Method, user equipment, system or mobile communication network, program and computer readable medium for providing communication services to user equipment using access network of or associated with mobile communication network

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing a communication service to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with the mobile communication network, where the access network is or corresponds to a non-terrestrial network, or comprises at least as part of the non-terrestrial network, wherein in order to provide the user equipment with a communication service at a normal or improved level of quality of service, and when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or the user equipment is in a connected mode-user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in an uplink and / or downlink direction between the user equipment and the mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment is serviceable by at least one base station entity of the access network at the normal or elevated level of quality of service-while being at a location in a first class of locations during a time interval in a first class of time intervals, and wherein the user equipment-when during a time interval of the second class of time intervals is at a location of one of the first class of locations or the second class of locations-can be served by any base station entity of the access network at most on a quality of service level that is lower than the normal or elevated quality of service level, in order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the method comprises the following steps:-at a first step and at a first point in time, when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or is in a connected mode, the user equipment uses a control channel or a dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information from the mobile communication network, -at a second step and at a second point in time, the access stratum of the user equipment indicates or forwards the service recovery information to the non-access stratum of the user equipment.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This invention relates to a method for providing communication services to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with the mobile communication network, wherein – in order to provide the user equipment with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or when the user equipment is in a connected mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment and the mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first type of location during a time interval in a first type of time interval – is capable of being served at the normal or enhanced quality of service level by at least one base station entity of the access network, and wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first type of location or a second type of location during a time interval in a second type of time interval – is capable of being served by any base station entity of the access network at a quality of service level lower than the normal or enhanced quality of service level.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment (UE) for providing communication services using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with the mobile communication network, wherein the UE is served by the access network, wherein – in order to provide the UE with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service (QoS) level, and when the UE is connected to the mobile communication network or when the UE is in a connected mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the UE and the mobile communication network, wherein the UE – when located in a first type of location during a time interval in a first type of time interval – is capable of being served by at least one base station entity of the access network at the normal or enhanced QoS level, and wherein the UE – when located in a first type of location or a second type of location during a time interval in a second type of time interval – is capable of being served by any base station entity of the access network at a QoS level lower than the normal or enhanced QoS level.

[0003] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or mobile communication network for providing communication services to a user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with the mobile communication network, wherein – in order to provide communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level to the user equipment, and when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or when the user equipment is in a connected mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment and the mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first type of location during a time interval in a first type of time interval – is able to be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first type of location or a second type of location during a time interval in a second type of time interval – is able to be served by any base station entity of the access network at at most a quality of service level lower than the normal or enhanced quality of service level.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and computer-readable medium for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with the mobile communication network according to the method of the present invention.

[0005] Mobile communication networks (such as public terrestrial mobile networks) are typically implemented as cellular mobile communication networks, which include (or use, are associated with, or are assigned to) a radio access network comprising radio cells. Such cellular systems are known to conform to different mobile communication standards or radio access technologies, such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G radio access technologies (referring to different generations of radio access technologies), and typically comprise one or more cells (or radio cells) of the corresponding radio access technology (or consist of them).

[0006] Mobile communication networks of this type, which are purely or primarily based on terrestrial infrastructure (and are therefore also called terrestrial networks or TN networks), are typically organized throughout the country (or a part of the country or a region within the country) in a repeating pattern of typical stationary (radio) cells (and associated base station entities) that are typically owned by a mobile network operator (MNO) (or used, operated, associated with, or assigned to an MNO).

[0007] As part of such known terrestrial cellular telecommunications networks – or geographical areas or regions where such terrestrial cellular telecommunications networks operate – there are typically some (geographical) sections or locations where user equipment (UE) generally experiences good radio coverage (at least on average, i.e., using multiple UEs), while other (geographical) sections or locations experience poor radio coverage; that is, UE – when located in a first-type location – can be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at a normal or enhanced quality of service (QoS) level, while the same or another UE – when located in a second-type location – can be served by any base station entity of that access network at most at a QoS level lower than that normal or enhanced QoS level. Therefore, it is also possible for such UEs to be completely unserviceable (which also corresponds to a QoS level lower than that normal or enhanced QoS level).

[0008] The radio coverage quality (provided by the mobile communication network under consideration) depends primarily on the location of the user equipment under consideration, which stems from the rather static nature of such mobile communication networks, which rely mainly on terrestrial networks or terrestrial infrastructure.

[0009] In contrast to purely or primarily terrestrial mobile communication networks, it is known that non-terrestrial networks can also be used to provide communication services, i.e., mobile communication networks that at least partially utilize non-terrestrial infrastructure of radio access networks, particularly using satellites and / or high-altitude platforms. Especially in the case of satellite use – particularly where non-geostationary satellites are preferred due to their relatively high latency characteristics – a single such satellite typically (due to its motion relative to the Earth's surface, which usually occurs at a considerable speed, at least compared to typical (passenger) speeds on the Earth's surface, such as the speed of a car or train) can only provide radio coverage for a specific geographic area and time point, such that radio coverage is later provided to another geographic area along the direction of the satellite's motion.

[0010] Therefore, the user equipment under consideration – when located in a first-type location during a time interval within a first-type time interval – can be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at a normal or enhanced quality of service (QoS) level, and the user equipment under consideration – when located in a first-type or second-type location during a time interval within a second-type time interval – can be served by any base station entity of the access network at at most a lower QoS level compared to the normal or enhanced QoS level. This dependence of the radio coverage quality (provided by the mobile communication network under consideration) on the location of the user equipment under consideration and the time interval under consideration stems from the dynamic nature of such mobile communication networks relying on non-terrestrial networks or non-terrestrial infrastructure.

