Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and an apparatus. The method comprises determining that a terminal apparatus has been configured with a first list and / or first waiting duration, the first list comprising information of one or more network apparatuses which are about to cover the terminal apparatus, and the first waiting duration being a duration in which the terminal apparatus waits to be covered by the one or more network apparatuses; and the terminal apparatus sending first indication information to a first network apparatus, the first indication information being used for indicating that the terminal apparatus has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration, and the first network apparatus being a network apparatus which the terminal apparatus currently requests to access. The present method helps the first network apparatus to determine, on the basis of the first indication information, not to configure a list and / or a waiting duration for the terminal apparatus, thus further helping the terminal apparatus to subsequently continue to request to access a network apparatus indicated by the first list and / or first waiting duration, and helping to reduce the probability of data packet loss and the waste of storage resources.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411369572.7, filed on September 27, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0003] To implement a store and forward (SF) technology, a regenerative satellite in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) can also deploy a mobility management entity (MME), and a system architecture including the regenerative satellite deploying the MME can be referred to as a split MME (split MME) architecture.

[0004] In the split MME architecture, if a satellite to which a terminal requests to access does not obtain registration information of the terminal, the satellite can determine one or more satellites that will cover the terminal and can obtain the registration information of the terminal before covering the terminal based on ephemeris information, and configure a list#a for the terminal, the list#a including information of the one or more satellites that will cover the terminal, so that the terminal subsequently accesses the one or more satellites indicated by the list#a, which can improve the success rate of terminal access.

[0005] However, if a certain satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the list#a does not obtain the registration information of the terminal due to some reasons, such as deterioration of a feeder link or lack of storage space, the certain satellite will reconfigure a list#b for the terminal, so that the terminal will subsequently access the one or more satellites indicated by the list#b, and will not continue to access the one or more satellites indicated by the list#a, which causes the terminal data stored by the satellite indicated by the list#a and not covering the terminal to be unable to be sent to the terminal, and results in data packet loss. SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus, which can reduce the probability of data packet loss.

[0007] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal device, a processor, a module, a chip, a chip system, or a software module, etc. In the method, the terminal device determines that a first list and / or a first waiting time length have been configured, the first list comprising information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting time length being a time length for the terminal device to wait for being covered by the one or more network devices; and the terminal device sends first indication information to a first network device, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first list, and / or being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first waiting time length.

[0008] The first network device is a network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device. In addition, the first network device is one of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, and / or the first network device is a network device corresponding to / indicated by the first waiting time length.

[0009] It can be seen that, by the method, when the terminal device determines that the first list and / or the first waiting time length have been configured, the terminal device can indicate, by the first indication information, to the first network device currently requested to be accessed that the terminal device has been configured the first list and / or the first waiting time length, so as to facilitate the first network device to determine not to reconfigure the terminal device with a list and / or a waiting time length used to indicate one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and further facilitate the terminal device to be able to continue to request to access the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length in the future, and facilitate the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length to be able to send stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, so as to reduce the probability of data packet loss.

[0010] In addition, the terminal device can continue to request to access the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length in the future, so as to reduce the resource waste caused by the terminal device not to access the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length in the future, and the storage of the registration information of the terminal device and the data of the terminal device by the network device.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device. The first indication information can indicate that the terminal device has been configured one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device by indicating that the terminal device has been configured the first list and / or the first waiting time length.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the information of each network device in the one or more network devices can be an identifier of a satellite corresponding to the network device, or can be a cell identifier of a cell where the network device is located, or can be an identifier of the network device.

[0013] In an alternative implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, and the first indication information comprises the first list. This way, the first indication information explicitly indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0014] In another alternative implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, and the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list comprises information of network devices other than the first network device. This way, the first indication information implicitly indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0015] In yet another alternative implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, and the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the Nth terminal device requesting to access the network, where N is an integer greater than 1. This way, the first network device can learn from the first indication information that the terminal device is not the first terminal device requesting to access the network, and thus can infer that the terminal device has been configured with the first list in a previous request to access the network.

[0016] In yet another alternative implementation, the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the Nth terminal device requesting to access the network, and thus implicitly indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0017] In an alternative implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration, and the first indication information comprises the first waiting duration. This way, the first indication information explicitly indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration.

[0018] It can be seen that the first indication information can explicitly or implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration in various forms, and thus can improve the flexibility of indication.

[0019] In an alternative implementation, the first indication information is carried in an access request, and the access request is used to request to establish a communication connection with the first network device. This way, the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, when the first indication information is carried in the access request, the terminal device further comprises the following steps: receiving an access response from the first network device, the access response indicating that the communication connection establishment between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response does not carry the second list and / or the second waiting time, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the second waiting time being a time period for the terminal device to wait for being covered by the one or more network devices; determining a second network device to be requested for access, the second network device being included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to / indicated by the first waiting time.

[0021] It can be seen that, when the first indication information is carried in the access request, if the access response received indicates that the communication connection establishment between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response does not carry the second list and / or the second waiting time, the terminal device still determines the network device to be requested for access from the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time. That is, when the communication connection establishment with the first network device fails, the terminal device still requests access to the network device from the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time, which can enable the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time to send the data of the terminal device stored to the terminal device, reduce the probability of data packet loss, and reduce the waste of storage resources.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, comprising: sending the first indication information to the first network device when a first condition is met. The first condition comprises: none of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time fails to establish the communication connection; or the first condition comprises: none of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time except the first network device fails to establish the communication connection.

[0023] The failure of the terminal device to establish a communication connection with all network devices in the first list and / or indicated by the first waiting time length can be that the terminal device successfully establishes a communication connection with part or all of the network devices in the first list and / or indicated by the first waiting time length, or that the terminal device has not requested the establishment of a communication connection with part of the network devices in the first list and / or indicated by the first waiting time length. Or the failure of the terminal device to establish a communication connection with all network devices in the first list and / or indicated by the first waiting time length except the first network device can be that the terminal device successfully establishes a communication connection with part or all of the network devices in the first list and / or indicated by the first waiting time length except the first network device, or that the terminal device has not requested the establishment of a communication connection with part of the network devices in the first list and / or indicated by the first waiting time length except the first network device.

[0024] In an optional implementation, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device when the first condition is not met. This manner is advantageous for the first network device to configure the second list for the terminal device when the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, and is further advantageous for the terminal device to request access to the network devices indicated by the second list when the establishment of a communication connection with all network devices indicated by the first list fails.

