Network access method, communication apparatus, storage medium, and program product

Abstract

Provided are a network access method, a communication apparatus, a storage medium, and a program product. The network access method comprises: receiving network access information from a second terminal, wherein the second terminal has accessed a non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is access information indicating that the second terminal has accessed the non-terrestrial network; and accessing the non-terrestrial network on the basis of the network access information from the second terminal.

Description

Network access methods, communication devices, storage media and software products

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202411219110.7, filed on August 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a network access method, communication device, storage medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0003] Non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication refers to the technology of wireless communication using non-terrestrial facilities such as satellites and airborne platforms (such as airplanes, balloons, and airships). It has advantages such as wide coverage, long communication distance, high reliability, high flexibility, and high throughput. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a network access method, executed by a first terminal. The network access method includes:

[0005] Receive network access information from the second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed a non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial network;

[0006] Based on the network access information of the second terminal, access is made to a non-terrestrial network.

[0007] Secondly, this disclosure also provides a network access method, executed by a second terminal. The network access method includes:

[0008] When accessing a non-terrestrial network, network access information is sent; wherein, the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0009] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device. The communication device includes: a receiving module and a processing module;

[0010] The receiving module is used to receive network access information from the second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed a non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial network;

[0011] The processing module is used to access the non-terrestrial network based on the network access information of the second terminal.

[0012] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device. The communication device includes: a transmitting module;

[0013] The sending module is used to send network access information when accessing a non-terrestrial network; wherein, the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0014] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, including: a processor and a memory; the memory stores processor-executable instructions; when the processor is configured to execute the instructions, the communication device implements the method provided according to the first or second aspect above.

[0015] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform the method provided in the first or second aspect.

[0016] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program product comprising a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method provided in the first or second aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the technical solutions of this disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this disclosure to explain the technical solutions of this disclosure and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this disclosure.

[0018] Figure 1 is a system architecture diagram according to some embodiments.

[0019] Figure 2 is another system architecture diagram according to some embodiments.

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a network access process according to some embodiments.

[0021] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a network access method according to some embodiments.

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a network access scenario according to some embodiments.

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another network access scenario according to some embodiments.

[0024] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating another network access method according to some embodiments.

[0025] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device according to some embodiments.

[0026] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the composition of another communication device according to some embodiments.

[0027] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to some embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0029] Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" and its other forms, such as the third-person singular "comprises" and the present participle "comprising," are interpreted as open-ended and encompassing, meaning "including, but not limited to." In the description of the specification, terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "exemplary embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic associated with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. The illustrative representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics mentioned may be included in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0030] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0031] In this disclosure, expressions such as "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in this disclosure should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of expressions such as "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a detailed manner.

[0032] In addition, the use of “based on” implies openness and inclusivity, because processes, steps, calculations or other actions “based on” one or more of the stated conditions or values ​​may in practice be based on additional conditions or values ​​beyond those stated.

[0033] Currently, although vehicular wireless communication technology mainly relies on terrestrial public mobile network technologies such as fourth / fifth generation (4G / 5G) and C-V2X cellular direct communication technology (PC5), the inability of terrestrial networks to achieve full coverage in remote areas makes it difficult to guarantee that vehicles can receive signals at all times and in all areas. This poses a significant challenge to ensuring safe driving, emergency calls, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) services. Non-terrestrial communication, on the other hand, offers wide coverage, strong disaster resistance, and is less susceptible to ground-based physical attacks, providing users with broad and undifferentiated communication services. Therefore, non-terrestrial communication is gradually being widely used in in-vehicle terminals. However, based on non-terrestrial communication systems, the cold boot process for terminals is relatively long.

[0034] Taking satellite terminals as an example, firstly, unlike terrestrial mobile communication base stations and antennas whose locations are fixed, the positions of non-geostationary satellites relative to ground users are usually constantly changing (except for special geostationary satellites). Therefore, when a satellite terminal is cold-powered, it may not have current ephemeris information, or the historical ephemeris information stored in the device may be invalid. Consequently, the satellite terminal cannot know the position and direction of motion of satellites that can currently provide beam coverage, and needs to spend a considerable amount of time re-searching for satellite signal frequencies that can provide service. For example, this re-search process usually takes at least tens of seconds, and may take up to two minutes.

