Radio resource management relaxation for reduced capability user equipment in non-terrestrial networks

Abstract

A baseband processor, user equipment (UE), and network device are described, wherein the UE is a degraded UE. The UE can execute configuration signaling that receives radio resource management (RRM) configurations instructing measurements for one or more neighboring non-terrestrial network (NTN) devices. The UE then determines, based on the fact that one or more neighboring NTN devices are non-stationary, whether to relax the set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration according to relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by the degraded UE. The UE then performs RRM measurements for the one or more neighboring non-stationary NTN devices based on either the determined set of measurement requirements or the relaxed set of measurement requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates in general to wireless communication systems, including systems, apparatus, and methods for radio resource management (RRM) of user equipment (UE) in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) for RedCap (Red Cap) purposes. Background Technology

[0002] Wireless mobile communication technologies use various standards and protocols to transmit data between network devices (e.g., base stations, radio heads, etc.) and wireless communication devices. Wireless communication system standards and protocols may include, for example, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) (e.g., 4G), 3GPP New Radio (NR) (e.g., 5G), and the IEEE 802.11 standard for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) (often referred to as Wi-Fi within industry organizations). ® ).

[0003] As envisioned by 3GPP, different wireless communication system standards and protocols can use various radio access networks (RANs) for communication between RAN network equipment (sometimes collectively referred to as RAN nodes, network nodes, or simply nodes) and wireless communication equipment called UEs. 3GPP RANs can include, for example, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rate GSM Evolution (EDGE) RAN (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and / or Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

[0004] Each RAN can use one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs) for communication between network devices and UEs. For example, GERAN implements the GSM and / or EDGE RAT, UTRAN implements the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) RAT or other 3GPP RATs, E-UTRAN implements the LTE RAT (sometimes simply referred to as LTE), and NG-RAN implements the NR RAT (sometimes referred to herein as the 5G RAT, 5G NR RAT, or simply NR). In some deployments, E-UTRAN may also implement the NR RAT. In some deployments, NG-RAN may also implement the LTE RAT.

[0005] The network equipment used in a RAN can correspond to that RAN. An example of E-UTRAN network equipment is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (also commonly referred to as Evolved Node B, Enhanced Node B, eNodeB, or eNB). An example of NG-RAN network equipment is a Next Generation Node B (sometimes also called gNodeB or gNB).

[0006] The RAN provides communication services to external entities through its connection with the core network (CN). For example, E-UTRAN can utilize the evolved packet core (EPC), while NG-RAN can utilize the 5G core network (5GC). Attached Figure Description

[0007] To facilitate the identification of any particular element or action in the discussion, one or more of the most significant digits in the figure reference numerals refer to the figure number in which the element was first introduced.

[0008] Figure 1 An example wireless communication system is shown according to one or more aspects described herein.

[0009] Figures 2A to 2B An example wireless communication system is shown according to one or more aspects described herein.

[0010] Figure 3 Aspects of an example wireless communication system based on one or more aspects described herein are shown.

[0011] Figure 4 Aspects of an example wireless communication system based on one or more aspects described herein are shown.

[0012] Figure 5 An example method of wireless communication performed by a UE according to one or more aspects described herein is shown.

[0013] Figure 6 Another example method of wireless communication by a network device is shown, based on one or more aspects described herein.

[0014] Figure 7 An example architecture of a wireless communication system according to the implementation scheme described herein is illustrated.

[0015] Figure 8 An example system for performing signaling between a wireless device and a network device according to the implementation described herein is illustrated. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Various embodiments are described with respect to processors (e.g., baseband processors), user equipment (UE), non-terrestrial network (NTN) equipment, and network equipment (e.g., terrestrial network (TN) equipment). However, references to UEs or processors are provided for illustrative purposes only. Example embodiments can be used with any electronic component capable of establishing a connection to a network and configured with hardware, software, and / or firmware for exchanging information and data with the network. Therefore, the UE or processor described herein is used to represent any suitable electronic device.

[0017] In addition to using TN equipment (terrestrial base stations such as eNB or gNB) for wireless communication, cellular networks can use NTN equipment. NTN equipment can include various network devices operating above the Earth's surface that provide communication resources to UEs (e.g., on the ground, in the air, or on water) with specific coverage areas served by the NTN equipment. For example, a properly configured UE can communicate with NTN equipment instead of TN equipment, such as when the UE lacks coverage from TN equipment. In some deployments, NTN equipment is characterized as stationary relative to the ground, while other NTN equipment is mobile relative to the ground. Examples of stationary NTN equipment include satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GSO or GEO). Examples of mobile NTN equipment include high-altitude platforms (HAPS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), or polar orbit. UEs can operate on the Earth's surface, but can also operate above or below that surface or on water, such as on or as part of an aircraft or ship.

[0018] A capability-reduced (RedCap) device in the TN is typically a UE with a reduced set of capabilities relative to other UEs. RedCap UEs may have reduced processing power, storage capacity, or radio capabilities, making them particularly suitable for use in low-cost devices, low-power or power-constrained applications, or environments where full UE capabilities are not required. RedCap UEs can be further characterized by fewer receive (Rx) and / or transmit (Tx) antennas, reduced bandwidth usage, lower power consumption, relaxed (e.g., slower) data rates, relaxed processing times, and relaxed processing capabilities. Specific use cases for RedCap UEs include industrial wireless sensors, video surveillance, and wearable devices such as watches (e.g., smartwatches), head-mounted devices (e.g., virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) head-mounted devices), rings, etc. RedCap UEs can utilize extended discontinuous reception (DRX) in Radio Resource Control (RRC) idle or inactive states, or relaxed Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements for neighboring cells (e.g., in a stationary state, or when not at the cell edge).

[0019] UEs communicating with the network can enter or leave the coverage area of ​​NTN equipment. Such UEs need to perform various Radio Resource Management (RRM) related tasks to ensure continuous connectivity when moving relative to the cellular network. These RRM-related tasks include measuring neighboring cells (e.g., cells served by neighboring NTN equipment) that are potential target serving cells for handover from the current serving cell (e.g., the serving cell of a TN or NTN equipment). For RRM, the UE tunes its various electronic components from the bandwidth it is using to communicate with the current serving cell to the bandwidth used by neighboring cells in order to measure those neighboring cells. During this time, the UE is typically unable to receive any channels or signals from the current serving cell. Upon completion of the measurement, the UE retunes to the bandwidth of the current serving cell. To provide the UE with time for tuning, measuring, and subsequently retuning, the UE is configured by the network to have measurement gaps during which the UE does not anticipate or perform communication with the current serving cell. The configured measurement gap resources depend particularly on the UE's capabilities and the bandwidth portion (BWP) used for communication, and can be periodic.

[0020] Increasingly, it may be desirable to support RedCap UEs for wireless communication with NTN devices within the network. However, the goal of RedCap UEs is typically power reduction, and communication with NTN devices can increase the power consumption and complexity of RedCap UEs. For example, RRM-related tasks can significantly increase power consumption. Therefore, the RRM procedures for RedCap UEs may have relaxed requirements compared to those performed by conventional (non-RedCap) UEs. For RedCap UEs operating in terrestrial environments, such as those served by TN devices, the current RRM procedures for RedCap UEs may be sufficient. However, for RedCap UEs that are served by or otherwise communicate with NTN devices, these existing RRM procedures may be insufficient or otherwise undesirable in the context of NTN device communication.

