Network access method and device, storage medium and program product

Abstract

The invention provides a network access method and device, a storage medium and a program product, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for improving the speed of accessing a non-ground communication network when a terminal is in cold boot. The method comprises the following steps: receiving network access information from a second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed to the non-ground communication network, and the network access information is access information of the second terminal accessing to the non-ground communication network; and accessing the non-ground communication network according to the network access information of the second terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a network access method, apparatus, storage medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0002] Non-terrestrial network (NTN) refers to wireless communication technology that utilizes non-terrestrial facilities such as satellites and aerial platforms (e.g., airplanes, balloons, airships) for communication. It offers advantages such as wide coverage, long communication distance, high reliability, high flexibility, and high throughput. However, due to limited channel resources and higher power consumption of NTN terminals, NTN terminals typically do not remain in standby mode for extended periods. They are only powered on when needed, but this process can be lengthy. For example, using a satellite terminal, the process typically involves searching for and locking onto satellite signals from scratch, resulting in a slower connection speed and a longer cold start time, impacting user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure provides a network access method, apparatus, storage medium, and program product for improving the speed at which a terminal accesses a non-terrestrial communication network during cold boot.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a network access method applied to a first terminal, the method comprising:

[0006] Receive network access information from the second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed the non-terrestrial communication network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network;

[0007] Based on the network access information of the second terminal, access is made to the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0008] Secondly, this disclosure also provides a network access method applied to a second terminal, the method comprising:

[0009] When accessing a non-terrestrial communication network, network access information is sent; wherein, the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0010] Thirdly, this disclosure also provides a communication device, comprising:

[0011] The receiving module is used to receive network access information from the second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed the non-terrestrial communication network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network;

[0012] The processing module is used to access the non-terrestrial communication network based on the network access information of the second terminal.

[0013] Fourthly, this disclosure also provides a communication device, comprising:

[0014] The sending module is used to send network access information when accessing a non-terrestrial communication network; wherein the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0015] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory storing processor-executable instructions; when the processor is configured to execute the instructions, causing the communication device to implement any of the methods provided in the first to second aspects above.

[0016] A sixth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores computer instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods provided in the first or second aspect.

[0017] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product comprising computer instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods provided in the first or second aspect.

[0018] Based on the technical solution provided in this disclosure, the first terminal can receive network access information from a terminal (such as the second terminal) that has already accessed a non-terrestrial communication network. When it is necessary to access a non-terrestrial communication network, the first terminal can use the received network access information as a reference to determine the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial communication network. Compared with the complete process of obtaining the information required for network access without reference information, this disclosure can obtain the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of accessing the non-terrestrial network. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the technical solutions of this disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this disclosure to explain the technical solutions of this disclosure and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this disclosure.

[0020] Figure 1 A system architecture diagram provided for embodiments of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 Another system architecture diagram provided for embodiments of this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a network access process provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a network access method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a network access scenario provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating another network access scenario provided by an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0026] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating another network access method provided in this embodiment of the disclosure;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0031] Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" and its other forms, such as the third-person singular "comprises" and the present participle "comprising," are interpreted as open-ended and encompassing, meaning "including, but not limited to." In the description of the specification, terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "exemplary embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic associated with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. The illustrative representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics mentioned may be included in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0032] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0033] In this disclosure, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this disclosure should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0034] In addition, the use of “based on” implies openness and inclusivity, because processes, steps, calculations or other actions “based on” one or more of the stated conditions or values ​​may in practice be based on additional conditions or values ​​beyond those stated.

[0035] Currently, although vehicular wireless communication technology mainly relies on terrestrial public mobile network technologies such as fourth / fifth generation (4G / 5G) and C-V2X cellular direct communication technology (PC5), the inability of terrestrial networks to achieve full coverage in remote areas makes it difficult to guarantee that vehicles can receive signals at all times and in all areas. This poses a significant challenge to ensuring safe driving, emergency calls, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) services. Non-terrestrial communication, on the other hand, offers wide coverage, strong disaster resistance, and is less susceptible to ground-based physical attacks, providing users with broad and undifferentiated communication services, and is gradually being widely adopted in in-vehicle terminals. However, based on non-terrestrial communication systems, the cold boot process for terminals is relatively long.

