Communication method, terminal, first network device, system and storage medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method, a terminal, a first network device, a system and a storage medium. The method comprises: a terminal receiving first information sent by a first network device, the first information being used for indicating valid time of CHO configuration, and assisting the terminal in executing a CHO process according to the first information. Therefore, the CHO execution process of the terminal in the NTN communication process is standardized, the terminal executes the CHO within the effective time indicated by the first information, communication obstruction caused by line interruption in the NTN communication process is avoided, and the communication performance of the NTN communication architecture is ensured.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communication, and particularly relates to a communication method, a terminal, a first network device, a system and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] NTN (Non-terrestrial Network, non-terrestrial / ground communication) is an important technology introduced in a new generation communication system, and wireless resources are provided to a UE (User Equipment) by a satellite (or a drone) instead of a ground base station. According to different ways of processing signals by the satellite, the NTN communication process can be divided into a transparent mode and a regenerative mode, and signal transmission in the NTN communication architecture is realized based on the two transmission modes. SUMMARY

[0003] In order to overcome the technical problem that the communication function is disordered due to the interruption of the inter-satellite link in the related art, the present disclosure provides a communication method, a terminal, a first network device, a system and a storage medium.

[0004] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, executed by a terminal, and the method comprises:

[0005] receiving first information sent by a first network device, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of a CHO configuration;

[0006] assisting the terminal to execute a CHO process according to the first information.

[0007] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, executed by a first network device, and the method comprises:

[0008] sending first information to a terminal, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of a CHO configuration, and the first information being used to assist the terminal to execute a CHO process.

[0009] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, comprising:

[0010] a transceiver module, configured to receive first information sent by a first network device, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of a CHO configuration;

[0011] a processing module, configured to assist the terminal to execute a CHO process according to the first information.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first network device is provided, comprising:

[0013] The transceiving module is configured to send first information to the terminal, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of a CHO configuration, and the first information being used to assist the terminal in performing a CHO procedure.

[0014] According to a fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, comprising:

[0015] one or more processors;

[0016] The terminal is configured to perform the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0017] According to a sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a first network device is provided, comprising:

[0018] one or more processors;

[0019] The first network device is configured to perform the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0020] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, comprising a terminal and a first network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure, and the first network device is configured to implement the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0021] According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided, the storage medium storing instructions, when the instructions are executed on a communication device, causing the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure, or causing the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0022] According to a ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program and / or instructions, when the computer program and / or instructions are executed on a communication device, implementing the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure, or when the computer program and / or instructions are executed on a communication device, implementing the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0023] In the above manner, the terminal receives the first information sent by the first network device, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of a CHO configuration, and according to the first information, the terminal is assisted in performing a CHO procedure. Thus, the CHO execution procedure of the terminal in the NTN communication procedure is specified, the terminal performs the CHO within the valid time indicated by the first information, communication hindrance caused by line interruption in the NTN communication procedure is avoided, and the communication performance of the NTN communication architecture is ensured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following describes the drawings required for the embodiments, and the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not specifically limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 1A is an architecture schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of an NTN communication architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of an NTN communication transparent transmission mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of an NTN communication regeneration mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 1C is a control plane flowchart of CHO switching according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1C is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 1D is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 1D is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 1E is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 1E is a structural schematic diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 8100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a chip 8200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a terminal, a first network device, a system and a storage medium.

[0039] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is performed by a terminal and includes:

[0040] receiving first information sent by a first network device, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of a conditional handover (CHO) configuration;

[0041] based on the first information, assisting the terminal to perform a CHO procedure.

[0042] In the above embodiments, the CHO execution procedure of the terminal in the NTN communication process is specified, and the terminal performs CHO within the valid time indicated by the first information, thereby avoiding communication obstruction caused by line interruption in the NTN communication process and ensuring the communication performance of the NTN communication architecture.

[0043] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first information includes at least one of:

[0044] first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal evaluates a CHO condition;

[0045] second time information, the second time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal switches to a target cell in a case where the CHO condition is met, the target cell being a cell to which the terminal switches in the case where the CHO condition is met;

[0046] third time information, the third time information being used to indicate a time at which the CHO configuration is valid.

[0047] In the above embodiments, the network can indicate the valid time of the CHO configuration through various types of time information, thereby allowing various types to be selected for indicating the valid time and improving the diversity of the indication method.

[0048] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first information includes:

[0049] fourth time information, the fourth time information being used to indicate a time at which a serving cell of the terminal and the target cell have a communication connection; or

[0050] fifth time information, the fifth time information being used to indicate a time at which the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not have a communication connection.

[0051] In the above embodiments, the network indicates the time at which the serving cell and the target cell have a connection, so that the terminal determines the valid time of the CHO configuration based on the connection time to assist the terminal to perform the CHO procedure.

[0052] In some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the communication connection comprises at least one of:

[0053] an inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0054] a base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0055] an inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and a second network device corresponding to the target cell;

[0056] a base station interface connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

[0057] In the above embodiments, the multiple manners of specifying the communication connection are specified, including the base station interface connection and / or the inter-satellite link connection, thereby improving the diversity of the above indication manners.

[0058] In some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information comprises the first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal evaluates the CHO condition, and the assisting the terminal in performing the CHO procedure according to the first information comprises:

[0059] determining that the terminal evaluates the CHO condition within a time range corresponding to the first time information; or,

[0060] determining that the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition outside the time range corresponding to the first time information.

[0061] In the above embodiments, how the terminal assists in performing the CHO procedure based on the first time information is specified, thereby guaranteeing the communication performance of the NTN communication architecture.

[0062] In some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information comprises the first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition, and the assisting the terminal in performing the CHO procedure according to the first information comprises:

[0063] determining that the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition within a time range corresponding to the first time information; or,

[0064] determining that the terminal evaluates the CHO condition outside the time range corresponding to the first time information.

[0065] In the above embodiments, how the terminal assists in performing the CHO procedure based on the first time information is specified. Different determination and indication manners are configured to improve the practicability of the above manners, thereby ensuring the communication performance of the NTN communication architecture.

[0066] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first information includes the second time information, the second time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal switches to a target cell if the CHO condition is met, and the assisting the terminal in performing the CHO procedure according to the first information includes:

[0067] determining that the terminal meets the CHO condition within a time range corresponding to the second time information, and performing the CHO.

[0068] In the above embodiments, how the terminal performs the CHO procedure based on the second time is specified, and the terminal is ensured to perform the CHO within the time range of the second time, thereby ensuring the communication performance of the terminal in the CHO procedure.

[0069] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first information includes the third time information, the third time information being used to indicate a time at which the CHO configuration is valid, and the assisting the terminal in performing the CHO procedure according to the first information includes:

[0070] determining that the terminal performs the CHO procedure within a time range corresponding to the third time information.

[0071] In the above embodiments, how the terminal performs the CHO procedure based on the third time is specified, and the terminal is ensured to perform the CHO within the time range of the third time, thereby ensuring the communication performance of the terminal in the CHO procedure.

