Configuring mobile base station with dedicated capabilities

Abstract

A method performed by a node in a wireless communication network, comprising: determining a need for a mobile base station to provide a wireless communication service to a user equipment (UE) in a target geographic area; and transmitting the request message to a configuration node responsible for configuring the mobile base station in the target geographic area. The request message requests the configuration node to configure at least one mobile base station of the set of mobile base stations for serving the UE in the target geographic area. Related network nodes and computer program products are disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication networks, and in particular to wireless networks supporting non-terrestrial deployment of network equipment. Background Art

[0002] There is a growing interest in integrating mobile communication platforms into wireless networks. One approach is to use autonomous vehicles such as helicopter drones to carry base stations, which enables the base stations to be physically moved to serve users.

[0003] The market is in its early stages, with research ongoing and publications developing. 3GPP technologies such as 5G and its successors will bring opportunities for advancing airborne communications, including mobile base stations. Within NR, there is interest in developing the necessary standards support for airborne vehicles.

[0004] Spaceborne vehicles that may participate in wireless communications include satellites, including low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, and highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites. Aerial vehicles that may participate in wireless communications may include high altitude platforms (HAPs) including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including lighter-than-air UAS (LTA) and heavier-than-air UAS (HTA). Such vehicles may typically operate at altitudes between 8 and 50 km and may be quasi-stationary.

[0005] Various use cases for the integration of airborne and spaceborne vehicles have been identified, along with corresponding service requirements for such integration. In particular, airborne and spaceborne vehicle integration may help address mobile broadband needs in unserved / underserved areas, as well as applications such as public safety needs, aircraft connectivity, and orbital communication service requirements suitable for satellite access.

[0006] Several efforts have been made to study channel models for non-terrestrial networks to define deployment scenarios and parameters and identify key potential impacts on NR, as well as solutions that will enable NR to support non-terrestrial networks. Summary of the Invention

[0007] A method performed by a node in a wireless communication network includes determining a need for a mobile base station to provide wireless communication services to UEs in a target geographical area, and transmitting a request message to a configuration node responsible for configuring mobile base stations in the target geographical area. The request message requests the configuration node to configure at least one mobile base station from a set of mobile base stations for serving the UEs in the target geographical area.

[0008] The method may further comprise receiving a response message from the configuration node indicating whether the request to configure the at least one mobile base station was successful.

[0009] The request message may include information about the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node.The information may include an identifier of the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node.

[0010] The request message may indicate a type of communication service that the at least one mobile base station desires to provide to UEs in the target geographic area. The type of communication service that the mobile base station desires to provide may include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services, ultra-reliable low-latency communication services, machine-type communication services, location-based services, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication services, national security and public safety (NSPS) services, massive machine-type communication services, low-latency high-rate services, cloud gaming services, extended reality services, advanced duplex operation services, sensing services, and / or joint communication and sensing (JCAS) services.

[0011] The request message may indicate a target geographical area, a type of mobile base station required, a reference time when the at least one mobile base station should start providing communication services to UEs in the target geographical area, a duration for which the at least one mobile base station should provide communication services to UEs in the target geographical area, and / or a mobility profile required for the at least one mobile base station to provide communication services to UEs in the target geographical area.

[0012] The method may further comprise receiving from the information node additional information about the at least one mobile base station, the type of mobile base station to be configured and / or the type of service to be provided by the at least one mobile base station. The additional information may be included in the request message transmitted to the configuration node.

[0013] The node may be one of a UE and a network node.

[0014] A method performed by a node in a wireless communication network according to some embodiments includes receiving a request message from a requesting node at a configuration node responsible for configuring a mobile base station in a target geographical area. The request message requests the configuration node to configure at least one mobile base station from a set of mobile base stations to provide wireless communication services to UEs in the target geographical area. The method also includes configuring the at least one mobile base station to provide wireless communication services to the UEs in the target geographical area.

[0015] The method may further comprise transmitting a response message to the requesting node confirming the configuration of the at least one mobile base station.

[0016] The request message may include information about the mobile base stations to be configured by the configuration node, and the method may further include selecting the at least one mobile base station to provide communication services to the UE based on the information.

[0017] The method may further comprise transmitting to the secondary configuration node a secondary request requesting the secondary configuration node to configure the at least one mobile base station.

[0018] The method may further include performing a process in response to receiving the request message, wherein the process may include selecting the at least one mobile base station based on a mapping table, activating or preparing the at least one mobile base station, configuring or directing the at least one mobile base station to move to a target geographical area, and / or requesting a secondary node to configure the at least one mobile base station.

[0019] The mapping table may define the set of mobile base stations and one or more types of communication services provided by each mobile base station in the set of mobile base stations.

[0020] The mapping table may define the set of moving base stations and the corresponding operating durations and / or maximum speed limits of the moving base stations.

[0021] The requesting node may be one of a UE and a network node.

[0022] Some embodiments provide a network node comprising a processing circuit, a transceiver coupled to the processing circuit, and a memory coupled to the processing circuit, wherein the memory may comprise computer-readable program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the network node to perform operations according to any of the preceding embodiments.

[0023] Some embodiments provide a computer program product comprising a non-transitory medium storing computer program instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform operations according to any of the preceding embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 The diagram shows a communication system including a mobile base station.

[0025] Figures 2 to 5 Illustrated is a system / method for configuring a mobile base station in a communication system according to some embodiments.

[0026] Figure 6 and Figure 7 Illustrated are operations for configuring a mobile base station in a communication system in accordance with some embodiments.

[0027] Figure 8 Illustrated is an example of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments.

[0028] Figure 9 Illustrated is an example of a user equipment (UE) according to some embodiments.

[0029] Figure 10 Illustrated is an example of a network node according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] As mentioned above, there is a growing interest in incorporating aerial vehicles and spaceborne vehicles into wireless communication network infrastructure. However, there are currently certain challenges in doing so. For example, a mobile base station (MBS) or similar aerial vehicle can be used to serve user equipment (UE) that cannot be served by a traditional stationary base station, or to otherwise fill coverage gaps in the network. However, with the adoption of 5G and subsequent technologies, there is an increasing value-added of services that an MBS may have to implement. Implementing such complex features in an MBS may increase the cost, complexity and power consumption of the device. In addition, the management of an MBS is highly specialized because, unlike a stationary base station (BS), in addition to managing wireless communications, an MBS must also perform complex and unique functions such as aerodynamic movement, refueling, general services, etc.

[0031] Currently, the main focus of research is on how MBS can adequately provide coverage to UEs in the network. However, there is currently no mechanism for managing the deployment of MBS in wireless communication networks.

[0032] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and its embodiments may provide solutions to these and other challenges. Some embodiments described herein provide novel signaling mechanisms that may facilitate efficient use of MBS, reduce overall costs for operators, enhance quality of service, and / or enhance MBS availability. This, in turn, may ensure that the MBS can provide adequate quality of service (QoS) to UEs. In particular, some embodiments provide methods, performed by a network node, for requesting and configuring one of a set of dedicated mobile base stations (sMBSs) to manage or serve at least one UE.