[0036] Taking satellite terminals as an example, firstly, unlike terrestrial mobile communication base stations and antennas whose locations are fixed, the positions of non-geostationary satellites relative to ground users are usually constantly changing (except for special geostationary satellites). Therefore, during a cold start, a satellite terminal may not have current ephemeris information, or the historical ephemeris information stored in the terminal may be invalid. Consequently, the satellite terminal cannot know the position and direction of motion of satellites that can currently provide beam coverage, and needs to spend a considerable amount of time re-searching for satellite signal frequencies that can provide service. For example, this re-search process typically takes at least tens of seconds, and may take up to two minutes.

[0037] Secondly, compared to terrestrial mobile base stations (whose relative positions are typically 200-300 meters high), communication satellites can be located at altitudes ranging from 1400 kilometers to over 30,000 kilometers, and their movement speed is also relatively fast. Therefore, the impact of Doppler shift is significant, resulting in satellite terminals taking much longer to lock onto downlink synchronization signals compared to terrestrial mobile network terminals. Furthermore, in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) NTN, satellite terminals are required to independently perform downlink Doppler shift compensation. Without ephemeris information, the calculation of Doppler shift compensation by satellite terminals becomes even more complex and time-consuming.

[0038] Furthermore, after completing downlink signal synchronization, the satellite terminal needs to wait to receive the serving cell master information block (MIB) and system information block (SIB) broadcast by the network before it can complete uplink Doppler shift compensation and time compensation calculations. Ephemeris updates and timing advance (TA) information are both included in the SIB message. This allows it to complete the uplink signal synchronization process in the random access channel (RACH) procedure before initiating the registration request access procedure. Because of the satellite's high position, high signal transmission delay, and typically narrow satellite channels, this process takes significantly longer than with ordinary terrestrial mobile network terminals.

[0039] It is evident that accessing non-terrestrial communication during the cold start-up process of a terminal is time-consuming. Therefore, related technologies provide the use of terrestrial infrastructure to help provide local ephemeris download services, in order to solve the problem of long ephemeris download times for satellite terminals.

[0040] Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) service is a technology that enhances the positioning capabilities of terminals such as mobile phones. It relies on positioning information from terrestrial mobile network base stations. Specifically, the terminal first sends its approximate location information, obtained through the mobile network base stations, to a remote location server. The location server then sends targeted GPS assistance data to the terminal based on this information. This data includes accurate GPS ephemeris data and key parameters such as satellite azimuth and elevation angles, thereby significantly reducing GPS signal acquisition time and improving positioning accuracy. However, this method relies on terrestrial mobile networks such as 2G, 3G, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks and cannot be used in areas without terrestrial network coverage.

[0041] Alternatively, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication facilities, such as roadside units (RSUs), can be used to broadcast local GPS ephemeris information to passing terminals. However, the deployment of RSUs is currently relatively limited, and future deployment plans for RSUs may not cover as much as the widely distributed terrestrial mobile communication networks, let alone reach globally covered satellite communication systems. Therefore, although roadside V2X communication facilities provide a new approach to positioning technology, they still have significant shortcomings in addressing positioning needs across a wide area.

[0042] In summary, how to solve the technical problem of the time-consuming access to non-terrestrial communication during the cold start process of terminals remains an urgent technical problem to be solved in related fields.

[0043] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a network access method in which a first terminal can receive network access information from a second terminal, and then access a non-terrestrial communication network based on the network access information of the second terminal. The second terminal has already accessed the non-terrestrial communication network, and the network access information is the access information for the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network. In this way, the first terminal can receive network access information from a terminal already connected to the non-terrestrial communication network (e.g., the second terminal), and when it needs to access the non-terrestrial communication network, use the received network access information as a reference to determine the information required for current access. Compared to the complete process of obtaining the information required for network access without reference information, the present disclosure can obtain the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0044] like Figure 1 The diagram shown is a system architecture diagram applicable to the above-described network access method. The system 100 includes a first terminal 10 and a second terminal 20.

[0045] The first terminal 10 can be a transportation vehicle, a mobile terminal, or other possible equipment. Transportation vehicles can include vehicles such as cars, buses, subways, light rail, and trams; ships such as passenger ships, cargo ships, tankers, fishing boats, and yachts; and aircraft such as passenger planes, cargo planes, and helicopters. The transportation vehicle equipment, i.e., the first terminal 10, can be a terminal configured within the aforementioned transportation vehicles, such as an in-vehicle terminal. Mobile terminal equipment can also be referred to as a terminal, mobile station, or mobile terminal. Mobile terminal equipment can be, for example, a mobile phone, tablet computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, handheld computer, notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), netbook, etc.