[0011] Therefore, discontinuous radio coverage (or modifications to the quality of service level of radio coverage and the resulting degradation) can occur both in terrestrial networks (especially when user equipment moves relative to a fixed base station entity) and generally more likely in non-terrestrial networks, even in the case of static user equipment; this is especially true when satellite constellations are still under construction or when the direct line of sight between the user equipment and the serving satellite or high-altitude platform is blocked due to obstruction effects (e.g., by vegetation or buildings). This can be particularly detrimental in situations where important or highly urgent communication services (e.g., emergency calls) are being provided to user equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The object of this invention is to provide a technically simple, effective, and cost-efficient solution for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with such a mobile communication network, wherein in cases of discontinuous radio coverage – i.e., the user equipment can be served at a normal or enhanced quality of service level (when located in a first-type location during a time interval in a first-type time interval), and the user equipment can at most be served at a lower quality of service level than the normal or enhanced quality of service level (when located in a first-type or second-type location during a time interval in a second-type time interval) – and even if radio coverage deteriorates or has deteriorated, at least a minimum level of communication service can be provided to the user equipment. Another object of this invention is to provide corresponding user equipment, corresponding systems or corresponding mobile communication networks, and corresponding programs and computer-readable media.

[0013] The object of this invention is achieved by a method for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with such a mobile communication network. Specifically – in order to provide the user equipment with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or when the user equipment is in connectivity mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment and the mobile communication network. Wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first-type location during a time interval within a first-type time interval – is able to be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and The user equipment – ​​when located in a Class I or Class II location during a time interval within a Class II time interval – can be served by any base station entity of the access network at a service quality level that is at most lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level. In order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the method includes the following steps: -- In the first step and at the first time point, when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or in connected mode, the user equipment uses the access stratum control channel or the access stratum dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information from the mobile communication network. -- In the second step and at the second time point, the access layer of the user equipment indicates or forwards the service recovery information to the non-access layer of the user equipment.

[0014] In particular, by means of providing service recovery information to the user equipment, according to the invention, it is advantageous to provide the user equipment with information about (future or current) service quality level deterioration, how best to deal with such service quality level deterioration, and / or what measures may be taken to avoid or at least mitigate such deterioration, and when a better service quality level is expected again.

[0015] In traditionally known mobile communication networks, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are used (among other purposes) to provide network coverage to (geographical) areas not covered by terrestrial networks (TNs). One use case is providing emergency call (EC) services in remote areas of a country. Access to NTNs using regular handheld devices may already be possible, enabling NTN functionality based on 3GPP Releases 17 and 18. Direct-to-device (D2D) approaches are also currently under discussion to provide low-bit-rate services to unmodified LTE handheld devices (-> "SpaceX D2D"). However, even with the use of NTNs, at least the following issues may not be fully resolved: -- Avoid the obstruction effect of vegetation or buildings that prevents the direct (line-of-sight) sky or satellite view from having the best wireless link between the terminal (or user equipment) and the satellite; -- Avoid situations where the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is extremely low, especially when satellite signals are very weak; -- Discontinuous satellite coverage, especially when the satellite constellation is still under construction.

[0016] Therefore, even when using non-terrestrial networks, there may be situations where certain services – such as emergency services – cannot be provided reliably enough, especially due to satellite movement and the lack of “follow-up satellites” to maintain connectivity for extended periods.

[0017] According to the invention, and by means of transmitting service restoration information to user equipment, it is advantageous to proactively provide information to the user equipment regarding where and / or when a better quality of service (QoS) level or a better (radio) signal level is available. This service restoration information is transmitted from the mobile communication network (particularly a mobile communication network that is or at least comprises a cellular terrestrial network and / or a cellular non-terrestrial network) using control plane signaling – particularly using access stratum control channels or access stratum dedicated control channels. In particular, the service restoration information is used (especially in the case of non-terrestrial networks) to indicate the dynamic changes in satellite coverage of such non-terrestrial networks due to the movement of serving satellites.

[0018] According to the present invention, the user equipment uses an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with such a mobile communication network. As is typical and conventional, user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment and the mobile communication network; this generally assumes that such communication services are provided to the user equipment at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and that the user equipment needs to be connected to the mobile communication network (and / or that the user equipment is in connected mode).

[0019] The quality of service may vary depending on the location and time period: -- When the user equipment is located in a first-type location during a time interval within a first-type time interval – the user equipment can be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and -- When in a position in a first or second type of location during a time interval in a second type of time interval – the user equipment is (only) able (by any base station entity of the access network) to serve at a service quality level that is lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level.

[0020] Specifically, according to the present invention, in order to provide communication services to user equipment, the method includes the following steps: -- In the first step and at the first time point, when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or in connected mode, the user equipment uses the access stratum control channel or the access stratum dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information from the mobile communication network. -- In the second step and at the second time point, the access layer of the user equipment indicates or forwards the service recovery information to the non-access layer of the user equipment.

[0021] The access layer and non-access layer typically involve different layers within the user equipment.

[0022] According to the invention, it is advantageous, possible, and preferred that the access network is or corresponds to a non-terrestrial network, or at least includes as part of a non-terrestrial network.

[0023] Therefore, it is advantageous to use the present invention with non-terrestrial networks.

[0024] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, possible, and preferred that, particularly in the second step – particularly at or after the second time point – the user equipment instructs the service recovery instruction via local signaling or via an actuator or display device. Specifically, the service restoration instruction includes, or is intended to include, information related to at least one time interval in the first category of time intervals and / or at least one location in the first category of locations. Specifically, at least one time interval of the first type of time interval and / or at least one position of the first type of position are indicated to the user of the user equipment, particularly visually, tactilely and / or acoustically, to the user of the user equipment, especially using the display device of the user equipment and / or the display device of a device locally connected to the user equipment. Specifically, the service restoration instruction includes a service level instruction regarding the expected service level to be achieved during at least one time interval in the first type of time interval indicated by the service restoration instruction and / or at at least one location in the first type of location.

[0025] Thus, the invention can be advantageously, easily, and efficiently implemented, particularly by means of a user equipment instructing a service recovery instruction to the user equipment via local signaling or via an actuator or display device.

[0026] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, possible, and preferred that the first time point at which the user equipment receives the service restoration information precedes the second time point at which the user equipment issues the service restoration instruction. Specifically, the user equipment receives the service recovery information when the quality of service level monitored by the user equipment and / or the access network is determined to be below a specific predefined service cell quality threshold.

