229] b) The UE starts the attach active retention timer for the UE's next access, and the value of the timer is set to the UE attach active retention time received in step 3.

[0230] Step 5. When the feeder link is available, the MME obtains the UE's subscription information, authentication information, and security-related parameters from the HSS.

[0231] Step 6. When the UE next access time timer expires or times out, or after cell X matches, the UE initiates an attach recovery operation.

[0232] Step 7. The UE sends an attach recovery request, carrying the UE's ID and S&F indication, to resume the previously suspended attach process. If in step 3, the UE received an attach reject carrying suspend, the UE then sends an attach request, carrying the attach recovery / S&F recovery indication, to indicate resuming the previously suspended attach process.

[0233] Step 8. When the MME receives the above attach recovery request or an attach request carrying the attach recovery / S&F recovery indication, and determines that it is the UE that performs the attach recovery process, the MME performs the UE's authentication and security encryption processes.

[0234] Step 9. The MME initiates an attach suspend for the UE again. Since the session has not been established, the MME sends an attach suspend message to the UE, carrying the suspend reason as session not established.

[0235] Step 10. After the UE receives the attach suspend in step 9, the UE performs the UE next access time timer or cell X matching again.

[0236] Step 11. When the feeder link is available, the MME initiates a session establishment.

[0237] Step 12. When the UE next access time timer expires or after cell X matches, the UE initiates an attach recovery operation.

[0238] Step 13. The UE sends an attach recovery request to trigger the NAS connection.

[0239] Step 14. The MME sends an Attach Accept message to the UE.

[0240] Step 15. The UE sends an Attach Complete message to the MME.

[0241] Embodiment 2:

[0242] This embodiment mainly describes the UE attachment process where the eNB and MME are on the satellite, and the SGW and PGW are on the ground. The MME provides the UE with the next access time, and the attach process triggered by the NAS layer resumes.

[0243] The main difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the SGW and PGW are on the ground. The specific process is the same as that of Embodiment 1 and will not be elaborated here. As Figure 8 shown, the main differences include the following:

[0244] Step 3b. The MME starts the timer for the next return to the UE;

[0245] Step 6. The UE sends an AS Resume request;

[0246] Step 7a. The timer for the next return to the UE expires;

[0247] Step 7b. The eNB sends an AS Resume indication to the MME;

[0248] Step 9b. The MME starts the timer for the next return to the UE;

[0249] Step 13a. The timer for the next return to the UE expires;

[0250] Step 13b. The NB sends an AS Resume indication to the MME.

[0251] Embodiment 3:

[0252] This embodiment mainly describes the attachment process where only the RAN is on the satellite. The RAN provides the UE with the next access time and suspends the attach-related signaling. As Figure 9 shown, it includes the following steps:

[0253] Steps 0 - 1 are the same as those in Embodiment 1.

[0254] Step 2. Since the feeder link is unavailable, the eNB cannot send the UE's attach request to the MME. Therefore, the eNB stores the UE's attach request and sends an RRC message to the UE. The message indicates that the UE's NAS signaling is suspended and also carries a next access time for the UE. The next access time information of the UE indicates the valid time for the UE to access the network next time, such as (3:00 - 3:15). It can also be a periodic time such as (3:00 - 3:15, 6:00 - 6:15, 9:00 - 9:15, with an interval period of 3 hours).

[0255] Step 3. The UE starts a second timer and sets the second timer according to the next access time of the UE.

[0256] Step 4. When the feeder link is available, the eNB selects an MME that supports S&F based on the second S&F indication. The eNB forwards the attach request to the selected MME through an S1-AP message. The S1-AP message may also carry a third S&F indication for instructing the UE to perform S&F communication. The S1-AP message also carries satellite cycle information or the next satellite return time.

[0257] Step 5. The MME obtains the UE's subscription, authentication, and security-related parameters.

[0258] Step 6. The MME sends the UE's authentication and security-related signaling and parameters to the eNB, and the eNB stores the authentication and security-related signaling and parameters.

[0259] Step 7. After the second timer of the UE expires, the UE initiates an RRC resume procedure.

[0260] Step 8. The UE and the eNB establish an RRC connection.

[0261] Step 9. The eNB forwards the authentication and security-related signaling and parameters sent by the MME to the UE.

[0262] Step 10. The UE performs authentication and security-related operations, sends authentication and security-related response messages and parameters to the eNB, and the eNB stores the authentication and security-related response messages and parameters. The UE starts the second timer again.

[0263] Step 11. When the feeder link is available, the eNB sends the UE's authentication and security-related response messages and parameters to the MME.

[0264] Step 12. The MME performs the UE's session establishment.

[0265] Step 13. The MME sends the attach accept of the UE to the eNB.

[0266] Step 14. The second timer of the UE expires.

[0267] Step 15. The UE initiates an RRC resume procedure.

[0268] Step 16. The eNB forwards the attach accept of the UE to the UE.

[0269] Example 4:

[0270] This example mainly describes the attach process in which the RAN and the MME are on the satellite and the UE knows the next access time, as Figure 10 shown, including the following steps:

[0271] Steps 1 - 2 are the same as in Example 1.

[0272] Step 3a. When the service link is unavailable, the UE starts the next access timer or performs a cell matching operation, and the cell matching is to match the current cell, identified as cell X.

[0273] Step 3b. Optionally, when the service link is unavailable, the MME starts the next return UE timer, and the value of the timer can be provided by the eNB in step 2 or determined according to the configured satellite period.

[0274] Step 4. When the feeder link is available, the MME obtains the subscription, authentication, and security - related information of the UE.

[0275] Step 5. When the next access timer of the UE expires or the cell matches cell X.

[0276] Step 6. The UE initiates an AS - layer connection resume procedure, that is, resumes the RRC connection established between the UE and the eNB before.