[0046] In some embodiments, the first terminal 10 may have a non-terrestrial network communication module. This non-terrestrial network communication module is capable of processing signals from satellites or high-altitude platforms, enabling the first terminal 10 to access non-terrestrial communication networks. The first terminal 10 is capable of supporting the communication protocols and standards related to the non-terrestrial network communication module to ensure normal access to non-terrestrial networks.

[0047] Furthermore, the first terminal 10 may also include a terrestrial network communication module. This terrestrial network communication module may be a cellular mobile network communication module (such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G, etc.), an Ethernet communication module, a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication module, or a dedicated communication network (such as fiber optic cable, etc.) communication module.

[0048] In some embodiments, the first terminal 10 may further include a direct communication module, which can communicate with other devices, such as receiving network access information sent by the second terminal 20 via direct communication. The direct communication module can be at least one of a cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) direct communication module or a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) direct communication module. C-V2X technology provides comprehensive information interaction between vehicles (V2V), vehicles and infrastructure (V2I), vehicles and pedestrians (V2P), and vehicles and networks (V2N). For example, the C-V2X direct communication module can be a C-V2X PC5 communication module, which can communicate with other devices. In some embodiments, the first terminal 10 may also include a sidelink module, which can be referred to as a device-to-device communication module. In addition, the first terminal 10 may also have other similar direct communication modules, such as modules using direct communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct (WFD), NearLink, and ZigBee, which are not limited in this disclosure.

[0049] In some embodiments, the terminal in this disclosure may have a C-V2X and 5G dual-mode module chip.

[0050] The second terminal 20 can also be a transportation vehicle or a mobile terminal device. In some embodiments, the second terminal 20 may also have a terrestrial network communication module. Furthermore, the second terminal 20 may also have a direct communication module and a terrestrial network communication module. In some embodiments, the number of second terminals 20 may also be multiple.

[0051] For example, when the second terminal 20 has already accessed a non-terrestrial communication network, the first terminal 10 can receive network access information sent by the second terminal 20, which is access information for the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network. Furthermore, when the first terminal 10 needs to access a non-terrestrial communication network, the first terminal 10 can access the non-terrestrial communication network based on the network access information sent by the second terminal 20.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the system 100 may also include at least one third terminal 30. This third terminal 30 can be a traffic vehicle device, a mobile terminal device, a roadside unit (RSU), or other possible devices. Roadside units, also known as roadside communication devices, can communicate with onboard devices, for example, by acquiring vehicle data information through the onboard devices. They are typically deployed along roads and can cooperate with other systems to complete vehicle traffic information processing and decision-making. Roadside units help vehicles achieve interconnectivity, perceive their environment, improve road safety and traffic efficiency, and provide strong support for the realization of intelligent transportation systems.

[0053] The third terminal 30 may have at least one of a direct communication module and a terrestrial network communication module. For example, the third terminal 30 may forward network access information from the second terminal 20 to the first terminal 10 via at least one of the direct communication module and the terrestrial network communication module. In some embodiments, the third terminal 30 may also have a non-terrestrial network communication module.

[0054] In some embodiments, this disclosure also provides a network access procedure, such as Figure 3 As shown, it includes:

[0055] 1. Downlink Synchronization: The terminal receives synchronization signals (SSB / PBCH) from the network and performs an initial cell search, including coarse synchronization and fine synchronization, to ensure time and frequency synchronization with the network.

[0056] 2. The terminal receives and parses the System Information Block (SIB), which may contain key information such as network configuration, cell configuration, and access parameters.

[0057] 3. Random Access Process (RACH Process): The terminal can select and send a random access preamble to the network. After the network responds, the terminal completes uplink synchronization to ensure that the terminal can send data to the network.

[0058] Thus, the terminal and the network complete beam detection and up / down radio channel synchronization.

[0059] 4. Radio Resource Control (RRC) establishment. This includes Radio Channel Setup.

[0060] 5. Registration Request: The terminal sends a registration request to the network, requesting access to the network and to obtain services. This may include the terminal identifier (UE ID), the terminal's network capabilities, and the requested network slice.

[0061] 6. Authentication Process: The network authenticates the identity of the terminal to ensure the security of the access device.

[0062] 7. Security Process: An encrypted secure connection is established between the terminal and the network to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data transmission.

[0063] 8. Registration Accept: The network confirms the terminal's registration request, completes the registration process, and allows the terminal to access the network.

[0064] 9. Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RrcReconfiguration): The network reconfigures the radio resources of the terminal according to the terminal's needs and network conditions to optimize communication efficiency.

