Communication method, and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and provides a communication method and an apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal communicates with a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) network device by using a first communication parameter during a first time period; the terminal communicates with a second NTN network device by using a second communication parameter during a second time period; and the terminal communicates with a third NTN network device on the basis of the first communication parameter during a third time period. The terminal communicates with the first NTN network device by using the first communication parameter during the first time period, the terminal communicates with the second NTN network device by using the second communication parameter during the second time period, and the terminal may communicate with the third NTN network device with reference to the first communication parameter during the third time period. On this basis, the computation amount of communication parameters can be reduced, and the acquisition complexity of communication parameters is reduced, thus improving data processing efficiency.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on January 22, 2024, with application number 202410090604.3 and application name "A Communication Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Art

[0004] Currently, the fifth generation (5 th The new radio (NR) for 5G (5G generation) has moved from standardization to commercial deployment. NR standards are designed based on the characteristics of terrestrial communications and offer high-speed, high-reliability, and low-latency communications for user terminals. Compared to terrestrial communications, non-terrestrial networks (NTN) offer wide coverage and flexible networking. Currently, various research institutes, communications organizations, and companies are participating in the research of NTN communication technologies and standards, striving to build a unified communication network for space, air, and ground communications.

[0005] In an NTN communication scenario, a terminal receives communication services from a satellite in orbit A. If the signal quality of the satellite in orbit A deteriorates, the terminal switches to a satellite in orbit B. During this switching process, the terminal must recalculate the channel parameters for the satellite in orbit B and select channel parameters such as the beam and delay compensation that are suitable for the communication needs of the satellite in orbit B. This recalculation of channel parameters when switching between satellites in different orbits consumes significant power. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus to reduce the amount of calculation of communication parameters and improve data processing efficiency when a terminal switches a service satellite.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal, which may be the terminal itself, a chip provided in the terminal, or a circuit provided in the terminal. The method may be applied to a 5G communication system or a future communication system. The method may also be applied to non-terrestrial communication systems, etc., which is not limited by the present application. The method is performed as follows:

[0008] The terminal communicates with the first NTN network device using the first communication parameters in the first time period; the terminal communicates with the second NTN network device using the second communication parameters in the second time period; and the terminal communicates with the third NTN network device based on the first communication parameters in the third time period.

[0009] The aforementioned NTN network equipment can be understood as different network devices in different communication modes. For example, in transparent transmission mode, NTN network equipment can be understood as gateway stations (also known as ground stations, earth stations, or signal gateways), satellites, and ground-based base stations. Gateway stations and satellites serve as communication relays between base stations and terminals. In regeneration mode, NTN network equipment can be understood as satellites, which are base stations or parts of base stations and can communicate directly with terminals.

[0010] In this application, a terminal uses first communication parameters to communicate with a first NTN network device during a first time period. It uses second communication parameters to communicate with a second NTN network device during a second time period. In a third time period, the terminal can refer to the first communication parameters to communicate with a third NTN network device. This reduces the amount of communication parameter calculations, lowers the complexity of obtaining communication parameters, and improves data processing efficiency.

[0011] In an optional manner, the first communication parameter may include one or more of the following: a timing parameter, a frequency offset parameter, a beam angle parameter, an expected service duration, or a service start and end time.

[0012] The timing parameter in the above-mentioned first communication parameter may indicate the scheduling uplink scheduling offset time. Specifically, the timing parameter may include a specific value of the timing parameter, and may also include a change value of the timing parameter. The frequency deviation parameter may indicate the frequency point information or frequency compensation information of the transmitted and received signals. Specifically, the frequency deviation parameter may include a specific value of the frequency deviation parameter, and may also include a change value of the frequency deviation parameter. The beam angle parameter may indicate the angle information of the communication between the terminal and the satellite. Specifically, the beam angle parameter may include a specific value of the beam angle parameter, and may also include a change value of the beam angle parameter. The expected service duration may indicate the service duration of the satellite for the terminal, may indicate the entire duration of the satellite's service for the terminal, and may also indicate the remaining duration of the satellite's service for the terminal. Specifically, the service start and end time may indicate the start time and end time of the satellite's service for the terminal.

[0013] In the present application, the terminal may determine the communication parameters for communicating with the third NTN network device by referring to the information in the first communication parameters, thereby reducing the amount of data calculation by the terminal.

[0014] In an optional manner, the associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite, wherein the projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; and the projection trajectories of the third satellite and the first satellite on the ground are the same.

[0015] Because the first and third satellites have the same projected trajectory on the ground, the communication performance of the first and third satellites is consistent. The terminal determines the communication parameters for communicating with the third NTN network device associated with the third satellite based on the first communication parameters for communicating with the first NTN network device associated with the first satellite, thereby reducing the amount of data calculation and improving data processing efficiency.

[0016] In an optional manner, the first satellite and the second satellite are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit.

[0017] Because the first and second satellites are located in a first orbit, the terminal's switching from communicating with a first NTN network device associated with the first satellite to communicating with a second NTN network device associated with the second satellite can be understood as an intra-orbital communication handoff. A third satellite is located in a second orbit, and the terminal's switching from communicating with the second NTN network device associated with the second satellite to communicating with a third NTN network device associated with the third satellite can be understood as an inter-orbital communication handoff. In this application, during an inter-orbital communication handoff, the communication parameters used for the inter-orbital communication handoff are determined based on the previously used first communication parameters, thereby improving data processing efficiency.

[0018] In an optional manner, the first track and the second track are adjacent tracks.

[0019] Since the first orbit and the second orbit are adjacent orbits, the service time between the first satellite and the third satellite is short, and the terminal needs to cache fewer communication parameters, which can reduce the cache pressure of the terminal communication parameters.

[0020] In an optional manner, the altitudes of the first orbit and the second orbit are target altitudes, and the target altitudes ensure that there are satellites in the first orbit and the second orbit whose ratios of the right ascension difference of the ascending node to the ascending node angle difference value are integers, and the ascending node angle difference value is the difference value between the ascending node angle of the first satellite and the ascending node angle of the third satellite.

[0021] Based on this, there are satellites in any adjacent orbits that can cover the same area, ensuring the communication quality of the terminal to the greatest extent.

[0022] In an optional manner, the terminal further obtains parameters of the first NTN network device and parameters of the third NTN network device; and the terminal determines the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device.

[0023] Based on this, the terminal can determine the communication time period with the third NTN network device, so that when the terminal signal quality is poor, it can immediately switch to the third NTN network device to receive communication services.

[0024] In an optional manner, the terminal further receives indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a third time period.

[0025] Based on this, the terminal can directly obtain the communication time period of the third NTN network device, so that when the terminal signal quality is poor, it can immediately switch to the third NTN network device to receive communication services.

[0026] In the second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a 5G communication system or a future communication system. The method can also be applied to non-terrestrial communication systems, etc., and the present application does not limit this. The following NTN network equipment can be understood as different network devices in different communication modes. For example, in the transparent transmission mode, the NTN network device can be understood as a gateway station (also called a ground station, earth station, or signal gateway station), which serves as a communication relay between the satellite and the terminal; in the regeneration mode, the NTN network device can be understood as a satellite. The method is performed as follows:

[0027] The first NTN network device communicates with the terminal using the third communication parameter in the first time period; the second NTN network device communicates with the terminal using the fourth communication parameter in the second time period; and the third NTN network device communicates with the terminal based on the third communication parameter in the third time period.

