Communication method, communication apparatus, network device, communication system, and storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a communication method, a communication apparatus, a network device, a communication system, and a storage medium. The method comprises: a first network element receives first identification information, the first identification information being used for indicating a first area where a terminal is located, the first identification information comprising first information, and the first information being used for indicating a service access node of the terminal; and the first network element determines second identification information on the basis of the first identification information, the second identification information comprising second information, the second information being used for indicating a proxy access node allocated for terminal access, and the proxy access node being associated with the service access node. By means of the present disclosure, identification of terminal positions can be achieved for regenerative satellite systems.

Description

Communication method, communication device, network equipment, communication system and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular to a communication method, a communication device, a network device, a communication system, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] The evolution of telecommunication network technology has integrated non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology and supported NTN access technology. In networks supporting NTN access, it is necessary to obtain the location of the terminal in order to control terminal mobility, paging, etc.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, a network device, a communication system, and a storage medium, thereby enabling identification of a terminal location for a satellite system in a regeneration mode.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is proposed, which is executed by a first network element and includes: receiving first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal; based on the first identification information, determining second identification information, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node assigned for terminal access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node.

[0006] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is proposed, which is executed by a second network element and includes: receiving second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node, and the proxy access node is associated with a service access node of the terminal.

[0007] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is proposed, including: a first transceiver module, used to receive first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal; a processing module, used to determine second identification information based on the first identification information, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node assigned for terminal access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node.

[0008] According to the fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is proposed, including: a second transceiver module, used to receive second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node, and the proxy access node is associated with a service access node of the terminal.

[0009] According to the fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a network device is proposed, comprising: one or more processors; one or more memories for storing instructions; wherein the processor is used to call instructions so that the network device executes the method described in any one of the first and second aspects.

[0010] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, including: a first network element, configured to implement the communication method as described in the first aspect; and a second network element, configured to implement the communication method as described in the second aspect.

[0011] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, wherein the storage medium stores instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a network device, they can execute the method described in any one of the first and second aspects.

[0012] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer program or computer program product is provided. The computer program or computer program product includes code. When the instructions are executed by a network device, the method according to any one of the first and second aspects is performed.

[0013] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure is for a satellite system in a regeneration mode to realize the position identification of a terminal.

[0014] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory and do not constitute limitations on the embodiments of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following drawings required for describing the embodiments are introduced. The following drawings are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG2A is a schematic diagram showing an NTN architecture based on transparent transmission load according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG2B is a schematic diagram showing an NTN architecture based on regenerative load according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG2C is another schematic diagram showing an NTN architecture based on regenerative load according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG3A is an exemplary interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG3B is another exemplary interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG3C is another exemplary interaction diagram showing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG4A is a schematic diagram of a first flow chart showing a communication method executed by a first network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG4B is a schematic diagram of a second flow chart of a communication method executed by a first network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a first flow chart of a communication method executed by a second network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG6A is a schematic diagram of a third flow chart of a communication method executed by a first network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG6B is a schematic diagram of a second flow chart showing a communication method executed by a second network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG7A is a schematic diagram showing a first flow chart of a communication method executed by a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG7B is a schematic diagram of a first flow chart showing a communication method executed by a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG8A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG8B is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG9A is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG9B is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication apparatus, a network device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0035] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication method, which is executed by a first network element and includes: receiving first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal; based on the first identification information, determining second identification information, the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node assigned for terminal access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second information is used to indicate the proxy access node assigned by the first network element to the terminal. The first network element indicates the geographical area where the terminal is located by sending second identification information including the second information to the second network element, thereby realizing the identification of the terminal position for the satellite system in the regeneration mode.

[0037] In some possible implementations, determining the second identification information according to the first identification information includes: replacing the first information with the second information according to the association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0038] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, by replacing the first information with the second information according to the association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node, the signaling overhead of sending the second identification information can be reduced.

[0039] In some possible implementations, after receiving the first identification information, the method further includes: saving the first information and the second information.

[0040] In a disclosed embodiment, the first network element stores the first information and the second information to maintain the association relationship between the service access node and the proxy access node, so that the first network element can update the first identification information according to the association relationship between the service access node and the proxy access node, obtain the second identification information, and thereby indicate the geographical area where the terminal is located to the second network element, thereby realizing the identification of the terminal position for the satellite system in the regeneration mode.

[0041] In some possible implementations, the above method further includes: sending second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located.

[0042] In the disclosed embodiment, the first network element sends the second identification information to indicate the geographical area where the terminal is located to the second network element, so that the second network element can identify the terminal location and then page the terminal based on the second identification information.

[0043] In some possible implementations, before sending the second identification information, the above method also includes: determining that the second identification information is different from the third identification information, the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent to the second network element, and the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located.

[0044] In a public embodiment, the first network element determines that the geographical location of the terminal has changed by determining that the second identification information is different from the third identification information. In this case, the first network element sends the second identification information to indicate the current geographical area of ​​the terminal to the second network element, so that the second network element can obtain the latest location of the terminal and then page the terminal based on the second identification information.

[0045] In some possible implementations, the above method also includes: determining that the second identification information is the same as the third identification information, the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent to the second network element, and the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located; and determining not to send the second identification information.

[0046] In the disclosed embodiment, the first network element determines that the geographical location of the terminal has not changed by determining that the second identification information is the same as the third identification information. In this case, the first network element determines not to send the second identification information to save signaling overhead.

[0047] In some possible implementations, the above method also includes: receiving a first message, the first message is used to indicate a paging terminal, and the first message carries second identification information; determining the first identification information based on the second identification information; and sending a second message, the second message is used to access the network paging terminal, and the second message carries the first identification information.

[0048] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the second network element is triggered by other network elements to page the terminal, it determines the first identification information based on the second identification information according to the association relationship between the service access node and the proxy access node, and then carries the first identification information in the second message to trigger the access network to paging the terminal, so that the access node can page the terminal according to the first identification information, thereby realizing paging of the terminal.

[0049] In some possible implementations, determining the first identification information according to the second identification information includes: replacing the second information with the first information according to an association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0050] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, by replacing the second information with the first information according to the association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node, the access node can page the terminal according to the first identification information, thereby implementing paging of the terminal.

[0051] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication method, which is executed by a second network element and includes: receiving second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node, and the proxy access node is associated with a service access node of the terminal.

[0052] In some possible implementations, the second identification information is determined based on the first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a serving access node of the terminal.

[0053] In some possible implementations, the second identification information is obtained by replacing the first information with the second information according to the association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node.

[0054] In some possible implementations, the above method further includes: sending a first message, where the first message is used to indicate the paging terminal, and the first message carries second identification information.

[0055] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, comprising: a first transceiver module, used to receive first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal; a processing module, used to determine second identification information based on the first identification information, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node assigned for terminal access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node.

[0056] In some possible implementations, determining the second identification information according to the first identification information includes: replacing the first information with the second information according to the association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0057] In some possible implementations, the processing module is configured to save the first information and the second information after the first transceiver module receives the first identification information.

[0058] In some possible implementations, the first transceiver module is further configured to send second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located.

[0059] In some possible embodiments, the processing module is used to determine that the second identification information is different from the third identification information before the first transceiver module sends the second identification information, and the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent to the second network element, and the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located.

[0060] In some possible implementations, the processing module is further used to determine that the second identification information is the same as the third identification information, the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent to the second network element, and the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located; and determine not to send the second identification information.

[0061] In some possible implementations, the first transceiver module is further used to receive a first message, where the first message is used to indicate a paging terminal and carries second identification information; and to send a second message, where the second message is used to access a network paging terminal and carries first identification information; the processing module is further used to determine the first identification information based on the second identification information.

[0062] In some possible implementations, the processing module is further configured to replace the second information with the first information according to an association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node, so as to obtain the first identification information.

[0063] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, including: a second transceiver module, used to receive second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node, and the proxy access node is associated with a service access node of the terminal.

[0064] In some possible implementations, the second identification information is determined based on the first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a serving access node of the terminal.

[0065] In some possible implementations, the second identification information is obtained by replacing the first information with the second information according to the association relationship between the serving access node and the proxy access node.

[0066] In some possible implementations, the second transceiver module is further configured to send a first message, where the first message is used to indicate a paging terminal, and the first message carries second identification information.

[0067] In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network device. The network device includes: one or more processors; and one or more memories for storing instructions. The processors are configured to invoke the instructions so that the network device executes the method of any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, and their embodiments.

[0068] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, comprising: a first network element, configured to implement a method as in any one of the first aspect and its embodiments; and a second network element, configured to implement a method as in any one of the second aspect and its embodiments.

[0069] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a network device, cause the communication device to execute the method of any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the embodiments thereof.

[0070] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program product. When the computer program product is executed by a communication device, the network device executes a method as described in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the embodiments thereof.

[0071] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a network device, enables the network device to execute a method as described in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the embodiments thereof.

[0072] It is understandable that the above-mentioned communication devices, network devices, communication systems, storage media, computer program products, and computer programs are all used to perform the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here.

[0073] The present disclosure provides a communication method, communication device, network equipment, communication system, and storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms communication method, terminal positioning method, registration method, paging method, communication method, and information processing method are interchangeable. The terms terminal, network equipment, communication device, and information processing device are interchangeable. The terms communication system and information processing system are interchangeable.

[0074] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Unless there is any contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementations in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all of the steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For another example, a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementations of other embodiments.

[0075] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0076] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0078] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0079] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0080] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0081] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0082] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0083] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0084] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0085] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0086] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0087] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network devices, core network devices, etc.).

