Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a communication apparatus, relating to the technical field of communications. The method comprises: sending first indication information to a second network element, the first indication information being used for indicating that when a terminal device moves to a terrestrial communication network (TN), the second network element sends a first notification message to a first network element; receiving the first notification message sent by the second network element, the first notification message being used for indicating that the terminal device has moved to the TN; and on the basis of the first notification message, the first network element releasing resources of the terminal device. According to the method provided in the present application, the first network element can obtain, on the basis of the first notification message, a message indicating that the terminal device has moved to the TN, so as to release resources of the terminal device in a timely manner, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

Description

Communication method and communication apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411280745.8, filed on September 12, 2024, entitled "Communication method and communication apparatus", and the Chinese Patent Application No. 202511248746.9, filed on September 1, 2025, entitled "Communication method and communication apparatus", the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0003] Currently, in a nonterrestrial network (NTN) system, a terminal device and a satellite communicate with each other through a service link, a satellite and a ground station communicate with each other through a feeder link, and satellites communicate with each other through an inter-satellite link.

[0004] Among them, the store and forward (S&F) mode is a technology used in satellite communication, which allows the satellite to temporarily store data when there is no direct link available, and forwards the data to the destination at the appropriate time. In the S&F mode, the proxy network element on the satellite and the ground proxy network element store and forward the data.

[0005] When the terminal device moves from the NTN network to the ground network, how to make the ground proxy network element timely perceive that the terminal device exits the store and forward mode, so as to release the resources of the terminal device and avoid wasting network resources, becomes a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus, which can avoid wasting network resources.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: sending first indication information to a second network element, the first indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to a first network element when a terminal device moves to a terrestrial communication network (TN); receiving the first notification message, the first notification message being used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN; and based on the first notification message, the first network element releases resources of the terminal device.

[0008] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method comprises: sending first indication information to a second network element, the first indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to a third network element when a terminal device moves to a TN (terrestrial network); and releasing resources of the terminal device by the first network element when the first network element and the third network element are disconnected.

[0009] Exemplarily, the communication method can be implemented by a first network element, or can be implemented by a module, a unit, a processor, a circuit, a chip or a chip system included in the first network element. Optionally, the first network element can be a ground proxy network element, which is used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0010] It should be understood that the resources of the terminal device are used to support a store-and-forward mode of the terminal device, or in other words, the resources of the terminal device are used to support storage and forwarding of data or signaling in a store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0011] It should be noted that the second network element is used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user. In a 4G network architecture, the second network element can be a home subscriber server (HSS), and in a 5G network architecture, the second network element can be a unified data management (UDM), or can be another network element having the same function, which is not limited in the present application.

[0012] It should be further noted that the third network element refers to a network element for managing a third-party application. Exemplarily, the third network element can be a service capability server (SCS), an application server (AS), or another network element having the same function, which is not limited in the present application.

[0013] In the embodiments of the present application, the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element or the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN. In a first case, when the first network element instructs the second network element to send the first notification message to the first network element, the first network element can receive the message (i.e., the first notification message) that the terminal device moves to the TN, so as to timely release the resources of the terminal device and avoid waste of network resources. In a second case, when the first network element instructs the second network element to send the first notification message to the third network element, the second network element sends the first notification message (the form of the first notification message is not limited, for example, it can be a message for disconnecting the connection between the third network element and the first network element) to the third network element, and then the first network element acquires the message that the terminal device moves to the TN based on the first notification message, so as to timely release the resources of the terminal device and avoid waste of network resources.

[0014] In some possible implementation manners, the first indication information comprises state information of the terminal device, the state information being used to indicate that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode.

[0015] In the embodiment of the application, the first indication information can be state information of the terminal device, which can indicate that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, so that the second network element can learn that the terminal device is currently in the store-and-forward mode, and timely notify the first network element when the second network element senses that the terminal device moves.

[0016] In some possible implementation manners, the state information of the terminal device comprises at least one of the following: that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element.

[0017] For example, the information of the first network element can be an ID of the first network element or an address of the first network element.

[0018] In the embodiment of the application, for the terminal device using the store-and-forward satellite service, when the state information of the terminal device comprises the identifier of the terminal device and the information of the first network element, the first network element currently serving the terminal device can be identified.

[0019] Optionally, the first network element sends the state information of the terminal device to the second network element, which can be when the first network element first receives the mobile initiation data of the terminal device, or periodically sending the state information of the terminal device to the second network element, and the application does not make a specific limitation on the timing of the first network element sending the state information of the terminal device.

[0020] In some possible implementation manners, the first indication information is a monitoring request.

[0021] In the embodiment of the application, the first indication information can be a monitoring request, which can indicate that the second network element sends the first notification message to the first network element or the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0022] In some possible implementation manners, the monitoring request comprises at least one of the following: a monitoring event, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element, wherein the monitoring event is used to monitor the terminal device moving to the TN.

[0023] In the embodiment of the application, when the monitoring request comprises the identifier of the terminal device and the information of the first network element, the first network element currently serving the terminal device can be identified.

[0024] Optionally, the first network element may send a monitoring request to the second network element when the first network element receives the mobile-initiated data from the terminal device for the first time. This application does not specify the timing for the first network element to send the monitoring request.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the first network element releases the resources of the terminal device, including at least one of the following: deleting the terminal device context information or status information, releasing the address allocated to the terminal device, disconnecting the connection established between the terminal device and the third network element, or disconnecting the connection established between the terminal device and the fourth network element on the satellite, wherein the fourth network element is used to store and forward the data or signaling of the terminal device in the store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the first notification message includes at least one of the following: a movement indication of the terminal device, an identifier of the terminal device, or an address of the terminal device, wherein the movement indication is used to indicate that the terminal device has now moved into the TN.

[0027] In this embodiment of the application, when the first notification message contains the identifier of the terminal device, the first network element can release the resources of the terminal device based on the identifier of the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources; when the first notification message also contains the address of the terminal device, the first network element can send the cached mobility termination data to the terminal device based on the address of the terminal device.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: determining whether mobile termination data of the terminal device is cached, and sending the mobile termination data based on the first notification message.

[0029] In this embodiment of the application, when the first notification message contains the address of the terminal device, the first network element can send the cached mobile terminal data to the terminal device based on the address of the terminal device, thereby avoiding the waste of network resources.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: determining whether mobile termination data of the terminal device is cached; sending a second indication message to a third network element, the second indication message being used to instruct the third network element to send cached data to the terminal device, the cached data including: mobile termination data of the terminal device cached by the first network device, the second indication message carrying information of the mobile termination data.

[0031] In this embodiment of the application, when the first notification message does not contain the address of the terminal device, the first network element sends the second instruction information to the third network element, and at the same time sends the cached mobility termination data to the third network element. The third network element is the network element that manages the third application, so the third network element can send the mobility termination data of the terminal device to the terminal device.

[0032] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises: receiving first indication information sent by a first network element, the first indication information being used to indicate that a second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element or a third network element when a terminal device moves to a terrestrial communication network (TN), the first network element being used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation, and the third network element being used to manage a third-party application; and sending the first notification message to the first network element or the third network element based on the first indication information, the first notification message being used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0033] In an example, the communication method can be implemented by a second network element, or by a module, unit, processor, circuit, chip or chip system included in the second network element, the second network element being used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user. In a 4G network architecture, the second network element can be a home subscriber server (HSS), and in a 5G network architecture, the fourth network element can be a unified data management (UDM), or other network elements that implement the same function, which are not limited in the present application.

[0034] In the embodiments of the present application, the first indication information is used to indicate that the second network element can notify the first network element or the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN. In a first case, when the first network element indicates that the second network element sends a notification message to the first network element, the first network element can receive the message (i.e., the first notification message) that the terminal device moves to the TN, so as to release the resources of the terminal device in time and avoid waste of network resources. In a second case, when the first network element indicates that the second network element sends a notification message to the third network element, the third network element sends the first notification message (the form of the first notification message is not limited, for example, it can be a message that the third network element disconnects the connection with the first network element) to the first network element, and then the first network element acquires the message that the terminal device moves to the TN based on the first notification message, so as to release the resources of the terminal device in time and avoid waste of network resources.

[0035] In some possible implementation ways, the first indication information comprises state information of the terminal device, the state information being used to indicate that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode.

[0036] In the embodiments of the present application, the first indication information can be state information of the terminal device, which can indicate that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode, so that the second network element can know that the terminal device is currently in a store-and-forward mode, and notify the first network element in time when the second network element senses that the terminal device moves.

[0037] In some possible implementation ways, the state information of the terminal device comprises at least one of the following: the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element.

[0038] Exemplarily, the information of the first network element can be an ID of the first network element, or an address of the first network element.

[0039] In the embodiment of the application, for a terminal device using a store-and-forward satellite service, when the state information of the terminal device includes the identification of the terminal device and the information of the first network element, the first network element currently serving the terminal device can be identified.

[0040] In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes: updating the context of the terminal device according to the state information of the terminal device.

[0041] Exemplarily, updating the context of the terminal device includes: recording that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode, or recording that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode and the information of the first network element.

[0042] In the embodiment of the application, when the first indication information is the state information of the terminal device, the second network element records, according to the state information of the terminal device, that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode, and when the second network element senses that the terminal device moves to the TN, the second network element can notify the first network element or the third network element.

[0043] In some possible implementation manners, the first indication information is a monitoring request.

[0044] In the embodiment of the application, the first indication information can be a monitoring request, and the monitoring request can indicate that the second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element or the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0045] In some possible implementation manners, the monitoring request includes at least one of the following: a monitoring event, the identification of the terminal device, or the information of the first network element, wherein the monitoring event is used to monitor that the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0046] In the embodiment of the application, when the monitoring request includes the identification of the terminal device and the information of the first network element, the first network element currently serving the terminal device can be identified.