[0027] Therefore, the method of the invention can be advantageously implemented in a relatively simple and efficient manner, and in particular, service recovery information is preferably transmitted only where it is advantageous.

[0028] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible and preferred that, -- The first time point occurs during the time interval of the first type of time interval and when the user equipment is located in the first type of location, and the second time point occurs during the time interval of the second type of time interval and when the user equipment is located in either the first type of location or the second type of location, or -- Both the first and second time points occur within the time interval of the first type of time interval and when the user equipment is located in the position of the first type of location, or -- Both the first and second time points occur within the time interval of the second type of time interval and when the user equipment is located in either the first or second type of location.

[0029] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to implement and carry out the method of the present invention in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0030] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, possible, and preferred that the service restoration instruction notify the user of the user equipment: -- Subsequent time intervals within the first type of time interval that begin relatively shortly, especially those that will begin within 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, or 60 seconds. and / or -- A relatively close location in the first category of locations, particularly a relatively close location in the first category of locations that can be reached within 100 meters, or 200 meters, or 300 meters, or 400 meters, or 500 meters, or 750 meters, or 1000 meters, or 2 kilometers, or 3 kilometers, or 5 kilometers, wherein the service restoration instruction particularly includes a direction indication indicating in which direction the relatively close location in the first category of locations can be reached, the direction indication particularly indicating the north, east, south, or west, or directions in between.

[0031] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to implement and carry out the method of the present invention in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible and preferred that, -- In the case where the second time point occurs during a time interval within the first type of time interval and the user equipment is located in a first type of location, the service recovery instruction notifies the user equipment that the current time interval within the first type of time interval is about to end and / or the first type of location is expanding or moving in a specific direction, and / or -- In the case where the second time point occurs during a time interval in the second type of time interval and the user equipment is located in a location in the first type of location or the second type of location, the service recovery instruction notifies the user equipment user that the current time interval in the second type of time interval is about to end and / or the first type of location or the second type of location is expanding or moving in a specific direction.

[0033] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to implement and carry out the method of the present invention in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0034] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, possible, and preferred that the service recovery information be transmitted using a control channel and / or control channel messages and / or non-access stratum messages, particularly one or more of the following: -- Downlink Dedicated Control Channel (DL-DCCH) messages, particularly Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RRC-Reconfiguration) messages and / or Downlink Messaging (DL-Message) messages. -- Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages, particularly NAS registration accept messages: NAS: Registration Accept Messages and / or NAS tracking area update accept messages: Tracking Area Update Accept Messages. Specifically, the service recovery information includes at least one of the following, particularly regarding service continuity during subsequent time intervals within the first type of time interval and / or at the target location within the first type of location: -- Frequency information, -- Scheduled message, -- Time-frequency information, especially information about specific physical resource blocks to be used in situations with relatively low quality of service. In particular, the service recovery information is transmitted using channels with reliable channel characteristics, especially more robust coding schemes, particularly using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), On / Off Keying (OOK), and / or more robust Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (H-ARQ) retransmission schemes and / or new physical channels for transmission.

[0035] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to implement and carry out the method of the present invention in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the invention, advantageously possible and preferred, the service recovery information and / or service recovery indication includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference point and / or map information and / or polygon information, which indicates a better radio coverage and / or a better quality of service level and / or a location where communication services are intended to continue, wherein, in particular, the user equipment calculates a vector from its current location to the target location.

[0037] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to implement and carry out the method of the present invention in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0038] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with such a mobile communication network to provide communication services, wherein the user equipment is served by the access network. Specifically – in order to provide the user equipment with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or when the user equipment is in connectivity mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment and the mobile communication network. Wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first-type location during a time interval within a first-type time interval – is able to be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and The user equipment – ​​when located in a Class I or Class II location during a time interval within a Class II time interval – can be served by any base station entity of the access network at a service quality level that is at most lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level. In order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the user equipment is configured such that: -- In the first step and at the first point in time, when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or in connected mode, the user equipment uses a control channel or a dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information from the mobile communication network. -- At the second time point, the access layer of the user equipment indicates or forwards the service recovery information to the non-access layer of the user equipment.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or mobile communication network for providing communication services to user equipment using an access network of a mobile communication network or an access network associated with such a mobile communication network. Specifically – in order to provide the user equipment with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or when the user equipment is in connectivity mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment and the mobile communication network. Wherein the user equipment – ​​when located in a first-type location during a time interval within a first-type time interval – is able to be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and The user equipment – ​​when located in a Class I or Class II location during a time interval within a Class II time interval – can be served by any base station entity of the access network at a service quality level that is at most lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level. In order to provide communication services to the user equipment, the system or the mobile communication network is configured such that: -- In the first step and at the first point in time, when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or in connected mode, the user equipment uses a control channel or a dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information from the mobile communication network. -- At the second time point, the access layer of the user equipment indicates or forwards the service recovery information to the non-access layer of the user equipment.

[0040] Additionally, the present invention relates to a program comprising computer-readable program code that, when executed on a computer, and / or on a user equipment, and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network, or partially on a user equipment, and / or partially on a network node of a mobile communication network, causes the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the mobile communication network to perform the method according to the invention.

[0041] Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, and / or on a user equipment, and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network, or partially on a user equipment, and / or partially on a network node of a mobile communication network, cause the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the mobile communication network to perform the method according to the invention.

[0042] These and other features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the principles of the invention are illustrated by way of example. This specification is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings cited below. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Figure 1 The illustrations depict the user equipment in a mobile communication network and the access network using or associated with that mobile communication network, wherein (in cases of good radio coverage) communication services can be provided to the user equipment at a normal or improved quality of service level, and wherein (in cases of poor radio transmission conditions) communication services can be provided at most at a lower quality of service level.

[0044] Figure 2Such a situation is illustrated and demonstrated in more detail, namely, when a user equipment (UE) is in a first-type location during a time interval in a first-type time interval, it is able to be served by at least one base station entity of the access network at a normal or enhanced quality of service (QoS) level, and when the UE is in a first-type location or a second-type location during a time interval in a second-type time interval, it is able to be served by any base station entity of the access network at at most a lower QoS level than the normal or enhanced QoS level.