[0088] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "access node", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)", "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femtocell", "picocell", "sector", "cell group", "serving cell", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0089] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", "subscriber station"", "mobile unit", "subscriber unit", "wireless unit", "remote unit", "mobile device", "wireless device", "wireless communication device", "remote device", "mobile subscriber station", "access terminal", "mobile terminal", "wireless terminal", "remote terminal", "handset", "user agent", "mobile client", "client" and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0090] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it can also be set as a structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by terms corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by sidelinks. The sidelink can also be replaced by a sidelink.

[0091] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0092] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0093] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0094] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0095] As shown in FIG1 , which is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 , an access network device 102 , and a core network device 103 .

[0096] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0097] In some embodiments, the access network device 102, for example, is a node or device that accesses the terminal to the wireless network, and may include at least one of an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (ng-eNB), a next generation node B (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved node B (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and an access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0098] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the open radio access network (Open RAN) architecture. In this case, the interfaces between access network devices or within access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0099] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0100] In some embodiments, the core network device 103 may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or device groups, each including all or part of one or more network elements. The network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an evolved packet core (EPC) network, a 5G core (5GC) network, and a next generation core (NGC) network.

[0101] In some embodiments, the core network may be a 5G 5G network in a 5G system. In this case, the access network device 102 may be, for example, a gNB.

[0102] In some embodiments, the core network device 103 may include a second network element, such as an access and mobility management function (AMF).

[0103] In some embodiments, the second network element may be used to perform user access and mobility management, and its name is not limited thereto.

[0104] In some embodiments, the core network device 103 may include a third network element, such as a session management function (SMF).

[0105] In some embodiments, the third network element may be used for session management, and its name is not limited thereto.

[0106] In some embodiments, the core network device 103 may include a fourth network element, such as a user plane function (UPF).

[0107] In some embodiments, the fourth network element may be used for routing and forwarding core network user plane data packets, and its name is not limited thereto.

[0108] In some embodiments, each network element in the core network device 103 may also be referred to as a network device, a network function, a network entity, etc., without limitation to the name.

[0109] In some embodiments, the core network may be an EPC network in a 4G system. In this case, the access network device 102 may be, for example, an eNB. In some embodiments, the second network element may be a mobility management entity (MME). In some embodiments, the second network element may be used to perform user mobility management, and its name is not limited thereto.

[0110] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0111] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 , or some of the entities in the communication system 100 , but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1 are illustrative only. The communication system 100 may include all or some of the entities shown in FIG1 , or may include other entities other than those shown in FIG1 . The number and form of the entities are arbitrary. The entities may be physical or virtual. The connection relationships between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0112] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to long term evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, international mobile telecommunications-advanced (IMT-advanced), 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.17 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.18 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.19 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.21 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.22 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.23 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.24 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.25 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.26 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.27 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.28 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.29 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.30 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.31 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.32 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.33 (WiMAX (reg 802.20, ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), public land mobile network (PLMN) networks, device-to-device (D2D) systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0113] The various embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), including networks or network segments that utilize transmission equipment, relay nodes, or base stations carried on airborne or space-based vehicles, as well as any network involving non-terrestrial flying objects. For example, NTNs may include satellite communication networks, high altitude platform systems (HAPs), and the like. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a satellite communication NTN is used as an example for illustration.

[0114] With the development of communication technology, satellite communication is considered a key aspect of future wireless communication. Satellite communication technology involves ground-based radio communication equipment using satellites as relays for communication. Satellite communication systems consist of satellite and ground components. Satellite communication features a wide range, enabling communication between any two points within the range of the satellite's radio waves, and high reliability, as well as being less susceptible to land-based disasters.

[0115] Satellite communications, as a supplement to terrestrial communication systems, offer the following advantages: 1. Extended coverage: Satellite communications can address communication challenges in areas where cellular communication systems are inaccessible or costly, such as oceans, deserts, and remote mountainous areas. 2. Emergency communications: In extreme situations such as disasters (e.g., earthquakes) that render cellular communication infrastructure unavailable, satellite communications can quickly establish connections.

[0116] Satellite communications involve communication between ground-based radio stations using satellites as relays to forward radio waves. Satellites can perform functions such as receiving signals, changing their frequency, amplifying them, forwarding them, and providing positioning.

[0117] In some embodiments, the NTN network may have two different architectures: an NTN architecture based on transparent load (ie, transparent mode) and an NTN architecture based on regenerative load (ie, regenerative mode).

[0118] As shown in Figure 2A, Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of an NTN architecture based on transparent payload according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the NTN architecture based on transparent payload, the payload of satellite 20 implements frequency conversion and RF amplification in the uplink and downlink directions. Satellite 20 corresponds to an analog RF repeater. Terminal 10 (such as terminal 101 described above) can be connected to satellite 20 via a service link. Satellite 20 can be connected to a terrestrial NTN gateway 30 via a feeder link. The terrestrial NTN gateway 30 is connected to an access network device (such as gNB 40). The gNB 40 is connected to a core network element 50 via a radio link interface (such as an NG interface). The core network element 50 is connected to the data network 60 via an interface (such as an N6 interface). In this NTN architecture, gNB 40 is deployed on the ground and can also be called a terrestrial access network device.

[0119] As shown in Figure 2B, Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of a regenerative payload-based NTN architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the regenerative payload-based NTN architecture, a gNB 40 or its distributed unit (DU) is carried on a satellite 20 (it can be understood that the access network function payload carried by the satellite 20 is the gNB 40 or its distributed unit (DU)). The satellite 20 and the terrestrial NTN gateway 30 constitute the access network (NG-RAN). The terminal 10 can be connected to the satellite 20 via a service link, and the satellite 20 can be connected to the terrestrial NTN gateway 30 via a feeder link. The terrestrial NTN gateway 30 is connected to the core network element 50 via a radio link interface (such as the NG interface), and the core network element 50 is connected to the data network 60 via an interface (such as the N6 interface). In some embodiments, the gNB 40 is carried on the satellite 20. Therefore, the regenerative payload-based NTN architecture can also be referred to as a gNB onboard architecture, i.e., the satellite operates in regenerative mode.

[0120] It should be noted that the satellite 20 in Figures 2A and 2B can be replaced by other airborne platforms with fixed orbits, such as drones, hot air balloons, airplanes, etc. Of course, in some embodiments, the satellite 20 can also be replaced by other ground platforms with fixed orbits, such as buses and ships with fixed trajectories, and the present disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0121] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the ground NTN gateway 30 may be a transport network layer (TNL) node for transparent transmission of data or signaling; the ground NTN gateway 30 may also be replaced by a fixed-position receiving node or a donor node.

[0122] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG2C , FIG2C is another schematic diagram of an NTN architecture based on regenerative load according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the above-mentioned gNB satellite-based architecture, if a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite is used as a satellite-based gNB, the gNB serving the user will change frequently, causing frequent updates of the N2 interface and the N3 interface, thereby generating a large number of interactions on the N2 interface and the N3 interface. Therefore, the AMF agent 70 and the proxy RAN node 80 are introduced to reduce the impact of the N2 connection and the N3 connection.

[0123] In some embodiments, the proxy RAN node may also be referred to as a proxy satellite RAN node, a proxy access node, a proxy satellite access node, etc.

[0124] In some embodiments, at least one of an AMF proxy 70 and a proxy RAN node 80 is deployed near the terrestrial NTN gateway 30. The AMF proxy 70 is configured to handle N1 and / or N2 connection traffic and forward traffic between the gNB and the AMF. The proxy RAN node 80 is configured to handle N3 connection traffic and forward traffic between the serving gNB and the UPF.

[0125] In one example, the functions of the AMF agent 70 may include at least one of the following:

[0126] If the gNB providing access services to the terminal changes, the mapping relationship between the serving gNB and the proxy RAN node is updated (for example, the mapping relationship between the identification information of the serving gNB and the identification information of the proxy RAN node is updated);

[0127] The mapping information update triggers the sending of the current serving gNB information (e.g., the IP address of the serving gNB) to the proxy RAN node.

[0128] Information exchange between N2' and N2 tunnels.

[0129] In one example, the functions of the proxy RAN node 80 may include:

[0130] Information exchange between N3' and N3 tunnels.

[0131] Here, N2' is the interface between the onboard gNB and the AMF proxy, and N3' is the interface between the onboard gNB and the proxy RAN node. N2 is the interface between the AMF proxy 70 and the AMF. N3 is the interface between the proxy RAN node 80 and the UPF.

[0132] In some embodiments, the AMF proxy 70 and the proxy RAN node 80 may be deployed separately, in different devices.

[0133] In some embodiments, the AMF proxy 70 and the proxy RAN node 80 may be centrally deployed in the same device.

[0134] In some embodiments, based on the NTN architecture, the access network device 40 may also be referred to as an access network node, a satellite access network node, an access node, a satellite access node, etc.

[0135] It should be understood that FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to other NTN architectures, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0136] In the NTN architecture shown in Figures 2A to 2C above, in transparent mode, the movement of satellite 20 causes changes in the cell serving terminal 10, which also changes over time. Consequently, the serving cell used to identify the terminal's location in the terrestrial network (TN) is no longer applicable in the NTN. To address this, the NTN introduces a mapped cell ID to identify the geographical area where the terminal 10 is located. For terminals 10 accessing via satellite 20, the gNB 40 is responsible for constructing a mapped cell ID based on the terminal location information (UE location information) received from the terminal 10. The mapped cell ID is independent of the serving cell but is instead associated with the location of the terminal 10. Therefore, assuming the location of the terminal 10 remains unchanged, the mapped cell ID remains unchanged. A mapping between the mapped cell ID and the geographical area is configured in the radio access network (RAN) and the core network. The mapped cell ID can be used by the core network and the RAN to page the terminal 10. In some embodiments, a last known cell ID can also be used to identify the last known location of the terminal 10 known to the network. The last known cell identity can be used to optimize paging efficiency.

