Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and a related apparatus, which can be used in the technical field of communications. In the technical solution provided in the present application, a terminal device can acquire first information, wherein the first information indicates first ephemeris information of a first satellite at a first epoch; and on the basis of the first information and second information, the terminal device can obtain second ephemeris information of each second satellite in a second satellite set at the first epoch, wherein the second information is used for indicating an association relationship between ephemeris information of the first satellite and ephemeris information of each second satellite. In the method, a terminal device can predict second ephemeris information of a second satellite by means of first ephemeris information of a first satellite, thereby facilitating the avoidance of the situation in which the terminal device cannot access other satellites due to the incapability thereof to predict ephemeris information of the other satellites.

Description

Communication method and related apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority from the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411255225.1 filed on September 6, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and related apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, in particular to a communication method and related apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] In the existing non-terrestrial network, a terminal device can obtain ephemeris information of a satellite, and then estimate channel quality based on the ephemeris information. If the estimated channel quality meets a preset channel quality threshold, the terminal device sends an access request to the satellite.

[0004] However, in this method, the ephemeris information of the satellite obtained by the terminal device can be broadcast by the satellite. However, the ephemeris information broadcast by the satellite is limited, which leads to the fact that the terminal device cannot estimate the channel quality or the estimated channel quality is inaccurate, further leading to the fact that the terminal device cannot access the satellite. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and related apparatus to solve the problem that the terminal device cannot access the satellite in the prior art.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device. The method comprises: obtaining first information, the first information being used to indicate first ephemeris information of a first satellite at a first epoch, the first satellite belonging to a first satellite set; obtaining, based on the first information and second information, second ephemeris information of each second satellite in a second satellite set at the first epoch, the second information being used to indicate an association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each second satellite, the association relationship representing a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0007] The terminal device can be a terminal device as a final product, such as a mobile phone complete machine; the terminal can also be a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, a component, or a circuit) in a terminal device, which can be installed in a final product terminal; the terminal can also be a device that can be matched with a terminal device, and can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of a terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0008] In the method, the first satellite set includes a satellite in which the terminal device resides, or in other words, the first satellite set includes a satellite accessed by the terminal device.

[0009] Optionally, the first satellite set can also include a satellite that is not resided by the terminal device but a satellite beam of which can cover the terminal device.

[0010] That is, the first satellite set can include one or more first satellites. The method is described by taking an example in which the first satellite set includes one first satellite, and the first satellite is a satellite in which the terminal device resides.

[0011] In the method, the satellites in the first satellite set and the satellites in the second satellite set belong to the same constellation. As an example, the satellites in the first satellite set and the satellites in the second satellite set belong to a first constellation.

[0012] Taking the same constellation as the first constellation as an example, the second satellite set can include at least one second satellite, and the at least one second satellite can be any one satellite in the first constellation except the first satellite.

[0013] In the method, for any one second satellite, the terminal device can predict second ephemeris information of the second satellite through first ephemeris information of the first satellite. The distance between the second satellite and the first satellite can not be limited. That is, the terminal device can predict ephemeris information of other satellites far away from a satellite based on the ephemeris information of the satellite, which is beneficial to avoid a situation in which the terminal device cannot access other satellites due to the inability to predict the ephemeris information of the other satellites.

[0014] In this application, the epoch refers to a specific moment in time, which can be used as a reference time for satellite position and orbit parameters. The first epoch can be any epoch, so that the terminal device can predict the second satellite's ephemeris information at the arbitrary epoch based on the first satellite's ephemeris information at the arbitrary epoch. The terminal device can predict the second satellite's ephemeris information over a longer period of time, which can avoid the case where the terminal device performs orbit propagation based on previously received second satellite ephemeris information when the second satellite's ephemeris information has not been updated for a long time, resulting in a large orbit propagation result error, thereby avoiding the problem of the terminal device being unable to access the second satellite due to a large orbit propagation result error of the second satellite. And for any second satellite, the relationship between the first satellite's ephemeris information and the second satellite's ephemeris information can be approximately constant, and predicting the second ephemeris information based on the first satellite's ephemeris information and the second satellite's ephemeris information can help obtain more accurate prediction results.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the epoch of the first satellite's ephemeris information and the epoch of the ephemeris information of each second satellite are the same epoch or different epochs.

[0016] For any second satellite, when the epoch of the first satellite's ephemeris information and the epoch of the second satellite's ephemeris information are the same epoch, the first satellite's ephemeris information and the second satellite's ephemeris information are respectively the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same moment in time. For example, the first satellite's ephemeris information can be the first satellite's ephemeris information at t1, and the second satellite's ephemeris information can be the second satellite's ephemeris information at t1.

[0017] In this implementation, the relationship can be directly obtained based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same epoch, without the need for adjustment by speculation, which helps obtain a more accurate relationship, thereby facilitating obtaining more accurate second ephemeris information.

[0018] For any second satellite, when the epoch of the first satellite's ephemeris information and the epoch of the second satellite's ephemeris information are different epochs, the first satellite's ephemeris information and the second satellite's ephemeris information are respectively the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at different moments in time. For example, the first satellite's ephemeris information can be the first satellite's ephemeris information at t1, and the second satellite's ephemeris information can be the second satellite's ephemeris information at t2.

[0019] In this implementation, when the epoch of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the epoch of the ephemeris information of the second satellite are different epochs, the terminal device can obtain the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same epoch through the orbit calculation algorithm, and then determine the correlation between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same epoch, to obtain the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set, which is beneficial to avoid the situation that the terminal device cannot access each second satellite due to the inability to predict the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the first satellite and each second satellite are located in the same shell layer.

[0021] In this method, the terminal device can obtain the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the shell layer to which the first satellite belongs based on the first ephemeris information, which is beneficial to avoid the situation that the terminal device cannot access other satellites in the shell layer to which the first satellite belongs due to the inability to predict the ephemeris information of the other satellites.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the ephemeris information of the first satellite includes a first mean root number, and the ephemeris information of each second satellite includes a second mean root number.

[0023] The correlation is a first difference value between the first mean root number and the second mean root number, and the first difference value includes a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first mean root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second mean root number.

[0024] In this implementation, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each second satellite can be represented by a mean root number.

[0025] In this case, the first difference value between the first mean root number and the second mean root number can be determined as the correlation between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, which is beneficial to subsequent determination of the second ephemeris information of each second satellite by the terminal device based on the correlation, and further beneficial to avoid the situation that the terminal device cannot access each second satellite due to the inability of the terminal device to predict the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the first ephemeris information includes a first instantaneous root number, and the second ephemeris information of each second satellite includes a second instantaneous root number.

[0027] The second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first time epoch is obtained based on the first information and the second information, including: the second instantaneous root number is obtained based on the first instantaneous root number and the first difference, a second difference between the first instantaneous root number and the second instantaneous root number is equal to the first difference, and the second difference includes differences between the at least one type of orbit parameters in the first instantaneous root number and corresponding orbit parameters in the at least one type of orbit parameters in the second instantaneous root number.

[0028] Alternatively, the first ephemeris information includes a third flat root number; and the second ephemeris information of each second satellite includes a fourth flat root number.

[0029] The second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first time epoch is obtained based on the first information and the second information, including: the second instantaneous root number is obtained based on the first instantaneous root number and the first difference, a second difference between the first instantaneous root number and the second instantaneous root number is equal to the first difference, and the second difference includes differences between the at least one type of orbit parameters in the first instantaneous root number and corresponding orbit parameters in the at least one type of orbit parameters in the second instantaneous root number.