[0072] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the performing the CHO procedure includes:

[0073] evaluating the CHO condition;

[0074] determining that the terminal meets the CHO condition, and switching a current serving cell of the terminal to the target cell.

[0075] In the above embodiments, the specific manner in which the terminal performs the CHO procedure is specified, thereby ensuring the communication performance.

[0076] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the terminal is configured to prohibit evaluating the CHO condition and / or prohibiting performing the CHO procedure within a time range corresponding to the valid time.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the terminal determines whether to prohibit performing the CHO process according to the validity time indicated by the first information, avoids disordered terminal actions, and improves the performance in the CHO switching process on the terminal side.

[0078] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first information is carried by second information, and the second information includes the CHO configuration.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the carrying manner of the first information is specified, the validity time is indicated by the CHO configuration, and the communication efficiency in the NTN communication process is improved.

[0080] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the CHO configuration includes at least one of the following: a time condition configuration, a distance condition configuration, and a signal quality condition configuration.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the validity time corresponding to the first information is configured in the condition configuration corresponding to the CHO configuration, the transmission of additional information is avoided, and the communication efficiency in the NTN communication process is improved.

[0082] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a first network device, and the method includes:

[0083] The first information is sent to a terminal, the first information is used to indicate the validity time of the CHO configuration, and the first information is used to assist the terminal in performing a CHO process.

[0084] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0085] First time information, the first time information is used to indicate the time when the terminal evaluates the CHO condition;

[0086] Second time information, the second time information is used to indicate the time when the terminal switches to a target cell in the case of meeting the CHO condition, and the target cell is a cell to which the terminal switches in the case of meeting the CHO condition;

[0087] Third time information, the third time information is used to indicate the time when the CHO configuration is valid.

[0088] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first information includes:

[0089] Fourth time information, the fourth time information is used to indicate the time when the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell exist communication connection; or

[0090] Fifth time information, the fifth time information being used for indicating a time when the serving cell of the terminal has no communication connection with the target cell.

[0091] In some embodiments combining with the second aspect, in some embodiments, the communication connection comprises at least one of:

[0092] An inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0093] A base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0094] An inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and a second network device corresponding to the target cell;

[0095] A base station interface connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

[0096] In some embodiments combining with the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first information is carried by second information, and the second information comprises the CHO configuration.

[0097] In some embodiments combining with the second aspect, in some embodiments, the CHO configuration comprises at least one of: a time condition configuration, a distance condition configuration, and a signal quality condition configuration.

[0098] In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a terminal, comprising:

[0099] A transceiver module, configured to receive first information sent by a first network device, the first information being used for indicating a valid time of a conditional handover (CHO) configuration;

[0100] A processing module, configured to assist the terminal in performing a CHO procedure according to the first information.

[0101] In a fourth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a first network device, comprising:

[0102] A transceiver module, configured to send first information to a terminal, the first information being used for indicating a valid time of a CHO configuration, and the first information being used for assisting the terminal in performing a CHO procedure.

[0103] In a fifth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a terminal, comprising:

[0104] One or more processors;

[0105] The terminal is configured to perform the communication method in any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0106] In a sixth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a first network device, comprising:

[0107] one or more processors;

[0108] The first network device is configured to perform the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0109] In a seventh aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication system, comprising a terminal and a first network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure, and the first network device is configured to implement the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0110] In an eighth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a storage medium, which stores instructions, when the instructions are executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure, or cause the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0111] In a ninth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer program product, comprising a computer program and / or instructions, when the computer program and / or instructions are executed on a communication device, implement the communication method according to any one of the first aspect of the present disclosure, or when the computer program and / or instructions are executed on a communication device, implement the communication method according to any one of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0112] In the above manner, the terminal receives the first information sent by the first network device, the first information is used to indicate the valid time of the CHO configuration, and the terminal performs the CHO process according to the first information. Thus, the CHO execution process of the terminal in the NTN communication process is regulated, the terminal performs the CHO within the valid time indicated by the first information, communication obstacles caused by line interruption in the NTN communication process are avoided, and the communication performance of the NTN communication architecture is ensured.

[0113] It can be understood that the terminal, the first network device, the second network device, the communication system, the storage medium, the program product, the computer program, the chip or the chip system are all used to execute the method proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved are as described in the corresponding method, which will not be described here.

[0114] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a terminal, a first network device, a system and a storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms of communication method and information processing method can be replaced with each other, the terms of communication device and information processing device can be replaced with each other, and the terms of information processing system and communication system can be replaced with each other.

[0115] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive, but only illustrate some embodiments, and are not specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure. In the case of no contradiction, each step in an embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be combined arbitrarily, for example, the scheme after removing part of the steps in an embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in an embodiment can be exchanged arbitrarily, in addition, the optional implementation manners in an embodiment can be combined arbitrarily; in addition, the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, for example, part or all steps of different embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, an embodiment can be combined with optional implementation manners of other embodiments arbitrarily.

[0116] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0117] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments, and not as a limitation on the present disclosure.

[0118] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the elements expressed in singular form, such as "one", "a", "the", "above", "said", "preceding", "this" and the like, can represent "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one" and the like. For example, in the case of using articles such as "a", "an", "the" and the like in English, the noun after the article can be understood as singular expression, or can be understood as plural expression.

[0119] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, "plurality" means two or more.

[0120] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0121] In some embodiments, "at least one of A, B", "A and / or B", "in one case A, in another case B", "responsive to case A, responsive to case B" and the like, can be used to represent one or more of the following technical solutions: in some embodiments, A (A is executed regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed regardless of A); in some embodiments, A and B are selected from (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, A and B (A and B are executed). When there are more branches such as A, B, C, and the like, the above is similar.

[0122] In some embodiments, "A or B" and the like can include the following technical solutions according to the case: in some embodiments, A (A is executed regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed regardless of A); in some embodiments, A and B are selected from (A and B are selectively executed). When there are more branches such as A, B, C, and the like, the above is similar.

[0123] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the prefix words "first", "second" and the like are only used to distinguish different description objects, and do not constitute limitation on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. The description of the description objects should be referred to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and should not be limited by the prefix words. For example, the description object is "field", and the ordinal words before "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not limit the position or order between "fields", and "first" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" modified thereby are in the same message or not, nor limit the order of "first field" and "second field". For another example, the description object is "level", and the ordinal words before "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not limit the priority between "levels". For another example, the quantity of the description object is not limited by the ordinal words, and can be one or more. For example, "first device", wherein the quantity of "device" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefix words can be the same or different, for example, the description object is "device", and "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and the types thereof can be the same or different; for another example, the description object is "information", and "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and the content thereof can be the same or different.

[0124] In some embodiments, "including A", "containing A", "for indicating A", "carrying A" can be interpreted as directly carrying A, or indirectly indicating A.

[0125] In some embodiments, the terms "in response to", "in response to determining", "in the case of", "when", "when", "if", "if" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0126] In some embodiments, the terms "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 lower than", "above", and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "fewer than", "fewer than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", "below", and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0127] In some embodiments, the apparatuses and devices can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and in some cases can also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "subject", and the like.

