NGSO pruning for GSO-NTN only capable device

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, components, devices, and systems for differentiating between Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cells and Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cells in a wireless communication network. Some aspects more specifically relate to pruning NGSO cells to improve user equipment (UE) performance and network efficiency. In some examples, a UE obtains cell information from a network entity in a cell, identifies whether the cell is a GSO cell or an NGSO cell based on the obtained cell information, and refrains from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell. This approach enhances UE performance, reduces the likelihood of connection failures, minimizes power impact, improves handling of overlapping deployments, and enhances network efficiency.

Description

NGSO PRUNING FOR GSO-NTN ONLY CAPABLE DEVICECROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of India Provisional Application Serial No. 202341065263, entitled “NGSO PRUNING FOR GSO-NTN ONLY CAPABLE DEVICE” and filed on September 28, 2023, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to methods and systems for differentiating between Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cells and Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cells in a wireless communication network to improve user equipment (UE) performance and network efficiency.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasts. Typical wireless communication systems may employ multiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of such multiple-access technologies include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

[0004] These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. An example telecommunication standard is 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of a continuous mobile broadband evolution promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) to meet new requirements associated with latency, reliability, security,scalability (e.g., with Internet of Things (IoT)), and other requirements. 5G NR includes services associated with enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC). Some aspects of 5G NR may be based on the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. There exists a need for further improvements in 5G NR technology. These improvements may also be applicable to other multi-access technologies and the telecommunication standards that employ these technologies.SUMMARY

[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0006] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication, where the apparatus is a user equipment (UE). The apparatus includes one or more memories, and one or more processors each communicatively coupled with at least one of the one or more memories. The one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are operable to cause the apparatus to obtain cell information from a network entity in a cell, identify, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell, and refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0007] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be implemented in a method of wireless communication performable at a UE. The method includes obtaining cell information from a network entity in a cell, identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell, and refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0008] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication, where the apparatus is a UE. The apparatus includes means for obtaining cell information from a network entity in a cell, means for identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell, and means for refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0009] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be implemented in one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer executable code. The code when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to, individually or in combination, obtain cell information from a network entity in a cell, identify, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell, and refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0010] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communications system and an access network.

[0012] FIG. IB shows a diagram illustrating an example disaggregated base station architecture.

[0013] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a first frame, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of DL channels within a subframe, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of a second frame, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating an example of UL channels within a subframe, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a base station and user equipment (UE) in an access network.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) including a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) deployment.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a call flow diagram between a UE and a base station.

[0026] FIGs. 12A-12G are a flowchart of a method of wireless communication performable at a UE.

[0027] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an example apparatus.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0029] Various aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure relate to wireless communication and more particularly to methods and systems for differentiating between Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cells and Non-Geostationary SatelliteOrbit (NGSO) cells in a wireless communication network. Some aspects more specifically relate to pruning NGSO cells to improve user equipment (UE) performance and network efficiency. In various examples, a UE obtains cell information from a network entity in a cell, identifies whether the cell is a GSO cell or an NGSO cell based on the obtained cell information, and refrains from measuring or connecting to the cell if identified as an NGSO cell. In some examples, the UE may identify the cell type based on parameters indicated or derived from the cell information, such as downlink Doppler shifts, orbit height, N-time advance (NTA) drift, Doppler delay variation, time drift variation, band operation mode, RSRPs or SNRs, or decoded information in SIBs.

[0030] Particular aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. The UE may achieve improved performance, reduced likelihood of connection failures, minimized power impact, improved handling of overlapping deployments, and enhanced network efficiency. By pruning NGSO cells and focusing on GSO cells with more stable signal characteristics, the UE may reduce the number of cells it would otherwise process during band scans, camping, and neighbor searches, leading to faster and more efficient cell selection and reselection processes.

[0031] Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0032] By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented as a “processing system” that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, systems on a chip (SoC), baseband processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), statemachines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system may execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0033] Accordingly, in one or more example embodiments, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of the aforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

[0034] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communications system and an access network 100. The wireless communications system (also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) includes base stations 102, user equipment(s) (UE) 104, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., a 5G Core (5GC)). The base stations 102 may include macrocells (high power cellular base station) and / or small cells (low power cellular base station). The macrocells include base stations. The small cells include femtocells, picocells, and microcells.

[0035] The base stations 102 configured for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) (collectively referred to as Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC 160 through first backhaul links 132 (e.g., SI interface). The base stations 102 configured for 5G New Radio (NR) (collectively referred to as Next Generation RAN (NG- RAN)) may interface with core network 190 through second backhaul links 184. Inaddition to other functions, the base stations 102 may perform one or more of the following functions: transfer of user data, radio channel ciphering and deciphering, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, radio access network (RAN) sharing, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS), subscriber and equipment trace, RAN information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 may communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC 160 or core network 190) with each other over third backhaul links 134 (e.g., X2 interface). The first backhaul links 132, the second backhaul links 184, and the third backhaul links 134 may be wired or wireless.

[0036] The base stations 102 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 104. Each of the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. There may be overlapping geographic coverage areas 110. For example, the small cell 102' may have a coverage area 110' that overlaps the coverage area 110 of one or more macro base stations 102. A network that includes both small cell and macrocells may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include Home Evolved Node Bs (eNBs) (HeNBs), which may provide service to a restricted group known as a closed subscriber group (CSG). The communication links 120 between the base stations 102 and the UEs 104 may include uplink (UL) (also referred to as reverse link) transmissions from a UE 104 to a base station 102 and / or downlink (DL) (also referred to as forward link) transmissions from a base station 102 to a UE 104. The communication links 120 may use multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication links may be through one or more carriers. The base stations 102 / UEs 104 may use spectrum up to Y megahertz (MHz) (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400, etc. MHz) bandwidth per carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz (x component carriers) used for transmission in each direction. The carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. Allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL than for UL). The component carriers may include a primary component carrier and one or more secondarycomponent carriers. A primary component carrier may be referred to as a primary cell (PCell) and a secondary component carrier may be referred to as a secondary cell (SCell).

[0037] Certain UEs 104 may communicate with each other using device-to-device (D2D) communication link 158. The D2D communication link 158 may use the DL / UL WWAN spectrum. The D2D communication link 158 may use one or more sidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). D2D communication may be through a variety of wireless D2D communications systems, such as for example, WiMedia, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, LTE, or NR.

[0038] The wireless communications system may further include a Wi-Fi access point (AP) 150 in communication with Wi-Fi stations (STAs) 152 via communication links 154, e.g., in a 5 gigahertz (GHz) unlicensed frequency spectrum or the like. When communicating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the STAs 152 / AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating in order to determine whether the channel is available.

[0039] The small cell 102' may operate in a licensed and / or an unlicensed frequency spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell 102' may employ NR and use the same unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz, or the like) as used by the Wi-Fi AP 150. The small cell 102', employing NR in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, may boost coverage to and / or increase capacity of the access network.

[0040] The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided, based on frequency / wavelength, into various classes, bands, channels, etc. In 5GNR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz). The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-band frequencies. Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “sub-6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. A similar nomenclature issue sometimes occurs with regard to FR2, which is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “millimeter wave” band in documents and articles, despite being different from the extremely high frequency(EHF) band (30 GHz - 300 GHz) which is identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a “millimeter wave” band.

[0041] With the above aspects in mind, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the term “sub-6 GHz” or the like if used herein may broadly represent frequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or may include midband frequencies. Further, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the term “millimeter wave” or the like if used herein may broadly represent frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, may be within FR2, or may be within the EHF band.

[0042] A base station 102, whether a small cell 102' or a large cell (e.g., macro base station), may include and / or be referred to as an eNB, gNodeB (gNB), or another type of base station. Some base stations, such as gNB 180 may operate in a traditional sub 6 GHz spectrum, in millimeter wave frequencies, and / or near millimeter wave frequencies in communication with the UE 104. When the gNB 180 operates in millimeter wave or near millimeter wave frequencies, the gNB 180 may be referred to as a millimeter wave base station. The millimeter wave base station 180 may utilize beamforming 182 with the UE 104 to compensate for the path loss and short range. The base station 180 and the UE 104 may each include a plurality of antennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and / or antenna arrays to facilitate the beamforming.

[0043] The base station 180 may transmit a beamformed signal to the UE 104 in one or more transmit directions 182'. The UE 104 may receive the beamformed signal from the base station 180 in one or more receive directions 182". The UE 104 may also transmit a beamformed signal to the base station 180 in one or more transmit directions. The base station 180 may receive the beamformed signal from the UE 104 in one or more receive directions. The base station 180 / UE 104 may perform beam training to determine the best receive and transmit directions for each of the base station 180 / UE 104. The transmit and receive directions for the base station 180 may or may not be the same. The transmit and receive directions for the UE 104 may or may not be the same.

[0044] The EPC 160 may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 162, other MMEs 164, a Serving Gateway 166, an MBMS Gateway 168, a Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) 170, and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway 172. The MME 162 may be in communication with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 174. The MME162 is the control node that processes the signaling between the UEs 104 and the EPC160. Generally, the MME 162 provides bearer and connection management. All userInternet protocol (IP) packets are transferred through the Serving Gateway 166, which itself is connected to the PDN Gateway 172. The PDN Gateway 172 provides UE IP address allocation as well as other functions. The PDN Gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 are connected to the IP Services 176. The IP Services 176 may include theInternet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a PS Streaming Service, and / or other IP services. The BM-SC 170 may provide functions for MBMS user service provisioning and delivery. The BM-SC 170 may serve as an entry point for content provider MBMS transmission, may be used to authorize and initiate MBMS Bearer Services within a public land mobile network (PLMN), and may be used to schedule MBMS transmissions. The MBMS Gateway 168 may be used to distribute MBMS traffic to the base stations 102 belonging to a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area broadcasting a particular service and may be responsible for session management (start / stop) and for collecting eMBMS related charging information.

