Communication method and device, and readable storage medium

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and device, and a readable storage medium, applied to the technical field of communications. According to the communication method provided by the present application, a user can learn about the communication condition between a first communication device and a satellite in advance, improving user experience. The communication method comprises: a first communication device determines one or more second time periods on the basis of position information of the first communication device and ephemeris information of one or more satellites, wherein the second time period is a time period during which the first communication device is within a coverage range of any satellite among the one or more satellites; and the first communication device prompts a user of the one or more second time periods.

Description

Communication method, device and readable storage medium

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on February 7, 2024, with application number 202410176148.4 and application name “Communication Method, Device and Readable Storage Medium”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to communication methods, devices, and readable storage media. Background Art

[0003] With the development of communication technology, considering introducing satellite communications into existing communication networks can provide communication services for areas that are difficult to cover by terrestrial networks, such as oceans and forests, enhance communication reliability, provide more data transmission resources, and support a larger number of connections.

[0004] However, when ordinary terminal devices communicate with satellites, due to the constant movement of satellites, the terminal devices may sometimes be out of the satellite's coverage, resulting in unexpected service interruptions and affecting user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device, and readable storage medium, which can enable a user to know in advance when a first communication device can be served by a satellite, thereby improving the user's usage experience.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be performed by a first communication device. The first communication device can be a terminal device or a module (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the terminal device. The method includes: the first communication device determining one or more second time periods based on the first communication device's location information and ephemeris information of one or more satellites; the second time period being a period when the first communication device is within the coverage of any of the one or more satellites; and the first communication device prompting a user of the one or more second time periods.

[0008] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a first communication device can determine the time period within a certain period when the first communication device is within satellite coverage, i.e., the time period during which the first communication device can receive satellite service. Furthermore, the first communication device can notify the user of the time period during which the first communication device can receive satellite service, allowing the user to know in advance when the terminal device can receive satellite service, thereby improving the user experience.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device determining the quality of communication between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period. The first communication device prompts a user of the quality of communication between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

[0010] Based on this solution, the first communication device can determine and prompt the user of the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite, which helps the user select an appropriate time period for using the satellite function of the first communication device.

[0011] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the first communication device determines the quality of communication between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period, including: the first communication device determines the quality of communication based on the obstruction situation between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

[0012] This solution provides a method for determining the communication quality between a first communication device and a satellite: determining the communication quality based on the shielding condition between the first communication device and the satellite.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect above, in one possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device determining a probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite within the second time period. The first communication device prompts a user of the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite.

[0014] Based on this solution, the first communication device can determine and prompt the user the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite, which helps the user select an appropriate time period for using the satellite function of the first communication device.

[0015] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first communication device prompts the user of the type of services supported by the first communication device during the second time period.

[0016] Based on this solution, the user can learn the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device, and thus use the satellite function corresponding to the first communication device.

[0017] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first communication device is in a first communication state within a third time period, and the third time period is a time period within the first time period and outside the second time period; the first communication state is a discontinuous reception DRX, discontinuous transmission DTX or discontinuous transmission and reception DT&RX state.

[0018] Based on this solution, the first communication device can be in a power-saving communication state during a period when it cannot communicate with the satellite, thereby saving power consumption.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device determining a reference direction corresponding to the serving satellite and a direction of the first communication device within the second time period. The first communication device notifies a user of the reference direction corresponding to the serving satellite and the direction of the first communication device.

[0020] Based on this solution, the user can adjust the direction of the first communication device according to the reference direction, so that the first communication device can quickly access the satellite.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect above, in one possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device determining reference directions corresponding to one or more candidate satellites within the second time period. The first communication device prompts a user of the reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites.

[0022] Based on this solution, the user can also obtain the reference direction corresponding to the candidate satellite, and thus adjust the direction of the first communication device according to the reference direction corresponding to the candidate satellite so that the first communication device can access the candidate satellite.

[0023] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in one possible design, the first communication device prompts the user of the reference directions corresponding to one or more candidate satellites, including: when the quality of communication between the service satellite and the first communication device decreases, the first communication device prompts the user of the reference directions corresponding to one or more candidate satellites.

[0024] Based on this solution, the first communication device can prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to the candidate satellite when the communication quality of the serving satellite decreases, so that the user can adjust the direction of the first communication device to help the first communication device access the candidate satellite.

[0025] In conjunction with the first aspect above, in one possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device determining a period of time within the second time period when there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite. The first communication device prompts a user of the period of time when there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite.

[0026] Based on this solution, the user can also know in advance the period when there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite, which can help the user plan in advance whether to use the satellite function of the first communication device.

[0027] In a second aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the method described in the first aspect.

[0028] The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above-mentioned method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or hardware executing corresponding software implementation. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0029] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, the communication device includes a processing module and a display module. The processing module is configured to determine one or more second time periods based on location information of the communication device and ephemeris information of one or more satellites. The second time period is a period during which the communication device is within the coverage area of ​​any of the one or more satellites. The display module is configured to prompt a user of the one or more second time periods.

[0030] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in one possible design, the processing module is also used to determine the quality of communication between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period; the display module is also used to prompt the user of the quality of communication between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

[0031] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the processing module determines the quality of communication between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period, including: determining the quality of communication based on the obstruction situation between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

[0032] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, the processing module is further configured to determine a probability of the communication device successfully accessing the satellite during the second time period. The display module is further configured to prompt a user of the probability of the communication device successfully accessing the satellite.

[0033] In combination with the above second aspect, in a possible design, the display module is also used to prompt the user of the types of services supported by the communication device during the second time period.

[0034] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the processing module is also used to enable the communication device to be in a first communication state within a third time period, and the third time period is a time period within the first time period and outside the second time period; the first communication state is a discontinuous reception DRX, discontinuous transmission DTX or discontinuous transmission and reception DT&RX state.

[0035] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the processing module is also used to determine the reference direction corresponding to the service satellite and the direction of the communication device within the second time period; the display module is also used to prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to the service satellite and the direction of the communication device.

[0036] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the processing module is also used to determine the reference direction corresponding to one or more candidate satellites within the second time period; the display module is also used to prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to one or more candidate satellites.

[0037] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in one possible design, the display module prompts the user of the reference directions corresponding to one or more candidate satellites, including: when the quality of communication between the service satellite and the communication device decreases, the display module prompts the user of the reference directions corresponding to one or more candidate satellites.