[0128] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as an apparatus included in the network, such as an access network device, a core network device, and the like.

[0129] In some embodiments, an “access network device (AN device)” can also be referred to as a “radio access network device (RAN device),” a “base station (BS),” a “radio base station,” a “fixed station,” and in some embodiments can also be understood as a “node,” an “access point,” a “transmission point (TP),” a “reception point (RP),” a “transmission / reception point (TRP),” a “panel,” an “antenna panel,” an “antenna array,” a “cell,” a “macro cell,” a “small cell,” a “femto cell,” a “pico cell,” a “sector,” a “cell group,” a “serving cell,” a “carrier,” a “component carrier,” a “bandwidth part (BWP),” and the like.

[0130] In some embodiments, a "terminal" or "terminal device" can be referred to as a "user equipment" (UE), a "user terminal," a "mobile station" (MS), a "mobile terminal" (MT), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, etc.

[0131] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. can be acquired in compliance with laws and regulations of a country where a location is situated.

[0132] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. can be acquired after consent of a user is obtained.

[0133] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in a table of embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and a combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0134] Figure 3 is an architecture schematic diagram of a communication system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3 The communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a first network device 102.

[0135] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes at least one of a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a communication-capable automobile, a smart automobile, a tablet (Pad), a wireless transceiver-equipped computer, 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, a wireless terminal device in a smart home, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0136] In some embodiments, the first network device 102 is at least one of a node or a device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network, and the access network device can include an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a 5G communication system, a next generation eNB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved node B (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 RAN, a Cloud RAN, a base station in other communication systems, an access node in a Wi-Fi system, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0137] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of the present disclosure can be applied to an Open RAN architecture, at which time the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can become internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0138] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be referred to as a control unit. The CU-DU structure can split the protocol layers of the access network device, with some of the protocol layers being controlled by the CU and the rest or all of the protocol layers being distributed in the DUs and controlled by the CU, but is not limited thereto.

[0139] In some embodiments, the core network device 103 can be one device including the first network element 1031, the second network element 1032, and the like, or can be multiple devices or device groups including all or part of the first network element 1031, the second network element 1032, and the like, respectively. The network element can be virtual or physical. The core network includes at least one of an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5G core network (5GCN), and a next generation core (NGC), for example.

[0140] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiments of the present disclosure is for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, as the system architecture evolves and new business scenarios appear, the technical solutions proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0141] The following embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1 or part of the subject, but are not limited thereto. The subjects shown in FIG. 1 are exemplary. The communication system can include all or part of the subjects in FIG. 1, or can include other subjects other than those in FIG. 1. The number and form of each subject is arbitrary. Each subject can be physical or virtual. The connection relationship between each subject is exemplary. Each subject can not be connected or can be connected. The connection can be in any manner, can be direct or indirect, and can be wired or wireless.

[0142] 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 (Bluetooth (registered trademark)), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, Device-to-Device (D2D) system, Machine to Machine (M2M) system, Internet of Things (IoT) system, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), system using other communication methods, next-generation system expanded based thereon, and the like. In addition, a plurality of systems can be combined (for example, combination of LTE or LTE-A and 5G, and the like).

[0143] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an NTN communication architecture according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As Figure 2As shown, the NTN communication architecture includes a gateway, a UE, and a satellite. The gateway sends transmission data in the data network to the satellite (or unmanned aerial system platform) through a feeder link or a feedback link, and the satellite sends the transmission data to the UE through a service link. Or the UE sends data to the satellite (or unmanned aerial system platform) through a service link, and the satellite sends the data to the ground gateway through a feeder link or a feedback link.

[0144] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an NTN communication transparent transmission mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, Figure 2 In the transparent transmission mode of the NTN communication architecture, the NTN ground station sends the signal of the gNB to the satellite, and the satellite converts the signal to the satellite frequency band and then sends the signal to the UE through the satellite frequency band. In the transmission process of the transparent transmission mode, the satellite does not demodulate the transmission signal sent by the gNB except for frequency conversion and signal amplification. In the transparent transmission mode, the satellite is similar to a repeater (repeater / relay), which replicates and transmits the signal transmitted by the gNB.

[0145] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an NTN communication regeneration mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, Figure 4 In the regeneration mode of the NTN communication architecture, the NTN ground station sends the signal of the gNB to the satellite, and the gNB on the satellite processes the data and then sends it to the UE.

[0146] In some embodiments, due to the deployment of the NTN network architecture and the corresponding movement of the satellite, there may be no inter-satellite link between different satellites, or the inter-satellite link between different satellites cannot exist continuously, thereby causing communication obstacles in the NTN communication transmission process.

[0147] Figure 4 is a control plane flow diagram of CHO switching according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, Figure 2 In the CHO (Conditional Handover, conditional handover) control flow, the UE and the source gNB interact with user data, the source gNB and the target gNB, or other potential target gNBs communicate, and based on the communication connection, the user data is interacted with, while the source gNB and the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function, access and mobility management function) network element and the UPF (User Plane Function, user plane function) network element interact with user data. Through the data interaction process between the above nodes, a data plane of the UE is formed. The AMF network element provides mobility control information for the source gNB, the target gNB, and other potential target gNBs in the data plane.

[0148] In some embodiments, based on the above data plane, the control plane procedure of CHO switching by the UE includes: (1) the UE interacts with the source gNB for user data, the UE reports the report information, and the source gNB ensures the control of the UE; (2) the source gNB evaluates the CHO of the UE based on the interaction data; (3) the CHO switching request is handed over to the corresponding target gNB or handed over to other potential target gNB; (4) the target gNB or the other potential target gNB accesses the control based on the handover request; (5) the target gNB or the other potential target gNB feeds back the handover request confirmation information to the source gNB; (6) the source gNB sends the RRC reestablishment to the UE based on the handover request confirmation information; (7) the UE feeds back the RRC reestablishment completion feedback to the source gNB based on the RRC reestablishment completion between the target gNB or any gNB in the plurality of potential target gNBs and the UE after the RRC reestablishment; (8) the UE completes the CHO handover based on the above steps, and the UE switches from the source gNB corresponding service cell to the target cell corresponding to the target gNB or the potential target gNB; (8a) the target gNB or the potential target gNB sends the handover success information to the source gNB; (8b) the source gNB sends the SN state transfer information to the target gNB or the potential target gNB; (8c) after the SN (Serial Number Status Transfer) of the source gNB is completed, the handover cancellation information is sent to the target gNB or the potential target gNB.

[0149] In some embodiments, in the control plane procedure of the above CHO switching, after the UE receives the CHO configuration, the UE keeps the connection with the source gNB and starts to evaluate the CHO execution condition of the candidate cell. If at least one candidate cell corresponding to the CHO condition satisfies the corresponding CHO execution condition, the UE detaches from the source gNB, applies the stored corresponding CHO configuration for the selected candidate cell, synchronizes to the candidate cell, and completes the RRC (Radio Resource Control) handover process by sending the RRC reestablishment completion message to the target gNB corresponding to the candidate cell. After the RRC handover process is successfully completed, the UE releases the stored CHO configuration.