[0047] In some possible implementation manners, the first notification message includes at least one of the following: a movement indication of the terminal device, the identification of the terminal device, or an address of the terminal device, wherein the movement indication is used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves to the TN.

[0048] In the embodiment of the application, when the first notification message includes the identification of the terminal device, the first network element can release resources of the terminal device based on the identification of the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources; and when the first notification message further includes the address of the terminal device, the first network element can send the buffered mobile terminal data to the terminal device based on the address of the terminal device.

[0049] In some possible implementation manners, before the first notification message is sent, the method further includes: sending a first request message to a fifth network element, the first request message being used to request an address of the terminal device, the address of the terminal device being an address allocated by the TN to the terminal device, the fifth network element being used for mobility management of the terminal device; and receiving the address of the terminal device sent by the fifth network element.

[0050] For example, the fifth network element is an MME network element in a 4G network architecture, and is an AMF network element in a 5G network architecture. Alternatively, the fifth network element can be another network element having the same function, which is not limited in the present application.

[0051] In the embodiment of the present application, the second network element sends the first request message to the fifth network element to request the address of the terminal device, so that the second network element can send the buffered mobile termination data to the terminal device based on the address of the terminal device.

[0052] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method includes: receiving a first notification message sent by a second network element, the first notification message being used to indicate that a terminal device moves to a TN (terrestrial network), and the first notification message including: a mobility indication of the terminal device and an identifier of the terminal device, the mobility indication being used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves into the TN, and the second network element being used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user; and disconnecting a connection with a first network element based on the first notification message, wherein a disconnection state between the first network element and the second network element is used to trigger the first network element to release resources of the terminal device, and the first network element is used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite mode.

[0053] For example, the third network element can be an SCS, can be an application server AS, or can be another network element having the same function, which is not limited in the present application.

[0054] In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes: determining data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the data including mobile termination data; and sending the mobile termination data.

[0055] In the embodiment of the present application, the third network element can directly determine whether there is mobile termination data buffered, and if it is determined that there is data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the third network element directly sends the buffered mobile termination data to the terminal device, so that waste of network resources is avoided.

[0056] In some possible implementation, the data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device comprises: receiving second indication information sent by the first network element, determining the data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device based on the second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the second network element transmits retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data comprising: mobile terminated data buffered by the first network element for the terminal device, and the second indication information carrying information of the mobile terminated data.

[0057] In the embodiments of the present application, the third network element does not directly determine whether there is data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, but receives second indication information sent by the first network element, the second indication information indicating that there is data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, and indicating that the third network element transmits the buffered mobile terminated data to the terminal device.

[0058] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: a module (for example, a processing module and a communication module) for performing each step in the above first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or a module for performing each step in the above second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect; or a module for performing each step in the above third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect; or a module for performing each step in the above fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect. For example, the communication apparatus can be or can comprise the first network element, or the communication apparatus can be or can comprise the second network element, or the communication apparatus can be or can comprise the third network element, or the communication apparatus can be or can comprise the fourth network element.

[0059] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises at least one processor configured to perform the method in the above first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or perform the method in the above second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect; or perform the method in the above third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect; or perform the method in the above fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0060] In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus further includes a memory, and the memory stores a computer program. The at least one processor executes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, by executing the computer program stored in the memory. Optionally, the processor and the memory can be integrated together.

[0061] In a possible implementation manner, the at least one processor executes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, by means of a logic circuit or a processing circuit.

[0062] In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus further includes an interface circuit, which is configured to perform specific signal transceiving. For example, the communication apparatus can be a terminal, or a component (chip, chip system, or processor) in the terminal, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal function.

[0063] For another example, the communication apparatus can be a network device, or a component (chip, chip system, or processor) in the network device, or a logic node, logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 4G network architecture suitable for the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0065] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture suitable for the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an S&F scenario according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an S&F network architecture in a full core network.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a data sending flowchart in an S&F scenario.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a schematic interaction diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0071] FIG. 8 shows a schematic interaction diagram of an example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0072] FIG. 9 shows a schematic interaction diagram of another example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0073] FIG. 10 shows a schematic interaction diagram of another example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0074] FIG. 11 shows a schematic interaction diagram of another example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0075] FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0076] FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] 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.

[0078] The terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting of the present application. As used in the specification and the appended claims of the application, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include both the singular and the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “one or more” as used herein refers to one or two or more (including two); “and / or” as used herein refers to the associated associated relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships; for example, A and / or B, which means that A exists alone, A and B exist together, B exists alone, and A, B can be singular or plural. The character “ / ” generally represents the relationship of “or” between the front and rear associated objects.

[0079] In this specification, the reference “one embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the statements “in one embodiment”, “in some embodiments”, “in other some embodiments”, “in further some embodiments” and the like appearing in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments”, unless otherwise specifically noted. The terms “include”, “contain”, “have” and their variants mean “including but not limited to”, unless otherwise specifically noted.

[0080] The multiple referred to in the embodiments of the present application refers to greater than or equal to two. It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the words "first", "second", etc. are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can it be understood as indicating or implying order.

[0081] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 4G network architecture suitable for the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the network architecture of the embodiments of the present application can include the following:

[0082] 1. User equipment (UE): can be referred to as terminal equipment, terminal, access terminal, handheld terminal, notebook computer, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, mobile, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The UE can also be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a tablet computer, a wireless modem, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a machine type communication (MTC) terminal with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network or a terminal device in a future communication system, etc. The UE can also be an end device, a logical entity, a smart device such as a terminal device (e.g. a mobile phone, a smart terminal, etc.), or a communication device (e.g. a server, a gateway, a base station, a controller, etc.), or an Internet of things (IoT) device (e.g. a sensor, a meter, a water meter, etc.). The UE can also be a wired device such as a computer, a notebook computer, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard. In the following description of the embodiments of the present application, the UE is taken as an example of a terminal device, or other devices that can access a network.

[0083] 2、E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and EPC (Evolved Packet Core). E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) E-UTRAN is the radio access part of the 4G network, which is composed of eNodeB (Evolved Node B), eNodeB is responsible for handling the functions of the wireless interface, including radio resource management and control of the air interface.

[0084] 3、MME (Mobility Management Entity): responsible for mobility management including tracking the location of the UE and managing the state of the UE. Perform authentication and access control, initiate paging procedures to find the UE, control the UE handover process, and interact with the HSS to obtain user subscription information, etc.

[0085] 4、S-GW (Serving Gateway): as a data gateway between UE and network, responsible for forwarding and routing user data packets, performing charging and QoS policy, supporting packet buffering during UE mobility management.

[0086] 5、P-GW (PDN Gateway): as a gateway to external networks, connected to the Internet or other service provider networks, while responsible for IP address allocation, policy implementation, etc.

[0087] 6、HSS (Home Subscriber Server): stores user subscription data and authentication information, provides user data to MME and S-GW / P-GW, saves user identity, authentication key, etc. Information and support user location registration and update.

[0088] 7、SCEF (Service Capability Exposure Function): is a functional entity in the 4G LTE network, which is mainly used to support Non-IP Data Delivery (Non-IP Data Delivery) services, especially in Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication and Internet of Things (IoT) application scenarios. The SCEF acts as an interface, allowing application servers to interact with the core network without having to go through the IP network directly.

[0089] 8、AS (Application Server): Application server, which is responsible for providing specific services and application logic in the network architecture. The main functions of the application server include: the application server can provide specific services for users, such as message services, location services, charging services, etc., application logic processing: the application server is responsible for processing the logic related to the application program, including the execution of business rules, data processing, etc., interaction with other components of the network: the application server interacts with other components in the core network through standardized interfaces, such as SCEF, PCRF, etc., policy control: the application server can interact with the PCRF to implement specific policy and charging rules to ensure that the service meets the expected requirements, and the interaction of the application server with the core network. The application server interacts with other components in the core network through specific interfaces.

[0090] 9、PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function): responsible for formulating and implementing network policies and charging rules.

[0091] In the above-mentioned 4G network, the terminal device can establish an air interface connection with the E-UTRAN through the Uu interface, the E-UTRAN establishes a user plane data connection with the SGW through the S1-U interface, the SGW establishes a control plane signaling connection with the MME through the S11, the S1-MME is the interface between the MME and the eNodeB, used for control plane information, used for user plane data for control plane information, the S6a is the interface between the MME and the HSS. Rx: interface between PCRF and application function (AF). T6a is the interface between MME and SCEF, Gx interface is the interface between PCRF and P-GW. The SGW establishes a user plane data connection with the PGW through the S5 / S8 interface, and the PGW is connected with the data network through the SGi interface.

[0092] It should be noted that Figure 1 is only an exemplary architecture diagram, and in addition to the functional units shown in Figure 1, the network architecture can also include other functional units or functional entities, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0093] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture suitable for the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the network architecture of the embodiments of the present application can include the following:

[0094] 1、User Equipment (UE): can be referred to as terminal device, terminal, access terminal, handheld terminal, notebook computer, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, mobile, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user equipment. UE can also be a cellular phone, smart phone, wireless data card, tablet computer, wireless modem, handheld device, laptop computer, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), machine type communication (MTC) terminal with wireless communication function, computing device or other processing device connected to wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal device in 5G network or terminal device in future communication system, etc. UE can also be an end device, a logical entity, a smart device such as a terminal device of a mobile phone, a smart terminal, etc., or a communication device such as a server, a gateway, a base station, a controller, etc., or an Internet of things (IoT) device such as a sensor, an electricity meter, a water meter, etc. UE can also be a wired device such as a computer, a notebook computer, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. In the following, the UE is taken as an example for description. Or other devices that can access the network.