[0038] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the processing module is also used to determine the period of time during which there is obstruction between the communication device and the satellite within the second time period; the display module is also used to prompt the user of the period of time during which there is obstruction between the communication device and the satellite.

[0039] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, wherein when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device performs the method described in any of the above aspects. The communication device may be the first communication device described in the first aspect, or a module (e.g., a chip) applied to the first communication device.

[0040] In one possible design, the communication device further includes a memory for storing computer instructions. Optionally, the processor and the memory are integrated together, or the processor and the memory are separately provided.

[0041] In one possible design, the memory is coupled to the processor and is external to the communication device.

[0042] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being configured to communicate with a module external to the communication device; the processor being configured to execute the method described in any of the above aspects via a logic circuit or by executing a computer program or instructions. The communication device may be the first communication device described in the first aspect, or a module (e.g., a chip) applied to the first communication device.

[0043] Alternatively, the interface circuit can be a code / data read / write interface circuit, which is used to receive computer execution instructions (the computer execution instructions are stored in the memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor so that the processor runs the computer execution instructions to execute the method described in any of the above aspects.

[0044] In some possible designs, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system.

[0045] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores instructions. When the instructions are run on a computer, the computer can execute the method performed by the first communication device in the above-mentioned first aspect or a possible design of the first aspect.

[0046] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method executed by the first communication device in the above-mentioned first aspect or a possible design of the first aspect.

[0047] In a seventh aspect, a communication device (e.g., a chip or a chip system) is provided, wherein the communication device includes a processor for implementing the functions involved in any of the above aspects. In one possible design, the communication device also includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0048] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the second to seventh aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the different design methods in the above-mentioned first aspect, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG2 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a first communication device displaying a second time period according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a first communication device displaying a reference direction according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a first communication device displaying a reference direction and an actual direction of the first communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a first communication device prompting a user when a text message is successfully sent, according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, a brief introduction to the relevant technologies of the present application is first given as follows.

[0058] 1. Satellite communication network:

[0059] Satellite communication networks, also known as non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), offer advantages such as wide coverage, long communication distances, high reliability, and high throughput. When a terminal device on the ground is within the coverage area of ​​a satellite, it can access the network and use the services provided by the satellite (in satellite communication networks, these services are referred to as satellite services). However, due to the constant movement of satellites and their limited number, the number of terminal devices accessible by a single satellite is also limited. Therefore, a terminal device cannot always be within the satellite's coverage area, and communication with the satellite cannot be maintained permanently. For users, the inability to predict whether their terminal device will be able to access the satellite network in the future can affect the user experience. For example, a user might suddenly lose access to a satellite service. Another example is when a terminal device is out of satellite coverage, assuming the signal is poor, and adjusts the handheld device to access the network, wasting energy.

[0060] Based on the above problems, the embodiments of the present application provide communication methods, devices and systems that are suitable for satellite communication scenarios. The terminal device can determine in advance the time when the terminal device can obtain satellite services (i.e., the time when the terminal device can communicate with the satellite) within a certain period of time and provide it to the user, so that the user can know in advance when the satellite service can be used, thereby improving the user experience.

[0061] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or multiple. In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit differences. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0062] In the embodiment of the present application, "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information (such as the first indication information below) is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein the other information and the information to be indicated have an association relationship. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each piece of information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common parts of each piece of information can also be identified and indicated uniformly to reduce the indication overhead caused by indicating the same information separately.

[0063] In addition, the specific indication method can also be various existing indication methods, such as but not limited to the above-mentioned indication methods and various combinations thereof. The specific details of the various indication methods can be referred to the prior art and will not be repeated herein. As can be seen from the above, for example, when it is necessary to indicate multiple information of the same type, there may be a situation where the indication methods for different information are different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the selected indication method. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiment of the present application should be understood to cover various methods that can enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated.

[0064] It should be understood that the information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in the embodiments of this application. The sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or can be configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present application, "pre-definition", "pre-defined", "pre-configured" or "pre-configured" can be implemented by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device. For example, it can be burned into the device when the device leaves the factory. The embodiment of the present application does not limit its specific implementation method. Among them, "saving" can mean saving in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be set separately or integrated in an encoder or decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The one or more memories can also be partially set separately and partially integrated in a decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

[0066] The "protocol" involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a protocol family in the communication field, a standard protocol with a similar protocol family frame structure, or a related protocol used in future communication systems. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0067] In the embodiments of the present application, descriptions such as "when...", "in the case of...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will perform corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require the device to perform judgment actions when implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0068] The technical solutions provided in this application can be used in various communication systems, for example, they can be applied to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communication system, such as the 4th generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) system, the 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system and its evolution system, NTN system, vehicle to everything (V2X) system, LTE and new radio (NR) hybrid networking system, or device to device (D2D) system, machine to machine (M2M) communication system, Internet of Things (IoT), wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, and other communication systems, such as future communication systems. In addition, the term "system" and "network" can be used interchangeably.

[0069] It should be noted that the network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0070] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a possible, non-restrictive communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1 , in the communication system, a terminal device is located on the ground and is connected to an access network device deployed on a satellite via an air interface (or, in other words, is connected to an access network device deployed on a satellite via a wireless link). The access network device on the satellite is connected to a ground station on the ground via a wireless link, and the ground station is connected to a core network on the ground. Furthermore, signaling or data can be transmitted between access network devices deployed on different satellites via wireless links (also referred to as inter-satellite links).

[0071] Optionally, the communication system may further include a data network (DN). The data network may be connected to the core network. For example, the data network may be connected to a user plane function (UPF) network element in the core network.

[0072] In a communication system, the air interface between a terminal device and a satellite can be an air interface in various communication systems. For example, it can be an air interface in a 3GPP communication system, such as a 4G or 5G communication system, or an air interface in a future-oriented evolution system. Alternatively, it can be an air interface in an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN) or a cloud radio access network (CRAN). Alternatively, it can be an air interface in a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0073] In the communication system, the various network elements and the interfaces between them are described as follows:

[0074] A terminal device may be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, and may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal device, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as D2D, V2X communication, machine-type communication (MTC), IOT, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. Terminal devices may be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal device.

[0075] Access network equipment, also known as radio access network (RAN) node or access node, is used to help terminal equipment achieve wireless access. In one possible scenario, the access network equipment may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The access network equipment may be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node or a master node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. All or part of the functions of the access network equipment in this application may also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The access network equipment in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network equipment.

