Information receiving method, information sending method, information receiving device, information sending device, air network equipment and ground network equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to an information receiving method, an information sending method, an information receiving device, an information sending device, an air network device and a ground network device, and the information receiving method comprises the steps that a paging message corresponding to a first terminal and sent by the ground network device is received, and the paging message comprises downlink information needing to be sent to the first terminal. According to the present disclosure, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the air network device is unavailable, the air network device can also forward the downlink information to the first terminal in time, and also can avoid power consumption waste caused by continuous monitoring of the downlink information by the terminal.

Description

Information receiving and sending method and device, as well as air and ground network equipment Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an information receiving method, an information sending method, an information receiving device, an information sending device, an aerial network device, a ground network device, a communication system, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technology, communication technology is no longer limited to communication between ground devices. For example, in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), a terminal can communicate with ground network devices via a satellite in the air.

[0003] Since satellites are constantly moving in the air, the status of the links between satellites and terminals and between satellites and ground network equipment will change, leading to some technical problems.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide information receiving and sending methods and devices, as well as aerial and ground network equipment, to solve technical problems in related technologies.

[0006] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information receiving method is proposed, which is executed by an airborne network device. The method includes: receiving a paging message sent by a ground network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0007] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for sending information is proposed, which is executed by a ground network device. The method includes: sending a paging message to an airborne network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0008] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information receiving method is proposed, which is executed by an air network device. The method includes: receiving a paging message sent by a ground network device; and sending identification information of a first terminal to the ground network device.

[0009] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for sending information is proposed, which is executed by a ground network device. The method includes: sending a paging message to an airborne network device; and receiving identification information of a first terminal sent by the ground network device.

[0010] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information receiving device is proposed, which includes: a transceiver module configured to receive a paging message sent by a ground network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0011] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information sending device is proposed, which includes: a transceiver module configured to send a paging message to an air network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0012] According to a seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information receiving device is proposed, which includes: a transceiver module configured to receive a paging message sent by a ground network device; and send identification information of a first terminal to the ground network device.

[0013] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information sending device is proposed, which includes: a transceiver module configured to send a paging message to an airborne network device; and receive identification information of a first terminal sent by the ground network device.

[0014] According to the ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, an airborne network device is proposed, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the airborne network device is used to execute the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect.

[0015] According to the tenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a ground network device is proposed, comprising: one or more processors; wherein, the ground network device is used to execute the information sending method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0016] According to the eleventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, including a terminal, an aerial network device and a ground network device, wherein the aerial network device is configured to implement the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect, and the ground network device is configured to implement the information sending method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0017] According to the twelfth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect, and / or the information receiving method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a ground network device sends a paging message to an airborne network device, the paging message may include downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal. This allows the ground network device to send the downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal to the ground network device before the terminal responds to the paging message sent by the airborne network device (for example, before the airborne network device sends the paging message to the first terminal). Thus, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the airborne network device is unavailable, the airborne network device can promptly forward the downlink information to the first terminal, thereby avoiding power consumption waste caused by the terminal continuously monitoring the downlink information.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after receiving a paging message, the aerial network device can send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device. Since the ground network device, upon receiving the identification information of the first terminal, determines that the first terminal has responded to the paging message, it can then send the downlink information required to be sent to the first terminal to the aerial network device. Accordingly, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the aerial network device is unavailable, the aerial network device can still forward the downlink information to the first terminal in a timely manner, thereby avoiding the waste of power consumption caused by the terminal continuously monitoring the downlink information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0021] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG2A is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating an information receiving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG2B is an interactive diagram illustrating a method for receiving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG2C is an interactive diagram illustrating a method for receiving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG2D is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating an information receiving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG3 is a schematic flowchart showing a method for receiving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG4 is a schematic flowchart showing a method for sending information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG5 is a schematic flowchart showing a method for receiving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG6 is a schematic flowchart showing a method for sending information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG7 is a schematic block diagram of an information receiving device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG8 is a schematic block diagram of an information sending device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG9 is a schematic block diagram of an information receiving device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG10 is a schematic block diagram of an information receiving device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG11A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG11B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and devices for receiving and sending information, and aerial and ground network equipment.

[0037] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information receiving method, which is executed by an airborne network device, and the method includes: receiving a paging message sent by a ground network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0038] In the above embodiment, when the ground network device sends a paging message to the airborne network device, the paging message may include downlink information to be sent to the first terminal. This allows the ground network device to send the downlink information to the first terminal to the ground network device before the terminal responds to the paging message sent by the airborne network device (for example, before the airborne network device sends the paging message to the first terminal). Thus, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the airborne network device is unavailable, the airborne network device can promptly forward the downlink information to the first terminal, thereby avoiding power consumption waste caused by the terminal continuously monitoring downlink information.

[0039] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect. In some embodiments, the paging message further includes at least one of the following: location-related information of the first terminal; sending time information of the downlink information; first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send first confirmation information to the ground network device when storing the downlink information; second request information, wherein the second request information is used to request the airborne network device to send second confirmation information to the ground network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0040] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a non-terrestrial network tracking area based on the location-related information of the first terminal; and paging the first terminal in the non-terrestrial network tracking area.

[0041] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a first time according to the sending time information of the downlink information; and paging the first terminal at the first time.

[0042] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: establishing a connection with the first terminal; and sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0043] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information sending method, which is executed by a ground network device, and the method includes: sending a paging message to an airborne network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0044] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect. In some embodiments, the paging message further includes at least one of the following: location-related information of the first terminal; sending time information of the downlink information; first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send first confirmation information to the ground network device when storing the downlink information; second request information, wherein the second request information is used to request the airborne network device to send second confirmation information to the ground network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0045] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information receiving method, which is executed by an airborne network device. The method includes: receiving a paging message sent by a ground network device; and sending identification information of a first terminal to the ground network device.

[0046] In the above embodiment, after receiving a paging message, the aerial network device can send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device. Since the ground network device, upon receiving the identification information of the first terminal, determines that the first terminal has responded to the paging message, it can then send the downlink information required for the first terminal to the aerial network device. Consequently, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the aerial network device is unavailable, the aerial network device can promptly forward the downlink information to the first terminal, thereby avoiding the waste of power caused by the terminal continuously monitoring the downlink information.

[0047] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, sending the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device includes: in response to satisfying a first condition, sending the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: the first terminal is unreachable; the second link between the airborne network device and the first terminal is unavailable; the paging message indicates that downlink information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0048] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: a first identification, wherein the first identification is generated by the air network device; and a second identification, wherein the second identification is an identification obtained from the paging message.