[0028] In the present application, the first NTN network device uses the third communication parameters to communicate with the first NTN network device in the first time period, the second NTN network device uses the fourth communication parameters to communicate with the terminal in the second time period, and the third NTN network device can refer to the third communication parameters to communicate with the terminal in the third time period. Based on this, the calculation amount of the communication parameters can be reduced and the data processing efficiency can be improved.

[0029] In an optional manner, the third communication parameter includes one or more of the following: a timing parameter, a frequency offset parameter, a beam angle parameter, an expected service duration, or a service start and end time.

[0030] In an optional manner, the associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite, wherein the projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; and the projection trajectories of the third satellite and the first satellite on the ground are the same.

[0031] In an optional manner, the first satellite and the second satellite are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit.

[0032] In an optional manner, the first track and the second track are adjacent tracks.

[0033] In an optional manner, the altitudes of the first orbit and the second orbit are target altitudes, and the target altitudes ensure that there are satellites in the first orbit and the second orbit whose ratios of the right ascension difference of the ascending node to the ascending node angle difference value are integers, and the ascending node angle difference value is the difference value between the ascending node angle of the first satellite and the ascending node angle of the third satellite.

[0034] In an optional manner, the third NTN network device further obtains parameters of the first NTN network device and the third NTN network device; the third NTN network device determines the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the third NTN network device.

[0035] In an optional manner, the third NTN network device further sends indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate the third time period.

[0036] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, which may be a terminal or an NTN network device. The communication device has the functions of implementing any of the first and second aspects above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the steps involved in any of the first and second aspects above. The functions, units, or means may be implemented through software or hardware, or the corresponding software implementation may be executed by hardware.

[0037] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, wherein the transceiver unit can be used to send and receive signals to achieve communication between the communication device and other devices, for example, the transceiver unit is used to receive request information from a service requester; the processing unit can be used to perform some internal operations of the communication device. The transceiver unit can be called an input / output unit, a communication unit, etc., and the transceiver unit can be a transceiver; the processing unit can be a processor. When the communication device is a module (such as a chip) in a communication device, the transceiver unit can be an input / output interface, an input / output circuit, or an input / output pin, etc., and can also be called an interface, a communication interface, or an interface circuit, etc.; the processing unit can be a processor, a processing circuit, or a logic circuit, etc.

[0038] In another possible design, the communication device includes a processor and may also include a transceiver, the transceiver is used to send and receive signals, and the processor executes program instructions to complete the method in any possible design or implementation of the first to second aspects above. The communication device may also include one or more memories, the memory is used to couple with the processor, and the memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions involved in any of the first to second aspects above. The processor can execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method in any possible design or implementation of the first to second aspects above.

[0039] In another possible design, the communication device includes a processor, which can be coupled to a memory. The memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of any of the first and second aspects. The processor can execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design or implementation of the first and second aspects.

[0040] In another possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute the method in any possible design or implementation of the first to second aspects above.

[0041] It can be understood that in the third aspect above, the processor can be implemented by hardware or by software. When implemented by hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc.; when implemented by software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, which is implemented by reading the software code stored in the memory. In addition, the above processors can be one or more, and the memories can be one or more. The memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory and the processor can be set separately. In the specific implementation process, the memory can be integrated with the processor on the same chip, or can be set on different chips respectively. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of memory and the setting method of the memory and the processor.

[0042] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the terminal, the first NTN network device, the second NTN network device, and the third NTN network device in the first to second aspects.

[0043] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, comprising a processor for implementing the method described in any possible design of aspects 1 to 2 above. Optionally, a memory is included. The chip system can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0044] In a sixth aspect, the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer-readable instructions are stored. When the computer-readable instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes a method in any possible design of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0045] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the methods of the various embodiments of the first to second aspects above.

[0046] For the technical effects that can be achieved in the above-mentioned second to seventh aspects, please refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved by the corresponding possible design schemes in the above-mentioned first aspect, and this application will not repeat them here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a transparent forwarding architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a regeneration architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of another communication scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG5A is a schematic diagram of a co-trajectory satellite on the ground;

[0052] FIG5B is a schematic diagram of the motion of a co-trajectory satellite on the ground;

[0053] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a terminal switching service;

[0054] FIG7 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG8A is a schematic diagram of a satellite position relationship provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG8B is a schematic diagram of another satellite position relationship provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG9 shows a schematic diagram of a track position relationship;

[0058] FIG10 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG11 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG12 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific operating methods in the method embodiments can also be applied to the device embodiments or system embodiments. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more. Therefore, the implementation of the device and method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0062] The NTN system may include a satellite system. Based on satellite altitude, i.e., satellite orbit height, satellite systems can be divided into high elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites, geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites, medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. In addition, the NTN system may also include aerial network equipment such as high altitude platform station (HAPS) communication systems. The network equipment involved in this application is not limited to the above examples.

[0063] As an example, see Figure 1, which shows a schematic diagram of the architecture of an NTN network. The NTN network includes a first network device, a second network device, and a terminal. The first network device can be a satellite (or satellite base station), such as a HEO satellite, a GEO satellite, a MEO satellite, a LEO satellite, or a HAPS, etc., without limitation. The second network device can be a gateway station (or ground station, earth station, or gateway), which can be used to connect the second network device to the core network. In Figure 1, the communication mode of the first network device is transparent mode, that is, the first network device acts as a base station for wireless communication, and the second network device acts as a relay for the first network device, transparently transmitting signals between the first network device and the terminal. For example, the second network device can access the core network through the base station, and then access the data network.

[0064] In an embodiment of the present application, the communication mode of the first network device can also be a regenerative mode. Referring to FIG2 , another schematic diagram of the NTN network architecture is shown. In FIG2 , the communication mode of the first network device is a regenerative mode, i.e., the first network device can serve as a base station for wireless communication. For example, the first network device can be a base station for wireless communication using artificial earth satellites and high-altitude aircraft, such as an evolved base station (eNB) and a 5G base station (gNB). The second network device can transparently transmit signaling between the first network device and the core network.

[0065] It should be understood that Figures 1 and 2 illustrate only one first network device and one second network device. In actual use, an architecture with multiple first network devices and / or one second network device may be employed as needed. Each first network device may provide services to one or more terminals, each second network device may correspond to one or more first network devices, and each first network device may correspond to one or more second network devices. This is not specifically limited in this application.

[0066] The NTN communication system provides seamless coverage for terminal devices by deploying all or part of the functions of access network equipment on NTN equipment (such as high-altitude platforms or satellites). Since non-ground equipment is less affected by natural disasters, the reliability of the communication system can be improved.

[0067] For example, Figure 3 illustrates a possible network architecture, in which the NTN device architecture can be in transparent transmission mode. Figure 4 illustrates another possible network architecture, in which the NTN device architecture can be in regeneration mode.