[0045] The core network 190 may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 192, other AMFs 193, a Session Management Function (SMF) 194, and a User Plane Function (UPF) 195. The AMF 192 may be in communication with a Unified Data Management (UDM) 196. The AMF 192 is the control node that processes the signaling between the UEs 104 and the core network 190. Generally, the AMF 192 provides Quality of Service (QoS) flow and session management. All user IP packets are transferred through the UPF 195. The UPF 195 provides UE IP address allocation as well as other functions. The UPF 195 is connected to the IP Services 197. The IPServices 197 may include the Internet, an intranet, an IMS, a Packet Switch (PS) Streaming Service, and / or other IP services.

[0046] The base station may include and / or be referred to as a gNB, Node B, eNB, an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), a transmit reception point (TRP), or some other suitable terminology. The base station 102 provides an access point to the EPC 160 or core network 190 for a UE 104. Examples of UEs 104 include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioningsystem, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearable device, a vehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a large or small kitchen appliance, a healthcare device, an implant, a sensor / actuator, a display, or any other similar functioning device. Some of the UEs 104 may be referred to as loT devices (e.g., parking meter, gas pump, toaster, vehicles, heart monitor, etc.). The UE 104 may also be referred to as a station, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0047] Deployment of communication systems, such as 5GNR systems, may be arranged in multiple manners with various components or constituent parts. In a 5G NR system, or network, a network node, a network entity, a network device, a mobility element of a network, a RAN node, a core network node, a network element, or a network equipment, such as a BS, or one or more units (or one or more components) performing base station functionality, may be implemented in an aggregated or disaggregated architecture. For example, a BS (such as a Node B (NB), eNB, NR BS, 5GNB, access point (AP), a TRP, or a cell, etc.) may be implemented as an aggregated base station (also known as a standalone BS or a monolithic BS) or a disaggregated base station.

[0048] An aggregated base station may be configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node. A disaggregated base station 181 may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two or more units (such as one or more central units (CU), one or more distributed units (DUs), or one or more radio units (RUs)). In some aspects, a CU 183 may be implemented within a RAN node, and one or more DUs 185 may be co-located with the CU, or alternatively, may be geographically or virtually distributed throughout one or multiple other RAN nodes. The DUs may be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs 186. Each of the CU, DU and RU also can be implemented as virtual units, i.e., a virtual central unit (VCU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), or a virtual radio unit (VRU).

[0049] Base station-type operation or network design may consider aggregation characteristics of base station functionality. For example, disaggregated base stations may be utilized in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open radio access network (0-RAN (such as the network configuration sponsored by the 0-RAN Alliance)), or a virtualized radio access network (vRAN, also known as a cloud radio access network (C-RAN)). Disaggregation may include distributing functionality across two or more units at various physical locations, as well as distributing functionality for at least one unit virtually, which can enable flexibility in network design. The various units of the disaggregated base station, or disaggregated RAN architecture, can be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit.

[0050] The wireless communications system and access network 100 may be or include a non-terrestrial network (NTN), a terrestrial network (TN), or a combination of nonterrestrial and terrestrial networks. An NTN is a network involving non-terrestrial flying objects, and may include, but is not limited to, a satellite communication network, a high-altitude platform system (HAPS), or an air-to-ground network, among other networks. Thus, a cell in an NTN may be served by a spaceborne platform such as a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite, or a geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an airborne platform such as an International Mobile Telecommunications base station (HIBS), a ground station having antennas up-tilted towards the sky for providing in-flight connectivity, or other base station or network entity providing NTN connectivity. In contrast, a TN is a network that does not involve satellites or other such non-terrestrial flying objects. Thus, a cell in a TN may be served by a ground station or other network entity that provides terrestrial coverage to UEs.

[0051] GEO satellites may also be referred to as geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites, and thus NTN cells served by a GEO satellite may also be referred to as GSO cells. In contrast, LEO and MEO satellites may also be referred to as non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) satellites, and thus NTN cells served by a LEO or MEO satellite may also be referred to as NGSO cells. Similarly, TN cells that do not involve satellites may also be referred to as NGSO cells. In the example wireless communications system and access network 100 of FIG. 1A, GSO cells 187, NGSO cells 188, or both GSO cells 187 and NGSO cells 188, may be provided. For example,at least one coverage area 110 or cell may be a GSO cell 187 in which base station 102 provides non-terrestrial coverage to UEs 104 via GSO satellite 189. Alternatively or additionally, at least one other coverage area 110 or cell may be a NGSO cell 188 in which base station 102 provides non-terrestrial coverage to UEs via NGSO satellite 191 or terrestrial coverage to UEs 104 (without a satellite intermediary).

[0052] In certain aspects, the UE 104 may include an NGSO cell pruning component 198 that is configured to obtain cell information from a network entity in a cell, identify whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell based on the obtained cell information, and refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0053] Although the present disclosure may focus on 5G NR, the concepts and various aspects described herein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as LTE, LTE- Advanced (LTE-A), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), or other wireless / radio access technologies.

[0054] FIG. IB shows a diagram illustrating an example disaggregated base station 181 architecture. The disaggregated base station 181 architecture may include one or more CUs 183 that can communicate directly with core network 190 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 190 through one or more disaggregated base station units (such as a Near-Real Time RIC 125 via an E2 link, or a Non-Real Time RIC 115 associated with a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) Framework 105, or both). A CU 183 may communicate with one or more DUs 185 via respective midhaul links, such as an Fl interface. The DUs 185 may communicate with one or more RUs 186 via respective fronthaul links. The RUs 186 may communicate respectively with UEs 104 via one or more radio frequency (RF) access links. In some implementations, the UE 104 may be simultaneously served by multiple RUs 186.

[0055] Each of the units, i.e., the CUs 183, the DUs 185, the RUs 186, as well as the Near- RT RICs 125, the Non-RT RICs 115 and the SMO Framework 105, may include one or more interfaces or be coupled to one or more interfaces configured to receive or transmit signals, data, or information (collectively, signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each of the units, or an associated processor or controller providing instructions to the communication interfaces of the units, can be configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via the transmission medium. For example, the units can include a wired interface configured to receive or transmitsignals over a wired transmission medium to one or more of the other units. Additionally, the units can include a wireless interface, which may include a receiver, a transmitter or transceiver (such as a radio frequency (RF) transceiver), configured to receive or transmit signals, or both, over a wireless transmission medium to one or more of the other units.

[0056] In some aspects, the CU 183 may host higher layer control functions. Such control functions can include radio resource control (RRC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), or the like. Each control function can be implemented with an interface configured to communicate signals with other control functions hosted by the CU 183. The CU 183 may be configured to handle user plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit - User Plane (CU-UP)), control plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit - Control Plane (CU-CP)), or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the CU 183 can be logically split into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. The CU-UP unit can communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP unit via an interface, such as the El interface when implemented in an 0-RAN configuration. The CU 183 can be implemented to communicate with the DU 185, as necessary, for network control and signaling.

[0057] The DU 185 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions to control the operation of one or more RUs 186. In some aspects, the DU 185 may host one or more of a radio link control (RLC) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and one or more high physical (PHY) layers (such as modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, or the like) depending, at least in part, on a functional split, such as those defined by the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3 GPP). In some aspects, the DU 185 may further host one or more low PHY layers. Each layer (or module) can be implemented with an interface configured to communicate signals with other layers (and modules) hosted by the DU 185, or with the control functions hosted by the CU 183.

[0058] Lower-layer functionality can be implemented by one or more RUs 186. In some deployments, an RU 186, controlled by a DU 185, may correspond to a logical node that hosts RF processing functions, or low-PHY layer functions (such as performing fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, or the like), or both, basedat least in part on the functional split, such as a lower layer functional split. In such an architecture, the RU(s) 186 can be implemented to handle over the air (OTA) communication with one or more UEs 104. In some implementations, real-time and non-real-time aspects of control and user plane communication with the RU(s) 186 can be controlled by the corresponding DU 185. In some scenarios, this configuration can enable the DU(s) 185 and the CU 183 to be implemented in a cloud-based RAN architecture, such as a vRAN architecture.

[0059] The SMO Framework 105 may be configured to support RAN deployment and provisioning of non-virtualized and virtualized network elements. For nonvirtualized network elements, the SMO Framework 105 may be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements, which may be managed via an operations and maintenance interface (such as an 01 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO Framework 105 may be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as an open cloud (O- Cloud)) to perform network element life cycle management (such as to instantiate virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as an 02 interface). Such virtualized network elements can include, but are not limited to, CUs 183, DUs 185, RUs 186 and Near-RT RICs 125. In some implementations, the SMO Framework 105 can communicate with a hardware aspect of a 4G RAN, such as an open eNB (O-eNB) 111, via an 01 interface. Additionally, in some implementations, the SMO Framework 105 can communicate directly with one or more RUs 186 via an 01 interface. The SMO Framework 105 also may include the Non-RT RIC 115 configured to support functionality of the SMO Framework 105.

[0060] The Non-RT RIC 115 may be configured to include a logical function that enables non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML) workflows including model training and updates, or policy-based guidance of applications / features in the Near-RT RIC 125. The Non-RT RIC 115 may be coupled to or communicate with (such as via an Al interface) the Near-RT RIC 125. The Near-RT RIC 125 may be configured to include a logical function that enables near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions over an interface (such as via an E2 interface) connecting one or more CUs 183, one or more DUs 185, or both, as well as an O-eNB, with the Near-RT RIC 125.

[0061] In some implementations, to generate AI / ML models to be deployed in the Near-RT RIC 125, the Non-RT RIC 115 may receive parameters or external enrichment information from external servers. Such information may be utilized by the Near-RT RIC 125 and may be received at the SMO Framework 105 or the Non-RT RIC 115 from non-network data sources or from network functions. In some examples, the Non-RT RIC 115 or the Near-RT RIC 125 may be configured to tune RAN behavior or performance. For example, the Non-RT RIC 115 may monitor long-term trends and patterns for performance and employ AI / ML models to perform corrective actions through the SMO Framework 105 (such as reconfiguration via 01) or via creation of RAN management policies (such as Al policies).