[0021] This document further describes techniques for utilizing a relaxed RRM procedure for RedCap UEs performing NTN communications. A RedCap UE may establish a radio connection with an NTN or TN device (e.g., via the serving cell of the NTN or TN device, such as a satellite or terrestrial base station). The UE may receive configuration signaling from a network device providing an RRM configuration for the UE to use for measuring neighboring NTN devices, wherein the RRM configuration includes a set of measurement requirements for RRM measurements. As further described herein, these NTN devices may be non-stationary. Using one or more relaxation criteria, the UE may determine whether to relax one or more of the measurement requirements for non-stationary NTN devices. If the relaxation criteria are met, the UE relaxes the measurement requirements for those non-stationary NTN devices. If the relaxation criteria are not met, the UE does not relax the measurement requirements for non-stationary NTN devices and uses the same measurement requirements that would otherwise be applied to RRM measurements (e.g., for non-RedCap UEs). This document describes various enhancements applicable to RedCap UEs performing RRM measurements on non-stationary NTN devices.

[0022] Figure 1 An example wireless communication system 100 is illustrated according to one or more aspects described herein. In one or more embodiments, the wireless communication system 100 supports one or more aspects of RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in NTN, as further described herein.

[0023] Wireless communication system 100 includes one or more UEs 102, which may be served by TN device 104 via communication link 120 (e.g., having a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection established with the TN device) or by NTN device 106 via communication link 130. Coverage area 110 is a service area (e.g., a cell or serving cell, which may include multiple cells) for an RF spectrum band utilized by the NTN device 106 serving UE 102. The same coverage area or a different coverage area (not shown) is a service area (e.g., a cell or serving cell of TN device 104, which may include multiple cells) for an RF spectrum band utilized by the TN device 104 serving UE 102.

[0024] To support UE mobility (e.g., via RRM) as the UE moves relative to the network's coverage area, network devices transmit reference signals that can be monitored (e.g., listened to), received, and measured by the UE. In one or more embodiments, the reference signal is an SSB. Wireless communication system 100 includes at least one neighboring NTN device 108 for UE 102, which has a corresponding neighboring cell corresponding to coverage area 112. The neighboring NTN device 108 transmits a reference signal 142 (e.g., an SSB) to support RRM (e.g., and for other purposes and uses). Wireless communication system 100 may include one or more additional NTN devices (not shown) that may also transmit reference signals (such as SSBs) that can be received and measured by UE 102, for example, when UE 102 is served by one or more of TN device 104 or NTN device 106. One or more of NTN equipment 106 or adjacent NTN equipment 108 are, for example, non-stationary (mobile) NTN equipment that has an orbital path 114 relative to the Earth, as further described herein, whether providing a fixed Earth cell or a mobile Earth cell.

[0025] To support RRM measurements, the network provides RRM measurement configuration 122 to UE 102. RRM measurement configuration 122 may be provided via NTN device 106 or TN device 104, depending on which network device is serving UE 102. RRM measurement configuration 122 includes various parameters supporting RRM measurements and reporting, including one or more parameters for measurement objects, reporting configurations, measurement identifiers, quantity configurations, and measurement gap configurations. Measurement objects may identify the entity or target used for measurement, such as a cell or neighboring cells, including cells of adjacent NTN devices 108 (these cells may also be referred to as neighboring cells). Measurement objects may include the time and frequency location to be measured, the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal to be measured, and the identifier of the cell to be measured. Reporting configurations may include reporting criteria, the type of reference signal to be measured (e.g., Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), or another signal or reference signal type), and the reporting format used for the measurement. The measurement identifier links the measurement object to the reporting format. Quantity configurations describe the filter coefficients used to filter the measurement (e.g., layer 3 filtering). The measurement gap configuration defines the period during which UE 102 may perform RRM measurements; that is, the time period during which UE 102 neither expects to schedule or perform uplink transmissions nor expects to schedule or perform downlink transmissions. The RRM measurement configuration 122 for UE 102 includes measurement objects, which include one or more cells of a neighboring or target NTN device.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, NTN device 106 and / or neighboring NTN device 108 send, and UE 102 receives, a system information message 124, which provides NTN-specific parameters for the serving cell and / or neighboring cells. System information message 124 may be a System Information Block Type 19 (SIB19). In one or more embodiments, system information message 124 provides indications of one or more thresholds discussed herein, including one or more of a distance threshold, distance difference threshold, elevation angle threshold, velocity threshold, Doppler drift threshold, or service time threshold associated with relaxation criteria. In one or more embodiments, system information message 124 also includes a reference location for a geostationary cell (e.g., a cell provided via an NTN quasi-geostationary system) and a service time for that cell. For example, an NTN device in a geostationary (e.g., quasi-geostationary) system may have an orbit that allows the NTN device to serve the cell for a limited time before the NTN device's orbit becomes no longer possible. System information message 124 may also include satellite auxiliary information, including one or more of the following: ephemeris data, common timing advance parameters, k offset, validity duration of uplink synchronization epoch time, cell reference position, and cell stop time.

[0027] To perform RRM measurements according to RRM measurement configuration 122, UE 102 listens for (monitors, prepares the receive chain to receive) reference signals 142 transmitted by neighboring NTN devices 108. When performing RRM measurements, as a RedCap UE communicating with non-stationary NTN devices, UE 102 determines whether to relax one or more of the measurement requirements associated with RRM measurement configuration 122. Examples of relaxing measurement requirements include scaling one or more of the detection time, measurement time, or evaluation time indicated by RRM measurement configuration 122 according to a scaling factor as a result of meeting (complying with, fulfilling, exceeding) relaxation criteria. In some embodiments, the detection time identifies the minimum time within which UE 102 performs the detection process to detect the cell of a neighboring NTN device. In some embodiments, the measurement time identifies the minimum time within which UE 102 provides power (e.g., Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)) or quality (e.g., Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ)) for the cell. In some implementations, the evaluation time is defined as the minimum time within which UE 102 evaluates whether the cells of neighboring NTN devices have met a certain reselection criterion.

[0028] In some examples, reference signal 142 is an SSB. In other examples, reference signal 142 is a CSI-RS. In still other examples, reference signal 142 is another signal type transmitted by adjacent NTN device 108, such as a demodulated reference signal (DM-RS) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) signal, or a combination of different reference signal types.

[0029] As a result of performing RRM measurements, including according to RRM measurement configuration 122, UE 102 prepares and provides an RRM measurement report 126. UE 102 sends the RRM measurement report 126 to the serving cell of UE 102 provided by TN device 104 or NTN device 106.

[0030] Figure 2A An example wireless communication system 201 is illustrated according to one or more aspects described herein. In one or more embodiments, the wireless communication system 201 supports one or more aspects of RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in NTN, as further described herein.

[0031] Wireless communication system 201 includes NTN devices, which include at least NTN device 106 providing a serving cell to UE 102, which is a RedCap UE within coverage area 210, and one or more adjacent NTN devices 108 (such as NTN devices 108-a and 108-b) providing a serving cell operating in coverage area 212 (including coverage areas 212-a and 212-b for NTN devices 108-a and 108-b, respectively). As illustrated for wireless communication system 201, each of NTN devices 106 and 108 is mobile (non-stationary) relative to the Earth. Therefore, for the movement 220 of the NTN devices (including NTN devices 106, 108-a, and 108-b) from an initial time t0 to a first time t1, there is a corresponding movement 222 of the Earth-moving cell from t0 to t1.