[0277] Step 7. The eNB sends an indication that the service link has been restored to the MME.

[0278] Step 8: When the MME receives the indication that the service link has been restored sent by the eNB, it performs the authentication and security establishment process with the UE.

[0279] Step 9. When the service link is unavailable again, the UE starts the next access timer again or performs cell matching, and the cell matching is to match the current cell, identified as cell X. The MME starts the next return UE timer again, and the value of the timer can be provided by the eNB in step 2 or determined according to the configured satellite period.

[0280] Step 10. When the feeder link is available, the MME initiates the session establishment process for the UE.

[0281] Steps 11 - 13: The same as Steps 5 - 7 in Embodiment 1.

[0282] Step 14: The MME sends an attach accept message to the UE

[0283] Step 15: The UE sends an attach complete message back to the MME.

[0284] Embodiment 5:

[0285] This embodiment mainly describes the attach process where the RAN and the MME are on the satellite, the SGW and the PGW are on the ground, and the UE knows the next access time.

[0286] As Figure 11 shown, the main steps of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 4 and will not be elaborated here.

[0287] Embodiment 6:

[0288] This embodiment mainly describes the attach process where the RAN is on the satellite and the MME is on the ground, and the UE knows the next access time. As Figure 12a shown, it includes the following steps:

[0289] Step 0 is the same as that in Embodiment 1.

[0290] Step 1. The UE sends an attach request to the eNB through an RRC message. The attach request carries a first S&F indication or S&F capability, which is used to indicate to the MME that the UE has S&F communication capabilities or indicates that the UE uses S&F communication. The RRC message carries a second S&F indication, which is used to indicate to the eNB that the UE uses S&F communication.

[0291] Step 2. The satellite moves, and the service link between the UE and the eNB becomes unavailable. The UE starts the next access timer. The UE starts the next access timer or performs a cell matching operation. The cell matching operation is to match the current cell, identified as Cell X.

[0292] Step 3. The satellite moves. Before the feeder link is available, the eNB suspends the UE's attach request. When the feeder link is available, the eNB selects an MME that supports S&F communication operations according to the second S&F indication carried in the RRC message. The eNB sends an S1-AP message to the MME. The S1-AP message carries the UE's attach request and may also carry a third S&F indication for instructing the UE to perform S&F communication. The satellite cycle information or the time to return to the CN next time is also carried in the S1-AP message, which is used to indicate the time when the eNB returns to access the MME again.

[0293] Step 4. The MME obtains the UE's subscription, authentication, and security-related parameters.

[0294] Step 5. The MME initiates the authentication and security encryption process, sends an authentication and security encryption command message to the eNB, and the eNB suspends the UE's authentication and security encryption command message.

[0295] Step 6. The UE's next access timer expires or cell X is matched.

[0296] Step 7. The UE performs AS layer access recovery.

[0297] Step 8. The eNB sends the suspended UE authentication and security encryption command message to the UE.

[0298] Step 9. The UE replies with a UE authentication and security encryption command response to the eNB.

[0299] Step 10. The satellite moves, and the service link between the UE and the eNB is unavailable. The UE restarts the next access timer again. The UE starts the next access timer or performs a cell matching operation. The cell matching is to match the current cell, identified as cell X, as in step 2.

[0300] Step 11. The satellite moves. Before the feeder link is available, the eNB suspends the UE's attach request. When the feeder link is available, the eNB forwards the UE's authentication and security encryption command response to the MME.

[0301] Step 12. The MME performs the UE's session establishment.

[0302] Step 13. The MME sends a UE attach accept message to the eNB, and the eNB suspends the UE attach accept message.

[0303] Step 14. The next access timer of the UE expires or cell X is matched.

[0304] Step 15. The UE performs AS layer access recovery.

[0305] Step 16. The eNB forwards the attach accept message of the UE to the MME.

[0306] Step 17. The UE sends an attach complete message to the eNB, and the eNB suspends the attach complete message of the UE.

[0307] Step 18. The satellite moves. When the feeder link is available, the eNB forwards the attach complete message of the UE to the MME.

[0308] Embodiment Seven:

[0309] This embodiment mainly involves the first core network or access network instructing the terminal to resume a suspended attachment or NAS procedure, as Figure 12b shown, including the following steps:

[0310] Steps 1-2 are the same as those in Embodiment One.

[0311] Step 3. Due to the unavailable feeder link, the MME sends an attachment suspension indication to the UE.

[0312] Step 4. The MME obtains the subscription, authentication, and security-related parameters of the UE.

[0313] Step 5. When the serving link is available, the MME sends an attachment resume indication to the UE

[0314] Step 6. The UE replies with a response to the MME.

[0315] Step 7. The MME sends downlink suspended data or signaling to the UE, such as an authentication request, a security command, an attach accept, etc. At the same time, the UE can also send uplink data or signaling to the MME.

[0316] In the above-mentioned multiple embodiments, it can be achieved that:

[0317] The UE carries S&F indication information to the network-side device during the attachment process, indicating to the network side that it is an S&F attachment. The network-side device suspends the UE's attachment process, indicates to the UE that the attachment process has been suspended, and configures the next access time for the UE. When the next access time arrives, the UE initiates an attachment resume and completes the UE's attachment process through multiple attachment resumes.

[0318] The communication method of NTN provided by the embodiments of this application may have a communication device of NTN as the execution entity. In the embodiments of this application, taking the communication device of NTN executing the communication method of NTN as an example, the communication device of NTN provided by the embodiments of this application will be described.