[0035] Secondly, compared to terrestrial mobile base stations (whose relative positions are typically 200-300 meters high), communication satellites can be located at altitudes ranging from 1400 kilometers to over 30,000 kilometers, and their movement speed is also relatively fast. Therefore, the impact of Doppler shift is significant, resulting in satellite terminals taking much longer to lock onto downlink synchronization signals compared to terrestrial mobile network terminals. Furthermore, in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) NTN, satellite terminals are required to independently perform downlink Doppler shift compensation. Without ephemeris information, the calculation of Doppler shift compensation by satellite terminals becomes even more complex and time-consuming.

[0036] Furthermore, after completing downlink signal synchronization, the satellite terminal needs to wait to receive the serving cell master information block (MIB) and system information block (SIB) broadcast by the network before it can complete uplink Doppler shift compensation and time compensation calculations. Ephemeris updates and timing advances (TAs) are both included in the SIB message. This allows it to complete the uplink signal synchronization process in the random access channel (RACH) procedure before initiating the registration request access procedure. Due to the high satellite position, high signal transmission delay, and typically narrow satellite channels, this process takes significantly longer than that of ordinary terrestrial mobile network terminals.

[0037] It is evident that accessing non-terrestrial communication during the cold boot process of a terminal is time-consuming. Therefore, some technologies utilize terrestrial infrastructure to provide local ephemeris download services, thereby addressing the issue of long ephemeris download times for satellite terminals.

[0038] Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) service is a technology that enhances the positioning capabilities of terminals such as mobile phones. It relies on positioning information from terrestrial mobile network base stations. For example, the terminal first sends its approximate location information, obtained through the mobile network base station, to a remote location server. The location server then sends targeted GPS assistance data to the terminal based on this information. This data includes accurate GPS ephemeris data and key parameters such as satellite azimuth and elevation angles, significantly reducing GPS signal acquisition time and improving positioning accuracy. However, this method relies on terrestrial mobile networks such as 2G, 3G, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks and cannot be used in areas without terrestrial network coverage.

[0039] Alternatively, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication facilities, such as roadside units (RSUs), can be used to broadcast local GPS ephemeris information to passing terminals. However, the deployment of RSUs is currently relatively limited, and future deployment plans for RSUs may not cover as much as the widely distributed terrestrial mobile communication networks, let alone reach globally covered satellite communication systems. Therefore, although roadside V2X communication facilities provide a new approach to positioning technology, they still have significant shortcomings in addressing positioning needs across a wide area.

[0040] In summary, how to solve the technical problem of the time-consuming access to non-terrestrial communication during the cold start process of terminals remains an urgent technical problem to be solved in related fields.

[0041] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a network access method in which a first terminal can receive network access information from a second terminal, and then access a non-terrestrial network based on the network access information of the second terminal. The second terminal has already accessed the non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is the access information for the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial network. Thus, the first terminal can receive network access information from a terminal already accessing the non-terrestrial network (e.g., the second terminal), and when it needs to access the non-terrestrial network, use the received network access information as a reference to determine the information required for current access to the non-terrestrial network. Compared to the complete process of obtaining the information required for network access without reference information, the present disclosure can obtain the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0042] As shown in Figure 1, Figure 1 is a system architecture diagram applicable to the above-mentioned network access method. The system 100 includes a first terminal 10 and a second terminal 20.

[0043] The first terminal 10 can be a transportation vehicle, a mobile terminal, or other equipment. Transportation vehicles can include vehicles such as cars, buses, subways, light rail, and trams; ships such as passenger ships, cargo ships, tankers, fishing boats, and yachts; and aircraft such as passenger planes, cargo planes, and helicopters. The transportation vehicle equipment, i.e., the first terminal 10, can be a terminal configured within the aforementioned transportation vehicles, such as an in-vehicle terminal. Mobile terminal equipment can also be called a terminal, mobile station, or mobile terminal. Mobile terminal equipment can be, for example, a mobile phone, tablet computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, handheld computer, notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), netbook, etc.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first terminal 10 may have a non-terrestrial network communication module. This non-terrestrial network communication module is capable of processing signals from satellites or high-altitude platforms, enabling the first terminal 10 to access a non-terrestrial network. The first terminal 10 is capable of supporting the communication protocols and standards related to this non-terrestrial network communication module to ensure normal access to the non-terrestrial network.

[0045] Furthermore, the first terminal 10 may also include a terrestrial network communication module. The terrestrial network communication module may be a cellular mobile network communication module (such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G, etc.), an Ethernet communication module, a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication module, a dedicated communication network (such as fiber optic cable, etc.) communication module, etc.