[0076] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, and different access network devices respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the access network device can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0077] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0078] In the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application, the access network device is deployed on a satellite. Based on this, in the following embodiments, unless otherwise specified, the satellite can be considered as an access network device, which is used to implement the functions of the access network device described above.

[0079] The core network can be logically divided into two parts: the user plane and the control plane. The control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network, and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of service data. In the core network, different network elements can be responsible for different functions. For example, as shown in Figure 1, in the 5G core network, the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element is mainly responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The session management function (SMF) network element is mainly responsible for interacting with the separated data plane, creating, updating, and deleting protocol data unit (PDU) sessions, and managing the session context with the UPF. The UPF is mainly responsible for managing the transmission of user plane data, traffic statistics, and other functions.

[0080] The ground station is responsible for forwarding signaling and data between the satellite and the core network.

[0081] The Xn interface is an interface between access network devices and is mainly used for signaling interactions such as switching.

[0082] The NG interface is the interface between the access network equipment and the core network, and is mainly used for signaling such as non-access stratum (NAS) messages and service data of the interactive core network.

[0083] In the embodiment of the present application, a network element may also be referred to as an entity or a functional entity.

[0084] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to FIG1 .

[0085] It should be noted that the message names between network elements or the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples, and other names may be used in specific implementations. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0086] As shown in Figure 2, a communication method is provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 uses the first communication device as an example of the execution subject of the diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the diagram. For example, the first communication device in Figure 2 can also be a module applied to the first communication device, such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first communication device. The communication method includes the following steps S201-S202:

[0087] S201: A first communication device determines one or more second time periods based on location information of the first communication device and ephemeris information of one or more satellites, wherein the second time period is a time period when the first communication device is within the coverage of any one of the one or more satellites.

[0088] S202: The first communication device prompts the user of one or more second time periods.

[0089] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied in satellite communication scenarios. In satellite communication scenarios, the first communication device is located on the ground and can be a terminal device, or a device including a terminal device, or a device used to implement the functions of a terminal device. When the first communication device is within the coverage area of ​​a satellite, it can communicate with the satellite and obtain satellite services.

[0090] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a first communication device can determine the time period within a certain period when the first communication device is within satellite coverage, i.e., the time period during which the first communication device can receive satellite service. Furthermore, the first communication device can notify the user of the time period during which the first communication device can receive satellite service, allowing the user to know in advance when the terminal device can receive satellite service, thereby improving the user experience.

[0091] The following is an introduction to S201-S202.

[0092] In S201, the location information of the first communication device may indicate the current geographical location of the first communication device.

[0093] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the location information of the first communication device specifically indicates the geographic location of the first communication device. For example, the location information of the first communication device may be information about the area in which the first communication device is currently located, such as identification information of the cell in which the first communication device is currently located. Alternatively, the location information may be the longitude and latitude of the first communication device.

[0094] In S201, the satellite's ephemeris information can indicate the satellite's orbit, or in other words, the satellite's position over time. The first communication device can determine the mapping between the satellite's coverage area and time based on the satellite's ephemeris information. For example, based on the ephemeris information of satellite A, the first communication device can determine that satellite A's coverage area from 12:00 PM to 12:20 PM includes Area 1, and its coverage area from 12:20 PM to 12:40 PM includes Area 2.

[0095] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the first communication device acquiring satellite information. For example, the first communication device may pre-configure ephemeris information for one or more satellites. For another example, the first communication device may acquire the satellite ephemeris information via the network and store it locally when connected to the network.

[0096] Optionally, the first communication device can update the satellite's ephemeris information. For example, the first communication device can set a period for updating the ephemeris information to update the ephemeris information regularly. In another example, the first communication device can detect the user's use of the first communication device and update the ephemeris information when the user is not using the first communication device frequently. For example, the first communication device can update the ephemeris information after the user has locked the screen for a period of time. In another example, the first communication device can update the ephemeris information in real time via the network while the user is online.

[0097] Optionally, before updating the ephemeris information, the first communication device may prompt the user whether to update the ephemeris information. If the user agrees to update the ephemeris information, the first communication device then updates the ephemeris information. Alternatively, the first communication device may automatically update the ephemeris information based on the user's consent. For example, when a user accesses the internet using the first communication device, the first communication device may prompt the user whether to update the ephemeris information. If the user agrees, the first communication device updates the satellite's ephemeris information online.

[0098] In S201, the duration of the first period can be fixed. Alternatively, the user can adjust the duration of the first period. For example, assuming that the default duration of the first period is one hour, the user can manually adjust it to half an hour.

[0099] Regarding determining the second time period within the first time period, in one possible scenario, the first communication device may automatically determine the second time period within the first time period. In one possible implementation, the first communication device may set a period for determining the second time period within the first time period, and periodically determine the second time period within the current first time period. For example, the first communication device may set a period for determining the second time period within the first time period to be 1 hour. Assuming that the duration of the first time period is also 1 hour, the first communication device may determine the second time period between 8:00-9:00 at 8:00, and then determine the second time period between 9:00-10:00 at 9:00, and so on. Among them, 8:00-9:00 can be considered as the first time period at 8:00, and 9:00-10:00 can be considered as the first time period at 9:00.

[0100] In another possible scenario, the first communication device may determine the second time period within the first time period in response to a user operation. For example, when a user operates the first communication device to use a satellite service provided by the first communication device, the first communication device determines the second time period within the current first time period in response to the user operation. It is understood that the current first time period refers to the first time period starting at the current time. For example, assuming the current time is 9:00 and the first time period lasts one hour, the current first time period is 9:00-10:00.

[0101] In S201, the second time period is the time period when the first communication device is within the coverage of any satellite among one or more satellites. In other words, the second time period is the time period when the first communication device can communicate with any satellite (or can be served by any satellite).

[0102] Optionally, during the second time period, the first communication device may also be within the coverage of multiple satellites.

[0103] It is understood that the time period other than the second time period in the first time period (hereinafter referred to as the third time period) is the time period during which the first communication device cannot communicate with the satellite (or cannot be served by the satellite) within the first time period. One or more third time periods may exist within the first time period.