[0032] Wireless communication system 201 includes one or more UEs 102, which may be served by an NTN device 106 serving the cell to the UE 102 (e.g., having an established RRC connection with the NTN device). As previously mentioned, the UE 102 may alternatively or additionally be served by one or more TN devices and still have neighboring NTN devices 108 for measuring RRM. In one or more embodiments, the UE 102 may have previously received RRM configuration. According to one or more embodiments, the UE 102 may determine the set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the cell of the non-stationary NTN device is a ground-mobile cell. For example, if the serving cell is covered by LEO satellites or ground-mobile cells, the UE 102 does not perform any neighboring cell RRM relaxation. In some embodiments, the UE 102 receives an indication that the cell is a ground-mobile cell via a system information message (e.g., SIB19), which includes information about neighboring NTN devices 108, including those neighboring NTN devices serving ground-mobile cells.

[0033] Figure 2B An example wireless communication system 202 is illustrated according to one or more aspects described herein. In one or more embodiments, the wireless communication system 202 supports one or more aspects of RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in NTN, as further described herein.

[0034] Wireless communication system 202 includes NTN devices, including at least NTN device 106 providing a serving cell to UE 102, which is a RedCap UE within coverage area 210, and one or more adjacent NTN devices 108 (such as NTN devices 108-a and 108-b) providing a serving cell operating in coverage area 212 (including coverage areas 212-a and 212-b for NTN devices 108-a and 108-b, respectively). As illustrated for wireless communication system 202, each of NTN devices 106 and 108 is mobile (non-stationary) relative to the Earth. However, during operation, each of NTN devices 106 and 108 may adjust its serving beam 230 to cause the coverage area for the serving cell to remain substantially stationary (fixed, not moving) relative to the Earth. Such a cell may also be referred to as quasi-fixed or quasi-stationary and is substantially fixed relative to the Earth. For example, different elevation angles of the service beam can cause the service beam 230 to widen or narrow, thus affecting the shape of the service beam 230 relative to the Earth.

[0035] For the movement 224 of NTN device 106 (including similar movements for neighboring NTN devices 108-a and 108-b) from an initial time t0 to a first time t1, there is a corresponding adjustment of the service beam 230 from t0 to t1 to maintain coverage area 210. Furthermore, for the additional movement 226 of NTN device 106 (including similar movements for neighboring NTN devices 108-a and 108-b) from the first time t1 to a second time t2, there is a corresponding adjustment of the service beam 230 from t1 to t2 to maintain coverage area 210. At some time after t2, NTN device 106 may no longer be able to maintain coverage area 210 and may switch to serving a new coverage area (e.g., coverage area 212-a), and different NTN devices 106 (e.g., neighboring NTN device 108-b) may switch to provide service to coverage area 210.

[0036] Wireless communication system 202 includes one or more UEs 102, which may be served by an NTN device 106 serving a cell to the UE 102 (e.g., having an established RRC connection with the NTN device). As previously mentioned, the UE 102 may alternatively or additionally be served by one or more TN devices and still have neighboring NTN devices 108 for measuring RRM. In one or more embodiments, the UE 102 may have previously received RRM configuration. According to one or more embodiments, the UE 102 may determine a set of relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the cell of the non-stationary NTN device is a geostationary cell. For example, if a neighboring cell is a geostationary cell with LEO satellites, the RRM (e.g., measurement requirements for RRM) may be relaxed for that neighboring cell. In some embodiments, the UE 102 receives an indication that the cell is a geostationary cell via a system information message (e.g., SIB 19), which includes information about neighboring NTN devices 108, including those neighboring NTN devices serving geostationary cells. For example, geostationary cells with LEO satellite information may be in the SIB 19.

[0037] Figure 3 Examples of aspects of an example wireless communication system 300 according to one or more aspects described herein are illustrated. In one or more embodiments, wireless communication system 300 supports one or more aspects of RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in NTN, as further described herein. Wireless communication system 300 may be an example of or include aspects of one of wireless communication systems 100, 201, or 202, for example by including NTN equipment (non-stationary, such as LEO satellites) that moves with a fixed or mobile earth cell.

[0038] The wireless communication system 300 includes a UE 102 as a RedCap UE, an NTN device 106, and one or more adjacent NTN devices 108 (such as NTN devices 108-a and NTN devices 108-b). The wireless communication system 300 also includes a set of positioning satellites 302 that transmit positioning signals 304; this set of positioning satellites may also be referred to as a constellation. The set of positioning satellites 302 can be any suitable satellite-based radio navigation system, which may also be referred to as or can be a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Examples of such suitable satellite-based radio navigation systems include the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), BeiDou, or Galileo. In some cases, the positioning signals may be provided or supplemented by one or more regional satellite navigation systems, such as the Indian Navigation Constellation (NavIC) system.

[0039] According to some techniques, determining whether low mobility criteria and / or stationary state criteria are met uses signal power (e.g., RSRP) and / or signal quality (e.g., RSRQ) measurements, specifically by measuring the variance of signal power and / or signal quality over a certain time period. However, this approach can be problematic in wireless communication systems using non-stationary NTN devices, for example, because the measured signal can change rapidly as the NTN device (e.g., a LEO satellite) moves, even if the UE is stationary or moving slowly. For example, if a LEO satellite is being measured, the channel will change dynamically, and the measurement results will change rapidly. Therefore, the obtained measurement is not only related to the UE but also to both the UE and the NTN device. However, the location of UE 102 is stable (e.g., stable relative to the NTN device). As further described below, the location information and / or distance information for UE 102 can be used to determine whether relaxed criteria are met to relax RRM measurement requirements, and specifically whether the non-cell edge criterion (the type of relaxed criterion) is met.

[0040] In one or more embodiments, when the cell is a fixed Earth cell (e.g., coverage area 310 is stable, or stable relative to a mobile Earth cell, as described with reference to wireless communication system 202), UE 102 can use coverage information of the current serving cell (e.g., whether it is TN or NTN) and UE GNSS information to determine whether it meets the off-cell-edge criterion. UE 102 can determine its location based on positioning signal 304. Using a distance threshold 314 from the center 312 of coverage area 310, UE 102 can then determine whether it meets the off-cell-edge criterion. As illustrated for UE 102, UE 102 meets the off-cell-edge criterion by a distance 316 less than or equal to distance threshold 314, and UE 102 can determine that measurement requirements can be relaxed for RRM. If UE 102 exceeds the distance threshold (e.g., because distance 316 is greater than or equal to distance threshold 314), the off-cell-edge criterion is not met (failed to be met), and UE 102 can determine that measurement requirements cannot be relaxed for RRM.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, when the cell is a geostationary cell (e.g., coverage area 310 is non-stationary, as described in reference wireless communication system 201), UE 102 may also use coverage information of the currently serving cell (e.g., whether it is TN or NTN) and UE GNSS information to determine whether it meets the off-cell-edge criterion. UE 102 may determine its location based on location signal 304. The center 312 of the cell (e.g., coverage area 310) is moving. Because the movement path of NTN device 106 (e.g., based on ephemeris data), and therefore the location of center 312 at a given time, is known, UE 102 can predict in which time period UE 102 will still be in the off-cell-edge area (e.g., the area formed by distance threshold 314). Therefore, using distance threshold 314 from the center 312 of coverage area 310, UE 102 can then determine whether it meets the off-cell-edge criterion. When the off-cell-edge criterion is met, UE 102 may determine that measurement requirements can be relaxed for RRM. When the non-cell edge criterion is not met, UE 102 can determine that the measurement requirements for RRM are not relaxed.