[0065] 10. PDU Session Establishment Request: The terminal requests to establish a PDU session in order to transmit user data in the network.

[0066] 11. PDU Session Establishment Accept: The network accepts the terminal's session establishment request and confirms that the session has been successfully established.

[0067] The terminal negotiates with the network the type of PDN session and the corresponding Data Network Name (DNN) for the protocol configuration options (PCO), determining the data transmission path and method. The network assigns a PDN address (IP address) to the terminal as its unique identifier within the network, and configures Quality of Service (QoS) rules for the terminal to ensure data transmission priority and performance. The terminal negotiates with the network and selects a suitable network slice DNN to optimize data transmission efficiency and reliability.

[0068] The process for each terminal in the aforementioned system 100 to access the non-terrestrial communication network is similar to this process.

[0069] Understandable, Figure 1 or Figure 2 The system architecture shown does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this disclosure, and may include more or fewer devices or components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0070] The method provided in this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] like Figure 4 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, a network access method is provided and applied to a first terminal. The method includes:

[0072] S101, Receive network access information from the second terminal.

[0073] The second terminal has already accessed a non-terrestrial communication network, and the network access information is the access information for the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network. For example, this network access information can be used as reference information for the first terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network. In one example, this network access information can also be used as reference information required for satellite positioning and navigation.

[0074] In some embodiments, network access information includes at least one of the following: service provider information of non-terrestrial communication networks, ephemeris information of communication satellites, location information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites, frequency information of the serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information. In some embodiments, network access information may also include other possible information.

[0075] Among them, the service provider information for non-terrestrial communication networks refers to the identity information of the operators or service providers that provide non-terrestrial network services. For example, it may include the service provider's name, service identifier, service area, etc., to distinguish different service providers and the services they provide.

[0076] Ephemeris information for communication satellites includes detailed data on their orbital parameters, such as position, velocity, and orbital period. Ephemeris information is crucial for determining the precise position of a communication satellite at a specific point in time and is fundamental to enabling satellite communication and navigation functions.

[0077] The location information of the second terminal can be the location information of the second terminal when it sends the network access information, and this location information can be determined based on various satellite navigation systems.

[0078] The ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites is similar to that of communication satellites mentioned above, but here it refers to the orbital parameters of satellites used for positioning and navigation services (such as GPS satellites).

[0079] Frequency information of a serving cell refers to the geographical area covered by a communication satellite or high-altitude platform, while frequency information refers to the specific frequency or frequency range allocated to that non-terrestrial network cell for communication.

[0080] Uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information is used to adjust the frequencies of transmitted and received signals to compensate for this effect, thus ensuring communication quality, because the relative motion between the satellite and the terminal (e.g., due to the satellite's rotation around the Earth) causes changes in the frequency of the received signal.

[0081] The cell system information block and main information block information can typically contain information about the satellite network architecture, service type, access parameters, etc., to ensure that the terminal can correctly access and use the network.

[0082] Uplink delay compensation information is used to adjust transmission time to compensate for this delay, ensuring that the signal reaches the satellite accurately and is processed correctly, because the signal transmission distance in satellite communication is much greater than that in terrestrial base station communication.

[0083] It should be understood that the aforementioned network access information may include important information related to accessing non-terrestrial communication networks. Thus, the first terminal can use the network access information of the second terminal as reference information, thereby enabling it to obtain the information required for accessing non-terrestrial networks more quickly and thus improving the speed of accessing non-terrestrial networks.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first terminal can receive network access information from the second terminal via direct communication. This direct communication can be V2X direct communication or Sidelink direct communication. For example, the first terminal can receive network access information from the second terminal via a V2X interface.

[0085] Alternatively, if both the first terminal and the second terminal are within the coverage area of ​​a terrestrial mobile communication network, the first terminal can also receive network access information from the second terminal through the terrestrial mobile communication network.

[0086] In some embodiments, the first terminal may receive network access information from the second terminal forwarded by the third terminal.

[0087] For example, when accessing a non-terrestrial communication network, the second terminal can broadcast its network access information. At this time, the in-vehicle terminal devices of other vehicles passing through the area where the second terminal is located, or the mobile terminal devices of personnel (i.e., third devices), can receive this network access information and help forward it. This increases the propagation range and speed of the second terminal's network access information, thereby enabling it to be provided to more terminals that need it (such as the first terminal), and also improving the speed at which the network access information is provided to those terminals (such as the first terminal).

[0088] In one possible implementation, the first terminal can receive network access information directly sent by the second terminal.