[0104] For example, assume that a first communication device obtains ephemeris information for satellites A, B, and C. If the first time period is 8:00-9:00, the first communication device determines, based on the ephemeris information for satellites A, B, and C and the current location information of the first communication device, that from 8:00-9:00, the first communication device is within the coverage of satellite A from 8:00-8:10. From 8:10-8:15, the first communication device is not within the coverage of any of satellites A, B, and C. From 8:15-8:30, the first communication device is within the coverage of satellite B. From 8:30-8:40, the first communication device is not within the coverage of any of satellites A, B, and C. From 8:40-9:00, the first communication device is within the coverage of satellite C. The first communication device may determine that within 8:00-9:00, the second time period includes: 8:00-8:10, 8:15-8:30 and 8:40-9:00.

[0105] The satellite communicating with the first communication device during the second time period can be referred to as a serving satellite for the first communication device. The serving satellite for the first communication device can be different for different second time periods. Furthermore, the coverage area of ​​the serving satellite can also be referred to as a serving cell for the first communication device.

[0106] It is understood that the first period, the second period, or the third period are exemplary names provided in the embodiments of the present application, and other names may be used in specific implementations. For example, the second period may also be referred to as the satellite communication time or the satellite service time. The third period may also be referred to as the satellite non-communication time or the satellite non-service time.

[0107] Optionally, if the first communication device moves after determining the second time period within the first time period, the first communication device may determine the second time period again based on the position of the first communication device after the movement.

[0108] For example, suppose that at 8:00 AM, the first communication device determines that the second time period between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM includes the following: 8:00 AM to 8:10 AM, 8:15 AM to 8:30 AM, and 8:40 AM to 9:00 AM based on the first communication device's current location information and the ephemeris information of satellites A, B, and C. At 8:30 AM, the first communication device moves to another area. Based on the moved location and the ephemeris information of satellites A, B, and C, the first communication device determines that the second time period is changed to 8:50 AM to 9:00 AM.

[0109] In S202, the first communication device may prompt the user of one or more second time periods within the first time period, thereby informing the user when the first communication device can communicate with the satellite within the first time period. Thus, the user only needs to attempt to connect the first communication device to the satellite during the time period when the first communication device can communicate with the satellite, without having to attempt to connect the first communication device to the satellite during the third time period, thereby improving the user experience. For example, in some cases, the user needs to adjust their posture to pair the first communication device with the satellite (even if the first communication device connects to the satellite), such as by holding up their phone. However, based on this solution, the user only needs to adjust their posture during the second time period, and does not need to adjust their posture during the third time period, thereby saving the user's physical effort and improving the user experience.

[0110] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the first communication device prompting the second time period within the first time period. For example, the first communication device may display the second time period on a screen, or the first communication device may announce the second time period by voice. The following describes several possible implementations of the first communication device prompting the second time period, as provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0111] In a possible implementation, the first communication device may display the second time period within the first time period in the form of a time list.

[0112] For example, assuming the first time period is 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the second time period within 3:00 PM displayed by the first communication device may include: 3:00 PM to 3:10 PM, 3:13 PM to 3:30 PM, 3:40 PM to 3:44 PM, 3:50 PM to 4:00 PM, 4:05 PM to 4:30 PM, and 4:34 PM to 4:45 PM, as shown in FIG3 . If the user clicks "Next Page," the second time period after 4:45 PM may also be displayed.

[0113] In another possible implementation, when the user uses the first communication device during the second time period, the first communication device may notify the user that the first communication device can communicate with the satellite until a certain time, i.e., the end time of the second time period. For example, at 3:00 PM, if the user uses the first communication device to communicate with the satellite, the first communication device may display or announce the current time until 3:30 PM, indicating that the satellite is available.

[0114] The following introduces some optional solutions related to the second time period provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0115] Optionally, when the first communication device prompts the second time period, it can also prompt the user that the first communication device can communicate with the satellite during the second time period. For example, the first communication device can display text or a logo pattern next to the second time period to prompt the user that the first communication device can communicate with the satellite during the second time period.

[0116] Optionally, the first communication device may determine a probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite during the second time period. The first communication device may predict the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite during the second time period before the second time period, or may determine the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite in real time during the second time period.

[0117] Furthermore, for the second time period, the first communication device may also display the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite. Based on the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite, the user can determine whether to use the satellite services provided by the first communication device during the second time period. For example, if the first communication device displays a 70% probability of successful satellite access for the second time period of 13:00-13:10, and displays a 90% probability of successful satellite access for another second time period of 13:15-13:40, the user can use the satellite services provided by the first communication device during the time period of 13:15-13:40 based on the probability.

[0118] This application does not impose any specific restrictions on how to determine the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the service satellite. In one possible implementation, the first communication device can determine the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the service satellite based on the obstruction between the first communication device and the service satellite. For example, if the first communication device predicts that there is no obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period, or the obstruction has little effect on the signal, the first communication device can determine a larger probability of successfully accessing the satellite. If the first communication device predicts that there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period, or the obstruction has a serious effect on the signal, the first communication device can determine a smaller probability of successfully accessing the satellite. How to predict the obstruction between the first communication device and the service satellite will be explained in detail below and will not be discussed here.

[0119] Optionally, if the first communication device predicts that there will be obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period (e.g., part of the second time period, or the entire second time period), the first communication device may notify the user that there will be obstruction during the second time period. Alternatively, because obstruction may affect communication quality, the first communication device may notify the user that communication quality will be poor during the second time period. For example, the first communication device may display text or a logo next to the second time period to notify the user that communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite is poor during that time period.

[0120] Optionally, if the first communication device can predict approximate periods of time during the second time period when there will be obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite, the first communication device can notify the user of the approximate periods of obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite. For example, the first communication device can directly notify the user of the periods of time when there will be obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite. For another example, the first communication device can notify the user of the periods of time when communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite will be poor.

[0121] In one possible scenario, if the first communication device estimates that obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period will prevent the first communication device from accessing the satellite, the first communication device may directly define this time period (e.g., a portion of the second time period, or the entire second time period) as a satellite-unavailable time period, i.e., a third time period. Furthermore, the first communication device may update the second time period based on this time period.

[0122] For example, if the first communication device estimates that there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite from 13:10 to 13:20 in the second time period (13:00-13:30), and that the obstruction will prevent the first communication device from accessing the satellite, the first communication device may classify 13:10-13:20 as the third time period. Furthermore, the first communication device may update the original second time period (13:00-13:30) to a second time period (13:00-13:10) and another second time period (13:20-13:30).