[0042] In some implementations, the distance threshold 314 may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the distance 320 between the serving satellite and the UE GNSS can be used to determine whether the non-cell-edge criterion is met. In some embodiments, the cell may be a fixed cell or a mobile cell. The distance 320 between UE 102 and the NTN device 106 serving UE 102 is used to determine whether the non-cell-edge criterion is met. In some embodiments, UE 102 determines a first location based on a location signal 304 and a second location for NTN device 106 based on ephemeris data for NTN device 106, and then determines the distance 320 between the first and second locations. UE 102 meets the non-cell-edge criterion if the distance 320 is less than or equal to a distance threshold, and UE 102 may determine that measurement requirements can be relaxed for RRM. If UE 102 exceeds the distance threshold (e.g., because the distance 320 is greater than or equal to the distance threshold), the non-cell-edge criterion is not met (failed to be met), and UE 102 may determine that measurement requirements cannot be relaxed for RRM. In some implementations, a distance threshold for the distance to the serving NTN device may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the distance 330 between neighboring satellites and the UE GNSS can be used to determine whether the non-cell-edge criterion is met. In some embodiments, the cell may be a fixed Earth cell or a mobile Earth cell. The distance 330 between the NTN device 106 serving UE 102 and UE 102 is used to determine whether the non-cell-edge criterion is met. In some embodiments, UE 102 determines a first location based on a location signal 304 and a second location for each of the neighboring NTN devices (e.g., NTN device 108-b) based on ephemeris data for each of the neighboring NTN devices (e.g., NTN device 108-b), and then determines the distance 330 between the first and second locations. UE 102 meets the non-cell-edge criterion by the distance 330 being less than or equal to a distance threshold, and UE 102 may determine that measurement requirements can be relaxed for RRM. If UE 102 exceeds a distance threshold (e.g., because distance 330 is greater than or equal to the distance threshold), it does not meet (fails to meet) the not-at-cell-edge criterion, and UE 102 may determine that the measurement requirements for RRM are not relaxed. In some implementations, the distance threshold to neighboring NTN devices may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0045] In one or more implementations, instead of the distance to the serving NTN device or the distance to the neighboring NTN device, the distance difference between the serving NTN device and the neighboring NTN device is used to determine whether the non-cell-edge criterion is met. The distance difference is the difference between distance 320 (distance to the serving NTN device) and distance 330 (distance to the neighboring NTN device). Similar to a distance-to-distance threshold comparison, the distance difference is compared to a distance difference threshold to determine whether the non-cell-edge criterion is met. In some implementations, the distance difference threshold may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0046] In one or more embodiments, the elevation angle 340 to the serving NTN device is used to determine whether the non-cell edge criterion is met. The elevation angle 340 may be determined from a horizontal plane (e.g., a plane on the Earth's surface). In some embodiments, the elevation angle may be determined from a vertical line. The elevation angle 340 may be determined by UE 102 based on positioning signal 304 and ephemeris data for NTN device 106. In some embodiments, an elevation angle threshold to the serving NTN device may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0047] Figure 4 Examples of aspects of an example wireless communication system 400 according to one or more aspects described herein are illustrated. In one or more embodiments, wireless communication system 400 supports one or more aspects of RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in NTN, as further described herein. Wireless communication system 400 may be an example of or include aspects of one of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 201, wireless communication system 202, or wireless communication system 300, for example by including NTN equipment (non-stationary, such as LEO satellites) that moves with a fixed earth cell or a mobile earth cell. In some embodiments, the cell discussed with reference to wireless communication system 400 may be a fixed earth cell or a mobile earth cell.

[0048] The wireless communication system 400 includes a UE 102 as a RedCap UE, an NTN device 106, one or more adjacent NTN devices 108 (such as NTN device 108-a and NTN device 108-b), and a set of positioning satellites 302 that transmit positioning signals 304.

[0049] In one or more embodiments, the variance of the distance 420 between the serving satellite and the UE GNSS (distance variance) can be used to determine whether low mobility criteria are met. The variance of the distance 420 between UE 102 and the NTN device 106 serving UE 102 is used to determine whether low mobility criteria are met. In some embodiments, at a first time (t0), UE 102 determines a first location of UE 102 based on a location signal 304 and a second location of NTN device 106 based on ephemeris data for NTN device 106, and then determines the distance 420 between the first and second locations. UE 102 then determines the distance 420 again at a second time (t1). The distance change 418 during the time period between the first and second times is the distance variance. In some embodiments, a distance variance threshold may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0050] In one or more embodiments, the variance of the distance 416 between the centers 412 of the coverage area 410 of the NTN device 106 serving UE 102 can be used to determine whether low mobility criteria are met. In some embodiments, at a first time (t0), UE 102 determines its first location and the corresponding distance 416 from the center 412 of the serving cell based on the location signal 304. UE 102 then determines the distance 416 again at a second time (t1). The change 418 in distance during the time period between the first and second times is the distance variance. In some embodiments, a distance variance threshold may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0051] In one or more embodiments, the location change of UE 102 is used to determine whether it meets the low mobility criteria. In some embodiments, at a first time (t0), UE 102 determines its location based on location signal 304. UE 102 then determines its location again based on location signal 304 at a second time (t1). The distance change during the time period between the first and second times is the distance variance (distance traveled). In some embodiments, a distance variance threshold may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein.

[0052] In one or more embodiments, the speed of UE 102 is used to determine whether it meets low mobility criteria. UE 102 determines its speed, for example, based on positioning signal 304. If UE 102 exceeds a speed threshold (e.g., at the time of measurement, or during a certain evaluation or measurement period), it can be determined that UE 102 does not yet meet the low mobility criteria. In some embodiments, the speed may be an average result over a period of time. In some embodiments, as further described herein, the speed threshold may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB).

[0053] In one or more embodiments, both speed and direction information of UE 102 are used to determine whether low mobility criteria are met. UE 102 determines its speed, for example, based on positioning signal 304. UE 102 also determines its direction of travel (e.g., linear, circular, other) based on positioning signal 304. If UE 102 exceeds a speed threshold, a direction threshold, or a combination of speed-direction thresholds (e.g., at the time of measurement, or during an evaluation or measurement period), it can be determined that UE 102 does not yet meet the low mobility criteria. In some embodiments, as further described herein, speed thresholds for speed and direction, direction thresholds, or a combination of speed-direction thresholds may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB). The advantage of using both speed and direction for low mobility criteria is that certain situations will not result in non-compliance with low mobility criteria, such as the UE moving in a circular manner at the cell center.

[0054] In one or more embodiments, the Doppler drift estimate for UE 102 is used to determine whether it meets the low mobility criteria. In some embodiments, UE 102 determines its Doppler drift based on a reference signal transmitted by an NTN device, NTN device 108, or a combination thereof. If the Doppler drift estimate for UE 102 exceeds a Doppler drift threshold, it can be determined that UE 102 does not yet meet the low mobility criteria. In some embodiments, the Doppler drift estimate may be an average value over a period of time. In some embodiments, the Doppler drift threshold for the Doppler drift estimate may be provided to UE 102 in a system information message (e.g., SIB), as further described herein, or the Doppler drift threshold may be a pre-configured value for UE 102.