[0089] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, taking vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment as the second terminal and vehicle B's in-vehicle terminal equipment as the first terminal, vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment can obtain key information (network access information) required for accessing non-terrestrial communication networks and satellite navigation during normal operation. It can then store the acquired information or update stored historical information. Vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment can also access terrestrial mobile / fixed networks. Satellite ground stations are an important component of non-terrestrial communication systems, and satellite ground networks can consist of multiple satellite ground stations. When vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment is already connected to a non-terrestrial communication network, it can send its network access information to vehicle B's in-vehicle terminal equipment, enabling the first terminal to quickly access the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0090] In another possible implementation, the first terminal can send a network access information request message and then receive network access information sent by the second terminal in response to the request message.

[0091] For example, if the first terminal does not store network access information, or if the first terminal needs to access a non-terrestrial communication network, or if all stored network access information is invalid, it can send a network access information request message. Subsequently, it can receive network access information sent by the second terminal in response to the request message. It should be understood that the terminal receiving the request message can agree to respond to the request and send network access information to the first terminal, or it can refuse to respond to the request.

[0092] In one example, the terminal receiving the request message can determine whether to respond to the request message based on pre-defined response rules. These pre-defined response rules may include defaulting to responding to such network access information request messages or defaulting to not responding to such network access information request messages; alternatively, these pre-defined response rules may be user-defined.

[0093] In another example, the terminal that receives the request message can determine whether to respond to it based on its own device capabilities.

[0094] In some embodiments, the request message may include operator information that enables the first terminal to provide NTN services.

[0095] In some embodiments, the first terminal may send network access information request messages multiple times. Specifically, the first terminal may periodically send these request messages. By sending these request messages multiple times, the likelihood of receiving usable network access information can be increased.

[0096] Furthermore, upon receiving network access information, the first terminal stops sending network access information request messages; that is, the first terminal can continue sending the request message until a response is received. Alternatively, the first terminal stops sending network access information request messages when the number of received network access information messages reaches a preset threshold. Or, the first terminal stops receiving network access information request messages when it successfully accesses a non-terrestrial communication network.

[0097] It should be noted that the first vehicle can proactively broadcast a network access information request message through the V2X communication interface. Thus, before receiving a response, the first terminal can continuously and periodically send this request message. This allows the first terminal to quickly obtain the latest network access information and increases the likelihood of receiving reliable network access information.

[0098] For example, such as Figure 6As shown, taking vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment as the second terminal and vehicle B's in-vehicle terminal equipment as the first terminal, vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment can obtain key information (network access information) required for accessing non-terrestrial communication networks and satellite navigation during normal operation. It can then store the acquired information or update stored historical information. Vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment can also access terrestrial mobile / fixed networks. Satellite ground stations are an important component of non-terrestrial communication systems, and satellite ground networks can consist of multiple satellite ground stations. When vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment has already accessed a non-terrestrial communication network and receives a network access information request message from vehicle B's in-vehicle terminal equipment, vehicle A's in-vehicle terminal equipment can send its own network access information to vehicle B's in-vehicle terminal equipment, enabling the first terminal to quickly access the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0099] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives and stores network access information from the second device, and then accesses the non-terrestrial communication network according to the network access information of the second terminal when it is necessary to access the non-terrestrial network.

[0100] S102. Access the non-terrestrial communication network according to the network access information of the second terminal.

[0101] For example, the first terminal can perform the satellite search process required to access the non-terrestrial communication network based on the ephemeris information of the communication satellites and the location information of the second terminal in the network access information of the second terminal, thus accelerating the satellite search speed. Furthermore, the uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information in the network access information of the second terminal can simplify the frequency offset compensation calculation process required to access the non-terrestrial communication network, thereby achieving rapid downlink signal synchronization. Moreover, the uplink synchronization process required to access the non-terrestrial communication network can be initiated in advance based on the uplink delay compensation information (e.g., without waiting for the SIB and MIB messages in the current access process to finish downloading). Therefore, the access time required for the first terminal to access the non-terrestrial communication network can be effectively reduced.

[0102] In some embodiments, when the first terminal needs to activate the satellite positioning and navigation system, it can also quickly complete the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellite search process based on the positioning and navigation satellite ephemeris information in the network access information of the second terminal and the location information of the second terminal, thereby accelerating the positioning calculation and output of positioning information. This improves the speed at which the first terminal activates the satellite positioning and navigation system.