[0046] In some embodiments, the first terminal 10 may further include a direct communication module, through which the first terminal 10 can communicate with other devices, such as receiving network access information sent by the second terminal 20 via direct communication. The direct communication module can be at least one of a cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) direct communication module or a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) direct communication module. C-V2X technology provides comprehensive information interaction between vehicles (V2V), vehicles to infrastructure (V2I), vehicles to pedestrians (V2P), and vehicles to networks (V2N). Exemplarily, the C-V2X direct communication module can be a C-V2X PC5 communication module, through which communication with other devices can be achieved. In some embodiments, the first terminal 10 may also include a sidelink module, which can be referred to as a device-to-device communication module. In addition, the first terminal 10 may also have other similar direct communication modules, such as modules using direct communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD), NearLink, and ZigBee, which are not limited in this disclosure.

[0047] In some embodiments, the terminal in this disclosure may have a C-V2X and 5G dual-mode module chip.

[0048] The second terminal 20 can also be a transportation vehicle or a mobile terminal device. In some embodiments, the second terminal 20 may also have a terrestrial network communication module. Furthermore, the second terminal 20 may also have a direct communication module and a terrestrial network communication module. In some embodiments,

[0049] The number of second terminals 20 can also be multiple.

[0050] For example, when the second terminal 20 has already accessed a non-terrestrial network, the first terminal 10 can receive network access information sent by the second terminal 20, which is access information for the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial network. Furthermore, when the first terminal 10 needs to access a non-terrestrial network, the first terminal 10 can access the non-terrestrial network based on the network access information sent by the second terminal 20.

[0051] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG2, the system 100 may further include at least one third terminal 30. The third terminal 30 may be a traffic vehicle device, a mobile terminal device, a roadside unit (RSU), or other equipment. A roadside unit (RSU) can communicate with onboard equipment, for example, by acquiring vehicle data information through the onboard equipment. Roadside units are typically deployed along roads and can cooperate with other systems to complete vehicle traffic information processing and decision-making. Roadside units help vehicles achieve interconnectivity, perceive their environment, improve road safety and traffic efficiency, and provide strong support for the realization of intelligent transportation systems.

[0052] The third terminal 30 may have at least one of a direct communication module and a terrestrial network communication module. For example, the third terminal 30 may forward network access information from the second terminal 20 to the first terminal 10 via at least one of the direct communication module and the terrestrial network communication module. In some embodiments, the third terminal 30 may also have a non-terrestrial network communication module.

[0053] In some embodiments, this disclosure also provides a network access process, as shown in Figure 3, including:

[0054] 1. Downlink Synchronization: The terminal receives synchronization signals (SSB / PBCH) from the network and performs an initial cell search, including coarse synchronization and fine synchronization, to ensure time and frequency synchronization with the network.

[0055] 2. The terminal receives and parses the System Information Block (SIB), which may contain key information such as network configuration, cell configuration, and access parameters.

[0056] 3. Random Access Channel Process (RACH Process): The terminal can select and send a random access preamble to the network. After the network responds, the terminal completes uplink synchronization to ensure that the terminal can send data to the network.

[0057] Thus, the terminal and the network complete beam detection and uplink / downlink radio channel synchronization.

[0058] 4. Radio Resource Control (RRC) Setup. RRC setup includes Radio Channel Setup.

[0059] 5. Registration Request: The terminal sends a registration request to the network, requesting access to the network and to obtain services. The registration request may include the terminal identifier (UE ID), the terminal's network capabilities, and the requested network slice, etc.

[0060] 6. Authentication Process: The network authenticates the identity of the terminal to ensure the security of the access device.

[0061] 7. Security Process: An encrypted secure connection is established between the terminal and the network to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data transmission.

[0062] 8. Registration Accept: The network confirms the terminal's registration request, completes the registration process, and allows the terminal to access the network.

[0063] 9. Radio Resource Control Reconfiguration (RrcReconfiguration): The network reconfigures the radio resources of the terminal according to the terminal's needs and network conditions to optimize communication efficiency.

[0064] 10. PDU Session Establishment Request: The terminal requests to establish a PDU session in order to transmit user data in the network.

[0065] 11. PDU Session Establishment Accept: The network accepts the terminal's session establishment request and confirms that the session has been successfully established.