[0150] The target gNB sends the handover success message to the source gNB to inform that the UE has successfully accessed the target cell. As a feedback, the source gNB sends the SN-state transfer information. If the source gNB receives the handover success feedback message, it can start the late data forwarding. The source gNB sends the handover success message to other signaling connections or other candidate target gNBs to cancel the CHO process of the UE.

[0151] In some embodiments, for CHO procedure, the source gNB sends a handover request to the target gNB / potential target gNBs through inter-satellite link, and then the source gNB sends the CHO configuration to the UE through RRC message. Then the UE evaluates the CHO and performs the CHO if the condition is met. Then the source gNB and the target gNB perform data interaction to complete the CHO procedure of the UE. The target gNB / potential gNB can also be a satellite base station. Due to the deployment of NTN network and the movement of satellite, the inter-satellite link of different satellites can not exist continuously. For CHO procedure, there can be a long time interval between the UE receiving the CHO configuration and performing the CHO, therefore, the target cell of the UE when performing the CHO can not have inter-satellite link with the source cell, resulting in that the data interaction process between the source gNB and the target gNB cannot be completed during the CHO procedure, thereby causing the CHO procedure to fail. In this embodiment, the network device provides the valid time of the CHO configuration when configuring the CHO, and the UE evaluates the CHO within the valid time. The valid time represents the time when the source cell and the target cell have inter-satellite link, and the UE is prohibited to evaluate the CHO and / or prohibited to perform CHO switching outside the valid time.

[0152] Figure 2 is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5 the present disclosure relates to a communication method, and the method comprises:

[0153] In step S2101, the first network device 102 sends first information to the terminal 101.

[0154] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 receives the first information.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the valid time of the CHO configuration.

[0156] In some embodiments, the first information can also be used to indicate the invalid time of the CHO configuration.

[0157] In an example, the first network device configures, through the first information, a validity period of a CHO configuration for the terminal, where the CHO configuration is used to evaluate whether a current candidate cell of the terminal satisfies a CHO condition, and perform a CHO switching process when the CHO condition is satisfied. The CHO process includes two stages of "CHO switching preparation" and "CHO switching execution". In the "CHO switching preparation" stage, a source cell corresponding to a source gNB starts a "CHO switching preparation" process based on a measurement report of a wireless measurement result of the UE and a local wireless resource management strategy, requests multiple potential / candidate target cells to complete target-side resource reservation configuration related to the "CHO switching preparation" process, and sends CHO configuration information to the UE through air interface radio resource control signaling. Subsequently, the UE does not immediately start the "CHO switching execution" process, but starts CHO evaluation. When the UE evaluates that the "switching condition" is satisfied, the UE performs the CHO switching operation to a suitable target cell.

[0158] In some embodiments, the CHO process is to enable the UE to select a target gNB according to a measurement result and initiate a switching execution process, so as to avoid the situation that the UE switching fails due to a change in a wireless link state during the time of signaling interaction between the UE and the source gNB and signaling interaction between the source gNB and the target gNB. In the present embodiment, the first network device can be a source gNB corresponding to the UE. In order to prevent the situation that the CHO process fails due to the fact that there is no link connection between the source gNB and the target gNB when a link (including a ground link or an inter-satellite link) state between the source gNB and the target gNB changes, which causes the source gNB and the target gNB to be unable to perform signaling interaction, and the UE-side CHO process fails. The source gNB can set a validity time for the CHO configuration when configuring the CHO configuration. The UE performs CHO evaluation and / or executes CHO based on the validity time. The UE does not perform CHO evaluation and / or execute CHO outside the validity time.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first network device can determine the validity time of the CHO configuration based on a communication validity period of an inter-satellite link and / or a ground link between the first network device and a second network device, and generate the first information based on the validity time. The second network device is a network device corresponding to a target cell in the CHO process, and the target cell is a cell to which the UE switches after performing the CHO process.

[0160] In some embodiments, the name of the first information is not limited, for example, "time information", "CHO configuration validity period", "CHO execution validity period", "CHO evaluation validity period", "CHO process validity period", and the like.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0162] The first time information is used to indicate a time at which the terminal evaluates the CHO condition;

[0163] The second time information is used to indicate a time at which the terminal switches to a target cell in a case where the CHO condition is met, the target cell being a cell to which the terminal switches in a case where the CHO condition is met;

[0164] The third time information is used to indicate a time at which the CHO configuration is valid.

[0165] In an example, the first information includes the first time information, the first time information indicating a time at which the UE evaluates the CHO condition, the time being one or more time ranges, wherein the CHO condition is a CHO condition corresponding to the CHO configuration;

[0166] The first information includes the second time information, the second time information indicating a time at which the UE switches to a target cell in a case where the CHO condition is met, the target cell being a cell to which the UE switches in a case where the CHO condition is met, for example, the first information includes the second time information, the second time information indicating a time range of 11:00-11:10, after the UE receives the CHO configuration, it is determined that the target cell meets the CHO switching condition at 11:05, at this time, the UE current local time is within the time range corresponding to the second time information, then the terminal meets the CHO condition, and the UE current time meets the time range indicated by the second time information, then the UE performs the CHO process.

[0167] The first information includes the third time information, the third time information indicating a time at which the CHO configuration is valid, the UE evaluates the corresponding CHO condition within the valid time range of the CHO configuration, when the CHO condition is met and the UE local time is within the valid time range, the CHO process is performed. Outside the valid time range of the CHO configuration, no CHO evaluation and / or no CHO process is performed.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first information includes:

[0169] The fourth time information is used to indicate a time at which the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell exist communication connection; or

[0170] The fifth time information is used to indicate a time at which the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not exist communication connection.

[0171] In an example, the first information includes fourth time information, the fourth time information indicating a time at which the serving cell of the UE and the target cell exist in a communication connection, and the UE needs to perform signaling interaction between the first network device corresponding to the current serving cell and the second network device corresponding to the target cell in the CHO process. The fourth time information indicates a time at which the first network device and the second network device exist in the communication connection, and the time is a time at which the UE can successfully perform the CHO process. The concept of the target cell is the same as in the above embodiments, and reference can be made to the above embodiments, and details are not repeated here.

[0172] The first information includes fifth time information, the fifth time information indicating a time at which the serving cell of the UE and the target cell do not exist in a communication connection. In contrast to the fourth time information, the fifth time information indicates a time at which the first network device and the second network device cannot communicate, resulting in the UE being unable to successfully perform the CHO process. The UE performs the CHO process based on the time information.

[0173] In some embodiments, the communication connection includes at least one of:

[0174] An inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0175] A base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0176] An inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell;

[0177] A base station interface connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

[0178] In an example, the communication connection can be an inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell, or an inter-satellite link connection between the first network device corresponding to the serving cell and the second network device corresponding to the target cell, and the second network device corresponding to the target cell is a satellite network device. The communication connection can also be a base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell, or a base station interface connection between the first network device corresponding to the serving cell and the second network device corresponding to the target cell, and the second network device corresponding to the target cell is a ground network device.