[0137] In some embodiments, both the mapped cell identity and the last known cell identity may consist of a gNB identity and a cell identity.

[0138] For the regeneration mode, the movement of the satellite 20 will cause the gNB 40 providing services to the terminal 10 to change. Then, the gNB identifier will also change accordingly, and the mapped cell identifier and the last known cell identifier used to identify the geographical area where the terminal 10 is located will also change accordingly.

[0139] In one example, a satellite carrying a first access network device (e.g., a first gNB) is followed by a satellite carrying a second access network device (e.g., a second gNB). When a terminal accesses the core network via the satellite carrying the first gNB, the mapped cell ID and last known cell ID sent by the terminal to the core network are constructed by the first gNB. Subsequently, due to the sparseness of the satellite constellation, the feeder link may be interrupted. During this interruption, the gNB serving the terminal may switch from the first gNB to the second gNB. However, because the interruption prevents the mapped cell ID and last known cell ID from being updated, after the feeder link is restored, the previously saved mapped cell ID and last known cell ID no longer reflect the terminal's actual location, making it impossible to page the terminal based on the previously saved mapped cell ID and last known cell ID.

[0140] It can be seen from this that mapping cell identifiers and last known cell identifiers is not suitable for identifying the location of a terminal in an NTN architecture with regenerative loads. Therefore, how to identify the location of a terminal in an NTN architecture with regenerative loads is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0141] In order to solve the above problems, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication apparatus, a network device, a communication system and a storage medium, so as to realize the identification of the terminal position for a satellite system in a regeneration mode.

[0142] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first information may be used to indicate the serving access node of a terminal, i.e., the access node currently providing service to the terminal. During different communication processes, as the serving access node of the terminal changes, the access node indicated by the second information may also change. For example, when the first access node is the serving access node of the terminal, the first information is used to indicate the first access node; when the second access node is the serving access node of the terminal, the first information is used to indicate the second access node.

[0143] In some embodiments, during different communication processes, as the service access node of the terminal changes, the access node indicated by the second information will also change. At this time, the first access node and the second access node can be different access nodes, such as access nodes carried on different satellites.

[0144] In some embodiments, the first access node and the second access node may also be the same access node.

[0145] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the second information can be used to indicate the proxy access node assigned by the first network element for access of the terminal. During different communication processes, as the serving access node of the terminal changes, the proxy access node assigned by the first network element for access of the terminal will also change. In this case, the proxy access node indicated by the second information will also change. Exemplarily, when the proxy access node assigned by the first network element for access of the terminal is the first proxy access node, the second information is used to indicate the first proxy access node; when the proxy access node assigned by the first network element for access of the terminal is the second proxy access node, the second information is used to indicate the second proxy access node.

[0146] In some embodiments, during different communication processes, as the serving access node of the terminal changes, the proxy access node assigned by the first network element for access of the terminal may also change, and the proxy access node indicated by the second information may also change. In this case, the first proxy access node and the second proxy access node may be different proxy access nodes associated with the first network element.

[0147] In some embodiments, the first proxy access node and the second proxy access node may also be the same proxy access node associated with the first network element.

[0148] As shown in Figure 3A, Figure 3A is an exemplary interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by the above-mentioned communication system 100. The above-mentioned communication method includes steps S3101 to S3115.

[0149] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may adopt the NTN architecture as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0150] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 first performs an initial registration process, see steps S3101 to S3106 below.

[0151] In step S3101, the terminal sends a third message.

[0152] In some embodiments, the first access node receives the third message.

[0153] In some embodiments, the first access node is the current serving access node of the terminal, that is, the node currently providing access services to the terminal. Exemplarily, the first access node is a first gNB, which is a satellite-based gNB.

[0154] In some embodiments, the third message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0155] In some embodiments, the third message is used to request initial registration of the terminal.

[0156] In some embodiments, the name of the third message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration request", "initial registration request", "registration request message", "initial registration request message", etc.

[0157] In some embodiments, the third message may carry a registration type, where the registration type is initial registration.

[0158] In step S3102, the first access node sends a fourth message.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the fourth message. Exemplarily, the first network element is an AMF agent.

[0160] In some embodiments, the fourth message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0161] In some embodiments, the fourth message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0162] In some embodiments, the fourth message is used to request initial registration of the terminal.

[0163] In some embodiments, the fourth message is used to request initial registration of the terminal.

[0164] In some embodiments, the name of the fourth message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration request", "initial registration request", "registration request message", "initial registration request message", etc.

[0165] In some embodiments, the fourth message is a message between the RAN and the AMF. Exemplarily, the fourth message may be a next generation application protocol (NGAP) message, an S1AP message, or the like.

[0166] In some embodiments, the fourth message may carry first identification information, where the first identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located. Exemplarily, the first identification information may be a mapped cell identifier or a most recently known cell identifier.

[0167] In some embodiments, the first identification information is generated by the first access node according to the location information sent by the terminal.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first area where the terminal is located refers to the geographical area where the terminal is located.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first identification information may include first information. In this case, the first information is used to indicate the first access node.

[0170] In some embodiments, the first information may be identification information of the first access node. Exemplarily, the identification information of the first access node may be identification information of the first gNB, such as the base station identifier (gNB ID-1) of the first gNB.

[0171] In some embodiments, the fourth message may also carry identification information of the first access node, such as gNB ID-1.

[0172] It should be noted that the first identification information has nothing to do with the serving cell of the terminal, but is only related to the geographical location of the terminal. In this case, if the location of the terminal does not change, the first identification information remains unchanged.

[0173] In step S3103, the first network element saves the first information and the second information.

[0174] In some embodiments, the second information is used to indicate the first proxy access node.

[0175] In some embodiments, the first proxy access node is a proxy access node allocated by the first network element for the current access of the terminal.

[0176] In some embodiments, the second information may be identification information of the first proxy access node, for example, proxy RAN node ID-1.

[0177] In some embodiments, the first network element associates the first information and the second information and stores the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node.

[0178] In some embodiments, the first access node is associated with a first proxy access node.

[0179] In some embodiments, after receiving the first identification information, the first network element assigns a proxy access node for access by the terminal. For example, the first network element assigns the first proxy access node for access by the terminal. The first network element then associates the first information with the second information to obtain an association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node, and stores the first information and the second information. Thus, the first network element obtains mapping information between the first access node and the first proxy access node. In some embodiments, the mapping information indicates the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first network element maintains an association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node.

[0181] In some embodiments, if the first network element and the first proxy access node are deployed separately, the first network element may send association information of the first access node and the first proxy access node to the first proxy access node to indicate the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to the first proxy access node.

[0182] In step S3104, the first network element determines the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0183] In some embodiments, the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located.

[0184] In some embodiments, the second identification information may include second information, such as proxy RAN node ID-1.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first network element updates the first identification information based on the association between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the second identification information. Exemplarily, the first identification information is a mapped cell identifier, and the second identification information is a mapped cell identifier. Exemplarily, if the first identification information is a last known cell identifier, then the second identification information is the last known cell identifier.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the first information in the first identification information with the second information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0187] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the identification information of the first access node in the first identification information with the identification information of the first proxy access node according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0188] Exemplarily, the first identification information includes gNB ID-1, and the first network element replaces gNB ID-1 with proxy RAN node ID-1 to obtain the second identification information. In this case, the second identification information includes proxy RAN node ID-1.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first network element adds the second information to the first identification information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0190] In some embodiments, the first network element adds identification information of the first proxy access node to the first identification information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain second identification information.

[0191] Exemplarily, the first identification information includes gNB ID-1, and the first network element adds proxy RAN node ID-1 to the first identification information to obtain the second identification information. In this case, the second identification information includes gNB ID-1 and proxy RAN node ID-1.

[0192] In step S3105, the first network element sends a fifth message.

[0193] In some embodiments, the second network element receives the fifth message. Exemplarily, the second network element is an AMF.

[0194] In some embodiments, the fifth message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0195] In some embodiments, the fifth message is used to request initial registration of the terminal.

[0196] In some embodiments, the name of the fifth message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration request", "initial registration request", "registration request message", "initial registration request message", etc.

[0197] In some embodiments, the fifth message is a message between the RAN and the AMF. Exemplarily, the fifth message may be an NGAP message, an S1AP message, or the like.

[0198] In some embodiments, the fifth message may carry second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located.

[0199] In some embodiments, in response to the fifth message, if the second network element accepts the terminal registration, the second network element sends a registration accept message (registration accept) to the terminal through the first network element and the first access node.

[0200] In some embodiments, in response to the fifth message, if the second network element rejects the terminal registration, the second network element sends a registration reject message (registration reject) to the terminal through the first network element and the first access node.

[0201] Exemplarily, a terminal sends an initial registration request message to a first network element (e.g., AMF gaent) through a first access node (e.g., gNB-1). The initial registration request message carries first identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-1) and identification information of the first access node (e.g., gNB ID-1). The AMF gaent assigns a first proxy access node (proxy RAN node-1) to the terminal and saves the identification information of gNB ID-1 and proxy RAN node-1 (e.g., proxy RAN node ID-1). Based on the association between gNB ID-1 and proxy RAN node ID-1, the AMF gaent replaces the gNB ID-1 in mapped cell ID-1 with proxy RAN node ID-1 to obtain second identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-2). The AMF gaent sends mapped cell ID-2 to a second network element (e.g., AMF) to indicate to the AMF the first area in which the terminal is located. If the network accepts the terminal registration, the AMF sends a "registration accept" message to the terminal; otherwise, the AMF sends a "registration reject" message to the terminal.