[0066] The terminal negotiates with the network the type of PDN session and the corresponding Data Network Name (DNN) for the protocol configuration options (PCO), determining the data transmission path and method. The network assigns a PDN address (IP address) to the terminal as its unique identifier within the network, and configures Quality of Service (QoS) rules for the terminal to ensure data transmission priority and performance. The terminal negotiates with the network and selects a suitable network slice DNN to optimize data transmission efficiency and reliability.

[0067] The process for each terminal in the aforementioned system 100 to access the non-terrestrial network is similar to this process.

[0068] It is understood that the system architecture shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this disclosure, and may include more or fewer devices or components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0069] The method provided in this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] As shown in Figure 4, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides a network access method applied to a first terminal. The method includes steps S101 to S102.

[0071] S101, Receive network access information from the second terminal.

[0072] The second terminal has accessed a non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is the access information for the second terminal to access the non-terrestrial network. For example, this network access information can be used as reference information for the first terminal to access the non-terrestrial network. In one example, this network access information can also be used as reference information required for satellite positioning and navigation.

[0073] In some embodiments, network access information includes at least one of the following: service provider information for non-terrestrial networks, ephemeris information of communication satellites, location information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites, frequency information of the serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information. In some embodiments, network access information may also include other information.

[0074] Non-terrestrial network service provider information refers to the identity information of operators or service providers that offer non-terrestrial network services. For example, non-terrestrial network service provider information may include the service provider's name, service identifier, service area, etc., used to distinguish different service providers and the services they provide.

[0075] Ephemeris information for communication satellites includes detailed data on their orbital parameters, such as position, velocity, and orbital period. Ephemeris information is crucial for determining the precise position of a communication satellite at a specific point in time and is fundamental to enabling satellite communication and navigation functions.

[0076] The location information of the second terminal can be the location information of the second terminal when it sends the network access information, and this location information can be determined based on various satellite navigation systems.

[0077] The ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites is similar to that of communication satellites mentioned above, but here it refers to the orbital parameters of satellites used for positioning and navigation services (such as GPS satellites).

[0078] Frequency information of a serving cell refers to the geographical area covered by a communication satellite or high-altitude platform, while frequency information refers to the specific frequency or frequency range allocated to that non-terrestrial network cell for communication.

[0079] Uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information is used to adjust the frequencies of transmitted and received signals to compensate for this effect, thus ensuring communication quality, because the relative motion between the satellite and the terminal (e.g., due to the satellite's rotation around the Earth) causes changes in the frequency of the received signal.

[0080] The cell system information block and main information block information can typically contain information about the satellite network architecture, service type, access parameters, etc., to ensure that the terminal can correctly access and use the network.

[0081] Uplink delay compensation information is used to adjust transmission time to compensate for this delay, ensuring that the signal reaches the satellite accurately and is processed correctly, because the signal transmission distance in satellite communication is much greater than that in terrestrial base station communication.

[0082] It should be understood that the aforementioned network access information may include important information related to accessing non-terrestrial networks. Thus, the first terminal can use the network access information of the second terminal as reference information, thereby enabling it to obtain the information required for accessing non-terrestrial networks more quickly and thus improving the speed of accessing non-terrestrial networks.

[0083] In some embodiments, the first terminal can receive network access information from the second terminal via direct communication. This direct communication can be V2X direct communication or Sidelink direct communication. For example, the first terminal can receive network access information from the second terminal via a V2X interface.

[0084] Alternatively, if both the first terminal and the second terminal are within the coverage area of ​​a terrestrial mobile communication network, the first terminal can also receive network access information from the second terminal through the terrestrial mobile communication network.

[0085] In some embodiments, the first terminal may receive network access information from the second terminal forwarded by the third terminal.

[0086] For example, when accessing a non-terrestrial network, the second terminal can broadcast its network access information. At this time, the in-vehicle terminal devices of other vehicles passing through the area where the second terminal is located, or the mobile terminal devices of people (i.e., third devices), can receive this network access information and help forward it. This increases the propagation range and speed of the second terminal's network access information, thereby enabling it to be provided to more terminals that need it (such as the first terminal), and also improving the speed at which the network access information is provided to those terminals (such as the first terminal).

[0087] In one implementation, the first terminal can receive network access information directly sent by the second terminal.