[0103] In one possible implementation, when the first terminal receives network access information from multiple second terminals, the first terminal can determine reference access information from the network access information of the multiple second terminals, and access the non-terrestrial communication network according to the reference access information.

[0104] Among them, the reference access information is the reference access information that has the highest compatibility with the network access environment of the first terminal among the network access information of multiple second terminals.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first terminal may determine network access information among the network access information of the plurality of second terminals that satisfies at least one of the following: the transmission time is the most recent, and the distance between the corresponding second terminal and the first terminal is the shortest.

[0106] In one example, the positioning system of the first terminal is operating normally. For example, the first terminal uses satellite positioning, or a fusion positioning method, such as positioning using vision plus high-precision maps, or positioning using inertial navigation plus odometry. Other positioning methods are also possible, and there are no specific limitations on this. When the positioning system of the first terminal is operating normally, the first terminal can select the record closest to its current location and received most recently as the reference access information for calculation, or it can prioritize location and distance, or it can prioritize time.

[0107] In another example, if the positioning system of the first terminal is not operating normally, the first terminal can determine the network access information of the second terminal with the shortest distance from the first terminal among the network access information of multiple second terminals as the reference access information.

[0108] It should be noted that reference access information can be understood as information that is relatively close to the network access environment of the current first terminal. In this way, the accuracy of using network access information as a reference can be improved.

[0109] In some embodiments, the first terminal may determine the reference access information from at least one network access information that is within a valid time period among the network access information of a plurality of second terminals.

[0110] That is, the first terminal can first determine all network access information within the valid time period, and then determine the reference access information from the network access information within the valid time period.

[0111] It should be noted that the positions of the first and second terminals may be relatively variable. Taking a vehicle-mounted terminal as an example, since the vehicle is constantly moving, when the first vehicle needs to access a non-terrestrial communication network, the distance between it and the second terminal may be relatively far, or the time it takes to receive the network access information from the second terminal may be long. Therefore, this network access information may no longer be applicable to the first terminal's current network access environment; that is, the network access information may be out of its valid time frame. Thus, the first terminal can determine reference access information from the network access information that is still within its valid time frame. This avoids situations where previously received network access information is not applicable to the first terminal's current network access environment, thereby improving the accuracy of using network access information as a reference.

[0112] Based on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, the first terminal can receive network access information from a terminal (e.g., the second terminal) that has already accessed a non-terrestrial communication network, and when it is necessary to access a non-terrestrial communication network, it can use the received network access information as a reference to determine the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial communication network. Compared with the complete process of obtaining the information required for network access without reference information, this disclosure can obtain the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0113] Furthermore, this disclosure can effectively alleviate the problem of slow network access speed during cold start of terminals in non-terrestrial communication networks without relying on roadside infrastructure and ground network construction.

[0114] like Figure 7 As shown, this disclosure also provides another network access method for a second terminal, the method comprising:

[0115] S201. When accessing a non-terrestrial communication network, send network access information; wherein, the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0116] In some embodiments, network access information includes at least one of the following:

[0117] Information on service providers of non-terrestrial communication networks, ephemeris information of communication satellites, location information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites, frequency information of the serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information.

[0118] In some embodiments, when the second terminal detects a change in network access information, it can obtain the new network access information and synchronously update the stored new network access information.

[0119] In some embodiments, the second terminal may periodically send (broadcast) network access information. For example, the second terminal may be an onboard terminal device in a long-distance bus or other public service-oriented operating vehicle.

[0120] In some embodiments, the second terminal may receive a request message for network access information from the first terminal.

[0121] Then, in response to the request message, the second terminal sends network access information to the first terminal.

[0122] In some embodiments, the second terminal may send network access information to the third terminal, so that the third terminal can forward the network access information. Thus, the third terminal can send the network access information to the first terminal.

[0123] In some embodiments, the second terminal can send network access information via direct communication. This direct communication can be V2X direct communication or Sidelink direct communication.

[0124] Furthermore, for a detailed description of step S201, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps S101-S102 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0125] Based on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, when the second terminal accesses a non-terrestrial communication network, it can broadcast its own network access information, so that other terminals (such as the first terminal) can use the network access information as a reference to determine the information required for the first device to access the non-terrestrial communication network. Compared with the complete process of obtaining the information required to access the network without reference information, this disclosure can enable the first terminal to obtain the information required to access the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of the first terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0126] The foregoing primarily describes the solutions provided in this disclosure from the perspective of interaction between various devices or nodes. It is understood that each device or node, in order to achieve the aforementioned functions, includes at least one of the hardware structures and software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the algorithmic steps of the examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this disclosure can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.