[0055] In one or more embodiments, the power saving criteria may be combined with NTN-specific measurement triggering conditions used in the embodiments described herein. For example, if the UE is approaching the service time of NTN device 106 (currently serving UE 102), the triggering neighbor cell (e.g., cell of NTN device 108) measurement is not relaxed if the service time of the current service SAT is reached. For example, a service time threshold timed before service can be defined and considered. In another embodiment, the triggering neighbor cell (e.g., cell of NTN device 108) measurement is not relaxed if the service time of NTN device 106 (currently serving UE 102) is reached.

[0056] In one or more implementations, if UE 102 is approaching the edge of the serving cell's coverage (e.g., in coverage area 310 or 410), the triggered neighbor cell (e.g., cell of NTN device 108) measurement is not relaxed.

[0057] In one or more embodiments, in distance-based mobility, if distance conditions between UE 102 and NTN device 106 (e.g., serving cell) and between UE 102 and NTN device 108 (e.g., neighboring cell) are met, the triggered neighboring cell (e.g., cell of NTN device 108) measurement is not relaxed.

[0058] Figure 5 An example method 500 for wireless communication performed by a UE is illustrated. In one or more embodiments, method 500 supports one or more aspects of the RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in the NTN, as further described herein. In some cases, the UE may be UE 102, radio device 802, or one of the other UEs described herein. Method 500 may be performed using a processor, transceiver (or main radio component), or other components of the UE.

[0059] At 502, method 500 includes: receiving configuration signaling indicating RRM configuration for measurements of one or more adjacent NTN devices.

[0060] At 504, method 500 includes: determining whether one or more criteria are met. Specifically, the method may include: determining, at least in part, based on the fact that one or more adjacent NTN devices are non-stationary, whether to relax a set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration, the UE being a capacity-reduced UE, according to relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by a capacity-reduced UE.

[0061] At 506, if one or more criteria are not met at 504, then method 500 includes performing RRM measurements for one or more adjacent non-stationary NTN devices according to the set of measurement requirements.

[0062] At 508, if one or more criteria are met at 504, then method 500 includes performing RRM measurements for one or more adjacent non-stationary NTN devices based on a relaxed set of measurement requirements.

[0063] At 510, the method 500 includes: sending a measurement report indicating the result of the RRM measurement.

[0064] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the cell of the non-stationary NTN equipment is a fixed Earth cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the serving cell of the non-stationary NTN equipment is a moving Earth cell.

[0065] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for earth-fixed cells is met, at least in part based on coverage information of the current serving cell for the UE, the relaxed criterion including the non-cell edge criterion, and the cell of the non-stationary NTN device including earth-fixed cells.

[0066] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining, at least in part, whether the non-cell-edge criterion for a mobile cell is met based on coverage information of the current serving cell for the UE, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell-edge criterion, and the cell for the non-stationary NTN device includes a mobile cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: receiving ephemeris information for the non-stationary NTN device; and, for a mobile cell, predicting, at least in part, the duration during which the UE is in the non-cell-edge area based on the ephemeris information.

[0067] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the distance between the UE and the NTN device satisfying a distance threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion, and the NTN device supports the current serving cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the distance between the UE and at least one of one or more neighboring NTN devices satisfying a distance threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the difference between a first distance and a second distance satisfying a distance difference threshold, wherein the first distance is between the UE and the NTN device supporting the current serving cell, the second distance is between the UE and at least one of one or more neighboring NTN devices, and the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion.

[0068] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the elevation angle meeting an elevation angle threshold, wherein the elevation angle is between the UE and an NTN device supporting the current serving cell or between the UE and at least one of one or more neighboring NTN devices, and relaxing the criterion to include the non-cell edge criterion.

[0069] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the distance variance between the location of the currently serving NTN device and the location of the UE, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the distance variance between the center of the UE's current serving cell and the location of the UE, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion.

[0070] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on changes in the UE's location over a time duration, with the relaxed criterion including the low mobility criterion.

[0071] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the UE's speed meeting a speed threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the UE's speed meeting a speed threshold and the UE's direction of travel, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the UE's Doppler drift meeting a Doppler drift threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion.

[0072] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the service time of the current serving cell, an NTN device supporting the current serving cell, or both meeting a service time threshold. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the distance between the UE's location and the cell edge of the UE's current serving cell meeting a distance threshold. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on a distance difference threshold between a first distance and a second distance, the first distance being between the UE's location and the cell center of the UE's current serving cell, and the second distance being between the UE's location and the cell center of a neighboring cell.

[0073] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes receiving in a system information block message at least one of a distance threshold, a distance difference threshold, an elevation angle threshold, a velocity threshold, a Doppler drift threshold, or a service time threshold associated with the relaxation criteria.

[0074] Method 500 can be embodied, extended, or modified in various ways, as described in the following paragraphs and elsewhere in this description.

[0075] Figure 6 An example method 600 for wireless communication performed by a network device is illustrated. In one or more embodiments, method 600 supports one or more aspects of the RRM relaxation for RedCap UEs in NTN, as further described herein. In some cases, the network device may be one of network device 104, network device 820, or other network devices described herein. Method 600 may be performed using a processor, transceiver (e.g., main radio component), or other components of the network device.

[0076] At 602, method 600 includes: sending configuration signaling to the UE with reduced capability, indicating RRM configuration for measurements by the UE to one or more adjacent NTN devices.

[0077] At 604, method 600 includes: determining, at least in part, based on the fact that one or more adjacent NTN devices are non-stationary, whether the UE will relax the set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration according to the relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by the UE with reduced capability, the UE with reduced capability including UE.

[0078] At 606, method 600 includes: receiving a measurement report from the UE, the measurement report being at least in part based on RRM measurements performed by the UE according to one of a set of measurement requirements or a relaxed set of measurement requirements.

[0079] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes sending in a system information block message at least one of a distance threshold, a distance difference threshold, an elevation angle threshold, a velocity threshold, a Doppler drift threshold, or a service time threshold associated with the relaxation criteria.

[0080] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the cell of the non-stationary NTN equipment is a fixed Earth cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the serving cell of the non-stationary NTN equipment is a moving Earth cell.

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining, at least in part, whether the non-cell edge criterion for a fixed cell is met based on coverage information of the current serving cell for the UE, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion, and the cell of the non-stationary NTN device includes a fixed cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining, at least in part, whether the non-cell edge criterion for a mobile cell is met based on coverage information of the current serving cell for the UE, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion, and the cell of the non-stationary NTN device includes a mobile cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: sending ephemeris information for the non-stationary NTN device to the UE, the ephemeris information being used to predict the duration during which the UE is in a non-cell edge region for a mobile cell.

[0082] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the distance between the UE and the NTN device satisfying a distance threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion, and the NTN device supports the current serving cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the distance between the UE and at least one of one or more neighboring NTN devices satisfying a distance threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the difference between a first distance and a second distance satisfying a distance difference threshold, wherein the first distance is between the UE and the NTN device supporting the current serving cell, the second distance is between the UE and at least one of one or more neighboring NTN devices, and the relaxed criterion includes the non-cell edge criterion.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the non-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met, at least in part, based on the elevation angle meeting an elevation angle threshold, wherein the elevation angle is between the UE and an NTN device supporting the current serving cell or between the UE and at least one of one or more neighboring NTN devices, and relaxing the criterion to include the non-cell edge criterion.