[0123] In another possible situation, if the first communication device estimates that the obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period will cause the first communication device to be unable to access the satellite, the first communication device can prompt the user of the time period or start time when the communication between the first communication device and the satellite is interrupted.

[0124] For example, if for the second time period 13:00-13:30, the first communication device estimates that there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite from 13:10 to 13:20, and the obstruction will cause the first communication device to be unable to access the satellite, the first communication device can prompt the user that the communication between the first communication device and the satellite will be interrupted from 13:10 to 13:20.

[0125] Optionally, the first communication device may determine a communication rate between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period. The first communication device may predict the communication rate between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period before the second time period, or may detect the communication rate between the first communication device and the satellite in real time during the second time period.

[0126] Furthermore, the first communication device may also prompt the user of the communication rate between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period. For example, the first communication device may display the communication rate between the first communication device and the satellite next to the displayed second time period.

[0127] Optionally, the first communication device may determine the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device during the second time period. Furthermore, the first communication device may prompt the user with the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device during the second time period. For example, the first communication device may display the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device, such as satellite calls, text messaging, Internet access, music, games, etc., next to the displayed second time period.

[0128] Optionally, the first communication device may determine the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period. The first communication device may predict the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period before the second time period, or may detect the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite in real time during the second time period.

[0129] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how to determine the communication quality of the communication between the first communication device and the satellite. For example, the first communication device can measure the quality of the signal between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period, and estimate the communication quality based on the signal quality. For another example, the first communication device can predict whether there is an obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period. If it is predicted that there is no obstruction, the first communication device can estimate that the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period is high. If it is predicted that there is obstruction, the first communication device can estimate that the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period is poor. Optionally, if it is predicted that there is obstruction, the first communication device can also estimate the impact of the obstruction on the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite, and estimate the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period based on whether the impact on the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite is serious.

[0130] Furthermore, the first communication device may indicate to the user the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period. For example, the first communication device may categorize the communication quality as low, medium, or high, and display the communication quality level between the first communication device and the satellite next to the displayed second time period.

[0131] Optionally, the first communication device may determine a reference direction corresponding to a satellite during the second time period. The reference direction corresponding to a satellite during the second time period refers to a direction that can be aligned with a satellite whose coverage area includes the first communication device during the second time period. For example, if the first communication device is within the coverage area of ​​satellite A during the second time period from 13:00 to 13:30, the first communication device may determine a direction that can be aligned with satellite A, which is the reference direction corresponding to 13:00 to 13:30.

[0132] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the first communication device determining the reference direction corresponding to the satellite. In one possible implementation, the first communication device can determine the reference direction corresponding to the satellite based on the location information of the first communication device, such as the measurement data obtained by the first communication device performing global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurement, the orbit information of the satellite (such as the ephemeris information of the satellite), and a preset algorithm or model. Optionally, the first communication device can also determine the reference direction corresponding to the satellite in combination with some relevant auxiliary information, such as at least one of the following information: information about the environment in which the first communication device is located, the result of the non-line of sight (NLOS) detection between the first communication device and the satellite, or the signal quality measurement result between the first communication device and the satellite.

[0133] Optionally, if within the second time period, coverage areas of multiple satellites include the first communication device, the first communication device may determine a reference direction corresponding to each of the multiple satellites for the multiple satellites.

[0134] Optionally, during the second time period, the reference direction corresponding to the satellite may be a two-dimensional direction, for example, a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. Alternatively, the reference direction corresponding to the satellite may be a three-dimensional direction, for example, including a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

[0135] Optionally, the first communication device may prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to the satellite during the second time period. Based on the prompt of the first communication device, the user may adjust the direction of the first communication device to align the direction of the first communication device with the reference direction.

[0136] Based on this solution, the user can know how to adjust the direction of the first communication device. Compared with the user trying to adjust the direction of the first communication device by himself, the number of times the user adjusts the direction of the first communication device can be reduced, the user experience can be improved, and the first communication device can be enabled to communicate with the satellite quickly.

[0137] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the first communication device indicating the reference direction corresponding to the satellite. For example, the first communication device can display the reference direction corresponding to the satellite on a screen. The first communication device can display the reference direction in the form of a three-dimensional pointer direction.

[0138] Optionally, in a scenario where the coverage of multiple satellites includes the first communication device, the first communication device may prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to the current serving satellite.

[0139] Optionally, in a scenario where the coverage of multiple satellites includes the first communication device, if the communication quality between the current serving satellite and the first communication device decreases, or the communication quality between the current serving satellite and the first communication device is less than or equal to a preset threshold, or the communication quality between the current serving satellite and the first communication device is insufficient to support the current service, for example, if there is an obstruction between the serving satellite and the first communication device, affecting signal quality or even interrupting communication, the first communication device may prompt the user of the reference direction (referred to as a candidate reference direction) corresponding to other satellites (referred to as candidate satellites) whose coverage includes the first communication device. The first communication device may also prompt the user to adjust the direction of the first communication device according to the reference direction corresponding to the candidate satellite.

[0140] For example, the first communication device can display the reference direction corresponding to the candidate satellite on the screen and provide a text prompt to the user that the current communication quality is not high and the user can try to adjust the direction of the first communication device according to this reference direction. For example, as shown in Figure 4, taking the reference direction as a two-dimensional direction as an example, when the communication quality between the serving satellite and the first communication device is poor, the first communication device displays reference direction 1 corresponding to candidate satellite 1 and reference direction 2 corresponding to candidate satellite 2 on the screen, and displays an icon representing poor communication quality and a text description "The current signal quality is poor, please try the candidate reference direction". Based on the prompt of the first communication device, the user can adjust the direction of the first communication device according to reference direction 1 or reference direction 2. In Figure 4, "N" represents north, "W" represents west, "E" represents east, and "S" represents south.

[0141] Optionally, in a scenario where multiple satellites cover the first communication device, if the communication quality between the current serving satellite and the first communication device degrades and there are multiple candidate satellites, the first communication device may select one or more candidate satellites from the multiple candidate satellites and prompt the user with reference directions corresponding to the selected one or more candidate satellites. The first communication device may select one or more candidate satellites randomly, or according to certain conditions.