[0025] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further deletes the first list and / or the first waiting time length when the first condition is not met. When the first condition is not met, it indicates that the terminal device has failed to establish a communication connection with all network devices indicated by the first list, or has failed to establish a communication connection with all network devices indicated by the first list except the first network device, and then the terminal device deletes the first list and / or the first waiting time length and subsequently selects a new network device for access.

[0026] In another optional implementation, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, including: sending the first indication information to the first network device through a first cell under the first network device when a second condition is met. The second condition includes: receiving fourth indication information from the first network device, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on or access.

[0027] The fourth indication information is used for indicating that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, and / or is used for indicating that the first cell under the first network device allows the terminal device of the store-and-forward type to camp on or access, which indicates that the terminal device can access the first cell under the first network device. Therefore, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, so that the first network device does not configure the terminal device with the list of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device and / or the waiting time length in the case where the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, thereby reducing the probability of data packet loss and waste of storage resources.

[0028] In another optional implementation, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device in the case where the second condition is not met. The second condition not being met indicates that the first cell under the first network device may not work in the store-and-forward mode, or indicates that the terminal device is not allowed to access the first cell under the first network device. Therefore, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device, so as to save signaling overhead.

[0029] In another optional implementation, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell under the first network device, including: sending the first indication information to the first network device in the case where the first condition and the second condition are both met. The first condition includes: no failure in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list; or the first condition includes: no failure in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list except the first network device. The second condition includes: receiving the fourth indication information from the first network device, the fourth indication information being used for indicating that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, or being used for indicating that the first cell under the first network device allows the terminal device of the store-and-forward type to camp on or access.

[0030] In an optional implementation, the first list does not include information of one or more third network devices, and the one or more third network devices are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device. This manner is beneficial to the terminal device not requesting to access the network device that has failed in establishing a communication connection, improves the probability of successful access of the terminal device, and reduces signaling overhead.

[0031] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further can perform the following steps: receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used for indicating a third list, and the third list including information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device being a third network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device; determining a fifth network device to be requested to access, the fifth network device being included in the fourth network device.

[0032] It can be seen that the third list received by the terminal device can include information of the fourth network device that has failed to establish a communication connection with the terminal device and has obtained the registration information of the terminal device, thereby facilitating the terminal device to subsequently request access to the fourth network device, and further facilitating the fourth network device to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, which can improve the probability of successful access of the terminal device and reduce the probability of data packet loss.

[0033] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network device. The first network device can be a network device, or a processor, a module, a chip, or a chip system, etc. that can implement the method. In the method, the first network device receives first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that a terminal device has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting time length, the first list including information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting time length being a time length for the terminal device to wait to be covered by the one or more network devices; and the first network device determines not to configure the terminal device with a second list and / or a second waiting time length based on the first indication information, the second list including information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the second waiting time length being a time length for the terminal device to wait to be covered by the one or more network devices.

[0034] It can be seen that, through the method, the first network device can know, through the received first indication information, that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the second waiting time length, thereby determining not to configure the terminal device with the second list and / or the second waiting time length. The method facilitates the terminal device to still subsequently request access to a network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length, and further facilitates the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length to send data of the terminal device to the terminal device, which can reduce the probability of data packet loss.

[0035] In addition, the terminal device can continue to request access to the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length, which can reduce resource waste caused by the terminal device not subsequently accessing the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length, and the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length storing the registration information of the terminal device and the data of the terminal device.

[0036] In an optional embodiment, the first network device determines not to configure the terminal device with the second list and / or the second waiting time length based on the first indication information, including: in a case where the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, determining not to configure the terminal device with the second list and / or the second waiting time length based on the first indication information.

[0037] In an alternative implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured to be covered by one or more network devices. The first indication information can be used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured to be covered by one or more network devices by indicating that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0038] In an alternative implementation, the first indication information is carried in an access request of the terminal device, and the access request is used to request establishment of a communication connection with the first network device. This way can reduce signaling overhead.

[0039] In an alternative implementation, when the first indication information is carried in the access request of the terminal device, the first network device can further send an access response to the terminal device, and the access response is used to indicate that establishment of the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response does not carry the second list and / or the second waiting duration.

[0040] It can be seen that, when the first indication information is carried in the access request of the terminal device, the first network device cannot determine whether the terminal device is legitimate because the first network device does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and thus the first network device indicates to the terminal device that establishment of the communication connection with the first network device fails through the access response to reject the terminal device from accessing. In addition, the access response does not carry the second list and / or the second waiting duration, which is beneficial to the terminal device to still request access to the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the future, can reduce the probability of data packet loss, and reduce the waste of storage resources.

[0041] In an alternative implementation, the information of each network device of the one or more network devices can be an identifier of a satellite corresponding to the network device, or can be a cell identifier of a cell to which the network device belongs, or can be an identifier of the network device.

[0042] In an alternative implementation, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, the first indication information includes the first list. This way can make the first indication information explicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0043] In another alternative implementation, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list includes information of network devices other than the first network device. This way can make the first indication information implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0044] In another alternative implementation, the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the Nth terminal device requesting to access the network, where N is an integer greater than 1, when the terminal device has been configured with the first list. In this way, the first network device can learn from the first indication information that the terminal device is not the first terminal device requesting to access the network, and thus can infer that the terminal device has been configured with the first list in the previous request for accessing the network.

[0045] In another alternative implementation, the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the Nth terminal device requesting to access the network, where N is an integer greater than 1, when the terminal device has been configured with the first list. In this way, the first network device can learn from the first indication information that the terminal device is not the first terminal device requesting to access the network, and thus can infer that the terminal device has been configured with the first list in the previous request for accessing the network.

[0046] In an alternative implementation, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting time, the first indication information comprises the first waiting time. In this way, the first indication information can explicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting time.

[0047] It can be seen that the first indication information can explicitly or implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, and thus the flexibility of indication can be improved.

[0048] In an alternative implementation, the first network device can further release information of the terminal device, where the information of the terminal device is information sent by the terminal device to the first network device, such as an identifier of the terminal device. In this way, the first network device can not request to obtain the registration information of the terminal device when the first network device is subsequently connected to the core network via the gateway station, and thus the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0049] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal device, a processor, a module, a chip, a chip system, or a software module, etc. In the method, the terminal device receives a second list and / or a second waiting time from a first network device, the second list comprises information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, the second waiting time is a time length for the terminal device to wait for being covered by the one or more network devices, and the first network device is a network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device; and the terminal device determines a second network device to be requested to be accessed in a case that the terminal device has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting time, the second network device is included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device is a network device corresponding to the first waiting time. The first list comprises information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting time is a time length for the terminal device to wait for being covered by the one or more network devices.