[0045] Figure 3 The invention illustrates, and exemplarily, the transmission of service recovery information by a mobile communication network using an access layer control channel or a dedicated access layer control channel, and the receipt of the service recovery information by the user equipment, as well as the indication or forwarding of the service recovery information by the access layer of the user equipment to the non-access layer of the user equipment. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The invention will be described with respect to specific embodiments and with reference to certain accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto, but is defined only by the claims. The described drawings are merely illustrative and not restrictive. In the drawings, some elements may be enlarged and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0047] Use the indefinite or definite article when referring to a singular noun. For example, unless otherwise specified, “one,” “a,” and “the” include the plural form of the noun.

[0048] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, etc., used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe order or chronological sequence. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in an order different from that described or illustrated herein.

[0049] exist Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates two instances: a user equipment 20 in a mobile communication network 100 and an access network 110 using or associated with the mobile communication network 100, wherein communication services can be provided to the user equipment 20 at a normal or enhanced quality of service level (in cases of fairly good radio coverage – in Figure 1 (Illustrated by way of user equipment 20 (or an instance thereof) being entirely within the radio coverage area 11 of base station entity 111), and wherein (in cases of poor radio transmission conditions – in) Figure 1(Illustratively represented by the user equipment 20 (or another instance thereof) located outside the boundary or part of the wireless coverage area 11 of the base station entity 111) Communication services can be provided at most with a lower quality of service level, i.e., the lower quality of service may deteriorate to the point of near connection loss.

[0050] In the context of this invention, Figure 1 The user equipment 20 referred to herein may also be referred to as the user equipment under consideration or a particular user equipment; of course, other user equipment usually exists and is connected to (and / or served by) the mobile communication network 100, however, again for the sake of simplicity, Figure 1 There is no mention of any other user equipment of this kind.

[0051] Figure 1 The description covers the user equipment 20 within a mobile communication network 100, which is typically a non-terrestrial network and includes an access network 110 and a core network 120. The mobile communication network 100 is preferably a cellular telecommunications network, typically comprising multiple network cells (or radio cells). The access network 110 is part of or associated with the mobile communication network 100. The user equipment 20 is capable of connecting to (a first) base station entity 111 and / or another (or a second) base station entity 112 (or being served by them), both of which are part of the access network 110. Typically, the access network 110 includes additional base station entities besides the (first and second) base station entities 111 and 112, but for simplicity, these are not mentioned in the text. Figure 1 As shown in the figure. In an exemplary non-terrestrial network illustrated as an example of a mobile communication network 100 according to the present invention, each of the base station entities 111, 112 of the mobile communication network 100 (or its access network 110) serves a radio coverage area or radio cell, with (first) base station entity 111 serving a first radio cell 11 and a second base station entity 112 serving a second radio cell 12. In the non-terrestrial network, such radio coverage areas or radio cells 11, 12 provided or generated by the base station entities 111, 112 of the access network 110 are generally geographically mobile (i.e., continuously covering a specific geographical area at a specific point in time, but moving relative to the Earth's surface, typically along the movement path of the respective base station entity).

[0052] The terms base station entities 111 and 112 serving user equipment 20 are here associated with satellites or high-altitude platforms that are part of the non-terrestrial infrastructure of mobile communication network 100 or its (or assigned or associated) access network 110, particularly by way of example; however, it should be understood that such satellites do not necessarily need to include (or provide as) all the functional elements or functionality of base station entities, such as gNBs in 5G mobile communication network 100: there are usually (and necessarily) additional infrastructure elements, such as ground stations providing feeder links, within or as part of the non-terrestrial network, and the distribution of the functionality (or parts thereof) of base station entities may also be distributed among these additional infrastructure elements; nevertheless, user equipment 20 is served by the functionality of base station entities, and at least the antenna portion – or radio unit – needs to be located on a satellite or satellite equipment or high-altitude platform in the non-terrestrial network; therefore, at least from the perspective of user equipment 20, the functionality of base station entities is located on the satellite or high-altitude platform.

[0053] According to the present invention, communication services are provided to user equipment 20 using access network 110 of mobile communication network 100 or access network 110 associated with mobile communication network 100. In a typical mobile communication network 100 (i.e., a geographic area covered by mobile communication network 100), user equipment 20 typically experiences better radio coverage in some geographic areas than in others. This is especially true in a primarily terrestrial mobile communication network 100 with fairly fixed base station entities, i.e., in cases where radio coverage is relatively static (geographically). In a typical primarily non-terrestrial mobile communication network 100, user equipment 20 also typically experiences better radio coverage in some geographic areas than in others, but this dependence is additionally associated with the time aspect: due to the dynamic nature of satellite motion (or high-altitude platform motion) that provides at least a portion of the functionality of the base station entities, user equipment 20 in question may experience better radio coverage at a first location and additionally at a first point in time than at the same first location at a later (second) point in time and at another (second) location at a later (second) point in time. In particular, since multiple different satellites (or satellite constellations) are often used, radio coverage at the first location may improve again at a later (third) point in time (e.g., because the next satellite of a particular constellation is located in a location that can provide radio coverage).

[0054] Therefore, in the context of this invention, the terms "first type location" 250, "second type location" 260, and "first type time interval" 250', "second type time interval" 260' are used to indicate that the user equipment 20 under consideration will experience fairly good radio coverage if it is located in the first type location 250 during the time interval of the first type time interval 250', and will have poor radio coverage if it is located in the first type location 250 or the second type location during the time interval of the second type time interval 260'.