[0319] Please refer to Figure 13 , Figure 13 which is a structural diagram of a communication device of NTN provided by the embodiments of this application. As Figure 13 shown, the communication device 1300 of NTN includes:

[0320] An acquisition module 1301, configured to acquire first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0321] An execution module 1302, configured to perform a first operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, where the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

[0322] Optionally, the attachment operation includes:

[0323] Sending an attachment request message of a first type, where the attachment of the attachment request message of the first type is an attachment type based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0324] The registration operation includes:

[0325] Sending a registration request message of a first type, where the registration of the registration request message of the first type is a registration type based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0326] Optionally, the first operation further includes:

[0327] Sending first indication information;

[0328] Sending second indication information;

[0329] where the first indication information is carried in the attachment request message or the registration request message, and the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0330] Indicating to use a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0331] Indicating the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0332] The second indication information is carried in a radio resource control (RRC) message sent to the RAN and is used to indicate that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0333] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0334] a receiving module, configured to receive second information sent by the network side, where the second information includes at least one of the following:

[0335] satellite cycle;

[0336] the time or time window for the next access of the terminal;

[0337] cell information for the next access of the terminal;

[0338] indication that an attach request, a registration request, or a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended;

[0339] effective duration for the attach or registration recovery of the terminal;

[0340] registration recovery indication;

[0341] NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication.

[0342] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0343] an initiating module, configured to initiate an attach or registration recovery process when one satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration recovery indication is received, a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available.

[0344] Optionally, the initiating of the attach or registration recovery process includes at least one of the following:

[0345] initiating an RRC connection establishment or connection recovery process;

[0346] sending an attach suspension recovery request, a registration suspension recovery request, an RRC signaling suspension recovery indication, or a NAS signaling suspension recovery indication.

[0347] Optionally, the initiating of the attach or registration recovery process when one satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration recovery indication is received, a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available includes:

[0348] initiating an attach or registration recovery process when one satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the next access of the terminal is reached, the cell for the next access of the terminal is matched, a registration recovery indication is received, a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available, and within the effective duration for the attach or registration recovery of the terminal.

[0349] The above-mentioned communication device of NTN can improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0350] The communication device of NTN in the embodiments of the present application may be an electronic device, such as an electronic device with an operating system, or a component in an electronic device, such as an integrated circuit or a chip. The electronic device may be a terminal or other devices other than the terminal. Exemplarily, the terminal may include, but is not limited to, the types of the above-mentioned terminal 11, and other devices may be a server, a Network Attached Storage (NAS), etc., which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0351] The information transmission device provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement Figure 4 each process implemented by the method embodiments shown and achieve the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.

[0352] Please refer to Figure 14 , Figure 14 which is a structural diagram of a communication device of NTN provided in the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 14 shown, the communication device 1400 of NTN includes:

[0353] An obtaining module 1401, configured to obtain third information;

[0354] An execution module 1402, configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication according to the third information.

[0355] Optionally, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0356] Indication information, which is used to indicate at least one of the following: using a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; the access method by which the terminal accesses through the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0357] Satellite cycle;

[0358] The first return time, which refers to the time when the access network device on the satellite next returns to access the first core network element;

[0359] The first type of attachment request message, where the attachment of the first type of attachment request message is an attachment type based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0360] The first type of registration request message, where the registration of the first type of registration request message is a registration type based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication

[0361] The first local configuration information, where the first local configuration information indicates that the access of the terminal is through a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0362] Optionally, the indication information includes at least one of the following:

[0363] The first indication information, the third indication information;

[0364] Wherein, the first indication information is carried in an attach request message or a registration request message, and is used to indicate at least one of the following: indicating the use of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0365] Indicating the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0366] The third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal accesses through the access mode of the store-and-forward communication mode via satellite communication.

[0367] Optionally, performing an attach operation or a registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode via satellite communication includes:

[0368] When the serving link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, suspending the attach or registration process of the terminal, or suspending the session establishment process of the terminal.

[0369] Optionally, the device further includes at least one of the following:

[0370] The first sending module is used to send at least one of the following to the terminal: satellite cycle; the time or time window for the terminal to access next; the cell information for the terminal to access next; an indication that the attach request, registration request or non-access stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended; the effective duration for the terminal to resume attach or registration;

[0371] The first recovery module is used to resume the suspended attach or registration process when the feeder link is available, and the resuming of the suspended attach or registration process includes at least one of the following: authentication of the terminal, obtaining encryption information, and session establishment process;

[0372] The second recovery module is used to resume the suspended attach or registration process when the feeder link is available or when the first return time is reached. The resuming of the suspended attach or registration process includes sending a first non-access stratum (NAS) message to the radio access network (RAN), and the first NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attach accept message, a registration accept message;

[0373] A second sending module, configured to send second NAS information to the terminal when the service link is available or when an attachment recovery indication of the terminal is received, where the second NAS message includes at least one of the following: an authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attachment acceptance message, and a registration acceptance message;

[0374] A third sending module, configured to send a registration recovery indication when the service link is available, or send an NAS signaling or a process suspension recovery indication to the terminal.

[0375] The above NTN communication device can improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0376] The information transmission device in the embodiments of the present application may be an electronic device, such as an electronic device with an operating system, or a component in an electronic device, such as an integrated circuit or a chip. The electronic device may be a network-side device.

[0377] The information transmission device provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement Figure 5 each process implemented by the method embodiments shown, and achieve the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.

[0378] Please refer to Figure 15 , Figure 15 which is a structural diagram of an NTN communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 15 shown, the NTN communication device 1500 includes:

[0379] An acquisition module 1501, configured to acquire fourth information;

[0380] An execution module 1502, configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication according to the fourth information;

[0381] Wherein, the fourth information includes at least one of the following:

[0382] Second indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0383] Second local configuration information, which indicates that the access network device is based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0384] Optionally, the second indication information is carried in a radio resource control (RRC) message sent to a radio access network (RAN).

[0385] Optionally, performing the attachment operation or the registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication includes at least one of the following:

[0386] When the service link is unavailable, suspend the third non-access stratum (NAS) message, where the third NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication reply of the terminal, the security command reply, the security command, the authentication request, the attachment acceptance message, and the registration acceptance message.