[0062] FIG. 2A is a diagram 200 illustrating an example of a first subframe within a 5G NR frame structure. FIG. 2B is a diagram 230 illustrating an example of DL channels within a 5G NR subframe. FIG. 2C is a diagram 250 illustrating an example of a second subframe within a 5G NR frame structure. FIG. 2D is a diagram 280 illustrating an example of UL channels within a 5G NR subframe. The 5G NR frame structure may be frequency division duplexed (FDD) in which for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated for either DL or UL, or may be time division duplexed (TDD) in which for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated for both DL and UL. In the examples provided by FIGs. 2A, 2C, the 5G NR frame structure is assumed to be TDD, with subframe 4 being configured with slot format 28 (with mostly DL), where D is DL, U is UL, and F is flexible for use between DL / UL, and subframe 3 being configured with slot format 34 (with mostly UL). While subframes 3, 4 are shown with slot formats 34, 28, respectively, any particular subframe may be configured with any of the various available slot formats 0-61. Slot formats 0, 1 are all DL, UL, respectively. Other slot formats 2-61 include a mix of DL, UL, and flexible symbols. UEs are configured with the slot format (dynamically through DL control information (DCI), or semi- statically / statically through radio resource control (RRC) signaling) through a received slot format indicator (SFI). Note that the description infra applies also to a 5G NR frame structure that is TDD.

[0063] Other wireless communication technologies may have a different frame structure and / or different channels. A frame, e.g., of 10 milliseconds (ms), may be divided into10 equally sized subframes (1 ms). Each subframe may include one or more time slots. Subframes may also include mini-slots, which may include 7, 4, or 2 symbols. Each slot may include 7 or 14 symbols, depending on the slot configuration. For slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols, and for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. The symbols on DL may be cyclic prefix (CP) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) (CP-OFDM) symbols. The symbols on UL may be CP-OFDM symbols (for high throughput scenarios) or discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols (also referred to as single carrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols) (for power limited scenarios; limited to a single stream transmission). The number of slots within a subframe is based on the slot configuration and the numerology. For slot configuration 0, different num erol ogies p 0 to 4 allow for 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 slots, respectively, per subframe. For slot configuration 1, different num erol ogies 0 to 2 allow for 2, 4, and 8 slots, respectively, per subframe. Accordingly, for slot configuration 0 and numerology p, there are 14 symbols / slot and 2^ slots / subframe. The subcarrier spacing and symbol length / duration are a function of the numerology. The subcarrier spacing may be equal to 2 * 15 kilohertz (kHz), where / J. is the numerology 0 to 4. As such, the numerology p=0 has a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz and the numerology p=4 has a subcarrier spacing of 240 kHz. The symbol length / duration is inversely related to the subcarrier spacing. FIGs. 2A-2D provide an example of slot configuration 0 with 14 symbols per slot and numerology p=2 with 4 slots per subframe. The slot duration is 0.25 ms, the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, and the symbol duration is approximately 16.67 ps. Within a set of frames, there may be one or more different bandwidth parts (BWPs) (see FIG. 2B) that are frequency division multiplexed. Each BWP may have a particular numerology.

[0064] A resource grid may be used to represent the frame structure. Each time slot includes a resource block (RB) (also referred to as physical RBs (PRBs)) that extends 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid is divided into multiple resource elements (REs). The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, some of the REs carry reference (pilot) signals (RS) for the UE. The RS may include demodulation RS (DM-RS) (indicated as Rxfor one particular configuration, where lOOx is the port number, but other DM-RS configurations are possible) and channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS)for channel estimation at the UE. The RS may also include beam measurement RS (BRS), beam refinement RS (BRRS), and phase tracking RS (PT-RS).

[0066] FIG. 2B illustrates an example of various DL channels within a subframe of a frame. The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries DCI within one or more control channel elements (CCEs), each CCE including nine RE groups (REGs), each REG including four consecutive REs in an OFDM symbol. A PDCCH within one BWP may be referred to as a control resource set (CORESET). Additional BWPs may be located at greater and / or lower frequencies across the channel bandwidth. A primary synchronization signal (PSS) may be within symbol 2 of particular subframes of a frame. The PSS is used by a UE 104 to determine subframe / symbol timing and a physical layer identity. A secondary synchronization signal (SSS) may be within symbol 4 of particular subframes of a frame. The SSS is used by a UE to determine a physical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identity group number, the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI). Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the locations of the aforementioned DM-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH), which carries a master information block (MIB), may be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form a synchronization signal (SS) / PBCH block (also referred to as SS block (SSB)). The MIB provides a number of RBs in the system bandwidth and a system frame number (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 2C, some of the REs carry DM-RS (indicated as R for one particular configuration, but other DM-RS configurations are possible) for channel estimation at the base station. The UE may transmit DM-RS for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and DM-RS for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The PUSCH DM-RS may be transmitted in the first one or two symbols of the PUSCH. The PUCCH DM-RS may be transmitted in different configurations depending on whether short or long PUCCHs are transmitted and depending on the particular PUCCH format used. The UE may transmit sounding reference signals (SRS). The SRS may be transmitted in the last symbol of a subframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and a UE may transmit SRS on one of the combs. The SRSmay be used by a base station for channel quality estimation to enable frequencydependent scheduling on the UL.

[0068] FIG. 2D illustrates an example of various UL channels within a subframe of a frame. The PUCCH may be located as indicated in one configuration. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rank indicator (RI), and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement (ACK) / non-acknowledgement (NACK) feedback. The PUSCH carries data and may additionally be used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0069] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a base station 310 in communication with a UE 350 in an access network. In the DL, IP packets from the EPC 160 may be provided to one or more controllers / processors 375. The one or more controllers / processors 375 implement layer 3 and layer 2 functionality. Layer 3 includes a radio resource control (RRC) layer, and layer 2 includes a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The one or more controllers / processors 375 provide RRC layer functionality associated with broadcasting of system information (e.g., MIB, SIBs), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter radio access technology (RAT) mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, security (ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction through ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0070] The one or more transmit (TX) processors 316 and the one or more receive (RX) processors 370 implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. Layer 1, which includes a physical (PHY) layer, may includeerror detection on the transport channels, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of the transport channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels, modulation / demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antenna processing. The one or more TX processors 316 handle mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation and coding schemes (MCS) (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to an OFDM subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined together using an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a time domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is spatially precoded to produce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator 374 may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate may be derived from a reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by the UE 350. Each spatial stream may then be provided to a different antenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318TX. Each transmitter 318TX may modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0071] At the UE 350, each receiver 354RX receives a signal through its respective antenna 352. Each receiver 354RX recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the one or more receive (RX) processors 356. The one or more TX processors 368 and the one or more RX processors 356 implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. The one or more RX processors 356 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350, they may be combined by the one or more RX processors 356 into a single OFDM symbol stream. The one or more RX processors 356 then converts the OFDM symbol stream from the time-domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier, and the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates computed by the channel estimator358. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals that were originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to the one or more controllers / processors 359, which implement layer 3 and layer 2 functionality.

[0072] The one or more controllers / processors 359 may each be associated with one or more memories 360 that store program codes and data. The one or more memories 360, individually or in any combination, may be referred to as a computer-readable medium and may be any of the types of computer-readable mediums discussed herein (e.g., RAM, ROM, EEPROM, optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of the aforementioned types of computer- readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer). In the UL, the one or more controllers / processors 359 provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the EPC 160. The one or more controllers / processors 359 are also responsible for error detection using an ACK and / or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

[0073] Similar to the functionality described in connection with the DL transmission by the base station 310, the one or more controllers / processors 359 provide RRC layer functionality associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIBs) acquisition, RRC connections, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, and security (ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction through ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs, demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0074] Channel estimates derived by a channel estimator 358 from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used by the one or more TX processors 368 to select the appropriate coding and modulation schemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the one or more TXprocessors 368 may be provided to different antenna 352 via separate transmitters 354TX. Each transmitter 354TX may modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0075] The UL transmission is processed at the base station 310 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at the UE 350. Each receiver 318RX receives a signal through its respective antenna 320. Each receiver 318RX recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to one or more RX processors 370.

[0076] The one or more controllers / processors 375 may each be associated with one or more memories 376 that store program codes and data. The one or more memories 376, individually or in any combination, may be referred to as a computer-readable medium and may be any of the types of computer-readable mediums discussed herein (e.g., RAM, ROM, EEPROM, optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of the aforementioned types of computer- readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer). In the UL, the one or more controllers / processors 375 provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 350. IP packets from the one or more controllers / processors 375 may be provided to the EPC 160. The one or more controllers / processors 375 are also responsible for error detection using an ACK and / or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

[0077] At least one of the one or more TX processors 368, the one or more RX processors 356, and the one or more controllers / processors 359 may be configured to perform aspects in connection with NGSO cell pruning component 198 of FIG. 1A, which component may be included in the one or more memories 360 of UE 350.

[0078] Terrestrial deployments, such as cell towers, may not be cost-effective in remote areas, islands, mountains, and for sea navigation due to their geographical constraints. To overcome this, NTNs have been introduced, which support satellite-based cellular communication. For instance, the wireless communication system and access network 100 including UEs 104, 350 and base stations 102, 310 may include an NTN including satellites 189, 191. In an NTN, satellites 189, 191 act as a "bent-pipe" in the communication link, relaying signals between the ground stations and UEs.Satellites may be deployed in various orbits, such as GEO, MEO, or LEO. MEO and LEO deployments may collectively be referred to as NGSO, although NGSO may include terrestrial deployments as well.

[0079] The wireless communication system and access network 100 including UEs 104, 350 and base stations 102, 310 may also provide support for loT devices and other UEs in machine type communication (MTC). One such MTC technology is narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), which utilizes a system bandwidth of 180 kHz encompassing a single resource block for communication. To account for this reduced system bandwidth compared to LTE or NR technologies supporting wider bandwidths, various physical channels dedicated to NB-IoT may be used for uplink and downlink communication, including a narrowband physical random access channel (NPRACH), a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH), a narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH), a narrowband downlink control channel (NPDCCH), and a narrowband physical broadcast channel (NPBCH). These narrower bandwidth channels may be used respectively for similar purposes as their wider bandwidth counterparts (i.e., PRACH, PUSCH, PDSCH, PDCCH, and PBCH respectively). Additionally, NB-IoT provides for various repetition and coverage enhancement techniques to provide wide service area coverage to low power UEs. For example, these UEs may repeat uplink transmissions to serving base stations a given number of times depending on their respectively associated path loss or coverage enhancement levels.