[0033] Some embodiments provide a method in which a first node requests a second node to configure at least one sMBS from a set of sMBSs for serving at least one UE. For example, the first node may be a UE, a core network node, a radio network node, etc. The second node may be referred to as a distributed management node or DMN. In response to receiving the request, the DMN selects one of the sMBSs associated with the requested dedicated function and configures the selected sMBS to serve the at least one UE.

[0034] As an example, the set of sMBSs may include one general MBS and another MBS capable of performing dedicated functions (such as advanced beam management functions, positioning-related functions, etc.).

[0035] The mechanism described in this article allows sMBS to be managed by an entity dedicated to MBS management, but can serve UEs in any operator's network with the help of standardized signaling between the operator network and the DMN. This in turn enables network operators to outsource MBS management, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of managing MBS.

[0036] Certain embodiments may provide one or more technical advantages. For example, methods according to some embodiments may facilitate MBS implementation because not all MBSs must implement all complex functionalities.

[0037] A method according to some embodiments may enhance configuration and management of MBSs and improve overall network performance.

[0038] The signaling mechanism according to some embodiments may allow operators to outsource the complex task of managing MBS to service providers specializing in MBS. This in turn allows operators to access specific types of MBS when needed.

[0039] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.The embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0040] In airborne communication systems, stationary base stations interact with mobile base stations. Stationary base stations can provide basic coverage for a target area. The introduction of mobile base stations can complement existing stationary base stations by providing the ability to handle load variations and provide safety features. Wireless systems can also support beam optimization of antenna beams used in a target area.

[0041] As used herein, the term "base station" refers to a stationary base station (BS) whose geographical location does not change over time. Unless otherwise specified, the term "BS" refers to a conventional stationary BS. A BS may also be referred to as a fixed or immobile BS. A BS may be any type of network node that communicates with a UE and / or another network node.

[0042] The term "mobile base station (MBS)" refers to a base station whose geographic location may change over time, or at least has the capability to do so. A mobile base station may include a vehicle configured to travel on land, water, and / or air. For example, an MBS may be an unmanned helicopter equipped with the necessary circuitry and aerodynamic capabilities to physically fly or move in any direction through the air or in three-dimensional space. Alternatively, an MBS may be a wheeled land vehicle or a ship that moves in two-dimensional space. However, an MBS may also remain stationary for a specific period of time. Therefore, in some cases, an MBS may be described as quasi-stationary.

[0043] An MBS may be an independent node in a wireless communication system, or it may be located or housed in another node or device (e.g., on a satellite). The movement of the MBS may be controlled autonomously or by another node. In some cases, the movement of the MBS may be based on pre-configured information, such as a planned race. The MBS may also be referred to using other terms, such as a non-stationary BS, a mobile BS, a transportable BS, a high altitude platform station (HAPS), an air-to-ground (ATG) serving node, etc. Unless otherwise specified, the term MBS used in this specification refers to a "non-stationary BS." An MBS may be any type of "network node" that communicates with a UE and / or with another network node (e.g., with a BS).

[0044] Examples of network nodes are NodeB, MeNodeB, SeNodeB, gNodeB, sgNodeB, network nodes belonging to a master cell group (MCG) or a secondary cell group (SCG), a base station (BS), a multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node (such as an MSRBS), an eNodeB, a gNodeB, a network controller, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a relay, a donor node controlling a relay, a base transceiver station (BTS), an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, an access point (AP), a transmission point, a transmission node, a backhaul node, an RRU, an RRH, a node in a distributed antenna system (DAS), a core network node (e.g., MSC, MME, AMF, SMF, etc.), an O&M node, an OSS node, a SON node, a positioning node (e.g., E-SMLC), test equipment, etc.

[0045] In some embodiments, the term "user equipment" (UE) is used and refers to any type of wireless device that communicates with a network node and / or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. A UE may also be an aerial vehicle, which may be any type of flying object equipped with a UE. Examples of UEs are a target device, a device-to-device (D2D) UE, a machine type UE or a UE capable of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, a PDA, a tablet computer, a mobile terminal, a smart phone, a laptop embedded device (LEE), a laptop mounted device (LME), a USB dongle, a ProSe UE, a V2V UE, a V2X UE, an MTC UE, an eMTC UE, a further enhanced MTC (FeMTC) UE, a UE Cat 0, a UE Cat M1, a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) UE, a UE Cat NB1, an aerial UE (AUE) (e.g., a UE operating above a certain altitude). A UE may be in the form of an autonomous vehicle (such as an unmanned helicopter or other vehicle) or carried on an autonomous vehicle.

[0046] In some embodiments, the term "node" may refer to a UE or a network node.

[0047] refer to Figure 1 In an example embodiment, a first UE (UE1) needs to be served or managed by a radio network for wireless operation starting at a certain time instance (T0). T0 can be the current time instance (Tc), or it can be a future time instance (Tf) starting from a reference time (Tr). In one example, Tr can be a global time, such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), GPS time, etc. In another example, Tr can be the time when a request to send an sMBS is sent. In a special case, Tr=Tc. In one example, UE1 is currently being served by radio node N1. In this case, UE1 may be about to lose coverage from radio node N1, or it may still maintain coverage from radio node N1. In another example, UE1 was recently served by radio node N1, but is no longer served by radio node N1, for example due to loss of coverage. In both exemplary scenarios, UE1 needs to be served by an MBS with special capabilities (sMBS1). In one example, the radio node N1 that serves or has served UE1 is a radio network node (e.g., a base station, an access point, etc.).

[0048] In one example, the radio node Node1 serving UE1 is a BS (BS1) or an MBS (MBS1). In another example, the radio node N1 serving or having served UE1 is a second UE (UE2). In this case, UE1 and UE2 are D2D capable.

[0049] refer to Figure 2 According to some embodiments, a requesting node 10 (node ​​1) transmits a message M1 to an MBS configuration node 20 (node ​​2), requesting the configuration node 20 to configure at least one sMBS 40 (sMBS1) from a set of sMBSs (sMBS2, sMBS3, ..., sMBSn) for serving a UE 30 (UE1). In one example, the message M1 transmitted by the requesting node 10 includes explicit information about the sMBS 40 to be configured by the configuration node 20. In this case, the information may, for example, include at least an identifier of the requested sMBS 40. In another example, the message M1 transmitted by the requesting node 10 includes information about the type of service desired to be provided by the sMBS 40 to be selected and configured by the configuration node 20.

[0050] For example, communication services expected to be provided by sMBS may include enhanced mobile broadband services, ultra-reliable low-latency communication services, machine type communication services, location services and / or vehicle-to-anything (V2X) communication services.

[0051] In one example, the set of sMBSs from which the configuration node 20 selects at least one sMBS may be predefined, and corresponding information may be known to both the requesting node 10 and the configuration node 20. In another example, the configuration node 20 provides (or updates) information about the set of sMBSs or the set of available sMBSs to the requesting node 10.