[0095] 2、Access Network (AN) device: terminal device accesses the operator network through the access network device first, and then can connect with the service node of the operator network through the access network device.

[0096] 3、Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) entity: a control plane network function provided by the operator network, responsible for access control and mobility management of terminal device accessing the operator network, including mobile state management, allocation of user temporary identity, authentication and authorization of user, etc.

[0097] 4、security anchor function, SEAF, connected with the AMF, serving as a node of security authentication function. In specific implementation, the AMF and the SEAF can be deployed together in physical location, or the AMF and the SEAF can be set independently. In addition, in possible implementation, the functions of the AMF and the SEAF can be deployed separately, or the functions of the AMF and the SEAF can be set in the same (for example, the AMF has the function of the SEAF).

[0098] 5、authentication server function, AUSF, entity: used for authentication. For the AUSF of the home network, after receiving an authentication initial request sent by the AMF of the serving network, the AUSF sends an authentication request message to the UDM of the home network to apply for obtaining an authentication vector.

[0099] 6、unified data management, UDM, entity: also referred to as a UDM network function or a UDM network function entity. It is a control plane function provided by an operator, responsible for storing information such as a subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI) of a subscribed user in an operator network, a credential, a security context, and subscription data. The SUPI is first encrypted in the transmission process, and the encrypted SUPI is referred to as a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI). The information stored by the UDM entity can be used for authentication and authorization of terminal equipment accessing the operator network. The subscribed user of the operator network can be a user using a service provided by the operator network, for example, a user using a China Telecom mobile chip card or a user using a China Mobile mobile chip card. The permanent subscription identifier SUPI of the subscribed user can be the number of the mobile chip card. The credential and the security context of the subscribed user can be a small file such as an encryption key of the mobile chip card or information related to encryption of the mobile chip card, used for authentication and / or authorization. The security context can be data (cookie) or a token stored in a local terminal (for example, a mobile phone) of the user. The subscription data of the subscribed user can be a supporting service of the mobile chip card, for example, a traffic package of the mobile chip card or a network allowed to be accessed by the subscribed user.

[0100] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2, the network architecture of the embodiments of the present application can further include one or more of a network exposure function (NEF) entity, a network function repository function (NRF) entity, a policy control function (PCF) entity, an application function (AF) entity, a session management function (SMF) entity, or a user plane function (UPF) entity. The functions not introduced in FIG. 2 can refer to the functions defined in the 3GPP standard protocol, which will not be described here.

[0101] The above names are only used to distinguish different functions and do not represent that these are independent physical devices. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific forms of the above, for example, they can be integrated in the same physical device, or they can be different physical devices. In addition, the above names are only used to distinguish different functions and should not constitute any limitation on the present application. The present application does not exclude the possibility of using other names in the future in other networks. For example, in a 6G network, part or all of the above can continue to use the terms in 5G, or other names can be used. A unified description is made here, and the following will not be described.

[0102] In the network architecture, the N1 interface is a reference point between the terminal device and the AMF entity; the N2 interface is a reference point between the AN and the AMF entity, used for sending non-access stratum (NAS) messages, etc.; the N3 interface is a reference point between the (R)AN and the UPF entity, used for transmitting user plane data, etc.; and the N4 interface is a reference point between the SMF entity and the UPF entity, used for transmitting information such as tunnel identification information of the N3 connection, data buffering indication information, and downlink data notification messages. The interface names between the various entities in FIG. 2 are only an example, and the names of the interfaces in the specific implementation can be other names, which are not limited in the present application.

[0103] It should be understood that the above 4G network architecture and 5G network architecture applied to the embodiments of the present application are only network architectures described from the perspective of service-oriented architecture, and the network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto. Any network architecture that can realize the functions of the above is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0104] With the development of communication technology, non terrestrial networks (NTN) systems are increasingly widely used. Compared with terrestrial network (TN) systems, NTN systems have the characteristics of large coverage area, flexible networking, etc.

[0105] Currently, in NTN systems, terminal devices and satellites communicate through service links, satellites and ground stations communicate through feeder links, and satellites and satellites communicate through inter-satellite links. The ground station serves as an interface between the satellite and the ground network and is responsible for data transmission between the satellite and the ground network.

[0106] Due to the deployment cost of ground stations, geographical conditions, and other reasons, there are some remote areas, such as deserts, rainforests, etc., where ground stations are not deployed, or ground stations are sparsely deployed. When a satellite covers terminal devices in these areas, the satellite cannot be connected to the ground station and the ground network through the feeder link (or inter-satellite link + feeder link). For terminal devices in these areas, communication services can be provided through the operation of a store-and-forward satellite. In this case, end-to-end exchange of signaling / data traffic is handled in two steps, i.e., when the service link is available, the satellite establishes a connection with the terminal device, accepts and stores data from the terminal device; when the feeder link is available, the satellite sends data to the application server through the network device on the ground. If it is the first time to receive data from the terminal device, the network device on the ground will create context information for the terminal device and allocate specific network resources. In the subsequent process, if the application server has data to be sent to the terminal device, the network device on the ground can accept and store it, and when the feeder link is available, the network device sends the data to the appropriate satellite according to the context information.

[0107] If the terminal device moves from the above-mentioned remote areas to the area covered by the TN, the network device on the ground still maintains the context information related to the operation of the forwarding satellite for the terminal device, and the resources allocated to the terminal device are not released, resulting in waste of network resources.

[0108] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first, an application scenario suitable for the embodiments of the present application is described in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows an example S&F scenario diagram provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, the scenario includes satellites 310a-310c, terminal devices 320a-320e, a ground station 330, and a ground network element 340. The terminal devices 320a-320e are in a store-and-forward (S&F) mode.

[0109] First, a brief introduction to the S&F mode: S&F mode is a data transmission mode in satellite communication, which allows the satellite to temporarily store data when there is no service link / feed link available, and forward the data to the destination at a later appropriate time. This mode is suitable for communication across a large range or long distance, especially when direct link is unavailable or difficult to establish on the ground network. The S&F mode has the following characteristics:

[0110] 1. Data storage: After receiving data, the satellite does not immediately forward it to the destination, but stores it in the memory on the satellite first.

[0111] 2. Non-instant transmission: The transmission of data is not necessarily instant, but is determined by a predetermined schedule or specific conditions (such as the availability of the destination) to determine when to forward the data.

[0112] 3. Communication across a large range: Especially suitable for communication across a large range or long distance, such as polar regions or remote areas.

[0113] In the example of Figure 3, terminal devices 320a-320e are connected to satellites 310a-310c through service links, and satellites 310a-310c are connected to ground network 340 through ground station 330 through feed links.

[0114] When the terminal devices are in the store-and-forward mode, if the terminal devices 320a-320e are connected to the satellites 310a-310c through the service links, the satellites 310a-310c cannot be connected to the ground network 340 through the ground station 330 through the feed links; if the satellites 310a-310c are connected to the ground network 340 through the ground station 330 through the feed links, the satellites 310a-310c cannot be connected to the terminal devices 320a-320e through the service links, i.e. in the scenario of the example of Figure 3, the terminal devices 320a-320e and the ground network 340 cannot achieve end-to-end connectivity.

[0115] In the example of Figure 3, satellites 310a-310c can be regenerative satellites, of course, other satellites can also be used. Among them, regenerative satellites refer to satellites based on renewable loads, which can receive and forward signals, and can also process and regenerate received signals to improve signal quality and transmission distance. Base stations or other network elements can be deployed on the satellite.

[0116] For example, FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an S&F network architecture of a full core network on a satellite. As shown in FIG. 4, a complete network is deployed on the satellite, including an access network, a core network, and an application server / proxy. Taking a 4G network as an example, the access network can be an E-UTRAN, and the core network elements specifically include an MME, an S-GW, a PGW, an HSS, a PCRF, an SCEF, etc. The specific description of the access network elements and the core network elements can be referred to the description of FIG. 1, which will not be repeated here. It should be noted that under the S&F network architecture, a proxy element is deployed on the satellite and the ground, and the proxy element is used for storage and forwarding of application data. Of course, the network deployed on the satellite can be a 5G network, that is, the access network elements and the core network elements can also be 5G elements.

[0117] FIG. 5 shows a data sending flowchart in an S&F scenario. As shown in FIG. 5, the satellite communication system in the S&F scenario includes a terminal device, a satellite 1, a proxy element, and an application server, wherein the satellite 1 includes an eNB, a CN, and a proxy element.

[0118] Step 1, when the satellite 1 provides coverage for the UE, the UE initiates an Attach procedure to attach to the network of the satellite 1. It should be understood that when the satellite 1 provides coverage for the UE, it means that the service link between the UE and the satellite 1 is available, and in the S&F scenario, the feeder link between the ground element and the satellite 1 is unavailable.

[0119] Step 2, the UE sends mobile originated (MO) data to the core network on the satellite 1, and the core network element on the satellite 1 sends the state information on the UE and the MO data to the proxy element on the satellite, and the proxy element on the satellite is used for buffering the state information of the UE and the data (i.e., MO data) from the UE. It should be understood that the proxy element on the satellite is also used for application layer and transport layer signaling processing, as well as storage and forwarding of application layer data. The proxy element on the satellite is also called a satellite-borne proxy element.

[0120] Step 3, when the satellite 1 is about to leave the location area of the UE, the UE performs a Detach procedure with the network on the satellite, and the UE detaches from the network of the satellite 1.