[0080] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an NTN 400 in a NB-IoT deployment. The NTN 400 may correspond to the wireless communications system and access network 100 of FIG. 1A including NGSO satellite 191 or GSO satellite 189. For example, the NTN 400 may include NGSO cell 188 or GSO cell 187 in which UE 104 and base station 102 communicate via NGSO satellite 191 or GSO satellite 189, respectively. For instance, the NTN 400 may include satellite 189 deployed in GEO orbit, which may be located at a height such as approximately 36,000 kilometers from the surface of the ground, or the NTN 400 may include satellite 191 deployed in MEO or LEO orbit closer to the ground. While this example specifically refers to NTN in an NB-IoT system, the following concepts may similarly apply to NTNs in other MTC deployments such as enhanced machine type communications (eMTC), LTE deployments, NR deployments, or other deployments or radio access technologies.For example, the concepts and various aspects described herein may be applicable to areas such as NB-IoT, eMTC, NR, LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), or other deployments or wireless / radio access technologies.

[0081] In this example, satellite 189, 191 allows cellular service from base station 102 to be provided to UE 104 via a plurality of links in a bent pipe structure. These links may include a feeder link 402 between the base station 102 / 180 and the satellite 189, 191, and a service link 404 between the satellite 189, 191 and the UE 104. The UE 104 may estimate and compensate for link delays and Doppler effects over the feeder link 402. For instance, a UE with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) capability may receive a system information block (SIB) advertising the location of the satellite 189, 191, acquire a GNSS signal via one or more satellites 406 indicating a current position of the UE, and use this position information to update the UE’s time and frequency offset and thus obtain an accurate timing advance relative to the timing of the base station 102. The UE 104 may continue to update its timing advance in like manner as the UE 104 moves relative to the base station 102 or satellite 189, 191. Moreover, the feeder link 402 between the base station 102 and satellite 189, 191 may provide greater link budget than that which may otherwise be achieved between the base station and UE in a TN. For instance, the satellite 189, 191 may have larger aperture antennas than those of the base station 102 and thus may provide greater receiver (Rx) gain at the UE 104, as well as a larger effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) in its transmissions to the UE than that of the base station. The UE 104 may also operate under a signal to noise ratio (SNR) comparable to that which the UE may otherwise experience in NB-IoT TN deployments. Additionally, the service link 404 may be transparent to the UE 104. That is, from the UE’s perspective, downlink transmissions may be received over a forward link 408 from the base station 102 while uplink transmissions may be sent over a return link 410 to the base station. As a result, the NTN 400 may provide improved coverage to UEs over a larger area compared to TN deployments lacking such satellites 189, 191.

[0082] GSO and NGSO satellites have significant differences in signal characteristics. For instance, when a satellite is in GEO orbit, it has a low relative velocity with respect to Earth, resulting in low Doppler shifts experienced by the UE. That is, the UE may experience relatively small changes in frequency of a received signal at the UE froma GEO satellite, and thus GEO satellites may provide a relatively stable signal frequency. However, since GEO is located a significant distance away from Earth, the Round Trip Time (RTT) for such received signals is large, although its variation is small. That is, the large amount of time it takes for a signal to travel from the UE to the satellite and back to the UE remains relatively consistent over time, and thus GEO satellites provide a stable and predictable delay for communication. On the other hand, if a satellite is deployed in NGSO, such as MEO or LEO, its relative velocity with respect to Earth is higher compared to GEO, causing the UE to experience higher Doppler shifts. That is, the UE may experience relatively large changes in frequency of the received signal at the UE, and thus NGSO satellites may provide a less stable signal frequency than GEO satellites. However, while the RTT for signals is smaller in NGSO than in GEO due to NGSO having closer proximity to Earth, the variation in RTT or delay variation is larger for NGSO satellites since their distance from the Earth's surface and their position relative to the UE change constantly. Thus, NGSO satellites have a less predictable and less stable RTT compared to GEO satellites.

[0083] These differences in signal characteristics may have significant implications for UE design and performance. For instance, GSO satellites, such as those in GEO, have low variation in delay (RTT) and Doppler shifts due to their fixed position relative to a point on Earth. As a result, UEs designed for GSO may be less complex, as they do not need to handle significant variations in delay and Doppler shifts. However, a GSO-specific UE may have limitations in adapting to environments with high delay and Doppler variations, such as those experienced with NGSO satellites. As previously described, NGSO satellites, such as those in MEO or LEO, have high variation in delay and Doppler shifts due to their constant movement relative to the Earth's surface. Consequently, UEs designed for GSO may experience frequent call drops when connected to an NGSO cell, as they may not be able to handle the higher variations in delay and Doppler shifts effectively. Moreover, operators may deploy both GSO and NGSO satellites in the same frequency bands or within a list of UE supported bands, resulting in a GSO-only capable UE being able to detect both GSO and NGSO cells during a band scan. Since there is no Over-The-Air (OTA) Information Element (IE) indicated in initial SIBs to indicate whether a cell is GSO or NGSO, including with respect to neighbor cell measurements, the GSO-specificUE may not be able to differentiate between GSO and NGSO cells based on the initial SIBs.

[0084] This may lead to a GSO-specific UE facing several challenges when attempting to measure or connect to an NGSO cell in an NTN, including LEO or MEO or even TN cells in overlapping deployments. In one example, when the UE attempts to camp on an LEO or MEO cell in an NTN band scan, the UE may fail to acquire an SIB or MIB for the cell due to large Doppler shifts or drift caused by the satellites’ relative motion to Earth, making it difficult for the UE to synchronize and decode the information in the SIB or MIB. In another example, when the UE attempts to camp on an LEO or MEO cell in an NTN band scan, the UE may fail an NPRACH procedure applied for initial access and connection establishment due to similar Doppler shifts and drift affecting signal quality and timing. In a further example, when the UE attempts to measure an LEO or MEO cell in a neighbor search while the UE is in an idle mode or a connected mode, there may be a significant power impact since the UE applies additional processing to account for the large Doppler shifts and delay variations, thereby consuming more power than for GSO cells. In another example, when the UE attempts to measure an LEO or MEO cell in a neighbor search while the UE is in an idle mode or a connected mode, the UE may fail to reselect a suitable NGSO cell as a new serving cell due to the challenges posed by the large Doppler shifts and delay variations, leading to connection issues or dropped calls as a result of the reselection failure. In a further example, when the UE attempts to measure a TN cell in an overlapping deployment during a neighbor search while the UE is in an idle mode or a connected mode, but the UE does not support TN cells, there may be a power impact from the attempted measurement of this TN cell, since the UE spends additional time and resources on the search process leading to increased power consumption due its inability to differentiate between TN cells and NTN cells. In another example, when the UE attempts to measure a TN cell in an overlapping deployment during a neighbor search while the UE is in an idle mode or a connected mode, but the UE does not support TN cells, the UE may fail to reselect a suitable TN cell as a new serving cell in overlapping deployments, similarly leading to connection issues or dropped calls as a result of the reselection failure.

[0085] FIG. 5 illustrates an example 500 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 which addresses the aforementioned challenges of GSO-specific UEs in connectionwith NGSO cells 188. Specifically, aspects of the present disclosure avoid these challenges by allowing the UE 104 to prune NGSO cells 188 from measurement or connection, such as NTN cells including NGSO satellites such as LEO satellites or MEO satellites, as well as TN cells in overlapping deployments. More particularly, the LE may acquire and process information from a cell and make calculations or decisions based on the gathered information to identify whether the cell is a GSO cell187 or NGSO cell 188. If a GSO cell, the UE 104 may proceed to measure or connect to the cell since the UE has the capability, but if a NGSO cell, then the UE 104 may blacklist or bar the cell from measurement or connection to bypass the abovedescribed challenges and thereby enhance its overall performance.

[0086] Initially, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 from the base station 102 via satellite 504, which satellite 504 may either be GSO satellite 189 or NGSO satellite 191. For instance, the UE may receive information for a GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell188 in an SSB such as a PSS and a SSS, in an MIB, or in a SIB such as SIB31 or SIB 19. In response to obtaining the cell information 502, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the cell is GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188 based at least in part on the cell information. For instance, the UE may process the obtained information by applying calculations to ascertain one or more parameters from the cell information such as a satellite Doppler shift, an orbit height, a N-timing advance (NTA) common drift, a Doppler delta, or a time drift, and the UE may decide whether to blacklist or bar the cell based on these ascertained parameter(s) by comparing the calculated parameters against specific thresholds or defined criteria indicative of a GSO cell or an NGSO cell. Thus, using the cell information parameters and UE calculations, the UE may differentiate between cell types and assess their signal characteristics, and if cells do not meet specific criteria of a GSO cell (or do meet criteria of an NGSO cell), the UE may prune these NGSO cells from measurement or connection while proceeding to measure or connect to GSO cells. For instance, at block 508, in response to identifying the cell to be GSO cell 187 at block 506, the UE may measure or connect to the cell and thus proceed to engage in communications 510 with the base station 102 in that cell, while at block 512, in response to alternatively identifying the cell to be NGSO cell 188 at block 506, the UE may refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell as indicated by lack of communication 514 between UE 104 and base station 102 in that cell. Thus, the UE may reduce the number of cells itotherwise would process during band scans, camping, and neighbor searches, thereby improving UE performance and allowing it to focus on cells with more stable signal characteristics.

[0087] The UE 104 may apply at block 506 any of multiple identification approaches to differentiate NGSO cells for pruning, as described infra with respect to FIGs. 6-11. Pruning NGSO cells identified from one or more of these approach(s) may result in faster acquisition on GSO cells, power saving, reduced radio link failure (RLF) in a connected mode, fewer unintended handovers to NGSO cells, and reduced unintended reselection to NGSO cells. In one example, by pruning the NGSO cells, the UE may focus on acquiring GSO cells more quickly, which helps the UE save power since it spends less time searching for and attempting to connect to unsuitable cells. In another example, pruning the NGSO cells allows the UE to avoid connecting to cells with large Doppler shifts and drift which may lead to RLF, and thus by focusing on more stable GSO or TN cells, the UE may maintain a more reliable connection in the connected mode. In a further example, pruning NGSO neighbor cells in a connected mode may reduce the likelihood of the UE performing unintended handovers to NGSO cells, which could result in call drops due to the challenging signal characteristics of NGSO cells. In an additional example, pruning the NGSO neighbor cells in an idle mode helps the UE to avoid reselecting NGSO cells that may not provide a stable connection, thus saving UE power and time since it spends less time searching for and reselecting unsuitable cells. As a result, improved performance, more efficient use of resources, and a better user experience for the UE may be achieved when connecting to or measuring NTN and TN cells.