[0088] For example, as shown in Figure 5, taking the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A as the second terminal and the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle B as the first terminal, the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A can obtain key information (network access information) required for accessing non-terrestrial networks and satellite navigation during normal operation. It can then store the obtained information or update stored historical information. The vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A can also access terrestrial mobile networks / fixed networks. Satellite ground stations are an important component of non-terrestrial communication systems, and satellite ground networks can consist of multiple satellite ground stations. When the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A has already accessed a non-terrestrial network, it can send its own network access information to the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle B, enabling the first terminal to quickly access the non-terrestrial network.

[0089] In another implementation, the first terminal can send a network access information request message and then receive network access information sent by the second terminal in response to the request message.

[0090] For example, if the first terminal does not store network access information, or if the first terminal needs to access a non-terrestrial network, or if all stored network access information is invalid, it may send a network access information request message. Subsequently, it may receive network access information sent by the second terminal in response to the request message. It should be understood that the terminal receiving the request message may agree to respond to the request and send network access information to the first terminal, or it may refuse to respond to the request.

[0091] In one example, the terminal receiving the request message can determine whether to respond to it based on pre-defined response rules. These pre-defined response rules may include defaulting to responding to such network access information request messages or defaulting to not responding to them; alternatively, these pre-defined response rules may be user-defined.

[0092] In another example, the terminal that receives the request message can determine whether to respond to it based on its own device capabilities.

[0093] In some embodiments, the request message may include operator information that enables the first terminal to provide NTN services.

[0094] In some embodiments, the first terminal may send network access information request messages multiple times. The first terminal may periodically send network access information request messages. Thus, by sending network access information request messages multiple times, the likelihood of receiving referable network access information can be increased.

[0095] Furthermore, upon receiving network access information, the first terminal stops sending network access information request messages; that is, the first terminal can continue sending the request message until a response to the request message is received. Alternatively, the first terminal stops sending network access information request messages when the number of received network access information messages reaches a preset threshold. Or, the first terminal stops receiving network access information request messages when it successfully accesses a non-terrestrial network.

[0096] It should be noted that the first terminal can proactively broadcast a network access information request message through the V2X communication interface. Furthermore, the first terminal can continuously and periodically send this request message until a response is received. This allows the first terminal to quickly obtain the latest network access information and increases the likelihood of receiving reliable network access information.

[0097] For example, as shown in Figure 6, taking the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A as the second terminal and the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle B as the first terminal, the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A can obtain key information (network access information) required for accessing non-terrestrial networks and satellite navigation during normal operation. It can then store the obtained information or update stored historical information. The vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A can also access terrestrial mobile networks / fixed networks. Satellite ground stations are an important component of non-terrestrial communication systems, and satellite ground networks can consist of multiple satellite ground stations. When the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A has already accessed a non-terrestrial network and receives a network access information request message from the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle B, the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle A can send its own network access information to the vehicle-mounted terminal device of vehicle B, so that the first terminal can quickly access the non-terrestrial network.

[0098] In some embodiments, the first terminal receives and stores network access information from the second terminal, and then accesses the non-terrestrial network according to the network access information of the second terminal when it is necessary to access the non-terrestrial network.

[0099] S102. Access the non-terrestrial network according to the network access information of the second terminal.

[0100] For example, the first terminal can perform the satellite search process required for accessing a non-terrestrial network based on the ephemeris information of the communication satellites and the location information of the second terminal in the network access information of the second terminal, thus accelerating the satellite search speed. The first terminal can also simplify the frequency offset compensation calculation process required for accessing a non-terrestrial network based on the uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information in the network access information of the second terminal, thereby achieving rapid downlink signal synchronization. Furthermore, the first terminal can initiate uplink synchronization and other processes required for accessing a non-terrestrial network in advance based on uplink delay compensation information (e.g., without waiting for the SIB and MIB messages in the current access process to finish downloading), thereby effectively reducing the access time required for the first terminal to access a non-terrestrial network.

[0101] In some embodiments, when the first terminal needs to activate the satellite positioning and navigation system, it can also quickly complete the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellite search process based on the positioning and navigation satellite ephemeris information in the network access information of the second terminal and the location information of the second terminal, thereby accelerating the positioning calculation and output of positioning information. This improves the speed at which the first terminal activates the satellite positioning and navigation system.

[0102] In one implementation, when a first terminal receives network access information from multiple second terminals, the first terminal can determine reference access information from the network access information of the multiple second terminals and access the non-terrestrial network according to the reference access information.

[0103] The reference access information is the network access information of the first terminal that has the highest compatibility with the network access environment among multiple second terminals.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first terminal may determine network access information from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals that satisfies at least one of the following: the network access information is sent most recently, and the corresponding second terminal is the shortest distance from the first terminal.