[0052] In an example, the configuration node 20 may maintain and manage the set of sMBSs, in which case the configuration node 20 may be referred to as an MBS management node. The management functions performed by the MBS management node may include receiving a request from the requesting node 10, configuring an sMBS in the set of sMBSs, and directing the configured sMBS to serve the UE.

[0053] Before transmitting message M1 to configuration node 20, requesting node 10 may determine the need for sMBS service and / or the type of sMBS required, and / or the type of service required to serve UE 1. This determination may be based on, for example, autonomously determining the need for sMBS service, the type of sMBS, and / or the type of service.

[0054] In one example, requesting node 10 is a UE, such as UE1 or another UE. For example, UE1 may autonomously determine that it needs to be served by sMBS and directly send a request to configuration node 20. In another example, requesting node 10 is a network node, such as an access point, a base station, or a core network node, such as an AMF or MME. In this case, in one example, requesting node Node1 may autonomously determine that the UE needs to be served by sMBS and directly send a request to configuration node 20.

[0055] For example, Figure 3 The diagram illustrates an embodiment in which the requesting node 10 is a UE (UE1) requesting sMBS configuration. In this case, UE1, acting as the requesting node 10, sends a message M1 to the configuration node 20 requesting configuration of an sMBS for its own service. Message M1 may include information indicating a specific sMBS to be configured and / or information regarding the type of service required by the UE.

[0056] refer to Figure 4 In some embodiments, the demand for sMBS service, the type of sMBS and / or the type of service may be determined based on information received from an information node 50 (node ​​3), which may be, for example, a UE (e.g., UE1 or UE2) or a radio network node (e.g., a base station serving UE1).

[0057] When the requesting node 10 is a network node, the requesting node 10 may determine the need for UE1 30 to be served by an sMBS based on information received in a message M3 from an information node 50. The information node 50 may be a UE or another network node, such as a base station. In one example, the information may include information about the sMBS required to serve UE1 30. In this case, the requesting node 10 may forward the received information to the configuration node 20 in a message M1. In another example, the information may include information about the service type required by UE1 30. In this case, in one example, the requesting node 10 may use the received service information to further determine the type of sMBS in the set of sMBSs that can serve or manage UE1 30, and transmit the information about the sMBS type to the configuration node 20.

[0058] The requesting node 10 and the information node 50 may be configured with one or more mapping tables containing mappings of information to sMBS types. The mapping may be based on predefined information or information received from another node (such as a DMN). After determining the need for one or more UEs to be served by an sMBS, the configuration node 20 may use one of the mapping tables to determine information about the selected sMBS (e.g., sMBS ID). The requesting node 10 then sends a request (a first message (M1)) containing information about at least one selected sMBS to the configuration node 20. The requesting node 10 may also send a request (in the same message (M1) or in different messages, such as M11, M12, etc.) containing information about multiple selected sMBSs to the configuration node 20.

[0059] The information may also contain additional information about the UE 30 and / or the sMBS 40. Examples of such additional information include information about the area or location information in which the sMBS 40 needs to serve the UE 30, the time instance when the sMBS 40 should start operating, the duration for which the sMBS 40 is expected to serve the UE 30, and / or the mobility profile of the sMBS 40.

[0060] The area or location information where the sMBS 40 needs to serve the UE 30 may include, for example, two-dimensional or three-dimensional geographical coordinates and / or a reference location (eg, an area between an indicated set of cells).

[0061] The time instance (Ts) at which the sMBS 40 should begin operating may include, for example, the time instance at which the sMBS 40 is to begin serving the UE 30 and / or the time instance at which the sMBS 40 should reach the indicated coverage area. The time instance may be expressed relative to a reference time (Tr), e.g., the sMBS should begin no later than Ts after Tr. Examples of a reference time are system frame number (SFN) = 0, UTC time, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time, and the like.

[0062] The duration that the sMBS 40 is expected to serve the UE 30 may be expressed in terms of additional parameters such as minimum service duration (DEmin), maximum service duration (DEmax), average service duration (DEmean), and the like.

[0063] The mobility profile of the sMBS 40 may include, for example, the speed at which the sMBS 40 is expected to travel when serving the UE 30 , and / or the trajectory or path that the sMBS 40 is required to take to serve the UE 30 .

[0064] In one example, when the UE 30 and / or other UEs to be served are primarily stationary, the sMBS 40 may need to remain stationary or operate at a low speed. In another example, when at least some UEs are moving, the sMBS 40 may need to move or operate at a higher speed, such as in a scenario where a vehicle UE is on a fast lane, a racing event where a UE is equipped in a vehicle, etc.

[0065] The trajectory or path that the sMBS 40 is required to serve the UE 30 may include a set of geographical coordinates covering a path or track or road.

[0066] If multiple mapping tables are configured (eg, configured and / or predefined by the configuration node 20 ), the requesting node 10 may further specify a table for requesting the sMBS 40 .

[0067] Tables 1-5 illustrate various examples of mapping between different dedicated types of sMBS and their corresponding purposes.

[0068] Table 1 is a general example of a mapping table that contains a list of N sMBSs in a set. The set includes at least one universal MBS (sMBS1) and (N-1) dedicated sMBSs (sMBS2-sMBSN). The universal sMBS has the capability to provide all or most of the functions required by the service UE (such as eMBB services). However, the universal sMBS may not be able to guarantee high quality of service for specific services (such as UE positioning). On the other hand, the (N-1) sMBSs can ensure that the dedicated services they support are provided to the UE while meeting the quality of service targets. Each of the (N-1) dedicated sMBSs can also provide basic services required by the service UE (such as mobility). The dedicated sMBS may also be able to provide more than one dedicated function or service.

[0069] Table 1 = General example of a set of N sMBSs managed by a configuration node (DMN)

[0070]

[0071]

[0072] Table 2 is a specific example of a mapping table containing a list of 11 different types of sMBS. The set also includes at least one universal MBS (sMBS1) and 10 dedicated sMBSs (sMBS2-sMBS10). The table further provides an overview of the dedicated sMBSs. For example, sMBS2 is specialized in cell change operations such as enhanced handover. Examples of enhanced handover are RACH-free HO (i.e., handover that does not require random access channel or RACH procedures), make before break handover, a larger number of RACH resources (e.g., more frequent time slots for RACH) to speed up RACH during HO, etc.

[0073] In another example, sMBS5 specializes in vehicle positioning, such as being able to determine the position of a vehicle UE (e.g., a car) with an accuracy of about 10-50 decimeters. This requires sMBS5 to transmit and / or receive reference signals for positioning to and from the UE at a very high density, and to process them more accurately and quickly. In yet another example, sMBS6 specializes in providing URLLC type services, which require sMBS to implement very advanced receivers to enhance the reception quality of UE signals, and also requires very high processing power to reduce latency. Similarly, examples of sMBS7 and sMBS8 are equipped with features for serving UEs at very high data rates (e.g., higher capacity) and extended UE coverage, respectively.