[0179] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by second information, and the second information includes a CHO configuration.

[0180] In some embodiments, the CHO configuration includes at least one of: a time condition configuration T1, a distance condition configuration D1, a distance condition configuration D2, and a signal quality condition configuration A4.

[0181] In an example, the first information is carried by the second information, and the second information can be CHO configuration information. In a process in which the first network device indicates the CHO configuration to the UE, the effective time of the CHO configuration is indicated in the configuration information to avoid subsequent link interruption between the first network device and the second network device, which causes the UE to fail to perform the CHO process in sequence. The CHO configuration includes at least one of the following: a time condition configuration T1, a distance condition configuration D1, a distance condition configuration D2, and a signal quality condition configuration A4. For example, the first network device configures the effective time range T1 of the signal quality condition configuration A4, and the UE performs the signal quality condition evaluation within the time range T1.

[0182] In step S2102, the terminal assists in performing the CHO process according to the first information.

[0183] In an example, the terminal assists in performing the CHO process according to the time information indicated in the first information. The assisting in performing the CHO process includes at least one of the following:

[0184] Within the time range corresponding to the first information, the CHO condition evaluation and / or the CHO are performed.

[0185] Outside the time range corresponding to the first information, the CHO condition evaluation and / or the CHO are prohibited.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first information includes first time information, and the first time information is used to indicate the time at which the terminal evaluates the CHO condition. The step S2102 includes:

[0187] It is determined that the terminal evaluates the CHO condition within the time range corresponding to the first time information; or

[0188] It is determined that the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition outside the time range corresponding to the first time information.

[0189] In an example, the first information includes first time information, and the first time information indicates the time at which the UE evaluates the CHO condition. After the UE receives the CHO configuration, the UE determines whether to evaluate the CHO condition according to the time range corresponding to the first time information in the first information. If the UE local time is within the time range, the CHO condition is evaluated; if the UE local time is outside the time range, the CHO condition is prohibited from being evaluated, so as to avoid the current link interruption between the first network device and the second network device, which causes the UE to fail to perform the CHO in sequence, the UE invalid evaluation of the CHO condition, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption of the UE and reducing the power consumption of the UE.

[0190] In some embodiments, the first information includes first time information, and the first time information is used to indicate the time at which the terminal evaluates the CHO condition. The step S2102 includes:

[0191] The terminal determines that within the time frame corresponding to the first-time information, it prohibits the evaluation of CHO conditions; or,

[0192] The terminal determines that the CHO condition is outside the time range corresponding to the first time information.

[0193] For example, the first information includes first time information, which indicates the time during which the UE is prohibited from evaluating CHO conditions. After receiving the CHO configuration, the UE determines whether to evaluate the CHO conditions based on the time range corresponding to the first time information in the first information. If the UE's local time is within this time range, the UE is prohibited from evaluating CHO conditions; if the UE's local time is outside this time range, the CHO conditions are evaluated.

[0194] In some embodiments, the first information includes second time information, which is used to indicate the time range within which the terminal performs a Choke-On (CHO) and switches the serving cell to the target cell when the Choke-On (CHO) condition is met. Step S2102 includes:

[0195] The terminal determines that within the time range corresponding to the second time information, the terminal meets the CHO condition and executes the CHO.

[0196] For example, if the second time information indicates that the UE meets the CHO condition, the UE will execute CHO and switch to the target cell. If the UE determines that the current target cell meets the CHO condition and the UE's local time is within the time range indicated by the second time information, then the UE will execute CHO. In this embodiment, the time for the UE to execute CHO when the CHO condition is met is limited. The UE can evaluate the CHO condition based on a preset configuration, but if the target cell meets the CHO condition, it needs to determine whether it is currently within the time range corresponding to the second time information. If the UE is outside the time range, even if the target cell meets the CHO condition, the UE is still prohibited from executing CHO.

[0197] In some embodiments, the first information includes third time information, which is used to indicate the effective time of CHO configuration. Step S2102 above includes:

[0198] The terminal determines that the CHO procedure will be executed within the time range corresponding to the third time information.

[0199] For example, the third time information indicates the effective time of the CHO configuration. The UE needs to perform the CHO process based on the CHO configuration. According to the third time information in the first information, within the time range corresponding to the third time information, the CHO process is executed based on the CHO configuration.

[0200] In some embodiments, the step "performing CHO" above means that the terminal switches to the target cell when the terminal determines that the target cell satisfies the CHO condition.

[0201] In some embodiments, the step "performing CHO procedure" above comprises:

[0202] The terminal evaluates the CHO condition.

[0203] The terminal determines that the CHO condition is satisfied, and switches the current serving cell to the target cell.

[0204] In some embodiments, the CHO procedure in the present embodiment comprises CHO condition evaluation and target cell switching. The UE evaluates the CHO condition within the validity time of the CHO configuration, and performs the CHO procedure to switch from the current serving cell to the target cell within the validity time when the CHO condition is satisfied.

[0205] In some embodiments, the terminal is configured to prohibit the evaluation of the CHO condition and / or the execution of the CHO procedure within the time range corresponding to the validity time.

[0206] In some embodiments, the first information indicates the validity time of the CHO configuration, and the UE is prohibited to perform the CHO procedure when the UE determines that the local time is not within the time range corresponding to the validity time, i.e., the UE is prohibited to evaluate the CHO condition corresponding to the CHO configuration, and / or the UE is prohibited to perform the CHO procedure, and the UE does not perform the switching procedure of the target cell when the target cell satisfies the CHO condition.

[0207] In some embodiments, the names of the information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and the terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", "chip", and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0208] In some embodiments, the terms such as "codebook", "codeword", and "precoding matrix" can be replaced with each other. For example, the codebook can be a collection of one or more codewords / precoding matrices.