[0049] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

[0050] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: a newly defined S1 application protocol message; an initial user equipment message, wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

[0051] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending first indication information to the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the airborne network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0052] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving first information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0053] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: establishing a connection with the first terminal; and sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0054] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information sending method, which is executed by a ground network device, and the method includes: sending a paging message to an airborne network device; and receiving identification information of a first terminal sent by the ground network device.

[0055] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect. In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: a first identification, wherein the first identification is generated by the air network device of the first terminal; and a second identification, wherein the second identification is an identification obtained from the paging message.

[0056] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

[0057] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: a newly defined S1 application protocol message; an initial user equipment message, wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

[0058] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving first indication information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the airborne network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0059] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending first information to the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0060] In the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information receiving device, which is arranged in an aerial network device, and the device includes: a transceiver module, which is configured to receive a paging message sent by a ground network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0061] In the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information sending device, which is executed by a ground network device, and the device includes: a transceiver module, configured to send a paging message to an air network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0062] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information receiving device, which is executed by an aerial network device, and the device includes: a transceiver module, configured to receive a paging message sent by a ground network device; and send identification information of a first terminal to the ground network device.

[0063] In the eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an information sending device, which is executed by a ground network device, and the device includes: a transceiver module, configured to send a paging message to an airborne network device; and receive identification information of a first terminal sent by the ground network device.

[0064] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an airborne network device, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the airborne network device is used to execute the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect.

[0065] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a ground network device, comprising: one or more processors; wherein, the ground network device is used to execute the information sending method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0066] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, including a terminal, an aerial network device and a ground network device, wherein the aerial network device is configured to implement the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect, and the ground network device is configured to implement the information sending method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0067] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium storing instructions, which, when the instructions are executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute any one of the information receiving methods described in the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect, and / or any one of the information receiving methods described in the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0068] In the thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect, and / or the information receiving method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0069] In the fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the information receiving method described in any one of the first aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the optional embodiment of the third aspect, and / or the information receiving method described in any one of the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the optional embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0070] It is understandable that the above-mentioned information receiving and sending devices, communication equipment, communication systems, storage media, program products, and computer programs are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here.

[0071] The disclosed embodiments provide information receiving and transmitting methods and apparatus, as well as aerial and terrestrial network equipment. In some embodiments, the terms information receiving and transmitting methods, information processing methods, and communication methods are interchangeable; the terms information receiving and transmitting apparatus, information processing apparatus, and communication apparatus are interchangeable; and the terms information processing system and communication system are interchangeable.

[0072] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0073] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0074] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0075] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "aforementioned", "this", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc.

[0076] For example, when using articles such as “a”, “an”, and “the” in English in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0078] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0079] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0080] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0081] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description objects, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restrictions should be constituted due to the use of prefixes.

[0082] For example, if the description object is "field," the ordinal number preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" does not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the modified "fields" are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of the "first field" and "second field." For another example, if the description object is "level," the ordinal number preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" does not restrict the priority of the "levels." For another example, the number of description objects is not restricted by the ordinal number and can be one or more. For example, in the case of "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device," "first device" and "second device" can be the same or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. For another example, if the description object is "information," "first information" and "second information" can be the same or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0083] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0084] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0085] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0086] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0087] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0088] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)", "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "serving cell", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0089] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0090] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it is also possible to set the structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by terms corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by side links.

[0091] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0092] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0093] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0094] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0095] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101, an aerial network device 102 and a ground network device 103, wherein the aerial network device can communicate with the ground network device. The aerial network device can be, for example, a satellite, an aerial platform, a drone, etc., and the ground network device can be, for example, an access network device, a core network, a gateway, etc.

[0097] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0098] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0099] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or device groups, each including all or part of the one or more network elements. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0100] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0101] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0102] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0103] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 , or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in FIG1 , or may include other entities outside of FIG1 . The number and form of the entities are arbitrary, and the entities may be physical or virtual. The connection relationships between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0104] The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0105] In some embodiments, the terminal may communicate in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). For example, the terminal may communicate with a terrestrial network device through an aerial network device in the non-terrestrial network.

[0106] For example, aerial network equipment can be satellites, aerial platforms, drones, etc. Aerial network equipment can serve as relay equipment, base stations, core networks, gateways, Mobility Management Entities (MMEs), etc.

[0107] For example, the ground network equipment may include at least one of the following: a base station, a core network, a gateway, and a mobility management entity.

[0108] For example, the base station may include at least one of the following: eNB, gNB.

[0109] For example, the core network may include at least one of the following: a 4G core network and a 5G core network.

[0110] For example, the gateway may include at least one of the following: a serving gateway (Serving GateWay, S-GW), a packet data network gateway (PDN (Packet Data Network) GateWay, P-GW).

[0111] For example, MME can be a core network, or a network element (or function) in the core network, such as an access mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), and a user plane function (UPF), where the above-mentioned S-GW may also refer to UPF.

[0112] Since the aerial network equipment moves in the air, the distance between the aerial network equipment and the ground network equipment will change. This causes the first link between the aerial network equipment and the ground network equipment (for example, it can be called a feeder link) to generally not be able to maintain continuous connection during the communication process and will be disconnected within some periods of time.

[0113] Similarly, the distance between the airborne network device and the terminal may also change, causing the second link (e.g., service link) between the airborne network device and the terminal to generally not be able to maintain a continuous connection during the communication process and may be disconnected within some periods of time.

[0114] A link that is disconnected may also be referred to as a link that is unavailable, and a link that is not disconnected may also be referred to as a link that is available.

[0115] In some embodiments, considering that the first link and the second link may be disconnected during the terminal communication process, the air network device may communicate based on a store and forward mode.

[0116] For example, when the first link is available, the airborne network device receives information #1 that needs to be sent to the terminal from the ground network device. If the second link is also available, the airborne network device may choose not to store information #1 and directly send information #1 to the terminal. If the second link is unavailable, the airborne network device may choose to store information #1 and then send information #1 to the terminal when the second link is available later.

[0117] For example, when the second link is available, the aerial network device receives information #2 from the terminal that needs to be sent to the ground network device. If the first link is also available, the aerial network device can choose not to store information #2 and directly send information #2 to the ground network device. If the first link is unavailable, the aerial network device can choose to store information #2 and then send information #2 to the ground network device when the first link is available later.