[0055] Such scenarios Figure 2 The illustrations and examples are explained in the text. Figure 2 The following is a more detailed illustration of a situation involving the user equipment 20 under consideration: when the user is located at position 250 in the first type of position during a time interval (indicated schematically by double arrows) within the first type of time interval 250'. Figure 2 When the geographic area schematically circled in the diagram includes the user equipment 20, the user equipment 20 can be accessed by at least one base station entity of the access network 110 (in... Figure 2 (The reference numeral S1 is used to schematically indicate) service at a normal or enhanced quality of service level. If user equipment 20 is located at either a first-class location 250 or a second-class location 260 during a time interval in the second-class time interval 260', it can at most (by any base station entity of the access network 110) provide service at a lower quality of service level than the normal or enhanced quality of service level (and may be unable to provide service at all).

[0056] Figure 2 The illustration aims to depict the dynamic state of mobile base station entities S1 and S2 at different time points: t1, t2, t3, and t4, using two distinct sets of (circular) arcs and two arrows indicating different time points. The reference numeral S1 refers to a base station entity, particularly a satellite, such as base station entity 111, which provides radio coverage for user equipment 20 between the first and second time points t1 and almost up to the third time point t3. At the first time point t1, the edge of the radio coverage area of ​​S1 is indicated by a solid arc; at the second time point t2, the edge is indicated by a dashed arc (with a longer dashed line); at the third time point t3, the edge is indicated by a dashed arc (with a shorter dashed line); and at the fourth time point t4, the edge is indicated by a dotted arc. The same representation also applies to another (or a second) base station entity, such as base station entity 112. Figure 2The reference numeral S2 is used to indicate the time points from the first time point to the fourth time point t1, t2, t3, t4, and the corresponding arrows.

[0057] It can be seen that from the first time point t1 until almost the third time point t3 (i.e., during the time interval in the first type of time interval 250'), user equipment 20 remains within the coverage area of ​​satellite S1, i.e., at position 250 in the first type of location, where normal or enhanced quality of service (QoS) can be provided. From the third time point t3 onwards, user equipment 20 can no longer be served by satellite S1 (at least not at the normal or enhanced QoS level), and – unless another satellite becomes available – can only be served at a lower QoS level (compared to the normal or enhanced QoS level). This applies both to user equipment 20 in its position 250 (or at its location) and to any other position indicated by reference numeral 260 and the surrounding area.

[0058] However, moving to Figure 2 The location indicated by reference numeral 260 in the attached diagram will provide user equipment 20 with the possibility of being served (either directly or at least shortly thereafter) by another satellite S2 – see the (dashed) dashed and dotted arcs associated with S2, in Figure 2 The middle section represents the contact and coverage areas, which are 260.

[0059] Therefore, according to the present invention, such radio coverage can be provided to the (considered) user equipment 20 to provide communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level (when the user equipment 20 is in certain locations and certain time intervals) or at a lower quality of service level (when the user equipment 20 is in other locations and / or other time intervals).

[0060] According to the invention, it is advantageous to provide the user equipment 20 with information about such service quality level deterioration, how best to deal with such deterioration, and / or what measures may be taken to avoid or at least mitigate such deterioration, and when a better service quality level is expected again.

[0061] According to the invention, this is achieved by providing service recovery information to user equipment 20 at a first time point, when the user equipment is connected to the mobile communication network or in a connected mode, and using an access layer control channel or an access layer dedicated control channel (i.e., the mobile communication network 100 uses the access layer control channel or the access layer dedicated control channel to transmit the service recovery information and the user equipment 20 receives the service recovery information). At a second time point, the access layer of user equipment 20 indicates or forwards the service recovery information 650 to the non-access layer of user equipment 20.

[0062] This is Figure 3 The diagram illustrates that, Figure 3 This transmission of service recovery information is illustrated by way of example: at a first time point 201, service recovery information 650 is transmitted by the mobile communication network 100 (particularly by the (first) base station entity 111 of the access network 110 of the mobile communication network 100) and received by the user equipment 20. This transmission occurs using an access stratum control channel or an access stratum dedicated control channel.

[0063] At the second time point 202, the access layer of user equipment 20 indicates or forwards service recovery information 650 and / or service recovery indication 651 to the non-access layer of user equipment (wherein service recovery indication 651 originates from service recovery information 650).

[0064] Therefore, according to the present invention, and by means of transmitting service restoration information 650 to user equipment 20, it is possible to proactively provide information to user equipment 20 regarding where and / or when a better quality of service or a better (radio) signal level can be obtained. This service restoration information is transmitted using control plane signaling from mobile communication network 100, particularly terrestrial (TN) or non-terrestrial (NTN) networks. In particular, the service restoration information is used – especially in the case of non-terrestrial networks – to indicate dynamic changes in satellite coverage of such non-terrestrial networks due to the movement of serving satellites.

[0065] The transmission of service restoration information 650 corresponds to a notification method using the radio channels of the mobile communication network 100 – particularly the control plane channel, preferably a dedicated control channel – wherein service restoration information 650 and / or service indication information 651 (derived from service restoration information 650) notify user equipment 20 (e.g., for an emergency call or during an emergency call) of better availability of service (e.g., for an emergency call) by indicating, for example, the following: -- Better location for better satellite service: Signaling is converted into notifications, such as, “Move 500 meters in the north-northwest direction (360°) for better service”, “Move 1200 meters in the south direction (180°) for better service”, etc.

[0066] -- Better timing, when (emergency call) service can continue (and ongoing emergency calls can continue): "Satellite connection will be lost in 5 seconds! The next satellite will take over in 46 seconds – your connection will be automatically re-established at your current location."

[0067] This description focuses more on the user presentation of relevant information (i.e., what the user equipment 20 might display to notify its users); however, according to the invention, the underlying transmission of the service recovery information 650 (which forms the basis for the generation of such user-related indications, such as as part of the service recovery indication 651) is provided to the user equipment 20 in a robust manner via a signaling (control) channel.

[0068] In particular, according to the present invention, the user equipment indicates the service restoration instruction 651 via local signaling or via an actuator or display device – this is because the access layer of the user equipment 20 indicates or forwards the service restoration information 650 to the non-access layer of the user equipment 20. Such a service restoration instruction 651 may include or is intended to include information related to at least one time interval in the first type of time interval 250' and / or at least one location in the first type of location 250 (i.e., where the user equipment 20 can obtain a better quality of service level).