[0142] For example, the first communication device may determine the duration of time that the coverage of each candidate satellite among the multiple candidate satellites continuously includes the first communication device, sort the coverage by the duration, and select one or more candidate satellites ranked at the top (e.g., the candidate satellite with the longest coverage duration may be selected, or the candidate satellites with the top two coverage durations may be selected). For another example, the first communication device may measure the signal quality of each candidate satellite among the multiple candidate satellites, sort the coverage by the signal quality, and select one or more candidate satellites ranked at the top (e.g., the candidate satellite with the highest signal quality may be selected, or the candidate satellites with the top two signal quality).

[0143] Optionally, in a scenario where the first communication device prompts the user of the reference direction corresponding to a candidate satellite, if there are multiple candidate satellites, the first communication device may simultaneously prompt the user of the reference directions corresponding to the multiple candidate satellites. For example, the first communication device may simultaneously display the reference directions corresponding to the multiple candidate satellites on the screen. Alternatively, the first communication device may sequentially prompt the reference directions corresponding to the multiple candidate satellites, and prompt the reference direction corresponding to one candidate satellite at a time. For example, after the first communication device displays the reference direction corresponding to the first candidate satellite on the screen, if the user does not adjust the direction of the first communication device according to this reference direction within a period of time, or the user clicks the "next reference direction" control on the screen, or the communication quality between the candidate satellite and the first communication device is poor, for example, when there is an obstruction between the first communication device and the candidate satellite, the first communication device may display the reference direction corresponding to the next candidate satellite.

[0144] Optionally, the first communication device may attempt to access a candidate satellite. For example, the first communication device may attempt to access a candidate satellite after the user adjusts the direction of the first communication device according to a reference direction corresponding to a candidate satellite.

[0145] Optionally, after the first communication device accesses a candidate satellite, if the communication quality between the candidate satellite and the first communication device deteriorates or the communication quality is still insufficient to support the current service, the first communication device may prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to another candidate satellite, and prompt the user to continue adjusting the direction of the first communication device according to this reference direction.

[0146] Optionally, in a scenario where the coverage area of ​​multiple satellites includes the first communication device, the first communication device may determine the reference directions corresponding to each of the multiple satellites and determine the priority of the reference direction corresponding to each satellite. The first communication device may notify the user of the reference direction with the highest priority, based on the priority. Alternatively, the first communication device may notify the user of the reference directions corresponding to the multiple satellites and the priorities corresponding to the reference directions.

[0147] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation of the first communication device determining the priority of the reference direction. For example, the first communication device can determine the priority of the reference direction corresponding to the satellite based on the communication quality between the first communication device and each satellite.

[0148] Optionally, in a scenario where the first communication device is covered by multiple satellites, the first communication device may determine different reference directions with the highest priority for different times within a certain time period. For example, for the time period 12:00-13:00, the first communication device determines that the reference direction with the highest priority during the period 12:00-12:20 corresponds to satellite A, the reference direction with the highest priority during the period 12:20-12:50 corresponds to satellite B, and the reference direction with the highest priority during the period 12:50-13:00 corresponds to satellite C.

[0149] Optionally, the first communication device may not only prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to the satellite, but may also prompt the user of the current direction of the first communication device, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the direction of the first communication device.

[0150] For example, the first communication device may simultaneously display the reference direction corresponding to the satellite and the current direction of the first communication device on a screen. When displaying the reference direction corresponding to the satellite and the current direction of the first communication device, the first communication device may use different colors or patterns, or may also indicate text, to distinguish between the reference direction corresponding to the satellite and the current direction of the first communication device.

[0151] For example, as shown in Figure 5, using the two-dimensional direction display as an example, reference directions 1 and 2 displayed by the first communication device correspond to different satellites, and the actual direction is the current direction of the first communication device. The user can adjust the direction of the first communication device based on reference direction 1 or reference direction 2. In Figure 5, the "N," "W," "E," and "S" can refer to the description of Figure 4 above.

[0152] Optionally, the first communication device can recommend (or prompt) the user an appropriate operation method based on the current application scenario. For example, if the first communication device predicts that there will be an obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite within a certain period of time, the first communication device can prompt the user before the obstruction occurs, and after a certain period of time, the first communication device and the satellite can communicate. For another example, if the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite is poor, the first communication device can prompt the user to try to adjust the direction of the first communication device to improve communication quality.

[0153] Optionally, the first communication device can predict when the current service can be completed and prompt the user. For example, if the user operates the first communication device to send a text message, the first communication device can predict when the text message will be successfully sent based on the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite.

[0154] For example, as shown in FIG6 , the first communication device displays the current time period. The first communication device supports SMS service (an icon representing the SMS service is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen). Reference direction 1 displayed by the first communication device corresponds to satellite A, and reference direction 2 corresponds to satellite B. The current signal quality between the first communication device and satellite B is poor. The first communication device predicts that if satellite B is connected, it will take 5 seconds for the user to successfully send the SMS after sending it. The current signal quality between the first communication device and satellite A is good. The first communication device predicts that if satellite A is connected, it will take 1 second for the user to successfully send the SMS after sending it. Based on this, as shown in FIG6 , the first communication device can display a text description corresponding to satellite B on the screen: "The current signal quality is poor. You need to wait 5 seconds to successfully send it." And a text description corresponding to satellite A: "The current signal quality is good. You need to wait 1 second to successfully send it."

[0155] The above describes some options related to the second period. The following describes some options related to the third period.

[0156] Optionally, the first communication device may be in a power-saving communication state during the third time period. For example, the first communication device may be in a communication state such as discontinuous transmission (DTX), discontinuous transmission and reception (DT&RX), discontinuous communication, discontinuous transmission, discontinuous reception (DRX), such as connected discontinuous reception (C-DRX) during the third time period.

[0157] Based on this solution, the first communication device can be in a power-saving communication state during the period when it cannot communicate with the satellite, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0158] Optionally, the first communication device may prompt the user of a third time period within the first time period. Based on the third time period, the user may determine when the first communication device cannot communicate with the satellite. This embodiment of the application does not limit the specific implementation of the first communication device prompting the user of the third time period. For details, please refer to the above description of the first communication device prompting the user of the second time period.

[0159] Optionally, when the first communication device indicates the third time period, it may also prompt the user that the first communication device cannot communicate with the satellite during the third time period. For example, the first communication device may display text or a logo pattern next to the third time period to prompt the user that the first communication device cannot communicate with the satellite during the third time period.