[0118] It can be seen that when the airborne network device communicates based on the store-and-forward mode, even if the communication link (such as the first link and / or the second link) is disconnected, the airborne network device can store the information and forward the stored information to the target device when the subsequent link is available. This is conducive to ensuring that the terminal can successfully complete the communication in the non-ground network.

[0119] In some embodiments, when the ground network device needs to send downlink information to the terminal, it may first send a paging message (paging) for paging the terminal to the airborne network device, and the airborne network device sends the paging message to the terminal.

[0120] After receiving the paging message, the terminal can establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection, for example, by sending a radio resource control connection request (RRCconnectionerrequest) message to the air network device. In some embodiments, the RRCconnectionerrequest message may include a non-access stratum control plane service request (NAS (Non-access stratum) control plane service request).

[0121] After receiving the RRCconnectionerrequest message and completing the RRCconnectionestablishment process, the airborne network device sends an initial terminal message (initial UE message) to the ground network device. The initial terminal message may include a non-access layer control plane service request.

[0122] After receiving the initial terminal message, the ground network device sends the downlink information that needs to be sent to the terminal to the airborne network device, and then the airborne network device sends the downlink information to the terminal.

[0123] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, only after the terminal responds to the paging message (for example, at least including the terminal initiating and completing the RRC connection establishment process to the air network device) will the downlink information be sent from the air network device to the ground network device.

[0124] However, in the NTN scenario, since the aerial network equipment is constantly moving in the air (for example, non-geostationary satellites) or due to link failures, sometimes the first link is unavailable and sometimes the second link is unavailable. When the terminal responds to the paging message, if the first link is unavailable, the ground network equipment will not be able to send downlink information to the aerial network equipment, and the aerial network equipment will not be able to send downlink information to the terminal, resulting in the terminal downlink information not being sent to the terminal in a timely manner, and may even cause the terminal to continuously monitor the downlink information, resulting in waste of power consumption.

[0125] In some embodiments, for information from a terminal or a ground network device, the mode in which the airborne network device processes the information may include at least one of the following: a transparent transmission mode and a regeneration mode.

[0126] In transparent transmission mode, the ground network device can send information to the airborne network device. The airborne network device converts the information to the airborne network device's frequency band and then sends the information to the terminal through the airborne network device's frequency band. In some embodiments, the information is amplified. However, other than frequency conversion and signal amplification, the airborne network device does not demodulate the information. In this case, the airborne network device can be regarded as a repeater.

[0127] In regeneration mode, ground-based network equipment can send information to airborne network equipment, which can then demodulate and decode the information, then re-encode and modulate it (regeneration primarily refers to this process), and then transmit the coded and modulated information to the terminal. Of course, in this mode, the airborne network equipment can also perform operations such as frequency band conversion and signal amplification. In this case, the airborne network equipment can be considered an access network device, such as a base station.

[0128] In some embodiments, the airborne network device can perform the operations described in the embodiments of this disclosure in regeneration mode; or in some embodiments, the airborne network device can perform the operations described in the embodiments of this disclosure in transparent transmission mode. The airborne network device in regeneration mode can function as a base station, core network, gateway, MME, etc.

[0129] FIG2A is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating an information receiving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0130] As shown in FIG2A , the information receiving method may include the following steps:

[0131] In step S201 , the ground network device sends a paging message to the air network device.

[0132] In some embodiments, the ground network device needs to send downlink information to the first terminal, and may first send a paging message corresponding to the first terminal to the air network device.

[0133] In some embodiments, the paging message may include an identifier of the first terminal, used to indicate that the paging message is used to page the first terminal.

[0134] In some embodiments, the identifier of the first terminal may, for example, include a user equipment paging identifier (UE Paging Identity), wherein the user equipment paging identifier may, for example, include a short-term mobile identification identifier (S-TMSI); and / or, the identifier of the first terminal may, for example, include an identifier generated by a terrestrial network device, for example, the terrestrial network device includes an MME, and the identifier of the first terminal may include an identifier generated by the MME, for example, which may be called a mobile management entity user equipment S1 application protocol identifier (MME UE S1AP ID).

[0135] In some embodiments, the paging message may include downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0136] In some embodiments, the airborne network device receives a paging message sent by the ground network device.

[0137] In some embodiments, the air network device obtains downlink information to be sent to the first terminal from the paging message.

[0138] In some embodiments, the air network device may store downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal, so as to forward the downlink information to the terminal when the second link between the air network device and the first terminal is available.

[0139] In some embodiments, the airborne network device may send first capability information to the ground network device, where the first capability information is used to indicate the storage and forwarding capability of the airborne network device, such as whether storage and forwarding is supported, available storage space, etc.

[0140] In some embodiments, the ground network device may carry the downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal in the paging message only when it determines that the airborne network device supports store-and-forwarding. However, if it determines that the airborne network device does not support store-and-forwarding, the downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal may not be carried in the paging message.

[0141] For example, when the ground network device carries downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal in a paging message, it can determine the size of the downlink information carried in the paging message based on the available storage space of the airborne network device. For example, the size of the downlink information carried in the paging message is less than or equal to the available storage space of the airborne network device, so that the airborne network device can smoothly store the downlink information.

[0142] In some embodiments, the first terminal may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device, such as a Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) device, or a traditional device.

[0143] In some embodiments, the downlink information may include data or signaling, which is not limited in this disclosure. For example, when the first terminal is an IoT device, the downlink information may include IoT data.

[0144] In some embodiments, the aerial network equipment may implement the function of a base station, and the ground network equipment may implement the function of a core network device.

[0145] In other embodiments, the aerial network equipment can realize the functions of a base station and some functions of a core network device, and the ground network equipment can realize some functions of a core network device.

[0146] In some embodiments, the paging message may include a downlink non-access stratum protocol data unit (DL NAS (Non-access stratum) PDU (Protocol Data Unit)), and the downlink information may be included in the DL NAS PDU.

[0147] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a ground network device sends a paging message corresponding to a first terminal to an airborne network device, the paging message can carry downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal. This allows the ground network device to send the downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal to the ground network device before the terminal responds to the paging message sent by the airborne network device (for example, before the airborne network device sends the paging message to the first terminal). Accordingly, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the airborne network device is unavailable, the airborne network device can promptly forward the downlink information to the first terminal, and can also avoid power consumption waste caused by the terminal continuously monitoring the downlink information.

[0148] In some embodiments, the paging message further includes at least one of the following:

[0149] location-related information of the first terminal;

[0150] Sending time information of the downlink information;

[0151] first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send first confirmation information to the ground network device when storing the downlink information;

[0152] The second request information is used to request the air network device to send second confirmation information to the ground network device when the downlink information is successfully sent to the first terminal.