[0068] In one example, NTN equipment and terrestrial access network equipment can interconnect through a common core network. Alternatively, NTN equipment and terrestrial access network equipment can achieve more timely collaboration and interconnection through interfaces defined between access network devices. Referring to NR, the interface between access network devices can be called an Xn interface, and the interface between access network devices and the core network can be called an NG interface. NTN equipment and terrestrial access network equipment can achieve interoperability and collaboration through either the Xn interface or the NG interface.

[0069] Optionally, the link between the NTN device and the terminal device may be called a service link, and the link between the NTN device and the gateway device may be called a feeder link.

[0070] Among them, the network device can be an NTN device with all or part of the functions of an access network device, or it can also be an access network device on the ground. The access network device is an entity on the network side for transmitting or receiving signals, such as a gNB. The access network device can be a device for communicating with mobile devices. The access network device can be an AP in a wireless local area network (WLAN), an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in long term evolution (LTE), or a relay station or access point or integrated access and backhaul (IAB), or an access network device in a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a future 5G network, or an access network device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN) network, or a gNodeB (gNB) in an NR system, etc. In addition, in an embodiment of the present application, the access network device provides services for a cell, and the terminal device communicates with the access network device through the transmission resources used by the cell (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources). The access network device in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). Alternatively, the access network device may be composed of a CU and a DU. The CU and DU may be physically separated or deployed together, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application. A CU may be connected to a DU, or multiple DUs may share a CU, which can save costs and facilitate network expansion. The CU and DU may be divided according to the protocol stack. One possible approach is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol stack (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers in the CU, and the remaining radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical layer in the DU. The embodiments of the present application do not fully limit the above-mentioned protocol stack division method, and other division methods may also be used. The CU and DU are connected via the F1 interface. The CU represents the gNB and is connected to the core network via the Ng interface.The access network equipment in the embodiments of the present application may also refer to a Centralized Unit Control Plane (CU-CP) node or a Centralized Unit User Plane (CU-UP) node, or the access network equipment may be both a CU-CP and a CU-UP. The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, primarily including RRC and PDCP-C. PDCP-C is primarily responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission of control plane data. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, primarily including SDAP and PDCP-U. SDAP is primarily responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers. PDCP-U is primarily responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission of the data plane. The CU-CP and CU-UP are connected via the E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB and connects to the core network via the Ng interface. It connects to the DU via F1-C (control plane). The CU-UP connects to the DU via F1-U (user plane). Of course, another possible implementation is to also include PDCP-C in the CU-UP. The access network device mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a device including a CU, or a DU, or a device including a CU and a DU, or a device including a control plane CU node (CU-CP node) and a user plane CU node (CU-UP node) and a DU node. In addition, in other possible cases, the access network device may be other devices that provide wireless communication functions for terminal devices. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the access network device. For the convenience of description, in the embodiments of the present application, the device that provides wireless communication functions for terminal devices is referred to as an access network device.

[0071] A terminal device can be a device capable of receiving scheduling and instruction information from an access network device (or NTN device). A terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, or a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. A terminal device can communicate with one or more core networks or the Internet via a radio access network (e.g., a radio access network, RAN). A terminal device can be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (also known as a "cellular" phone, mobile phone), a computer, and a data card. For example, a mobile device can be portable, pocket-sized, handheld, built-in, or in-vehicle, and can exchange voice and / or data with a radio access network. Examples include personal communications service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and computers with wireless transceiver capabilities. A terminal device may also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, subscriber station (SS), customer premises equipment (CPE), terminal, UE, mobile terminal (MT), etc. A terminal device may also be a wearable device or a next-generation communication system, such as a terminal device in a 5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved PLMN network, or a terminal device in a new radio (NR) communication system. A terminal device may also be a terminal that communicates with an NTN device.

[0072] In addition, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other future-oriented communication technologies. The network architecture and service scenarios described in this application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by this application. It is known to those skilled in the art that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided in this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0073] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief explanation of the terms involved in the embodiments of the present application.

[0074] 1) Ground co-track satellite chain: includes a group of satellites with the same orbital inclination, but each satellite is on a discrete orbit and projects the same trajectory on the ground. For example, as shown in Figure 5A, satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3 are a group of satellites with the same orbital inclination, and their projected trajectories on the ground are all trajectory 1. In order to make the trajectory of the ground co-track satellite chain the same on the ground, in addition to the orbital inclination of all satellites in the satellite chain, the ratio of the right ascension of the ascending node (RAAN) difference (the ascending node right ascension difference, where the ascending node is the point where the satellite crosses the equator from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere) and the argument of latitude (AoL) difference (the ascending node argument of latitude difference, where the ascending node argument of latitude difference indicates the angular distance between any position of a planet or satellite in its orbit and the ascending node) of any two satellites is the same, and this ratio can compensate for the longitude drift caused by the rotation of the earth and orbital perturbations, that is, it satisfies the following formula 1:

[0075] Among them, ω E is the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation, n0 is the angular velocity of the satellite's motion (where the angular velocity of the two satellites is the same); is the orbital perturbation of the right ascension of the ascending node; is the orbital perturbation of the mean anomaly; is the orbital perturbation of the perigee angular distance; δRAAN is the right ascension difference of the ascending node between satellite orbits, and δAoL is the ascending node angular distance difference between satellites.

[0076] As shown in Figure 5B below, satellites S1 and S2 are two satellites in a co-orbiting ground satellite chain. Both satellites S1 and S2 are in independent orbits with the same orbital inclination, I. At time t1, satellite S1 crosses the equator from south to north, with its ground projection located exactly at the UE. Satellite S2 is south of the equator and west of S1. Due to the Earth's rotation, at time t2, S2 also passes the same point on the equator, with its ground projection also located exactly at the UE (assuming the UE is stationary relative to the Earth). Although satellites S1 and S2 operate in different orbits, their trajectories on the ground are identical.

[0077] 2) Ground co-orbital constellation: A constellation consisting of one or more ground co-orbital satellite chains.

[0078] 3) Terminal switching communication service: When the communication signal quality between the terminal and the satellite deteriorates, the terminal actively switches to another satellite to receive communication services, or the satellite instructs the terminal to switch to the serving satellite. The terminal switches to the serving satellite first through intra-orbit switching and then through inter-orbit switching. As shown in Figure 6, orbit 1 includes multiple satellites. The terminal communicates with satellite 1 in orbit 1. As the position of satellite 1 changes and / or the position of the terminal changes, the signal quality of communication between satellite 1 and the terminal deteriorates. The terminal actively switches to satellite 2 in orbit 1 (a satellite in the same orbit as satellite 1) for communication. As the position of satellite 2 changes and / or the position of the terminal changes, the signal quality of communication between satellite 2 and the terminal deteriorates. Satellite 2 instructs the terminal to switch to satellite 3 in orbit 1 (a satellite in the same orbit as satellite 2) for communication. As the position of satellite 3 changes and / or the position of the terminal changes, the signal quality of communication between satellite 3 and the terminal deteriorates. The terminal actively switches to satellite 4 in orbit 2 (a satellite in an orbit adjacent to satellite 1) for communication. This is merely an example and does not limit the specific communication service switching of the terminal.