[0074] Table 2 - Specific example of a set of 11 different types of sMBS managed by a configuration node (DMN)

[0075]

[0076]

[0077] Table 3 is another general example of a mapping table that contains a list of M sMBSs in a set. In Table 3, each type of sMBS is associated with a certain durability level (such as the maximum duration for which it can operate). For simplicity, each type of sMBS in the table includes two durability levels: short duration (DES) and long duration (DEL). As an example: DES ≤ T0 and DEL ≤ T1. The duration can be expressed in a suitable time unit (such as milliseconds, seconds, number of time slots, number of frames, number of SFN or super SFN cycles, etc.). For example: T0 = 30 minutes, T0 = 103 * SFN cycle; T1 = 5 hours, T1 = 106 * SFN cycle, etc. For example, an sMBS with short durability can be operated using a renewable energy source such as a battery. However, this embodiment is applicable to an unlimited number of durability levels, such as very low, low, medium, high, very high, etc.

[0078] Table 3 - General example of a set of M (M=2*N) sMBSs managed by a configuration node (DMN) operating at different durability levels

[0079]

[0080]

[0081] Table 4 is another general example of a mapping table that contains a list of M sMBSs in a set. However, in this example, each type of sMBS is associated with a maximum speed (such as the maximum speed at which it can operate). For simplicity, each type of sMBS in the table includes two speed levels: low speed (SL) and high speed (SH). As an example, SL ≤ S0 and SH ≤ S1. Speed ​​can be expressed using a suitable speed metric (such as distance / unit time, Doppler frequency, etc.). For example: S0 = 10 km / hour, S0 = 6 Hz in Doppler frequency; S1 = 100 km / hour, S1 = 30 GHz in Doppler frequency, etc. This embodiment is applicable to an unlimited number of speed levels / limits, such as very low, low, medium, high, very high, etc.

[0082] Table 4 - General example of a set of M (M=2*N) sMBSs operating at different speed levels managed by a configuration node (DMN)

[0083]

[0084]

[0085] Table 5 is another general example of a mapping table that contains a list of M sMBSs in a set. This example is a combination of the examples in Table 3 and Table 4. Therefore, each type of sMBS is associated with a certain maximum speed and maximum durability.

[0086] Table 5 - General example of a set of 8 different types of sMBS managed by a configuration node (DMN) operating at different combinations of durability levels and different speed levels

[0087]

[0088] According to some further embodiments, upon receiving a request message M1 for providing at least one sMBS from the requesting node 10, the configuration node 20 performs one or more processes. Examples of such processes include selecting or determining an sMBS based on the received request from the requesting node 10 and one or more mapping tables (e.g., comparing the requested ID and sMBS type in Table 2), activating or preparing the selected sMBS for operation, configuring or directing the selected sMBS (after activation, if it is not already activated) to move to a target area (e.g., location) to serve the UE, and / or requesting another node (e.g., a second DMN (DMN2)) to provide the requested sMBS if such an sMBS is not available at the requesting node 10.

[0089] Configuration node 20 may also decide not to send sMBS for serving UEs in the target area, for example, because of the cost of serving the UEs, unavailability of a suitable sMBS, or other reasons.

[0090] Configuration node 20 may also send a second message ( M2 ) to requesting node 10 , the second message informing requesting node 10 about any one or more of the above-mentioned actions or processes performed or carried out by configuration node 20 .

[0091] The configuration node 20 may interact with one or more other nodes to improve the overall throughput, coverage and QoS of sMBS operations. To support this, an sMBS zone may be defined consisting of one or several target areas, configuration nodes and sMBSs.

[0092] Information about the current or desired sMBS state between nodes may be exchanged within the sMBS area. Examples of such information include the load level of the sMBS (e.g., the number of UEs being served by the sMBS), cells being served by the sMBS or expected to be served by the sMBS, channel characteristics of the sMBS serving the UEs (e.g., interference, radio environment such as urban or rural areas, etc.), the location of the sMBS, and a target area being served or expected to be served by the sMBS, etc.

[0093] The configuration node 20 may involve other base stations, mobility management control or other nodes for handling enhanced functions for improving radio characteristics and coverage, such as carrier aggregation, coordinated multipoint or dual connectivity.

[0094] Overall optimization of sMBS operations and their availability as needed may be achieved using any of a centralized approach, a distributed approach, or a combination thereof.

[0095] Figure 5The figure illustrates a centralized approach. As shown, in this centralized approach, a master configuration node 20M can be defined to manage a set of sMBSs covering one or several target areas (TAs), each of which is associated with its own configuration node. Other configuration nodes act as secondary configuration nodes 20S. The master configuration node 20M determines how sMBSs should be utilized from the perspective of the optimal sMBS area. The master configuration node 20M sends instructions to the secondary configuration nodes to execute overall sMBS optimization decisions.

[0096] For example, Figure 5 As shown in FIG, the requesting node 10 may send a message M1a to the primary configuration node 20M requesting configuration of an sMBS. Upon receiving this message, the primary configuration node 20M may determine that the secondary configuration node 20S should perform the configuration. In this case, the primary configuration node 20M may send a message M1b to the secondary configuration node 20S requesting that the secondary configuration node 20S perform the configuration. Message M1b may include any information received from the requesting node 10 in message M1a, such as the identification of the desired sMBS, a description of the requested service type, etc. Message M1b may also include additional information provided by the primary configuration node 20M to assist the secondary configuration node 20S in performing the configuration.

[0097] The secondary configuration node 20S evaluates the configuration request and responds to the primary configuration node 20M with a message M2a confirming or rejecting the request. The primary configuration node 20M forwards the response to the requesting node 10 in a message M2b, possibly together with additional information provided by the primary configuration node 20M.

[0098] In a decentralized or distributed approach, each configuration node 20 within an sMBS area exchanges state information about the sMBS 40. Any configuration node 20 can send a message to another configuration node requesting the configuration of an sMBS capable of supporting the request made by the requesting node 10. This means that if each of the configuration nodes 20 involved has the same type of optimization algorithm, their operations in providing the relevant sMBS will result in the same or similar levels of sMBS performance, such as similar optimization of throughput in the sMBS area. The optimization will gradually converge towards an optimal solution.

[0099] Some of the above processes performed by the configuration node are further explained below.

[0100] Select sMBS

[0101] Reference again Figure 2 , the configuration node 20 may select or determine the sMBS 40 requested by the requesting node 10 according to one or more of the following principles.

[0102] In one example, the configuration node 20 may select the same type of sMBS as requested by the requesting node 10. This mechanism may be implemented if the requested sMBS type is available for operation at the configuration node 20.

[0103] In another example, the configuration node 20 may select an sMBS 40 whose functionality is similar or closest to the type of sMBS requested by the requesting node 10. This mechanism may be used if the requested sMBS type is not available for operation at the configuration node 20. The requested sMBS 40 may be unavailable for one or more reasons, such as because it is serving another set of UEs, because the sMBS 40 needs to be activated but is requested to be sent immediately or within a short period of time, and / or because the requested sMBS 40 has failed, etc. For example, if the requested sMBS 3 in Table 2 (specialized in UE positioning) is unavailable, the configuration node 20 may select sMBS 5 in Table 2.