[0160] Optionally, when the first communication device prompts the third time period, it may also prompt the user that it is not necessary to adjust the posture or direction of the first communication device during the third time period. Based on the prompt of the first communication device, the user may determine that it is not necessary to adjust the posture or direction of the first communication device during the third time period, thereby saving the user's physical effort.

[0161] In one possible implementation, the first communication device may prompt the user for a third time period within the first time period, but not prompt the user for the second time period. In this implementation, the user may, based on the third time period, determine time periods within the first time period, excluding the third time period, as time periods during which communication between the first communication device and the satellite is possible.

[0162] In addition, the following introduces a possible implementation of the first communication device estimating the shielding situation between the first communication device and the satellite in an embodiment of the present application.

[0163] The obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite may refer to a situation where the wireless link between the first communication device and the satellite is blocked by an obstruction, which may specifically include the following situations: the first communication device is located in a closed environment such as a subway, train, tunnel, building, or elevator; the first communication device is located in an open environment such as a dense forest but with obstructions in the air; the first communication device is inside an object such as a user's clothing pocket, handbag, box, or vehicle, or any other possible obstruction situation, which is not limited in this application. In addition, some weather conditions may also be considered as obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite, such as heavy fog or cloudy sky in the area where the first communication device is located.

[0164] Optionally, the first communication device can estimate the obstruction situation between the first communication device and the satellite based on relevant information, such as at least one of the following information: location information of the first communication device (for example, location information obtained by the first communication device performing GNSS measurement), information indicating the coverage range of the satellite (for example, satellite ephemeris information, orbit information, etc.), information characterizing the environment in which the first communication device is located (for example, environmental information obtained by the first communication device performing GNSS measurement, three-dimensional (3D) map information of the environment around the first communication device), or signal quality between the first communication device and the satellite.

[0165] For estimating the obstruction situation between the first communication device and the satellite, in one possible implementation, the first communication device may preset an algorithm or model for estimating the obstruction situation. The input of the algorithm or model may be the above-mentioned relevant information, and the output may be a prediction of the obstruction situation between the first communication device and the satellite in the future. Optionally, the algorithm or model may output a prediction of whether there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite in the future. Optionally, the algorithm or model may also output a prediction of the specific obstruction situation (such as the reason for the obstruction, the severity of the impact of the obstruction on the signal, etc.) between the first communication device and the satellite in the future.

[0166] For example, assuming that at 13:00, the first communication device inputs the measurement results of the GNSS measurement of the position of the first communication device, the 3D data of the environment in which the first communication device is located, the measurement results of the signal quality between the first communication device and the satellite, and the ephemeris information of the satellite into a preset model, the model can output a prediction result of the obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the period of 13:00-14:00. The prediction result output by the model may be: there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the period of 13:00-14:00. Optionally, the model can also output the reason for the obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite during the period of 13:00-14:00, for example, the first communication device may be in the subway. Optionally, the model can also output the severity of the impact of the obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite on the signal during the period of 13:00-14:00, for example, it may be relatively severe.

[0167] In another possible implementation, the first communication device may predict the obstruction between the first communication device and a satellite within a certain period of time in the future based on a prediction of the first communication device's location within a certain period of time in the future. For example, the first communication device may determine, based on navigation information about the first communication device within a certain period of time in the future, that the first communication device will enter a tunnel within a certain period of time in the future, and thus may determine that obstruction between the first communication device and a satellite will occur. For another example, the first communication device may determine, based on a train ticket purchased by a user, that the first communication device will be on a train within a certain period of time in the future, and thus may determine that obstruction between the first communication device and a satellite will occur.

[0168] Additionally, optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the first communication device prompts the user with certain information, such as a second time period, the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing a satellite, the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite, the time period when there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite, the reference direction corresponding to the satellite, and other information. This information may be prompted by the first communication device in response to a user operation. For example, the first communication device may prompt the user with corresponding information in response to the user clicking a control on the screen. For example, the first communication device displays multiple second time periods in a list format. If the user clicks an area on the screen corresponding to a second time period, the first communication device may display information related to the second time period, such as the probability of the first communication device accessing a satellite during the time period, the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the time period, and the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device during the time period. For example, as shown in FIG3 , after the user clicks on the 15:00-15:10 time period displayed on the screen of the first communication device, the first communication device may display the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device during the time period, such as text messaging and downloading as shown in FIG3 , and the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the time period, such as icons representing “good communication quality,” “average communication quality,” or “poor communication quality,” as shown in FIG3 .

[0169] Alternatively, in the above embodiment, the communication method executed by the first communication device may be executed by an application (APP) on the first communication device. For example, when a user clicks an application icon to open the application, the application interface may display information such as the second time period, the types of satellite services supported by the first communication device during the second time period, and the communication quality between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

[0170] The above mainly introduces the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of the device and the interaction between the device and the user. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device, which is used to implement the various methods described above. The communication device can be the first communication device in the above method embodiments, or a device that includes the above first communication device, or a component that can be used for the first communication device.

[0171] It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, 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 the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware 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.

[0172] In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules of the communication device can be divided according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0173] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 700. The communication device 700 includes a processing module 701 and a display module 702. The processing module 701, also known as a processing unit 701, is used to implement processing functions. Optionally, the communication device 700 may also include a transceiver module 703. The transceiver module 703, also known as a transceiver unit, is used to implement transceiver functions and may be, for example, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface. Optionally, the communication device 700 may also include a storage module 704.

[0174] Taking communication device 700 as the first communication device in the above method embodiment as an example, processing module 701 is configured to determine one or more second time periods based on the location information of the communication device and ephemeris information of one or more satellites; the second time period is the time period during which the communication device is within the coverage area of ​​any of the one or more satellites. Display module 702 is configured to prompt a user with the one or more second time periods.

[0175] Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0176] Optionally, in the communication device shown in FIG7 , the names of the modules may not be the names shown in the figure. For example, if the communication device 700 includes a transceiver module, the transceiver module may also be called a communication module or a communication unit.

[0177] If the various units in Figure 7 are implemented in the form of software function modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The storage medium for storing computer software products includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0178] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 700 is presented in the form of various functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0179] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art may appreciate that the communication device 700 may take the form of the communication device 800 shown in FIG. 8 .

[0180] As shown in Figure 8, the communication device 800 includes one or more processors 801, a communication line 802, and at least one communication interface (Figure 8 is only an example of including a communication interface 804 and a processor 801 for illustration), and may optionally also include a memory 803.