[0121] Step 4, when the feeder link is available, the proxy element on the satellite 1 sends the buffered state information of the UE and the data from the UE to the ground proxy element (Proxy-T).

[0122] Step 5, the proxy element allocates an address for the UE and creates context information (including a UE ID, a correspondence between the UE ID and the IP address, UE location information, etc.).

[0123] Step 6, the ground proxy network element sends the data from the UE to the corresponding application server using the IP address assigned to the UE.

[0124] Step 7, when the AS has mobile terminated data to send to the UE, the AS sends the mobile terminated data of the UE to the ground proxy network element.

[0125] It should be noted that the MT data can be understood as downlink data sent by the AS to the UE.

[0126] Step 8, the ground proxy network element selects a suitable target satellite for the UE according to the UE context information maintained locally (such as the satellite that can cover the UE location the fastest, for example, it can be satellite 2).

[0127] Step 9, the ground proxy network element sends the MT data of the UE to the proxy network element on satellite 2.

[0128] Step 10, when satellite 2 provides coverage for the UE, the UE performs an attach procedure to attach to the network on satellite 2, satellite 2 sends the MT data to the UE, and when satellite 2 is about to leave the location area of the UE, the UE detaches from the network on satellite 2.

[0129] Based on the above data sending flowchart in the S&F scenario, it can be seen that when the satellite providing service for the UE changes (satellite 1 switches to satellite 2), the ground proxy network element can store and forward uplink data or downlink data, that is, the ground proxy network element can receive the data information of the UE sent by the proxy network element on satellite 1 and send the data of the UE to the corresponding application server, and can also forward the downlink data of the application server to the proxy network element on satellite 2.

[0130] It should be understood that when the UE moves from the NTN to the TN, the communication of the UE on the ground does not need to rely on the ground proxy network element. The ground proxy network element can release the resources occupied by the UE in time to avoid resource waste.

[0131] The above scenario mainly describes that when the satellite providing service for the UE changes in the S&F scenario, the proxy network element can store and forward the data sent by the user or the data received by the user, and when the terminal device moves from the S&F mode to the ground network, the proxy network element does not need to allocate resources and store resources for this terminal device. However, since the ground proxy network element cannot perceive the mobility of the UE (the UE moves to the ground network), the resources allocated to the UE by the ground proxy network element cannot be released in time, resulting in resource waste.

[0132] In summary, when the UE moves from the S&F network to the TN, how to make the ground proxy network element perceive the movement of the UE and release the occupied resources in time becomes a technical problem to be solved.

[0133] To solve the above technical problems, the application provides a communication method and a communication device. A ground agent network element can send first indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate that, when a terminal device moves to a TN, a HSS sends a first notification message to the ground agent network element. The first notification message can be state information of the terminal device or a monitoring request. The HSS is requested to notify the ground agent network element when the terminal device moves to the TN. Thus, the ground agent network element can timely perceive the mobility of the UE, and thus timely release the resources allocated for the UE, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

[0134] The communication method provided by the application will be described in detail below in combination with FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a schematic interaction diagram of an example of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application. The method can be applied in the scenario shown in FIG. 3, and of course can also be applied in other communication scenarios. The embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 6, the method 600 shown in FIG. 6 can include S610 to S630. The steps in the method 600 will be described in detail below in combination with FIG. 6.

[0136] S610, a first network element sends first indication information to a second network element. The first indication information is used to indicate that, when a terminal device moves to a TN, the second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element.

[0137] In the embodiment of the application, the first network element refers to a network element that stores and forwards data or signaling of a terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation; and the second network element refers to a network element that stores subscription data and authentication information of a user.

[0138] For example, the first network element can be a ground agent network element. Hereinafter, the ground agent network element is referred to as an agent network element for the convenience of description.

[0139] The second network element can be a HSS in a 4G network architecture, can be a UDM in a 5G network architecture, or can be another network element that implements the same function. The application does not specifically limit this.

[0140] In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information can be state information of the terminal device. The state information is used to indicate that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode.

[0141] The state information of the terminal device can include the terminal device being in the store-and-forward mode, and can also include an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the first network element.

[0142] The information of the first network element can be an identifier of the first network element or an address of the first network element.

[0143] It should be noted that the first network element sending the state information of the terminal device to the second network element can be when the first network element first receives the mobile initiation data of the terminal device, or can be periodically sending the state information of the terminal device to the second network element, and the application does not make specific limitation on the timing of the first network element sending the state information of the terminal device.

[0144] In another possible implementation, the first indication information can be a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is used to instruct the second network element to send the first notification message to the first network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0145] Optionally, the monitoring request includes a monitoring event, and the monitoring event is used to monitor the terminal device moving to the TN.

[0146] Further, the monitoring request can further include the identifier of the terminal device and / or the information of the first network element.

[0147] In the embodiment of the application, when the identifier of the terminal device and the information of the first network element are included in the monitoring request, the first network element currently serving the terminal device can be identified.

[0148] Optionally, the first network element sending the monitoring request to the second network element can be when the first network element first receives the mobile initiation data of the terminal device, and the application does not make specific limitation on the timing of the first network element sending the monitoring request.

[0149] It should be noted that the first indication information can also be used to instruct the second network element to send the first notification message to the first network element when the terminal device exits the store-and-forward mode. The terminal device exiting the store-and-forward mode includes the terminal device moving to the TN, the NTN in which the power supply link and the service link are simultaneously available, or determining the terminal device to exit the store-and-forward mode through a radio access technology type, etc. The embodiment of the application mainly specifies the first indication information for indicating the terminal device moving to the TN, but does not constitute a limitation on other cases.

[0150] S620, the second network element sends the first notification message to the first network element, and the first notification message is used to instruct the terminal device to move to the TN.

[0151] In some possible implementation, when the first indication message received by the second network element is the state information of the terminal device, the second network element can update the context of the terminal device according to the state information of the terminal device.

[0152] Illustratively, the second network element can record that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, and when the terminal device moves to the TN, the second network element sends the first notification message to the first network element.

[0153] Alternatively, the second network element can record the information that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode and the first network element, and when the terminal device moves to the TN, the second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element.

[0154] In another possible implementation, the second network element receives the first indication message when monitoring the request, and when the terminal device moves to the TN, the second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element.

[0155] It should be understood that in 4G communication, the terminal device moving to the TN means that the terminal device is attached to the TN, and in 5G communication, the terminal device moving to the TN means that the terminal device is registered to the TN.

[0156] In some embodiments, the first notification message includes a movement indication of the terminal device, and the movement indication is used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves to the TN.

[0157] Further, the first notification message can include an identifier of the terminal device.

[0158] In the embodiments of the present application, when the first notification message includes the identifier of the terminal device, the first network element can release the resource of the terminal device based on the identifier of the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

[0159] In some other embodiments, the first notification message can further include an address of the terminal device.

[0160] In the embodiments of the present application, when the first notification message includes the address of the terminal device, the first network element can send the buffered mobile termination data to the terminal device based on the address of the terminal device.

[0161] Optionally, before the second network element sends the first notification message to the first network element, the second network element sends a first request message to a fifth network element, and the first request message is used to request the address of the terminal device.

[0162] It should be understood that the address of the terminal device refers to the address allocated by the TN for the terminal device, and the fifth network element refers to a network element for mobility management of the terminal device.

[0163] For example, in a 4G network architecture, the fifth network element is an MME network element, and in a 5G network architecture, the fifth network element is an AMF network element. Alternatively, it can also be other network elements that realize the same function, which is not limited in the present application.

[0164] In the embodiments of the present application, the second network element sends the first request message to the fifth network element to request the address of the terminal device, so that the second network element can send the address of the terminal device to the first network element.

[0165] S630, release the resource of the terminal device based on the first notification message.

[0166] In some possible implementation, the first network element releasing the resource of the terminal device comprises at least one of deleting the context information or the state information of the terminal device, releasing the address allocated for the terminal device, disconnecting the connection established for the terminal device and the third network element, and establishing the connection for the terminal device and the fourth network element on the satellite.

[0167] For example, the third network element can be an AS or an SCS.

[0168] Further, the fourth network element can be a proxy network element on the satellite, used for storing and forwarding the data or the signaling of the terminal device in the store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0169] In the method 600, when the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, the first network element can send first indication information to the second network element, and the second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element based on the first indication information, the first notification message being used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN, so that the first network element can perceive that the terminal device moves to the TN and release the resource of the terminal device in time, thereby avoiding the waste of network resources.

[0170] In some possible implementation, the first network element can further determine whether there is mobile termination data of the terminal device buffered, and when the first notification message sent by the second network element to the first network element contains the address of the terminal device, the first network element can send the buffered mobile termination data of the terminal device to the terminal device based on the address of the terminal device, thereby avoiding the waste of network resources.

[0171] In another possible implementation, when the first network element determines that there is mobile termination data of the terminal device buffered, but the first notification message sent by the second network element to the first network element does not contain the address of the terminal device, the first network element can send second indication information to the third network element, the second indication information being used to instruct the third network element to send retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data comprising the mobile termination data of the terminal device buffered by the first network element, and the second indication information carrying information of the mobile termination data.

[0172] In the embodiment of the application, when the first notification message does not contain the address of the terminal device, the first network element sends the second indication information to the third network element, and sends the information of the buffered mobile termination data to the third network element, and the third network element is a network element managing the third application, so the third network element can send the data corresponding to the information of the mobile termination data buffered by the first network element to the terminal device. It should be understood that the information of the mobile termination data comprises the mobile termination data or the identification information corresponding to the mobile termination data.

[0173] In a possible implementation, the second indication information can be a NACK message, i.e., the proxy network element sends a NACK message to the AS, and the NACK message is used to instruct the AS to send the data buffered by the proxy network element to the terminal device.