[0202] At this point, the initial registration process of the terminal ends. In the above initial registration process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0203] In some embodiments, after the terminal initially registers, due to constellation movement, the first access node may move out of the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location, while the second access node may move into the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location. In this case, the terminal's serving access node may change from the first access node to the second access node. In this case, the first access node and the second access node are different. The terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. In this case, the communication system 100 executes the registration update process, as shown in steps S3106 to S3112.

[0204] It should be noted that this registration update process may be the first registration update after the initial registration process, or may be one of multiple registration updates after the initial registration process.

[0205] In step S3106, the terminal sends a sixth message.

[0206] In some embodiments, the second access node receives the sixth message.

[0207] In some embodiments, the second access node is the current serving access node of the terminal. Exemplarily, the second access node is a second gNB, and the second gNB is a satellite-based gNB.

[0208] In some embodiments, the sixth message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0209] In some embodiments, the sixth message is used to request mobility registration of the terminal.

[0210] In some embodiments, the sixth message is used to request a registration update for the terminal.

[0211] In some embodiments, the name of the sixth message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration request", "registration update", "registration update request", "registration request message", "registration update message", "registration update request message", etc.

[0212] In some embodiments, the sixth message may carry a registration type, and the registration type is mobility registration updating.

[0213] In step S3107, the second access node sends a seventh message.

[0214] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the seventh message. Exemplarily, the first network element is an AMF agent.

[0215] In some embodiments, the seventh message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0216] In some embodiments, the seventh message is used to request mobility registration of the terminal.

[0217] In some embodiments, the seventh message is used to request a registration update for the terminal.

[0218] In some embodiments, the name of the seventh message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration request", "registration update", "registration update request", "registration request message", "registration update message", "registration update request message", etc.

[0219] In some embodiments, the seventh message may carry a registration type, and the registration type is mobility registration updating.

[0220] In some embodiments, the seventh message is a message between the RAN and the AMF. Exemplarily, the seventh message may be an NGAP message, an S1AP message, or the like.

[0221] In some embodiments, the seventh message may carry the first identification information.

[0222] In some embodiments, the first identification information may be generated by the second access node according to the location information sent by the terminal.

[0223] In some embodiments, the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where the terminal is located.

[0224] In some embodiments, the first area where the terminal is located refers to the geographical area where the terminal is located.

[0225] In some embodiments, the first identification information may include first information. In this case, the first information is used to indicate the second access node.

[0226] In some embodiments, the first information may be identification information of the second access node. Exemplarily, the identification information of the second access node may be identification information of a second gNB, such as a base station identifier (gNB ID-2) of the second gNB.

[0227] In step S3108, the first network element saves the first information and the second information.

[0228] In some embodiments, the second information is used to indicate a second proxy access node.

[0229] In some embodiments, the second proxy access node is a proxy access node allocated by the first network element for the current access of the terminal.

[0230] In some embodiments, the second information may be identification information of the second proxy access node, for example, proxy RAN node ID-2.

[0231] In some embodiments, the first network element associates the first information with the second information and stores the information to obtain an association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node.

[0232] In some embodiments, the second access node is associated with a second proxy access node.

[0233] In some embodiments, the first network element updates the association information between the access node and the proxy access node according to the first information and the second information.

[0234] In some embodiments, after receiving the first identification information, the first network element assigns a proxy access node for access by the terminal. For example, the first network element assigns a second proxy access node for access by the terminal. The first network element then associates the first information with the second information to obtain an association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node, and stores the first information and the second information. Thus, the first network element obtains mapping information between the second access node and the second proxy access node. In some embodiments, the mapping information indicates the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node.

[0235] In some embodiments, the first network element further maintains an association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node.

[0236] In some embodiments, if the first network element and the second proxy access node are deployed separately, the first network element may send association information between the second access node and the second proxy access node to the second proxy access node to indicate the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to the first proxy access node.

[0237] In step S3109, the first network element determines the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0238] In some embodiments, the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located.

[0239] In some embodiments, the second identification information may include second information, such as proxy RAN node ID-2.

[0240] In some embodiments, the first network element updates the first identification information based on the association between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the second identification information. Exemplarily, the first identification information is a mapped cell identifier, and the second identification information is a mapped cell identifier. Exemplarily, the first identification information is a last known cell identifier, and the second identification information is a last known cell identifier.

[0241] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the first information in the first identification information with the second information according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0242] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the identification information of the second access node in the first identification information with the identification information of the second proxy access node according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0243] Exemplarily, the first identification information includes gNB ID-2, and the first network element replaces gNB ID-2 with proxy RAN node ID-2 to obtain the second identification information. In this case, the second identification information includes proxy RAN node ID-2.

[0244] In some embodiments, the first network element adds the second information to the first identification information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0245] In some embodiments, the first network element adds identification information of the second proxy access node to the first identification information according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0246] Exemplarily, the first identification information includes gNB ID-2, and the first network element adds proxy RAN node ID-2 to the first identification information to obtain the second identification information. In this case, the second identification information includes gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node ID-2.

[0247] In step S3110, the first network element determines whether the second identification information is the same as the third identification information.

[0248] In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent by the first network element to the second network element (e.g., AMF). In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information last sent by the first network element to the second network element. In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information previously sent by the first network element to the second network element.

[0249] In some embodiments, the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located.

[0250] In some embodiments, if the above registration update process is the first registration update after the initial registration process, then the third identification information may be the second identification information determined in step S3104.

[0251] In some embodiments, if the above registration update process is one of multiple registration updates after the initial registration process, then the third identification information may be the second identification information sent by the first network element to the second network element in the most recent registration update process.

[0252] In some embodiments, the second area indicated by the third identification information may be different from the first area indicated by the second identification information, or may be the same as the first area indicated by the second identification information.

[0253] In some embodiments, if the second identification information in step S3109 is different from the third identification information, it means that the terminal has changed its geographical area, that is, the first area is different from the second area.

[0254] In some embodiments, if the second identification information in step S3109 is the same as the third identification information, it means that the geographical area of ​​the terminal has not changed, that is, the first area is the same as the second area.

[0255] In some embodiments, when the second identification information in step S3109 is different from the third identification information, as shown by the solid line in FIG3A , the communication system 100 may further perform the following step S3111 .

[0256] In step S3111, the first network element sends an eighth message.

[0257] In some embodiments, the second network element receives the eighth message. Exemplarily, the second network element is an AMF.

[0258] In some embodiments, the eighth message is used to request registration of the terminal.

[0259] In some embodiments, the eighth message is used to request mobility registration of the terminal.

[0260] In some embodiments, the eighth message is used to request a registration update for the terminal.

[0261] In some embodiments, the name of the eighth message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration request", "registration update", "registration update request", "registration request message", "registration update message", "registration update request message", etc.

[0262] In some embodiments, the eighth message may carry a registration type, and the registration type is mobility registration updating.

[0263] In some embodiments, the eighth message is a message between the RAN and the AMF. Exemplarily, the seventh message may be an NGAP message, an S1AP message, or the like.

[0264] In some embodiments, the eighth message may carry second identification information.

[0265] In some embodiments, in response to the eighth message, if the second network element accepts the terminal registration, the second network element sends a registration accept message (registration accept) to the terminal through the first network element and the second access node.

[0266] In some embodiments, in response to the eighth message, if the second network element rejects the terminal registration, the second network element sends a registration reject message (registration reject) to the terminal through the first network element and the second access node.

[0267] In some embodiments, when the second identification information in step S3109 is the same as the third identification information, as shown by the dotted line in FIG3A , the communication system 100 may further perform the following step S3112 .

[0268] In step S3112, the first network element sends a ninth message.

[0269] In some embodiments, the second access node receives the ninth message.

[0270] In some embodiments, the ninth message is used to instruct the second network element to accept terminal registration.

[0271] In some embodiments, the name of the ninth message is not limited, and may be, for example, "registration completed", "registration accepted", "registration successful", "registration completion message", "registration acceptance message", "registration success message", etc.

[0272] In some embodiments, the ninth message is a message between the RAN and the AMF. Exemplarily, the seventh message may be an NGAP message, an S1AP message, or the like.

[0273] In some embodiments, the first network element determines not to send the eighth information to the AMF.

[0274] In some embodiments, the first network element determines not to perform the step of sending the eighth information to the AMF.

[0275] In some embodiments, the second access node sends a tenth message to the terminal in response to the ninth message, to instruct the second network element to accept terminal registration.

[0276] For example, after the terminal completes initial registration, due to constellation mobility, the terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. At this point, the registration update process is triggered. The terminal sends a registration update request message to the AMF gateway through the second access node (e.g., gNB-2). The registration update request message carries the first identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-3) and the identification information of the second access node (e.g., gNB ID-2). The AMF gateway assigns the second proxy access node (proxy RAN node-2) to the terminal and saves the identification information of gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node-2 (e.g., proxy RAN node ID-2). Based on the association between gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node ID-2, the AMF gateway replaces the gNB ID-2 in mapped cell ID-3 with proxy RAN node ID-2, obtaining the second identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-4). The AMF gateway determines whether mapped cell ID-4 is the same as the identification information most recently sent to the AMF (e.g., mapped cell ID-2). If they are different, the AMF gate sends mapped cell ID-4 to the AMF to indicate the first area in which the terminal is located. If the network accepts the terminal's registration update, the AMF sends a "registration accept" message to the terminal; otherwise, the AMF sends a "registration reject" message to the terminal. If they are the same, the AMF gate sends a "registration accept" message to the terminal via gNB-2.

[0277] At this point, the registration update process of the terminal ends. In the above registration update process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0278] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, the communication system 100 performs a paging process, see steps S3113 to S3115 below.

[0279] In step S3113, the second network element sends the first message.