[0069] In particular, at least one time interval in the first type of time interval 250' and / or at least one location in the first type of location 250 are indicated to the user of the user equipment 20, particularly visually, tactilely, and / or acoustically, especially using the display device of the user equipment 20 and / or the display device of a device locally connected to the user equipment 20. Preferably, the service recovery instruction 651 includes a service level indication regarding the service level expected to be achieved during at least one time interval in the first type of time interval 250' indicated by the service recovery instruction 651 and / or at at least one location in the first type of location 250.

[0070] Specifically, according to the present invention, the transmission of service restoration information 650 to user equipment 20 precedes the instruction of service restoration instruction 651 to user equipment 20.

[0071] Furthermore, particularly according to the present invention, the transmission of service restoration information 650 – particularly by user equipment 20 and / or mobile communication network 100 (particularly access network 110) – is triggered in situations of current or anticipated service quality deterioration, i.e., particularly when the service quality level monitored by the user equipment and / or by the access network is determined to be (or expected to soon be) below a specific predetermined service cell quality threshold, the service restoration information is received by the user equipment.

[0072] A lower quality of service (when user equipment 20 is in position 250 or position 260 in the second time interval 260') – compared to a normal or enhanced quality of service – may correspond to a complete loss of connectivity, or simply a lower quality of service or a deterioration compared to a normal or enhanced level.

[0073] In the former scenario, it is assumed that communication with the user equipment 20 under consideration is impossible. Since the transmission of the service restoration information 650 assumes such communication between the user equipment 20 and the mobile communication network 100, in the case where communication is impossible – when the user equipment 20 is located at either the first or second type location 250 during the time interval of the second type time interval 260' – the transmission of the service restoration information 650 (first time point 201) must necessarily occur during the time interval of the first type time interval 250', and when the user equipment 20 is located at the first type location 250. At the second time point, the indication or forwarding of the service restoration information 650 to the non-access stratum of the user equipment 20 (and in particular, as a result, possibly via local signaling or via an actuator or display device to indicate the service restoration indication 651) may subsequently (but not necessarily) occur, i.e., after the connection loss has occurred.

[0074] As an alternative to a complete loss of connectivity, a lower quality of service (QoS) level (when user equipment 20 is located at either type 1 position 250 or type 2 position 260 during the time interval in type 2 time interval 260') may also correspond only to a lower QoS level or degradation compared to a normal or enhanced level (but data transmission to user equipment 20 may still be possible, although it may be somewhat slower); in this case, the transmission of service recovery information 650 (i.e., first time point 201) may occur during the time interval in type 1 time interval 250' (and when user equipment 20 is located at type 1 position 250) or during the time interval in type 2 time interval 260' (and when user equipment 20 is located at type 1 position 250 or type 2 position 260).

[0075] Therefore, according to the present invention, and depending on the actual degree of deterioration in the service quality level, one of the following is preferably applicable: -- The first time point 201 occurs during the time interval of the first type of time interval 250' and when the user equipment 20 is located in the position of the first type of position 250, and the second time point 202 occurs during the time interval of the second type of time interval 260' and when the user equipment 20 is located in the first type of position 250 or the second type of position 260, or -- Both the first time point 201 and the second time point 202 occur within the time interval of the first type of time interval 250' and when the user equipment 20 is located in the position of the first type of position 250, or -- Both the first time point 201 and the second time point 202 occur during the time interval in the second type of time interval 260' and when the user equipment 20 is located in the first type of position 250 or the second type of position 260.

[0076] According to the present invention, more preferably, the service restoration instruction 651 notifies the user of the user equipment 20: -- Subsequent time intervals within the first type of time interval 250' that begin relatively shortly, especially those that will begin within 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, or 60 seconds. and / or -- A relatively nearby location in the first type of location 250, particularly a relatively nearby location in the first type of location 250 that can be reached within 100 meters, or 200 meters, or 300 meters, or 400 meters, or 500 meters, or 750 meters, or 1000 meters, or 2 kilometers, or 3 kilometers, or 5 kilometers, wherein the service restoration instruction 651 particularly includes a direction indication indicating in which direction the relatively nearby location in the first type of location 250 can be reached, the direction indication particularly indicating the north, east, south, or west, or directions between these directions.

[0077] As already mentioned, according to the present invention, service recovery information 650 is transmitted on the control plane, i.e., particularly using control channels and / or control channel messages and / or non-access stratum messages, particularly one or more of the following: -- Downlink Dedicated Control Channel (DL-DCCH) messages, particularly Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RRC-Reconfiguration) messages and / or Downlink Messaging (DL-Message) messages. -- Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages, particularly NAS registration accept messages: NAS: Registration Accept Messages and / or NAS tracking area update accept messages: Tracking Area Update Accept Messages. Specifically, the service recovery information 650 includes at least one of the following, particularly regarding service continuity during subsequent time intervals within the first type of time interval 250' and / or at the target location within the first type of location 250: -- Frequency information, -- Scheduled message, -- Time-frequency information, especially information about specific physical resource blocks to be used in situations with relatively low quality of service. In particular, the service recovery information 650 is transmitted using a channel with reliable channel characteristics, especially a more robust coding scheme, particularly using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), On / Off Keying (OOK), and / or a more robust Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (H-ARQ) retransmission scheme and / or a new physical channel for transmission.

[0078] Specifically, the service restoration information 650 and / or service restoration instruction 651 include a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference point and / or map information and / or polygon information, which indicates better radio coverage and / or a better quality of service level and / or communication service intended to continue at the location, wherein in particular the user equipment 20 calculates the vector from its current location to the target location.

[0079] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to provide a method for providing service recovery (notification) information 650 in a mobile communication network 100, particularly in a non-terrestrial network (i.e., access network 110 is or corresponds to a non-terrestrial network, or at least includes as part of such a non-terrestrial network).

[0080] By using access layer control channels or access layer dedicated control channels to transmit service recovery information 650 – particularly by defining the information element structure – it is advantageous to use very reliable physical channels (such as PDCCH or its enhancements) or very robust channel configurations.