[0174] Further, the NACK message can carry information of the MT data buffered by the proxy network element and not yet sent, e.g., the information of the MT data can be the buffered MT data packet not yet sent or the identification information corresponding to the buffered MT data packet not yet sent, such as a data packet sequence number range.

[0175] In some embodiments of the present application, the first network element can also instruct the second network element to notify a third network element that the terminal device moves to the TN, and disconnection of the third network element from the first network element can trigger the first network element to release resources of the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources. In the following, another example of a communication method provided by the present application is described in detail in combination with FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a schematic interaction diagram of another example of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application, which can be applied in the scenario shown in FIG. 3, and of course can also be applied in other communication scenarios, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0176] As shown in FIG. 7, the method 700 shown in FIG. 7 can include S710 to S740. In the following, each step in the method 700 is described in detail in combination with FIG. 7.

[0177] S710, the first network element sends first indication information to the second network element, and the first indication information is used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to a third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0178] It should be noted that the third network element refers to a network element for managing a third-party application. For example, the third network element can be a service capability server (SCS), an AS, or other network elements having the same function, which are not limited by the present application.

[0179] It should be further noted that the specific content of the first indication information in step S710 is the same as that of the first indication information in step S610, and the difference between steps S610 and S710 is that the first indication information instructs the second network element to send a first notification message to the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0180] S720, the second network element sends the first notification message to the third network element, and the first notification message is used to instruct that the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0181] In an embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first indication information, the second network element sends the first notification message to the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0182] Further, the first notification message includes a movement indication of the terminal device, and the movement indication is used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves into the TN. The terminal device identifier is carried in the first notification message.

[0183] In S730, the third network element disconnects the connection with the first network element based on the first notification message.

[0184] In a possible implementation, after receiving the first notification message sent by the second network element, the third network element is associated with the first network element associated with the terminal device according to the terminal device identifier carried in the first notification message, and disconnects the connection with the first network element.

[0185] In S740, the first network element releases the resource of the terminal device.

[0186] In S730, after the third network element disconnects the connection with the first network element, the first network element releases the resource of the terminal device.

[0187] It can be understood that, in the state of disconnection between the first network element and the third network element, the first network element can be triggered to release the resource of the terminal device.

[0188] Further, the description of the first network element releasing the resource of the terminal device can refer to the description of S630, which is not repeated here.

[0189] In the method 700, when the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, the first network element can send first indication information to the second network element, the second network element sends a first notification message to the third network element based on the first indication information, the first notification message is used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN, and the third network element disconnects the connection with the first network element based on the first notification message, thereby triggering the first network element to release the resource of the terminal device, and avoiding the waste of network resources.

[0190] In some possible implementations, the third network element can further determine whether there is data to be retransmitted to the terminal device, and the data includes mobile termination data; when the third network element determines that there is data to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the third network element sends the mobile termination data to the terminal device.

[0191] In the embodiment of the present application, the third network element can directly determine whether there is mobile termination data cached, and if it is determined that there is data to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the cached mobile termination data is directly sent to the terminal device, thereby avoiding the waste of network resources.

[0192] In some possible implementation manners, when the first network element determines that the mobile terminated data of the terminal device is buffered, the first network element can send second indication information to the third network element, where the second indication information is used to instruct the third network element to send retransmission data to the terminal device, and the retransmission data includes the mobile terminated data buffered by the first network element, and the second indication information carries information of the mobile terminated data.

[0193] In the embodiments of the present application, the third network element does not directly determine whether there is data to be retransmitted to the terminal device, but receives the second indication information sent by the first network element, where the second indication information indicates that there is data to be retransmitted to the terminal device, and instructs the third network element to send the buffered mobile terminated data to the terminal device.

[0194] The communication method provided by the present application is specifically described below by taking the 4G network architecture as an example in combination with FIG. 8-FIG. 11, where the first network element is a proxy network element, the second network element is an HSS, and the third network element is an AS. As shown in FIG. 8, the method 800 shown in FIG. 8 can include S810-S880. The steps in the method 800 are specifically described below in combination with FIG. 8.

[0195] S810, the terminal device sends mobile originated data to a satellite.

[0196] The terminal device performs Attach in the store-and-forward mode, and sends MO data to the satellite.

[0197] It should be understood that the MO data mainly refers to a data service actively initiated by a user, for example, sending a short message, making a phone call, browsing the Internet, and using a mobile application, etc.

[0198] The terminal device performing Attach in the store-and-forward mode can include two cases, one is that the terminal device accesses the store-and-forward satellite for the first time, and the other is that the terminal device reconnects to the network after a long time of communication with the store-and-forward satellite.

[0199] It should be understood that the main purpose of performing Attach is to establish a connection between the terminal device and the store-and-forward satellite, that is, performing Attach is for the terminal device to access the store-and-forward satellite.

[0200] It should also be understood that the terminal device accessing the store-and-forward satellite can mean that the terminal device monitors the satellite, can mean that the terminal device initiates MO signaling or data transmission to the satellite, and can also mean that the terminal device receives MT signaling / data of the satellite.

[0201] Optionally, after the terminal device establishes a connection with the satellite, the terminal device can also establish a connection with other satellites, that is, the terminal device can also be registered on other satellites, and therefore the terminal device can also perform Detach.

[0202] It should be understood that performing the Detach can refer to that the terminal device or the satellite initiates the Detach procedure actively when the terminal device no longer uses the satellite service or the terminal device is about to leave the satellite coverage, thereby disconnecting the terminal device from the satellite, and can also refer to that the terminal device and the satellite perform the local Detach to release the context information after the terminal device leaves the satellite coverage.

[0203] When the terminal device establishes the connection with the store-and-forward satellite, the store-and-forward satellite caches the MO data initiated by the terminal device and the state information of the terminal device. In this way, the MO data and the state information of the terminal device can be forwarded to the ground network element when the feeder link between the satellite and the ground network element is available.

[0204] Optionally, the state information of the terminal device can include the identifier of the terminal device, the location information of the terminal device, and a store-and-forward monitoring list of the terminal device.

[0205] The store-and-forward monitoring list refers to a list of store-and-forward satellites that can be accessed by the terminal device, and is used to instruct the terminal device to monitor the accessed store-and-forward satellite identifier.

[0206] In a possible implementation, the store-and-forward satellite can cache the MO data and the state information of the terminal device in a proxy network element (also referred to as a satellite-borne proxy network element) on the satellite. It should be understood that the proxy network element in the store-and-forward satellite is used to cache and forward the related information of the terminal device.

[0207] S820, the satellite sends the MO data and the state information of the terminal device to the ground proxy network element.

[0208] S830, the ground proxy network element sends the MO data to the application server.

[0209] It should be understood that when the service link is available and the feeder link is unavailable, the satellite receives and stores the data from the terminal device. When the feeder link is available, the satellite sends the stored data from the terminal device to the ground proxy network element.

[0210] After the ground proxy network element receives the MO data and the state information of the terminal device, the ground proxy network element allocates an IP address for the terminal device, and the ground proxy network element can use the IP address allocated to the terminal device to send the data from the terminal device to the application server.

[0211] For example, after the ground proxy network element receives the state information of the terminal device, the ground proxy network element allocates a corresponding IP address for the terminal device according to the identifier of the terminal device, the mapping table relationship between the identifier of the terminal device and the IP address, the location information of the terminal device, and the store-and-forward monitoring list, and creates the context of the terminal device.

[0212] S840, the proxy network element sends first indication information to the SCEF network element, the first indication information being used to indicate that the home subscriber server sends a first notification message to the proxy network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0213] S850, the SCEF network element sends the first indication information to the HSS network element.

[0214] When the terminal device moves from the NTN-covered area to the TN-covered area, in order to make the ground proxy network element perceive the movement of the terminal device and release the resource allocated to the terminal device in time, the ground proxy network element can send first indication information to the HSS through the SCEF, the first indication information being used to indicate that the HSS notifies the proxy network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0215] It should be understood that the SCEF network element is an interface between the AS and the core network, and can guarantee the security and integrity of data transmission. For example, the SCEF can authenticate the proxy network element.

[0216] In a possible implementation, the first indication information can be state information of the terminal device, the state information being used to indicate that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode.

[0217] The state information of the terminal device can include that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, and further include an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the proxy network element.

[0218] The identifier of the proxy network element can be an identifier of the proxy network element, or an address of the proxy network element.

[0219] It should be noted that the proxy network element can send the state information of the terminal device to the HSS when the proxy network element receives the movement initiation data of the terminal device for the first time, or periodically send the state information of the terminal device to the HSS. The application does not limit the timing of the proxy network element sending the state information of the terminal device.

[0220] In another possible implementation, the first indication information can be a monitoring request, the monitoring request being used to indicate that the HSS sends a first notification message to the proxy network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0221] Optionally, the monitoring request includes a monitoring event, the monitoring event being used to monitor that the terminal device moves to the TN, and the monitoring request further includes an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the proxy network element.

[0222] In the embodiment of the application, when the identifier of the terminal device and the information of the proxy network element are included in the monitoring request, the proxy network element currently serving the terminal device can be identified.

[0223] Optionally, the proxy network element sends a monitoring request to the HSS, which can be sent when the proxy network element first receives the mobile origination data of the terminal device. The application does not limit the timing of sending the monitoring request by the proxy network element.

[0224] The monitoring request can also be a subscription request, which can be understood as the proxy network element subscribing to the reachability of the UE to the HSS. When the terminal device moves to the TN, the HSS is requested to send a first notification message to the proxy network element.