[0153] It should be noted that the information that the paging message can include is not limited to the above-mentioned types. For example, it can also include the paging reason, confirmation information sent after receiving the uplink information sent by the first terminal (such as uplink delivery notification), etc., and this disclosure does not limit this.

[0154] In some embodiments, the location-related information of the first terminal may include NTN Tracking Area Identity (TAI) information. The NTN TAI information may be used to indicate to the airborne network device the area recommended by the ground network device for paging the first terminal.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first terminal may have had historical communications with the ground network device before the ground network device sends a paging message to the airborne network device. Since the first terminal is generally also a ground device and will not move over a large range in a short period of time, in this case, the ground network device can determine the location-related information of the first terminal in the paging message based on the location reported by the first terminal during the historical communication process.

[0156] Alternatively, if the first terminal has not had a history of communication with the ground network device, the ground network device can obtain the location of the first terminal through other means (for example, from the server corresponding to the application in the first terminal), and determine the location-related information of the first terminal in the paging message based on the obtained location.

[0157] For example, the NTN TAI information may include Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information and Tracking Area Code (TAC) information related to the PLMN.

[0158] For example, the ground network device may predict TAC information according to the location of the first terminal, and the NTN TAI information may include the predicted TAC information.

[0159] In some embodiments, the ground network device may determine a non-ground network tracking area based on the location-related information of the first terminal, and then page the first terminal in the non-ground network tracking area.

[0160] For example, if the paging message also includes information related to the location of the first terminal, the ground device can determine the NTN TA corresponding to the location-related information of the first terminal and then page the first terminal in the NTN TA. For example, when the airborne network device moves to a location that covers the NTN TA, it can send a paging message to the first terminal in the NTN TA or in the cell of the NTN TA. This helps ensure that the paging message of the airborne network device can be successfully sent to the first cell.

[0161] In some embodiments, the ground network device may determine a first time based on the sending time information of the downlink information; and then page the first terminal at the first time.

[0162] For example, the ground network device can determine the time when the aerial network device can page the first terminal (for example, the distance between the aerial network device and the first terminal is less than a distance threshold (which can be a value agreed upon by the protocol or determined by the ground network device)) as the first time (which can be one or more moments or one or more time periods) based on the ephemeris information of the aerial network device and the position of the first terminal (the determination method can refer to the previous embodiment and will not be repeated here), and then generate the sending time information based on the first time.

[0163] Furthermore, when the paging message also includes the sending time information of the downlink information, the ground equipment can determine the first time based on the sending time information and page the terminal at the first time. This is helpful to ensure that the paging message of the air network equipment can be smoothly sent to the first cell.

[0164] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the paging message sent by the airborne network device to the first terminal may not include downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal. Instead, the downlink information needs to be forwarded to the terminal after the first terminal responds to the paging message. Of course, in some embodiments, the paging message sent by the airborne network device to the first terminal may also include downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0165] In some embodiments, the air network device establishes a connection with the first terminal.

[0166] In step S202, the air network device sends the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0167] For example, when the second link between the air network device and the first terminal is available, the air network device can send a first paging message to the terminal, and the terminal can respond to the paging message (for example, at least including the terminal initiating an RRC connection establishment process to the air network device), and then the air network device can establish a connection with the first terminal, such as RRC connection establishment, RRC connection recovery, etc., and then send the downlink information stored in the air network device to the terminal through the RRC connection.

[0168] FIG2B is an interactive diagram illustrating a method for receiving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0169] As shown in FIG2B , the information receiving method may include the following steps:

[0170] In step S201A, the airborne network device may send a paging message for paging the first terminal to the airborne network device when there is downlink information to be sent to the first terminal or when an uplink delivery notification is required.

[0171] In some embodiments, the paging message further includes at least one of the following:

[0172] Downlink information to be sent to the first terminal, for example, may be included in a DL NAS PDU;

[0173] Location-related information of the first terminal, such as an NTN TAI, where the NTN TAI may include a PLMN and an associated TAC list, or the NTN TAI may include TAC information inferred based on the location of the first terminal;

[0174] The sending time information of the downlink information is used to indicate the expected time when the downlink information is delivered to the terminal;

[0175] first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send first confirmation information to the ground network device when storing the downlink information;

[0176] The second request information is used to request the air network device to send second confirmation information to the ground network device when the downlink information is successfully sent to the first terminal.

[0177] In some embodiments, the downlink information may include data or signaling.

[0178] In some embodiments, the first terminal may be, for example, an IoT device or an NB-IoT device, and the downlink information may include IoT data.

[0179] In step S202A, the airborne network device may page the first terminal at a time determined according to the sending time information of the downlink information and / or at a location (eg, TA, cell, etc.) determined according to the location-related information of the first terminal.

[0180] In step S203A, the first terminal responds to the paging and may establish an RRC connection or recover an RRC connection.

[0181] In step S204A, after the RRC connection is established or restored, the airborne network device can forward the stored downlink information from the ground network device to the terminal via the RRC connection.

[0182] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S201 and S202. For example, step S201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S201+S202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0183] In some embodiments, steps S201 and S202 may be performed in an interchangeable order or simultaneously.

[0184] In some embodiments, step S201 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0185] In some embodiments, step S202 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0186] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 2A .

[0187] FIG2C is an interactive diagram illustrating a method for receiving information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0188] As shown in FIG2C , the information receiving method may include the following steps:

[0189] In step S203, the airborne network device may receive a paging message sent by the ground network device.

[0190] In some embodiments, the ground network device needs to send downlink information to the first terminal and may first send a paging message to the air network device.

[0191] In some embodiments, the paging message may include an identifier of the first terminal, used to indicate that the paging message is used to page the first terminal.

[0192] In some embodiments, the identifier of the first terminal may, for example, include a user equipment paging identifier (UE Paging Identity), wherein the user equipment paging identifier may, for example, include a short-term mobile identification identifier (S-TMSI); and / or, the identifier of the first terminal may, for example, include an identifier generated by a terrestrial network device, for example, the terrestrial network device includes an MME, and the identifier of the first terminal may include an identifier generated by the MME, for example, which may be called a mobile management entity user equipment S1 application protocol identifier (MME UE S1AP ID).

[0193] In step S204, the aerial network device sends the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device.

[0194] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 Application Protocol (S1AP) message. Of course, it can also be included in other messages, which is not limited by the present disclosure.