[0030] In this implementation, the terminal device can obtain the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set, which is beneficial to avoid the case that the terminal device cannot access each second satellite due to the inability of the terminal device to predict the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0031] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one type of orbit parameter is used to indicate geographical longitude information and phase information.

[0032] In this implementation, among the two satellites located in the same shell, the values of the orbit parameters corresponding to the other types of orbit parameters (such as orbit semi-major axis, orbit eccentricity, orbit inclination, etc.) except the at least one type of orbit parameter are fixed.

[0033] That is, for any second satellite, when the first satellite and the second satellite are located in the same shell, the values of the orbit parameters corresponding to the other types of orbit parameters in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite are the same.

[0034] In this case, the first difference includes the difference between at least one orbital parameter type in the first square root and the orbital parameter corresponding to that at least one orbital parameter type in the second square root. That is, the correlation between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite is characterized by the difference between the orbital parameters corresponding to that at least one orbital parameter type, rather than by the difference between the orbital parameters corresponding to all orbital parameter types in the ephemeris information of the first and second satellites. This reduces the computational workload and helps to reduce computational costs.

[0035] In some possible implementations, the orbital parameter types used to indicate the phase information in the first and second square root numbers include perigee argument and perigee angle.

[0036] Assuming the first satellite can be represented as S0, the first square root can be the square root of the first satellite at time t1: And assuming a second satellite can be represented as S1, the second square root can be the square root of this second satellite at time t1:

[0037] In this example, the correlation between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can satisfy formula (1):

[0038] Alternatively, the correlation between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can also satisfy formula (2):

[0039] In this implementation, for any second satellite, the correlation between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be determined based on the perigee argument and mean perigee angle. This is beneficial for subsequent terminal devices to obtain the second ephemeris information and helps to avoid situations where the terminal device cannot access the second satellite because it cannot predict the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0040] In some possible implementations, the orbital parameter types used to indicate the phase information in the first and second square root numbers include latitude argument.

[0041] Assuming the first satellite can be represented as S0, the first square root can be the square root of the first satellite at time t1: in, This can represent the latitudinal argument of the first satellite at time t1. And assuming a second satellite can be represented as S1, the second square root can be the square root of this second satellite at time t1: in, The latitude amplitude angle of the second satellite at the time t1 can be represented.

[0042] In this example, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can satisfy formula (3):

[0043] Alternatively, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can also satisfy formula (4):

[0044] In this implementation, for any one second satellite, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be determined based on the latitude amplitude angle, which is conducive to the terminal device obtaining the second ephemeris information, and is conducive to avoiding the case that the terminal device cannot access the second satellite due to the terminal device being unable to predict the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0045] In some possible implementation manners, the second information is determined based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0046] As an example, the second information can be determined by a cloud or core network device.

[0047] For each second satellite, the cloud or core network device can first obtain the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, then determine the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, and send the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0048] As another example, the second information can be determined by the terminal device.

[0049] For each second satellite, the cloud or core network device can first obtain the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, and then send the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite to the terminal device. Correspondingly, after receiving the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, the terminal device can determine the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0050] In some possible implementation manners, the second information is second information received by the terminal device from the cloud or core network.

[0051] In this implementation manner, after receiving the second information, the terminal device can first store the second information.

[0052] In this method, the second information can be determined by the cloud or the core network device, which can reduce the calculation amount of the terminal device and is beneficial to reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0053] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a cloud or a core network device. The method comprises: obtaining second information, the second information being used to indicate an association relationship between ephemeris information of a first satellite and ephemeris information of each second satellite in a second satellite set, the association relationship representing a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each second satellite, the first satellite belonging to a first satellite set; and sending the second information.

[0054] In some possible implementation manners, the epoch of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the epoch of the ephemeris information of each second satellite are the same or different.

[0055] In some possible implementation manners, the first satellite and each second satellite are located in the same shell.

[0056] In some possible implementation manners, the ephemeris information of the first satellite comprises a first root number; and the ephemeris information of each second satellite comprises a second root number.

[0057] The association relationship is a first difference value between the first root number and the second root number, and the first difference value comprises a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second root number.

[0058] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one type of orbit parameter is used to indicate geographical longitude information and phase information.

[0059] In some possible implementation manners, the types of orbit parameters in the first root number and the second root number used to indicate the phase information comprise an argument of latitude and a mean anomaly.

[0060] In some possible implementation manners, the types of orbit parameters in the first root number and the second root number used to indicate the phase information comprise an argument of latitude.

[0061] In some possible implementation manners, the first root number is determined based on historical ephemeris information of the first satellite, and the second root number is determined based on historical ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0062] In some possible implementation manners, the first flat root number and the second flat root number are determined based on preset orbit parameter information.

[0063] The preset orbit parameter information includes one or more of the following information: corresponding geographic longitude information of each orbit of a plurality of orbits, an altitude of each satellite of a plurality of satellites, phase information between different satellites running in a same orbit, or phase information when a same satellite runs in different orbits, the plurality of satellites including the first satellite and each second satellite in the second satellite set.

[0064] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used in the terminal device of the first aspect, and can be the terminal device, or a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit) in the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the terminal device functions. In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus includes a module or unit for implementing the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. For example, the communication apparatus can include a module or unit corresponding to each of the methods, operations, steps, and actions described in the first aspect, which can be a hardware circuit, a software, or a combination of hardware circuit and software. Alternatively, each module or unit can realize the corresponding functions by executing a computer program.

[0065] As an example, the communication apparatus can include an acquisition module and a processing module.

[0066] The acquisition module can be configured to acquire first information, the first information being used to indicate first ephemeris information of a first satellite at a first time instant, the first satellite belonging to a first satellite set.

[0067] The processing module can be configured to obtain, based on the first information and second information, second ephemeris information of each second satellite in a second satellite set at the first time instant, the second information being used to indicate an association relationship between ephemeris information of the first satellite and ephemeris information of the each second satellite, the association relationship representing a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and a corresponding orbit parameter in the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the each second satellite.

[0068] In some possible implementation manners, the time instant of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the time instant of the ephemeris information of the each second satellite are the same time instant or different time instants.

[0069] In some possible implementation manners, the first satellite and the each second satellite are located in a same shell layer.

[0070] In some possible implementation manners, the ephemeris information of the first satellite includes first mean elements, and the ephemeris information of each second satellite includes second mean elements.

[0071] The association relationship is a first difference value between the first mean elements and the second mean elements, and the first difference value includes a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameters in the first mean elements and corresponding orbit parameters in the at least one type of orbit parameters in the second mean elements.

[0072] In some possible implementation manners, the first ephemeris information includes first instantaneous elements, and the second ephemeris information of each second satellite includes second instantaneous elements.

[0073] The processing module is configured to obtain, based on the first information and the second information, the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch, and specifically configured to: obtain the second instantaneous elements based on the first instantaneous elements and the first difference value, a second difference value between the first instantaneous elements and the second instantaneous elements is equal to the first difference value, and the second difference value includes a difference value between the at least one type of orbit parameters in the first instantaneous elements and corresponding orbit parameters in the at least one type of orbit parameters in the second instantaneous elements.

[0074] Alternatively, the first ephemeris information includes third mean elements, and the second ephemeris information of each second satellite includes fourth mean elements.

[0075] The processing module is configured to obtain, based on the first information and the second information, the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch, and specifically configured to: obtain the fourth mean elements based on the third mean elements and the first difference value, a third difference value between the third mean elements and the fourth mean elements is equal to the first difference value, and the third difference value includes a difference value between the at least one type of orbit parameters in the third mean elements and corresponding orbit parameters in the at least one type of orbit parameters in the fourth mean elements.