[0387] When the service link is available, forward the fourth NAS message to the first core network device, where the fourth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication recovery of the terminal, the security command reply, the attachment completion message, and the registration completion message;

[0388] When the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, send at least one of the following to the terminal:

[0389] The satellite cycle;

[0390] The time or time window for the next access of the terminal;

[0391] The cell information for the next access of the terminal;

[0392] The attachment request, the registration request, or the indication that the NAS signaling is suspended;

[0393] The registration recovery indication;

[0394] The NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication.

[0395] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0396] A forwarding module, configured to forward a fifth NAS message to the terminal when the service link is available, or the RRC connection is restored, or the non-access stratum (NAS) connection restoration indication of the terminal is received, where the fifth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request sent by the first core network device to the terminal, the security command sent by the first core network device to the terminal, the attachment acceptance message, and the registration acceptance message.

[0397] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0398] A selection module, configured to select a first core network element that supports the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0399] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0400] A sending module, configured to send the satellite cycle or the second return time to the first core network element when the feeder link is available, where the second return time refers to the time when the access network device next returns to access the first core network element

[0401] The above-mentioned communication device of NTN can improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0402] The information transmission device in the embodiments of the present application can be an electronic device, such as an electronic device with an operating system, or a component in an electronic device, such as an integrated circuit or a chip. The electronic device can be a network-side device.

[0403] The information transmission device provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement Figure 6 each process implemented by the method embodiments shown, and achieve the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, it will not be elaborated here.

[0404] Optionally, as Figure 16 shown, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device 1600, including a processor 1601 and a memory 1602. A program or instruction that can run on the processor 1601 is stored on the memory 1602. For example, when the communication device 1600 is a terminal, when the program or instruction is executed by the processor 1601, each step of the communication method embodiment of NTN on the terminal side is implemented, and the same technical effects can be achieved. When the communication device 1600 is a first core network element, when the program or instruction is executed by the processor 1601, each step of the communication method embodiment of NTN on the first core network element side is implemented, and the same technical effects can be achieved. When the communication device 1600 is an access network device, when the program or instruction is executed by the processor 1601, each step of the communication method embodiment of NTN on the access network device side is implemented, and the same technical effects can be achieved. To avoid repetition, it will not be elaborated here.

[0405] The embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device, including a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is used to obtain first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; perform a first operation of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation. The communication device embodiment corresponds to the communication method embodiment of the above NTN. Each implementation process and implementation manner of the above method embodiment can be applied to the communication device embodiment, and the same technical effects can be achieved.

[0406] Specifically, Figure 17 To implement a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a terminal in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal 1700 includes but is not limited to at least some components such as a radio frequency unit 1701, a network module 1702, an audio output unit 1703, an input unit 1704, a sensor 1705, a display unit 1706, a user input unit 1707, an interface unit 1708, a memory 1709, and a processor 1710.

[0407] Those skilled in the art can understand that the terminal 1700 may further include a power source (such as a battery) for supplying power to each component. The power source can be logically connected to the processor 1710 through a power management system, so as to implement functions such as management of charging, discharging, and power consumption management through the power management system. Figure 17 The terminal structure shown does not limit the terminal. The terminal may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements, which will not be elaborated here.

[0408] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the input unit 1704 may include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) 17041 and a microphone 17042. The graphics processing unit 17041 processes the image data of static pictures or videos obtained by an image capturing device (such as a camera) in a video capture mode or an image capture mode. The display unit 1706 may include a display panel 17061, and the display panel 17061 can be configured in the form of a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode, etc. The user input unit 1707 includes at least one of a touch panel 17071 and other input terminals 17072. The touch panel 17071 is also called a touch screen. The touch panel 17071 can include two parts: a touch detection device and a touch controller. The other input terminals 17072 may include, but are not limited to, a physical keyboard, function keys (such as volume control keys, switch keys, etc.), a trackball, a mouse, a joystick, which will not be elaborated here.

[0409] In the embodiments of the present application, after the radio frequency unit 1701 receives downlink data from a network side terminal, it can be transmitted to the processor 1710 for processing; in addition, the radio frequency unit 1701 can send uplink data to the network side terminal. Generally, the radio frequency unit 1701 includes, but is not limited to, an antenna, an amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a low noise amplifier, a duplexer, etc.

[0410] The memory 1709 can be used to store software programs or instructions and various data. The memory 1709 may mainly include a first storage area for storing programs or instructions and a second storage area for storing data. Among them, the first storage area can store an operating system, application programs or instructions required for at least one function (such as a sound playback function, an image playback function, etc.). In addition, the memory 1709 can include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or the memory 1709 can include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), a synchronous link dynamic random access memory (Synch link DRAM, SLDRAM), and a direct rambus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DRRAM). The memory 1709 in the embodiments of the present application includes but is not limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0411] The processor 1710 may include one or more processing units; optionally, the processor 1710 integrates an application processor and a modem processor. Among them, the application processor mainly processes operations related to the operating system, user interface, and application programs, etc., and the modem processor mainly processes wireless communication signals, such as a baseband processor. It can be understood that the above modem processor may not be integrated into the processor 1710 either.