[0195] In some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following:

[0196] Newly defined S1 application protocol message;

[0197] An initial user equipment message (initial UE message), wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is dummy or empty.

[0198] The access-related information in the initial UE message may include, for example, at least one of the following: non-access stratum protocol data unit (NAS (Non-access stratum) PDU (Protocol Data Unit)), terminal location information (user location information), and RRC connection establishment reason.

[0199] In some embodiments, the aerial network device sends the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device, which can be performed after receiving the paging message corresponding to the first terminal sent by the ground network device and before receiving the response of the first terminal to the paging message (for example, before the aerial network device sends the paging message to the first terminal).

[0200] In some embodiments, after receiving the identification information of the first terminal, the ground network device determines that the first terminal has responded to the paging message, and thus can send the downlink information to the first terminal to the airborne network device. For example, the airborne network device can store the downlink information after receiving it.

[0201] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after receiving a paging message corresponding to a first terminal, the aerial network device can send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device. Since the ground network device, upon receiving the identification information of the first terminal, determines that the first terminal has responded to the paging message, it can then send the downlink information required to be sent to the first terminal to the aerial network device. Accordingly, after the first terminal responds to the paging message, even if the first link between the ground network device and the aerial network device is unavailable, the aerial network device can still forward the downlink information to the first terminal in a timely manner, thereby avoiding the waste of power consumption caused by the terminal continuously monitoring the downlink information.

[0202] For those who need explanation, this embodiment can be regarded as that when the first terminal does not respond to the paging message, the aerial network device simulates that the first terminal responds to the paging message, thereby realizing that when the first terminal does not respond to the paging message, the ground network device can also send the message that needs to be sent to the first terminal to the aerial network device first.

[0203] In some embodiments, the airborne network device may receive first information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0204] For example, after the ground network device receives the identification information of the first terminal sent by the aerial network device, it can be considered that the first terminal has responded to the paging message, thereby sending downlink information to the aerial network device, and can indicate that the downlink information is associated with the identification information of the first terminal, so that the aerial network device can determine the downlink information from the ground network device, which needs to be forwarded to the first terminal subsequently.

[0205] In some embodiments, the air network device may establish a connection with the first terminal, and then send the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0206] For example, when the second link between the air network device and the first terminal is available, the air network device can send a first paging message to the terminal, and the terminal can respond to the paging message (for example, at least including the terminal initiating an RRC connection establishment process to the air network device), and then the air network device can establish a connection with the first terminal, such as RRC connection establishment, RRC connection recovery, etc., and then send the downlink information stored in the air network device to the terminal through the RRC connection.

[0207] In some embodiments, the airborne network device sends the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device only in response to a first condition being met.

[0208] For example, the first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0209] The first terminal is unreachable;

[0210] The second link between the air network device and the first terminal is unavailable;

[0211] The paging message indicates that downlink information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0212] In some embodiments, the aerial network device can determine whether the first terminal is reachable. If the first terminal is not reachable, the paging message cannot be sent to the first terminal immediately. This may cause a situation where the paging message is subsequently sent to the terminal when the first terminal is reachable, but the first link between the aerial network device and the ground network device is unavailable, resulting in the aerial network device being unable to send downlink information to the first terminal in a timely manner after the first terminal responds to the paging message.

[0213] Therefore, in this case, the aerial network device can send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device, so that when the first terminal does not respond to the paging message, the ground network device can also send the information that needs to be sent to the first terminal to the aerial network device first, thereby avoiding the above problems.

[0214] In some embodiments, the aerial network device can determine whether the second link is available. If the second link is unavailable, the paging message cannot be sent to the first terminal immediately. This may cause a situation where the paging message is subsequently sent to the terminal when the second link is available, but the first link between the aerial network device and the ground network device is unavailable, resulting in the aerial network device being unable to send downlink information to the first terminal in a timely manner after the first terminal responds to the paging message.

[0215] Therefore, in this case, the aerial network device can send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device, so that when the first terminal does not respond to the paging message, the ground network device can also send the information that needs to be sent to the first terminal to the aerial network device first, thereby avoiding the above problems.

[0216] In some embodiments, the aerial network device can indicate to the ground network device through a paging message that it needs to send downlink information to the first terminal. For example, the paging message can carry a paging reason, such as a DL NAS PDU notification. The ground network device can determine that the aerial network device needs to send downlink information to the first terminal based on the paging reason.

[0217] Since the above-mentioned problem may occur when the aerial network device needs to send downlink information to the first terminal, the aerial network device can send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device, so that when the first terminal does not respond to the paging message, the ground network device can also send the information that needs to be sent to the first terminal to the aerial network device first, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned problem.

[0218] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following:

[0219] A first identifier, wherein the first identifier is generated by the air network device;

[0220] A second identifier, wherein the second identifier is an identifier obtained from the paging message.

[0221] In some embodiments, the air network device may generate the first identifier. For example, the paging message may include the identifier of the first terminal. The air network device may process the identifier of the first terminal in the paging message to obtain the first identifier.

[0222] For example, the aerial network device can be regarded as a base station in the regeneration mode, such as eNB. Then, when the aerial network device sends the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device through the S1AP message, the first identification can be the eNB UE S1AP ID, which is used to represent the unique identification of the paged terminal (that is, the first terminal) generated by the eNB side.

[0223] In some embodiments, the airborne network device may obtain an identifier from the paging message and send the obtained identifier as a second identifier to the ground network device. The second identifier may also be guaranteed.

[0224] For example, the identifier obtained by the airborne network device from the paging message may include the UE Paging Identity, wherein the UE Paging Identity may include, for example, the S-TMSI; and / or, the identifier obtained by the airborne network device from the paging message may include an identifier generated by the ground network device, for example, the ground network device includes the MME, and the identifier of the first terminal may include an identifier generated by the MME, for example, which may be called the MME UE S1AP ID.

[0225] In some embodiments, the aerial network device may send first indication information to the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the aerial network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0226] For example, after receiving downlink information sent by the ground network device, the aerial network device can store the downlink information. If the downlink information is successfully stored, the aerial network device can send first indication information to the ground network device to indicate that the aerial network device has successfully stored the downlink information.

[0227] Accordingly, the ground network device can determine, based on the first indication information, that the aerial network device has successfully stored the downlink information, and the ground network device does not need to resend the downlink information to the aerial network device.

[0228] For example, after receiving downlink information sent by the ground network device, the aerial network device can store the downlink information. If the downlink information is successfully stored, the aerial network device can send first indication information to the ground network device to indicate that the aerial network device has not successfully stored the downlink information.