[0076] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one type of orbit parameters is used to indicate geographical longitude information and phase information.

[0077] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one type of orbit parameters used to indicate the phase information in the first mean elements and the second mean elements includes an argument of latitude and a mean anomaly.

[0078] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one type of orbit parameters used to indicate the phase information in the first mean elements and the second mean elements includes an argument of latitude.

[0079] In some possible implementation manners, the second information is determined based on ephemeris information of the first satellite and ephemeris information of each of the second satellites.

[0080] In some possible implementation manners, the second information is second information received by the terminal device from a cloud or a core network.

[0081] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used in the cloud or the core network device of the second aspect. The communication apparatus can be the cloud or the core network device, or a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit) in the cloud or the core network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the cloud or the core network device. In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus includes modules or units for implementing the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. For example, the communication apparatus can include modules or units corresponding to the method described in the second aspect, which can be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. Optionally, each module or unit can realize the corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0082] As an example, the communication apparatus includes an obtaining module and a sending module.

[0083] The obtaining module can be configured to obtain second information, where the second information is used to indicate an association relationship between ephemeris information of a first satellite and ephemeris information of each of a second satellite set, and the association relationship represents a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and a corresponding orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each of the second satellites, and the first satellite belongs to a first satellite set.

[0084] The sending module can be configured to send the second information.

[0085] In some possible implementation manners, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each of the second satellites are of the same ephemeris or different ephemerides.

[0086] In some possible implementation manners, the first satellite and each of the second satellites are located in the same shell.

[0087] In some possible implementation manners, the ephemeris information of the first satellite includes a first mean element, and the ephemeris information of each of the second satellites includes a second mean element.

[0088] The correlation relationship is a first difference value between the first mean element and the second mean element, and the first difference value includes a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first mean element and a corresponding orbit parameter of the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second mean element.

[0089] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one type of orbit parameter is used to indicate geographical longitude information and phase information.

[0090] In some possible implementation manners, the types of orbit parameters in the first mean element and the second mean element used to indicate the phase information include an argument of perigee and a mean anomaly.

[0091] In some possible implementation manners, the types of orbit parameters in the first mean element and the second mean element used to indicate the phase information include an argument of latitude.

[0092] In some possible implementation manners, the first mean element is determined based on historical ephemeris information of the first satellite, and the second mean element is determined based on historical ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0093] In some possible implementation manners, the first mean element and the second mean element are determined based on preset orbit parameter information.

[0094] The preset orbit parameter information includes one or more of the following information: corresponding geographical longitude information of each orbit of a plurality of orbits, an altitude of each satellite of a plurality of satellites, phase information between different satellites running in a same orbit, or phase information when a same satellite runs in different orbits, the plurality of satellites including the first satellite and each second satellite in the set of second satellites.

[0095] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, including at least one processor configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof by executing a computer program (or computer executable instructions) stored in a memory and / or by a logic circuit.

[0096] In a possible implementation, the apparatus further includes at least one memory.

[0097] In a possible implementation, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are integrated together.

[0098] In another possible implementation, the at least one memory is located outside the communication apparatus.

[0099] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other devices, such as transmitting or receiving data and / or signals. For example, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or another type of communication interface.

[0100] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions for execution by a communication apparatus, which when executed on the communication apparatus causes the method of any one of the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0101] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product containing instructions, which when executed on a communication apparatus causes the method of any one of the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

[0102] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication system including a network device. The network device is configured to implement the method of the first aspect and any possible implementation of any one of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0103] It can be understood that the effects of the second aspect to the eighth aspect can refer to the description in the first aspect, and will not be described here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0104] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0105] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of Kepler elements;

[0106] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of preset orbit parameter information 1 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of preset orbit parameter information 2 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of preset orbit parameter information 3 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0112] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0113] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0114] In order to clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the terms of “first”, “second”, etc. are used to distinguish the same or similar items or items with basically the same function and role. For example, the first information and the second information are only used to distinguish different information, and do not limit the order. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terms of “first”, “second”, etc. do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the terms of “first”, “second”, etc. also do not necessarily mean different.

[0115] In the embodiments of the present application, “at least one” means one or more, and “multiple” means two or more. “And / or” describes the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character “ / ” generally represents an “or” relationship between the front and rear associated objects. “At least one of the following” or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b and (or) c can represent: a, b, c; a and b; a and c; b and c; or a and b and c. Where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0116] The technical solutions of the present application can be applied to a fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) communication system, such as a 5G new radio (new radio, NR) communication system, or to various communication systems evolved after 5G, such as future communication network systems. The method provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a wireless fidelity (wireless WiFi) system, a long range Internet of Things (long range, LoRa) system, or a vehicle Internet of Things system. The method provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a satellite communication system, or a non-terrestrial network (non-terrestrial networks, NTN) communication system. The satellite communication system can be integrated with the above communication systems, which is not limited in the present application.

[0117] First, the terms related to the embodiments of the present application are explained.

[0118] Orbital elements: also known as orbital elements or orbital parameters or orbital six elements, which describe six parameters necessary to determine the orbit of a celestial body or a spacecraft moving on its Kepler orbit under the action of Newton's law of motion and Newton's law of universal gravitation.

[0119] Instantaneous elements: also called osculating elements. Under the action of perturbation forces, the orbit instantaneous ellipse of a spacecraft changes with time, and the orbit elements corresponding to the orbit instantaneous ellipse are called instantaneous elements.

[0120] Mean elements: the part of orbit elements that only changes in a long term after the periodic change is deducted.

[0121] Ephemeris: refers to the accurate position or trajectory table of a celestial body changing with time, which is a function of time.

[0122] In the following, the embodiments of the present application are described in detail in combination with the drawings.

[0123] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first, a communication system suitable for the embodiments of the present application is described in combination with FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100. The wireless access network 100 can include at least one network device (such as 110a, 110b and 110c in FIG. 1), and can also include at least one terminal (such as 120a to 120g in FIG. 1).

[0124] In the communication system, the network device can include a wireless access network (RAN) device and a core network device, and the terminal can be connected with the wireless access network device in a wireless manner. The wireless access network device is connected with the core network device in a wireless or wired manner. The core network device and the wireless access network device can be independent and different physical devices, can be integrated into the same physical device, or can be a physical device integrated with part of the functions of the core network device and part of the functions of the wireless access network device. The terminal and the terminal, and the wireless access network device and the wireless access network device can be connected with each other in a wired or wireless manner. FIG. 1 is only a schematic diagram, and the communication system can also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices, wireless backhaul devices and cloud servers, etc., which are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0125] The radio access network device can be a device with wireless transceiver function. The radio access network device can be a device providing wireless communication function service, usually located at the network side, including but not limited to: a next generation base station (gNodeB, gNB) in a 5G communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system or an access node in a WiFi system, etc., an evolved node B (eNB) in a long term evolution (LTE) system, a radio network controller (RNC), a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB or a home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), etc.

[0126] The radio access network device provides services for a cell, and a user equipment uses transmission resources of the cell to communicate with the base station. The cell can be a cell corresponding to the base station, and the cell can belong to a macro base station or a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cell can include a metro cell, a micro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, etc.

[0127] The radio access network device can also be a device that plays a base station function in device to device (D2D) communication, vehicle networking communication, unmanned aerial vehicle communication, and machine communication. Optionally, the radio access network device can be a satellite, a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, a device providing wireless communication services for a user equipment, a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, a server, a relay station, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network device in a future evolution network, etc. For example, the radio access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU).