[0105] In one example, the positioning system of the first terminal operates normally. For example, the first terminal uses satellite positioning, or a fusion positioning method, such as a positioning method combining vision and high-precision maps, or a positioning method combining inertial navigation and odometry. Other positioning methods may also be used, and this disclosure does not limit the specific methods used. When the positioning system of the first terminal is operating normally, the first terminal can select the record that is closest to its current location and has the most recent reception time as the reference access information for calculation, or it can determine the reference access information based on location distance, or it can determine the reference access information based on time.

[0106] In another example, if the positioning system of the first terminal is not operating normally, the first terminal can determine the network access information of the second terminal with the shortest distance from the first terminal among the network access information of multiple second terminals as the reference access information.

[0107] It should be noted that reference access information can be understood as information that is relatively close to the network access environment of the current first terminal. In this way, the accuracy of using network access information as a reference can be improved.

[0108] In some embodiments, the first terminal may determine the reference access information from at least one network access information that is within a valid time period among the network access information of a plurality of second terminals.

[0109] That is, the first terminal can first determine all network access information within the valid time period, and then determine the reference access information from the network access information within the valid time period.

[0110] It should be noted that the positions of the first and second terminals may be relatively variable. Taking a vehicle-mounted terminal as an example, since the vehicle is constantly moving, when the first terminal needs to access a non-terrestrial network, the distance between it and the second terminal may be relatively far, or the network access information received from the second terminal may have been received for a long time. Therefore, this network access information may no longer be applicable to the first terminal's current network access environment; that is, the network access information may be out of its valid time frame. Thus, the first terminal can determine reference access information from the network access information that is still within its valid time frame. This avoids situations where previously received network access information is not applicable to the first terminal's current network access environment, thereby improving the accuracy of using network access information as a reference.

[0111] Based on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, the first terminal can receive network access information from a terminal (e.g., the second terminal) that has already accessed a non-terrestrial network. When it is necessary to access a non-terrestrial network, the first terminal can use the received network access information as a reference to determine the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial network. Compared with the complete process of obtaining the information required for network access without reference information, this disclosure can obtain the information required for accessing the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0112] Furthermore, this disclosure can effectively alleviate the problem of slow network access speed during cold start of terminals in non-terrestrial networks without relying on roadside infrastructure and ground network construction.

[0113] As shown in Figure 7, this disclosure also provides another network access method, applied to a second terminal. The method includes: S201.

[0114] S201. In the case of accessing a non-terrestrial network, send network access information; the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0115] In some embodiments, network access information includes at least one of the following:

[0116] Information on service providers of non-terrestrial networks, ephemeris information of communication satellites, location information of second terminals, ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites, frequency information of serving cells, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information.

[0117] In some embodiments, when the second terminal detects a change in network access information, it can obtain the new network access information and synchronously update the stored new network access information.

[0118] In some embodiments, the second terminal may periodically send (broadcast) network access information. For example, the second terminal may be an onboard terminal device in a long-distance bus or other public service-oriented operating vehicle.

[0119] In some embodiments, the second terminal may receive a request message for network access information from the first terminal.

[0120] Then, in response to the request message, the second terminal sends network access information to the first terminal.

[0121] In some embodiments, the second terminal may send network access information to the third terminal, so that the third terminal can forward the network access information. Thus, the third terminal can send the network access information to the first terminal.

[0122] In some embodiments, the second terminal can send network access information via direct communication. This direct communication method can be V2X direct communication or Sidelink direct communication.

[0123] Furthermore, for a detailed description of S201, please refer to the relevant descriptions of S101 to S102 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0124] Based on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, when the second terminal accesses a non-terrestrial network, it can broadcast its own network access information, so that other terminals (such as the first terminal) can use the network access information as a reference to determine the information required for the first terminal to access the non-terrestrial network. Compared with the complete process of obtaining the information required to access the network without reference information, this disclosure can enable the first terminal to obtain the information required to access the non-terrestrial network more quickly, thereby improving the speed of the first terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0125] The foregoing primarily describes the solutions provided in this disclosure from the perspective of interaction between various devices or nodes. It is understood that each device or node, in order to achieve the aforementioned functions, includes at least one of the hardware structures and software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the algorithmic steps of the examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this disclosure can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.

[0126] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device according to some embodiments. As shown in Figure 8, the communication device 800 includes a receiving module 801 and a processing module 802. In some embodiments, the communication device 800 may further include a transmitting module 803.