[0088] FIG. 6 illustrates an example 600 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 depicting a first approach for the UE to identify an NGSO cell 188 for pruning in which the UE prunes NGSO cells based on downlink Doppler shifts. Initially, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in an SSB 602 from base station 102 via satellite 504. In NB-IoT, the cell information 502 may include a Narrowband PSS (NPSS 604) or a Narrowband SSS (NSSS 606) or both. Outside of NB-IoT, such as in NR, the cell information 502 may include a PSS 608 and a SSS 610. In response to obtaining the SSB 602 including the cell information 502, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the cell is GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188 based on a downlink Doppler shift derived from the cell information 502. More specifically, at block 612,the UE may calculate a Doppler shift associated with the base station 102 from a frequency error associated with the cell information 502 and an oscillator error associated with the UE 104, and at block 614, the UE may compare the calculated Doppler shift with a Doppler shift threshold and prune the cell as an NGSO cell (such as ignoring or removing the cell during a band scan) if the Doppler shift exceeds the Doppler shift threshold. For instance, the UE may determine if a frequency error of the NPSS 604 or the NS SS 606 exceeds a certain limit, where the total frequency error is the sum of the satellite Doppler shift (DOP SAT) and the oscillator error (XO error) or oscillator uncertainty (XO uncert). The UE 104 may calculate XO_error or XO_uncert when it successfully attaches to any TN cell or NTN cell including a GEO satellite (GEO-NTN cell, which is the same as a GSO cell), and this value may be reused to calculate the Doppler shift due to satellite movement. After determining the total frequency error and the oscillator error / uncertainty, the UE may calculate DOP SAT from the difference between the total frequency error and XO error / XO uncert. Then, if the UE determines that the absolute value of this Doppler shift (|Dop_Sat|) is greater than 1 part per million (ppm) or other Doppler shift threshold, the UE may identify the cell as an NGSO cell 188 and proceed to prune the cell during a band scan by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. Otherwise, the UE may identify the cell as GSO cell 187 and proceed to measure or connect to the cell at block 508.

[0089] FIG. 7 illustrates an example 700 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 depicting a second approach for the UE to identify an NGSO cell 188 for pruning in which the UE prunes NGSO cells based on orbit height. Initially, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in an SIB 702 from base station 102 via satellite 504. In one example, the SIB 702 may be a SIB-31 704, while in another example the SIB 702 may be a SIB- 19 706. The cell information 502 in the SIB 702 may include ephemeris information 708. In response to obtaining the SIB 702 including the cell information 502, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the cell is GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188 based on a satellite orbit height derived from the cell information 502. More specifically, at block 710, the UE 104 may calculate an orbit height associated with the base station 102 based on the ephemeris information 708, and at block 712, the UE may compare the calculated orbit height with an orbit height threshold and prune the cell as an NGSO cell if the orbit height does not meet the orbitheight threshold. For example, if the UE determines that the orbit height of the cell is less than 40,000 km or other orbit height threshold, the UE may identify the cell as an NGSO cell 188 and proceed to prune the cell during camping or cell connection by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. Otherwise, the UE may identify the cell as GSO cell 187 and proceed to measure or connect to the cell at block 508.

[0090] When calculating the orbit height at block 710, the UE 104 may calculate the orbit height at block 714 based on a format of the SIB 702. For instance, if the SIB-31 704 is provided in an Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) format 716, the UE may calculate the orbit height using Formula (1) below and using positionX, position Y, and positionZ values which are indicated as parameters in the ECEF -formatted, SIB- 31 704 (for example via parameters positionX-rl7, position-rl7, and positionZ-rl7), or some other function using these parameters. Alternatively, if SIB-31 is provided in Keplerian format 718, the UE 104 may calculate the orbit height using Formula (2) below and using a semiMaj orAxis value which is indicated as a parameter in the Keplerian-formatted, SIB-31 704, or some other function using this parameter. The UE 104 may then proceed with the determination at block 712 using the orbit height calculated from the SIB format-dependent formula.

[0091] Orbit Height (in kilometers) = y x2+ y2+ z2, where (1)orOrbit Height (in kilometers) = 6500 + semiM aj or Axis * 4.249 * 10~6(2)

[0092] FIG. 8 illustrates an example 800 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 depicting a third approach for the UE to identify an NGSO cell 188 for pruning in which the UE prunes NGSO cells based on N-time advance (NT A) drift. Initially, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in an SIB 802 from base station 102 via satellite 504. In one example, the SIB 802 may be a SIB-31 804, while in another example the SIB 802 may be a SIB-19 806. The cell information 502 in the SIB 802 may include a timing advance drift parameter 808 or NTA drift parameter, such as a parameter nta-commonDrift-rl7 in SIB-31 804 or a parameter ta-CommonDriftVariant in SIB-19 806. In response to obtaining the SIB 802 including the cell information 502, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the cell isGSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188 based on an NTA drift derived from the cell information 502. More specifically, at block 810, the UE 104 may calculate an NTA drift associated with the base station 102 based on the timing advance drift parameter 808, and at block 812, the UE may compare the calculated NTA drift with an NTA drift threshold and prune the cell as an NGSO cell if the NTA drift exceeds the NTA drift threshold. For instance, the UE 104 may calculate the timing advance drift using the timing advance drift parameter 808 in Formula (3) below or some other function using this parameter, and if the UE determines that the timing advance drift is greater than 1 ps / s or other NTA drift threshold, the UE may identify the cell as an NGSO cell 188 and proceed to prune the cell by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. Otherwise, the UE may identify the cell as GSO cell 187 and proceed to measure or connect to the cell at block 508.

[0093] NTA Drift (in ps / s) = ntaCommonDrift * 0.2 * 10-3(3)

[0094] FIG. 9 illustrates an example 900 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 depicting a fourth approach for the UE to identify an NGSO cell 188 for pruning in which the UE prunes NGSO cells based on a Doppler Shift or a time drift observed in neighboring cells. Initially, at block 902, the UE 104 may camp on a GSO cell, such as GSO cell 187, during which camping process the UE may communicate with a serving base station 904 for the GSO cell 187 via satellite 189 (a GSO satellite). While the UE is camped on the GSO cell 187, the UE may receive cell information 906 from serving base station 904. Moreover, while camped on the GSO cell 187, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 pertaining to a neighbor cell 908 from base station 102 via satellite 504, which base station 102 may be a neighbor base station to UE 104 in this example. In response to obtaining the cell information 502 from the neighbor base station and the cell information 906 from the serving base station 904, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the neighbor cell 908 is GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188 based on a difference in downlink Doppler shift, downlink time drift, or both between the GSO cell 187 served by base station 904 and the neighbor cell 908 served by base station 102, which difference or variation the UE may determine from the cell information 502, 906. More specifically, at block 910, the UE 104 may measure a Doppler shift variation associated with the base station 102 in neighbor cell 908 based on a difference or delta between a neighbor cell frequency error determined from PSS or NPSS in the neighbor cell information and aserving cell frequency error determined from PSS or NPSS in the GSO cell information, and / or the UE 104 may measure a time drift associated with the base station 102 in neighbor cell 908 based on a difference or delta between a downlink time delay determined from a signal in the neighbor cell information and a downlink time delay determined from a signal in the GSO cell information. In response to determining the difference in Doppler shifts between the neighbor cell 908 and the GSO cell 187 (the Doppler shift variation associated with the neighbor base station) and / or the difference in time delays between the neighbor cell 908 and the GSO cell 187 (the time drift associated with the neighbor base station), the UE may compare the Doppler shift variation with a Doppler delta threshold at block 912 and / or the time drift with a time drift threshold at block 914. The Doppler delta threshold and the time drift threshold may both be, for example, 2 parts per million (ppm) or other same quantity or different quantities. If the Doppler shift variation exceeds the Doppler delta threshold and / or the time drift exceeds the time drift threshold, the UE may identify the cell as an NGSO cell 188 and proceed to prune the cell by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. Otherwise, the UE may identify the cell as GSO cell 187 and proceed to measure or connect to the cell at block 508.

[0095] FIG. 10 illustrates an example 1000 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 depicting a fifth approach for the UE to identify an NGSO cell 188 for pruning in which the UE prunes NGSO cells, in this example specifically TN cells, based on a band operation mode for the cell. Here, the band operation mode may be an in band mode, in which for example the cell may operate within the same frequency band as other cells, a guard band mode, in which for example the cell may operate in a separate frequency band from other cells to avoid interference, or a standalone mode, in which for example the cell may operate independently of the other cells without sharing resources with the other cells. Generally, TN cells operate in the in band mode or the guard band mode, while NTN cells operate in the standalone mode, so the UE may prune NGSO cells 188 that are TN cells depending on the indicated band operation mode.

[0096] Initially, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in an MIB 1002 from base station 102 via satellite 504. The cell information 502 in the MIB 1002 may include a band operation mode 1004, such as a parameter operationModeInfo-rl3 which indicates whether the cell is operating in an in band configuration, a guard bandconfiguration, or a standalone configuration. In response to obtaining the MIB 1002 including the cell information 502, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the cell is an NTN cell such as GSO cell 187 or a TN cell such as NGSO cell 188 based on the band operation mode 1004 indicated in the cell information 502. More specifically, at block 1006, the UE 104 may determine whether the band operation mode 1004 is an in band mode or a guard band mode, and at block 1008, the UE may determine to prune the cell as an NGSO (TN) cell if the band operation mode 1004 is the in band mode or the guard band mode. For instance, the UE 104 may determine whether the parameter operationModelnfo indicates a parameter inband-SamePCI- rl3, inband-DifferentPCI-rl3, or guardband-rl3, which applies to the cell, and if so, the UE may identify the cell as a TN cell and thus an NGSO cell 188 and proceed to prune the cell by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. Otherwise, if the band operation mode 1004 is determined to be a stand alone mode, such as via indication of standalone-rl3 in parameter operationModelnfo, the UE may identify the cell as an NTN cell such as GSO cell 187 and proceed to measure or connect to the cell at block 508.