[0128] In another possible scenario, a terminal is assisted by multiple wireless access network devices to implement wireless access, and different wireless access network devices respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a wireless access network device can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in a same network element, for example, a BBU. The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, included in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). It can be understood that the wireless access network device can be a CU node, or a DU node, or a device including the CU node and the DU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into a network device in the wireless access network device, or the CU can be divided into a network device in the core network device, which is not limited here.

[0129] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open-radio access network (O-RAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as an O-RU. For the convenience of description, the CU, the CU-CP, the CU-UP, the DU, and the RU are taken as examples for description in this application. Any one of the CU (or the CU-CP, the CU-UP), the DU, and the 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.

[0130] In the embodiments of this application, the form of the wireless access network device is not limited, and the device for implementing the function of the wireless access network device can be the wireless access network device; or can be a device capable of supporting the wireless access network device to implement the function, for example, a chip system. The device can be installed in the wireless access network device or used in combination with the wireless access network device. In the following, the wireless access network device will be taken as an example for description.

[0131] In this application, the terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), etc., or a device used to provide voice or data connectivity to a user, which can also be an Internet of Things device. For example, the terminal device includes a handheld device with wireless connectivity, a vehicle-mounted device, etc. At present, the terminal device can be: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device (such as a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a pedometer, smart glasses, etc.), a vehicle-mounted device (such as a car, a bicycle, an electric vehicle, an airplane, a ship, a train, a high-speed rail, etc.), a satellite terminal, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a light terminal device (light UE), a reduced capability user equipment (REDCAP UE), a wireless terminal in industrial control, a smart home device (such as a refrigerator, a television, an air conditioner, an electricity meter, etc.), a smart robot, a mechanical arm, a workshop device, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, a flight device (such as a smart robot, a hot air balloon, a drone, an airplane), etc. The terminal device can also be a vehicle device, such as a whole vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted chip, an on board unit (OBU), or a telematics box (T-BOX), etc. The terminal device can also be other devices with terminal functions, for example, the terminal device can also be a device that plays a terminal function in D2D communication.

[0132] In an embodiment of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the terminal can be a terminal, or a device capable of supporting the terminal to implement the function, such as a chip system, or a communication module, or a modem, or a component, or a circuit, etc., which can be installed in the terminal. In an embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal.

[0133] In this application, the base station and the terminal can be fixed in position or mobile. The base station and the terminal can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface; and can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons and satellites in the air. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the base station and the terminal.

[0134] The roles of the base station and the terminal can be relative, for example, the helicopter or the unmanned aerial vehicle 120c in FIG. 1 can be configured as a mobile base station, and for those terminals 120d that access the wireless access network 100 through 120c, the terminal 120c is a base station; but for the satellite 110a, 120c is a terminal, that is, 110a and 120c communicate through a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120c can also communicate through an interface protocol between base stations and base stations, at this time, relative to 110a, 120c is also a base station. Therefore, the base station and the terminal can be collectively referred to as a communication device, and 110a, 110b, 110c and 120a-120g in FIG. 1 can be referred to as communication devices with their respective corresponding functions, such as a communication device with a base station function or a communication device with a terminal function.

[0135] The base station and the terminal, the base station and the base station, and the terminal and the terminal can communicate through licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both. The base station and the terminal, and the terminal and the terminal can communicate through sub-6G (sub 6G) spectrum, or through spectrum above 6G, or through both sub-6G spectrum and spectrum above 6G. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used between the wireless access network device and the terminal.

[0136] It should be noted that the network device in the embodiments of the present application is a network device (such as a base station) as a final product; the network device can also be a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, a component, or a circuit) in the network device, which can be installed in the final product network device; the network device can also be a device that can be matched with the network device, and can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the network device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0137] It should be noted that the terminal in the embodiments of the present application can be a terminal device as a final product, such as a mobile phone complete machine; the terminal can also be a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, a component, or a circuit) in a terminal device, which can be installed in a final product terminal; the terminal can also be a device that can be matched with a terminal device, and can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of a terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0138] In the NTN communication system, the radio access network device can include a satellite, and the satellite can implement transparent payload transmission or regenerative payload transmission. Alternatively, the radio access network device in the NTN communication system can also include other devices, such as a drone and the like.

[0139] Hereinafter, the radio access network device in the NTN communication system will be taken as a satellite for illustration.

[0140] In the NTN communication system, there are various ways of satellite movement, and the orbit root numbers corresponding to different movement ways can be different.

[0141] The orbit root number used traditionally is developed after Kepler and his Kepler's law, which is called Keplerian elements, and mainly has six parameters. Alternatively, the Keplerian elements can be as shown in FIG. 2.

[0142] In addition, the specific meanings of the Keplerian parameters can be as shown in Table 1.

[0143] Table 1: Orbit parameters

[0144] In the embodiments of the present application, the epoch refers to a specific time, which can be used as a reference time for satellite position and orbit parameters. The orbit parameters can include orbit direction and orbit shape, etc.

[0145] Alternatively, in some embodiments, some of the above parameters can be replaced by other parameters. For example, the orbit semi-major axis and the orbit eccentricity can be replaced by the average angular velocity, the orbit period, the apogee and the perigee radius, and the altitude. For another example, the true anomaly can be replaced by the mean anomaly, the perigee time. For another example, the right-handed ascending node right ascension can be replaced by the ascending node longitude.

[0146] The mean anomaly is based on a virtual circular orbit, and its role is to provide a data that can be used to compare the relative positions of moving objects on the orbit at different times.

[0147] In the existing NTN network, a terminal device can obtain ephemeris information of a satellite, and then estimate channel quality based on the ephemeris information. If the estimated channel quality meets a preset channel quality threshold, the terminal device can send an access request to the satellite. However, in this method, the terminal device may not be able to access the satellite.

[0148] It is found through research that the ephemeris information of the satellite obtained by the terminal device can be broadcast by the satellite. However, the ephemeris information broadcast by the satellite is limited, which leads to inaccurate estimation of channel quality by the terminal device, and thus the terminal device cannot access the satellite. For example, the satellite can only broadcast its own ephemeris information or the ephemeris of several adjacent satellites. The terminal device cannot estimate the channel quality with other satellites, and thus cannot access other satellites. For another example, the terminal device can predict ephemeris information for a long time through orbit extrapolation. However, the ephemeris information obtained through orbit extrapolation is inaccurate, that is, the terminal device can only accurately obtain ephemeris information for a short period of time, which leads to inaccurate estimation of channel quality by the terminal device in the future, and thus the terminal device cannot access the satellite.

[0149] In this application, orbit extrapolation can be understood as calculating orbit parameters.

[0150] Therefore, this application provides a technical solution to solve the problem that the terminal device cannot access the satellite in the prior art.

[0151] In the technical solution of this application, the terminal device can obtain first information, which can be used to indicate first ephemeris information of a first satellite at a first epoch. Then, the terminal device can obtain second ephemeris information of each second satellite in a second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first information and second information.

[0152] The terminal device can be a terminal device as a final product, such as a complete mobile phone. The terminal can also be a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, a component, or a circuit) in the terminal device, which can be installed in the final product terminal. The terminal can also be a device that can be matched with the terminal device, and can also be a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. In the following, the terminal will be taken as an example for description.

[0153] Optionally, the first information can be broadcast by the first satellite.