[0225] It should be understood that the reachability of the UE refers to the ability to successfully find and communicate to the UE in the network. The reachability of the UE includes the state information of the UE, the location update of the UE, the paging mechanism, the registration of the UE, and the network configuration, etc. Through effective UE state management, location update and paging mechanism, the network can ensure that the UE can be found and communicated at any time.

[0226] It should be noted that the timing of the proxy network element subscribing to the reachability of the UE to the HSS is not limited, i.e. the proxy network element can subscribe to the reachability of the UE to the HSS when it first receives the MO data or the state information of the UE.

[0227] S860, the HSS updates the context of the terminal device.

[0228] When the first indication information is the state information of the terminal device, the HSS stores that the UE is currently in the store-and-forward mode after receiving the state information of the terminal device.

[0229] The state information of the terminal device includes that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, and also includes the identifier of the terminal device and / or the information of the proxy network element.

[0230] It should be noted that step S860 is an optional step, and when the first indication information is the monitoring request, step S860 can not be performed.

[0231] S870, the HSS sends a first notification message to the proxy network element based on the first indication information.

[0232] In some embodiments, the first notification message includes a mobile indication of the terminal device, and the mobile indication is used to indicate that the terminal device is currently moving into the TN. The first notification message can also include the identifier of the terminal device.

[0233] In the embodiments of the application, when the first notification message contains the identifier of the terminal device, the first network element can release the resources of the terminal device based on the identifier of the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

[0234] S880, the first network element releases the resources of the terminal device.

[0235] In order to avoid resource waste, when the ground proxy network element senses that the terminal device moves, the ground proxy network element releases the resource allocated for the terminal device.

[0236] In some possible implementation manners, the releasing the resource of the terminal device comprises at least one of deleting context information or state information of the terminal device, releasing an address allocated for the terminal device, disconnecting a connection established for the terminal device and the AS, and a connection established for the terminal device and the proxy network element on the satellite.

[0237] It should be understood that the proxy network element on the satellite is used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in the store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0238] In the above embodiment, when the terminal device is still in the S&F mode of the NTN, the ground proxy network element can send first indication information to the HSS network element, the first indication information being used to indicate that the HSS sends a first notification message to the ground proxy network element when the UE moves to the TN, so that the ground proxy network element can sense the movement of the UE, thereby releasing the resource of the terminal device in time and avoiding resource waste.

[0239] The embodiment of the application further provides another communication method, in which, when the terminal device moves from the store-and-forward mode to the TN, the HSS carries a destination address of the UE in a first notification message sent to the ground proxy network element, and the ground proxy network element can forward the locally buffered MT data to the UE based on the address of the UE.

[0240] The communication method provided by the application will be described in detail below in combination with FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows a schematic interaction diagram of another example of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, which can be applied in the scenario shown in FIG. 3, and of course can also be applied in other communication scenarios, which are not limited herein by the embodiment of the application.

[0241] As shown in FIG. 9, the method 900 shown in FIG. 9 can include S910 to S980. The steps in the method 900 will be described in detail below in combination with FIG. 9.

[0242] S910, the terminal device sends an attach request message to the MME.

[0243] It should be noted that before step S910, the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, and the ground proxy network element sends first indication information to the HSS. When the terminal device moves from the NTN to the TN, the terminal device sends an attach request message to the MME, indicating that the terminal device requests to establish a connection.

[0244] Optionally, the attach request message carries a Moving From S&F indication message, which is used to indicate that the UE was last registered in the store-and-forward mode.

[0245] S920, the HSS sends an address request of the terminal device to the MME.

[0246] When the terminal device moves to the TN, the HSS judges that the terminal device exits the S&F mode, and the HSS sends an address request message of the terminal device to the MME, the request message being used to request the IP address of the UE.

[0247] It should be noted that the Moving From S&F indication message carried in the attachment request message in step S910 and step S920 can both trigger the MME to send the IP address of the UE to the HSS. Therefore, at least one of the above two methods can be selected to be executed.

[0248] S930, the MME sends the address of the UE to the HSS.

[0249] The MME sends the address of the UE to the HSS based on the Moving From S&F indication sent by the terminal device or the address request message of the terminal device sent by the HSS.

[0250] S940a, the HSS sends a first notification message to the SCEF, the first notification message carrying the address of the UE.

[0251] S940b, the SCEF sends the first notification message to the proxy network element.

[0252] Based on the above steps S910-S930, the HSS can obtain the IP address of the UE, and when the HSS judges that the UE exits the store-and-forward mode and enters the TN cell, the HSS sends a first notification message to the proxy network element.

[0253] Further, the first notification message carries the UE ID, the IP address of the UE and the UE movement indication, wherein the UE IP address is the IP address allocated to the UE by the TN, and the UE movement indication is used to indicate that the UE is currently attached to the TN.

[0254] S950, the proxy network element releases the resources of the terminal device based on the first notification message.

[0255] In order to avoid resource waste, the ground proxy network element releases the UE related resources after receiving the first notification message sent by the HSS.

[0256] The release of the UE related resources includes deleting the UE context information or state information, releasing the IP address allocated to the UE, and disconnecting the connection of the UE with the SCS / AS and the proxy network element on the satellite.

[0257] S960, the proxy network element determines whether there is cached mobile terminated data.

[0258] Before the ground proxy network element sends the data cached by the UE, it determines whether the UE has MT data cached locally, wherein the UE has cached MT data can be determined through the following two cases:

[0259] First, the ground proxy network element has MT data that has not been sent.

[0260] Second, the ground proxy network element has sent the data cached by the UE to the satellite, but has not received feedback from the satellite, or the ground proxy network element still saves the data locally before the estimated delivery time expires. The estimated delivery time is the estimated time required for the MT data sent by the ground proxy network element to the satellite to reach the UE.

[0261] S970, the proxy network element sends the cached mobile termination data to the PGW.

[0262] S980, the PGW sends the cached mobile termination data to the terminal device through the SWG.

[0263] In one possible implementation, when the type of the MT data cached by the proxy network element is IP data, the proxy network element directly sends the MT data to the address of the terminal device through IP routing, and the MT data reaches the PGW currently serving the UE in the TN.

[0264] Further, the PGW sends the MT data to the SGW currently serving the UE, and the SGW sends the data to the UE through the eNB.

[0265] In another possible implementation, when the type of the MT data cached by the proxy network element is Non-IP, the proxy network element establishes a Non-IP data transmission configuration with the SCEF for Non-IP data transmission of the UE.

[0266] Specifically, the proxy network element sends the cached MT data to the SCEF, the SCEF sends the MT data to the MME through the PGW and the SWG, and the MME sends the MT data to the terminal device by carrying the MT data in a non-access stratum protocol data unit (NAS PDU).

[0267] In the above embodiment, when the ground proxy network element senses that the UE moves to the TN cell, the proxy network element releases the UE resource in time, and the proxy network element acquires the address of the terminal device and sends the cached unsent MT data to the terminal device.

[0268] The embodiment of the present application further provides another example of a communication method. When the HSS sends the first notification message to the proxy network element, the IP address of the UE is not carried. Then, when the proxy network element needs to send the buffered unsent MT data to the UE, the proxy network element can send the information of the MT data to the AS, and the AS sends the MT data to the terminal device.

[0269] The embodiment of the present application further provides another example of a communication method. When the HSS sends the first notification message to the proxy network element, the IP address of the UE is not carried. Then, when the proxy network element needs to send the buffered unsent MT data to the UE, the proxy network element can send the information of the MT data to the AS, and the AS sends the MT data to the terminal device.

[0270] As shown in FIG. 10, the method 1000 shown in FIG. 10 can include S1010 to S1050. The following describes each step in the method 1000 in detail in combination with FIG. 10.

[0271] S1010, the terminal device performs an attachment process.

[0272] S1020a, the HSS sends a first notification message to the SCEF.

[0273] S1020b, the SCEF sends the first notification message to the proxy network element.

[0274] When the HSS determines that the UE exits the store-and-forward mode and enters the TN cell, the HSS sends a first notification message to the proxy network element, and the first notification message carries the UE ID.

[0275] S1030, the proxy network element releases the resource related to the UE based on the first notification message.

[0276] S1040, the proxy network element determines whether there is buffered mobile termination data.

[0277] The description of step S1040 can refer to the description of step S960, and will not be repeated here.

[0278] S1050, the proxy network element sends second indication information to the AS.

[0279] In the embodiment of the present application, the second indication information is used to instruct the AS to send retransmission data to the terminal device, and the retransmission data includes the mobile termination data buffered by the proxy network element, and the second indication information carries the information of the mobile termination data.

[0280] It should be noted that the second indication information can also be understood as the MT data buffered by the proxy network element is not sent successfully.

[0281] In a possible implementation, the second indication information can be a NACK message, i.e., the proxy network element sends a NACK message to the AS, and the NACK message is used to instruct the AS to send data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device.

[0282] Further, the NACK message can carry information of data that needs to be retransmitted by the proxy network element, for example, the information of the data can be MT data cached by the proxy network element or identification information corresponding to the cached MT data, such as a data packet sequence number range.

[0283] S1060, the AS sends MT data to the PWG.

[0284] S1070, the PWG sends the MT data to the UE through the SWG.

[0285] In a possible implementation, for IP data packets, the SCS / AS directly sends data that needs to be retransmitted to the PGW currently serving the UE, and after the data reaches the PGW, the PGW sends the data to the SGW currently serving the UE, and the SGW sends the data to the UE through the eNB.

[0286] In another possible implementation, for Non-IP data packets, after the AS establishes a NIDD configuration with the SCEF, the AS sends MT data that needs to be retransmitted to the PGW through the SCEF, and then sends the data to the UE through the SGW and the eNB currently serving the UE (not shown in FIG. 10).