[0079] 4) NTN network equipment: These can be understood as different network devices in different communication modes. For example, in transparent transmission mode, NTN network equipment can be understood as gateway stations (also known as ground stations, earth stations, or signal gateways) (such as the second network device in Figure 1 above), satellites, and ground base stations. Satellites and gateway stations serve as communication relays between base stations and terminals. In regeneration mode, NTN network equipment can be understood as satellites (such as the first network device in Figure 2 above). Satellites are base stations or parts of base stations, and can communicate directly with terminals.

[0080] 5) Communication Parameters: The communication parameters used by the terminal to communicate with NTN network equipment. Communication parameters may include one or more of the following: timing parameters, frequency offset parameters, beam angle parameters, expected service duration, or service start and end times. Timing parameters may indicate the scheduling uplink scheduling offset time. Specifically, the timing parameters may be specific values ​​or varying values. For example, satellite 1 communicates with terminal 1 using timing parameter 1; or, when satellite 1 passes over terminal 1, it communicates with terminal 1 using timing parameter 1, timing parameter 2, and timing parameter 3, sequentially, at different locations. The frequency offset parameter may indicate the frequency information or frequency compensation information for transmitting and receiving signals. Specifically, the frequency offset parameter may include specific values ​​or varying values. For example, when the terminal communicates with satellite 1, the frequency compensation for the received signal is 5 ppm; or, when satellite 1 passes over terminal 1, it communicates with terminal 1 using timing compensations of 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm, sequentially, at different locations. The beam angle parameter may indicate the communication angle between the terminal and the satellite. For example, the beam angle at which a satellite transmits (or receives) a communication signal, or the beam angle at which a terminal receives (or transmits) a communication signal. Specifically, the beam angle parameter may include a specific value of the beam angle parameter, and may also include a varying value of the beam angle parameter. For example, when satellite 1 communicates with terminal 1, the beam angle at which satellite 1 transmits a communication signal to terminal 1 is angle 1; or, when satellite 1 passes over the top of terminal 1, it communicates with terminal 1 sequentially using angles 1, 2, and 3 at different locations. The expected service duration may indicate the duration of the satellite's service to the terminal, the entire duration of the satellite's service to the terminal, or the remaining duration of the satellite's service to the terminal. For example, if satellite 1 serves the terminal for 5 minutes and the obstruction duration is 1 minute, the expected service duration may be 4 minutes (4=5-1); or, if satellite 1 serves the terminal for 5 minutes and the signal from satellite 1 is obstructed from the 2nd minute to the 3rd minute, the expected service duration may be from the 1st minute to the 2nd minute, and from the 3rd minute to the 5th minute. The service start and end times may indicate the start and end times of a satellite's service for a terminal. For example, satellite 1's service for terminal 1 starts at 10:00 and ends at 10:06. Furthermore, in addition to the aforementioned parameters, communication parameters may also include other parameters, which are not specifically limited in this application.

[0081] The use of ground co-track constellations can reduce the calculation of communication parameters and improve data processing efficiency. However, considering that ground co-track constellations span multiple orbits and the number of satellites in each orbit is relatively small, the complexity of constructing ground co-track constellations is relatively high. In addition, ground co-track constellations require high-density deployment of satellites to ensure continuous coverage of an area and the communication quality of terminal equipment in the area. For small-scale deployment of satellites, it is difficult to construct ground co-track constellations. Based on this, the present application provides a communication method that uses the characteristics of ground co-track satellites to simplify the processing flow of NTN communications and improve data processing efficiency.

[0082] The technical solution of the present application is described in detail below with reference to a specific method embodiment in conjunction with Figure 7. It should be noted that Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart of a method embodiment of the present application, showing the detailed communication steps or operations of the method, but these steps or operations are only examples, and the embodiment of the present application can also perform other operations or variations of the various operations in Figure 7. In addition, the various steps in Figure 7 can be performed in an order different from that presented in Figure 7, and it may not be necessary to perform all the operations in Figure 7. The method illustrated in Figure 7 can be applied to the transparent transmission mode in Figure 1 above, and can also be applied to the regeneration mode in Figure 2 above, and this application does not specifically limit it.

[0083] Figure 7 illustrates data exchange between a terminal, a first NTN network device, a second NTN network device, and a third NTN network device. The term "terminal" can be understood as the terminal itself, a chip within the terminal, or a circuit within the terminal, without specific limitations. Furthermore, there may be multiple second and third NTN network devices; only one is used as an example. The method is performed as follows:

[0084] Step 701-A: The first NTN network device communicates with the terminal using the third communication parameters in the first time period.

[0085] Step 701-B: The terminal communicates with the first NTN network device using the first communication parameters in the first time period.

[0086] It should be noted that this application does not limit the order in which steps 701-A and 701-B are executed. If the first NTN network device sends downlink data to the terminal, step 701-A may be executed first, followed by step 701-B. If the terminal sends uplink data to the first NTN network device, step 701-B may be executed first, followed by step 701-A. The third communication parameters and the first communication parameters described above can be understood with reference to the communication parameters in 5) above. Some parameters in the third communication parameters may be identical to those in the first communication parameters, such as timing parameters, expected service duration, and frequency offset parameters. Some parameters may be correlated, such as service start and end times. For example, the service start and end times in the third communication parameters may differ from those in the first communication parameters, and the service start and end times in the first communication parameters may be offset by a value ε relative to the service start and end times in the third communication parameters.

[0087] Step 702-A: The second NTN network device communicates with the terminal using the fourth communication parameters during the second time period.

[0088] Step 702-B: The terminal communicates with the second NTN network device using the second communication parameters in the second time period.

[0089] It should be noted that this application does not limit the order in which steps 702-A and 702-B are executed. If the second NTN network device is sending downlink data to the terminal, step 702-A may be executed first, followed by step 702-B. If the terminal is sending uplink data to the second NTN network device, step 702-B may be executed first, followed by step 702-A. The fourth communication parameters and the second communication parameters described above can be understood with reference to the communication parameters in 5) above. Some parameters of the fourth communication parameters and the second communication parameters may be identical, such as timing parameters, expected service duration, and frequency offset parameters. Some parameters may be correlated, such as service start and end times. This can be understood with reference to the description of step 701-B above and will not be elaborated here.

[0090] Before executing steps 702-A to 702-B, other NTN network devices may be communicating with the terminal. After executing steps 702-A to 702-B, but before executing steps 703-A to 703-B, other NTN network devices may be communicating with the terminal. There may be multiple such other NTN network devices, and different NTN network devices may use different communication parameters when communicating with the terminal, which is not specifically limited here. For example, before executing steps 702-A to 702-B, a fourth NTN network device may communicate with the terminal using fifth communication parameters during a fourth time period. Alternatively, after executing steps 702-A to 702-B, but before executing steps 703-A to 703-B, a fifth NTN network device may communicate with the terminal using sixth communication parameters during a fifth time period. This is merely an example and does not constitute a specific limitation.

[0091] Step 703-A: The third NTN network device communicates with the terminal based on the third communication parameters in the third time period.

[0092] Step 703-B: The terminal communicates with the third NTN network device based on the first communication parameter in the third time period.