[0154] The first satellite can be a base station, or a satellite deployed with a base station, or a satellite with a base station function.

[0155] Optionally, the second information can be acquired by the terminal device from a cloud server or a core network device.

[0156] The cloud server can be a server as a final product, such as a server whole machine; the cloud server can also be a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, a component, or a circuit) in the server, which can be installed in the final product server; the cloud server can also be a device that can be matched with the server, and can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the server. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. In the following, the embodiments of the present application can be described by taking the cloud server as an example.

[0157] The core network device can be a network device as a final product; the core network device can also be a device (for example, a chip, a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, a component, or a circuit) in the core network device, which can be installed in the final product core network device; the core network device can also be a device that can be matched with the core network device, and can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the core network device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. In the following, the embodiments of the present application can be described by taking the core network device as an example.

[0158] In the method, the second information can be used to indicate an association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each second satellite, and the association relationship can represent a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0159] In the method, for any one second satellite, the terminal device can predict the second ephemeris information of the second satellite through the first ephemeris information of the first satellite. The distance between the second satellite and the first satellite can not be limited. That is, the terminal device can predict the ephemeris information of other satellites far away from the satellite based on the ephemeris information of the satellite, which is beneficial to avoid the situation that the terminal device cannot access other satellites due to the inability to predict the ephemeris information of the other satellites.

[0160] In addition, the first epoch can be any epoch, so that the terminal device can predict the satellite ephemeris information of the second satellite at the any epoch based on the satellite ephemeris information of the first satellite at the any epoch, the terminal device can predict the satellite ephemeris information of the second satellite for a longer time, and the terminal device can avoid a case that a prediction result error is large when the terminal device performs orbit prediction based on previously received satellite ephemeris information of the second satellite in a case that the satellite ephemeris information of the second satellite is not updated for a long time, thereby avoiding a problem that the terminal device cannot access the second satellite due to a large prediction result error of the second satellite. In addition, for any second satellite, the correlation between the satellite ephemeris information of the first satellite and the satellite ephemeris information of the second satellite can be approximately constant, and predicting the second satellite ephemeris information based on the satellite ephemeris information of the first satellite and the satellite ephemeris information of the second satellite is beneficial to obtaining a more accurate prediction result.

[0161] Optionally, each second satellite is located in the same shell layer as the first satellite.

[0162] Next, the scheme of the present application will be described in detail in combination with FIGS. 3 to 9.

[0163] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0164] S301, the terminal device acquires first information, the first information being used to indicate first satellite ephemeris information of a first satellite at a first epoch, and the first satellite belonging to a first satellite set.

[0165] In the method, the terminal device can be any one of terminal devices in the communication system shown in FIG. 1.

[0166] In the method, the first satellite can be a base station, or can be a satellite on which a base station is deployed, or can be a satellite with a base station function.

[0167] Optionally, the first satellite set includes a satellite on which the terminal device resides, or in other words, the first satellite set includes a satellite accessed by the terminal device.

[0168] Optionally, the first satellite set can also include a satellite on which the terminal device does not reside but a satellite beam of which can cover the terminal device.

[0169] The satellite on which the terminal device does not reside but a satellite beam of which can cover the terminal device can be referred to as a visible satellite. The satellite on which the terminal device resides can receive a broadcast sent by the visible satellite, and the broadcast sent by the visible satellite can include ephemeris information such as a root number or an instantaneous root number.

[0170] That is, the first satellite set can contain one or more first satellites. The method is described by taking an example in which the first satellite set contains one first satellite, and the first satellite is the satellite in which the terminal device is camped.

[0171] In the embodiments of this application, the first satellite set can also have other names, for example, the first satellite set can also be referred to as a first satellite group, etc.

[0172] In the method, the first epoch can be any time. For example, the first epoch can be the current time.

[0173] In the embodiments of this application, for the ephemeris information of any satellite, the ephemeris information can be represented by orbital parameters. Correspondingly, the first ephemeris information can contain the orbital parameters of the first satellite at the first epoch.

[0174] In the method, for the ephemeris information of any satellite, the type of the orbital parameters can contain multiple types. As an example, the type of the orbital parameters can contain the orbital semi-major axis, the orbital eccentricity, the orbital inclination, the right ascension of the ascending node, the right ascension, the argument of perigee, and the mean anomaly, etc.

[0175] In this example, assuming that the first epoch is time t0, the first satellite can be represented as S0, and the first ephemeris information of the first satellite at the first epoch can be represented as: where a0 can represent the orbital semi-major axis of the first satellite at the first epoch, e0 can represent the orbital eccentricity of the first satellite at the first epoch, i0 can represent the orbital inclination of the first satellite at the first epoch, Ω0 can represent the right ascension of the ascending node of the first satellite at the first epoch, ω0 can represent the argument of perigee of the first satellite at the first epoch, and M0 can represent the mean anomaly of the first satellite at the first epoch.

[0176] Optionally, in some embodiments, assuming that the type of the orbital parameters contained in the first satellite information in the first information obtained by the terminal device is different from the type of the orbital parameters contained in this example, the type of the orbital parameters contained in the first satellite information can be first converted to the type of the orbital parameters contained in this example.

[0177] It can be understood that the above embodiments are only an example of the type of the orbital parameters, and do not limit the type of the orbital parameters in this application. For example, in other examples, the mean anomaly can be replaced by the true anomaly.

[0178] It can be understood that the above embodiments are described by taking the first ephemeris information as the osculating elements as an example. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first ephemeris information can also be the mean elements.

[0179] Optionally, the first information can be broadcast by the first satellite. The terminal device can be located within the coverage range of the first satellite.

[0180] S302, the terminal device obtains, based on the first information and the second information, second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at a first epoch, the second information being used to indicate an association relationship between ephemeris information of the first satellite and ephemeris information of each second satellite, the association relationship representing a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0181] In the method, the satellites in the first satellite set and the satellites in the second satellite set belong to the same constellation. As an example, the satellites in the first satellite set and the satellites in the second satellite set belong to a first constellation.

[0182] Taking the same constellation as the first constellation as an example, the second satellite set can include at least one second satellite, and the at least one second satellite can be any one satellite in the first constellation except the first satellite.

[0183] In the method, the first satellite and each second satellite in the second satellite set can be located in the same shell layer.

[0184] The same shell layer can be understood as a set of circular orbits with the same altitude (and usually the same orbit inclination) uniformly distributed in the celestial longitude.

[0185] In the embodiments of the present application, the second satellite set can also have other names, for example, the second satellite set can also be referred to as a second satellite group, etc.

[0186] In an ideal state, the altitudes of two satellites located in the same shell layer are the same. However, in actual situations, there is allowed to be a certain altitude difference between the altitudes of two satellites located in the same shell layer, and the altitude difference can be within a preset threshold range.

[0187] Here, the altitudes of two satellites located in the same shell layer can be understood as the altitudes of two satellites located in the same shell layer from the ground, or the altitudes of two satellites located in the same shell layer from the center of the Earth.

[0188] In the method, the terminal device can obtain the second ephemeris information of each second satellite of the shell layer to which the first satellite belongs based on the first ephemeris information, which is beneficial to avoid the situation that the terminal device cannot access other satellites in the shell layer to which the first satellite belongs due to the inability to predict the ephemeris information of the other satellites.

[0189] In a possible implementation, the epoch of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the epoch of the ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set can be the same epoch.

[0190] For any one second satellite, when the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite are ephemeris information of the same epoch, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite are respectively ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same time. For example, the ephemeris information of the first satellite can be ephemeris information of the first satellite at t1, and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be ephemeris information of the second satellite at t1.