[0412] The radio frequency unit 1701 is used to obtain first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; perform a first operation of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

[0413] Optionally, the attachment operation includes:

[0414] Sending an attachment request message of the first type, where the attachment of the attachment request message of the first type is an attachment type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0415] The registration operation includes:

[0416] Sending a registration request message of the first type, where the registration of the registration request message of the first type is a registration type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0417] Optionally, the first operation further includes:

[0418] Sending first indication information;

[0419] Sending second indication information;

[0420] Wherein, the first indication information is carried in the attachment request message or the registration request message, and the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0421] Indicating to use the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0422] Indicating the ability to support the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0423] The second indication information is carried in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message sent to the RAN and is used to indicate that the terminal uses the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0424] Optionally, the radio frequency unit 1701 is further configured to:

[0425] Receive second information sent by the network side, where the second information includes at least one of the following:

[0426] Satellite cycle;

[0427] The time or time window for the terminal to access next;

[0428] Cell information for the terminal to access next;

[0429] Indication that the attachment request, registration request, or Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended;

[0430] The effective duration for the terminal attachment or registration recovery;

[0431] Registration recovery indication;

[0432] NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication.

[0433] Optionally, the radio frequency unit 1701 is further configured to:

[0434] In the case of satisfying a satellite cycle, reaching the time or time window for the next access of the terminal, matching the cell for the next access of the terminal, receiving a registration restoration indication, receiving NAS signaling or a process suspension restoration indication, or detecting that the service link is available, initiate an attachment or registration restoration process.

[0435] Optionally, the initiating of the attachment or registration restoration process includes at least one of the following:

[0436] Initiate an RRC connection establishment or connection restoration process;

[0437] Send an attachment suspension restoration request, a registration suspension restoration request, an RRC signaling suspension restoration indication, or a NAS signaling suspension restoration indication.

[0438] Optionally, the initiating of the attachment or registration restoration process in the case of satisfying a satellite cycle, reaching the time or time window for the next access of the terminal, matching the cell for the next access of the terminal, receiving a registration restoration indication, receiving NAS signaling or a process suspension restoration indication, or detecting that the service link is available includes:

[0439] In the case of satisfying a satellite cycle, reaching the time or time window for the next access of the terminal, matching the cell for the next access of the terminal, receiving a registration restoration indication, receiving NAS signaling or a process suspension restoration indication, or detecting that the service link is available, and being within the effective duration of the attachment or registration restoration of the terminal, initiate an attachment or registration restoration process.

[0440] The above terminal can improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0441] It can be understood that the implementation processes of the various implementation manners mentioned in this embodiment can refer to the relevant descriptions of the above-mentioned method for sending perception measurement results, and achieve the same or corresponding technical effects. To avoid repetition, they will not be elaborated here.

[0442] This application embodiment also provides a device, including a processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions to implement as Figure 5 shown in the steps of the method embodiment. This device embodiment corresponds to the above signal measurement method embodiment. Each implementation process and implementation manner of the above method embodiment can be applied to this device embodiment, and the same technical effects can be achieved.

[0443] An embodiment of the present application further provides a device, including a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is used to obtain third information; the communication interface or the processor is used to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information.

[0444] Specifically, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network-side device. As Figure 18 shown, the network-side device 1800 includes: a processor 1801, a network interface 1802, and a memory 1803. Among them, the network interface 1802 is, for example, a common public radio interface (CPRI).

[0445] Specifically, the network-side device 1800 in the embodiment of the present application further includes: instructions or programs stored on the memory 1803 and executable on the processor 1801. The processor 1801 calls the instructions or programs in the memory 1803 to execute Figure 14 the methods executed by the modules shown, and achieves the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, it will not be elaborated here.

[0446] The network interface 1802 is used to obtain third information;

[0447] The network interface 1802 or the processor 1801 is used to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information.

[0448] Optionally, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0449] Indication information, which is used to indicate at least one of the following: using a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the access method by which a terminal accesses through a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0450] Satellite cycle;

[0451] The first return time, which refers to the time when the access network device on the satellite returns to access the first core network element next time;

[0452] The first type of attachment request message, and the attachment of the first type of attachment request message is an attachment type based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication;

[0453] The first type of registration request message, and the registration of the first type of registration request message is a registration type based on a store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication

[0454] First local configuration information, where the first local configuration information indicates that the access of the terminal is through a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0455] Optionally, the indication information includes at least one of the following:

[0456] First indication information, third indication information;

[0457] Among them, the first indication information is carried in an attach request message or a registration request message, and is used to indicate at least one of the following: indicating the use of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication;

[0458] indicating the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0459] The third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal accesses through the access mode of the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

[0460] Optionally, performing an attach operation or a registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication includes:

[0461] When the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, suspending the attach or registration process of the terminal, or suspending the session establishment process of the terminal.

[0462] Optionally, the network interface 1802 is further used for at least one of the following:

[0463] Sending at least one of the following to the terminal; satellite cycle; the time or time window for the terminal to access next; the cell information for the terminal to access next; an indication that the attach request, registration request, or non-access stratum NAS signaling is suspended; the effective duration for the terminal attach or registration recovery;

[0464] When the feeder link is available, resuming the suspended attach or registration process, and the resuming of the suspended attach or registration process includes at least one of the following: authentication of the terminal, acquisition of encryption information, and session establishment process;

[0465] When the feeder link is available or when the first return time is reached, resuming the suspended attach or registration process, and the resuming of the suspended attach or registration process includes sending a first non-access stratum NAS message to the radio access network RAN, and the first NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request of the terminal, security command, attach accept message, registration accept message;

[0466] When the service link is available or when receiving an attachment or registration recovery indication from the terminal, send second NAS information to the terminal, where the second NAS message includes at least one of the following: an authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attachment acceptance message, and a registration acceptance message;

[0467] When the service link is available, send a registration recovery indication, or send an NAS signaling or a process suspension recovery indication to the terminal.

[0468] The above device can improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0469] It can be understood that the implementation processes of the various implementation manners mentioned in this embodiment may refer to the relevant descriptions of the above method embodiments and achieve the same or corresponding technical effects. To avoid repetition, they will not be elaborated here.