[0209] In some embodiments, the terms “uplink,” “uplink,” “physical uplink,” and the like can be replaced with each other, the terms “downlink,” “downlink,” “physical downlink,” and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms “side,” “sidelink,” “sidelink communication,” “sidelink communication,” “direct connection,” “direct link,” “direct communication,” “direct link communication,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0210] In some embodiments, the terms “downlink control information (DCI),” “downlink (DL) assignment,” “DL DCI,” “uplink (UL) grant,” “UL DCI,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0211] In some embodiments, the terms “physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH),” “DL data,” and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms “physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH),” “UL data,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0212] In some embodiments, the terms “radio,” “wireless,” “radio access network (RAN),” “access network (AN),” “RAN-based,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0213] In some embodiments, the terms “search space,” “search space set,” “search space configuration,” “search space set configuration,” “control resource set (CORESET),” “CORESET configuration,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0214] In some embodiments, the terms “synchronization signal (SS),” “synchronization signal block (SSB),” “reference signal (RS),” “pilot,” “pilot signal,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0215] In some embodiments, the terms “moment,” “point in time,” “time,” “time position,” and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms “duration,” “time period,” “time window,” “window,” “time,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0216] In some embodiments, the terms “component carrier (CC),” “cell,” “frequency carrier,” “carrier frequency,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0217] In some embodiments, the terms “resource block (RB),” “physical resource block (PRB),” “sub-carrier group (SCG),” “resource element group (REG),” “PRB pair,” “RB pair,” “resource element (RE),” “sub-carrier,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0218] In some embodiments, the terms “wireless access scheme,” “waveform,” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0219] In some embodiments, the terms “precoding”, “precoder”, “weight”, “precoding weight”, “quasi-co-location (QCL)”, “transmission configuration indication (TCI) state”, “spatial relation”, “spatial domain filter”, “transmission power”, “phase rotation”, “antenna port”, “antenna port group”, “layer”, “the number of layers”, “rank”, “resource”, “resource set”, “resource group”, “beam”, “beam width”, “beam angular degree”, “antenna”, “antenna element”, “panel”, and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0220] In some embodiments, the terms “frame”, “radio frame”, “subframe”, “slot”, “sub-slot”, “mini-slot”, “symbol”, “symbol”, “transmission time interval (TTI)”, and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0221] In some embodiments, the terms “acquire”, “obtain”, “get”, “receive”, “transmit”, “bidirectional transmission”, “transmit and / or receive” can be replaced with each other, which can be interpreted as receiving from other subjects, acquiring from protocols, acquiring from higher layers, obtaining by oneself, implementing autonomously, and the like.

[0222] In some embodiments, the terms “transmit”, “emit”, “report”, “issue”, “transmit”, “bidirectional transmission”, “transmit and / or receive”, and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0223] In some embodiments, the terms "certain", "preset", "pre-set", "set", "indicated", "any", "first", and the like can be replaced with each other, and "certain A", "preset A", "pre-set A", "set A", "indicated A", "any A", "first A" can be interpreted as A predetermined in a protocol or the like, or A obtained by setting, configuring, or indicating, or a specific A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0224] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values (for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0225] In some embodiments, "not expected to receive" can be interpreted as not receiving on the time domain resource and / or the frequency domain resource, or as not performing subsequent processing on the data or the like after receiving the data or the like; "not expected to send" can be interpreted as not sending, or as sending but not expecting the receiving party to respond to the content of the sending.

[0226] The communication method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can include at least one of step S2101 to step S2102. For example, step S2101 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S2102 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S2101+S2102 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0227] In some embodiments, the steps S2101 and S2102 can be exchanged in order or performed simultaneously.

[0228] In some embodiments, step S2101 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0229] In some embodiments, step S2102 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0230] In some embodiments, other optional implementations described before or after the corresponding description can be referred to. Figure 5

[0231] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a communication method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 6 ​As shown, the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a communication method, performed by a terminal, the method comprising:

[0232] At step S3101, receiving first information sent by a first network device, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of CHO configuration.

[0233] The optional implementation of step S3101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2101 in the embodiments related in Figure 7 and Figure 7 other associated parts in the embodiments related in the description before or after, which will not be repeated here.

[0234] At step S3102, assisting the terminal to perform a CHO procedure according to the first information.

[0235] The optional implementation of step S3102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2102 in the embodiments related in Figure 8 and Figure 8 other associated parts in the embodiments related in the description before or after, which will not be repeated here.

[0236] In some embodiments, the order of step S3101 and step S3102 can be exchanged or performed at the same time.

[0237] In some embodiments, step S3101 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0238] In some embodiments, step S3102 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0239] In some embodiments, the other optional implementations before or after the corresponding description in Figure 8 may be referred to.

[0240] Figure 9 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 9 The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a communication method, performed by a first network device, the method comprising:

[0241] At step S4101, sending first information to a terminal.

[0242] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate a valid time of CHO configuration, and the first information is used to assist the terminal to perform a CHO procedure.

[0243] In some embodiments, the first information comprises at least one of:

[0244] First time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time when the terminal evaluates a CHO condition.

[0245] The second time information is used to indicate a time when the terminal switches to the target cell if the CHO condition is met, and the target cell is a cell to which the terminal switches if the CHO condition is met;

[0246] The third time information is used to indicate a time when the CHO configuration is valid.

[0247] In some embodiments, the first information includes:

[0248] The fourth time information is used to indicate a time when the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell exist a communication connection; or

[0249] The fifth time information is used to indicate a time when the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not exist a communication connection.

[0250] In some embodiments, the communication connection includes at least one of:

[0251] An inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0252] A base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0253] An inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and a second network device corresponding to the target cell;

[0254] A base station interface connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

[0255] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by second information, and the second information includes the CHO configuration.

[0256] In some embodiments, the CHO configuration includes at least one of: a time condition configuration, a distance condition configuration, and a signal quality condition configuration.

[0257] The optional implementation of step S4101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2101 of the method of ​ and other related parts in the embodiments involved, which will not be repeated here. ​

[0258] ​ is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As ​ shown, the present disclosure relates to a communication method, and the above method includes:

[0259] Step S5101, the network device indicates time information to the terminal.

[0260] In some embodiments, the time information includes at least one of:​

[0261] a time range for the UE to determine whether to evaluate the CHO condition;

[0262] a time range for the UE to switch to the target cell after the UE determines that the CHO condition is met;

[0263] a time range for the CHO configuration to be valid.

[0264] In some embodiments, the time information is used to indicate:

[0265] a time or time period when or during which the source cell (serving cell) and the target cell have a communication connection;

[0266] a time or time period when or during which the source cell (serving cell) and the target cell do not have a communication connection.

[0267] In some embodiments, the communication connection comprises at least one of:

[0268] an inter-satellite link connection between the source cell (serving cell) and the target cell;

[0269] a base station interface connection between the source cell (serving cell) and the target cell;

[0270] an inter-satellite link connection between a base station / satellite corresponding to the source cell (serving cell) and a base station / satellite corresponding to the target cell;

[0271] a base station interface connection between a base station / satellite corresponding to the source cell (serving cell) and a base station / satellite corresponding to the target cell.

[0272] In some embodiments, the UE evaluates the CHO condition within the time range indicated by the time information, and if the CHO condition is met and the UE's local time is still within the indicated time range, the UE performs CHO and switches the current serving cell to the target cell.

[0273] In some embodiments, when the UE determines that the target cell meets the CHO condition, the UE's local time is within the indicated time range, and the UE switches from the current serving cell to the target cell.

[0274] In some embodiments, the CHO configuration is determined to be valid within the indicated time range, and the validity of the CHO configuration indicates that the UE performs CHO condition evaluation and CHO procedures according to the CHO configuration.

[0275] In some embodiments, if the UE is determined not to be within the time range corresponding to the indicated time according to the time information, the UE does not apply the CHO configuration.

[0276] In some embodiments, the time information is included in the CHO configuration, such as CondEvent (condition event)-T1, CondEvent-D1, CondEvent-D2, CondEvent-A4, and the like.