[0050] It can be seen that, by the method, the terminal device determines the second network device to be accessed from the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length, even if the first network device reconfigured the second list and / or the second waiting time length for currently requesting access, in the case that the terminal device has been configured the first list and / or the first waiting time length, which facilitates the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and reduces the probability of data packet loss.

[0051] In addition, the terminal device can continue to request access to the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length, which reduces the resource waste caused by the terminal device not accessing the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time length, and storing the registration information of the terminal device and the data of the terminal device.

[0052] In an optional implementation, the information of each network device of the one or more network devices can be an identifier of a satellite corresponding to the network device, or can be a cell identifier of a cell to which the network device belongs, or can be an identifier of the network device.

[0053] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can further delete the second list and / or the second waiting time length to release the storage resource.

[0054] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can further send third indication information to the first network device, the third indication information being used to instruct the first network device to release the information of the terminal device, and the information of the terminal device being the information sent by the terminal device to the first network device, such as an identifier of the terminal device. This manner facilitates the first network device to no longer request to obtain the registration information of the terminal device when the first network device is subsequently connected to the core network through the gateway station, and reduces the signaling overhead.

[0055] In an optional implementation, the third indication information is further used to instruct that the terminal device has been configured the first list and / or the first waiting time length, which enables the first network device to know that the terminal device has been configured the first list and / or the first waiting time length, and thus to infer that the terminal device can not request access to the network device indicated by the second list and / or the second waiting time length.

[0056] In an optional implementation, when the third indication information is used to instruct that the terminal device has been configured the first list, the third indication information includes the first list. This manner enables the third indication information to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first list.

[0057] In another alternative implementation, when the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, the third indication information is specifically used to indicate information of the other network devices in addition to the first network device in the first list. In this way, the third indication information can implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0058] In another alternative implementation, when the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, the third indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the terminal device that requests to access the network for the Nth time, where N is an integer greater than 1. In this way, the first network device can learn from the third indication information that the terminal device is not the terminal device that accesses the network for the first time, and thus can infer that the terminal device has been configured with the first list in the previous access process.

[0059] In another alternative implementation, the third indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the terminal device that requests to access the network for the Nth time, and thus implicitly indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0060] In an alternative implementation, when the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration, the third indication information includes the first waiting duration. In this way, the third indication information can explicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration.

[0061] It can be seen that the third indication information can explicitly or implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list in various forms, and thus can improve the flexibility of indication.

[0062] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal device, or a processor, a module, a chip, or a chip system or a software module that can implement the method. In the method, the terminal device receives a first list, the first list includes information of one or more sixth network devices, and the first list does not include information of one or more third network devices. The one or more sixth network devices are network devices that have obtained or will obtain registration information of the terminal device, and the one or more third network devices are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device.

[0063] It can be seen that, by the method, the first list configured by the terminal device includes information of one or more sixth network devices that have obtained or will obtain registration information of the terminal device, and does not include information of one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device. In this way, the terminal device can request to access the one or more sixth network devices that have obtained or will obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and thus the probability of successful access of the terminal device can be improved.

[0064] In an alternative implementation, the terminal device further performs the following step: receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a third list, the third list comprising information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device being a third network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device; and determining a fifth network device to be requested to access, the fifth network device being included in the fourth network device.

[0065] It can be seen that the third list to which the terminal device is reconfigured comprises information of the fourth network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device, so that the terminal device can request the fourth network device to access, and the probability of successful access of the terminal device can be improved.

[0066] In a fifth aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal device, and can also be a processor, a module, a chip, or a chip system or a software module, etc. that can implement the method. In the method, the terminal device determines whether fifth indication information exists in a system broadcast message from a first cell under a first network device; and the terminal device determines whether to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device in the case that the fifth indication information does not exist. The fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or is used to indicate whether the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on.

[0067] It can be seen that, by the method, the terminal device can determine whether to camp on a cell under the first network device based on non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device in the case that the fifth indication information does not exist in a system broadcast message from the first cell under the first network device.

[0068] In an alternative implementation, the terminal device determines whether to allow to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device, comprising: determining not to allow to camp on the first cell under the first network device in the case that the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device indicates barring; and determining to allow to camp on the first cell under the first network device in the case that the non-terrestrial network cell barring information indicates non-barring.

[0069] In an alternative implementation, the non-terrestrial network cell barring information of the first cell under the first network device is carried in a system broadcast message of the first cell.

[0070] In a sixth aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus has some or all of the functions of the terminal apparatus in the first aspect, or the third aspect, or the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or has some or all of the functions of the first network apparatus in the second aspect. For example, the communication apparatus can have the functions of some or all of the embodiments of the terminal apparatus in the first aspect, or have the functions of any one of the embodiments of the present application independently implemented. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0071] In a possible design, the communication apparatus can include a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform the corresponding functions in the above methods. The communication unit is configured to support the communication between the communication apparatus and another communication apparatus. The communication apparatus can further include a storage unit configured to be coupled with the processing unit and the communication unit, and store the necessary program instructions and data of the communication apparatus.

[0072] In an embodiment, the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the apparatus is applied to a terminal apparatus.

[0073] The processing unit is configured to determine a first list and / or a first waiting time length, the first list including information about one or more network apparatuses that will cover the terminal apparatus, and the first waiting time length being a time length during which the terminal apparatus waits to be covered by the one or more network apparatuses.

[0074] The communication unit is configured to send first indication information to a first network apparatus, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal apparatus has been configured with the first list, and / or being used to indicate that the terminal apparatus has been configured with the first waiting time length, the first network apparatus being a network apparatus to which the terminal apparatus currently requests to access.

[0075] In addition, in this aspect, other optional embodiments of the communication apparatus can refer to the related content of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0076] In another embodiment, the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the apparatus is applied to a first network apparatus.

[0077] The communication unit is configured to receive first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that a terminal apparatus has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting time length, the first list including information about one or more network apparatuses that will cover the terminal apparatus, and the first waiting time length being a time length during which the terminal apparatus waits to be covered by the one or more network apparatuses.

[0078] determine, based on the first indication information, not to configure the terminal device with a second list and / or a second waiting duration, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices.

[0079] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the second aspect described above, and details are not described here.

[0080] In yet another implementation, the communication device comprises a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to a terminal device, and the processing unit is configured to process a signal.

[0081] receive, by the communication unit, a second list and / or a second waiting duration from a first network device, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices, and the first network device being a network device that the terminal device currently requests to access;

[0082] determine, by the processing unit, in response to receiving the second list and / or the second waiting duration, a second network device to be requested to access, in a case that a first list and / or a first waiting duration have been configured, the second network device being included in one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration;

[0083] wherein the first list comprises information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices.