[0081] According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that such channel configurations are specifically designed for transmitting such service recovery (notification) information 650 – that is, such specific channels can be defined by means of high data redundancy, robust coding, and low data rates that operate even under challenging radio channel conditions. However, existing (control) channels can also be used to transmit service recovery information 650, for example, by enhancing the information carried via such channels.

[0082] Service recovery information 650 is sent from the network (especially a non-terrestrial network) (i.e., mobile communication network 100) to the user equipment 20 using a control channel or a dedicated control channel under different circumstances (e.g., the following): -- When user equipment 20 is still connected to mobile communication network 100 so that service recovery information 650 can be provided to user equipment 20 before service interruption occurs; service recovery information 650 may be transmitted, for example, based on thresholds such as radio link quality, timing, location, etc.; for example, using any DL-DCCH message, such as RRC reconfiguration, DL message delivery, etc. -- At any time during the ongoing connection, pre-configure service recovery information 650 in user equipment 20, for example, as preparation for a point in time when the service is interrupted (e.g., using any DL-DCCH message, such as, for example, RRC:RRC reconfiguration, RRC:DL message delivery, etc.).

[0083] The service recovery information 650 itself may simply point to a GNSS reference point with better coverage (in which case, user equipment 20 will, for example, calculate the vector from its current location – which is also known to the non-terrestrial network – to the target location). Alternatively, the service recovery information 650 may be in the form of a “map” or map information that provides information indicating where the service is intended to continue.

[0084] According to all embodiments of the invention, the service recovery information may include additional information to expedite the process of finding relevant resources, such as frequency and timing information for continuing service at the target location; obviously, the more information that needs to be transmitted (in order to transmit service recovery information 650), the more robust the connection must be; therefore, typically only a limited amount of service recovery information 650 can be provided in the event of a current connection interruption.

[0085] In particular, according to the present invention, in order to transmit service recovery information 650, at least one of the following reliable channel characteristics can be applied: -- A more robust coding scheme than normal control plane or user plane channel configurations (e.g., QPSK, BPSK, or OOK). -- A more robust ARQ retransmission scheme than normal control plane or user plane channel configurations; -- Define new physical channels for the transmission of information 650 for such services (e.g., reuse NB-IoT reliability / coverage enhancement principles for new radio (NR) non-terrestrial network connections, such as using very small bandwidth, possibly as low as using / indicating only one physical resource block (PRB)).

[0086] In particular, according to the present invention, a serving cell quality threshold can be defined, which triggers signaling for service recovery information 650 on a new channel or channel configuration.

[0087] In addition, specifically, the service recovery information 650 can send a signaling notification to the user equipment 20 to proceed to the target location to restore coverage and / or the user equipment 20’s current location is not serviced for a defined time interval (e.g., the next 10 seconds or minutes).

[0088] In addition, specifically, the service recovery information 650 may send a signaling notification to the user equipment 20 to move toward a target coverage area (e.g., defined as a polygon) to restore coverage and / or the current location of the user equipment 20 is not served for a defined time interval (e.g., the next 10 seconds or minutes).

[0089] Additionally, according to the invention, it is preferred that the target point or target area be calculated – particularly based on the current location of the user equipment 20 (known at the satellite from call setup signaling based on GNSS information transmitted to the user equipment 20, the trajectory and timing of flight out (to the currently serving satellite) and flight into the next satellite (including the satellite trajectory and timing). Specifically, the calculation of the target point or target area can be performed taking into account ground topology (including radio frequency blocking effects, ground features such as valleys, roads, forests, etc., about which information needs to be available at the satellite based on a topology database).

Claims

1. A method for providing communication services to user equipment (20) using an access network (110) of a mobile communication network (100) or an access network (110) associated with said mobile communication network (100), Wherein – in order to provide the user equipment (20) with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment (20) is connected to the mobile communication network (100) or when the user equipment (20) is in connectivity mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment (20) and the mobile communication network (100), The user equipment (20) – when located in a first-type location (250) during a time interval in the first-type time interval (250') – is capable of being served by at least one base station entity of the access network (110) at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and The user equipment (20) – when located in either the first or second type of location during a time interval in the second type of time interval (260') – is capable of being served by any base station entity of the access network (110) at a service quality level that is lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level. in, In order to provide communication services to the user equipment (20), the method includes the following steps: -- In the first step and at the first time point (201), when the user equipment (20) is connected to the mobile communication network (100) or in a connected mode, the user equipment (20) uses an access layer control channel or an access layer dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information (650) from the mobile communication network (100). -- In the second step and at the second time point (202), the access layer of the user equipment (20) indicates or forwards the service recovery information (650) to the non-access layer of the user equipment (20).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access network (110) is or corresponds to or at least includes a part of a non-terrestrial network.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, in particular, in the second step – especially at or after the second time point (202) – the user equipment (20) indicates a service recovery instruction (651) via local signaling or via an actuator or display device. Specifically, the service recovery instruction (651) includes or is intended to include information related to at least one time interval in the first type of time interval (250') and / or at least one location in the first type of location (250). Specifically, at least one time interval in the first type of time interval (250') and / or at least one position in the first type of position (250) are indicated to the user of the user equipment (20), particularly visually, tactilely and / or acoustically, to the user of the user equipment (20), especially using the display device of the user equipment (20) and / or using the display device of a device locally connected to the user equipment (20). Specifically, the service recovery instruction (651) includes a service level instruction regarding the expected service level to be achieved at at least one time interval (250') of the first type of time interval indicated by the service recovery instruction (651) and / or at least one location of the first type of location (250).

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first time point (201) at which the user equipment (20) receives the service recovery information (650) precedes the second time point at which the user equipment (20) indicates the service recovery instruction (651), Specifically, in cases where the quality of service level monitored by the user equipment (20) and / or by the access network (110) is determined to be below a specific predefined service cell quality threshold, the user equipment (20) receives the service recovery information (650).