[0093] It should be noted that this application does not limit the order in which steps 703-A and 703-B are executed. If the third NTN network device is sending downlink data to the terminal, step 703-A may be executed first, followed by step 703-B. If the terminal is sending uplink data to the third NTN network device, step 703-B may be executed first, followed by step 703-A.

[0094] Optionally, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, the associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite. The projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; the projection trajectories of the third satellite and the first satellite on the ground are the same.

[0095] It should be noted that the first NTN network device may indicate to the terminal that the first satellite and the third satellite are associated satellites. The first NTN network device may also indicate to the terminal that the first satellite and the third satellite cover the same cell. The first NTN network device may also indicate to the terminal that the first satellite and the third satellite have the same beam scanning area. Based on the above information, it can be assumed that the projected paths of the first satellite and the third satellite on the ground are the same.

[0096] Specifically, in transparent transmission mode, the first NTN network device is a gateway station, and its associated satellite is the first satellite. In regeneration mode, the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and its associated satellite is the first satellite. Other NTN network devices are also understood by referring to the description herein and are not further described here. The second satellite and the first satellite have different projected trajectories on the ground, which means they do not meet the requirements of Formula 1 in 1) above. The third satellite and the first satellite have the same projected trajectories on the ground, which means they meet the requirements of Formula 1 in 1) above. Because the first and third satellites have the same projected trajectories on the ground, the communication performance of the first and third satellites is consistent. The terminal determines the communication parameters for communicating with the third NTN network device associated with the third satellite based on the first communication parameters for communicating with the first NTN network device associated with the first satellite, which can reduce data computation and improve data processing efficiency.

[0097] In step 703-A, the third NTN network device communicates with the terminal based on third communication parameters. This can be understood as the third NTN network device determining the communication parameters for communicating with the terminal based on the third communication parameters. Specifically, the third NTN network device can reuse the third communication parameters and adjust portions of the third communication parameters. For example, the third communication parameters include timing parameters, frequency offset parameters, beam angle parameters, expected service duration, and service start and end times. Among the third communication parameters, the timing parameter is parameter 1, the frequency offset parameter is the frequency offset compensation 1 (a candidate constant for signaling pre-compensation), the beam angle parameter is the beam transmission angle α, the expected service duration is L, and the service start time is 8:00-8:05. Since the third satellite and the first satellite have the same projected trajectory on Earth, the third satellite can reuse the timing parameters, frequency offset parameters, and beam angle parameters when communicating with the terminal. The service start and end time offset is the time interval between the start time of the first time period and the start time of the third time period. Among the communication parameters for communication between the third satellite and the terminal, the timing parameter is parameter 1, the frequency offset parameter is the frequency offset compensation amount 1, the beam angle parameter is the beam transmission angle α, the expected service duration is L, and the service start time is 9:00 to 9:05 (wherein the time interval between the start time of the first time period and the start time of the third time period is 60 minutes). In addition, since the third NTN network device communicates with the terminal based on the third communication parameters, the third NTN network device may request the first communication parameters from the first NTN network device.

[0098] In step 703-B, the terminal communicates with the third NTN network device during the third time period based on the first communication parameters. This can be understood as the terminal referencing the first communication parameters to determine the communication parameters for communicating with the third NTN network device. Specifically, the terminal may reuse the first communication parameters and may also adjust portions of the first communication parameters. This can be understood by referring to the description of the third communication parameters in step 703-A above and will not be repeated here. Furthermore, since the terminal communicates with the third NTN network device based on the first communication parameters, the terminal may pre-cache the first communication parameters.

[0099] Furthermore, it should be noted that the first and third satellites are located in different orbits. The second satellite may be located in the same orbit as the first satellite or in a different orbit, which is not specifically limited in this application. In an alternative embodiment, the first and second satellites are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit. The first and second orbits may be adjacent orbits (because the first and second orbits are adjacent, the service time between the first and third satellites is shorter, requiring the terminal to cache fewer communication parameters, thus reducing the pressure on the terminal's communication parameter cache) or non-adjacent orbits. Since the first and second satellites are located in the first orbit, a terminal switching from communicating with a first NTN network device associated with the first satellite to communicating with a second NTN network device associated with the second satellite can be understood as an intra-orbital communication handoff. The third satellite is located in a second orbit, and a terminal switching from communicating with a second NTN network device associated with the second satellite to communicating with a third NTN network device associated with the third satellite can be understood as an inter-orbital communication handoff. In another alternative embodiment, the first satellite is located in the first orbit, the third satellite is located in the second orbit, and the second satellite is located in the third orbit. Because the third satellite is located in the second orbit, the terminal's switching from communicating with the second NTN network device associated with the second satellite to communicating with the third NTN network device associated with the third satellite can be understood as inter-orbital communication handover. In this application, during inter-orbital communication handover, the communication parameters used for the inter-orbit communication handover are determined based on the previously used first communication parameters, thereby improving data processing efficiency.

[0100] As shown in Figure 8A, satellite 1 (equivalent to the first satellite) is located in orbit 1 (equivalent to the first orbit), satellite 2 (equivalent to the second satellite) is located in orbit 1, satellite 3 (equivalent to the third satellite) is located in orbit 2 (equivalent to the second orbit), and satellite 4 (also equivalent to the third satellite) is located in orbit 3 (equivalent to the second orbit). Orbit 1 and orbit 2 are adjacent orbits, and orbit 2 and orbit 3 are adjacent orbits. When the terminal switches communication services, other satellites may also be involved. They are not described one by one here. The terminal is only explained as first communicating with satellite 1 in orbit 1, then switching to satellite 2 in orbit 1 for communication, then switching to satellite 3 and satellite X in orbit 2 for communication, and finally switching to satellite 4 in orbit 3 for communication. Among them, the RAAN of satellite 1 is 25.7143 and the AOL is 345.72; the RAAN of satellite 2 is 25.7143 and the AOL is 173.58; the RAAN of satellite 3 is 38.5714 and the AOL is 173.58; the RAAN of satellite 4 is 51.4286 and the AOL is 1.4403. After calculation, it is determined that satellites 1 and 3 meet the requirements of formula 1, and satellites 3 and 4 meet the requirements of formula 1. In other words, satellites 1, 3, and 4 are co-orbital satellites on the ground (illustrated as associated satellites in Figure 8A). Based on this, the terminal can refer to the communication parameters between satellite 1 and the terminal to determine the communication parameters between satellite 3 (or satellite 4) and the terminal, thereby improving data processing efficiency. Alternatively, satellite 1 can refer to the communication parameters between satellite 1 and the terminal to determine the communication parameters between satellite 3 (or satellite 4) and the terminal, thereby improving data processing efficiency.