[0104] In another example, if the requested sMBS type is not available for operation at the requested location, the configuration node 20 may select a reference sMBS. Examples of the reference sMBS include a predetermined type of sMBS (e.g., agreed upon between the requesting node 10 and the configuration node 20), a general-purpose sMBS (e.g., sMBS1 in Table 1 or Table 2), and a general-purpose sMBS with a certain durability and / or a certain speed (e.g., sMBS10-sMBS13 in Table 3, Table 4, or Table 5).

[0105] In the above example, the configuration node 20 also uses additional information received from the requesting node 10 (such as the duration and / or speed of operation of the sMBS 40, the time instance when the sMBS 40 is needed, etc.) to select the sMBS 40. For example, if the duration is short and the desired speed is low, and the requested sMBS type is general purpose, the configuration node 20 selects the sMBS 10 in Table 5.

[0106] Activate sMBS

[0107] When the request is received at configuration node 20, the requested sMBS 40 may or may not be active. For example, as shown in Table 6, the operating state of sMBS 40 may be active or inactive. The terms "active state" and "inactive state" may also be referred to as on and off states, respectively. For example, to save power and / or reduce heat or lower temperature, an sMBS 40 that has not been used for a certain period of time (e.g., for more than Tu time units) may be downgraded to an inactive state. If sMBS 40 is in the 'active state,' configuration node 20 may configure or instruct sMBS 40 to immediately move to the requested location or area to serve the UE (as requested by requesting node 10). However, if sMBS 40 is in the 'inactive state,' configuration node 20 first changes the state of sMBS 40 from inactive to active by, for example, sending a signal or message to sMBS 40. It may take a certain amount of time for sMBS 40 to fully become active. Once the sMBS 40 is active, the configuration node 20 will trigger the sMBS to move to the location of the target area to serve the UE.

[0108] Table 6 - Specific example of a set of N different types of sMBS managed by a configuration node (DMN)

[0109]

[0110] Directing sMBS to the target area

[0111] Configuration node 20 may configure sMBS 40 with information about the target area (e.g., geographic coordinates, etc.) where sMBS 40 is required to serve UE 30. Configuration node 20 may also configure sMBS 40 with additional information related to the duration of operation and / or mobility profile (e.g., speed, trajectory, etc.) with which sMBS 40 is required to operate in the target area. This allows sMBS 40 to optimize its resources (such as fuel, battery level, etc.) to ensure operation for the indicated duration. Configuration node 20 may also configure sMBS 40 with information about the time instance by which sMBS 40 should arrive at or become available in the target area. This allows sMBS 40 to adapt its speed, which it must move at to reach the target area in a timely manner.

[0112] Figure 6 1 illustrates a method performed by a requesting node 10 in a wireless communication network according to some embodiments. Figure 2-5 and Figure 6The method includes determining a need for a mobile base station 40 to provide wireless communication services to UEs 30 in a target geographical area (block 602), and transmitting a request message M1 to a configuration node 20 responsible for configuring mobile base stations in the target geographical area (block 604). The request message M1 requests the configuration node 20 to configure at least one mobile base station 40 from a set of mobile base stations 40 for serving the UEs 30 in the target geographical area.

[0113] The method may further comprise receiving a response message M2 from the configuration node 20 indicating whether the request to configure the at least one mobile base station 40 was successful.

[0114] The request message M1 may comprise information about the moving base station 40 to be configured by the configuration node 20. For example, the information may comprise an identifier of the moving base station 40 requested.

[0115] In some embodiments, the request message M1 indicates the type of communication service that is desired to be provided by at least one mobile base station to the UE 30 in the target geographic area. The type of communication service that is desired to be provided by the mobile base station 40 may include enhanced mobile broadband service, ultra-reliable low-latency communication service, machine type communication service, location service, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication service, national security and public safety (NSPS) service, massive machine type communication service, low-latency high-rate service, cloud gaming service, extended reality service, advanced duplex operation service, sensing service, and / or joint communication and sensing (JCAS) service.

[0116] The JCAS service, which may also be referred to as a radar service, enables detection or identification of objects (e.g., people, vehicles, etc.) by, for example, transmitting sensing / radar signals between the UE and a mobile base station. The JCAS service enables detection or identification of objects while still enabling the UE to maintain communication services (e.g., eMBB, etc.).

[0117] Extended Reality (XR) services enable high-quality communication (e.g., real-time high-quality video). Examples of XR include augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), etc.

[0118] Advanced duplex services enable efficient use of the radio spectrum by reusing spectrum in different transmission directions, but require more complex implementation in devices. Examples of advanced duplex services include dynamic or flexible duplex and full duplex. For example, in flexible duplex, a device can dynamically change the direction of a timeslot (uplink or downlink) from one frame to another. In another example, in full duplex, a device can simultaneously transmit and receive signals at the same time in the same frequency resource (e.g., resource block).

[0119] A mobile base station supporting NSPS may support very high output power (eg, 46 dBm) and / or robustness to withstand natural disasters (eg, hurricanes, forest fires, etc.) or man-made disasters.

[0120] The request message M1 may indicate a target geographical area, the type of mobile base station 40 required, a reference time when the at least one mobile base station 40 should start providing communication services to the UE 30 in the target geographical area, a duration for which the at least one mobile base station 40 should provide communication services to the UE 30 in the target geographical area, and / or a mobility profile required for the at least one mobile base station 40 to provide communication services to the UE 30 in the target geographical area.

[0121] The method may further comprise receiving additional information from the information node 50 regarding at least one mobile base station 40, the type of mobile base station 40 to be configured and / or the type of service to be provided to UEs in the target geographical area.

[0122] refer to Figure 2-5 and Figure 7 , illustrates a method performed by a configuration node 20 in a wireless communication network that is responsible for configuring mobile base stations in a target geographical area. The method comprises receiving a request message M1 from a requesting node 10 requesting the configuration node 20 to configure at least one mobile base station 40 from a set of mobile base stations to provide wireless communication services to UEs in the target geographical area (block 702), and configuring the at least one mobile base station 40 to provide wireless communication services to UEs 30 in the target geographical area (block 704).

[0123] The method may further comprise transmitting a response message M2 to the requesting node confirming the configuration of the at least one moving base station 40. The request message may comprise information about the moving base station 40 to be configured by the configuring node.

[0124] The request message may include information about the moving base stations 40 to be configured by the configuration node 20, and the method may further include selecting at least one moving base station 40 to provide communication services to the UE 30 based on the information.

[0125] The method may further include transmitting a secondary request to the secondary configuration node 20S requesting the secondary configuration node 20S to configure at least one mobile base station.

[0126] The method may further include performing a process in response to receiving the request message, wherein the process includes selecting at least one mobile base station based on a mapping table, activating or preparing at least one mobile base station, configuring or directing at least one mobile base station to move to a target geographic location, and / or requesting a secondary node to configure at least one mobile base station.