[0127] The receiving module 801 is used to receive network access information from the second terminal; the second terminal has been connected to a non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal to the non-terrestrial network.

[0128] The processing module 802 is used to access a non-terrestrial network based on the network access information of the second terminal.

[0129] In some embodiments, network access information includes at least one of the following: service provider information of non-terrestrial networks, ephemeris information of communication satellites, location information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of positioning and navigation satellites, frequency information of the serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information.

[0130] In some embodiments, the receiving module 801 is used to receive network access information from multiple second terminals; the processing module 802 is used to determine reference access information from the network access information of the multiple second terminals; the reference access information is the reference access information with the highest compatibility with the network access environment of the first terminal among the network access information of the multiple second terminals, and access to the non-terrestrial network is performed according to the reference access information.

[0131] In some embodiments, the processing module 802 is configured to determine network access information among a plurality of second terminals that satisfies at least one of the following conditions as reference access information: the transmission time is most recent, and the distance between the corresponding second terminal and the first terminal is shortest.

[0132] In some embodiments, the processing module 802 is configured to determine reference access information from at least one network access information that is within a valid time period among the network access information of a plurality of second terminals.

[0133] In some embodiments, the sending module 803 is used to send a request message for network access information.

[0134] In some embodiments, the sending module 803 is used to send request messages for network access information multiple times.

[0135] In some embodiments, the receiving module 801 is configured to receive network access information from the second terminal forwarded by the third terminal.

[0136] In some embodiments, the receiving module 801 is configured to receive network access information from a second terminal via direct communication.

[0137] For a more detailed description of the receiving module 801, processing module 802, and transmitting module 803, as well as a more detailed description of each technical feature and a description of the beneficial effects, please refer to the corresponding method embodiment section above, which will not be repeated here.

[0138] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the composition of another communication device according to some embodiments. As shown in Figure 9, the communication device 900 includes a transmitting module 901. In some embodiments, the communication device 900 further includes a receiving module 902.

[0139] The sending module 901 is used to send network access information when accessing a non-terrestrial network; the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

[0140] In some embodiments, the network access information includes at least one of the following:

[0141] The information includes the service provider information of the non-terrestrial network, the ephemeris information of the communication satellite, the location information of the second terminal, the ephemeris information of the positioning and navigation satellite, the frequency information of the serving cell, the uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, the cell system information block and main information block information, and the uplink delay compensation information.

[0142] In some embodiments, the sending module 901 is used to periodically send the network access information.

[0143] In some embodiments, the receiving module 902 is configured to receive a request message for the network access information from the first terminal. The sending module 901 is configured to send the network access information to the first terminal in response to the request message.

[0144] In some embodiments, the sending module 901 is used to send the network access information to a third terminal so that the third terminal forwards the network access information.

[0145] In some embodiments, the sending module 901 is used to send the network access information via direct communication.

[0146] For a more detailed description of the above-mentioned transmitting module 901 and receiving module 902, as well as a more detailed description of each technical feature and a description of the beneficial effects, please refer to the corresponding method embodiment section above, which will not be repeated here.

[0147] It should be noted that the modules in Figure 8 or Figure 9 can also be called units; for example, the transmitting module can be called a transmitting unit. Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figure 8 or Figure 9, the names of the modules may not be those shown in the figures; for example, the transmitting module can also be called a communication module, and the receiving module can also be called a communication module.

[0148] If the various units or modules in Figure 8 or Figure 9 are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, in essence, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this disclosure. Storage media for storing computer software products include: USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, optical disks, and other media capable of storing program code.

[0149] When the functions of the integrated modules described above are implemented in hardware, this disclosure provides a schematic diagram of a communication device, which may be the communication device 800 or the communication device 900 described above. As shown in FIG10, the communication device 1000 includes: a processor 1002, a communication interface 1003, and a bus 1004. In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 may further include a memory 1001.

[0150] Processor 1002 may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with this disclosure. Processor 1002 may be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. Processor 1002 may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with this disclosure. Processor 1002 may also be a combination of functions implementing computation, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, etc.

[0151] Communication interface 1003 is used to connect with other devices via a communication network. This communication network can be a cellular mobile communication network interface (such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G, etc.), a non-terrestrial communication network interface (such as a satellite communication interface, etc.), a direct communication interface (C-V2X cellular direct communication, DSRC direct communication interface, etc.), Ethernet, wireless local area networks (WLAN), Bluetooth, StarFlash, etc.