[0101] Figure 8B shows that satellite 1 (equivalent to the first satellite) is located in orbit 1 (equivalent to the first orbit), satellite 2 (equivalent to the second satellite) is located in orbit 2 (equivalent to the third orbit), and satellite 3 (equivalent to the third satellite) is located in orbit 3 (equivalent to the second orbit). Orbits 1 and 2 are adjacent orbits, orbits 2 and 3 are adjacent orbits, and orbits 1 and 3 are non-adjacent orbits. When a terminal switches communication services, other satellites may be involved, which are not described here. This example illustrates the terminal first communicating with satellites 1 and X1 in orbit 1, then switching to satellites 2 and X2 in orbit 2, and finally switching to satellite 3 in orbit 3. Satellite 1 has a RAAN of 38.5714 and an AOL of 359.357, satellite 2 has a RAAN of 50 and an AOL of 200, and satellite 3 has a RAAN of 84.2857 and an AOL of 15.0767. Calculations confirm that satellites 1 and 3 meet the requirements of Formula 1 (illustrated by associated satellites in Figure 8B). Based on this, the terminal can refer to the communication parameters between satellite 1 and the terminal to determine the communication parameters between satellite 3 and the terminal, thereby improving data processing efficiency. Alternatively, satellite 1 can refer to the communication parameters between satellite 1 and the terminal to determine the communication parameters between satellite 3 and the terminal, thereby improving data processing efficiency.

[0102] It should be noted that the first and third satellites are in adjacent orbits, and the time interval between the first and third time periods is Time Period 1. The first and third satellites are in non-adjacent orbits, and the time interval between the first and third time periods is Time Period 2. Due to the non-adjacent orbits, the first and third satellites are farther apart, so Time Period 2 is longer than Time Period 1. The specific lengths of Time Periods 1 and 2 can be determined based on the satellite deployment plan and other requirements (such as Earth observation) and are not specifically limited here.

[0103] In specific applications, adjacent orbits all contain satellites that meet the requirements of Formula 1. Adjacent orbits that meet the above conditions are defined as associated orbits. As shown in Figure 9, there may be multiple associated orbits. For example, orbits 1 and 2 are associated orbits, orbits 2 and 3 are associated orbits, and orbits N-1 and N are associated orbits. However, orbits 1 and N are not associated orbits (that is, orbits 1 and N do not contain satellites that meet the requirements of Formula 1). Therefore, if the communication parameters of the satellites in orbit 1 that meet the requirements of Formula 1 are directly used to determine the communication parameters of the satellites in orbit N that meet the requirements of Formula 1 and the terminal, the communication quality cannot be guaranteed and the communication quality is unreliable.

[0104] In order to ensure the communication quality of the terminal, the height of the first orbit and the second orbit is the target height. The target height makes the ratio of the difference in right ascension of the ascending node to the difference in ascending angle between the first orbit and the second orbit to be an integer (can also be approximated to an integer), and the difference in ascending angle is the difference between the ascending angle of the first satellite and the ascending angle of the third satellite. Based on this, orbit 1 and orbit N in Figure 9 are also associated orbits. Then, the communication parameters of the satellite in orbit 1 that meets the requirements of formula 1 for communication with the terminal are directly used to determine the communication parameters of the satellite in orbit N that meets the requirements of formula 1 for communication with the terminal, and the communication quality is reliable. Specifically, the height of the first orbit and the second orbit is the target height, so that the following formula 2 is established:

[0105] Wherein, mod is the modulo operation, and other parameters can be understood by referring to the above formula 1 and are not described here.

[0106] In addition, it should be noted that the first, second, and third time periods are time periods that continuously cover the terminal. For example, the terminal communicates with a first satellite during a first time period, communicates with a second satellite during a second time period, and communicates with a third satellite during a third time period. The first, second, and third time periods do not overlap continuously.

[0107] If other NTN network devices may be communicating with the terminal before executing steps 702-A to 702-B, or after executing steps 702-A to 702-B, and before executing steps 703-A to 703-B, then the first time period, the second time period, the time period during which the other NTN network devices communicate with the terminal, and the third time period are time periods that continuously cover the terminal. For example, the terminal communicates with a first satellite in a first time period, communicates with a second satellite in a second time period, communicates with a fourth satellite in a fourth time period, and communicates with a third satellite in a third time period. The first time period, the second time period, the fourth time period, and the third time period do not have any overlapping continuous time periods.

[0108] In addition, the above-mentioned continuity can be completely continuous in time, or it can be understood as continuity in time within the allowable error range, which is not specifically limited in this application. For example, the first time period is 8:10-8:15, and the second time period is 8:16-8:21. The error is set to 1 minute. Since the end time of the first time period differs from the start time of the second time period by 1 minute (1=8:16-8:15), where 1 minute is within the allowable error range, the first time period and the second time period are continuous time periods. This is only an example and is not specifically limited.

[0109] The communication between the third NTN network device and the terminal is determined based on the third communication parameter or the first communication parameter. Therefore, the third time period may be associated with the first time period. Specifically, the third time period may be determined as follows:

[0110] Method 1: The terminal determines the third time period

[0111] Specifically, the terminal can obtain parameters of the first and third NTN network devices and determine a third time period based on the parameters of the first and third NTN network devices. Based on this, the terminal can determine a communication time period with the third NTN network device so that when the terminal signal quality is poor, it can immediately switch to the third NTN network device to receive communication services.

[0112] When the communication mode is regeneration mode, the parameters of the first NTN network device may be satellite parameters of the first satellite associated with the first NTN network device, such as the ephemeris information of the first satellite. When the communication mode is transparent transmission mode, the parameters of the first NTN network device may also be satellite parameters of the first satellite associated with the first NTN network device and gateway parameters, such as the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the communication delay of the gateway. The parameters of the third NTN network device may be satellite parameters of the third satellite associated with the third NTN network device, such as the ephemeris information of the third satellite. When the communication mode is transparent transmission mode, the parameters of the third NTN network device may also be satellite parameters of the third satellite associated with the third NTN network device and gateway parameters, such as the ephemeris information of the third satellite and the communication delay of the gateway. The parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0113] The terminal determines the third time period based on the parameters of the first and third NTN network devices. Specifically, the terminal may determine the third time period by referring to the ephemeris information of the first and third satellites. The terminal may also determine the third time period by referring to the ephemeris information of the first satellite, the first communication parameters, and the ephemeris information of the third satellite. This is not specifically limited herein. For example, if the first time period of the first satellite is from t1 to t2, the difference between the AOL values ​​of the first and third satellites is δAOL, and the difference between the first and third time periods is δAOL / n0, then the third time period is from t1 + δAOL / n0 to t2 + δAOL / n0.

[0114] Method 2: The third NTN network device determines the third time period

[0115] Specifically, the third NTN network device further obtains parameters of the first NTN network device and parameters of the third NTN network device; and the third NTN network device determines the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device.

[0116] The parameters of the first NTN network device and the third NTN network device can be understood with reference to the above-mentioned method 1, and will not be described in detail here.

[0117] The third NTN network device determines the third time period based on the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device. Specifically, the third NTN network device may determine the third time period by referring to the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the third satellite. The third NTN network device may also determine the third time period by referring to the ephemeris information of the first satellite, the first communication parameters, and the ephemeris information of the third satellite. This is not specifically limited here. This can be understood by referring to the above-described method 2 and will not be further described here.

[0118] Optionally, the third NTN network device also sends an indication to the terminal, indicating a third time period. Accordingly, the terminal also receives the indication. Based on this, the terminal can directly obtain the communication time period of the third NTN network device, allowing it to immediately switch to the third NTN network device to receive communication services when terminal signal quality is poor.