[0181] The processor 801 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0182] The communication line 802 may include a path for connecting different components.

[0183] The communication interface 804 may be a transceiver module for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, RAN, terminals, and wireless local area networks (WLANs). For example, the transceiver module may be a device such as a transceiver or a transceiver. Alternatively, the communication interface 804 may be a transceiver circuit or input / output interface within the processor 801, for implementing signal input and output to the processor.

[0184] The memory 803 may be a device having a storage function. For example, it may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory may exist independently and be connected to the processor via a communication line 802. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

[0185] The memory 803 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 801. The processor 801 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 803, thereby implementing the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0186] Alternatively, optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the processor 801 may also perform processing-related functions in the communication method provided in the above embodiment of the present application, and the communication interface 804 is responsible for communicating with other devices or communication networks, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0187] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0188] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 801 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG8 .

[0189] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 800 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 801 and the processor 807 in FIG8 . Each of these processors may be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor. The processors herein may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: a CPU, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, and other types of computing devices that run software. Each computing device may include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing.

[0190] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 800 may further include an output device 805 and an input device 806. The output device 805 communicates with the processor 801 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 805 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 806 communicates with the processor 801 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 806 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0191] The communication device 800 described above may sometimes also be referred to as a communication device, which may be a general-purpose device or a dedicated device. For example, the communication device 800 may be the first communication device described above or a device having a similar structure as shown in FIG8 . The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the communication device 800 .

[0192] In addition, the composition structure shown in Figure 8 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. In addition to the components shown in Figure 8, the communication device 800 may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0193] Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 701 and the display module 702 in FIG7 may be implemented by the processor 801 in the communication device 800 shown in FIG8 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 803. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 701 in FIG7 may be implemented by the processor 801 in the communication device 800 shown in FIG8 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 803, and the functions / implementation processes of the display module 702 in FIG7 may be implemented by the output device 805 in the communication device 800 shown in FIG8.

[0194] It should be understood that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of the two. When any of the above modules or units is implemented in software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in a memory, and a processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can be built into an SoC or ASIC, or it can be an independent semiconductor chip. In addition to the core used to execute software instructions to perform calculations or processing within the processor, it can further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as FPGAs, programmable logic devices (PLDs), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0195] When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a DSP chip, an MCU, an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, a SoC, an FPGA, a PLD, a dedicated digital circuit, a hardware accelerator or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or not rely on the software to execute the above method flow.

[0196] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments. In one possible design, the communication device also includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data, and the processor can call the program code stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be in the communication device. When the communication device is a chip system, it may be composed of a chip, or it may include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0197] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any of the above method embodiments or any of its implementation methods.

[0198] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more media integrated therein. The available media may be magnetic media (eg, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (eg, DVDs), or semiconductor media (eg, solid state drives (SSDs)).

[0199] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art may understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0200] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to encompass such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first communication device determines one or more second time periods based on the location information of the first communication device and the ephemeris information of one or more satellites; the second time periods are time periods when the first communication device is within the coverage of any satellite of the one or more satellites; The first communication device prompts the user about the one or more second time periods.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: determining, by the first communication device, a quality of communication between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period; The first communication device prompts the user about the quality of communication between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first communication device determines the quality of communication between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period, including: The first communication device determines the quality of the communication according to an obstruction condition between the first communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: determining, by the first communication device, a probability that the first communication device successfully accesses a satellite within the second time period; The first communication device prompts the user of the probability of the first communication device successfully accessing the satellite.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device prompts the user of the types of services supported by the first communication device during the second time period.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device is in a first communication state within a third time period, and the third time period is a time period within the first time period and outside the second time period; the first communication state is a discontinuous reception DRX, discontinuous transmission DTX or discontinuous transmission and reception DT&RX state.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device determines, within the second time period, a reference direction corresponding to the serving satellite and a direction of the first communication device; The first communication device prompts the user of a reference direction corresponding to the service satellite and a direction of the first communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device determines, within the second time period, reference directions corresponding to one or more candidate satellites; The first communication device prompts the user of reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first communication device prompts the user of reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites, including: In a case where the quality of communication between the serving satellite and the first communication device is degraded, the first communication device prompts the user of reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device determines, within the second time period, a period during which there is an obstruction between the first communication device and a satellite; The first communication device prompts the user that there is a period of time when there is obstruction between the first communication device and the satellite.

11. A communication device, characterized in that: The device includes: a processing module and a display module; The processing module is configured to determine one or more second time periods based on the location information of the communication device and the ephemeris information of one or more satellites; the second time period being a time period during which the communication device is within the coverage of any one of the one or more satellites; The display module is used to prompt the user of the one or more second time periods.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that The processing module is further configured to determine the quality of communication between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period; The display module is further configured to prompt the user the quality of communication between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that The processing module determines the quality of communication between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period, including: determining the quality of communication according to an obstruction condition between the communication device and the satellite during the second time period.

14. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that The processing module is further configured to determine a probability of the communication device successfully accessing a satellite during the second time period; The display module is further configured to prompt the user the probability of the communication device successfully accessing a satellite.

15. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that The display module is further configured to prompt the user the types of services supported by the communication device during the second time period.

16. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that The processing module is further used to place the communication device in a first communication state within a third time period, where the third time period is a time period within the first time period and outside the second time period; the first communication state is a discontinuous reception DRX, discontinuous transmission DTX, or discontinuous transmission and reception DT&RX state.

17. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that The processing module is further configured to determine a reference direction corresponding to the service satellite and a direction of the communication device during the second time period; The display module is further used to prompt the user of the reference direction corresponding to the service satellite and the direction of the communication device.

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that The processing module is further configured to determine a reference direction corresponding to one or more candidate satellites within the second time period; The display module is further configured to prompt the user of reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites.

19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that The display module prompts the user the reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites, including: In a case where the quality of communication between the serving satellite and the communication device is degraded, the display module prompts the user with reference directions corresponding to the one or more candidate satellites.

20. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that The processing module is further configured to determine a period of time during which there is an obstruction between the communication device and the satellite within the second period of time; The display module is further used to prompt the user of a period of time when there is an obstruction between the communication device and the satellite.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises: a processor, configured to execute instructions stored in a memory; when the instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that Instructions are stored thereon, and when the instructions are executed by a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is performed.

23. A computer program product, characterized in that Instructions are stored thereon, and when the instructions are executed by a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is performed.

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