[0127] Figure 8An example of a communication system 100 is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0128] In this example, the communication system 100 includes a telecommunications network 102, which includes an access network 104, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network 106, which includes one or more core network nodes 108. The access network 104 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 110a and 110b (one or more of which may be collectively referred to as network nodes 110), or any other similar third generation partnership project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points. The network nodes 110 facilitate direct or indirect connection of user equipment (UE), such as connecting UEs 112a, 112b, 112c, and 112d (one or more of which may be collectively referred to as UEs 112) to the core network 106 via one or more wireless connections.

[0129] Example wireless communications over wireless connections include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in various embodiments, the communication system 100 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals (whether via wired or wireless connections). The communication system 100 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar types of systems.

[0130] The UE 112 may be any of a variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to wirelessly communicate with the network node 110 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network node 110 is arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UE 112 and / or with other network nodes or devices in the telecommunications network 102 to enable and / or provide network access (such as wireless network access), and / or to perform other functions, such as management in the telecommunications network 102.

[0131] In the depicted example, core network 106 connects network node 110 to one or more hosts, such as host 116. These connections can be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, the network node can be directly coupled to the host. Core network 106 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 108) constructed using hardware and software components. The features of these components can be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UE, network nodes, and / or hosts, so that the description is generally applicable to the corresponding components of core network node 108. Example core network nodes include the functionality of one or more of the following: a mobile switching center (MSC), a mobility management entity (MME), a home subscriber server (HSS), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), an authentication server function (AUSF), a subscription identifier dehiding function (SIDF), a unified data management (UDM), a security edge protection proxy (SEPP), a network exposure function (NEF), and / or a user plane function (UPF).

[0132] The host 116 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than the operator or provider of the access network 104 and / or the telecommunications network 102, and may be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. The host 116 may host various applications to provide one or more services. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services (such as retrieving and compiling data about various environmental conditions detected by multiple UEs), analytical functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for alarm and monitoring centers, or any other such functions performed by a server.

[0133] As a whole, Figure 8 The communication system 100 can enable connectivity between UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In this sense, the communication system can be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards, including but not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standards (e.g., 6G); Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards, such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and / or any other suitable wireless communication standards, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and / or any Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) standards, such as LoRa and Sigfox.

[0134] In some examples, telecommunication network 102 is a cellular network that implements 3GPP standardized features. Thus, telecommunication network 102 can support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices connected to telecommunication network 102. For example, telecommunication network 102 can provide ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) services to some UEs while providing enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or provide massive machine type communication (mMTC) / massive IoT services to yet other UEs.

[0135] In some examples, UE 112 is configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For example, the UE may be designed to transmit information to access network 104 according to a predetermined schedule when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to a request from access network 104. Additionally, the UE may be configured to operate in a single RAT or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, the UE may operate using any one or a combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio), and LTE, i.e., be configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio-Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0136] In this example, the hub 114 communicates with the access network 104 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 112c and / or 112d) and a network node (e.g., network node 110b). In some examples, the hub 114 can be a controller, a router, a content source, and an analysis device, or any other communication device described herein with respect to the UE. For example, the hub 114 can be a broadband router that enables the UE to access the core network 106. As another example, the hub 114 can be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UE. The commands or instructions can be received from the UE, the network node 110, or through executable code, scripts, processes, or other instructions in the hub 114. As another example, the hub 114 can be a data collector that acts as a temporary storage device for UE data and, in some embodiments, can perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 114 can be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, speaker, or other media delivery device, the hub 114 can retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, and then the hub 114 provides this data to the UE directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In another example, the hub 114 acts as a proxy server or coordinator for the UE, especially when one or more of the UEs are low-energy IoT devices.

[0137] The hub 114 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 110b. The hub 114 may also allow different communication schemes and / or scheduling between the hub 114 and the UE (e.g., UE 112c and / or 112d) and between the hub 114 and the core network 106. In other examples, the hub 114 is connected to the core network 106 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 114 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider via the access network 104 and / or to another UE via a direct connection. In some scenarios, the UE may establish a wireless connection with the network node 110 while still being connected via the hub 114 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 114 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications from the network node 110b to the UE / from the UE to the network node 110b. In other embodiments, the hub 114 may be a non-dedicated hub—that is, a device operable to route communications between UEs and network node 110b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communications origin and / or endpoint for certain data channels.

[0138] Figure 9UE 200 according to some embodiments is shown. As used herein, UE refers to a device that is capable of, configured to, arranged to, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with a network node and / or other UEs. Examples of UEs include, but are not limited to, smartphones, mobile phones, cellular phones, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, desktop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless cameras, game consoles or devices, music storage devices, rechargeable batteries, wearable terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, tablets, laptops, laptop embedded devices (LEEs), laptop mounted devices (LMEs), smart devices, wireless customer premises equipment (CPEs), vehicle-mounted or vehicle-embedded / integrated wireless devices, and the like. Other examples include any UE identified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) UEs, machine type communications (MTC) UEs, and / or enhanced MTC (eMTC) UEs.

[0139] The UE may support device-to-device (D2D) communications, for example, by implementing 3GPP standards for direct link communications, dedicated short range communications (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the associated device. Instead, the UE may represent a device that is intended to be sold to or operated by a human user but may not, or may not, initially be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, the UE may represent a device that is not intended to be sold to or operated by an end user but may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart meter).

[0140] UE 200 includes processing circuitry 202 operatively coupled to input / output interface 206, power supply 208, memory 210, communication interface 212, and / or any other components or any combination thereof via bus 204. Some UEs may utilize Figure 9 All or a subset of the components shown. The level of integration between components may vary from one UE to another. In addition, some UEs may include multiple instances of components, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0141] Processing circuitry 202 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operable to execute instructions stored as a machine-readable computer program in memory 210. Processing circuitry 202 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., using discrete logic, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.); programmable logic along with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, a general-purpose processor (such as a microprocessor or a digital signal processor (DSP)) along with appropriate software; or any combination thereof. For example, processing circuitry 202 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0142] In this example, the input / output interface 206 can be configured to provide one or more interfaces to an input device, an output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of output devices include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, a transmitter, a smart card, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device can allow a user to capture information into the UE 200. Examples of input devices include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smart card, etc. A presence-sensitive display can include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from the user. The sensor can be, for example, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. The output device can use the same type of interface port as the input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port can be used to provide both input and output devices.

[0143] In some embodiments, the power supply 208 is configured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources may be used, such as an external power source (e.g., an electrical outlet), a photovoltaic device, or a power cell. The power supply 208 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power supply 208 itself and / or an external power source to various components of the UE 200 via an input circuit or an interface such as a power cable. The delivered power may be used, for example, to charge the power supply 208. The power circuitry may perform any formatting, conversion, or other modifications to the power from the power supply 208 so that the power is suitable for the respective components of the UE 200 being supplied with power.

[0144] The memory 210 may be or be configured to include a memory such as a random access memory (RAM), 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), a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a hard disk, a removable cartridge, a flash drive, etc. In one example, the memory 210 includes one or more application programs 214, such as an operating system, a web browser application, a widget, a widget engine, or another application, and corresponding data 216. The memory 210 may store any of a variety of operating systems or combinations of operating systems for use by the UE 200.