[0084] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the third aspect described above, and details are not described here.

[0085] In yet another implementation, the communication device comprises a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to a terminal device, and the processing unit is configured to process a signal.

[0086] receive, by the communication unit, a first list, the first list comprising information of one or more sixth network devices, and the first list not comprising information of one or more third network devices;

[0087] The one or more sixth network devices are network devices that have obtained or are about to obtain registration information of the terminal device, and the one or more third network devices are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device.

[0088] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the fourth aspect described above, and details are not described here.

[0089] In another implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, and the device is applied to a terminal device, and the communication unit is configured to receive / send signals.

[0090] The processing unit is configured to determine whether fifth indication information exists in a system broadcast message from a first cell under a first network device.

[0091] The processing unit is further configured to, in the absence of the fifth indication information, determine whether to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on non-terrestrial network cell prohibition information from the first network device.

[0092] The fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or is used to indicate whether the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on.

[0093] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the fifth aspect described above, and details are not described here.

[0094] For example, the communication unit can be a transceiver or a communication interface, the storage unit can be a memory, and the processing unit can be a processor.

[0095] In an implementation, the communication device includes a processor and a transceiver, and the device is applied to a terminal device.

[0096] The processor is configured to determine that a first list and / or a first waiting time length have been configured, the first list including information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting time length being a time length for the terminal device to wait to be covered by one or more network devices.

[0097] The transceiver is configured to send first indication information to a first network device, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first list, and / or being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first waiting time length, the first network device being a network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device.

[0098] In addition, in the aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the first aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0099] In another implementation, the communication device includes a processor and a transceiver, and the device is applied to a first network device;

[0100] The transceiver is configured to receive first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that a terminal device has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting duration, the first list including information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait to be covered by one or more network devices.

[0101] The processor is configured to, in a case where registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, determine not to configure the terminal device with a second list and / or a second waiting duration based on the first indication information, the second list including information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait to be covered by one or more network devices.

[0102] In addition, in the aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the second aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0103] In yet another implementation, the communication device includes a processor and a transceiver, and the device is applied to a terminal device;

[0104] The transceiver is configured to receive a second list and / or a second waiting duration from a first network device, the second list including information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait to be covered by one or more network devices, the first network device being a network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device.

[0105] The processor is configured to, in response to receiving the second list and / or the second waiting duration, determine a second network device to be requested to be accessed in a case where the terminal device has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting duration, the second network device being included in one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration.

[0106] The first list includes information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait to be covered by one or more network devices.

[0107] In addition, other optional implementation of the communication device in this aspect can refer to the related content of the third aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0108] In another implementation, the communication device comprises a processor and a transceiver, and the device is applied to a terminal device, and the processor is configured to process signals;

[0109] The transceiver is configured to receive a first list, and the first list comprises information of one or more sixth network devices, and the first list does not comprise information of one or more third network devices.

[0110] The one or more sixth network devices are network devices that have obtained or will obtain registration information of the terminal device, and the one or more third network devices are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device.

[0111] In addition, other optional implementation of the communication device in this aspect can refer to the related content of the fourth aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0112] In another implementation, the communication device comprises a processor and a transceiver, and the device is applied to a terminal device, and the transceiver is configured to receive / send signals.

[0113] The processor is configured to determine whether fifth indication information exists in a system broadcast message from a first cell under a first network device.

[0114] The processor is further configured to, in the absence of the fifth indication information, determine whether to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on non-terrestrial network cell prohibition information from the first cell under the first network device.

[0115] The fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or is used to indicate whether the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on.

[0116] In addition, other optional implementation of the communication device in this aspect can refer to the related content of the fifth aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0117] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. The processing unit can also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit; and the communication unit can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or related circuit on the chip or chip system, etc.

[0118] In implementation process, the processor can be configured to perform, for example but not limited to, baseband related processing, and the transceiver can be configured to perform, for example but not limited to, radio frequency transceiving. The above devices can be respectively arranged on chips independent of each other, or at least partially or entirely arranged on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. The analog baseband processor can be integrated on the same chip as the transceiver, and the digital baseband processor can be arranged on a separate chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, the digital baseband processor can be integrated on the same chip as various application processors (such as but not limited to, graphic processors, multimedia processors, etc.). Such a chip can be referred to as a system on a chip (SoC). Whether to arrange the devices independently on different chips or to integrate them on one or more chips often depends on the needs of product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the above devices.

[0119] In the seventh aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a processor configured to perform the above various methods. In performing these methods, the processes of transmitting and receiving the above information in the above methods can be understood as the processes of outputting the above information by the processor and the processes of receiving the inputted above information by the processor. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver, so as to be transmitted by the transceiver. After being outputted by the processor, the above information can still need to be processed, and then reaches the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives the inputted above information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it to the processor. Furthermore, after being received by the transceiver, the above information can still need to be processed, and then be inputted to the processor.

[0120] For the transmission and reception operations of the processor, if there is no special description, or if it does not contradict the actual role or inherent logic in the related description, it can be more generally understood as the output and input operations of the processor, rather than the transmission and reception operations directly performed by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna.

[0121] In implementation process, the processor can be a processor specially configured to perform these methods, or a processor configured to execute computer instructions in a memory to perform these methods, such as a general processor. The above memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), which can be integrated on the same chip as the processor, or arranged on different chips respectively. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of the memory and the arrangement manner of the memory and the processor.

[0122] In an eighth aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, which comprises a terminal device and a network device. In another possible design of the system, the system can further comprise other devices / functions network elements which interact with at least one of the terminal device and the network device.

[0123] In a ninth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a computer readable storage medium, which stores instructions, when the instructions are run on a communication device, implement the method in any of the first aspect to the fifth aspect.

[0124] In a tenth aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product comprising instructions, when the instructions are run on a communication device, implement the method in any of the first aspect to the fifth aspect.

[0125] In an eleventh aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a chip system, which comprises a processor and an interface. The interface is configured to obtain a program or instructions. The processor is configured to invoke the program or instructions to implement or support a terminal device to implement the functions in the first aspect, or the third aspect, or the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or implement or support a first network device to implement the functions in the second aspect. For example, the processor is configured to determine or process at least one of the data and the information in the above method. In a possible design, the chip system further comprises a memory. The memory is configured to store necessary program instructions and data. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can comprise a chip and other discrete devices.

[0126] In a twelfth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication device, which comprises a processor. The processor is configured to execute computer programs or executable instructions stored in a memory. When the computer programs or executable instructions are executed, the device performs the method in the first aspect to the fifth aspect and any possible implementation.