[0084] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the distance variance between the current serving NTN device location and the UE's location, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the distance variance between the center of the UE's current serving cell and the UE's location, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on changes in the UE's location over a time period, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion.

[0085] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the UE's speed meeting a speed threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on the UE's speed meeting a speed threshold and the UE's direction of travel, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion.

[0086] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether a low mobility criterion is met, at least in part, based on whether the UE's Doppler drift meets a Doppler drift threshold, wherein the relaxed criterion includes the low mobility criterion.

[0087] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the service time of the current serving cell, the NTN device supporting the current serving cell, or both, meeting a service time threshold.

[0088] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on a distance threshold satisfied between the location of the UE and the cell edge of the UE's current serving cell. In one or more embodiments, the method further includes: determining a set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on a distance difference threshold satisfied between a first distance and a second distance, the first distance being between the location of the UE and the cell center of the UE's current serving cell, and the second distance being between the location of the UE and the cell center of a neighboring cell.

[0089] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes sending in a system information block message at least one of a distance threshold, a distance difference threshold, an elevation angle threshold, a velocity threshold, a Doppler drift threshold, or a service time threshold associated with the relaxation criteria.

[0090] Method 600 may be embodied, extended or modified in various ways, as described in the following paragraphs and elsewhere in this description.

[0091] The embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform one or more elements of method 500 or 600. In the context of method 500, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may be, for example, the memory of a UE (such as memory 806 of a wireless device 802 as a UE, as described herein). In the context of method 600, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may be, for example, the memory of a network device (such as memory 824 of a network device 820, as described herein).

[0092] The embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus having logic components, modules, or circuitry for performing one or more elements of method 500 or 600. In the context of method 500, the apparatus may be, for example, a UE (such as wireless device 802 as a UE). In the context of method 600, the apparatus may be, for example, a network device (such as network device 820, as described herein).

[0093] The embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus having one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media that use or store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform one or more elements of method 500 or 600. In the context of method 500, the apparatus may be, for example, a UE (such as wireless device 802 as a UE, as described herein). In the context of method 600, the apparatus may be, for example, a network device (such as network device 820, as described herein).

[0094] The implementation schemes envisioned herein include signals as described or associated with one or more elements of method 500 or 600.

[0095] The embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program or computer program product having instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processor causes the processor to perform one or more elements of method 500 or 600. In the context of method 500, the processor may be a processor of a UE (such as processor 804 of wireless device 802 as a UE, as described herein), and the instructions may be located, for example, in the processor and / or in the memory of the UE (such as memory 806 of wireless device 802 as a UE, as described herein). In the context of method 600, the processor may be a processor of a network device (such as processor 822 of network device 820, as described herein), and the instructions may be located, for example, in the processor and / or in the memory of the network device (such as memory 824 of network device 820, as described herein).

[0096] Figure 7 An example architecture of a wireless communication system according to the implementation scheme described herein is illustrated. The following description is provided for example wireless communication system 700, which operates in conjunction with LTE system standards or specifications and / or 5G or NR system standards or specifications as provided by 3GPP technical specifications.

[0097] As shown in the figure, the wireless communication system 700 includes UE 702 and UE 704 (but any number of UEs may be used). In this example, UE 702 and UE 704 are illustrated as smartphones (e.g., handheld touchscreen mobile computing devices capable of connecting to one or more cellular networks), but may also include any mobile or non-mobile computing device configured for wireless communication.

[0098] UE 702 and UE 704 can be configured to communicatively couple with RAN 706. In implementations, RAN 706 can be NG-RAN, E-UTRAN, etc. UE 702 and UE 704 utilize connections (or channels) with RAN 706 (shown as connection 708 and connection 710, respectively), each of these connections including a physical communication interface. RAN 706 may include one or more network devices (such as base station 712 and base station 714) implementing connection 708 and connection 710.

[0099] In this example, Connection 708 and Connection 710 are air interfaces that enable this type of communication coupling and are compliant with the RAT used by RAN 706, such as LTE and / or NR, for example.

[0100] In some implementations, UE 702 and UE 704 may also exchange communication data directly via sidelink interface 716. UE 704 is shown configured to access an access point (shown as AP 718) via connection 720. By way of example, connection 720 may include a local wireless connection, such as a connection conforming to any IEEE 802.11 protocol, while AP 718 may include Wi-Fi. ® Router. In this example, AP 718 may connect to another network (e.g., the Internet) without using CN 724.

[0101] In the implementation, UE 702 and UE 704 may be configured to communicate with each other or with base station 712 and / or base station 714 on a multi-carrier communication channel using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals according to various communication technologies, such as, but not limited to, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication technology (e.g., for downlink communication) or single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) communication technology (e.g., for uplink and ProSe or sidelink communication)); however, the scope of the implementation is not limited in this respect. The OFDM signal may include multiple orthogonal subcarriers.

[0102] In some implementations, all or some of the base stations in base station 712 or base station 714 may be implemented as one or more software entities running on a server computer as part of a virtual network. Furthermore, or in other implementations, base station 712 or base station 714 may be configured to communicate with each other via interface 722. In implementations where the wireless communication system 700 is an LTE system (e.g., when CN 724 is an EPC), interface 722 may be an X2 interface. This X2 interface may be defined between two or more network devices (e.g., two or more eNBs, etc.) connected to the EPC and / or between two eNBs connected to the EPC. In implementations where the wireless communication system 700 is an NR system (e.g., when CN 724 is a 5GC), interface 722 may be an Xn interface. The Xn interface may be defined between two or more network devices (e.g., two or more gNBs, etc.) connected to the 5GC, between base station 712 (e.g., gNB) and eNB connected to the 5GC, and / or between two eNBs connected to the 5GC (e.g., CN 724).

[0103] RAN 706 is shown communicatively coupled to CN 724. CN 724 may include one or more network elements 726 configured to provide various data and telecommunications services to customers / subscribers (e.g., users of UE 702 and UE 704) connected to CN 724 via RAN 706. Components of CN 724 may be implemented in a single physical device or a separate physical device including components for reading and executing instructions from machine-readable or computer-readable media (e.g., non-transitory machine-readable storage media).

[0104] In the implementation scheme, CN 724 may be an EPC, and RAN 706 may be connected to CN 724 via S1 interface 728. In the implementation scheme, S1 interface 728 may be divided into two parts: an S1 user plane (S1-U) interface, which carries service data between base station 712 or base station 714 and the service gateway (S-GW); and an S1-MME interface, which is the signaling interface between base station 712 or base station 714 and the mobility management entity (MME).

[0105] In the implementation scheme, CN 724 may be a 5GC, and RAN 706 may be connected to CN 724 via NG interface 728. In the implementation scheme, NG interface 728 may be divided into two parts: an NG user plane (NG-U) interface, which carries service data between base station 712 or base station 714 and user plane function (UPF); and an S1 control plane (NG-C) interface, which is the signaling interface between base station 712 or base station 714 and access and mobility management function (AMF).

[0106] Generally, application server 730 can be a component that provides applications (e.g., packet-switched data services) that use Internet Protocol (IP) bearer resources with CN 724. Application server 730 can also be configured to support one or more communication services (e.g., VoIP sessions, group communication sessions, etc.) for UE 702 and UE 704 via CN 724. Application server 730 can communicate with CN 724 via IP communication interface 732.