[0280] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the first message.

[0281] In some embodiments, the first message is used to indicate a paging terminal. Exemplarily, the first message is a paging message.

[0282] In some embodiments, the first message carries second identification information.

[0283] In some embodiments, the second identification information is used for core network paging terminals.

[0284] In some embodiments, the first message is triggered by another network element. Exemplarily, the other network element may be an SMF.

[0285] In step S3114, the first network element determines the first identification information according to the second identification information.

[0286] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, if other network elements trigger paging of the terminal, then the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate the second proxy access node.

[0287] In some embodiments, the first network element determines first identification information according to an association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node, where the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate the second access node.

[0288] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the second information in the second identification information with the first information according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0289] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the identification information of the second proxy access node in the second identification information with the identification information of the second access node according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0290] Exemplarily, the second identification information includes proxy RAN node ID-2, and the first network element replaces proxy RAN node ID-2 with gNB ID-2 to obtain the first identification information. In this case, the first identification information includes gNB ID-2.

[0291] In some embodiments, the first network element adds the first information to the second identification information according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0292] In some embodiments, the first network element adds the identification information of the second access node to the second identification information according to the association relationship between the second access node and the second proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0293] Exemplarily, the second identification information includes proxy RAN node ID-2, and the first network element adds gNB ID-2 to the second identification information to obtain the first identification information. In this case, the first identification information includes gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node ID-2.

[0294] In some embodiments, after the terminal completes the initial registration process, if other network elements trigger paging of the terminal, then the second identification information includes second information for indicating the first proxy access node.

[0295] In some embodiments, the first network element determines first identification information according to an association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node, where the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate the first access node.

[0296] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the second information in the second identification information with the first information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0297] In some embodiments, the first network element replaces the identification information of the first proxy access node in the second identification information with the identification information of the first access node according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

[0298] Exemplarily, the second identification information includes proxy RAN node ID-1, and the first network element replaces the proxy RAN node ID-1 with gNB ID-1 to obtain the first identification information. In this case, the first identification information includes gNB ID-1.

[0299] In some embodiments, the first network element adds the first information to the second identification information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0300] In some embodiments, the first network element adds the identification information of the first access node to the second identification information according to the association relationship between the first access node and the first proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

[0301] Exemplarily, the second identification information includes the proxy RAN node ID-1. The first network element adds the gNB ID-1 to the second identification information to obtain the first identification information. In this case, the first identification information includes the gNB ID-1 and the proxy RAN node ID-1.

[0302] In step S3115, the first network element sends a second message.

[0303] In some embodiments, the second access node receives the second message.

[0304] In some embodiments, the second message is used to access the network to page the terminal.

[0305] In some embodiments, the second message carries the first identification information.

[0306] In some embodiments, the second access node pages the terminal according to the first information in the first identification information.

[0307] Exemplarily, after the terminal successfully registers, paging of the terminal is triggered by another network element. Triggered by another network element (such as the SMF), the AMF sends a paging message to the AMF agent, carrying the mapped cell ID-4. Based on the association between gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node ID-2, the AMF agent replaces the proxy RAN node ID-2 in mapped cell ID-4 with gNB ID-2, obtaining first identification information (such as mapped cell ID-3). The AMF agent sends a paging message to gNB-2 to the terminal, carrying the mapped cell ID-3. gNB-2 pages the terminal to the root based on mapped cell ID-3.

[0308] In some embodiments, the first information in the first identification information carried by the fourth message is different from the first information in the first identification information carried by the seventh message, and each indicates a different access node. Therefore, the first identification information carried by the fourth message is different from the first identification information carried by the seventh message.

[0309] In some embodiments, the first area indicated by the first identification information carried in the fourth message may be the same as or different from the first area indicated by the first identification information carried in the seventh message, depending on whether the geographical area where the terminal is located has changed.

[0310] In some embodiments, the first proxy access node and the second proxy access node assigned by the first network element to the terminal may be the same proxy access node. In this case, the second information in step S3103 is the same as the second information in step S3108. In some embodiments, the first proxy access node and the second proxy access node may be different proxy access nodes. In this case, the second information in step S3103 is different from the second information in step S3108.

[0311] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3101 to S3115. For example, steps S3101 to S3105 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3106 to S3112 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3106 to S3111 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3106 to S3110 and step S3112 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3113 to S3115 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3101 to S3112 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3101 to S3105 and steps S3113 to S3115 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3106 to S3115 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3106 to S3111 and steps S3113 to S3115 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3106 to S3110 and step S3112, as well as steps S3113 to S3115, can be implemented as independent embodiments. It should be noted that one or more of steps S3101 to S3115 may constitute a possible independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0312] In some embodiments, step S3103 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0313] In some embodiments, step S3108 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0314] In some embodiments, step S3110 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0315] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second information is used to indicate the proxy access node assigned by the first network element to the terminal. The first network element indicates the geographical area where the terminal is located by sending second identification information including the second information to the second network element, thereby identifying the terminal location.

[0316] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codeword", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0317] In some embodiments, the terms "radio", "wireless", "radio access network (RAN)", "access network (AN)", "RAN-based" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0318] In some embodiments, the terms "component carrier (CC)", "cell", "frequency carrier", "carrier frequency" and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0319] In some embodiments, terms such as wireless access scheme and waveform may be used interchangeably.

[0320] In some embodiments, "obtain", "get", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0321] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0322] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be performed by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values ​​(for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0323] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second information is used to indicate the proxy access node assigned by the first network element to the terminal. The first network element indicates the geographical area where the terminal is located by sending second identification information including the second information to the second network element, thereby identifying the terminal location.

[0324] As shown in Figure 3B, Figure 3B is another exemplary interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by the above-mentioned communication system 100. The above-mentioned communication method includes steps S3201 to S3215.

[0325] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may adopt the NTN architecture as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0326] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 first performs an initial registration process, see steps S3201 to S3206 below.

[0327] In step S3201, the terminal sends a third message.

[0328] The optional implementation of step S3201 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0329] In step S3202, the first access node sends a fourth message.

[0330] The optional implementation of step S3202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0331] In step S3203, the first network element saves the first information and the second information.

[0332] The optional implementation of step S3203 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3103 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0333] In step S3204, the first network element determines the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0334] The optional implementation of step S3204 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0335] In step S3205, the first network element sends a fifth message.

[0336] The optional implementation of step S3205 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0337] At this point, the initial registration process of the terminal ends. In the above initial registration process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby identifying the terminal's location.

[0338] In some embodiments, after the terminal initially registers, due to constellation movement, the first access node may move out of the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location, while the second access node may move into the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location. In this case, the terminal's serving access node may change from the first access node to the second access node. In this case, the first access node and the second access node are different. The terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. In this case, the communication system 100 executes the registration update process, as shown in steps S3206 to S3211.

[0339] It should be noted that this registration update process may be the first registration update after the initial registration process, or may be one of multiple registration updates after the initial registration process.

[0340] In step S3206, the terminal sends a sixth message.

[0341] The optional implementation of step S3206 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3106 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0342] In step S3207, the second access node sends a seventh message.

[0343] The optional implementation of step S3207 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3107 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0344] In step S3208, the first network element saves the first information and the second information.

[0345] The optional implementation of step S3208 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3108 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0346] In step S3209, the first network element determines the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0347] The optional implementation of step S3209 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3109 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0348] In step S3210, the first network element determines that the second identification information is different from the third identification information.

[0349] In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent by the first network element to the second network element (e.g., AMF). In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information last sent by the first network element to the second network element. In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information previously sent by the first network element to the second network element.

[0350] In some embodiments, the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located.

[0351] In some embodiments, if the above registration update process is the first registration update after the initial registration process, then the third identification information may be the second identification information determined in step S3104.

[0352] In some embodiments, if the above registration update process is one of multiple registration updates after the initial registration process, then the third identification information may be the second identification information sent by the first network element to the second network element in the most recent registration update process.

[0353] In some embodiments, the second area indicated by the third identification information may be different from the first area indicated by the second identification information.

[0354] In some embodiments, if the second identification information in step S3209 is different from the third identification information, it means that the terminal has changed its geographical area, that is, the first area is different from the second area.

[0355] In step S3211, the first network element sends an eighth message.

[0356] The optional implementation of step S3211 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3111 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0357] Exemplarily, after the terminal completes initial registration, due to constellation mobility, the terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. At this point, the registration update process is triggered. The terminal sends a registration update request message to the AMF gateway through the second access node (e.g., gNB-2). The registration update request message carries the first identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-3) and the identification information of the second access node (e.g., gNB ID-2). The AMF gateway assigns the second proxy access node (proxy RAN node-2) to the terminal and saves the identification information of gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node-2 (e.g., proxy RAN node ID-2). Based on the association between gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node ID-2, the AMF gateway replaces the gNB ID-2 in mapped cell ID-3 with proxy RAN node ID-2, obtaining the second identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-4). The AMF gateway determines that mapped cell ID-4 is different from the identification information most recently sent to the AMF (e.g., mapped cell ID-2). The AMF sends the mapped cell ID-4 to the AMF to indicate the first area where the terminal is located. If the network accepts the terminal registration update, the AMF sends a "registration accept" message to the terminal; otherwise, the AMF sends a "registration reject" message to the terminal.

[0358] At this point, the registration update process of the terminal ends. In the above registration update process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0359] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, the communication system 100 performs a paging process, see steps S3212 to S3214 below.

[0360] In step S3212, the second network element sends a first message.

[0361] The optional implementation of step S3212 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3113 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0362] In step S3213, the first network element determines the first identification information according to the second identification information.

[0363] The optional implementation of step S3213 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3114 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0364] In step S3214, the first network element sends a second message.