[0145] The memory 210 may be configured to include multiple physical drive units, such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, a thumb drive, a pen drive, a key drive, a high-density digital versatile disk (HD-DVD) optical drive, an internal hard drive, a Blu-ray disc drive, a holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical drive, an external miniature dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), an external micro-DIMM SDRAM, a smart card memory (such as a tamper-resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs) (such as USIMs and / or ISIMs)), other memories, or any combination thereof. For example, the UICC may be an embedded UICC (eUICC), an integrated UICC (iUICC), or a removable UICC commonly referred to as a "SIM card." The memory 210 may allow the UE 200 to access instructions, applications, and the like stored on a temporary or non-temporary storage medium to offload data or upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing the communication system, may be tangibly embodied as or in memory 210, which may be or include a device-readable storage medium.

[0146] The processing circuit 202 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using a communication interface 212. The communication interface 212 may include one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 222. The communication interface 212 may include one or more transceivers for communication, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 218 and / or a receiver 220 suitable for providing network communication (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocation, etc.). Moreover, the transmitter 218 and the receiver 220 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 222) and may share circuit components, software, or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0147] In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functionality of the communication interface 212 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communication (such as Bluetooth), near-field communication, location-based communication (such as using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine location), another similar communication functionality, or any combination thereof. Communication may be implemented according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, new radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / Internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), QUIC, hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.

[0148] Regardless of the type of sensor, the UE can provide an output of the data captured by its sensor via its communication interface 212 via a wireless connection to a network node. The data captured by the UE's sensor can be delivered to the network node via another UE via a wireless connection. The output can be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load of reports from several sensors), in response to a trigger event (e.g., sending an alarm when moisture is detected), in response to a request (e.g., a user-initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

[0149] As another example, a UE may include an actuator, motor, or switch associated with a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input, the state of the actuator, motor, or switch may change. For example, the UE may include a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of an unmanned helicopter in flight based on the received input, or adjusts a robotic arm performing a medical procedure based on the received input.

[0150] When in the form of an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a UE may be a device for one or more application areas including, but not limited to, urban wearable technology, extended industrial applications, and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such IoT devices are devices that are or are embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, connected lighting, an electric meter, a robotic vacuum cleaner, a voice-activated smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electric door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smartwatch, a fitness tracker, a head-mounted display for augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR), a wearable device for tactile enhancement or sensory enhancement, a sprinkler, an animal- or object-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring plants or animals, an industrial robot, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device like a heart rate monitor or a teleoperated surgical robot. In addition to the description of Figure 9 In addition to the other components described for the UE 200 shown in FIG, a UE in the form of an IoT device may further include circuitry and / or software depending on the intended application of the IoT device.

[0151] As another specific example, in an IoT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another UE and / or a network node. In this case, the UE may be an M2M device, which in the 3GPP context may be referred to as an MTC device. As a specific example, a UE may implement the 3GPP NB-IoT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, bus, truck, ship, or airplane, or other equipment capable of monitoring and / or reporting its operating status or other functions associated with its operation.

[0152] In fact, any number of UEs can be used together for a single use case. For example, a first UE may be a vehicle or integrated into a vehicle and provide speed information of the vehicle (obtained by a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote control for operating the vehicle. When the user makes changes from the remote control, the first UE can adjust the throttle on the vehicle (for example, by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the speed of the vehicle. The first and / or second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE may include a sensor and an actuator and handle data communication for both the speed sensor and the actuator.

[0153] Figure 10A network node 300 according to some embodiments is shown. As used herein, a network node refers to a device capable of, configured to, arranged to, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or other network nodes or devices in a telecommunications network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs), and NR Node Bs (gNBs)).

[0154] Base stations can be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or in other words, their transmit power level), and therefore, depending on the amount of coverage provided, can be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station can be a relay node or a relay donor node that controls a relay. A network node can also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station, such as a centralized digital unit and / or a remote radio unit (RRU), sometimes referred to as a remote radio head (RRH). Such a remote radio unit may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna-integrated radio device. Parts of a distributed radio base station can also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).

[0155] Other examples of network nodes include a multi-transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access node, an MSR device such as a multi-standard radio (MSR) BS, a network controller such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a transmission point, a transmission node, a multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), an operation and maintenance (O&M) node, an operation support system (OSS) node, a self-organizing network (SON) node, a positioning node (e.g., an evolved serving mobile location center (E-SMLC)) and / or minimization of drive tests (MDT).

[0156] Network node 300 includes processing circuitry 302, memory 304, a communication interface 306, and a power supply 308. Network node 300 may be comprised of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and an RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), each of which may have its own corresponding components. In certain scenarios where network node 300 includes multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such scenarios, each unique NodeB and RNC pair may be considered a separate network node in some instances. In some embodiments, network node 300 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be replicated (e.g., separate memory 304 for different RATs), and some components may be reused (e.g., different RATs may share the same antenna 310). The network node 300 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components of different wireless technologies, such as GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, radio frequency identification (RFID), or Bluetooth wireless technologies, integrated into the network node 300. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or chipsets and other components within the network node 300.

[0157] The processing circuitry 302 may include a combination of one or more of the following: a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and / or encoded logic operable to provide network node 300 functionality, either alone or in combination with other network node 300 components (such as memory 304).

[0158] In some embodiments, processing circuitry 302 comprises a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, processing circuitry 302 comprises one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 312 and baseband processing circuitry 314. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 312 and baseband processing circuitry 314 may be on separate chips (or chipsets), boards, or units (such as a radio unit and a digital unit). In alternative embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry 312 and baseband processing circuitry 314 may be on the same chip, chipset, board, or unit.

[0159] Memory 304 may include any form of volatile or non-volatile computer-readable memory, including, but not limited to, permanent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a flash drive, a compact disk (CD), or a digital video disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and / or computer-executable memory device that stores information, data, and / or instructions usable by processing circuit 302. Memory 304 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including computer programs, software, applications including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions that are executable by processing circuit 302 and utilized by network node 300. Memory 304 may be used to store any computations performed by processing circuit 302 and / or any data received via communication interface 306. In some embodiments, processing circuit 302 and memory 304 are integrated.