[0127] Figure 8 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 8 As shown, the communication device 800 includes a receiving module 801 and a processing module 802. In some embodiments, the communication device 800 may further include a transmitting module 803.

[0128] The receiving module 801 is used to receive network access information from the second terminal; wherein the second terminal has been connected to a non-terrestrial communication network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal to the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0129] The processing module 802 is used to access the non-terrestrial communication network based on the network access information of the second terminal.

[0130] In some embodiments, network access information includes at least one of the following: service provider information of non-terrestrial communication networks, ephemeris information of communication satellites, location information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites, frequency information of the serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information.

[0131] In some embodiments, the receiving module 801 is specifically used to receive network access information from multiple second terminals; the processing module 802 is specifically used to determine reference access information from the network access information of the multiple second terminals; the reference access information is the reference access information with the highest compatibility with the network access environment of the first terminal among the network access information of the multiple second terminals, and access to the non-terrestrial communication network is performed according to the reference access information.

[0132] In some embodiments, the processing module 802 is specifically used to determine network access information among a plurality of second terminals that satisfies at least one of the following: the transmission time is the most recent, and the distance between the corresponding second terminal and the first terminal is the shortest.

[0133] In some embodiments, the processing module 802 is specifically configured to determine reference access information from at least one network access information that is within a valid time period among the network access information of a plurality of second terminals.

[0134] In some embodiments, the sending module 803 is used to send a request message for network access information.

[0135] In some embodiments, the sending module 803 is specifically used to send request messages for network access information multiple times.

[0136] In some embodiments, the receiving module 801 is configured to receive network access information from the second terminal forwarded by the third terminal.

[0137] In some embodiments, the receiving module 801 is specifically used to receive network access information from the second terminal via direct communication.

[0138] For a more detailed description of the receiving module 801, processing module 802, and sending module 803, as well as a more detailed description of their respective technical features and beneficial effects, please refer to the corresponding method embodiment section above, which will not be repeated here.

[0139] Figure 9 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 9 As shown, the communication device 900 includes a transmitting module 901. In some embodiments, it also includes a receiving module 902.

[0140] The sending module 901 is used to send network access information when accessing a non-terrestrial communication network; wherein the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial communication network.

[0141] In some embodiments, the network access information includes at least one of the following:

[0142] The information includes the service provider information of the non-terrestrial communication network, the ephemeris information of the communication satellite, the location information of the second terminal, the ephemeris information of the positioning and navigation satellite, the frequency information of the serving cell, the uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, the cell system information block and main information block information, and the uplink delay compensation information.

[0143] In some embodiments, the sending module 901 is specifically used to periodically send the network access information.

[0144] In some embodiments, the receiving module 902 is configured to receive a request message for the network access information from the first terminal. The sending module 901 is specifically configured to send the network access information to the first terminal in response to the request message.

[0145] In some embodiments, the sending module 901 is used to send the network access information to a third terminal so that the third terminal forwards the network access information.

[0146] In some embodiments, the sending module 901 is used to send the network access information via direct communication.

[0147] For a more detailed description of the above-mentioned transmitting module 901 and receiving module 902, as well as a more detailed description of their respective technical features and beneficial effects, please refer to the corresponding method embodiment section above, which will not be repeated here.

[0148] It should be noted that, Figure 8 or Figure 9Modules in this context can also be called units; for example, a transmitting module can be called a transmitting unit. Additionally, in... Figure 8 or Figure 9 In the embodiments shown, the names of the modules may not be the same as those shown in the figures. For example, the sending module may also be called the communication module, and the receiving module may also be called the communication module.

[0149] Figure 8 or Figure 9 If the various units or modules in the present disclosure are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, in essence, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this disclosure. Storage media for storing computer software products include various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0150] When the functions of the integrated modules described above are implemented in hardware, this disclosure provides a schematic diagram of a communication device, which may be the communication device 800 or the communication device 900 described above. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the communication device 1000 includes: a processor 1002, a communication interface 1003, and a bus 1004. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may also include a memory 1001.

[0151] Processor 1002 may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with this disclosure. Processor 1002 may be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with this disclosure. Processor 1002 may also be a combination of functions implementing computation, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, etc.

[0152] Communication interface 1003 is used to connect with other devices via a communication network. This communication network can be a cellular mobile communication network interface (such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G, etc.), a non-terrestrial communication network interface (such as a satellite communication interface, etc.), a direct communication interface (C-V2X cellular direct communication, DSRC direct communication interface, etc.), Ethernet, wireless local area networks (WLAN), Bluetooth, StarFlash, etc.