[0365] The optional implementation of step S3214 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3115 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0366] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3201 to S3214. For example, steps S3201 to S3205 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3206 to S3211 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3212 to S3214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3201 to S3211 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3201 to S3205 and steps S3212 to S3214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3206 to S3214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. It should be noted that one or more steps in steps S3201 to S3214 may constitute a possible independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0367] In some embodiments, step S3203 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0368] In some embodiments, step S3208 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0369] As shown in Figure 3C, Figure 3C is another exemplary interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is executed by the above-mentioned communication system 100. The above-mentioned communication method includes steps S3301 to S3314.

[0370] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may adopt the NTN architecture as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0371] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 first performs an initial registration process, see steps S3301 to S3306 below.

[0372] In step S3301, the terminal sends a third message.

[0373] The optional implementation of step S3301 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3101 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0374] In step S3302, the first access node sends a fourth message.

[0375] The optional implementation of step S3302 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0376] In step S3303, the first network element saves the first information and the second information.

[0377] The optional implementation of step S3303 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3103 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0378] In step S3304, the first network element determines the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0379] The optional implementation of step S3304 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0380] In step S3305, the first network element sends a fifth message.

[0381] The optional implementation of step S3305 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0382] At this point, the initial registration process of the terminal ends. In the above initial registration process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0383] In some embodiments, after the terminal initially registers, due to constellation movement, the first access node may move out of the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location, while the second access node may move into the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location. In this case, the terminal's serving access node may change from the first access node to the second access node. In this case, the first access node and the second access node are different. The terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. In this case, the communication system 100 executes the registration update process, as shown in steps S3306 to S3311.

[0384] It should be noted that this registration update process may be the first registration update process after the initial registration process, or may be one of multiple registration update processes after the initial registration process.

[0385] In step S3306, the terminal sends a sixth message.

[0386] The optional implementation of step S3306 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3106 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0387] In step S3307, the second access node sends a seventh message.

[0388] The optional implementation of step S3307 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3107 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0389] In step S3308, the first network element saves the first information and the second information.

[0390] The optional implementation of step S3308 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3108 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0391] In step S3309, the first network element determines the second identification information based on the first identification information.

[0392] The optional implementation of step S3309 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3109 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0393] In step S3310, the first network element determines that the second identification information is the same as the third identification information.

[0394] In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information most recently sent by the first network element to the second network element (e.g., AMF). In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information last sent by the first network element to the second network element. In some embodiments, the third identification information is the identification information previously sent by the first network element to the second network element.

[0395] In some embodiments, the third identification information is used to indicate the second area where the terminal is located.

[0396] In some embodiments, if the above registration update process is the first registration update after the initial registration process, then the third identification information may be the second identification information determined in step S3104.

[0397] In some embodiments, if the above registration update process is one of multiple registration updates after the initial registration process, then the third identification information may be the second identification information sent by the first network element to the second network element in the most recent registration update process.

[0398] In some embodiments, the second area indicated by the third identification information may be the same as the first area indicated by the second identification information.

[0399] In some embodiments, the second identification information in step S3109 is the same as the third identification information, indicating that the geographical area of ​​the terminal has not changed, that is, the first area is the same as the second area.

[0400] In step S3311, the first network element sends a ninth message.

[0401] The optional implementation of step S3311 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3112 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0402] For example, after the terminal completes initial registration, due to constellation mobility, the terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. At this point, the registration update process is triggered. The terminal sends a registration update request message to the AMF gateway through the second access node (e.g., gNB-2). The registration update request message carries the first identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-3) and the identification information of the second access node (e.g., gNB ID-2). The AMF gateway assigns the second proxy access node (proxy RAN node-2) to the terminal and saves the identification information of gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node-2 (e.g., proxy RAN node ID-2). Based on the association between gNB ID-2 and proxy RAN node ID-2, the AMF gateway replaces the gNB ID-2 in mapped cell ID-3 with proxy RAN node ID-2, obtaining the second identification information (e.g., mapped cell ID-4). The AMF gateway determines that mapped cell ID-4 is the same as the identification information most recently sent to the AMF (e.g., mapped cell ID-2). The AMF sends a registration accept message to the terminal through gNB-2.

[0403] At this point, the registration update process of the terminal ends. In the above registration update process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0404] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, the communication system 100 performs a paging process, see steps S3312 to S3314 below.

[0405] In step S3312, the second network element sends a first message.

[0406] The optional implementation of step S3312 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3113 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0407] In step S3313, the first network element determines the first identification information according to the second identification information.

[0408] The optional implementation of step S3313 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3114 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0409] In step S3314, the first network element sends a second message.

[0410] The optional implementation of step S3314 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3115 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0411] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S3301 to S3314. For example, steps S3301 to S3305 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3306 to S3311 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3312 to S3314 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3301 to S3311 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3301 to S3305 and steps S3312 to S3314 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S3306 to S3314 can be implemented as independent embodiments. It should be noted that one or more steps in steps S3301 to S3314 may constitute a possible independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0412] In some embodiments, step S3303 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0413] In some embodiments, step S3308 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0414] As shown in Figure 4A, Figure 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a first flow of a communication method executed by a first network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method executed by a first network element in communication system 100, such as an AMF agent. The communication method of this embodiment of the present disclosure includes steps S4110 to S4112.

[0415] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may adopt the NTN architecture as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0416] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 first performs an initial registration process, see steps S4101 to S4104 below.

[0417] In step S4101, the fourth message is received.

[0418] The optional implementation of step S4101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0419] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the fourth message sent by the first access node, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the fourth message sent by other entities.

[0420] In some embodiments, the first access node is the current serving access node of the terminal, that is, the node currently providing access services to the terminal. Exemplarily, the first access node is a first gNB, which is a satellite-based gNB.

[0421] In some embodiments, the fourth message is sent by the first access node in response to the third message sent by the terminal.

[0422] In step S4102, the first information and the second information are saved.

[0423] The optional implementation of step S4102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3103 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0424] In step S4103, second identification information is determined based on the first identification information.

[0425] The optional implementation of step S4103 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0426] In step S4104, the fifth message is sent.

[0427] The optional implementation of step S4104 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0428] In some embodiments, the first network element sends the fifth message to the second network element, but is not limited thereto, and the fifth message may also be sent to other entities.

[0429] At this point, the initial registration process of the terminal ends. In the above initial registration process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0430] In some embodiments, after the terminal initially registers, due to constellation movement, the first access node may move out of the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location, while the second access node may move into the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location. In this case, the terminal's serving access node may change from the first access node to the second access node. In this case, the first access node and the second access node are different. The terminal may detect the change in the serving cell or serving access node. In this case, the communication system 100 executes the registration update process, see steps S4105 to S4109.

[0431] It should be noted that this registration update process may be the first registration update after the initial registration process, or may be one of multiple registration update processes after the initial registration process.

[0432] In step S4105, the seventh message is received.

[0433] The optional implementation of step S4105 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0434] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the seventh message sent by the second access node, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the seventh message sent by other entities.

[0435] In some embodiments, the second access node is the current serving access node of the terminal, that is, the node currently providing access services to the terminal. Exemplarily, the second access node is a second gNB, and the second gNB is a satellite-based gNB.

[0436] In some embodiments, the seventh message is sent by the second access node in response to the sixth message sent by the terminal.

[0437] In step S4106, the first information and the second information are saved.

[0438] The optional implementation of step S4106 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3108 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0439] In step S4107, the second identification information is determined according to the first identification information.

[0440] The optional implementation of step S4107 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3109 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0441] In step S4108, it is determined that the second identification information is different from the third identification information.

[0442] The optional implementation of step S4108 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3110 in Figure 3A, the optional implementation of step S3210 in Figure 3B, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 3A and 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0443] In step S4109, the eighth message is sent.

[0444] The optional implementation of step S4109 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3111 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0445] In some embodiments, the first network element sends the eighth message to the second network element, but is not limited thereto, and the eighth message may also be sent to other entities.

[0446] At this point, the registration update process of the terminal ends. In the above registration update process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0447] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, the communication system 100 performs a paging process, see steps S4110 to S4112 below.

[0448] In step S4110, a first message is received.

[0449] The optional implementation of step S4110 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3113 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0450] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the first message sent by the second network element, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the first message sent by other entities.

[0451] In some embodiments, the first message is sent by the second network element in response to a trigger from another network element.

[0452] In step S4111, the first identification information is determined according to the second identification information.

[0453] The optional implementation of step S4111 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3114 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0454] In step S4112, a second message is sent.

[0455] The optional implementation of step S4112 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3115 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0456] In some embodiments, the first network element sends the second message to the second access node, but is not limited thereto, and the second message may also be sent to other entities.

[0457] In some embodiments, the second message is sent by the first network element in response to the first message.

[0458] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4101 to S4112. For example, steps S4101 to S4104 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4105 to S4109 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4110 to S4112 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4101 to S4109 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4101 to S4104 and steps S4110 to S4112 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4105 to S4112 can be implemented as independent embodiments. It should be noted that one or more steps in steps S4101 to S4112 may constitute a possible independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0459] In some embodiments, step S4102 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0460] In some embodiments, step S4106 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0461] As shown in Figure 4B, Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of a second flow chart illustrating a communication method executed by a first network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method executed by a first network element in the communication system 100, such as an AMF agent. The communication method includes steps S4201 to S4212.

[0462] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may adopt the NTN architecture as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0463] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 first performs an initial registration process, see steps S4201 to S4206 below.

[0464] In step S4201, the fourth message is received.

[0465] The optional implementation of step S4202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3102 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0466] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the fourth message sent by the first access node, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the fourth message sent by other entities.