[0119] In this application, a terminal uses first communication parameters to communicate with a first NTN network device during a first time period. It uses second communication parameters to communicate with a second NTN network device during a second time period. During a third time period, the terminal can refer to the first communication parameters to communicate with a third NTN network device. The first NTN network device uses third communication parameters to communicate with the first NTN network device during the first time period. The second NTN network device uses fourth communication parameters to communicate with the terminal during the second time period. During the third time period, the third NTN network device can refer to the third communication parameters to communicate with the terminal. This reduces the amount of communication parameter calculations, reduces the complexity of obtaining communication parameters, and improves data processing efficiency.

[0120] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of device interaction. It is understandable that, in order to implement the above functions, each device may include a hardware structure and / or software module that performs each function. Those skilled in the art should easily appreciate that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in a hardware or computer software driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0121] In the embodiments of the present application, the functional units of the device can be divided according to the above method examples. For example, each functional unit can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one unit. The above integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0122] In the case of adopting an integrated unit, Figure 10 shows a possible exemplary block diagram of the communication device involved in the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 1000 may include: a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002. The processing unit 1001 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1000. The transceiver unit 1002 is used to support communication between the communication device 1000 and other devices. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1002 may include a receiving unit and / or a sending unit, which are used to perform receiving and sending operations respectively. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may also include a storage unit for storing program code and / or data of the communication device 1000. The transceiver unit may be referred to as an input / output unit, a communication unit, etc., and the transceiver unit may be a transceiver; the processing unit may be a processor. When the communication device is a module (such as a chip) in a communication device, the transceiver unit may be an input / output interface, an input / output circuit, or an input / output pin, etc., and may also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or an interface circuit, etc.; the processing unit may be a processor, a processing circuit, or a logic circuit, etc. Specifically, the device may be the aforementioned terminal, NTN network equipment, etc.

[0123] In one embodiment, the communication device 1000 is a terminal, and the processing unit 1001 is configured to communicate with a first NTN network device using first communication parameters in a first time period; communicate with a second NTN network device using second communication parameters in a second time period; and communicate with a third NTN network device based on the first communication parameters in a third time period.

[0124] In an optional manner, the first communication parameter may include one or more of the following: a timing parameter, a frequency offset parameter, a beam angle parameter, an expected service duration, or a service start and end time.

[0125] In an optional manner, the associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite, wherein the projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; and the projection trajectories of the third satellite and the first satellite on the ground are the same.

[0126] In an optional manner, the first satellite and the second satellite are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit.

[0127] In an optional manner, the first track and the second track are adjacent tracks.

[0128] In an optional manner, the altitudes of the first orbit and the second orbit are target altitudes, and the target altitudes ensure that there are satellites in the first orbit and the second orbit whose ratios of the right ascension difference of the ascending node to the ascending node angle difference value are integers, and the ascending node angle difference value is the difference value between the ascending node angle of the first satellite and the ascending node angle of the third satellite.

[0129] In an optional manner, the processing unit 1001 is further configured to obtain parameters of the first NTN network device and parameters of the third NTN network device; the processing unit 1001 is further configured to determine the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device.

[0130] In an optional manner, the transceiver unit 1002 is configured to receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate the third time period.

[0131] In another embodiment, the communication device 1000 is a first NTN network device, and the processing unit 1001 is used to communicate with the terminal using the third communication parameters in the first time period; the communication device 1000 is a second NTN network device, and the processing unit 1001 is used to communicate with the terminal using the fourth communication parameters in the second time period; and the communication device 1000 is a third NTN network device, and the processing unit 1001 is used to communicate with the terminal based on the third communication parameters in the third time period.

[0132] In an optional manner, the third communication parameter includes one or more of the following: a timing parameter, a frequency offset parameter, a beam angle parameter, an expected service duration, or a service start and end time.

[0133] In an optional manner, the associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite, wherein the projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; and the projection trajectories of the third satellite and the first satellite on the ground are the same.

[0134] In an optional manner, the first satellite and the second satellite are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit.

[0135] In an optional manner, the first track and the second track are adjacent tracks.

[0136] In an optional manner, the altitudes of the first orbit and the second orbit are target altitudes, and the target altitudes ensure that there are satellites in the first orbit and the second orbit whose ratios of the right ascension difference of the ascending node to the ascending node angle difference value are integers, and the ascending node angle difference value is the difference value between the ascending node angle of the first satellite and the ascending node angle of the third satellite.

[0137] In an optional manner, the communication apparatus 1000 is a third NTN network device, and the processing unit 1001 is further configured to obtain parameters of the first NTN network device and parameters of the third NTN network device; and determine the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device.

[0138] In an optional manner, the communication apparatus 1000 is a third NTN network device, and the transceiver unit 1002 sends indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate a third time period.

[0139] In addition, Figure 11 is a simplified schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided by this application. For ease of understanding and illustration, Figure 11 uses a mobile phone as an example of a terminal device. As shown in Figure 11, the terminal device includes a processor, memory, radio frequency circuit, antenna, and input and output devices.

[0140] The processor is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, as well as control terminal devices, execute software programs, process software program data, etc.

[0141] Memory is mainly used to store software programs and data.

[0142] Radio frequency circuits are mainly used for conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals and for processing radio frequency signals.

[0143] Antennas are mainly used to send and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves.

[0144] Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are mainly used to receive data input by terminal devices and output data to terminal devices.

[0145] It should be noted that some types of terminal devices may not have input and output devices.

[0146] When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the RF circuit. The RF circuit then performs RF processing on the baseband signal and transmits it via the antenna in the form of electromagnetic waves. When data is sent to a terminal device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal via the antenna, converts it into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor, which converts the baseband signal into data and processes it.

[0147] For ease of explanation, Figure 11 shows only one memory and processor. In actual terminal device products, one or more processors and one or more memories may exist. Memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory may be provided independently of the processor or integrated with the processor, and this is not limited in the present embodiment.

[0148] In the embodiment of the present application, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver functions can be regarded as the transceiver unit of the terminal device, and the processor with processing function can be regarded as the processing unit of the terminal device.

[0149] As shown in Figure 11, terminal device 1100 includes a transceiver unit 1110 and a processing unit 1120. Transceiver unit 1110 may also be called a transceiver, transceiver, transceiver device, etc. Processing unit 1120 may also be called a processor, processing board, processing module, processing device, etc.

[0150] Alternatively, the device in the transceiver unit 1110 that implements the receiving function may be considered a receiving unit, and the device in the transceiver unit 1110 that implements the transmitting function may be considered a transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver unit 1110 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The transceiver unit may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit. The receiving unit may also be sometimes referred to as a receiver, a receiver, or a receiving circuit. The transmitting unit may also be sometimes referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit.

[0151] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1110 is used to perform the sending and receiving operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and the processing unit 1120 is used to perform other operations except the sending and receiving operations on the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0152] When the terminal device is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit 1110 and a processing unit 1120. The transceiver unit 1110 may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit 1120 may be a processor, microprocessor, integrated circuit, or logic circuit integrated on the chip.