[0097] FIG. 11 illustrates an example 1100 of a call flow between UE 104 and base station 102 depicting a sixth approach for the UE to identify an NGSO cell 188 for pruning in which the UE prunes NGSO cells, in this example specifically TN cells, based on a pathloss associated with the cell. Generally, TN cells are expected to have lower pathloss (and thus higher RSRP or SNR) than NTN cells, so the UE 104 may prune NGSO cells 188 that are TN cells at least depending on an RSRP of the cell or an SNR of the cell relative to a serving cell. Moreover, in some cases before pruning NGSO cells 188 that are expected to be TN cells due to high RSRP or SNR, the UE may confirm the expected TN cells are actually TN or NGSO cells 188 based on decoded SIB(s).

[0098] Initially, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in a SIB 1102 from base station 102 via satellite 504. In response to obtaining the SIB 1102 including the cell information 502, the UE 104 may identify at block 506 whether the cell is an NTN cell such as GSO cell 187 or a TN cell such as NGSO cell 188 based on the SIB 1102. More specifically, at block 1104, the UE 104 may determine whether an RSRP of the SIB 1102 exceeds an RSRP threshold (indicating a relatively high RSRP), and / or at block 1106, the UE may determine whether an SNR of the SIB 1102 exceeds an SNRassociated with a serving cell by at least an SNR threshold (indicating a high SNR relative to the serving cell). For instance, the base station 102 may be either a serving base station or a neighbor base station, where in the former case, the UE 104 may receive cell information 502 from base station 102 as a serving base station, while in the latter case, the UE 104 may receive cell information 502 from base station 102 as a neighbor base station while UE 104 is connected to a different base station 1108 in a serving cell. In either case where the base station 102 is a serving base station or a neighbor base station, at block 1104, the UE may measure an RSRP of the SIB 1102 including cell information 502, and if the UE determines the RSRP exceeds -90 dBm or other RSRP threshold, the UE may identify the cell as a possible NGSO (TN) cell. Alternatively or additionally, in the case where base station 102 is a neighbor base station, at block 1106, the UE may measure a neighbor cell SNR of the SIB 1102 including cell information 502 and a serving cell SNR of serving cell information 1109 or other data from base station 1108, and if the UE determines that a difference between the neighbor cell SNR and the serving cell SNR is greater than or equal to the SNR threshold, the UE may likewise identify the cell as a possible NGSO (TN) cell.

[0099] In some cases, after determining at block 1104 and / or block 1106 a relatively high RSRP or SNR respectively, the UE 104 may identify the cell as an NGSO (TN) cell and end the identification process at block 506 there. In such cases, the UE may proceed to prune the cell by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. In other cases, after determining at block 1104 and / or block 1106 a relatively high RSRP or SNR respectively, the UE 104 may merely identify the cell as a possible NGSO (TN) cell, subject to subsequent confirmation of the cell type from SIB(s). More particularly, at block 1110, the UE may subsequently determine whether a SIB indicates the cell is barred from NTN access, the SIB lacks scheduling information for an NTN SIB, or the SIB schedules an NTN SIB including other cell information indicative of NGSO cells. If one or more of the aforementioned three conditions are true, the UE may confirm that the cell is actually a TN cell (or in the third condition case, an LEO or MEO cell) and thus NGSO cell 188, and the UE may accordingly proceed to prune the cell by refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell at block 512. Otherwise, the UE may identify that the cell is actually an NTN cell such as GSO cell 187 notwithstanding its relatively high RSRP or SNR, in whichcase the UE may proceed to measure or connect to the NTN cell or GSO cell at block 508.

[0100] For instance, in the first aforementioned condition determined at block 1110, the UE may initially receive a SIB-1 as the SIB 1102 including cell information 502 such as a cell barred parameter (such as cellBarred-NTN-rl7). If the UE determines that the cell barred parameter in the SIB-1 indicates the cell is barred from NTN (such as via a value ‘barred’), the UE may conclude that SIB 1102 indicates the cell is barred from NTN access, and thus the UE may identify the cell is a TN cell or NGSO cell 188. Moreover, in the second aforementioned condition determined at block 1110, the UE may similarly receive a SIB-1 as the SIB 1102, but here the UE may check whether this SIB-1 includes scheduling information 1112 for an NTN SIB 1114 such as SIB- 31. If the UE determines that the SIB-1 lacks scheduling information 1112, the UE may conclude that NTN SIB 1114 is not to be expected, and thus the UE may identify that the cell is a TN cell or NGSO cell 188. On the other hand, in the third aforementioned condition determined at block 1110, if the UE determines that the SIB-1 includes scheduling information 1112 for the NTN SIB 1114, then after the UE subsequently receives the NTN SIB 1114, the UE may identify whether the NTN cell is an NGSO cell 188 or GSO cell 187 based on cell information 1116 in the NTN SIB 1114 according to one or more of the previously described identification approaches with respect to FIGs. 6-9. As an example, such as previously described with respect to FIG. 7, the cell information 1116 may include ephemeris information 708 from which the UE may derive a satellite orbit height that, when determined to be less than an orbit height threshold, indicates that the cell is LEO or MEO. Thus, the cell information 1116 may be indicative of NGSO cells based on orbit height, NTA drift, Doppler shift, or the like, in which case the UE may identify the cell as an NGSO cell 188.

[0101] Accordingly, through one or more of the aforementioned approaches, the UE may achieve improved performance, reduced likelihood of connection failures, minimized power impact, improved handling of overlapping deployments, and enhanced network efficiency. In one example, by pruning NGSO cells and focusing on GSO cells with more stable signal characteristics, the UE may reduce the number of cells it would otherwise process during band scans, camping, and neighbor searches, leading to faster and more efficient cell selection and reselection processes. In another example,pruning cells based on criteria such as Doppler shift, orbit height, NTA drift, and information from neighboring cells may help the UE to avoid attempting to camp on or measure cells with large Doppler shifts and drift, thereby reducing the likelihood of failures in SIB / MIB acquisition and NPRACH procedures. In another example, the UE may focus on cells with more stable signal characteristics, allowing the UE to reduce the power consumption associated with searching and measuring cells during idle and connected mode neighbor searches. In a further example, by applying one or more of the aforementioned pruning methods to differentiate between GSO and NGSO cells during the search process, better performance and more efficient use of resources in overlapping deployments may be achieved. In another example, pruning cells that are less likely to provide a stable connection may allow the UE to maintain a better connection with the network, leading to improved overall network efficiency and user experience.

[0102] FIGs. 12A-12G are a flowchart 1200 of a method of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a UE or one or more of its components, for example, the UE 104, 350; one or more of RX processor(s) 356, TX processor(s) 368, or controller(s) / processor(s) 359; the apparatus 1302; or cellular baseband processor(s) 1304 or its components. The method allows a UE to differentiate between GSO cells and NGSO cells in a wireless communication network, improving UE performance and network efficiency.

[0103] Referring to FIG. 12A, at block 1202, the UE obtains cell information from a network entity in a cell. For example, 1202 may be performed by cell information component 1340. For instance, referring to the Figures, UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 from base station 102, disaggregated base station 181, a component of disaggregated base station 181, or some other network entity in a GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188. Obtaining the cell information may include, for example, receiving, demodulating, and decoding an encoded and modulated signal including the cell information using one or more of RX processor(s) 356 or controller(s) / processor(s) 359 such as described with respect to UE 350 in FIG. 3.

[0104] At block 1204, the UE identifies, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell. For example, 1204 may be performed by identification component 1342. For instance, referring to the Figures, the UE 104 may identify at block 506, based at least in part on cellinformation 502, whether the cell of base station 102 is GSO cell 187 or NGSO cell 188. Identifying whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell may include, for example, performing one or more of the operations described with respect to block 506 of FIG. 5, or one or more of the operations described with respect to block 506 in any of FIGs. 6-11, using, for example, the controlled s) / processor(s) 359 of UE 350 in FIG. 3. The operations described with respect to block 506 in FIGs. 6-11 are respectively referenced at block 1208 in FIG. 12B, block 1210 in FIG. 12C, block 1212 in FIG. 12D, block 1214 in FIG. 12E, block 1216 in FIG. 12F, and block 1218 in FIG. 12G.

[0105] At block 1206, the UE refrains from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell. For example, 1206 may be performed by cell measurement and connection component 1344. For instance, referring to the Figures, the UE 104 may refrain from measuring or connecting to NGSO cell 188, such as described with respect to block 512 of FIGs. 5-11, in response to identifying the cell is NGSO cell 188 at block 506. Refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell may include, for example, pruning, blacklisting, or barring the cell from measurement or connection using, for example, the controller(s) / processor(s) 359 of UE 350 in FIG. 3, refraining from receiving, demodulating, and decoding one or more signals from the base station 102 of the pruned cell for measurement or connection using one or more of RX processor(s) 356 or controller(s) / processor(s) 359 of UE 350 in FIG. 3, and refraining from transmitting, modulating, and encoding one or more signals to the pruned cell for measurement or connection using one or more of TX processor(s) 368 or controller(s) / processor(s) 359, such as described with respect to UE 350 in FIG. 3.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 12B, in one example, at block 1208a, the UE may obtain the cell information in a SSB, at block 1208b, calculate a Doppler shift associated with the network entity from a frequency error associated with the cell information and an oscillator error associated with the UE, and at block 1208c, identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the Doppler shift being greater than a Doppler shift threshold. For instance, referring to FIG. 6, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in SSB 602, calculate the Doppler shift in the downlink communication of cell information 502 from base station 102 such as described with respect to block 612, and identify the cell is NGSO cell 188 based on the Doppler shift such as describedwith respect to block 614. In one example, the cell information 502 may include a NPSS, a NSSS, a PSS, or a SSS.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 12C, in one example, at block 1210a, the UE may obtain the cell information in a SIB, at block 1210b, calculate an orbit height associated with the network entity based on the cell information, and at block 1210c, identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the orbit height being less than an orbit height threshold. For instance, referring to FIG. 7, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in SIB 702, calculate the orbit height of the satellite 504 through which base station 102 communicates with UE 104 such as described with respect to block 710, and identify the cell is NGSO cell 188 based on the orbit height such as described with respect to block 712. In one example, the cell information 502 includes ephemeris information associated with the network entity, such as ephemeris information 708 of the satellite 504 through which base station 102 communicates with UE 104. In one example, the SIB 702 is a SIB-31 or a SIB-19. In one example, the orbit height may be calculated further based on whether a format associated with the SIB is ECEF format 716 or Keplerian format 718, such as described with respect to block 714. Any combination of the foregoing examples may occur.