[0152] The memory 1001 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0153] In one implementation, the memory 1001 can exist independently of the processor 1002. The memory 1001 can be connected to the processor 1002 via a bus 1004 and is used to store instructions or program code. When the processor 1002 calls and executes the instructions or program code stored in the memory 1001, it can implement the information processing method determination method provided in this embodiment.

[0154] In another implementation, the memory 1001 can also be integrated with the processor 1002.

[0155] Bus 1004 can be an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Bus 1004 can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used to represent it in Figure 10, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0156] Through the above description of the implementation methods, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, only the division of the above functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the equipment or device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0157] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be executed by computer instructions instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the above method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be any of the foregoing embodiments or memory. The computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the above-mentioned device or apparatus, such as a plug-in hard drive, smart media card (SMC), secure digital (SD) card, flash card, etc., equipped on the above-mentioned device or apparatus. Further, the computer-readable storage medium can include both internal storage units and external storage devices of the above-mentioned device or apparatus. The computer-readable storage medium is used to store the above-mentioned computer program and other programs and data required by the above-mentioned device or apparatus. The computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output. The readable storage medium includes non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

[0158] This disclosure also provides a computer program product comprising a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the methods provided in the above embodiments.

[0159] Although this disclosure has been described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims in carrying out the claimed disclosure. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. While different dependent claims may recite certain measures, this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce a good effect.

[0160] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with detailed features and embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, this specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and are to be considered as covering any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this disclosure. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to this disclosure without departing from its spirit and scope. Thus, this disclosure is also intended to include any such modifications and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims of this disclosure and their equivalents.

[0161] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A network access method, wherein, The method is executed by a first terminal, and the method includes: Receive network access information from a second terminal; wherein the second terminal has accessed a non-terrestrial network, and the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network; Based on the network access information of the second terminal, access the non-terrestrial network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The network access information includes at least one of the following: service provider information of the non-terrestrial network, ephemeris information of the communication satellite, location information of the second terminal, ephemeris information of the positioning and navigation satellite, frequency information of the serving cell, uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, cell system information block and main information block information, and uplink delay compensation information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving of network access information from the second terminal includes: Receive network access information from multiple second terminals; The step of accessing the non-terrestrial network based on the network access information of the second terminal includes: A reference access information is determined from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals; the reference access information is the reference access information with the highest compatibility with the network access environment of the first terminal among the network access information of the plurality of second terminals. Access the non-terrestrial network based on the reference access information.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, Determining the reference access information from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals includes: The network access information of the plurality of second terminals that satisfies at least one of the following criteria is determined as the reference access information: the most recent transmission time, and the shortest distance between the corresponding second terminal and the first terminal.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein, Determining the reference access information from the network access information of the plurality of second terminals includes: The reference access information is determined from at least one network access information that is within the valid time period among the network access information of the plurality of second terminals.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving of network access information from the second terminal includes: Send a request message for the network access information; Receive network access information from the second terminal.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The request message for sending the network access information includes: Send the network access information request message multiple times.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving of network access information from the second terminal includes: Receive network access information from the second terminal forwarded by the third terminal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving of network access information from the second terminal includes: The network access information from the second terminal is received via direct communication.

10. A network access method, wherein, The method is executed by a second terminal, and the method includes: When accessing a non-terrestrial network, network access information is sent; wherein, the network access information is the access information of the second terminal accessing the non-terrestrial network.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The network access information includes at least one of the following: The information includes the service provider information of the non-terrestrial network, the ephemeris information of the communication satellite, the location information of the second terminal, the ephemeris information of the positioning and navigation satellite, the frequency information of the serving cell, the uplink and downlink Doppler frequency compensation information, the cell system information block and main information block information, and the uplink delay compensation information.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein, Sending the network access information includes: The network access information is sent periodically.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein, Sending the network access information includes: Receive a request message for the network access information from the first terminal; In response to the request message, the network access information is sent to the first terminal.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, Sending the network access information includes: The network access information is sent to a third terminal so that the third terminal forwards the network access information.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein, Sending the network access information includes: The network access information is sent via direct communication.

16. A communication device, comprising: Memory and processor; The memory and the processor are coupled; The memory is used to store instructions that can be executed by the processor; When the processor executes the instructions, it performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

18. A computer program product, wherein, The computer program product includes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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