[0191] In this implementation, the correlation relationship can be directly obtained based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same epoch, without adjustment by speculation, which is conducive to obtaining a more accurate correlation relationship, thereby facilitating obtaining more accurate second ephemeris information.

[0192] In another possible implementation, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be ephemeris information of different epochs.

[0193] For any one second satellite, when the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite are ephemeris information of different epochs, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite are respectively ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at different times. For example, the ephemeris information of the first satellite can be ephemeris information of the first satellite at t1, and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be ephemeris information of the second satellite at t2.

[0194] In this implementation, when the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite are ephemeris information of different epochs, the terminal device can obtain ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same epoch through the orbit extrapolation algorithm, and then determine the correlation relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite at the same epoch, to obtain the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set, which is conducive to avoiding the case that the terminal device cannot access each second satellite due to the inability to predict the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0195] For example, assuming that the ephemeris information of the first satellite is ephemeris information of the first satellite at t1, and the ephemeris information of the second satellite is ephemeris information of the second satellite at t2, the terminal device can perform the orbit extrapolation algorithm on the ephemeris information of the second satellite at t2 to obtain ephemeris information of the second satellite at t1, and then determine the correlation relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite at t1 and the ephemeris information of the second satellite at t1 based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite at t1 and the ephemeris information of the second satellite at t1.

[0196] As an example, the rail-pushing algorithm herein can include, but is not limited to, a high-precision orbit propagator (HPOP), a simplified general perturbations (SGP) 4, a J2 propagator, a J4 propagator, etc.

[0197] In the sequel, the present application will be described by taking the epoch of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the epoch of the ephemeris information of the second satellite as an example.

[0198] Optionally, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set can be represented by a mean element.

[0199] As an example, the ephemeris information of the first satellite can include a first mean element, and the ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set can include a second mean element. In this example, for any one second satellite, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be a first difference value between the first mean element and the second mean element, and the first difference value can include a difference value between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first mean element and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second mean element.

[0200] For example, assuming that the first satellite can be represented as S0, and the first mean element can be a mean element of the first satellite at t1: And assuming that a second satellite can be represented as S1, and the second mean element can be a mean element of the second satellite at t1:

[0201] In this example, the first difference value between the first mean element and the second mean element can determine the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, which is conducive to subsequent determination of the second ephemeris information of the second satellite by the terminal device based on the association relationship, and further conducive to avoiding the situation that the terminal device cannot access the second satellite due to the inability of the terminal device to predict the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0202] Optionally, the at least one type of orbit parameter can be used to indicate geographic longitude information and phase information.

[0203] In this method, among the two satellites located in the same shell, the values of the orbit parameters corresponding to the other types of orbit parameters (such as orbit semi-major axis, orbit eccentricity, orbit inclination, etc.) other than the at least one type of orbit parameter are fixed.

[0204] That is, for any one second satellite, the first satellite and the second satellite are located in the same shell, and the values of the orbit parameters corresponding to the other orbit parameter types in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the second satellite are the same.

[0205] In this case, the first difference includes the difference between at least one orbit parameter type in the first mean elements and the orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one orbit parameter type in the second mean elements. That is, the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite is characterized by the difference between the orbit parameters corresponding to the at least one orbit parameter type, without being characterized by the difference between all orbit parameters corresponding to all orbit parameter types in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, which can reduce the computational workload and facilitate reducing the computational cost.

[0206] As an example, the orbit parameter type for indicating phase information in the first mean elements and the second mean elements can include the argument of perigee and the argument of latitude.

[0207] For example, assuming that the first satellite can be represented as S0, the first mean elements can be the mean elements of the first satellite at t1: and assuming that a second satellite can be represented as S1, the second mean elements can be the mean elements of the second satellite at t1:

[0208] In this example, the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can satisfy formula (1):

[0209] Alternatively, the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can also satisfy formula (2):

[0210] In this example, for any one second satellite, the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be determined based on the argument of perigee and the argument of latitude, which is conducive to the terminal device obtaining the second ephemeris information and avoiding the situation that the terminal device cannot access the second satellite due to the terminal device being unable to predict the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0211] As another example, the orbit parameter type for indicating phase information in the first mean elements and the second mean elements can include the argument of latitude.

[0212] For example, assuming that the first satellite can be represented as S0, the first mean elements can be the mean elements of the first satellite at t1: wherein, may represent the latitude amplitude angle of the first satellite at the time t1, and a second satellite can be represented as S1, and a second satellite number can be a satellite number of the second satellite at the time t1: wherein, may represent the latitude amplitude angle of the second satellite at the time t1.

[0213] In this example, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can satisfy formula (3):

[0214] Alternatively, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can also satisfy formula (4):

[0215] This example can be applied to a near-circular orbit scenario.

[0216] In this example, for any second satellite, the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be determined based on the latitude amplitude angle, which is conducive to the terminal device obtaining the second ephemeris information, and is conducive to avoiding the situation that the terminal device cannot access the second satellite due to the terminal device being unable to predict the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0217] Optionally, the second information can be determined based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

[0218] As an example, the second information can be determined by a cloud or core network device.

[0219] For each second satellite, the cloud or core network device can first obtain the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, then determine the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, and send the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite to the terminal device (i.e., send the second information to the terminal device). Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite (i.e., the terminal device receives the second information).

[0220] In this example, after the terminal device receives the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, the terminal device can first store the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0221] In the method, the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be determined by the cloud or the core network device, which can reduce the calculation amount of the terminal device and is beneficial to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0222] In a possible implementation, the ephemeris information of the first satellite can be determined based on historical ephemeris information of the first satellite, and the ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second ephemeris set can also be determined based on historical ephemeris information of the each second satellite.

[0223] For example, the ephemeris information of the first satellite can include a first mean anomaly, and the ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set can include a second mean anomaly. In this example, the first mean anomaly of the first satellite can be determined based on historical ephemeris information of the first satellite, and the second mean anomaly of each second satellite in the second satellite set can be determined based on historical ephemeris information of the each second satellite, respectively.

[0224] In this example, the cloud or the core network device can first obtain the historical ephemeris information of the first satellite and calculate the first mean anomaly of the first satellite. In addition, the cloud or the core network device can also obtain the historical ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set and calculate the second mean anomaly of the each second satellite.

[0225] Optionally, the epoch of the first mean anomaly and the epoch of the second mean anomaly of the each second satellite can be the same epoch.

[0226] Optionally, the epoch of the first mean anomaly and the epoch of the second mean anomaly of the each second satellite can also be different epochs. In this case, the cloud or the core network device can use a trajectory calculation algorithm to make the epoch of the mean anomaly of the first satellite and the epoch of the mean anomaly of the each second satellite the same.

[0227] In another possible implementation, the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite can be determined based on preset orbit parameter information.

[0228] In this implementation, the preset orbit parameter information can include one or more of the following information: geographical longitude information corresponding to each orbit of a plurality of orbits, height of each satellite of a plurality of satellites, phase information between different satellites running in the same orbit, or phase information when the same satellite runs in different orbits. The plurality of satellites include the first satellite and at least one second satellite.

[0229] This implementation can be applied to a near-circular orbit scenario. In this scenario, the orbit eccentricity can be approximately 0, and the argument of perigee can also be approximately 0. For any satellite, the mean anomaly of the satellite can be expressed as:

[0230] Optionally, the cloud or core network device can obtain a plurality of preset orbit parameter information. For example, the plurality of preset orbit parameter information can include preset orbit parameter information 1 and preset orbit parameter information 2.