[0277] In the foregoing manner, the network provides the valid time of the CHO configuration when configuring the CHO, and the UE evaluates the CHO within the valid time, the valid time representing the time when the inter-satellite link exists between the source cell and the target cell. Thus, the communication performance of the UE in the CHO process is guaranteed.

[0278] The embodiments of the present disclosure also propose a device for implementing any of the above methods, for example, a device including units or modules for implementing each step performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another device is also proposed, including units or modules for implementing each step performed by the network device (such as an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0279] It should be understood that the division of each unit or module in the above apparatus is only a logical function division, and all or part of them can be integrated into a physical entity or physically separated in actual implementation. In addition, the units or modules in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of processor calling software: for example, the apparatus includes a processor, the processor is connected with a memory, the memory stores instructions, and the processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to realize the functions of any of the above methods or the units or modules of the above apparatus, wherein the processor is a general processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory in the apparatus or a memory outside the apparatus. Alternatively, the units or modules in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, and the functions of part or all of the units or modules can be realized by the design of the hardware circuit. The above hardware circuit can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of part or all of the units or modules are realized by the design of the logical relationship between the elements in the circuit; for another example, in another implementation, the above hardware circuit is a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is taken as an example, which can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, so as to realize the functions of part or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above apparatus can be all implemented in the form of processor calling software, or all implemented in the form of hardware circuit, or part implemented in the form of processor calling software and the remaining part implemented in the form of hardware circuit.

[0280] In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute 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 relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented using 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 configuring the hardware circuit 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 hardware circuits designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASICs, such as Neural Network Processing Units (NPUs), Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and Deep Learning Processing Units (DPUs).

[0281] ​ This is a schematic diagram of the terminal structure according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For example... ​ As shown, terminal 6100 may include a transceiver module 6101 and a processing module 6102. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 6101 is configured to receive first information sent by a first network device, the first information indicating the effective time of the conditional switching (CHO) configuration, and the processing module 6102 is configured to assist the terminal in performing the CHO process according to the first information. Optionally, the transceiver module 6101 and the processing module 6102 are used to perform at least one of the communication steps such as determination and / or acquisition performed by terminal 101 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated here.

[0282] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 6101 may include a receiving module and a transmitting module, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transmitting module may be interchangeable with a transmitter. The receiving module may be interchangeable with a receiver.

[0283] In some embodiments, the processing module 6102 can include an execution module and an acquisition module, which can be separate or integrated together. Optionally, the execution module can be replaced by an executor.

[0284] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of:

[0285] first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal evaluates the CHO condition;

[0286] second time information, the second time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal switches to a target cell in a case where the CHO condition is met, the target cell being a cell to which the terminal switches in the case where the CHO condition is met;

[0287] third time information, the third time information being used to indicate a time at which the CHO configuration is valid.

[0288] In some embodiments, the first information includes:

[0289] fourth time information, the fourth time information being used to indicate a time at which a serving cell of the terminal and the target cell exist a communication connection; or

[0290] fifth time information, the fifth time information being used to indicate a time at which the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not exist the communication connection.

[0291] In some embodiments, the communication connection includes at least one of:

[0292] an inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0293] a base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0294] an inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and a second network device corresponding to the target cell;

[0295] a base station interface connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

[0296] In some embodiments, the first information includes the first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal evaluates the CHO condition, and the processing module 6102 is further configured to:

[0297] determine that the terminal evaluates the CHO condition within a time range corresponding to the first time information; or

[0298] determine that the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition outside the time range corresponding to the first time information.

[0299] In some embodiments, the first information comprises first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal is prohibited to evaluate the CHO condition, and the processing module 6102 is further configured to:

[0300] determine that the terminal is prohibited to evaluate the CHO condition in a time range corresponding to the first time information; or

[0301] determine that the terminal evaluates the CHO condition out of the time range corresponding to the first time information.

[0302] In some embodiments, the first information comprises second time information, the second time information being used to indicate a time at which the terminal switches to the target cell in a case that the CHO condition is satisfied, and the processing module 6102 is further configured to:

[0303] determine that the terminal executes the CHO in a case that the CHO condition is satisfied in a time range corresponding to the second time information.

[0304] In some embodiments, the first information comprises third time information, the third time information being used to indicate a time at which the CHO configuration is valid, and the processing module 6102 is further configured to:

[0305] determine that the terminal executes the CHO procedure in a time range corresponding to the third time information.

[0306] In some embodiments, the processing module 6102 is further configured to:

[0307] evaluate the CHO condition;

[0308] determine that the terminal satisfies the CHO condition, and switch a current serving cell of the terminal to the target cell.

[0309] In some embodiments, the terminal 6100 is configured to prohibit the terminal to evaluate the CHO condition and / or prohibit the terminal to execute the CHO procedure in a time range corresponding to the valid time.

[0310] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by second information, and the second information comprises the CHO configuration.

[0311] In some embodiments, the CHO configuration comprises at least one of a time condition configuration, a distance condition configuration, and a signal quality condition configuration.

[0312] ​ is a structural schematic diagram of a first network device according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in ​As shown, the first network device 7100 can include a transceiver module 7101. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 is configured to send first information to the terminal, the first information being used to indicate a valid time of CHO configuration, and the first information being used to assist the terminal to perform a CHO procedure. Optionally, the transceiver module 7101 is configured to perform at least one of the determining and / or obtaining steps of the communication performed by the first network device 7100 in any of the above methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0313] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 7101 can include a receiving module and a sending module, which can be separate or integrated together. Optionally, the sending module can be replaced by a transmitter. The receiving module can be replaced by a receiver.

[0314] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of:

[0315] first time information, the first time information being used to indicate a time when the terminal evaluates a CHO condition;

[0316] second time information, the second time information being used to indicate a time when the terminal switches to a target cell in a case that the CHO condition is met, the target cell being a cell to which the terminal switches in the case that the CHO condition is met;

[0317] third time information, the third time information being used to indicate a time when the CHO configuration is valid.

[0318] In some embodiments, the first information includes:

[0319] fourth time information, the fourth time information being used to indicate a time when a serving cell of the terminal and the target cell have a communication connection; or

[0320] fifth time information, the fifth time information being used to indicate a time when the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not have the communication connection.

[0321] In some embodiments, the communication connection includes at least one of:

[0322] an inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0323] a base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell;

[0324] an inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and a second network device corresponding to the target cell;

[0325] a base station interface connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

[0326] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by the second information, which includes the CHO configuration.

[0327] In some embodiments, the CHO configuration includes at least one of the following: time condition configuration, distance condition configuration, and signal quality condition configuration.

[0328] ​ This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 8100 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 8100 can be a network device (e.g., access network device, core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., user equipment, etc.), a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device 8100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0329] like ​ As shown, the communication device 8100 includes one or more third processors 8101. The third processor 8101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Optionally, the communication device 8100 can be used to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, one or more third processors 8101 can be used to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 8100 to execute any of the above methods.