[0127] In a possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated together.

[0128] In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device.

[0129] The advantages of the sixth aspect to the twelfth aspect can refer to the advantages of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, which are not repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0130] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture;

[0131] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an application framework;

[0132] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system architecture;

[0133] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an NTN-based RAN system architecture;

[0134] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another NTN-based RAN system architecture;

[0135] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of yet another NTN-based RAN system architecture;

[0136] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of yet another NTN-based RAN system architecture;

[0137] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of SF;

[0138] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a process of terminal onboarding;

[0139] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of interactions of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0140] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of interactions of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0141] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of interactions of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0142] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of interactions of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0143] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of interactions of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0144] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a process of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0145] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of interactions of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0146] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0147] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a structure of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0148] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0149] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), new radio (NR), the 3rd generation partner project (3GPP) service-based architecture (SBA), and the like, fifth generation (5G) communication system or sixth generation (6G) communication system evolved after 5G, and the like.

[0150] Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the system architecture includes a terminal device, an access network device, and a core network device. The access network device can be deployed on a satellite, the access network device is configured to connect the terminal device to a wireless network, and the core network device is configured to manage the terminal device and provide a gateway for communication with a data network (DN).

[0151] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can include various handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem with wireless communication functions. The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal. The terminal device can also refer to a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a user agent, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a tablet computer, a wireless modem, a handset, a laptop computer, a point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a communication device carried on an unmanned aerial vehicle, a wearable device, a drone, a robot, a terminal in device-to-device (D2D), a terminal in vehicle-to-everything (V2X), a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, or a terminal device in future communication network, etc., which are not limited in the present application.

[0152] In the embodiments of the present application, the access network device refers to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) for accessing a terminal to a wireless network, which can also be referred to as a base station. Currently, some examples of the RAN node are: a continued evolution node B (gNB), a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (for example, a home evolved node B or a home node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wifi) access point (AP), etc. In addition, in one network structure, the access network device can include a central unit (CU) node, or a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including the CU node and the DU node. Among them, the RAN device including the CU node and the DU node splits the protocol layer of the gNB in the NR system, and the functions of part of the protocol layer are placed in the CU for centralized control, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layer are distributed in the DU, and the CU controls the DU centrally.

[0153] Further, the CU can also be divided into centralized unit CU-control plane (CP) and centralized unit CU-user plane (UP). Among them, the CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function, mainly including the implementation of radio resource control (RRC), and the control plane corresponding packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), that is, PDCP-C. PDCP-C is mainly responsible for the encryption and decryption of control plane data, integrity protection, data transmission, etc. The CU-UP is responsible for the user plane function, mainly including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), and the user plane corresponding PDCP, that is, PDCP-U. Among them, SDAP is mainly responsible for processing the data of the core network and mapping the flow to the bearer. PDCP-U is mainly responsible for the encryption and decryption of the data plane, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, data transmission, etc. Among them, the CU-CP and the CU-UP are connected through the E1 interface. The CU-CP is connected with the DU through the control plane F1, that is, through F1-C and the DU. The CU-UP is connected with the DU through the user plane F1 interface, that is, through F1-U and the DU. Of course, there is also a possible implementation that PDCP-C is also in the CU-UP.

[0154] In an embodiment of the present application, the core network device refers to a device in a core network (CN) that provides service support for a terminal. Currently, some examples of core network devices are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, session management function (SMF) entity, user plane function (UPF) entity, and the like, which are not listed one by one here. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for access management and mobility management of the terminal; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as session establishment of a user; and the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting external networks. It should be noted that the entity in the present application can also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity, for example, the AMF entity can also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity, and for example, the SMF entity can also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity. In LTE, the access and mobility management function (MME) entity.

[0155] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an application framework. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system includes a RAN intelligent controller (RIC). For example, the RIC is responsible for network management and control. The RIC includes near-real-time RICs (near-RT RICs) and non-real-time RICs (non-RT RICs). Non-real-time RICs primarily process non-real-time information, such as data that is not sensitive to latency, with latency in the order of seconds. Real-time RICs primarily process near-real-time information, such as data that is relatively sensitive to latency, with latency in the order of tens of milliseconds.

[0156] Near real-time RICs can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. Optionally, near real-time RICs can deliver data to RAN nodes and / or terminals.

[0157] The near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be set up as separate network elements. Optionally, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be part of other devices. For example, the near real-time RIC can be set in the RAN node (e.g., in CU, DU), while the non-real-time RIC can be set in operations, administration and maintenance (OAM), cloud servers, core network devices, or other network devices.

[0158] The embodiments of this application can also be applied to open radio access network (O-RAN) system architectures. For example, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system architecture. As shown in Figure 3, this system architecture includes a RIC and an eNB. The RIC is an O-RAN intelligent controller used to collect network information and perform necessary optimization operations, communicating with the eNB via an E2 interface. The eNB is an eNB that supports O-RAN functions.

[0159] The embodiments disclosed in this application will be presented to illustrate various aspects, embodiments, or features of this application in relation to systems including multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that individual systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, combinations of these approaches may also be used.

[0160] To facilitate understanding of the solutions in the embodiments of this application, the terms that may be involved in the embodiments of this application are explained below.

[0161] 1. A RAN system architecture based on non-terrestrial network (NTN).

[0162] NTN, represented by satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude platforms, etc., has always been a hot topic in the research field. Non-terrestrial network devices in NTN systems can be used to communicate with one or more terminal devices. Non-terrestrial network devices can include satellites, high-altitude platforms (HAPs), unmanned aerial vehicles, hot air balloons, low-orbit satellites, medium-orbit satellites, high-orbit satellites, etc., without limitation.

[0163] The satellite mentioned in the embodiments of the present application represents a collection of satellites and other network devices related to satellite communication, so in the embodiments of the present application, the two descriptions of "satellite" and "satellite network device" are equivalent. The network devices involved in the embodiments of the present application include the above-mentioned non-terrestrial network devices, and can also include access network devices, core network devices, and data network devices, etc. It should be understood that the non-terrestrial network device in NTN refers to a network device deployed in the air. In some feasible examples, the non-terrestrial network device can be deployed separately from the access network device, or the non-terrestrial network device can be deployed as an access network device. The access network device can be deployed in the air, or can be deployed on land (for example, indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted, etc.), or can be deployed on water. The core network device and the data network device, etc. can be deployed on land or water. Network devices not deployed in the air can be collectively referred to as ground network devices, and the non-terrestrial network device is a high-speed mobile network device relative to the ground network device. The ground network device is a stationary or slow-moving network device relative to the non-terrestrial network device.