[0231] The preset orbit parameter information 1 can include geographical longitude information corresponding to each orbit, such as the longitude of the ascending node. As an example, the preset orbit parameter information 1 can be as shown in FIG. 4.

[0232] In FIG. 4, satellite 1 is taken as an example for illustration. The table 2 also includes the altitude of satellite 1, which is 550.

[0233] The preset orbit parameter information 2 can include phase information between different satellites running in the same orbit. As an example, the preset orbit parameter information 2 can be as shown in FIG. 5.

[0234] In FIG. 5, satellites 1 to 5 are taken as an example for illustration, and satellites 1 to 5 are located in the same orbit. The table 5 also includes the altitude of satellites 1 to 5, which is 550.

[0235] In combination with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, assuming that the first satellite is satellite 1 and the second satellite is satellite 2, the first flat root number of the first satellite can be expressed as: and assuming that the orbit inclination of the second satellite is also 53, the second flat root number of the second satellite can be expressed as:

[0236] Optionally, in some embodiments, the plurality of preset orbit parameter information can also include preset orbit parameter information 3. The preset orbit parameter information 3 can include phase information when the same satellite runs in different orbits. As an example, the preset orbit parameter information 3 can be as shown in FIG. 6.

[0237] In FIG. 6, satellite 1 is taken as an example for illustration. Satellite 1 can be located in different orbits. The table 6 also includes the altitude of satellite 1 when satellite 1 is in different orbits, which is 550.

[0238] Optionally, when the cloud or core network device sends the second information to the terminal device, the second information can be sent through other devices. As an example, the cloud or core network device can send the second information to the terminal device through a ground base station and / or a space base station.

[0239] As another example, the second information can be determined by the terminal device.

[0240] For each second satellite, the cloud or core network device can first acquire the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, and then send the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite to the terminal device. Correspondingly, after receiving the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite, the terminal device can determine the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite based on the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite.

[0241] In the method, the cloud or core network device can acquire the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite in the manner described in the foregoing related embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0242] Next, the present application will introduce the method by which the terminal device obtains the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first information and the second information.

[0243] In a possible implementation, the first ephemeris information includes a first instantaneous root number, and the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set includes a second instantaneous root number.

[0244] In this implementation, for any second satellite, when the association between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite is a first difference between a first flat root number and a second flat root number, the terminal device can obtain the second instantaneous root number based on the first instantaneous root number and the first difference, a second difference between the first instantaneous root number and the second instantaneous root number is equal to the first difference, and the second difference includes a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first instantaneous root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second instantaneous root number.

[0245] For example, assume that the first satellite can be represented as S0, and the first instantaneous root number can be represented as and assume that a second satellite can be represented as S1, and the second instantaneous root number of the second satellite can be represented as Then, the second difference between the first instantaneous root number and the second instantaneous root number can be represented as: which can be equal to

[0246] Assume that satisfies formula (1), then can satisfy formula (5):

[0247] Assume that satisfies formula (3), then can satisfy formula (6):

[0248] Alternatively, the second difference between the first instantaneous root number and the second instantaneous root number can also be expressed as: may be equal to

[0249] Suppose satisfies formula (2), then may satisfy formula (7):

[0250] Suppose satisfies formula (4), then may satisfy formula (8):

[0251] In another possible implementation, the first ephemeris information includes a third mean root number, and the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set includes a fourth mean root number.

[0252] In this implementation, for any one second satellite, when the association relationship between the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the ephemeris information of the second satellite is a first difference between a first mean root number and a second mean root number, the terminal device can obtain a fourth mean root number based on the third mean root number and the first difference, a third difference between the third mean root number and the fourth mean root number is equal to the first difference, and the third difference includes a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the third mean root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the fourth mean root number.

[0253] In this method, the method in which the terminal device obtains the fourth mean root number based on the third mean root number and the first difference can refer to the method in which the terminal device obtains the second instantaneous root number based on the first instantaneous root number and the first difference in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described herein again.

[0254] In this method, the terminal device can obtain the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set, which is beneficial to avoid a case that the terminal device cannot access each second satellite in the second satellite set due to the terminal device being unable to predict the ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set.

[0255] It can be understood that the foregoing embodiments are described by taking an example in which the first satellite set includes one first satellite, and the first satellite is a satellite camped by the terminal device. Alternatively, when the first satellite set includes multiple first satellites, the terminal device can obtain the first ephemeris information of each first satellite in the first satellite set at the first epoch, and then predict the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite accessed by the terminal device.

[0256] As an example, after obtaining the first ephemeris information of the plurality of first satellites, the terminal device can select a target satellite from the plurality of first satellites, and predict the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of the target satellite.

[0257] Optionally, the target satellite can be a satellite accessed by the terminal device in the plurality of first satellite set.

[0258] For example, assuming that the first satellite set can include first satellite 0, first satellite 1 and first satellite 2, and assuming that the first satellite 0 is a satellite camped by the terminal device, the terminal device can determine the first satellite 0 as the target satellite.

[0259] Optionally, the method that the terminal device predicts the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of the target satellite can refer to the method that the terminal device predicts the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0260] As another example, for any one second satellite, after obtaining the first ephemeris information of the plurality of first satellites, the terminal device can predict the second ephemeris information of the second satellite at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of each first satellite in the plurality of first satellites respectively, obtain a plurality of predicted values of the second ephemeris information, and then determine the average of the plurality of predicted values as the second ephemeris information.

[0261] For example, assuming that the first satellite set can include first satellite 0, first satellite 1 and first satellite 2, the terminal device obtains a predicted value 0 of the second ephemeris information based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite 0, a predicted value 1 of the second ephemeris information based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite 1, and a predicted value 2 of the second ephemeris information based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite 2, and finally determines the average of the predicted value 0, the predicted value 1 and the predicted value 2 as the second ephemeris information.

[0262] It can be understood that the average of the plurality of predicted values here refers to the average of the plurality of predicted values respectively in different orbital parameter types.

[0263] Optionally, for any one first satellite, the method that the terminal device predicts the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite can refer to the method that the terminal device predicts the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first ephemeris information of the first satellite in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0264] FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication apparatus 700 can include an obtaining module 701 and a processing module 702.

[0265] For example, the communication apparatus 700 can be used to implement the communication method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The obtaining module 701 can be used to perform S301, and the processing module 702 can be used to perform S302.

[0266] In this example, the communication apparatus 700 can be applied to a terminal device.

[0267] FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication apparatus 800 can include an obtaining module 801 and a sending module 802.

[0268] For example, the obtaining module 801 can be used to perform the process of obtaining the second information, and the sending module 802 can be used to perform the process of sending the second information to the terminal device.

[0269] In this example, the communication apparatus 800 can be applied to a cloud or a core network device.

[0270] FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication apparatus 900 includes a processor 901 and an interface circuit 902. The processor 901 and the interface circuit 902 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 902 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication apparatus 900 can further include a memory 903 for storing instructions executed by the processor 901 or storing input data required by the processor 901 to run instructions or storing data generated after the processor 901 runs instructions.

[0271] For example, the processor 901 can be used to implement the functions of the processing module 702, and the interface circuit 902 can be used to implement the functions of the obtaining module 701.

[0272] In this example, the communication apparatus 900 can be a terminal device, or a chip or a chip system applied to a terminal device.