[0330] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more third transceivers 8102. When the communication device 8100 includes one or more third transceivers 8102, the third transceiver 8102 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method, and the third processor 8101 performs at least one of the other steps. In optional embodiments, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, interface, etc., can be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, sending unit, transmitter, sending circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0331] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further comprises one or more third memories 8103 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the third memories 8103 can also be outside the communication device 8100. In optional embodiments, the communication device 8100 can comprise one or more first interface circuits 8104. Optionally, the first interface circuits 8104 are connected to the third memories 8103, and the first interface circuits 8104 can be used to receive data from the third memories 8103 or other devices, and can be used to send data to the third processors 8101 or other devices. For example, the first interface circuits 8104 can read data stored in the third memories 8103, and send the data to the third processors 8101.

[0332] The communication device 8100 described in the above embodiments can be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 8100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 8100 can not be limited by ​ The communication device can be a standalone device or can be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be: 1) a standalone integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a set of one or more ICs, which can optionally also include storage components for storing data, programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handset, mobile unit, vehicle-mounted device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) other, etc.

[0333] ​ The chip 8200 is a structure schematic diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the case that the communication device 8100 can be a chip or a chip system, the structure schematic diagram of the chip 8200 can be referred to ​ , but is not limited thereto.

[0334] The chip 8200 comprises one or more fourth processors 8201. The chip 8200 is used to execute any of the above methods.

[0335] In some embodiments, chip 8200 further includes one or more second interface circuits 8202. Optionally, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pin can be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 8200 further includes one or more fourth memories 8203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the fourth memories 8203 may be located outside chip 8200. Optionally, the second interface circuit 8202 is connected to the fourth memories 8203, and the second interface circuit 8202 can be used to receive data from the fourth memories 8203 or other devices, and the second interface circuit 8202 can be used to send data to the fourth memories 8203 or other devices. For example, the second interface circuit 8202 can read data stored in the fourth memories 8203 and send the data to the fourth processor 8201.

[0336] In some embodiments, the second interface circuit 8202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method. For example, the second interface circuit 8202 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method refers to the second interface circuit 8202 performing data interaction between the fourth processor 8201, the chip 8200, the fourth memory 8203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the fourth processor 8201 performs at least one of the other steps.

[0337] The modules and / or devices described in the various embodiments, such as virtual devices, physical devices, and chips, can be combined or separated arbitrarily as needed. Optionally, some or all steps can also be performed collaboratively by multiple modules and / or devices, which is not limited here.

[0338] This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device 8100, cause the communication device 8100 to perform 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 not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0339] This disclosure also provides a program product that, when executed by the communication device 8100, causes the communication device 8100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0340] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method, executed by a terminal, includes: Receive first information sent by the first network device, the first information being used to indicate the validity period of the condition switching CHO configuration; Based on the first information, the terminal is assisted in executing the CHO process.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information includes at least one of the following: First time information, which is used to indicate the time when the terminal evaluates the CHO condition; The second time information is used to indicate the time when the terminal switches to the target cell if the CHO condition is met, and the target cell is the cell to which the terminal switches if the CHO condition is met; Third time information, which indicates the time at which the CHO configuration is valid.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first information includes: Fourth time information, which indicates the time during which the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell have a communication connection; or, The fifth time information is used to indicate the time when the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not have a communication connection.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The communication connection includes at least one of the following: The inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell; The base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell; Inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell; The first network device is connected to the base station interface of the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first information includes the first time information, which is used to indicate the time when the terminal evaluates the CHO condition. The step of assisting the terminal in performing the CHO process based on the first information includes: Determine that the terminal is within the time range corresponding to the first time information, and evaluate the CHO condition; or, If the terminal is outside the time range corresponding to the first time information, the evaluation of the CHO condition is prohibited.

6. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first information includes the first time information, which indicates the time during which the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition. The step of assisting the terminal in performing the CHO process based on the first information includes: Determining that the terminal is prohibited from evaluating the CHO condition within the time range corresponding to the first time information; or, If the terminal is outside the time range corresponding to the first time information, evaluate the CHO condition.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first information includes the second time information, which indicates the time when the terminal switches to the target cell under the condition that the CHO condition is met. The step of assisting the terminal in performing the CHO process based on the first information includes: If the terminal is within the time range corresponding to the second time information, and the terminal meets the CHO condition, then the CHO is executed.

8. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first information includes the third time information, which is used to indicate the effective time of the CHO configuration. The step of assisting the terminal in executing the CHO process based on the first information includes: The terminal is determined to execute the CHO process within the time range corresponding to the third time information.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The execution of the CHO process includes: Evaluate the CHO conditions; If the terminal is determined to meet the CHO condition, the terminal's current serving cell is switched to the target cell.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The terminal is configured to prohibit the evaluation of CHO conditions and / or the execution of the CHO process outside the time range corresponding to the effective time.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The first information is carried by the second information, which includes the CHO configuration.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The CHO configuration includes at least one of the following: time condition configuration, distance condition configuration, and signal quality condition configuration.

13. A communication method, characterized in that, Performed by a first network device, the method includes: Send a first message to the terminal, the first message being used to indicate the validity period of the CHO configuration, and the first message being used to assist the terminal in executing the CHO process.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The first information includes at least one of the following: First time information, which is used to indicate the time when the terminal evaluates the CHO condition; The second time information is used to indicate the time when the terminal switches to the target cell if the CHO condition is met, and the target cell is the cell to which the terminal switches if the CHO condition is met; Third time information, which indicates the time at which the CHO configuration is valid.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The first information includes: Fourth time information, which indicates the time during which the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell have a communication connection; or, The fifth time information is used to indicate the time when the serving cell of the terminal and the target cell do not have a communication connection.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The communication connection includes at least one of the following: The inter-satellite link connection between the serving cell and the target cell; The base station interface connection between the serving cell and the target cell; Inter-satellite link connection between the first network device and the second network device corresponding to the target cell; The first network device is connected to the base station interface of the second network device corresponding to the target cell.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13-16, characterized in that, The first information is carried by the second information, which includes the CHO configuration.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The CHO configuration includes at least one of the following: time condition configuration, distance condition configuration, and signal quality condition configuration.

19. A terminal, characterized in that, include: The transceiver module is configured to receive first information sent by the first network device, the first information being used to indicate the validity period of the condition switching CHO configuration; The processing module is configured to assist the terminal in executing the CHO process based on the first information.

20. A first network device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver module is configured to send first information to the terminal, the first information being used to indicate the validity period of the CHO configuration, and the first information being used to assist the terminal in executing the CHO process.

21. A terminal, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The terminal is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1-12.

22. A first network device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The first network device is used to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 13-18.

23. A communication system, characterized in that, The device includes a terminal and a first network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the communication method of any one of claims 1-12, and the first network device is configured to implement the communication method of any one of claims 13-18.

24. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that, When the instruction is executed on the communication device, it causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1-12, or causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 13-18.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer program and / or instructions, characterized in that, When the computer program and / or instructions are executed by the communication device, they implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 1-12, or when the computer program and / or instructions are executed by the communication device, they implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 13-18.

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