[0164] In the following RAN system architecture, satellites, NTN gateways, and 5G base stations can all be referred to as part of wireless access network devices. The following takes the 5G mobile communication system as an example to describe several common RAN system architectures based on NTN:

[0165] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an NTN-based RAN system architecture. As shown in Fig. 4, the RAN system architecture carries a transparent satellite, and the system architecture also includes a terminal device, an NTN gateway, a 5G base station (gNB), a 5G core network, and a data network (DN). Among them, the link between the NTN gateway and the satellite is called a feeder link, the link between the satellite and the terminal device is called a service link, N6 represents an interface between a user plane function (UPF) of the 5G core network and the DN, NG represents an interface between the gNB and the 5G core network, a new radio (NR)-Uu interface represents an interface between the terminal device and the gNB, and the satellite and the NTN gateway form a remote radio unit.

[0166] In the system architecture shown in Fig. 4, the satellite functions to realize frequency conversion and wireless frequency amplification, and it is equivalent to an analog radio frequency repeater. Therefore, from the feeder link to the service link, the satellite forwards the NR-Uu interface signal, which is a signal between the terminal device and the gNB. Conversely, from the service link to the feeder link, the satellite forwards the NR-Uu interface signal to the gNB through the NTN gateway. That is, the NTN gateway is used for communication between the satellite and the 5G base station, is a transport network layer node, and supports all necessary functions for forwarding the NR-Uu interface signal. In addition, different satellites can be connected to the same ground 5G base station through the NTN gateway.

[0167] Fig. 5 is another schematic diagram of an NTN-based RAN system architecture. As shown in Fig. 5, the system architecture includes a terminal device, a satellite, an NTN gateway, a 5G core network, and a data network (DN). Among them, the 5G base station is deployed on the satellite, so the satellite can also be called a satellite base station, or a regenerative satellite. The service link between the terminal device and the satellite transmits the NR-Uu interface signal, the feeder link between the NTN gateway and the satellite transmits a satellite radio interface (SRI) signal, and the SRI signal is a signal between the NTN gateway and the satellite. The NG interface signal is transmitted from the satellite base station to the 5G core network, and is transmitted from the satellite base station to the 5G core network through the NTN gateway.

[0168] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another NTN-based RAN system architecture. As shown in FIG. 6, compared with the system architecture shown in FIG. 5, the difference between the system architecture of FIG. 6 and the system architecture of FIG. 5 is that there is an inter-satellite link (ISL) between satellites in the system architecture of FIG. 6. A terminal device served by one satellite base station can access the 5G core network through the ISL, and different satellite base stations can be connected to the same ground 5G core network.

[0169] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another NTN-based RAN system architecture. As shown in FIG. 7, in the system architecture, the centralized unit (CU) and the distributed unit (DU) of the gNB are separated, and the distributed unit (DU) of the 5G base station (gNB-DU) is deployed on the satellite, and the DUs deployed on different satellites can be connected to the same ground CU. The service link between the terminal device and the satellite transmits NR-Uu interface signals, and the feeder link between the NTN gateway and the satellite transmits SRI signals.

[0170] The NTN-based RAN system architecture further includes another system architecture, which includes a satellite with integrated access and backhaul (IAB) function, and the satellite is used as an IAB node. In addition, in the system architecture, a mobile terminal (MT) module is deployed on the satellite in addition to the DU, and the backhaul is performed using the air interface between the MT and the ground base station, and a separate microwave backhaul link between the satellite and the NTN gateway is not needed.

[0171] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to the system architectures shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, which include regenerative satellites.

[0172] When the NTN in the embodiments of the present application is applied to an evolved 6G mobile communication system, the NTN-based RAN system architecture is similar to the system architectures shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7. The difference is that when the NTN is applied to the evolved 6G mobile communication system, in the NTN-based RAN system architecture, the base station communicating with the terminal device is a 6G base station, the CN communicating with the base station is a 6G CN, and the interface in the system is a 6G interface.

[0173] 2. store and forward (S&F or SF).

[0174] The Internet of Things (IoT) NTN is an evolution based on LTE, the base station is an eNB, and the core network element includes an MME. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application are applied to an IOT NTN evolved based on other systems, and the access network device and the core network element change accordingly. For example, when the IOT NTN is evolved based on NR, the base station is a gNB, and the core network element includes an AMF.

[0175] In the protocol R19, the IoT NTN will study SF based on the regenerative satellite architecture. The requirements of S&F are considered in view of some small satellite companies, which may have a small number of satellites and a small number of ground gateway stations, and cannot be connected with the ground gateway station (NTN gateway) at all times. When the satellite covers the terminal, it cannot be connected with the gateway, and thus cannot communicate with the core network. When the satellite can cover the gateway and be connected with the core network, there is no terminal below. In this scenario, normal real-time services cannot be completed, but for some non-real-time IoT services (such as sensor data reporting), communication between the satellite and the terminal can be performed when the satellite covers the terminal, and communication between the satellite and the core network can be performed when the satellite covers the gateway, so that data transmission is performed in a relay manner. This requires the satellite to have certain storage and processing capabilities to cache data from the terminal or the core network and then forward the data at a subsequent time, so that the satellite in this scenario is a regenerative satellite, i.e., an eNB satellite. Therefore, the SF scenario is applicable to the system architecture described in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0176] For example, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an SF scenario. As shown in FIG. 8, the satellite 1 is connected with the NTN gateway at t1, can communicate with the core network, and does not cover the terminal, so the satellite 1 first communicates with the core network and stores the communication data between the satellite 1 and the core network. The satellite 1 covers the terminal at t2, but is not connected with the NTN gateway and cannot communicate with the core network, so the satellite 1 can send the stored communication data between the satellite 1 and the core network at t1 to the terminal and can communicate with the terminal and store the communication data between the satellite 1 and the terminal. The satellite 1 is connected with the NTN gateway at t3, but does not cover the terminal, so the satellite 1 can send the stored communication data between the satellite 1 and the terminal at t2 to the core network, and can communicate with the core network and store the communication data between the satellite 1 and the core network, so as to send the communication data between the satellite 1 and the core network at t3 to the terminal in subsequent communication with the terminal.