[0467] In some embodiments, the first access node is the current serving access node of the terminal, that is, the node currently providing access services to the terminal. Exemplarily, the first access node is a first gNB, which is a satellite-based gNB.

[0468] In some embodiments, the fourth message is sent by the first access node in response to the third message sent by the terminal.

[0469] In step S4202, the first information and the second information are saved.

[0470] The optional implementation of step S4202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3103 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0471] In step S4203, second identification information is determined based on the first identification information.

[0472] The optional implementation of step S4203 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3104 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0473] In step S4204, the fifth message is sent.

[0474] The optional implementation of step S4204 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0475] In some embodiments, the first network element sends the fifth message to the second network element, but is not limited thereto, and the fifth message may also be sent to other entities.

[0476] At this point, the initial registration process of the terminal ends. In the above initial registration process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0477] In some embodiments, after the terminal initially registers, due to constellation movement, the first access node may move out of the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location, while the second access node may move into the coverage area of ​​the terminal's location. In this case, the terminal's serving access node may change from the first access node to the second access node. In this case, the first access node and the second access node are different. The terminal may detect a change in the serving cell or serving access node. In this case, the communication system 100 executes the registration update process, as shown in steps S4205 to S4209.

[0478] It should be noted that this registration update process may be the first registration update after the initial registration process, or may be one of multiple registration updates after the initial registration process.

[0479] In step S4205, the seventh message is received.

[0480] The optional implementation of step S4205 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3107 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0481] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the seventh message sent by the second access node, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the seventh message sent by other entities.

[0482] In some embodiments, the second access node is the current serving access node of the terminal, that is, the node currently providing access services to the terminal. Exemplarily, the second access node is a second gNB, and the second gNB is a satellite-based gNB.

[0483] In some embodiments, the seventh message is sent by the second access node in response to the sixth message sent by the terminal.

[0484] In step S4206, the first information and the second information are saved.

[0485] The optional implementation of step S4206 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3108 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0486] In step S4207, the second identification information is determined according to the first identification information.

[0487] The optional implementation of step S4207 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3109 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0488] In step S4208, it is determined that the second identification information is the same as the third identification information.

[0489] The optional implementation of step S4208 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3110 in Figure 3A, the optional implementation of step S3310 in Figure 3C, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 3A and 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0490] In step S4209, the ninth message is sent.

[0491] The optional implementation of step S4209 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3112 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0492] In some embodiments, the first network element sends the ninth message to the second access node, but is not limited thereto, and the ninth message may also be sent to other entities.

[0493] At this point, the registration update process of the terminal ends. In the above registration update process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0494] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, the communication system 100 performs a paging process, see steps S4210 to S4212 below.

[0495] In step S4210, a first message is received.

[0496] The optional implementation of step S4210 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3113 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0497] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the first message sent by the second network element, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the first message sent by other entities.

[0498] In some embodiments, the first message is sent by the second network element in response to a trigger from another network element.

[0499] In step S4211, the first network element determines the first identification information according to the second identification information.

[0500] The optional implementation of step S4211 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3114 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0501] In step S4212, the first network element sends a second message.

[0502] The optional implementation of step S4212 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3115 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0503] In some embodiments, the first network element sends the second message to the second access node, but is not limited thereto, and the second message may also be sent to other entities.

[0504] In some embodiments, the second message is sent by the first network element in response to the first message.

[0505] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S4201 to S4214. For example, steps S4201 to S4205 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4206 to S4211 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4212 to S4214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4201 to S4211 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4201 to S4205 and steps S4212 to S4214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. For example, steps S4206 to S4214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. It should be noted that one or more steps in steps S4201 to S4214 may constitute a possible independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0506] In some embodiments, step S4203 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0507] In some embodiments, step S4208 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0508] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second information is used to indicate the proxy access node assigned by the first network element to the terminal. The first network element indicates the geographical area where the terminal is located by sending second identification information including the second information to the second network element, thereby identifying the terminal location.

[0509] As shown in Figure 5, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a first flow chart of a communication method executed by a second network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method executed by a second network element, such as an AMF, in a communication system 100. The communication method of this embodiment of the present disclosure includes steps S5101 to S5104.

[0510] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may adopt the NTN architecture as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0511] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 performs a registration process, see the following step S5101.

[0512] In step S5101, the fifth message or the eighth message is received.

[0513] The optional implementation of step S5101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3105 in Figure 3A, the optional implementation of step S3111 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0514] In some embodiments, during the initial registration process of the terminal, the second network element receives the fifth message sent by the first network element, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the fifth message sent by other entities.

[0515] In some embodiments, in the registration update process of the terminal, the second network element receives the eighth message sent by the first network element, but is not limited thereto, and may also receive the eighth message sent by other entities.

[0516] At this point, the registration process of the terminal ends. In the above registration process, the first network element sends the second identification information to the second network element to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, thereby realizing identification of the terminal location.

[0517] In some embodiments, after the terminal successfully registers, the communication system 100 performs a paging process, see the following step S5102.

[0518] In step S5102, a first message is sent.

[0519] The optional implementation of step S5102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S3113 in Figure 3A and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0520] In some embodiments, the second network element sends the first message to the first network element, but is not limited thereto, and the first message may also be sent to other entities.

[0521] In some embodiments, the first message is sent by the second network element in response to a trigger from another network element.

[0522] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S5101 to S5102. For example, step S5101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment. For example, step S5102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment. It should be noted that one or more of steps S5101 to S5104 may constitute a possible independent embodiment, but are not limited to this.

[0523] In some embodiments, step S5101 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0524] In some embodiments, step S5102 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0525] As shown in Figure 6A, Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of a third process flow of a communication method executed by a first network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method executed by a first network element in communication system 100, such as an AMF agent. The communication method of this embodiment of the present disclosure includes steps S6101 to S6102.

[0526] In step S6101, first identification information is received.

[0527] Optional implementations of step S6101 may refer to step S3102 and step S3107 in FIG3A and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG3A , which will not be described in detail here.

[0528] In step S6102, second identification information is determined based on the first identification information.

[0529] Optional implementations of step S6102 may be found in step S3104 and step S3109 of FIG. 3A and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 3A , which will not be described in detail here.

[0530] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments on the communication system side and the first network element side, which will not be repeated here.

[0531] As shown in Figure 6B, Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of a second flow chart of a communication method performed by a second network element side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is performed by a second network element in the communication system 100, such as an AMF. The communication method of this embodiment of the present disclosure includes step S6201.

[0532] In step S6201, second identification information is received.

[0533] Optional implementations of step S6201 may refer to step S3105 and step S3111 in FIG3A and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG3A , which will not be described in detail here.

[0534] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments of the communication system side and the second network element side, which will not be repeated here.

[0535] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a communication method. As shown in FIG7A , FIG7A is a schematic diagram illustrating a first flow chart of a communication system executing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method of the present disclosure embodiment includes steps S711 to S7114.

[0536] In step S711, a terminal (e.g., a UE) accesses the core network via an onboard gNB. Serving gNB1 sends an initial access request to the AMF agent. The gNB1 ID is included in the NGAP message. Furthermore, gNB1 generates a mapped cell ID-1 based on the UE location received from the UE. The mapped cell ID-1 is also included in the NGAP message and sent to the AMF agent.

[0537] In step S712, upon receiving the registration request, the AMF agent assigns a proxy RAN node for UE access. The proxy RAN node can be deployed in combination with the AMF agent. Association information indicates the association between gNB1 and the proxy RAN node. If the proxy RAN node is deployed separately from the AMF agent, the AMF agent sends the association information to the proxy RAN node.

[0538] In step S713, the AMF agent replaces the gNB1 ID with the proxy RAN node ID to update the received mapped cell id-1.

[0539] In step S714, the AMF agent sends the updated mapped cell id (i.e., mapped cell id-2) to the AMF through an NGAP message.

[0540] Step S715: If the network accepts the terminal's registration, the AMF sends a registration accept message to the UE through the AMF agent.

[0541] In step S716, due to constellation mobility, the UE's serving gNB changes from gNB1 to gNB2. The terminal accesses and detects a change in the serving cell or serving gNB.

[0542] In step S717, the terminal sends a registration update request to gNB2. gNB2 sends the registration update request to the AMF agent. The gNB2 ID is included in the NGAP message. In addition, gNB2 generates mapped cell ID-3 based on the UE location received from the UE. Mapped cell ID-3 is also included in the NGAP message and sent to the AMF agent.

[0543] In step S718, the AMF agent updates the association information using the gNB2 ID.

[0544] In step S719, the AMF agent updates mapped cell ID-3 and determines that the updated mapped cell ID-3 is the same as mapped cell ID-2. The AMF agent determines not to send a registration update request to the AMF.

[0545] In step S7110, the AMF agent sends a registration accept message to the UE through gNB2.

[0546] Step S7111: After the UE successfully registers, the UE can perform data interaction with the network. The AMF receives a trigger message from other network elements (such as SMF).

[0547] In step S7112, the AMF sends a paging message to the AMF agent, and the mapped cell ID-2 is carried in the paging message.

[0548] Step S7113: Based on the association information maintained by the AMF agent, the AMF agent updates mapped cell id-2 to mapped cell id-3.

[0549] In step S7114, based on mapped cell ID 3, the AMF agent sends a paging message to gNB2, carrying mapped cell ID 3. Based on mapped cell ID 3, gNB2 pages the UE.

[0550] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a communication method. As shown in FIG7B , FIG7B is a schematic diagram of a first flow chart illustrating a communication system executing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method of the present disclosure embodiment includes steps S721 to S7214.