[0160] Communication interface 306 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data between network nodes, access networks, and / or UEs. As shown, communication interface 306 includes port(s) / terminal(s) 316 for, for example, sending data to and receiving data from a network via a wired connection. Communication interface 306 also includes radio front-end circuitry 318, which may be coupled to antenna 310 or, in some embodiments, be part of antenna 310. Radio front-end circuitry 318 includes filter 320 and amplifier 322. Radio front-end circuitry 318 may be connected to antenna 310 and processing circuitry 302. Radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals transmitted between antenna 310 and processing circuitry 302. Radio front-end circuitry 318 may receive digital data to be transmitted to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. Radio front-end circuitry 318 may use a combination of filter 320 and / or amplifier 322 to convert the digital data into a radio signal having appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 310. Similarly, when data is received, antenna 310 may collect radio signals, which are then converted into digital data by radio front-end circuitry 318. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 302. In other embodiments, the communication interface may include different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0161] In certain alternative embodiments, network node 300 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 318, and instead, processing circuitry 302 includes the radio front-end circuitry and is connected to antenna 310. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 312 is part of communication interface 306. In still other embodiments, communication interface 306 includes one or more ports or terminals 316, radio front-end circuitry 318, and RF transceiver circuitry 312 as part of a radio unit (not shown), and communication interface 306 communicates with baseband processing circuitry 314, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0162] Antenna 310 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals. Antenna 310 may be coupled to radio front-end circuitry 318 and may be any type of antenna capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data and / or signals. In some embodiments, antenna 310 is separate from network node 300 and connectable to network node 300 via an interface or port.

[0163] Antenna 310, communication interface 306, and / or processing circuit 302 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and / or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data, and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node, and / or any other network device. Similarly, antenna 310, communication interface 306, and / or processing circuit 302 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data, and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node, and / or any other network device.

[0164] The power supply 308 provides power to the respective components of the network node 300 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at the voltage and current levels required by each respective component). The power supply 308 may further include or be coupled to power management circuitry to supply power to the components of the network node 300 for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 300 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electrical grid, an electrical outlet) via an input circuit or interface such as a cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to the power circuitry of the power supply 308. As another example, the power supply 308 may include a power source in the form of a battery or battery pack that is connected to or integrated into the power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power if the external power source fails.

[0165] Embodiments of the network node 300 may include, in addition to Figure 10, which are used to provide certain aspects of the functionality of the network node, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node 300 may include a user interface device to allow information to be input into network node 300 and to allow information to be output from network node 300. This may allow a user to perform diagnostics, maintenance, repair, and other management functions on network node 300.

[0166] Although the computing devices (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) described herein may include the illustrated combinations of hardware components, other embodiments may include computing devices with different combinations of components. It is understood that these computing devices may include any suitable combination of hardware and / or software required to perform the tasks, features, functions, and methods disclosed herein. The determinations, calculations, acquisitions, or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry that processes information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or the converted information with information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or the converted information, and making determinations as a result of the processing. Furthermore, although the components are depicted as being located within a larger box or as a single box nested within multiple boxes, in reality, the computing device may include multiple different physical components that constitute the single illustrated component, and functionality may be divided between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the component may be divided between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware, and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0167] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by a processing circuit that executes instructions stored in a memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by a processing circuit (such as in a hardwired manner) without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium. In any of those specific embodiments, the processing circuit may be configured to perform the described functionality, regardless of whether instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are executed. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to separate processing circuits or other components of a computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole and / or by end users and wireless networks generally.

Claims

1. A method performed by a node in a wireless communication network, comprising: determining (602) a demand for a mobile base station to provide wireless communication services to user equipment UE in a target geographical area; as well as A request message is transmitted (604) to a configuration node responsible for configuring mobile base stations in the target geographical area, wherein the request message requests the configuration node to configure at least one mobile base station from a set of mobile base stations for serving the UE in the target geographical area.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A response message is received from the configuration node indicating whether the request to configure the at least one mobile base station was successful.

3. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein: The request message includes information about the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The information comprises an identifier of the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The request message indicates a type of communication service that is desired to be provided by the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node to the UE in the target geographical area.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The types of communication services expected to be provided by the mobile base station include enhanced mobile broadband services, ultra-reliable low-latency communication services, machine type communication services, location services, vehicle-to-anything communication services, national security and public safety services, large-scale machine type communication services, low-latency high-rate services, cloud gaming services, extended reality services, advanced duplex operation services, sensing services and / or joint communication and sensing services.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein: The request message indicates the target geographical area.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein The request message indicates the type of mobile base station required.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein: The request message indicates a reference time at which the at least one mobile base station should start providing communication services to the UE in the target geographical area.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein The request message indicates a duration during which the at least one mobile base station should provide communication services to the UE in the target geographical area.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein The request message indicates a mobility profile required for the at least one mobile base station to provide communication services to the UE in the target geographical area.

12. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising: Additional information is received from an information node regarding the at least one moving base station, the type of moving base station to be configured, and / or the type of service to be provided by the at least one moving base station.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising including the additional information in the request message transmitted to the configuration node.

14. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein The node is one of the UE and a network node.

15. A method performed by a node in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving (702) a request message from a requesting node at a configuration node responsible for configuring mobile base stations in a target geographical area, wherein the request message requests the configuration node to configure at least one mobile base station from a set of mobile base stations to provide wireless communication services to user equipments (UEs) in the target geographical area; and The at least one mobile base station is configured (704) to provide wireless communication services to the UE in the target geographic area.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting a response message to the requesting node confirming the configuration of the at least one mobile base station.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein The request message includes information about the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein The information comprises an identifier of the mobile base station to be configured by the configuration node.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein The request message instructs the at least one mobile base station to provide a mobility profile required for the UE in the target geographical area to provide a communication service.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein The request message indicates a type of communication service that is desired to be provided by the at least one mobile base station to the UE in the target geographical area.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein The types of communication services expected to be provided by the at least one mobile base station include enhanced mobile broadband services, ultra-reliable low-latency communication services, machine type communication services, location services, vehicle-to-anything communication services, national security and public safety services, large-scale machine type communication services, low-latency high-rate services, cloud gaming services, extended reality services, advanced duplex operation services, sensing services and / or joint communication and sensing services.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein The request message indicates the target geographical area.

23. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein The request message indicates the type of mobile base station required.

24. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein The request message indicates a reference time at which the at least one mobile base station should start providing communication services to the UE in the target geographical area.

25. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein The request message indicates a duration during which the at least one mobile base station should provide communication services to the UE in the target geographical area.

26. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 25, wherein The request message includes information about mobile base stations to be configured by the configuration node, and the method further includes selecting the at least one mobile base station to provide communication services to the UE based on the information.

27. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 26, further comprising: A secondary request is transmitted to a secondary configuration node, requesting the secondary configuration node to configure the at least one mobile base station.

28. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 27, further comprising: In response to receiving the request message, performing a process, wherein the process includes selecting the at least one mobile base station based on a mapping table, activating or preparing the at least one mobile base station, configuring or directing the at least one mobile base station to move to the target geographical area, and / or requesting a secondary node to configure the at least one mobile base station.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein The mapping table defines the set of mobile base stations and one or more types of communication services provided by each mobile base station in the set of mobile base stations.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein The mapping table defines the set of moving base stations and the corresponding operation durations and / or maximum speed limits of the moving base stations.

31. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein The requesting node is one of the UE and a network node.

32. A network node comprising: processing circuits; a transceiver coupled to the processing circuit; as well as A memory coupled to the processing circuit, wherein the memory comprises computer readable program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the network node to perform operations according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

33. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory medium storing computer program instructions which, when executed by a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform the operations according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

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