[0107] Figure 8 An example system 800 for performing signaling 838 between a wireless device 802 and a network device 820 according to embodiments described herein is illustrated. System 800 may be part of a wireless communication system as described herein. Wireless device 802 may be, for example, a UE of a wireless communication system. Network device 820 may be, for example, a base station (e.g., an eNB, gNB, or TN device) or a radio headend of a wireless communication system. Network device 820 may be an NTN device as described herein. In some embodiments, network device 820 may be an NTN device that is itself a base station, such as an eNB or gNB. In some embodiments, the NTN device may be a repeater of a wireless communication system communicating with network device 820, and the network device may be a TN device, such as a terrestrial base station, that utilizes the NTN device as a repeater to communicate with and serve wireless device 802.

[0108] Wireless device 802 may include one or more processors 804. Processor 804 is executable instructions that cause various operations of wireless device 802 to be performed as described herein. Processor 804 may include one or more baseband processors, which are implemented using, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), controller, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0109] In one or more embodiments, one or more processors in processor 804 may be baseband processors. In some embodiments, the baseband processor includes one or more cores coupled to memory and one or more interfaces, as well as other components or circuitry for facilitating or otherwise supporting wireless communication (including performing one or more operations further described herein) performed by wireless device 802. The core of the baseband processor may include one or more of a wireless communication processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, an artificial intelligence engine, a security engine, an image signal processor, a sensing system, a positioning system, or a display processor. The core may also be referred to as, for example, a processor, a processor core, a processing unit, an engine, or an accelerator. One or more wireless communication processors may include support for cellular communication or wireless local area network (WLAN) communication.

[0110] Wireless device 802 may include memory 806. Memory 806 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 808, which may include, for example, instructions executed by processor 804. Instructions 808 may also be referred to as program code or a computer program. Memory 806 may also store data used by processor 804 and results calculated by the processor.

[0111] Wireless device 802 may include one or more transceivers 810 (also collectively referred to as transceivers 810), which may include radio frequency (RF) transmitter and / or receiver circuitry that uses antenna 812 of wireless device 802 to facilitate to-and-out signaling (e.g., signaling 838) from wireless device 802 to other devices (e.g., network device 820) in accordance with the corresponding RAT.

[0112] Wireless device 802 may include one or more (e.g., one, two, four, eight or more) antennas 812. In embodiments with multiple antennas 812, wireless device 802 may fully utilize the spatial diversity of such multiple antennas 812 to transmit and / or receive multiple different data streams on the same time-frequency resources. This behavior may be referred to as, for example, MIMO behavior (referring to multiple antennas used at each of the transmitting and receiving devices to implement this aspect). MIMO transmission by wireless device 802 may be implemented according to pre-decoding (or digital beamforming) applied to wireless device 802, which multiplexes the data streams among antennas 812 based on known or assumed channel characteristics, such that each data stream is received with appropriate signal strength relative to the other streams at a desired location in the spatial domain (e.g., the location of the receiver associated with that data stream). Some embodiments may use a single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) method (where all data streams are directed to a single receiver) and / or a multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) method (where individual data streams may be directed to individual (different) receivers at different locations in the spatial domain).

[0113] In some implementations with multiple antennas, wireless device 802 can implement analog beamforming technology, whereby the phase of the signal transmitted by antenna 812 is relatively adjusted so that the (joint) transmission of antenna 812 can be directed (this is sometimes referred to as beam control).

[0114] Wireless device 802 may include one or more interfaces 814. Interfaces 814 can be used to provide input to or output to wireless device 802. For example, wireless device 802 as a UE may include interfaces 814, such as microphones, speakers, touchscreens, buttons, etc., to allow input and / or output from a user of the UE to the UE. Other interfaces of such UEs may consist of transmitters, receivers, and other circuitry (e.g., in addition to the transceiver 810 / antenna 812 already described), allowing communication between the UE and other devices, and can be configured according to known protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi). ® ,Bluetooth ® (etc.) to perform the operation.

[0115] Wireless device 802 may include a relaxed criteria manager 816. The relaxed criteria manager 816 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the relaxed criteria manager 816 may be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and / or instructions 808 stored in memory 806 and executed by processor 804. In some examples, the relaxed criteria manager 816 may be integrated within processor 804 and / or transceiver 810. For example, the relaxed criteria manager 816 may be implemented via a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within processor 804 or transceiver 810.

[0116] From the perspective of wireless devices or UEs, the relaxed guidelines manager 816 can be used in various aspects of this disclosure, for example, Figures 1 to 8 All aspects. The relaxation criteria manager 816 can be configured to, for example, perform: receiving configuration signaling indicating an RRM configuration for measurements of one or more adjacent NTN devices; determining, at least in part, whether to relax the set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration, based on the relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by a UE with reduced capability, according to the relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by a UE with reduced capability, based on the fact that one or more adjacent NTN devices are non-stationary; and performing RRM measurements for one or more adjacent non-stationary NTN devices based on the determination, according to either the set of measurement requirements or the relaxed set of measurement requirements.

[0117] Network device 820 may include one or more processors 822. Processor 822 may execute instructions to perform various operations of network device 820 as described herein. Processor 822 may include one or more baseband processors, which may be implemented using, for example, a CPU, DSP, ASIC, controller, FPGA device, another hardware device, firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0118] Network device 820 may include memory 824. Memory 824 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 826, which may include, for example, instructions executed by processor 822. Instructions 826 may also be referred to as program code or a computer program. Memory 824 may also store data used by processor 822 and results calculated by the processor.

[0119] Network device 820 may include one or more transceivers 828 (also collectively referred to as transceiver 828), which may include RF transmitter and / or receiver circuitry that uses antenna 830 of network device 820 to facilitate to-and / or signaling from network device 820 to other devices (e.g., wireless device 802) and / or from network device 820 (e.g., signaling 838) in accordance with the corresponding RAT.

[0120] Network device 820 may include one or more antennas 830 (e.g., one, two, four or more). In embodiments having multiple antennas 830, network device 820 may perform MIMO, digital beamforming, analog beamforming, beam control, etc., as described.

[0121] Network device 820 may include one or more interfaces 832. Interface 832 can be used to provide input to or output to network device 820. For example, RAN network device 820 (e.g., base station, radio head, etc.) may include interfaces 832 consisting of transmitters, receivers, and other circuitry (e.g., in addition to the transceiver 828 / antenna 830 already described), which enable network device 820 to communicate with other equipment in the network and / or enable network device 820 to communicate with external networks, computers, databases, etc., for the purpose of operating, managing, and maintaining network device 820 or other equipment operatively connected to it.

[0122] Network device 820 may include at least one of relaxation criteria managers 834. Relaxation criteria manager 834 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, relaxation criteria manager 834 may be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and / or instructions 826 stored in memory 824 and executed by processor 822. In some examples, relaxation criteria manager 834 may be integrated within processor 822 and / or transceiver 828. For example, relaxation criteria manager 834 may be implemented via a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within processor 822 or transceiver 828.

[0123] From a network device perspective, the relaxed criteria manager 834 can be used in various aspects of this disclosure, for example, Figures 1 to 8 All aspects. The relaxation criteria manager 834 can be configured to, for example, perform: sending configuration signaling to a capability-reduced UE indicating an RRM configuration for measurements by the UE to one or more neighboring NTN devices; determining, at least in part, based on the fact that one or more neighboring NTN devices are non-stationary, whether the UE will relax the set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration according to relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by the capability-reduced UE; receiving a measurement report from the UE, the measurement report being at least in part based on the fact that the UE performed RRM measurements according to either the set of measurement requirements or the relaxed set of measurement requirements.