[0229] Accordingly, the ground network device may determine, based on the first indication information, that the aerial network device has successfully failed to store the downlink information, and the ground network device may choose to resend the downlink information to the aerial network device.

[0230] Furthermore, in some embodiments, when the aerial network device fails to successfully store the downlink information, the first indication information may also indicate the reason why the aerial network device fails to successfully store the downlink information, such as insufficient storage space, etc., so that the ground network device can adjust the size of the downlink information according to the reason and send the adjusted downlink information to the aerial network device so that the aerial network device can successfully store the downlink information.

[0231] For example, after receiving the downlink information sent by the ground network device, the aerial network device may store the downlink information and forward the downlink information to the terminal when the second link between the aerial network device and the terminal is available.

[0232] Among them, if the downlink information is successfully forwarded to the terminal, a first indication information can be sent to the ground network device to indicate that the aerial network device has not successfully forwarded the downlink information; if the downlink information is not successfully forwarded to the terminal, a first indication information can be sent to the ground network device to indicate that the aerial network device has not successfully forwarded the downlink information.

[0233] Furthermore, in some embodiments, when the aerial network device fails to successfully forward the downlink information, the first indication information may also indicate the reason why the aerial network device fails to successfully forward the downlink information, such as the stored downlink information is lost. The ground network device may choose to resend the downlink information to the aerial network device so that the aerial network device can successfully forward the downlink information.

[0234] It should be noted that the content that can be indicated by the first indication information is not limited to the several types in the above embodiments, and can also indicate other content. For example, the first indication information can also indicate whether the air network device has successfully received the downlink information. For example, the first information includes DL NAS PDU, and the first indication information can be DL NAS PDU notification ACK or DL ​​NAS PDU notification NACK.

[0235] FIG2D is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating an information receiving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0236] As shown in FIG2D , the information receiving method may include the following steps:

[0237] In step S201B, the airborne network device may send a paging message for paging the first terminal to the airborne network device when there is downlink information to be sent to the first terminal or when an uplink delivery notification is required.

[0238] In some embodiments, the paging message further includes a paging reason, for example, the reason includes DL NAS PDU notification.

[0239] In step S202B, the airborne network device receives the paging message. If the paging reason includes a DL NAS PDU notification and / or the airborne network device determines that the first terminal is unreachable or the service link between the first terminal and the airborne network device is unavailable, the airborne network device sends an S1AP message to the ground network device. The S1AP message includes at least one of the following:

[0240] Identification information of the first terminal.

[0241] DL NAS confirmation information is used to indicate that the air network device has received the DL NAS.

[0242] For example, the S1AP message may be a newly defined S1AP message, or the S1AP message may be a traditional S1AP message, such as an initial UE message. When the S1AP message is an initial UE message, the access-related information of the first terminal in the initial UE message may be empty (dummy).

[0243] In step S203B, after receiving the identification information of the first terminal, the ground network device may send downlink information to be sent to the first terminal to the air network device. For example, the downlink information may be carried in a downlink non-access stratum transport (DL NAS Transport) message.

[0244] The DL NAS Transport message may further include an identifier of the first terminal, for indicating that the downlink information needs to be sent to the first terminal. The identifier of the first terminal may be determined based on the identifier information of the first terminal in the S1AP message.

[0245] In some embodiments, the downlink information may include data or signaling.

[0246] In some embodiments, the first terminal may be, for example, an IoT device or an NB-IoT device, and the downlink information may include IoT data.

[0247] In step S204B, the airborne network device may page the first terminal at a time determined according to the sending time information of the downlink information and / or at a location (eg, TA, cell, etc.) determined according to the location-related information of the first terminal.

[0248] In step S205B, the first terminal responds to the paging and may establish an RRC connection or recover an RRC connection.

[0249] Step S206B: After the RRC connection is established or restored, the airborne network device can forward the stored downlink information from the ground network device to the terminal via the RRC connection.

[0250] The communication method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S203 to S204. For example, step S203 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S204 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S203+S204 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0251] In some embodiments, steps S203 and S204 may be performed in an interchangeable order or simultaneously.

[0252] In some embodiments, step S203 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0253] In some embodiments, step S204 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0254] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 2B .

[0255] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an information receiving method. Figure 3 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an information receiving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The information receiving method illustrated in this embodiment can be executed by an air network device.

[0256] As shown in FIG3 , the information receiving method may include the following steps:

[0257] In step S301, a first paging message sent by a ground network device is received, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0258] It should be noted that the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 can be implemented independently or in combination with at least one other embodiment in the present disclosure. The specific selection can be made as needed and the present disclosure does not limit it.

[0259] In some embodiments, the paging message also includes at least one of the following: location-related information of the first terminal; sending time information of the downlink information; first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a first confirmation message to the ground network device when storing the downlink information; second request information, wherein the second request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a second confirmation message to the ground network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0260] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a non-terrestrial network tracking area based on location-related information of the first terminal; and paging the first terminal in the non-terrestrial network tracking area.

[0261] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a first time according to the sending time information of the downlink information; and paging the first terminal at the first time.

[0262] In some embodiments, the method further includes: establishing a connection with the first terminal; and sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0263] For the first aspect and the optional implementation of the optional embodiment of the first aspect, reference can be made to the optional implementation in the embodiment shown in FIG2 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0264] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for sending information. Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a method for sending information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method for sending information illustrated in this embodiment can be executed by a ground network device.

[0265] As shown in FIG4 , the information sending method may include the following steps:

[0266] In step S401, a paging message is sent to an airborne network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to a first terminal.

[0267] It should be noted that the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can be implemented independently or in combination with at least one other embodiment in the present disclosure. The specific selection can be made as needed and the present disclosure does not limit it.

[0268] In some embodiments, the paging message also includes at least one of the following: location-related information of the first terminal; sending time information of the downlink information; first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a first confirmation message to the ground network device when storing the downlink information; second request information, wherein the second request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a second confirmation message to the ground network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0269] The second aspect and the optional implementation of the optional embodiment of the second aspect can be referred to the optional implementation in the embodiment shown in Figure 2A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0270] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an information receiving method. Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an information receiving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The information receiving method illustrated in this embodiment can be executed by an airborne network device.

[0271] As shown in FIG5 , the information receiving method may include the following steps:

[0272] In step S501, a paging message sent by a ground network device is received;

[0273] In step S502, identification information of the first terminal is sent to the ground network device.

[0274] It should be noted that the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can be implemented independently or in combination with at least one other embodiment in the present disclosure. The specific selection can be made as needed and the present disclosure does not limit it.