[0153] This application also provides a network device. Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device 1200 provided in an embodiment of this application. This network device 1200 can be applied to the systems shown in Figures 1 to 4. For example, network device 1200 can be a network device in the systems of Figures 1 to 4, configured to perform the functions of the network device in the above-described method embodiments. It should be understood that the following is merely an example, and in future communication systems, network devices may have other forms and configurations.

[0154] For example, in a 5G communication system, the network device 1200 may include a CU, a DU, and an AAU. Compared to the network device in an LTE communication system, which is composed of one or more radio frequency units (such as a remote radio unit (RRU) and one or more building base band units (BBU)),

[0155] The non-real-time portion of the original BBU will be separated and redefined as a CU, responsible for handling non-real-time protocols and services. Some of the BBU's physical layer processing functions will be merged with the original RRU and passive antenna into the AAU. The remaining BBU functions will be redefined as the DU, responsible for handling physical layer protocols and real-time services. In short, the CU and DU are differentiated by the real-time nature of their processing, while the AAU is a combination of the RRU and antenna.

[0156] The CU, DU, and AAU can be deployed separately or together, resulting in a variety of network deployment configurations. One possible deployment configuration, as shown in Figure 12, is consistent with traditional 4G network equipment, with the CU and DU deployed on shared hardware. It should be understood that Figure 12 is merely an example and does not limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, the deployment configuration could also include the DU being deployed in the BBU room, the CU being deployed centrally, or the DU being deployed centrally, with the CU being centralized at a higher level.

[0157] The AAU 1300 can implement transceiver functions and correspond to the transceiver unit 1002 in Figure 10. Optionally, the AAU 1300 can also be called a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, and can include at least one antenna 1301 and a radio frequency unit 1302. Optionally, the AAU 1300 can include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit can correspond to a receiver (or a receiver, a receiving circuit), and the transmitting unit can correspond to a transmitter (or a transmitter, a transmitting circuit). The CU and DU 1400 can implement internal processing functions and correspond to the processing unit 1001 in Figure 10. Optionally, the CU and DU 1400 can control network devices and can be called controllers. The AAU, CU, and DU can be physically arranged together or physically separated.

[0158] In addition, the network equipment is not limited to the form shown in Figure 10, but can also be other forms: for example: including a BBU and an adaptive radio unit (ARU), or including a BBU and an AAU; it can also be customer premises equipment (CPE), or it can be other forms, which are not limited in this application.

[0159] In one example, the CU and DU1400 can be composed of one or more single boards, and multiple single boards can jointly support a wireless access network with a single access standard (such as an LTE network), or can respectively support wireless access networks with different access standards (such as an LTE network, a 5G network, a future network or other networks). The CU and DU1400 also include a memory 1401 and a processor 1402. The memory 1401 is used to store necessary instructions and data. The processor 1402 is used to control the first network device to perform necessary actions, such as controlling the network device to execute the operation process of the network device in the above method embodiment. The memory 1401 and the processor 1402 can serve one or more single boards. That is, a memory and a processor can be set separately on each single board. Multiple single boards can also share the same memory and processor. In addition, necessary circuits can also be set on each single board.

[0160] It should be understood that the network device shown in Figure 12 is capable of implementing the network device functions involved in the method embodiment of Figure 7. The operations and / or functions of each unit in the network device are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes performed by the network device in the method embodiment of the present application. To avoid repetition, detailed description is appropriately omitted here. The structure of the network device illustrated in Figure 12 is only one possible form and should not constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present application. This application does not exclude the possibility of other forms of network device structures that may appear in the future.

[0161] The CU and DU 1400 can be used to perform the actions implemented within the network device described in the previous method embodiments, while the AAU 1300 can be used to perform the actions described in the previous method embodiments in which the network device sends or receives data to or from the terminal device. For details, please refer to the description in the previous method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0162] The present application also provides a communication system including a terminal and an NTN network device. The terminal device is configured to execute all or part of the steps performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . The network device is configured to execute all or part of the steps performed by the network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 .

[0163] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, implement the method of any of the above embodiments. The readable storage medium may include a USB flash drive, a mobile hard drive, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, among other media capable of storing program code.

[0164] It should be noted that all or part of any features in any embodiment of this application can be freely combined if there is no contradiction, and the combined technical solutions are also within the scope of this application.

[0165] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application may take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0166] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or boxes in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0167] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a manufactured product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0168] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Including: The terminal communicates with a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) network device using first communication parameters in a first time period; The terminal communicates with a second NTN network device using second communication parameters in a second time period; The terminal communicates with a third NTN network device based on the first communication parameters in a third time period.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first communication parameters include one or more of the following: Timing parameter, frequency offset parameter, beam angle parameter, expected service duration, or service start and end times.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite. Among them, the projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; the projection trajectory of the third satellite on the ground is the same as that of the first satellite.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The first satellite and the second satellite are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The first orbit and the second orbit are adjacent orbits.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The heights of the first orbit and the second orbit are the target heights, and the target heights are such that there are satellites in the first orbit and the second orbit for which the ratio of the right ascension of the ascending node difference to the inclination difference value is an integer. The inclination difference value is the difference between the inclination of the first satellite and the inclination of the third satellite.

7. According to the method described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Further including: The terminal obtains the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device; The terminal determines the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Further including: The terminal receives indication information for indicating the third time period.

9. A communication method, characterized in that, Including: A first non-terrestrial network (NTN) network device communicates with the terminal using third communication parameters in a first time period; A second NTN network device communicates with the terminal using fourth communication parameters in a second time period; A third NTN network device communicates with the terminal based on the third communication parameters in a third time period.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The third communication parameters include one or more of the following: Timing parameter, frequency offset parameter, beam angle parameter, expected service duration, or service start and end times.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The associated satellite of the second NTN network device is the second satellite, the associated satellite of the first NTN network device is the first satellite, and the associated satellite of the third NTN network device is the third satellite. Among them, the projection trajectories of the second satellite and the first satellite on the ground are different; the projection trajectory of the third satellite on the ground is the same as that of the first satellite.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The first satellite and the second satellite are located in a first orbit, and the third satellite is located in a second orbit.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first orbit and the second orbit are adjacent orbits.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein The heights of the first orbit and the second orbit are the target heights, and the target heights are such that there is an integer ratio of the right ascension of the ascending node difference to the inclination difference value in the first orbit and the second orbit. The inclination difference value is the difference between the inclination of the first satellite and the inclination of the third satellite.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9-14, characterized in that, Further including: The third NTN network device obtains the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device; The third NTN network device determines the third time period according to the parameters of the first NTN network device and the parameters of the third NTN network device.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, Further included: The third NTN network device sends indication information to the terminal, and the indication information is used to indicate the third time period.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, Included: Functional modules for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1-16.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, Included: At least one processor and a memory; The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions; The at least one processor is used to execute the computer programs or instructions, so that the method according to any one of claims 1-16 is executed.

19. A chip system, characterized in that, The chip system includes: a processing circuit; the processing circuit is coupled to a storage medium; The processing circuit is used to execute some or all of the computer programs or instructions in the storage medium. When the some or all of the computer programs or instructions are executed, they are used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-16.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1-16 is executed.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions, characterized in that, When the computer program or instructions run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1-16 is executed.

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