[0287] In the above embodiment, when the proxy network element senses that the UE moves to the TN cell, the proxy network element releases the UE resource, and sends the cached unsent MT data to the terminal device through the SCS / AS, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

[0288] The embodiment of the present application also provides another example of a communication method, in which the HSS sends a first notification message to the AS, and the AS disconnects from the proxy network element to trigger the proxy network element to release the resource of the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

[0289] The following will be described in detail in combination with FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows a schematic interaction diagram of an example of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method can be applied in the scenario shown in FIG. 3, and of course can also be applied in other communication scenarios, which are not limited herein by the embodiment of the present application.

[0290] As shown in FIG. 11, the method 1100 shown in FIG. 11 can include S1110 to S1150. The following will be described in detail in combination with FIG. 11.

[0291] S1110, the terminal device performs an attachment process.

[0292] S1120a, the HSS sends a first notification message to the SCEF.

[0293] S1120b, the SCEF sends the first notification message to the AS.

[0294] S1130, the AS disconnects the connection with the proxy network element.

[0295] In the embodiments of the present application, the first notification message sent by the HSS to the AS includes the identifier of the terminal device, and the AS can associate the connection with the proxy network element based on the identifier of the terminal device, and disconnect the connection with the proxy network element.

[0296] S1140, the proxy network element releases the resource of the UE.

[0297] After the AS disconnects the connection with the proxy network element, the proxy network element releases the resource of the terminal device.

[0298] It can be understood that the AS and the proxy network element are in a disconnected state, and the proxy network element can be triggered to release the resource of the terminal device.

[0299] S1150, the proxy network element determines whether there is cached mobile terminated data.

[0300] The description of step S1150 can refer to the description of step S960, which will not be repeated here.

[0301] S1160, the proxy network element sends second indication information to the AS.

[0302] In some possible implementations of the present application, when the proxy network element determines that there is cached mobile terminated data of the terminal device, the proxy network element can send second indication information to the AS, the second indication information being used to instruct the AS to send retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data including the mobile terminated data cached by the proxy network element, and the second indication information carrying information of the mobile terminated data.

[0303] In the embodiments of the present application, the AS does not directly determine whether there is data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, but receives the second indication information sent by the proxy network element, the second indication information indicating that there is data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, and instructing the AS to send the cached mobile terminated data to the terminal device.

[0304] In other possible implementations, the AS can directly determine the data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the data including the mobile terminated data; and the AS sends the mobile terminated data to the terminal device (not shown in FIG. 11).

[0305] For example, the AS determines that there is MT data of the terminal device that needs to be retransmitted, including the following three cases:

[0306] 1. The AS sends MT data to the proxy network element, and the proxy network element feeds back NACK for the MT data;

[0307] 2. The AS sends MT data to the proxy network element, and the proxy network element does not feed back ACK for the MT data;

[0308] 3. The AS sends MT data to the proxy network element, and the corresponding estimated delivery time has not expired.

[0309] In the embodiment of the present application, the AS can directly determine whether there is mobile termination data to be cached, and if it is determined that there is data to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the AS directly sends the cached mobile termination data to the terminal device, thereby avoiding waste of network resources.

[0310] S1170, the AS sends MT data to the PWG.

[0311] S1180, the PWG sends the MT data to the UE through the SWG.

[0312] In a possible implementation, for IP packets, the SCS / AS directly sends the MT data to be retransmitted to the PGW currently serving the UE, and after the data reaches the PGW, the PGW sends the MT data to the SGW currently serving the UE, and the SGW sends the data to the UE through the eNB.

[0313] In another possible implementation, for Non-IP packets, after the AS establishes the NIDD configuration with the SCEF, the AS sends the MT data to be retransmitted to the PGW through the SCEF, and then sends the data to the UE through the SGW and the eNB currently serving the UE (not shown in FIG. 11).

[0314] The above describes the method embodiments provided by the present application, and the following describes the device embodiments provided by the present application. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments, and therefore, the content not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiments described above, and for brevity, the description is not repeated here.

[0315] FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 12, the communication device 1200 can include a transceiver unit 1210 and / or a processing unit 1220. The transceiver unit 1210 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing unit 1220 is configured to perform data processing. The transceiver unit 1210 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. Optionally, the device 1200 can also include a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data, and the processing unit 1220 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit, so that the device implements the foregoing method embodiments.

[0316] In a possible design, the apparatus 1200 can be a first network element in the above method embodiments, for example, the apparatus 1200 can be a proxy network element, or can be a chip, processor or chip system for implementing a proxy network element function, and can also be a logic node, logic module or software, etc. that can implement all or part of the proxy network element function. The apparatus 1200 can be used to execute steps or processes performed by the first network element in any of the above method embodiments.

[0317] Specifically, the transceiver 1210 can be configured to receive a first message from a first device, and transmit first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that a second network element transmits a first notification message to a first network element or a third network element when a terminal device moves to a TN. The transceiver 1210 is further configured to receive the first notification message, where the first notification message is used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN; and the processing unit 1220 is configured to release resources of the terminal device based on the first notification message.

[0318] Optionally, the first indication information includes state information of the terminal device, where the state information is used to indicate that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode.

[0319] Optionally, the state information of the terminal device includes that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, and further includes an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the first network element.

[0320] Optionally, the first indication information includes a monitoring request, where the monitoring request is used to indicate that the home subscriber server transmits the first notification message to the first network element or the second network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0321] Optionally, the monitoring request includes a monitoring event, where the monitoring event is used to monitor that the terminal device moves to the TN, and the monitoring request further includes an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the first network element.

[0322] Optionally, the releasing the resources of the terminal device includes at least one of deleting context information or state information of the terminal device, releasing an address allocated for the terminal device, disconnecting a connection established for the terminal device and the third network element, and establishing a connection for the terminal device and a fourth network element on a satellite, where the fourth network element is used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0323] Optionally, the first notification message includes a movement indication of the terminal device, and further includes an identifier of the terminal device and / or an address of the terminal device, where the movement indication is used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves into the TN.

[0324] Optionally, the processing unit 1220 is further configured to determine whether there is mobile terminated data of the terminal device buffered, and send the mobile terminated data based on the first notification message.

[0325] Optionally, the processing unit 1220 is further configured to send second indication information to the third network element, the second indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data comprising mobile terminated data of the terminal device buffered by the first network element, and the second indication information carrying information of the mobile terminated data.

[0326] In a possible design, the apparatus 1200 can be a second network element in the above method embodiments. For example, the apparatus 1200 can be an HSS network element, or can be a chip, processor or chip system for implementing an HSS network element, and can also be a logic node, logic module or software, etc. that can implement all or part of the functions of an HSS network element. The apparatus 1200 can be configured to perform steps or processes performed by the second network element in any of the above method embodiments.

[0327] Specifically, the transceiver 1210 can be configured to receive first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to a first network element or a third network element when the terminal device moves to a TN, and the first network element being used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation. The transceiver 1210 can also be configured to send the first notification message based on the first indication message, the first notification message being used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0328] Optionally, the first indication information comprises state information of the terminal device, and the state information is used to indicate that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode.

[0329] Optionally, the state information of the terminal device comprises that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, and further comprises an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the first network element.

[0330] Optionally, the processing unit 1220 is configured to update a context of the terminal device according to the state information of the terminal device.

[0331] Optionally, the processing unit 1220 is further configured to record that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode, or record that the terminal device is in the store-and-forward mode and the information of the first network element.

[0332] Optionally, the first indication information comprises a monitoring request, and the monitoring request is used to instruct the second network element to send the first notification message to the first network element or the third network element when the terminal device moves to the TN.

[0333] Optionally, the monitoring request comprises a monitoring event, the monitoring event is used for monitoring that the terminal device moves to the TN, and the monitoring request further comprises an identifier of the terminal device and / or information of the first network element.

[0334] Optionally, the first notification message comprises a moving indication of the terminal device, and further comprises an identifier of the terminal device and / or an address of the terminal device, the moving indication is used for indicating that the terminal device currently moves into the TN.

[0335] Optionally, the transceiver 1210 is further configured to send a first request message to a fifth network element, the first request message is used for requesting an address of the terminal device, the address of the terminal device is an address allocated by the TN for the terminal device, and the fifth network element is used for mobility management of the terminal device; and the transceiver 1210 is further configured to receive the address of the terminal device sent by the fifth network element.

[0336] In a possible design, the apparatus 1200 can be the first network element in the above method embodiments, for example, the apparatus 1200 can be an AS network element, or can be a chip, a processor or a chip system for implementing the function of the AS network element, and can also be a logic node, a logic module or software, etc. that can implement all or part of the function of the AS network element. The apparatus 1200 can be used to execute the steps or processes performed by the third network element in any of the above method embodiments.

[0337] Specifically, the transceiver 1210 can be configured to receive a first notification message, the first notification message is used for indicating that the terminal device moves to a TN, and the first notification message comprises a moving indication of the terminal device and an identifier of the terminal device, the moving indication is used for indicating that the terminal device currently moves into the TN; and disconnect a connection with a first network element based on the first notification message, wherein a disconnection state between the first network element and the third network element is used for triggering the first network element to release a resource of the terminal device, and the first network element is used for storing and forwarding data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation.

[0338] Optionally, the transceiver 1210 can be further configured to determine data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the data comprises mobile terminated data; and the transceiver 1210 can be further configured to send the mobile terminated data.

[0339] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1210 can also be configured to receive second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the second network element sends retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data comprising mobile terminated data buffered by the first network element for the terminal device, and the second indication information carrying information of the mobile terminated data. The processing unit 1220 is configured to determine data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device based on the second indication information.