[0275] In some embodiments, the sending of identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device includes: in response to satisfying a first condition, sending the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: the first terminal is unreachable; the second link between the air network device and the first terminal is unavailable; the paging message indicates that downlink information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0276] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: a first identification, wherein the first identification is generated by the air network device; a second identification, wherein the second identification is an identification obtained from the paging message.

[0277] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

[0278] In some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: a newly defined S1 application protocol message; an initial user equipment message, wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

[0279] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending first indication information to the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the airborne network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0280] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving first information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0281] In some embodiments, the method further includes: establishing a connection with the first terminal; and sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0282] For the third aspect and the optional implementation of the optional embodiment of the third aspect, please refer to the optional implementation in the embodiment shown in FIG2B and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG2B , which will not be repeated here.

[0283] Fourthly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for sending information. Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a method for sending information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method for sending information illustrated in this embodiment can be executed by a ground network device.

[0284] As shown in FIG6 , the information sending method may include the following steps:

[0285] In step S601, a paging message is sent to an airborne network device;

[0286] In step S602, identification information of the first terminal sent by the ground network device is received.

[0287] It should be noted that the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can be implemented independently or in combination with at least one other embodiment in the present disclosure. The specific selection can be made as needed and the present disclosure does not limit it.

[0288] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: a first identification, wherein the first identification is generated by the air network device of the first terminal; a second identification, wherein the second identification is an identification obtained from the paging message.

[0289] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

[0290] In some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: a newly defined S1 application protocol message; an initial user equipment message, wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

[0291] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving first indication information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the airborne network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0292] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending first information to the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0293] The fourth aspect and the optional implementation methods of the optional embodiments of the fourth aspect can be found in the optional implementation methods in the embodiment shown in Figure 2B and other related parts of the embodiment involved in Figure 2B, which will not be repeated here.

[0294] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codeword", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0295] In some embodiments, terms such as "uplink", "uplink", "physical uplink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "downlink", "downlink", "physical downlink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "side", "sidelink", "side communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", "direct link communication" can be interchangeable with each other.

[0296] In some embodiments, terms such as "moment", "time point", "time", and "time position" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "duration", "period", "time window", "window", and "time" can be replaced with each other.

[0297] In some embodiments, "obtain", "get", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0298] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0299] Corresponding to the aforementioned embodiments of the information receiving method and the information sending method, the present disclosure also provides embodiments of an information receiving device and an information sending device.

[0300] FIG7 is a schematic block diagram of an information receiving device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG7 , the information receiving device includes: a transceiver module 701 .

[0301] In some embodiments, the information receiving device may be provided in an airborne network device.

[0302] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to receive a paging message sent by a ground network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0303] In some embodiments, the paging message also includes at least one of the following: location-related information of the first terminal; sending time information of the downlink information; first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a first confirmation message to the ground network device when storing the downlink information; second request information, wherein the second request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a second confirmation message to the ground network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0304] In some embodiments, the device further includes: a processing module configured to determine a non-terrestrial network tracking area based on location-related information of the first terminal; wherein the transceiver module is further configured to page the first terminal in the non-terrestrial network tracking area.

[0305] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes: a processing module configured to determine a first time according to the sending time information of the downlink information; wherein the transceiver module is further configured to page the first terminal at the first time.

[0306] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is further configured to establish a connection with the first terminal; and send the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0307] FIG8 is a schematic block diagram of an information sending device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG8 , the information sending device includes: a transceiver module 801 .

[0308] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 801 is set in the ground network equipment.

[0309] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to send a paging message to the air network device, wherein the paging message includes downlink information that needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0310] In some embodiments, the paging message also includes at least one of the following: location-related information of the first terminal; sending time information of the downlink information; first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a first confirmation message to the ground network device when storing the downlink information; second request information, wherein the second request information is used to request the airborne network device to send a second confirmation message to the ground network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0311] FIG9 is a schematic block diagram of an information receiving device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG9 , the information receiving device includes: a transceiver module 901 .

[0312] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is disposed in the air network device.

[0313] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to receive a paging message sent by a ground network device; and send identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device.

[0314] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to send identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device in response to satisfying a first condition, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: the first terminal is unreachable; the second link between the air network device and the first terminal is unavailable; the paging message indicates that downlink information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

[0315] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: a first identification, wherein the first identification is generated by the air network device; a second identification, wherein the second identification is an identification obtained from the paging message.

[0316] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

[0317] In some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: a newly defined S1 application protocol message; an initial user equipment message, wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

[0318] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is further configured to send first indication information to the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the aerial network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0319] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is further configured to receive first information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0320] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is further configured to establish a connection with the first terminal; and send the downlink information to the first terminal.

[0321] FIG10 is a schematic block diagram of an information receiving device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG10 , the information receiving device includes: a transceiver module 1001 .

[0322] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is disposed in a ground network device.

[0323] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configured to send a paging message to the air network device; and receive identification information of the first terminal sent by the ground network device.

[0324] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: a first identification, wherein the first identification is generated by the air network device of the first terminal; a second identification, wherein the second identification is an identification obtained from the paging message.

[0325] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

[0326] In some embodiments, the S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: a newly defined S1 application protocol message; an initial user equipment message, wherein the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

[0327] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is further configured to receive first indication information sent by the ground network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate whether the airborne network device successfully stores and / or forwards the downlink information.

[0328] In some embodiments, the transceiver module is further configured to send first information to the ground network device, wherein the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

[0329] For the device embodiment, since it basically corresponds to the method embodiment, the relevant parts can be referred to the partial description of the method embodiment. The device embodiment described above is merely illustrative, wherein the modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as modules may or may not be physical modules, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the scheme of this embodiment. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without paying any creative work.

[0330] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0331] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of some or all of the above units or modules are realized by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0332] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and implementing the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0333] Figure 11A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 11100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 11100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., a user equipment, etc.), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 11100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0334] As shown in Figure 11A, the communication device 11100 includes one or more processors 11101. The processor 11101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Optionally, the communication device 11100 is used to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, one or more processors 11101 are used to call instructions to enable the communication device 11100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0335] In some embodiments, the communication device 11100 further includes one or more transceivers 11102. When the communication device 11100 includes one or more transceivers 11102, the transceiver 11102 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps S201, S202, S203, S204, but not limited thereto), and the processor 11101 performs at least one of the other steps (e.g., steps S201, S202, S203, S204, but not limited thereto). In an optional embodiment, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, and the receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface may be interchangeable, the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be interchangeable, and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be interchangeable.