[0273] Optionally, when the communication apparatus 900 is a chip or chip system applied in a terminal device, the sending / receiving can correspond to the behaviors related to signal sending or receiving, and can be understood as the behaviors of sending / receiving radio frequency signals in an analog / intermediate frequency / radio frequency domain, or can be understood as the operations of starting or controlling sending / receiving in a digital domain, or a combination of the two. For example, when the terminal device sends or receives various signals, the processor in the terminal device implements the sending or receiving by driving or controlling the radio frequency circuit. Therefore, during signal transceiving, the processor is the decision maker or controller of the transceiving operation, and the radio frequency circuit is the specific transceiving performer, and the two cooperate with the antenna to jointly implement the transceiving operation.

[0274] As another example, the interface circuit 902 can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned acquisition module 801 and sending module 802.

[0275] In this example, the communication apparatus 900 can be a cloud or core network device, or a chip or chip system applied in a cloud or core network device.

[0276] Optionally, when the communication apparatus 900 is a chip or chip system applied in a cloud or core network device, the sending / receiving can correspond to the behaviors related to signal sending or receiving, and can be understood as the behaviors of sending / receiving radio frequency signals in an analog / intermediate frequency / radio frequency domain, or can be understood as the operations of starting or controlling sending / receiving in a digital domain, or a combination of the two. For example, when the cloud or core network device sends or receives various signals, the processor in the cloud or core network device implements the sending or receiving by driving or controlling the radio frequency circuit. Therefore, during signal transceiving, the processor is the decision maker or controller of the transceiving operation, and the radio frequency circuit is the specific transceiving performer, and the two cooperate with the antenna to jointly implement the transceiving operation.

[0277] The processor can be one or more central processing units (CPUs), which can be a single core processor or a multiple core processor in the case of a single CPU. The processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0278] The radio frequency circuit can include, but is not limited to, a radio frequency chip, a radio frequency front end, a radio frequency power amplifier (PA), a low noise amplifier (LNA), a mixer, a filter, a duplexer, etc. Optionally, the radio frequency circuit can also include an antenna integrated with the radio frequency circuit.

[0279] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in a memory or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a network device or a terminal. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the network device or the terminal.

[0280] In this application, the memory can include cache, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM, register, hard disk drive (HDD), or solid-state drive (SSD), mobile hard disk, or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) and the like. The memory is any medium capable of storing or carrying the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiments of the present application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of realizing the storage function, used for storing computer programs or instructions, and / or data.

[0281] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, 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 programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment or other programmable apparatus. The computer programs or instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, the computer programs or instructions can be transferred from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center through wired or wireless manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center and the like integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media such as floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape; optical media such as digital video disc; and semiconductor media such as solid state disk.

[0282] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instructions, and the computer program or instructions are executed by a computer (for example, a processor) to implement part or all steps of any one of the methods performed by any device in the embodiments of the present application.

[0283] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product including a computer program or a set of instructions, which, when executed on a computer, implements part or all steps of any one of the methods performed by any device in the embodiments of the present application.

[0284] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0285] It can be understood that various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only distinguished for convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the serial numbers of the above processes does not mean the execution order, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: obtaining first information, the first information being used to indicate first ephemeris information of a first satellite at a first epoch, the first satellite belonging to a first satellite set; based on the first information and second information, obtaining second ephemeris information of each second satellite in a second satellite set at the first epoch, the second information being used to indicate a correlation between ephemeris information of the first satellite and ephemeris information of each second satellite, the correlation representing a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each second satellite.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The epoch of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the epoch of the ephemeris information of each second satellite are the same epoch or different epochs.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first satellite and each second satellite are located in the same shell.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, the ephemeris information of the first satellite comprises a first root number; the ephemeris information of each second satellite comprises a second root number; the correlation is a first difference between the first root number and the second root number, the first difference comprising a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second root number.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, the first ephemeris information comprises a first instantaneous root number; the second ephemeris information of each second satellite comprises a second instantaneous root number; the obtaining of the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first information and the second information comprises: based on the first instantaneous root number and the first difference, obtaining the second instantaneous root number, a second difference between the first instantaneous root number and the second instantaneous root number being equal to the first difference, the second difference comprising a difference between the at least one type of orbit parameter in the first instantaneous root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second instantaneous root number; or, the first ephemeris information comprises a third root number; the second ephemeris information of each second satellite comprises a fourth root number; the obtaining of the second ephemeris information of each second satellite in the second satellite set at the first epoch based on the first information and the second information comprises: based on the third root number and the first difference, obtaining the fourth root number, a third difference between the third root number and the fourth root number being equal to the first difference, the third difference comprising a difference between the at least one type of orbit parameter in the third root number and an orbit parameter corresponding to the at least one type of orbit parameter in the fourth root number.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, the at least one type of orbit parameter is used to indicate geographical longitude information and phase information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, the type of orbit parameter in the first root number and the second root number used to indicate the phase information comprises an argument of perigee and a mean anomaly.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, the type of orbit parameter in the first root number and the second root number used to indicate the phase information comprises an argument of latitude.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The second information is determined based on ephemeris information of the first satellite and ephemeris information of each of the second satellites.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The second information is second information received by the terminal device from a cloud or a core network.

11. A communication method, comprising: The method comprises: obtaining second information, the second information being used to indicate an association relationship between ephemeris information of a first satellite and ephemeris information of each of a second satellite set, the association relationship representing a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of the first satellite and a corresponding orbit parameter in the at least one type of orbit parameter in the ephemeris information of each of the second satellites, the first satellite belonging to a first satellite set; sending the second information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The epoch of the ephemeris information of the first satellite and the epoch of the ephemeris information of each of the second satellites are the same or different.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The first satellite and each of the second satellites are located in the same shell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein The ephemeris information of the first satellite comprises a first root number; The ephemeris information of each of the second satellites comprises a second root number; The association relationship is a first difference between the first root number and the second root number, the first difference comprising a difference between at least one type of orbit parameter in the first root number and a corresponding orbit parameter in the at least one type of orbit parameter in the second root number.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The at least one type of orbit parameter is used to indicate geographical longitude information and phase information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The type of orbit parameter in the first root number and the second root number used to indicate the phase information comprises an argument of latitude and a mean anomaly.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein, The type of orbit parameter in the first root number and the second root number used to indicate the phase information comprises a latitude argument.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that, The first root number is determined based on historical ephemeris information of the first satellite, and the second root number is determined based on historical ephemeris information of each of the second satellites.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that, The first root number and the second root number are determined based on preset orbit parameter information; The preset orbit parameter information comprises one or more of the following information: corresponding geographical longitude information of each orbit of a plurality of orbits, altitude of each satellite of a plurality of satellites, phase information between different satellites running in the same orbit, or phase information when the same satellite runs in different orbits, the plurality of satellites comprising the first satellite and each of the second satellite set.

20. A communications device, characterized by for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 10, or for implementing the method of any one of claims 11 to 19.

21. A communications device, characterized by comprising at least one processor for causing the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 10, or for causing the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 11 to 19, by executing computer programs or instructions stored in a memory and / or by a logic circuit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, The communication apparatus further comprises at least one memory for storing the computer programs or instructions.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer executable instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 to be implemented, or cause the method of any one of claims 11 to 19 to be implemented.

24. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product contains instructions for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 10, or contains instructions for implementing the method of any one of claims 11 to 19.

25. A communication system, the communication system containing a terminal device, the terminal device being configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 10.

26. The communication system of claim 25, wherein, The communication system further contains a cloud or a core network, the cloud or the core network being configured to implement the method of any one of claims 11 to 19.

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