[0470] This application embodiment also provides a device, including a processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is configured to run a program or an instruction to implement as Figure 6 shown in the steps of the method embodiment. This device embodiment corresponds to the above perception measurement result receiving method embodiment. The various implementation processes and implementation manners of the above method embodiment can all be applied to this device embodiment and can achieve the same technical effects.

[0471] This application embodiment also provides a device, including a processor and a communication interface. Among them, the communication interface is configured to obtain fourth information; perform an attachment operation or a registration operation in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the fourth information; where the fourth information includes at least one of the following: second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; second local configuration information, where the second local configuration information indicates that the access network device is in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0472] Specifically, this application embodiment also provides a network-side device, as Figure 19 shown. This network-side device 1900 includes: an antenna 1901, a radio frequency device 1902, a baseband device 1903, a processor 1904, and a memory 1905. The antenna 1901 is connected to the radio frequency device 1902. In the uplink direction, the radio frequency device 1902 receives information through the antenna 1901 and sends the received information to the baseband device 1903 for processing. In the downlink direction, the baseband device 1903 processes the information to be sent and sends it to the radio frequency device 1902. The radio frequency device 1902 processes the received information and then sends it out through the antenna 1901.

[0473] In the above embodiments, the communication method of NTN may be implemented in the baseband device 1903, which includes a baseband processor.

[0474] The baseband device 1903 may include, for example, at least one baseband board, on which a plurality of chips are provided, such as Figure 19 As shown, one of the chips is, for example, a baseband processor, which is connected to the memory 1905 through a bus interface to call the program in the memory 1905 and execute the device operations shown in the above method embodiments.

[0475] The device may further include a network interface 1906, which is, for example, a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI).

[0476] Specifically, the device 1900 in the embodiments of the present application further includes: instructions or programs stored on the memory 1905 and executable on the processor 1904. The processor 1904 calls the instructions or programs in the memory 1905 to execute Figure 15 the methods executed by the modules shown, and achieves the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, they are not described herein again.

[0477] The radio frequency device 1902 is used to obtain the fourth information; the device performs an attachment operation or a registration operation based on the satellite communication storage and forwarding communication mode according to the fourth information;

[0478] Wherein, the fourth information includes at least one of the following:

[0479] The second indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal uses the satellite communication storage and forwarding communication mode;

[0480] The second local configuration information, which indicates that the access network device is based on the satellite communication storage and forwarding communication mode.

[0481] Optionally, the second indication information is carried in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message sent to the Radio Access Network (RAN).

[0482] Optionally, the performing the attachment operation or the registration operation based on the satellite communication storage and forwarding communication mode includes at least one of the following:

[0483] In the case where the service link is unavailable, suspend the third Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, where the third NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication reply of the terminal, the security command reply, the security command, the authentication request, the attachment acceptance message, and the registration acceptance message.

[0484] When the service link is available, forward the fourth NAS message to the first core network device, where the fourth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication recovery of the terminal, the security command reply, the attachment completion message, and the registration completion message;

[0485] In the case where the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, send at least one of the following to the terminal:

[0486] Satellite cycle;

[0487] The time or time window for the terminal to access next;

[0488] The cell information for the terminal to access next;

[0489] Attachment request, registration request, or indication that NAS signaling is suspended;

[0490] Registration recovery indication;

[0491] NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication.

[0492] Optionally, the radio frequency device 1902 is further configured to:

[0493] When the service link is available, or the RRC connection is restored, or the non-access stratum NAS connection restoration indication of the terminal is received, forward the fifth NAS message to the terminal, where the fifth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request sent by the first core network device to the terminal, the security command sent by the first core network device to the terminal, the attachment acceptance message, and the registration acceptance message.

[0494] Optionally, the radio frequency device 1902 is further configured to:

[0495] The access network device selects a first core network element that supports the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

[0496] Optionally, the radio frequency device 1902 is further configured to:

[0497] When the feeder link is available, send the satellite cycle or the second return time to the first core network element, where the second return time refers to the time when the access network device returns to access the first core network element next.

[0498] The above device can improve the communication performance of the terminal.

[0499] It can be understood that the implementation processes of the implementation manners mentioned in this embodiment can refer to the relevant descriptions of the above method embodiments and achieve the same or corresponding technical effects. To avoid repetition, they are not elaborated here.

[0500] The embodiments of the present application further provide a readable storage medium, on which a program or instructions are stored. When the program or instructions are executed by a processor, the various processes of the communication method embodiment of the above NTN are implemented, and the same technical effects can be achieved. To avoid repetition, they will not be elaborated here.

[0501] Among them, the processor is the processor in the terminal described in the above embodiments. The readable storage medium includes computer-readable storage media, such as computer read-only memory ROM, random access memory RAM, magnetic disks or optical discs, etc. In some examples, the readable storage medium may be a non-transitory readable storage medium.

[0502] The embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, which includes a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is coupled to the processor. The processor is used to run a program or instructions to implement the various processes of the communication method embodiment of the above NTN, and the same technical effects can be achieved. To avoid repetition, they will not be elaborated here.

[0503] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as a system-on-chip, system chip, chip system or system-on-chip, etc.

[0504] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program / program product, which is stored in a storage medium. The computer program / program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the various processes of the communication method embodiment of the above NTN, and the same technical effects can be achieved. To avoid repetition, they will not be elaborated here.

[0505] The embodiments of the present application further provide a wireless communication system, including: a terminal, an access network device and a first core network element; among them, the terminal can be used to execute the steps of the NTN communication method on the terminal side provided by the embodiments of the present application, the first access network device can be used to execute the steps of the NTN communication method on the first access network device side provided by the embodiments of the present application, and the first core network element can be used to execute the steps of the NTN communication method on the first core network element side provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0506] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article or device that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements that are inherent to such process, method, article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "including one..." does not exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device that includes such element. In addition, it should be pointed out that the scope of the methods and devices in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, and may also include performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in a reverse order according to the functions involved. For example, the described methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Additionally, the features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0507] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of a computer software product plus a necessary general hardware platform, and of course, can also be implemented by hardware. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM, RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc.) and includes several instructions for causing a terminal or a network-side device to execute the methods described in various embodiments of the present application.