[0336] In some embodiments, the communication device 11100 further includes one or more memories 11103 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 11103 may be located outside the communication device 11100. In alternative embodiments, the communication device 11100 may include one or more interface circuits 11104. Optionally, the interface circuits 11104 are connected to the memory 11102 and may be configured to receive data from the memory 11102 or other devices, or to send data to the memory 11102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 11104 may read data stored in the memory 11102 and send the data to the processor 11101.

[0337] The communication device 11100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 11100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 11100 may not be limited to FIG. 11A. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0338] FIG11B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 11200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 11100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 11200 shown in FIG11B , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0339] The chip 11200 includes one or more processors 11201. The chip 11200 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0340] In some embodiments, chip 11200 further includes one or more interface circuits 11202. Alternatively, the terms interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pins may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 11200 further includes one or more memories 11203 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of memory 11203 may be located external to chip 11200. Optionally, interface circuit 11202 is connected to memory 11203. Interface circuit 11202 may be configured to receive data from memory 11203 or other devices, or to send data to memory 11203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 11202 may read data stored in memory 11203 and send the data to processor 11201.

[0341] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 11202 performs at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps S201, S202, S203, and S204, but not limited thereto) of the aforementioned method. Interface circuit 11202 performing the communication steps (e.g., steps S201, S202, S203, and S204, but not limited thereto) of the aforementioned method. For example, interface circuit 11202 performing the communication steps (e.g., steps S201, S202, S203, and S204, but not limited thereto) of the aforementioned method means that interface circuit 11202 performs data exchange between processor 11201, chip 11200, memory 11203, or a transceiver device. In some embodiments, processor 11201 performs at least one of the other steps (e.g., steps S201, S202, S203, and S204, but not limited thereto).

[0342] The modules and / or devices described in various embodiments, such as virtual devices, physical devices, and chips, can be arbitrarily combined or separated according to circumstances. Optionally, some or all steps can also be performed collaboratively by multiple modules and / or devices, which is not limited here.

[0343] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 11100, the communication device 11100 is caused to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a transient storage medium.

[0344] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 11100, enables the communication device 11100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0345] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

Claims

1. An information receiving method, characterized in that, Performed by an aerial network device, the method includes: Receiving a paging message sent by a terrestrial network device, where the paging message includes downlink information to be sent to a first terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The paging message further includes at least one of the following: Location-related information of the first terminal; Transmission time information of the downlink information; A first request message, where the first request message is used to request the aerial network device to send a first confirmation message to the terrestrial network device when storing the downlink information; A second request message, where the second request message is used to request the aerial network device to send a second confirmation message to the terrestrial network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The method further includes: Determining a non-terrestrial network tracking area according to the location-related information of the first terminal; Paging the first terminal in the non-terrestrial network tracking area.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determining a first time according to the transmission time information of the downlink information; Paging the first terminal at the first time.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The method further includes: Establishing a connection with the first terminal; Sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

6. A method for sending information, characterized in that, Performed by a terrestrial network device, the method includes: Sending a paging message to an aerial network device, where the paging message includes downlink information to be sent to a first terminal.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The paging message further includes at least one of the following: Location-related information of the first terminal; Transmission time information of the downlink information; A first request message, where the first request message is used to request the aerial network device to send a first confirmation message to the terrestrial network device when storing the downlink information; A second request message, where the second request message is used to request the aerial network device to send a second confirmation message to the terrestrial network device when successfully sending the downlink information to the first terminal.

8. An information receiving method, characterized in that, Performed by an aerial network device, the method includes: Receiving a paging message sent by a terrestrial network device; Sending identification information of a first terminal to the terrestrial network device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The sending of the identification information of the first terminal to the terrestrial network device includes: Responding to meeting a first condition, the sending of the identification information of the first terminal to the terrestrial network device, where the first condition includes at least one of the following: The first terminal is unreachable; A second link between the aerial network device and the first terminal is unavailable; The paging message indicates that downlink information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: A first identifier, where the first identifier is generated by the aerial network device; A second identifier, where the second identifier is an identifier obtained from the paging message.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The identification information of the first terminal is included in an S1 application protocol message.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: A newly defined S1 application protocol message; An initial user equipment message, where information related to access in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send first indication information to the ground network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether the air network device has successfully stored and / or forwarded the downlink information.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first information sent by the ground network device, where the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: Establish a connection with the first terminal; Send the downlink information to the first terminal.

16. A method for sending information, characterized in that, Executed by the ground network device, the method includes: Send a paging message to the air network device; Receive the identification information of the first terminal sent by the ground network device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein The identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: A first identifier, where the first identifier is generated by the air network device of the first terminal; A second identifier, where the second identifier is an identifier obtained from the paging message.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The identification information of the first terminal is included in the S1 application protocol message.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The S1 application protocol message includes at least one of the following: A newly defined S1 application protocol message; An initial user equipment message, where the access-related information in the initial user equipment message is false or empty.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that The method further includes: Receive first indication information sent by the ground network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether the air network device has successfully stored and / or forwarded the downlink information.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send first information to the ground network device, where the first information includes the downlink information associated with the identification information of the first terminal.

22. An information receiving device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A transceiver module, configured to receive a paging message sent by the ground network device, where the paging message includes downlink information to be sent to the first terminal.

23. An information sending device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A transceiver module, configured to send a paging message to the air network device, where the paging message includes downlink information to be sent to the first terminal.

24. An information receiving device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A transceiver module, configured to receive a paging message sent by the ground network device; send the identification information of the first terminal to the ground network device.

25. An information sending device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: A transceiver module, configured to send a paging message to the air network device; receive the identification information of the first terminal sent by the ground network device.

26. An aerial network device, characterized in that, Includes: One or more processors; Wherein, the air network device is used to execute the information receiving method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 8 to 15.

27. A ground network device, characterized in that, Includes: One or more processors; Wherein, the ground network device is used to execute the information sending method according to any one of claims 6 to 7, 16 to 21.

28. A communication system, characterized in that, Includes a terminal, an air network device, and a ground network device, where the air network device is configured to implement the information receiving method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 8 to 15, and the ground network device is configured to implement the information sending method according to any one of claims 6 to 7, 16 to 21.

29. A storage medium, the storage medium stores instructions, characterized in that, When the instruction runs on a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the information receiving method described in any one of items 1 to 5 and 8 to 15, and / or the information sending method described in any one of claims 6 to 7 and 16 to 21.

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