[0177] For SF scenario, the regenerative satellite in NTN can also deploy MME, the system architecture of deploying MME on regenerative satellite can be called split MME architecture, or called split MME on-board architecture. In the split MME architecture, part of MME is on satellite, and the other part of MME, as well as all other core network elements (such as: serving gate way (SGW), home subscriber server (HSS), etc.) are on ground. The MME on satellite and the MME on ground have no functional division, and can be understood as the same MME. That is, the MME on satellite also has all the functions of MME. When the satellite is in communication with the ground feeder link, the MME on satellite and the MME on ground can be understood as the same MME. When the satellite is not in communication with the ground feeder link, the MME on satellite can independently process non-access stratum (NAS) messages (such as messages between the terminal and the MME), but cannot communicate with the MME on ground and other core network elements.

[0178] For example, FIG. 9 is a flowchart of terminal access. Specifically, FIG. 9 is a flowchart of terminal access for split MME architecture. As shown in FIG. 9, at T1, satellite 1 covers the terminal, and the terminal sends an access request NAS message to MME 1 deployed on satellite 1 through eNB 1 deployed on satellite 1, the message is attach request, the attach request is used to request to establish a communication connection with satellite 1, and the attach request includes related information of the terminal, such as including the identity of the terminal. After receiving the attach request, MME 1 does not know whether the terminal is legal because the HSS of the terminal is on ground, so it replies to attach reject to refuse the terminal to access. Optionally, satellite 1 carries monitoring list and / or wait timer in the attach reject. The monitoring list indicates one or more satellites that will cover the terminal subsequently, and the monitoring list includes satellite identity (satellite ID), or includes the identity of the base station deployed on the satellite (such as eNB ID), or includes the cell identity of the cell where the satellite is located. The wait timer is the waiting time for the satellite to be covered by the terminal to arrive, such as the waiting time required for satellite 2 to arrive at T4.

[0179] At T2, satellite 1 covers the ground gateway station and establishes a connection with the ground core network. Thus, satellite 1 transfers the information sent by the terminal to MME1 at T1 to the corresponding core network element on the ground, for example, MME1 sends the information sent by the terminal to MME1 to HSS, so that HSS authenticates the terminal.

[0180] At T3, satellite 2 connects with the gateway station, and at this time, the core network sends the context of the terminal on the core network side (registration information of the terminal) to MME2 deployed on satellite 2, and MME2 stores the context of the terminal, which is the information of the terminal after authentication through the core network. In other words, when satellite 2 connects with the gateway station, the registration information of the terminal after authentication is obtained.

[0181] At T4, satellite 2 covers the terminal, and the terminal sends an attach request to MME2 again. Moreover, the terminal carries its own subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) in the attach request, so that MME2 can determine that the context of the terminal has been synchronized to MME2 at T3 based on the SUPI of the terminal, that is, the registration information of the terminal has been stored on MME2. Therefore, MME2 replies to the terminal with an attach accept to allow the terminal to access. Further, the terminal can perform uplink data and / or downlink data transmission with MME2, and the uplink data of the terminal is stored on MME2. When the data transmission is completed, or satellite 2 is about to leave the terminal, eNB2 sends a radio resource control release (RRC Release) to the terminal to release the terminal to an idle state. Optionally, MME2 can continue to indicate to the terminal through a monitoring list the satellite that will cover the terminal subsequently and / or the wait timer of the satellite that will cover the terminal subsequently. In this case, the context of the terminal does not exist on the access network side (eNB2), but the core network side (MME2) considers that the terminal is still in a registered state.

[0182] When the next satellite 2 covers the gateway again, the stored uplink data of the terminal can be sent to the ground data network. Alternatively, when the next satellite (e.g., satellite 3) has a connection with the gateway, the core network can backup the context of the terminal at the core network side to MME 3, and the data network sends the downlink data to be sent to the terminal to MME 3, that is, MME 3 stores the downlink data to be sent to the terminal when it has a connection with the core network. After satellite 3 covers the terminal, the terminal can directly initiate a service request to MME 3 without sending an attach request again, because the terminal has completed registration in advance.

[0183] It can be seen that in the S&F, when the old satellite leaves, the terminal can be indicated the monitoring list of the satellites that will cover the terminal in succession and / or the wait timer. In addition, for the split MME architecture, the satellites in the monitoring list need to have the registration information of the terminal, and the terminal can successfully attach when accessing these satellites. How does the old satellite determine which new satellites will have the registration information of the terminal? For example, the old satellite can consider that if a new satellite also covers the gateway at least once in the time period after the old satellite covers the gateway and before the new satellite covers the terminal, the new satellite has the opportunity to obtain the registration information of the terminal from the ground core network.

[0184] That is, for the split MME architecture, the satellites (e.g., satellites 1, 2, 3, and 4) indicated by the monitoring list #1 need to have the registration information of the terminal, so that the terminal can successfully access the network after accessing the satellites indicated by the monitoring list #1. However, if some unexpected situation occurs and some satellite in the monitoring list #1 does not obtain the registration information of the terminal (e.g., the feeder link of satellite 1 deteriorates, so that satellite 1 does not obtain the registration information of the terminal from the ground, or satellite 1 does not have remaining storage space to save the registration information of the terminal, etc.), the terminal accesses the satellite, and the satellite considers that the terminal is a terminal that accesses for the first time or a terminal that does not access the core network, and reassigns the monitoring list #2 (e.g., satellites 6, 7, 8, and 9) to the terminal. Therefore, the terminal will subsequently access the satellites 6, 7, 8, and 9 indicated by the monitoring list #2, and will not access the satellites 2, 3, and 4 indicated by the monitoring list #1, and thus the data of the terminal stored on the satellites 2, 3, and 4 cannot be sent to the terminal, which will cause data packet loss and waste of storage resources due to the storage of the terminal data on the satellites 2, 3, and 4.

[0185] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present application take the terminal device and the network device as the execution subject to illustrate the corresponding method. For example, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be the terminal device shown in FIG. 1, and the network device can be the network device in the split MME architecture, and the network device includes the access network device and the MME, such as the eNB and the MME. However, the present application does not limit the execution subject of the method. For example, the terminal device in the method can also be a processor, a module, a chip, or a chip system or a software module supporting the implementation of the corresponding method.

[0186] The embodiments of the present application propose a communication method 100, and FIG. 10 is an interaction schematic diagram of the communication method 100. The communication method 100 is described from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device and the network device. The communication method 100 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0187] S1001. The terminal device determines that a first list and / or a first waiting time length have been configured, the first list includes information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting time length is a time length for the terminal device to wait to be covered by the one or more network devices.

[0188] The first list refers to the monitoring list described above, or can also be referred to as the monitoring list of satellite. The first waiting time length refers to the wait timer described above.