[0153] The memory 1001 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0154] In one possible implementation, the memory 1001 can exist independently of the processor 1002. The memory 1001 can be connected to the processor 1002 via a bus 1004 and is used to store instructions or program code. When the processor 1002 calls and executes the instructions or program code stored in the memory 1001, it can implement the information processing method determination method provided in this embodiment of the disclosure.

[0155] In another possible implementation, the memory 1001 can also be integrated with the processor 1002.

[0156] Bus 1004 can be an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Bus 1004 can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 10 The bus is represented by a single thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0157] Through the above description of the implementation methods, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, only the division of the above functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the equipment or device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0158] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be executed by computer instructions instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the above method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be any of the foregoing embodiments or memory. The computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device for the above-described device or apparatus, such as a plug-in hard drive, smart media card (SMC), secure digital (SD) card, flash card, etc., equipped on the above-described device or apparatus. Further, the computer-readable storage medium can include both internal storage units and external storage devices of the above-described device or apparatus. The computer-readable storage medium is used to store the above-described computer program and other programs and data required by the above-described device or apparatus. The computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output.

[0159] This disclosure also provides a computer program product comprising a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the methods provided in the above embodiments.

[0160] Although this disclosure has been described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, other variations of the disclosed embodiments will be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art through review of the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims in carrying out the claimed disclosure. In the claims, "comprising"

[0161] The term "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple components. A single processor or other unit can perform several functions listed in the claims. Although different dependent claims may describe certain measures, this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce a good effect.

[0162] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, this specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and are to be considered as covering any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this disclosure. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to this disclosure without departing from its spirit and scope. Thus, this disclosure is also intended to include any such modifications and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims of this disclosure and their equivalents.

[0163] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A network access method, characterized by, Applied to a first terminal, the method comprises: receiving network access information from a second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed a non-terrestrial communication network, and the network access information is access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial communication network; accessing the non-terrestrial communication network according to the network access information of the second terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The network access information comprises at least one of the following: service provider information of the non-terrestrial communication network, ephemeris information of a communication satellite, position information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of a positioning and navigation satellite, frequency point information of a serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and master information block information, and uplink time delay compensation information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The receiving network access information from a second terminal comprises: receiving network access information from a plurality of second terminals; The accessing the non-terrestrial communication network according to the network access information of the second terminal comprises: determining reference access information from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals; the reference access information is reference access information with the highest adaptation degree to a network access environment of the first terminal among the network access information of the plurality of second terminals; accessing the non-terrestrial communication network according to the reference access information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The determining reference access information from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals comprises: determining, as the reference access information, network access information that meets at least one of the following from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals: the network access information is sent at the latest time, and a distance between a corresponding second terminal and the first terminal is the shortest.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, The determining reference access information from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals comprises: determining the reference access information from at least one network access information that is within a valid time among the network access information of the plurality of second terminals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The receiving network access information from a second terminal comprises: sending a request message for the network access information; receiving network access information from a second terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The sending a request message for the network access information comprises: sending the request message for the network access information multiple times.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The receiving network access information from a second terminal comprises: receiving network access information from a second terminal forwarded by a third terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, The receiving network access information from a second terminal comprises: receiving the network access information from the second terminal in a direct communication manner.

10. A network access method, characterized by, Applied to a second terminal, the method comprises: in a case of accessing a non-terrestrial communication network, sending network access information; wherein the network access information is access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial communication network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The network access information comprises at least one of the following: service provider information of the non-terrestrial communication network, ephemeris information of a communication satellite, position information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of a positioning and navigation satellite, frequency point information of a serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and master information block information, and uplink time delay compensation information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, The sending network access information comprises: periodically sending the network access information.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein, The sending network access information comprises: receiving a request message for the network access information from a first terminal; sending the network access information to the first terminal in response to the request message.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, The sending network access information comprises: sending the network access information to a third terminal to make the third terminal forward the network access information.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein, The sending network access information comprises: sending the network access information by means of direct communication.

16. A communications device, characterized by comprising: a memory and a processor; the memory and the processor are coupled; the memory is configured to store instructions executable by the processor; the processor executes the instructions to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions, when the computer instructions run on the processor, make the processor perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

18. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product contains computer programs, when the computer programs run on the computer, make the computer perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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