[0124] For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components illustrated in one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and / or methods as described herein. For example, a baseband processor (or processor) as described herein in conjunction with one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to operate according to one or more of the examples illustrated herein. Similarly, circuitry associated with a UE, network device, network element, etc., as described above in conjunction with one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to operate according to one or more of the examples illustrated herein.

[0125] Unless otherwise expressly stated, any of the embodiments described above may be combined with any other embodiment (or combination of embodiments). The foregoing description of one or more specific embodiments provides illustrative and descriptive purposes, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the embodiments to the precise form described. In light of the teachings above, modifications and variations are possible, or modifications and variations may be derived from the practice of various embodiments.

[0126] Implementations and specific embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may include various operations embodied in machine-executable instructions to be executed by a computer system. The computer system may include one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computer system may include hardware components, including specific logical parts for performing the operations; or may include a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0127] The systems described herein relate to specific implementations but are provided as examples. These implementations may be combined into a single system, partially integrated into other systems, divided into multiple systems, or otherwise partitioned or combined. Furthermore, it is conceivable to use parameters, attributes, aspects, etc., of one implementation in one implementation. For clarity, these parameters, attributes, aspects, etc., are described only in one or more implementations, and it should be understood that, unless expressly stated herein, these parameters, attributes, aspects, etc., may be combined with or substituted for parameters, attributes, aspects, etc., of another implementation.

[0128] Although the foregoing has been described in considerable detail for clarity, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. It should be noted that many alternative ways exist to implement both the processes and apparatus described herein. Therefore, embodiments of the invention should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and this description is not limited to the details given herein, but can be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A baseband processor, the baseband processor comprising: At least one processor core; and A memory coupled to the at least one processor core, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor core, cause the baseband processor to perform at least the following: Receive configuration signaling indicating radio resource management (RRM) configuration for measurements of one or more adjacent non-terrestrial network (NTN) devices by a user equipment (UE) with reduced capabilities; The set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration is determined, at least in part, based on the fact that one or more adjacent NTN devices are non-stationary, according to the relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by UEs whose capabilities are being reduced. as well as Based on the determination, RRM measurements are performed on one or more adjacent non-stationary NTN devices according to either the set of measurement requirements or the relaxed set of measurement requirements.

2. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: send a measurement report indicating the result of the RRM measurement.

3. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine the set of relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the cell of the non-stationary NTN device is an earth-fixed cell.

4. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine the set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the fact that the serving cell of the non-stationary NTN device is a moving Earth cell.

5. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether a non-cell-edge criterion for a fixed earth cell is met based on coverage information of the current serving cell for the UE with reduced capability, the relaxed criterion including the non-cell-edge criterion, and the cell of the non-stationary NTN device including the fixed earth cell.

6. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether a non-cell-edge criterion for earth-moving cells is met based on coverage information of the current serving cell for the UE with reduced capability, the relaxed criterion including the non-cell-edge criterion, wherein the cell of the non-stationary NTN device includes the earth-moving cell.

7. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether the off-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is met based on a distance threshold between the distance between the UE with reduced capability and the NTN device, the relaxed criterion including the off-cell edge criterion, and the NTN device supporting the current serving cell.

8. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether the off-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the UE is satisfied based on the distance between the UE with reduced capability and at least one of the one or more adjacent NTN devices satisfying a distance threshold, the relaxed criterion including the off-cell edge criterion.

9. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether a non-cell-edge criterion for the current serving cell of the capability-reduced UE is satisfied based on a distance difference threshold satisfied by a difference between a first distance and a second distance, the first distance being between the capability-reduced UE and an NTN device supporting the current serving cell, the second distance being between the capability-reduced UE and at least one of the one or more neighboring NTN devices, and the relaxed criterion including the non-cell-edge criterion.

10. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether the off-cell edge criterion for the current serving cell of the capability-reduced UE is satisfied based on an elevation angle satisfying an elevation angle threshold, the elevation angle being between the capability-reduced UE and an NTN device supporting the current serving cell or between the capability-reduced UE and at least one of the one or more neighboring NTN devices, and the relaxed criterion includes the off-cell edge criterion.

11. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, whether a low mobility criterion is met based on the distance variance between the location of the currently serving NTN device and the location of the reduced-capability UE, or the distance variance between the center of the current serving cell of the reduced-capability UE and the location of the reduced-capability UE, the relaxation criterion including the low mobility criterion.

12. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine whether a low mobility criterion is met based at least in part on changes in the location of the degraded UE during a time duration, the speed of the degraded UE meeting a speed threshold, the speed of the degraded UE meeting the speed threshold and the travel direction of the degraded UE, or the Doppler drift of the degraded UE meeting a Doppler drift threshold, the relaxation criterion including the low mobility criterion.

13. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine the set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the service time of the current serving cell, the NTN device supporting the current serving cell, or both, meeting a service time threshold.

14. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine the set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based at least in part on the location of the degraded UE and the distance between the distance between the location of the degraded UE and the cell edge of the current serving cell of the degraded UE satisfying a distance threshold.

15. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: determine, at least in part, the set of non-relaxed measurement requirements based on a distance difference between a first distance and a second distance satisfying a distance difference threshold, the first distance being between the location of the degraded UE and the cell center of the current serving cell of the degraded UE, and the second distance being between the location of the degraded UE and the cell center of a neighboring cell.

16. The baseband processor of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the baseband processor, further cause the baseband processor to: receive in a system information block message at least one of a distance threshold, a distance difference threshold, an elevation angle threshold, a speed threshold, a Doppler drift threshold, or a service time threshold associated with the relaxation criteria.

17. A method for wireless communication at a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device, the method comprising: Send configuration signaling to a user equipment (UE) with reduced capability, instructing the radio resource management (RRM) configuration for measurements of one or more adjacent NTN devices by the UE with reduced capability; The set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration is determined, at least in part, based on the fact that the one or more adjacent NTN devices are non-stationary, according to the relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by the UE with reduced capability. as well as The UE with reduced capability receives a measurement report, which is at least in part based on RRM measurements performed by the UE with reduced capability according to either the set of measurement requirements or the relaxed set of measurement requirements.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: Send in the system information block message at least one of the following associated with the relaxation criteria: distance threshold, distance difference threshold, elevation angle threshold, speed threshold, Doppler drift threshold, or service time threshold.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: The set of relaxed measurement requirements is determined at least in part based on the fact that the cell of the non-stationary NTN device is a fixed Earth cell.

20. A method for wireless communication at a degraded user equipment (UE), the method comprising: Receive configuration signaling indicating the radio resource management (RRM) configuration for measurements of one or more adjacent non-terrestrial network (NTN) devices; The set of measurement requirements associated with the RRM configuration is determined, at least in part, based on the fact that the one or more adjacent NTN devices are non-stationary, according to the relaxation criteria for non-stationary NTN devices being measured by the UE with reduced capability, and the UE is a UE with reduced capability. as well as Based on the determination, RRM measurements are performed on one or more adjacent non-stationary NTN devices according to either the set of measurement requirements or the relaxed set of measurement requirements.

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