[0108] Referring to FIG. 12D, in one example, at block 1212a, the UE may obtain the cell information in a SIB, at block 1212b, calculate an NTA drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information, and at block 1212c, identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the NTA drift being greater than an NTA drift threshold. For instance, referring to FIG. 8, the UE 104 may obtain the cell information 502 in SIB 802, calculate the NTA drift based on information provided in the cell information 502 from base station 102 such as described with respect to block 810, and identify the cell is the NGSO cell 188 based on the NTA drift such as described with respect to block 812. In one example, the cell information includes a timing advance drift parameter associated with the network entity, such as NTA drift parameter 808. In one example, the SIB is a SIB-31 or a SIB-19. Any combination of the foregoing examples may occur.

[0109] Referring to FIG. 12E, in one example, when the cell is a neighbor cell to a GSO cell, at block 1214a, the UE may obtain the cell information from the network entity in the neighbor cell while the UE is camped on the GSO cell, at block 1214b, the UE may measure at least one of a Doppler shift variation or a time drift associated with thenetwork entity based on the cell information from the neighbor cell and cell information from the GSO cell, and at block 1214c, the UE may identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to at least one of the Doppler shift variation being greater than a Doppler delta threshold or the time drift being greater than a time drift threshold. For instance, referring to FIG. 9, after the UE 104 camps on the GSO cell 187 such as described with respect to block 902, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 from base station 102 in the neighbor cell 908 to GSO cell 187, measure the Doppler shift variation and / or time drift between the neighbor cell 908 and the GSO cell 187 using cell information 502, 906 such as described with respect to block 910, and the UE 104 may identify the cell is the NGSO cell 188 based on the Doppler shift variation and / or time drift such as described with respect to blocks 912, 914.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 12F, in one example, at block 1216a, the UE may obtain the cell information in a MIB, the cell information including a band operation mode associated with the cell, and at block 1216b, the UE may identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the band operation mode being either an in band mode or a guard band mode. For instance, referring to FIG. 10, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in MIB 1002 including the band operation mode 1004 of the cell from base station 102, and the UE may identify the cell is NGSO cell 188 based on the band operation mode 1004 such as described with respect to blocks 1006, 1008.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 12G, in one example, at block 1218a, the UE may obtain the cell information in a SIB, and at block 1218b, identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB in response to either: an RSRP of the SIB being greater than a RSRP threshold, or a SNR associated with the cell being greater than an SNR associated with a serving cell of the UE by at least an SNR threshold. For instance, referring to FIG. 11, the UE 104 may obtain cell information 502 in SIB 1102, and identify the cell is NGSO cell 188 (or possible NGSO cell) based on the RSRP of the SIB 1102, such as described with respect to block 1104, and / or based on the SNR of the cell in which SIB 1102 is received, such as described with respect to block 1106. In one example, to identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB 1102, at block 1218c, the UE may determine whether the SIB 1102 indicates the cell is barred from NTN access such as described with respect to the first condition in block 1110, the SIB 1102 lacks scheduling information for a different SIB associated with an NTN suchas described with respect to the second condition in block 1110 in connection with SIB 1114, or the SIB 1102 schedules the different SIB associated with the NTN and the different SIB includes other cell information associated with the network entity that is indicative of NGSO cells such as described with respect to the third condition in block 1110 in connection with cell information 1116. The UE may then at block 1218d identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the determination, such as described with respect to block 1110.

[0112] FIG. 13 is a diagram 1300 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus 1302. The apparatus 1302 is a UE and includes one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 (also referred to as a modem) coupled to a cellular RF transceiver 1322 and one or more subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards 1320, an application processor 1306 coupled to a secure digital (SD) card 1308 and a screen 1310, a Bluetooth module 1312, a wireless local area network (WLAN) module 1314, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module 1316, and a power supply 1318. The one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 communicate through the cellular RF transceiver 1322 with the UE 104 and / orBS 102 / 180 / disaggregated base station 181. The one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 may each include a computer- readable medium / one or more memories. The computer-readable medium / one or more memories may be non-transitory. The one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 are responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / one or more memories individually or in combination. The software, when executed by the one or more cellular baseband processors 1304, causes the one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 to, individually or in combination, perform the various functions described supra. The computer-readable medium / one or more memories may also be used individually or in combination for storing data that is manipulated by the one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 when executing software. The one or more cellular baseband processors 1304 individually or in combination further include a reception component 1330, a communication manager 1332, and a transmission component 1334. The communication manager 1332 includes the one or more illustrated components. The components within the communication manager 1332 may be stored in the computer-readable medium / one or more memories and / or configured as hardware within the one or more cellular baseband processors 1304. The one ormore cellular baseband processors 1304 may be components of the UE 350 and may individually or in combination include the one or more memories 360 and / or at least one of the one or more TX processors 368, at least one of the one or more RX processors 356, and at least one of the one or more controllers / processors 359. For example, the reception component 1330 may include at least the one or more RX processors 356, the transmission component 1334 may include at least the one or more TX processors 368, and the communication manager 1332 may include at least the one or more controllers / processors 359. In one configuration, the apparatus 1302 may be a modem chip and include just the one or more baseband processors 1304, and in another configuration, the apparatus 1302 may be the entire UE (e.g., see 350 of FIG. 3) and include the aforediscussed additional modules of the apparatus 1302.

[0113] The communication manager 1332 includes a cell information component 1340 that is configured to obtain, for example via reception component 1330, cell information from a network entity in a cell, such as described in connection with block 1202. The communication manager 1332 further includes an identification component 1342 that is configured to identify, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell, such as described in connection with blocks 1204, 1208, 1210, 1212, 1214, 1216, or 1218. The communication manager 1332 further includes a cell measurement and connection component 1344 that is configured to refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell, for example at least in part via transmission component 1334, in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell, such as described in connection with block 1206.

[0114] The apparatus may include additional components that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flowchart of FIGs. 12A-12G. As such, each block in the aforementioned flowchart of FIGs. 12A-12G may be performed by a component and the apparatus may include one or more of those components. The components may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes / algorithm, implemented by one or more processors individually or in combination configured to perform the stated processes / algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors, or some combination thereof.

[0115] In one configuration, the apparatus 1302, and in particular one or more cellular baseband processors 1304, includes means for obtaining cell information from anetwork entity in a cell, means for identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a GSO cell or a NGSO cell, and means for refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0116] The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned components of the apparatus 1302 configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described supra, the apparatus 1302 may include the one or more TX Processors 368, the one or more RX Processors 356, and the one or more controllers / processors 359. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be at least one of the one or more TX Processors 368, at least one of the one or more RX Processors 356, or at least one of the one or more controllers / processors 359, individually or in any combination configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

[0117] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flowcharts may be rearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0118] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Terms such as “if,” “when,” and “while” should be interpreted to mean “under the condition that” rather than imply an immediate temporal relationship or reaction. That is, these phrases, e.g., “when,” do not imply an immediate action in response to or during the occurrence of an action, but simply imply that if a condition is met then an action will occur, but without requiring a specific or immediate time constraint for the action to occur. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof’ include any combination of A, B, and / or C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically, combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof’ may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. The words “module,” “mechanism,” “element,” “device,” and the like may not be a substitute for the word “means.” As such, no claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

[0119] As used herein, a processor, at least one processor, and / or one or more processors, individually or in combination, configured to perform or operable for performing a plurality of actions (such as the functions described supra) is meant to include at least two different processors able to perform different, overlapping or non-overlapping subsets of the plurality actions, or a single processor able to perform all of the plurality of actions. In one non-limiting example of multiple processors being able to perform different ones of the plurality of actions in combination, a description of a processor, at least one processor, and / or one or more processors configured or operable to perform actions X, Y, and Z may include at least a first processor configured or operable to perform a first subset of X, Y, and Z (e.g., to perform X) and at least a second processor configured or operable to perform a second subset of X, Y, and Z (e.g., to perform Y and Z). Alternatively, a first processor, a second processor, and a third processor may be respectively configured or operable to perform a respectiveone of actions X, Y, and Z. It should be understood that any combination of one or more processors each may be configured or operable to perform any one or any combination of a plurality of actions.

[0120] Similarly as used herein, a memory, at least one memory, a computer-readable medium, and / or one or more memories, individually or in combination, configured to store or having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors for performing a plurality of actions (such as the functions described supra) is meant to include at least two different memories able to store different, overlapping or nonoverlapping subsets of the instructions for performing different, overlapping or nonoverlapping subsets of the plurality actions, or a single memory able to store the instructions for performing all of the plurality of actions. In one non-limiting example of one or more memories, individually or in combination, being able to store different subsets of the instructions for performing different ones of the plurality of actions, a description of a memory, at least one memory, a computer-readable medium, and / or one or more memories configured or operable to store or having stored thereon instructions for performing actions X, Y, and Z may include at least a first memory configured or operable to store or having stored thereon a first subset of instructions for performing a first subset of X, Y, and Z (e.g., instructions to perform X) and at least a second memory configured or operable to store or having stored thereon a second subset of instructions for performing a second subset of X, Y, and Z (e.g., instructions to perform Y and Z). Alternatively, a first memory, a second memory, and a third memory may be respectively configured to store or have stored thereon a respective one of a first subset of instructions for performing X, a second subset of instruction for performing Y, and a third subset of instructions for performing Z. It should be understood that any combination of one or more memories each may be configured or operable to store or have stored thereon any one or any combination of instructions executable by one or more processors to perform any one or any combination of a plurality of actions. Moreover, one or more processors may each be coupled to at least one of the one or more memories and configured or operable to execute the instructions to perform the plurality of actions. For instance, in the above non-limiting example of the different subset of instructions for performing actions X, Y, and Z, a first processor may be coupled to a first memory storing instructions for performing action X, and at least a second processor may be coupled to at least asecond memory storing instructions for performing actions Y and Z, and the first processor and the second processor may, in combination, execute the respective subset of instructions to accomplish performing actions X, Y, and Z. Alternatively, three processors may access one of three different memories each storing one of instructions for performing X, Y, or Z, and the three processors may in combination execute the respective subset of instruction to accomplish performing actions X, Y, and Z. Alternatively, a single processor may execute the instructions stored on a single memory, or distributed across multiple memories, to accomplish performing actions X, Y, and Z.