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein... -- The first time point (201) occurs during the time interval of the first type of time interval (250') and when the user equipment (20) is located in the first type of location (250), and the second time point (202) occurs during the time interval of the second type of time interval (260') and when the user equipment (20) is located in either the first type of location (250) or the second type of location (260), or -- The first time point (201) and the second time point (202) both occur during the time interval of the first type of time interval (250') and when the user equipment (20) is located in the position of the first type of location (250), or -- The first time point (201) and the second time point (202) both occur during the time interval in the second type of time interval (260') and when the user equipment (20) is located in the first type of location or the second type of location.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the service recovery instruction (651) notifies the user of the user equipment (20). -- Subsequent time intervals with relatively short beginnings within the first type of time interval (250'), particularly those starting within 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, or 60 seconds. and / or -- A relatively close location in the first type of location (250), particularly a relatively close location in the first type of location (250) that can be reached within 100 meters, or 200 meters, or 300 meters, or 400 meters, or 500 meters, or 750 meters, or 1000 meters, or 2 kilometers, or 3 kilometers, or 5 kilometers, wherein the service restoration indication (651) includes, in particular, a direction indication that indicates in which direction the relatively close location in the first type of location (250) can be reached, the direction indication specifically indicating the north, east, south, or west, or a direction between these directions.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein -- In the case where the second time point (202) occurs during a time interval within the first type of time interval (250') and the user equipment (20) is located in the first type of location (250), the service recovery instruction (651) notifies the user of the user equipment (20) that the current time interval within the first type of time interval (250') is about to end and / or the first type of location (250) is expanding or moving in a specific direction, and / or -- In the event that the second time point (202) occurs during a time interval in the second type of time interval (260') and the user equipment (20) is located in the first type of location or the second type of location, the service recovery instruction (651) notifies the user of the user equipment (20) that the current time interval in the second type of time interval (260') is about to end and / or the first type of location or the second type of location is expanding or moving in a specific direction.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the service recovery information (650) is transmitted using a control channel and / or control channel messages and / or non-access stratum messages, particularly using one or more of the following: -- Downlink Dedicated Control Channel (DL-DCCH) messages, particularly Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RRC-Reconfiguration) messages and / or Downlink Messaging (DL-Message) messages. -- Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages, particularly NAS registration accept messages: NAS: Registration Accept Messages and / or NAS tracking area update accept messages: Tracking Area Update Accept Messages. Specifically, the service recovery information (650) includes at least one of the following, particularly regarding service continuity during the subsequent time intervals in the first type of time interval (250') and / or at the target location in the first type of location (250): -- Frequency information, -- Scheduled message, -- Time-frequency information, especially information about specific physical resource blocks to be used in situations with relatively low quality of service. In particular, the service recovery information (650) is transmitted using a channel with reliable channel characteristics, especially a more robust coding scheme, particularly using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), On / Off Keying (OOK), and / or a more robust Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (H-ARQ) retransmission scheme and / or a new physical channel for transmission.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the service recovery information (650) and / or the service recovery indication (651) includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference point and / or map information and / or polygon information, the GNSS reference point and / or the map information and / or the polygon information indicating a location where better radio coverage and / or a better quality of service level and / or communication services are intended to continue, wherein, in particular, the user equipment (20) calculates a vector from its current location to the target location.

10. A user equipment (20) for providing communication services using an access network (110) of a mobile communication network (100) or an access network (110) associated with said mobile communication network (100), wherein said user equipment (20) is served by said access network (110), Wherein – in order to provide the user equipment (20) with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment (20) is connected to the mobile communication network (100) or when the user equipment (20) is in connectivity mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment (20) and the mobile communication network (100), The user equipment (20) – when located in a first-type location (250) during a time interval in the first-type time interval (250') – is capable of being served by at least one base station entity of the access network (110) at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and The user equipment (20) – when located in either the first or second type of location during a time interval in the second type of time interval (260') – is capable of being served by any base station entity of the access network (110) at a service quality level that is lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level. in, In order to provide communication services to the user equipment (20), the user equipment (20) is configured such that: -- At a first time point (201), when the user equipment (20) is connected to the mobile communication network (100) or in a connected mode, the user equipment (20) uses a control channel or a dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information (650) from the mobile communication network (100). -- At the second time point (202), the access layer of the user equipment (20) indicates or forwards the service recovery information (650) to the non-access layer of the user equipment (20).

11. A system or mobile communication network (100) for providing communication services to user equipment (20) using an access network (110) of a mobile communication network (100) or an access network (110) associated with said mobile communication network (100). Wherein – in order to provide the user equipment (20) with communication services at a normal or enhanced quality of service level, and when the user equipment (20) is connected to the mobile communication network (100) or when the user equipment (20) is in connectivity mode – user plane data and / or control plane data are transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the user equipment (20) and the mobile communication network (100), The user equipment (20) – when located in a first-type location (250) during a time interval in the first-type time interval (250') – is capable of being served by at least one base station entity of the access network (110) at the normal or enhanced quality of service level, and The user equipment (20) – when located in either the first or second type of location during a time interval in the second type of time interval (260') – is capable of being served by any base station entity of the access network (110) at a service quality level that is lower than the normal or enhanced service quality level. in, In order to provide communication services to the user equipment (20), the system or the mobile communication network (100) is configured such that: -- At a first time point (201), when the user equipment (20) is connected to the mobile communication network (100) or in a connected mode, the user equipment (20) uses a control channel or a dedicated control channel to receive service recovery information (650) from the mobile communication network (100). -- At the second time point (202), the access layer of the user equipment (20) indicates or forwards the service recovery information (650) to the non-access layer of the user equipment (20).

12. A program comprising computer-readable program code, which, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment (20) and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network (100), or partially on the user equipment (20) and / or partially on a network node of the mobile communication network (100), causes the computer and / or the user equipment (20) and / or the network node of the mobile communication network (100) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment (20) and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network (100), or partially on the user equipment (20) and / or partially on a network node of the mobile communication network (100), cause the computer and / or the user equipment (20) and / or the network node of the mobile communication network (100) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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