[0551] In step S721, a terminal (e.g., a UE) accesses the core network via an onboard gNB. Serving gNB1 sends an initial access request to the AMF agent. The gNB1 ID is included in the NGAP message. Furthermore, gNB1 generates a mapped cell ID-1 based on the UE location received from the UE. The mapped cell ID-1 is also included in the NGAP message and sent to the AMF agent.

[0552] In step S722, upon receiving the registration request, the AMF agent assigns a proxy RAN node for UE access. The proxy RAN node can be deployed in combination with the AMF agent. Association information indicates the association between gNB1 and the proxy RAN node. If the proxy RAN node is deployed separately from the AMF agent, the AMF agent sends the association information to the proxy RAN node.

[0553] In step S723, the AMF agent replaces the gNB1 ID with the proxy RAN node ID to update the received mapped cell id-1.

[0554] In step S724, the AMF agent sends the updated mapped cell id (i.e., mapped cell id-2) to the AMF via an NGAP message.

[0555] In step S725, if the network accepts the terminal's registration, the AMF sends a registration accept message to the UE through the AMF agent.

[0556] In step S726, due to constellation mobility, the UE's serving gNB changes from gNB1 to gNB2. The terminal access detects the change of serving cell or serving gNB.

[0557] In step S727, the terminal sends a registration update request to gNB2. gNB2 sends the registration update request to the AMF agent. The gNB2 ID is included in the NGAP message. In addition, gNB2 generates mapped cell ID-3 based on the UE location received from the UE. Mapped cell ID-3 is also included in the NGAP message and sent to the AMF agent.

[0558] In step S728, the AMF agent updates the association information using the gNB2 ID.

[0559] In step S729, the AMF agent updates mapped cell ID-3 and determines that the updated mapped cell ID-3 (i.e., mapped cell ID-4) is different from mapped cell ID-2 (caused by UE mobility). The AMF agent determines to send a registration update request to the AMF.

[0560] In step S7210, the AMF agent sends a registration update request to the AMF, and the mapped cell ID-4 is carried in the registration update request.

[0561] In step S7211, the AMF agent sends a registration accept message to the UE through gNB2.

[0562] Step S7212: After the UE successfully registers, the UE can perform data interaction with the network. The AMF receives a trigger message from other network elements (such as SMF).

[0563] In step S7213, the AMF sends a paging message to the AMF agent. The mapped cell ID 4 is included in the paging message.

[0564] In step S7214, based on the association information maintained by the AMF agent, the AMF agent updates mapped cell ID 4 to mapped cell ID 3. Based on mapped cell ID 3, the AMF agent sends a paging message to gNB2 carrying mapped cell ID 3. Based on mapped cell ID 3, gNB2 pages the UE.

[0565] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device) in any of the above methods.

[0566] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions, and in actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions, and the processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of some or all of the above units or modules are realized by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD), taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, which can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0567] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capability. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capability, such as a CPU, a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (also understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP); in another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable, such as a hardware circuit implemented by an ASIC or PLD, such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and implementing the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0568] As shown in Figure 8A, Figure 8A is a structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure of the above-mentioned communication device 81 can be as shown in Figure 8A. The communication device 81 identifies information, the first identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate the service access node of the terminal; the processing module 8102 is used to determine the second identification information based on the first identification information, the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate the proxy access node assigned for terminal access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node. Optionally, the above-mentioned first transceiver module 8101 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the first network element in any of the above methods (for example, step S3102, step S3105, step S3107, step S3111, step S3112, step S3113, step S3115, but not limited to this), which will not be repeated here. Optionally, the processing module 8102 is used to execute at least one of the other steps (such as step S3103, step S3104, step S3108, step S3109, step S3110, step S3114, but not limited to these) performed by the first network in any of the above methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0569] As shown in Figure 8B, Figure 8B is a structural diagram of a communication device shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure of the above-mentioned communication device 82 can be as shown in Figure 8B. The communication device 82 may include: a second transceiver module 8201. In some embodiments, the second transceiver module 8201 is used for the second transceiver module, for receiving second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, the second identification information includes second information, the second information is used to indicate the proxy access node assigned to the terminal, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node of the terminal. Optionally, the above-mentioned second transceiver module 8201 is used to perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the second network element in any of the above methods (for example, step S3105, step S3111, step S3113, but not limited to this), which will not be repeated here.

[0570] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a first transceiver module 8101 and / or a second transceiver module 8201. The first transceiver module 8101 and the second transceiver module 8201 may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with the transceiver.

[0571] As shown in Figure 9A, Figure 9A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Network device 91 can be a first network element (such as an AMG agent, etc.), or a second network element (such as an AMF), or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the first network element to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the second network element to implement any of the above methods. Network device 91 can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. For details, please refer to the description in the above method embodiment.

[0572] As shown in FIG9A , the network device 91 includes one or more processors 8101. The processor 8101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit can be used to control communication devices (such as base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data.

[0573] In some embodiments, the network device 91 further includes one or more transceivers 9102. When the network device 91 includes one or more transceivers 9102, the transceiver 9102 performs at least one of the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step S3102, step S3105, step S3107, step S3111, step S3112, step S3113, step S3115, but not limited thereto). The processor 9101 performs at least one of the other steps (e.g., step S3103, step S3104, step S3108, step S3109, step S3110, step S3114, but not limited thereto). In an optional embodiment, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, and the receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, terms such as transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface can be replaced with each other, terms such as transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit can be replaced with each other, and terms such as receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit can be replaced with each other.

[0574] In some embodiments, network device 91 also includes one or more memories 9103 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of memory 9103 may be located outside network device 91. In alternative embodiments, network device 91 may include one or more interface circuits 9104. Interface circuits 9104 are optionally connected to memory 9103 and can be used to receive data from memory 9103 or other devices, or to send data to memory 9103 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 9104 can read data stored in memory 9103 and send the data to processor 9101.

[0575] The network device 91 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the network device 91 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the network device 91 may not be limited by FIG. 9A. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0576] As shown in Figure 9B, Figure 9B is a schematic diagram of a chip structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the network device 91 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip structure 92 shown in Figure 9B, but it is not limited thereto.

[0577] In some embodiments, chip 92 may include one or more processors 9201 .

[0578] In some embodiments, chip 92 may further include one or more interface circuits 9202. The terms interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pins may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 92 also includes one or more memories 9203 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of memory 9203 may be located external to chip 92. Optionally, interface circuit 9202 is connected to memory 9203 and may be used to receive data from memory 9203 or other devices, or may be used to send data to memory 9203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 9202 may read data stored in memory 9203 and send the data to processor 9201.

[0579] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 9202 performs at least one of the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step S3102, step S3105, step S3107, step S3111, step S3112, step S3113, and step S3115, but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 9202 performing the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above method, for example, means that the interface circuit 9202 performs data exchange between the processor 9201, chip 92, memory 9203, or transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 9201 performs at least one of the other steps (e.g., step S3103, step S3104, step S3108, step S3109, step S3110, and step S3114, but not limited thereto).

[0580] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the network device 91, the network device 91 is caused to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a transient storage medium.

[0581] The embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a program product, which, when executed by the network device 91, enables the network device 91 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0582] The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any one of the above methods.

[0583] Other embodiments of the present disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. The embodiments disclosed herein are intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure that follow the general principles of the present disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed in the embodiments disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

[0584] It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the exact structures that have been described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, performed by a first network element, and comprising: Receive first identification information, where the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where the terminal is located, and the first identification information includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal; Determine second identification information according to the first identification information, where the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node allocated for the terminal to access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The determining the second identification information according to the first identification information includes: Replacing the first information with the second information according to an association relationship between the service access node and the proxy access node to obtain the second identification information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, After receiving the first identification information, the method further includes: Saving the first information and the second information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The method further includes: Sending the second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located.

5. The method according to claim 4, before sending the second identification information, the method further comprises: Determine that the second identification information is different from third identification information, where the third identification information is the identification information recently sent to a second network element, and the third identification information is used to indicate a second area where the terminal is located.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The method further includes: Determine that the second identification information is the same as third identification information, where the third identification information is the identification information recently sent to a second network element, and the third identification information is used to indicate a second area where the terminal is located; Determine not to send the second identification information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The method further includes: Receive a first message, where the first message is used to indicate paging the terminal, and the second identification information is carried in the first message; Determine the first identification information according to the second identification information; Send a second message, where the second message is used for an access network to page the terminal, and the first identification information is carried in the second message.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The determining the first identification information according to the second identification information includes: Replacing the second information with the first information according to an association relationship between the service access node and the proxy access node to obtain the first identification information.

9. A communication method, performed by a second network element, and comprising: Receive second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, and the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node, and the proxy access node is associated with a service access node of the terminal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The second identification information is determined according to first identification information, where the first identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, and the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The second identification information is obtained by replacing the first information with the second information according to an association relationship between the service access node and the proxy access node.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein, The method further includes: Send a first message, where the first message is used to indicate paging the terminal, and the second identification information is carried in the first message.

13. A communication device, comprising: A first transceiver module, configured to receive first identification information, where the first identification information is used to indicate a first area where a terminal is located, and the first identification information includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate a service access node of the terminal; A processing module, configured to determine second identification information according to the first identification information, where the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node allocated for the terminal to access, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node; 14. A communication device, comprising: A second transceiver module, configured to receive second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate the first area where the terminal is located, and the second identification information includes second information, and the second information is used to indicate a proxy access node, and the proxy access node is associated with the service access node of the terminal; 15. A network device, comprising: One or more processors; One or more memories for storing instructions; Wherein, the processor is configured to call the instructions to enable the network device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12; 16. A communication system, comprising: A first network element, configured to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 8; A second network element, configured to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 12; 17. A storage medium, wherein, The storage medium stores instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a network device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 can be executed.

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