[0508] The embodiments of the present application have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present application is not limited to the above specific embodiments. The above specific embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the inspiration of the present application, those of ordinary skill in the art can also make many forms of embodiments without departing from the purpose of the present application and the scope protected by the claims. These embodiments are all within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method for a non-terrestrial network (NTN), characterized in that including: The terminal obtains first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network executes the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; The terminal performs a first operation of the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The attachment operation includes: Sending an attachment request message of a first type, where the attachment of the attachment request message of the first type is an attachment type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; The registration operation includes: Sending a registration request message of a first type, where the registration of the registration request message of the first type is a registration type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The first operation further includes: Sending first indication information; Sending second indication information; Wherein, the first indication information is carried in the attachment request message or the registration request message, and the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: Indicating to use the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; Indicating the ability to support the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; The second indication information is carried in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message sent to the RAN and is used to indicate that the terminal uses the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal receives second information sent by the network side, and the second information includes at least one of the following: Satellite cycle; The time or time window for the terminal to access next; Cell information for the terminal to access next; Indication that an attachment request, a registration request, or a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended; The effective duration for the terminal attachment or registration recovery; Registration recovery indication; NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: In the case of satisfying a satellite cycle, reaching the time or time window for the terminal to access next, matching the cell for the terminal to access next, receiving a registration recovery indication, receiving a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication, or detecting that the service link is available, initiating an attachment or registration recovery process.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The initiating of the attachment or registration recovery process includes at least one of the following: Initiating an RRC connection establishment or connection recovery process; Sending an attachment suspension recovery request, a registration suspension recovery request, an RRC signaling suspension recovery indication, or a NAS signaling suspension recovery indication.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The initiating of the attachment or registration recovery process in the case of satisfying a satellite cycle, reaching the time or time window for the terminal to access next, matching the cell for the terminal to access next, receiving a registration recovery indication, receiving a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication, or detecting that the service link is available includes: In the case of satisfying a satellite cycle, reaching the time or time window for the terminal to access next, matching the cell for the terminal to access next, receiving a registration recovery indication, receiving a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication, or detecting that the service link is available, and being within the effective duration for the terminal attachment or registration recovery, initiating an attachment or registration recovery process.

8. A communication method for a non-terrestrial network (NTN), characterized in that, including: The first core network element obtains third information; The first core network element performs an attachment operation or a registration operation in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the third information.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The third information includes at least one of the following: Indication information, which is used to indicate at least one of the following: using a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the access method by which the terminal accesses through the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; Satellite cycle; The first return time, which refers to the time when the access network device on the satellite next returns to access the first core network element; The first type of attachment request message, and the attachment of the first type of attachment request message is an attachment type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; The first type of registration request message, and the registration of the first type of registration request message is a registration type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication The first local configuration information, which indicates that the access of the terminal is through a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein The indication information includes at least one of the following: The first indication information, the third indication information; Among them, the first indication information is carried in an attachment request message or a registration request message and is used to indicate at least one of the following: indicating the use of a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; Indicating the ability to support a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; The third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal accesses through the access method of the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, Performing the attachment operation or the registration operation in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication includes: Suspending the attachment or registration process of the terminal, or suspending the session establishment process of the terminal when the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The method further includes at least one of the following: Sending at least one of the following to the terminal; satellite cycle; the time or time window for the terminal to access next; the cell information for the terminal to access next; an indication that the attachment request, registration request or non-access stratum NAS signaling is suspended; the effective duration for the terminal attachment or registration to resume; When the feeder link is available, resuming the suspended attachment or registration process, and the resuming the suspended attachment or registration process includes at least one of the following: authentication of the terminal, obtaining encryption information, and session establishment process; When the feeder link is available or when the first return time is reached, resuming the suspended attachment or registration process, and the resuming the suspended attachment or registration process includes sending a first non-access stratum NAS message to the radio access network RAN, and the first NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attachment acceptance message, a registration acceptance message; When the service link is available or when an attachment or registration resume indication of the terminal is received, sending a second NAS message to the terminal, and the second NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request of the terminal, a security command, an attachment acceptance message, a registration acceptance message; When the service link is available, send a registration recovery indication, or send a NAS signaling or procedure suspension recovery indication to the terminal.

13. A communication method for a non-terrestrial network (NTN), characterized in that, It includes: The access network device obtains fourth information; The access network device performs an attachment operation or a registration operation in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the fourth information; Wherein, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: Second indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal uses the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; Second local configuration information, which indicates that the access network device is in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein The second indication information is carried in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message sent to the Radio Access Network (RAN).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein The performing of the attachment operation or the registration operation in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication includes at least one of the following: When the service link is unavailable, suspend a third Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, where the third NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication reply of the terminal, the security command reply, the security command, the authentication request, the attachment acceptance message, the registration acceptance message; When the service link is available, forward a fourth NAS message to the first core network device, where the fourth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the attachment request of the terminal, the registration request of the terminal, the authentication recovery of the terminal, the security command reply, the attachment completion message, the registration completion message; When the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, send at least one of the following to the terminal: Satellite cycle; The time or time window for the terminal to access next; The cell information for the terminal to access next; An indication that the attachment request, registration request or NAS signaling is suspended; Registration recovery indication; NAS signaling or procedure suspension recovery indication.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the service link is available or the RRC connection is restored or the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) connection recovery indication of the terminal is received, forward a fifth NAS message to the terminal, where the fifth NAS message includes at least one of the following: the authentication request sent by the first core network device to the terminal, the security command sent by the first core network device to the terminal, the attachment acceptance message, the registration acceptance message.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: The access network device selects a first core network element that supports the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the feeder link is available, send a satellite cycle or a second return time to the first core network element, where the second return time refers to the time when the access network device returns to access the first core network element next time.