[0121] The following examples are illustrative only and may be combined with aspects of other embodiments or teachings described herein, without limitation.

[0122] Clause 1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors each communicatively coupled with at least one of the one or more memories, the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain cell information from a network entity in a cell; identify, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0123] Clause 2. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a synchronization signal block (SSB); calculate a Doppler shift associated with the network entity from a frequency error associated with the cell information and an oscillator error associated with the apparatus; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the Doppler shift being greater than a Doppler shift threshold.

[0124] Clause 3. The apparatus of clause 2, wherein the cell information includes a narrowband primary synchronization signal (NPSS), a narrowband secondary synchronization signal (NSSS), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

[0125] Clause 4. The apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculate an orbitheight associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the orbit height being less than an orbit height threshold.

[0126] Clause 5. The apparatus of clause 4, wherein at least one of: the cell information includes ephemeris information associated with the network entity, the SIB is a SIB- 31 or a SIB- 19, or the orbit height is calculated further based on whether a format associated with the SIB is an Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) format or a Keplerian format.

[0127] Clause 6. The apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculate a timing advance (NT A) drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the NTA drift being greater than an NTA drift threshold.

[0128] Clause 7. The apparatus of clause 6, wherein at least one of: the cell information includes a timing advance drift parameter associated with the network entity, or the SIB is a SIB-31 or a SIB-19.

[0129] Clause 8. The apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the cell is a neighbor cell to a GSO cell, and the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information from the network entity in the neighbor cell while the apparatus is camped on the GSO cell; measure at least one of a Doppler shift variation or a time drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information from the neighbor cell and cell information from the GSO cell; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to at least one of the Doppler shift variation being greater than a Doppler delta threshold or the time drift being greater than a time drift threshold.

[0130] Clause 9. The apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a master information block (MIB), the cell information including a band operation mode associated with the cell; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the band operation mode being either an in band mode or a guard band mode.

[0131] Clause 10. The apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a system information block (SIB); and identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB in response to either: a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the SIB being greater than a RSRP threshold, or a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the cell being greater than an SNR associated with a serving cell of the apparatus by at least an SNR threshold.

[0132] Clause 11. The apparatus of clause 10, wherein to identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB, the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are operable to cause the apparatus to: determine whether the SIB indicates the cell is barred from non-terrestrial network (NTN) access, the SIB lacks scheduling information for a different SIB associated with an NTN, or the SIB schedules the different SIB associated with the NTN and the different SIB includes other cell information associated with the network entity that is indicative of NGSO cells; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the determination.

[0133] Clause 12. A method of wireless communication performable at a user equipment (UE), comprising: obtaining cell information from a network entity in a cell; identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0134] Clause 13. The method of clause 12, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a synchronization signal block (SSB); calculating a Doppler shift associated with the network entity from a frequency error associated with the cell information and an oscillator error associated with the UE; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the Doppler shift being greater than a Doppler shift threshold.

[0135] Clause 14. The method of clause 13, wherein the cell information includes a narrowband primary synchronization signal (NPSS), a narrowband secondary synchronization signal (NSSS), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

[0136] Clause 15. The method of any of clauses 12 to 14, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculating an orbit heightassociated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the orbit height being less than an orbit height threshold.

[0137] Clause 16. The method of clause 15, wherein at least one of: the cell information includes ephemeris information associated with the network entity, the SIB is a SIB- 31 or a SIB- 19, or the orbit height is calculated further based on whether a format associated with the SIB is an Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) format or a Keplerian format.

[0138] Clause 17. The method of any of clauses 12 to 16, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculating a timing advance (NTA) drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the NTA drift being greater than an NTA drift threshold.

[0139] Clause 18. The method of clause 17, wherein at least one of: the cell information includes a timing advance drift parameter associated with the network entity, or the SIB is a SIB-31 or a SIB-19.

[0140] Clause 19. The method of any of clauses 12 to 18, wherein the cell is a neighbor cell to a GSO cell, the method further comprising: obtaining the cell information from the network entity in the neighbor cell while the UE is camped on the GSO cell; measuring at least one of a Doppler shift variation or a time drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information from the neighbor cell and cell information from the GSO cell; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to at least one of the Doppler shift variation being greater than a Doppler delta threshold or the time drift being greater than a time drift threshold.

[0141] Clause 20. The method of any of clauses 12 to 19, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a master information block (MIB), the cell information including a band operation mode associated with the cell; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the band operation mode being either an in band mode or a guard band mode.

[0142] Clause 21. The method of any of clauses 12 to 20, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a system information block (SIB); and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB in response to either: a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the SIB being greater than a RSRP threshold, or a signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) associated with the cell being greater than an SNR associated with a serving cell of the UE by at least an SNR threshold.

[0143] Clause 22. The method of clause 21, wherein the identifying the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB comprises: determining whether the SIB indicates the cell is barred from non-terrestrial network (NTN) access, the SIB lacks scheduling information for a different SIB associated with an NTN, or the SIB schedules the different SIB associated with the NTN and the different SIB includes other cell information associated with the network entity that is indicative of NGSO cells; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell based on the determination.

[0144] Clause 23. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: means for obtaining cell information from a network entity in a cell; means for identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and means for refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

[0145] Clause 24. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer executable code, the code when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to, individually or in combination: obtain cell information from a network entity in a cell; identify, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non- Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors each communicatively coupled with at least one of the one or more memories, the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain cell information from a network entity in a cell; identify, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and refrain from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a synchronization signal block (SSB); calculate a Doppler shift associated with the network entity from a frequency error associated with the cell information and an oscillator error associated with the apparatus; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the Doppler shift being greater than a Doppler shift threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cell information includes a narrowband primary synchronization signal (NPSS), a narrowband secondary synchronization signal (NSSS), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a system information block (SIB);calculate an orbit height associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the orbit height being less than an orbit height threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of: the cell information includes ephemeris information associated with the network entity, the SIB is a SIB-31 or a SIB-19, or the orbit height is calculated further based on whether a format associated with the SIB is an Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) format or a Keplerian format.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculate a timing advance (NTA) drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the NTA drift being greater than an NTA drift threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of: the cell information includes a timing advance drift parameter associated with the network entity, or the SIB is a SIB-31 or a SIB-19.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell is a neighbor cell to a GSO cell, and the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information from the network entity in the neighbor cell while the apparatus is camped on the GSO cell; measure at least one of a Doppler shift variation or a time drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information from the neighbor cell and cell information from the GSO cell; andidentify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to at least one of the Doppler shift variation being greater than a Doppler delta threshold or the time drift being greater than a time drift threshold.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a master information block (MIB), the cell information including a band operation mode associated with the cell; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the band operation mode being either an in band mode or a guard band mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are further operable to cause the apparatus to: obtain the cell information in a system information block (SIB); and identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB in response to either: a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the SIB being greater than a RSRP threshold, or a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the cell being greater than an SNR associated with a serving cell of the apparatus by at least an SNR threshold.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein to identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB, the one or more processors, individually or in any combination, are operable to cause the apparatus to: determine whether the SIB indicates the cell is barred from non-terrestrial network (NTN) access, the SIB lacks scheduling information for a different SIB associated with an NTN, or the SIB schedules the different SIB associated with the NTN and the different SIB includes other cell information associated with the network entity that is indicative of NGSO cells; and identify the cell is the NGSO cell based on the determination.

12. A method of wireless communication performable at a user equipment (UE), comprising:obtaining cell information from a network entity in a cell; identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a synchronization signal block (SSB); calculating a Doppler shift associated with the network entity from a frequency error associated with the cell information and an oscillator error associated with the UE; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the Doppler shift being greater than a Doppler shift threshold.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculating an orbit height associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the orbit height being less than an orbit height threshold.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a system information block (SIB); calculating a timing advance (NTA) drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the NTA drift being greater than an NTA drift threshold.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the cell is a neighbor cell to a GSO cell, the method further comprising: obtaining the cell information from the network entity in the neighbor cell while the UE is camped on the GSO cell;measuring at least one of a Doppler shift variation or a time drift associated with the network entity based on the cell information from the neighbor cell and cell information from the GSO cell; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to at least one of the Doppler shift variation being greater than a Doppler delta threshold or the time drift being greater than a time drift threshold.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a master information block (MIB), the cell information including a band operation mode associated with the cell; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell in response to the band operation mode being either an in band mode or a guard band mode.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising: obtaining the cell information in a system information block (SIB); and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB in response to either: a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the SIB being greater than a RSRP threshold, or a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the cell being greater than an SNR associated with a serving cell of the UE by at least an SNR threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifying the cell is the NGSO cell based on the SIB comprises: determining whether the SIB indicates the cell is barred from non-terrestrial network (NTN) access, the SIB lacks scheduling information for a different SIB associated with an NTN, or the SIB schedules the different SIB associated with the NTN and the different SIB includes other cell information associated with the network entity that is indicative of NGSO cells; and identifying the cell is the NGSO cell based on the determination.

20. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: means for obtaining cell information from a network entity in a cell;means for identifying, based at least in part on the obtained cell information, whether the cell is a Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) cell or a Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) cell; and means for refraining from measuring or connecting to the cell in response to identifying that the cell is the NGSO cell.

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