[0340] It should be understood that the "unit" in the apparatus 1200 can be implemented by hardware, or by software, or by a combination of hardware and software. For example, the "unit" can refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. For example, the transceiver unit 1210 can be replaced by a transceiver circuit (which can include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit 1220 can be replaced by a processor or a processing circuit.

[0341] FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1300 can be a first network element, a second network element or a third network element, or a chip, a chip system or a processor of the first network element, the second network element or the third network element that implements the above method. The apparatus can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiments, and details can be referred to the description in the above method embodiments.

[0342] The communication apparatus 1300 can include one or more processors 1310, which can also be referred to as processing units, and can implement certain control functions. The processor 1310 can be a general purpose processor or a special purpose processor. For example, it can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication apparatus, execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

[0343] In an alternative design, the processor 1310 can also store instructions and / or data, which can be executed by the processor 1310, so that the communication apparatus 1300 performs the method described in the above method embodiments.

[0344] In another alternative design, the communication device 1300 can include a communication interface 1320 for implementing the receiving and sending functions. For example, the communication interface 1320 can be a transceiver circuit, an interface, an interface circuit, or a transceiver, etc. The transceiver circuit, the interface, the interface circuit, or the transceiver for implementing the receiving and sending functions can be separate or integrated together. The transceiver circuit, the interface, the interface circuit, or the transceiver described above can be used for reading and writing of codes / data, or the transceiver circuit, the interface, the interface circuit, or the transceiver described above can be used for transmission or transfer of signals.

[0345] Optionally, one or more memories 1330 can be included in the communication device 1300, which can store instructions executable by the processor 1310 to cause the communication device 1300 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 1330 can also store data. Optionally, the processor 1310 can also store instructions and / or data. The processor 1310 and the memory 1330 can be separately arranged or integrated together.

[0346] It should be understood that, in a possible design, the steps in the method embodiments provided by the embodiments of the present application can be completed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in the processor or instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as completed by a hardware processor, or completed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module can be located in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, or other mature storage mediums in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines the hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0347] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be an integrated circuit chip with a signal processing capability. In the implementation process, each step of the method embodiments described above can be completed by the integrated logic circuit or the instruction in the software form of the hardware in the processor. The processor described above can be a general processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component. Each method, step and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or executed. The general processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as a hardware code processor for execution, or a combination of hardware and software modules in the code processor for execution. The software module can be located in a random memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register or other mature storage medium in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory, and combines the hardware to complete the steps of the above method.

[0348] It is to be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Among them, the nonvolatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of example, and not limitation, many forms of RAM can be used, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the system and method described herein is intended to include, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0349] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product, which comprises computer program code, when the computer program code is run on a computer, so that the computer executes each step or process performed by the network element / device in any of the above method embodiments.

[0350] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium, which stores program code, when the program code is run on a computer, so that the computer executes each step or process performed by the network element / device in any of the above method embodiments.

[0351] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device, which comprises a processor and an interface for transmitting and / or receiving signals, so that the processor executes each step or process performed by the network element / device in any of the above method embodiments.

[0352] The various device embodiments and method embodiments described above can fully correspond, with corresponding steps performed by corresponding modules or units, for example, the communication unit or communication interface performs the steps of receiving or sending in the method embodiments, and other steps except sending and receiving can be performed by the processing unit or processor.

[0353] In the embodiments of the present application, each term and English abbreviation is an exemplary example given for the convenience of description, and should not constitute any limitation on the present application. The embodiments of the present application do not exclude the possibility of defining other terms capable of achieving the same or similar functions in existing or future protocols.

[0354] The terms "component", "module", "system", and the like used in the present specification are used to represent computer-related entities, hardware, combinations of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and / or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and / or thread of execution, and a component can be localized on one computer and / or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components can communicate via local and / or remote processes that are in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from programs running on one or more computers in a network over a wired and / or a wireless medium). The data packets can carry any or all of the information that implements the various aspects of the disclosure.

[0355] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed with electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. The choice of whether to implement the described functions in hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints of the technical solution. A skilled person can use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0356] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described system, device and unit can be based on the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0357] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other manners. For example, the described device embodiments are merely schematic. The division of the units is merely logical function division. There can be another division manner for the actual implementation, for example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0358] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, i.e., can be located in one place, or can be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment.

[0359] In addition, each functional unit in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit.

[0360] In the above embodiments, the functions of each functional unit can be implemented wholly or partially by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in the form of a computer program product in whole or in part. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions (programs). When the computer program instructions (programs) are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are wholly or partially generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, the computer instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server or data center to another through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. 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 DVD), or semiconductor media (such as solid state disk (SSD)) and the like.

[0361] If the functions are implemented in the form of software function units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application or the parts that essentially contribute to the prior art or the parts of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

[0362] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a first network element for storing and forwarding data or signaling of a terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation, and comprises: sending first indication information to a second network element, the first indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to the first network element when the terminal device moves to a TN, the second network element being used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user; receiving the first notification message sent by the second network element, the first notification message being used to instruct the terminal device to move to the TN; based on the first notification message, the first network element releases resources of the terminal device, the resources being used to support a store-and-forward mode of the terminal device.

2. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a first network element for storing and forwarding data or signaling of a terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation, and comprises: sending first indication information to a second network element, the first indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to a third network element when the terminal device moves to a TN, the second network element being used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user, and the third network element being used to manage a third-party application; when the first network element and the third network element are disconnected, the first network element releases resources of the terminal device, the resources being used to support a store-and-forward mode of the terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first indication information comprises state information of the terminal device, the state information being used to instruct the terminal device to be in the store-and-forward mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The state information of the terminal device comprises at least one of the following: the terminal device being in the store-and-forward mode, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first indication information is a monitoring request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The monitoring request comprises at least one of the following: a monitoring event, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element; wherein the monitoring event is used to monitor the terminal device moving to the TN.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first network element releasing the resources of the terminal device comprises at least one of the following: deleting context information or state information of the terminal device, releasing an address allocated for the terminal device, disconnecting a connection established between the terminal device and the third network element, or disconnecting a connection established between the terminal device and a fourth network element on a satellite; wherein the fourth network element is used to store and forward data or signaling of a terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first notification message comprises at least one of the following: a movement indication of the terminal device, an identifier of the terminal device, or an address of the terminal device; wherein the movement indication is used to instruct the terminal device to currently move to the TN.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The method further comprises: determining whether there is mobile termination data of the terminal device cached; sending the mobile termination data based on the first notification message.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: determining whether there is mobile termination data of the terminal device cached; sending second indication information to a third network element, the second indication information being used to instruct the third network element to send retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data including mobile terminated data of the terminal device buffered by the first network element, the second indication information carrying information of the mobile terminated data, the third network element being used to manage third party applications.

11. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a second network element, the second network element being used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user, and the method comprises: receiving first indication information sent by a first network element, the first indication information being used to instruct the second network element to send a first notification message to the first network element or a third network element when a terminal device moves to a terrestrial communication network (TN), the first network element being used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation, the third network element being used to manage third party applications; based on the first indication message, the second network element sends a first notification message to the first network element or the third network element, the first notification message being used to indicate that the terminal device moves to the TN.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first indication information includes state information of the terminal device, the state information being used to indicate that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The state information of the terminal device includes at least one of the following: that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The method further comprises: updating a context of the terminal device according to the state information of the terminal device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The updating of the context of the terminal device includes: recording that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode, or recording that the terminal device is in a store-and-forward mode and the information of the first network element.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first indication information includes a monitoring request.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The monitoring request includes at least one of the following: a monitoring event, an identifier of the terminal device, or information of the first network element; The monitoring event is used to monitor that the terminal device moves to the TN.

18. The method according to any one of claims 11-17, characterized by, The first notification message includes at least one of the following: a movement indication of the terminal device, an identifier of the terminal device, or an address of the terminal device; The movement indication is used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves into the TN.

19. The method according to any one of claims 11-18, characterized in that, Before sending the first notification message, the method further comprises: sending a first request message to a fifth network element, the first request message being used to request an address of the terminal device, the address of the terminal device being an address allocated to the terminal device by the TN, the fifth network element being used for mobility management of the terminal device; receiving the address of the terminal device sent by the fifth network element.

20. A communication method, the method being applied to a third network element, the third network element being used to manage third party applications, and the method comprising: receive a first notification message sent by a second network element, the first notification message being used to indicate that the terminal device moves to a TN, the first notification message comprising a moving indication of the terminal device and an identity of the terminal device, the moving indication being used to indicate that the terminal device currently moves into the TN, the second network element being used to store subscription data and authentication information of a user; disconnect a connection with a first network element based on the first notification message, wherein a disconnected state between the first network element and the third network element is used to trigger the first network element to release resources of the terminal device, the first network element being used to store and forward data or signaling of the terminal device in a store-and-forward satellite operation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The method further comprises: determining data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device, the data comprising mobile terminated data; sending the mobile terminated data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The determining of the data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device comprises: receiving second indication information sent by the first network element, the second indication information being used to indicate that the third network element sends retransmission data to the terminal device, the retransmission data comprising mobile terminated data buffered by the first network element, the second indication information carrying information of the mobile terminated data; determining the data that needs to be retransmitted to the terminal device based on the second indication information.

23. A communications device, characterized by comprise: a module or unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or a module or unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, or a module or unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 20 to 22.

24. A communications device, characterized by comprise: a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, the computer program being executed by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 20 to 22.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium has stored thereon a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 20 to 22.

26. A computer program product, characterised in that, comprise: a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, or to perform the method according to any one of claims 20 to 22.

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