19. A communication device for a non-terrestrial network (NTN), characterized in that, It includes: An acquisition module, which is used to acquire first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: the network supports the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; the network performs the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; An execution module, which is used to perform a first operation in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the first information, and the first operation includes an attachment operation or a registration operation.

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that The attachment operation includes: Sending an attachment request message of a first type, where the attachment of the attachment request message of the first type is an attachment type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication; The registration operation includes: Sending a registration request message of a first type, where the registration of the registration request message of the first type is a registration type based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication.

21. The device according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The device further includes: A receiving module, configured to receive second information sent by the network side, where the second information includes at least one of the following: Satellite cycle; The time or time window for the terminal to access next; Cell information for the terminal to access next; Indication that an attachment request, a registration request, or a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling is suspended; Effective duration for the terminal's attachment or registration recovery; Registration recovery indication; NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication.

22. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that, The device further includes: An initiating module, configured to initiate an attachment or registration recovery process when a satellite cycle is satisfied, the time or time window for the terminal to access next is reached, the cell for the terminal to access next is matched, a registration recovery indication is received, a NAS signaling or process suspension recovery indication is received, or a service link is detected to be available.

23. A communication device for a non-terrestrial network (NTN), characterized in that, Includes: An obtaining module, configured to obtain third information; An executing module, configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication according to the third information.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein Performing the attachment operation or the registration operation based on the store-and-forward communication mode of satellite communication includes: When the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, suspending the attachment or registration process of the terminal, or suspending the session establishment process of the terminal.

25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that, The device further includes at least one of the following: A first sending module, configured to send at least one of the following to the terminal: satellite cycle; the time or time window for the terminal to access next; cell information for the terminal to access next; indication that an attachment request, a registration request, or a NAS signaling is suspended; effective duration for the terminal's attachment or registration recovery; A first recovery module, configured to resume the suspended attachment or registration process when the feeder link is available, and the resuming of the suspended attachment or registration process includes at least one of the following: authentication of the terminal, obtaining of encryption information, and session establishment process; A second recovery module, configured to resume the suspended attachment or registration process when the feeder link is available or when a first return time is reached, and the resuming of the suspended attachment or registration process includes sending a first non-access stratum (NAS) message to the radio access network (RAN), where the first NAS message includes at least one of the following: authentication request of the terminal, security command, attachment acceptance message, registration acceptance message; A second sending module, configured to send a second NAS message to the terminal when the service link is available or when an attachment recovery indication of the terminal is received, where the second NAS message includes at least one of the following: authentication request of the terminal, security command, attachment acceptance message, registration acceptance message; A third sending module, configured to send a registration recovery indication, or send an NAS signaling or a procedure suspension recovery indication to a terminal when a service link is available.

26. A communication device for a non-terrestrial network (NTN), characterized in that, It includes: An obtaining module, configured to obtain fourth information; An execution module, configured to perform an attachment operation or a registration operation in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication according to the fourth information; Wherein, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: A second indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal uses a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication; A second local configuration information, which indicates that the access network device is in a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that, Performing the attachment operation or the registration operation in the store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication includes at least one of the following: When a service link is unavailable, suspending a third non-access stratum (NAS) message, where the third NAS message includes at least one of the following: an attachment request of the terminal, a registration request of the terminal, an authentication reply of the terminal, a security command reply, a security command, an authentication request, an attachment acceptance message, a registration acceptance message; When a service link is available, forwarding a fourth NAS message to a first core network device, where the fourth NAS message includes at least one of the following: an attachment request of the terminal, a registration request of the terminal, an authentication recovery of the terminal, a security command reply, an attachment completion message, a registration completion message; When a service link is available and a feeder link is unavailable, sending at least one of the following to the terminal: A satellite cycle; The time or time window for the terminal to access next; Cell information for the terminal to access next; An indication that an attachment request, a registration request, or NAS signaling is suspended; A registration recovery indication; An NAS signaling or a procedure suspension recovery indication.

28. The device according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, The device further includes: A forwarding module, configured to forward a fifth NAS message to the terminal when a service link is available, or an RRC connection is recovered, or a non-access stratum (NAS) connection recovery indication of the terminal is received, where the fifth NAS message includes at least one of the following: an authentication request sent by a first core network device to the terminal, a security command sent by a first core network device to the terminal, an attachment acceptance message, a registration acceptance message.

29. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that The device further includes: A selection module, configured to select a first core network element that supports a store-and-forward communication mode based on satellite communication.

30. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 29, characterized in that, The device further includes: A sending module, configured to send a satellite cycle or a second return time to a first core network element when a feeder link is available, where the second return time refers to the time when the access network device returns to access the first core network element next.

31. A terminal, characterized in that, It includes a processor and a memory, where the memory stores a program or instruction that can run on the processor, and when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the steps of the communication method of the non-terrestrial network (NTN) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 are implemented.

32. A network-side device, characterized in that It includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores programs or instructions that can run on the processor. When the programs or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the communication method of the non-terrestrial network (NTN) as described in any one of claims 8 to 12 are implemented, or when the programs or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the communication method of the non-terrestrial network (NTN) as described in any one of claims 13 to 18 are implemented.

33. A readable storage medium, characterized in that, Programs or instructions are stored on the readable storage medium. When the programs or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the communication method of the non-terrestrial network (NTN) as described in any one of claims 1 to 7 are implemented, or the steps of the communication method of the non-terrestrial network (NTN) as described in any one of claims 8 to 12 are implemented, or the steps of the communication method of the non-terrestrial network (NTN) as described in any one of claims 13 to 18 are implemented.

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