[0189] The information of each network device in the one or more network devices can be the identifier of the satellite corresponding to the network device, or can be the cell identifier of the cell where the network device is located, or can be the identifier of the network device. The satellite corresponding to the network device refers to the satellite where the network device is deployed. For example, the network device 1 includes the eNB 1 and the MME 1, and the eNB 1 and the MME 1 are deployed on the satellite 1, so the satellite corresponding to the network device 1 is the satellite 1. The cell where the network device is located refers to the cell where the access network device in the network device is located, such as the cell where the eNB 1 in the network device 1 is located. The identifier of the network device refers to the identifier of the access network device in the network device, such as the identifier of the eNB 1 in the network device 1. For example, in the communication scenario of the split MME architecture, the first list can include the satellite ID, or include the eNB ID, or include the cell ID.

[0190] The first list comprises information of one or more network devices which will cover the terminal device, and thus the first list indicates that the coverage range will cover the terminal device by one or more network devices. For example, the monitoring list indicates that the coverage range will cover the terminal device by one or more satellites.

[0191] The first waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices, and one first waiting duration corresponds to a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one network device. When the terminal device determines that the first list and the first waiting duration have been configured, the terminal device has been configured with one or more first waiting durations, and one configured first waiting duration corresponds to one network device indicated by the first list, i.e., one configured first waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one network device indicated by the first list. When the terminal device determines that the first waiting duration has been configured, the terminal device has been configured with one or more first waiting durations, and the one or more first waiting durations respectively correspond to one or more network devices, i.e., each of the one or more first waiting durations is a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one network device.

[0192] In addition, the first waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices, and thus the first waiting duration also indicates that the coverage range will cover the terminal device by one or more network devices, or in other words, the first waiting duration corresponds to one or more network devices which will cover the terminal device.

[0193] The first list and / or the first waiting duration can be configured for the terminal device when the terminal device accesses a network device for the first time without obtaining registration information of the terminal device, so that the terminal device subsequently requests to access one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration. The one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration are determined by the network device without obtaining the registration information of the terminal device to cover the terminal device based on ephemeris information, and the network device will cover the terminal device before covering the gateway station and the core network. The network device which will cover the terminal device before covering the terminal device and covering the gateway station and the core network can obtain the registration information of the terminal device from the core network side before covering the terminal device, and thus if the terminal device accesses these network devices, the probability of successful access is relatively large, and thus these network devices are indicated in the first list and / or the first waiting duration to improve the probability of successful access of the terminal device.

[0194] For example, when the terminal device requests to access the network device #a for the first time, if the network device #a does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, the network device #a configures a first list for the terminal device, and the first list indicates that each of one or more network devices will cover the gateway station before covering the terminal device, and the one or more network devices are connected with the core network, and the registration information of the terminal device can be obtained from the core network side.

[0195] In addition, each of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration will also store data communicated with the core network and needed to be sent to the terminal device when covering the gateway station connected with the core network, and for the convenience of description, the data will be referred to as the data of the terminal device hereinafter.

[0196] S1002. The terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first list, and / or is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first waiting duration. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first indication information from the terminal device.

[0197] The first network device is one of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, or the first network device is included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration. It can be seen that the terminal device currently requests to access the first network device configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0198] In a possible manner, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured one or more network devices which will cover the terminal device. Specifically, the first indication information can indicate that the terminal device has been configured one or more network devices which will cover the terminal device by indicating that the terminal device has been configured the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0199] It can be understood that the terminal device determines that the first list and / or the first waiting duration have been configured, or in other words, the terminal device determines that the first list and / or the first waiting duration have been configured, and in a case where the first list and / or the first waiting duration indicate that there are still network devices that do not cover the terminal device in the one or more network devices, the terminal device can learn that the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration can have obtained or will be able to obtain the registration information of the terminal device, so that the probability of successful access to the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration is relatively large. Therefore, the terminal device does not expect the first network device currently requested to access to reconfigure a list and / or a waiting duration for indicating one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device for the terminal device, and the terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device, and informs the first network device of information that the first list and / or the first waiting duration have been configured, so that the first network device does not reconfigure the list and / or the waiting duration for the terminal device in a case where the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained.

[0200] That is, the first indication information sent by the terminal device to the first network device is used for the first network device to determine not to configure a list and / or a waiting duration for indicating one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device for the terminal device. In this way, it is beneficial for the terminal device to still be able to request access to a network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in a case where the terminal device does not successfully access the first network device, or in other words, the terminal device does not successfully establish a communication connection with the first network device, and it is further beneficial for the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration to be able to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, so as to reduce the probability of data packet loss. In addition, the terminal device can continue to request access to the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, so as to reduce resource waste caused by the terminal device not accessing the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, and the terminal device storing registration information and data of the terminal device.

[0201] For example, the terminal device currently requests to access the network device of the satellite 1 deployed with the MME and the eNB, and the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list including the information of one or more satellites to cover the terminal device, or in other words, the monitoring list indicates that there is a satellite not covering the terminal device in the one or more satellites. In this case, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the satellite 1, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list, so that the satellite 1 does not configure a new monitoring list for the terminal device without obtaining the registration information of the terminal device. Further, in the case that the connection establishment with the satellite 1 fails, the terminal device can still request to access the satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list, so as to reduce the probability of data packet loss and the waste of storage resources.

[0202] In an optional implementation, the first indication information can indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list by means of bit information. For example, the first indication information can be an indication bit of 1 bit, and when the bit is 1, it indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, or when the bit information is 0, it indicates that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0203] In an optional implementation, when the first indication information includes the first list, it is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list. In other words, the first indication information can indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list by including the first list.

[0204] In another optional implementation, when the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list includes information of other network devices except the first network device, it is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list. When the first indication information is used to indicate that the first list includes information of other network devices except the first network device, it indicates that the first list also includes information of other network devices to cover the terminal device, and can implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0205] In yet another optional implementation, when the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the terminal device requesting to access the network for the Nth time, it is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration. N is an integer greater than 1. When the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is the terminal device requesting to access the network for the Nth time, it indicates that the terminal device is not accessing for the first time, and can implicitly indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration before requesting to access the first network device.

[0206] In another alternative implementation, when the first indication information includes the first waiting time length, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting time length. In other words, the first indication information can be in a form of including the first waiting time length to show that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting time length.

[0207] It can be seen that the first indication information can be in a display manner or an implicit manner to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list, and the flexibility of indication can be improved.

[0208] For example, the first network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device is satellite 1 deployed with an MME and an eNB, and the terminal device has been configured with a monitoring list. The terminal device sends, to the satellite 1, the first indication information carrying the monitoring list, or sends the first indication information used to indicate that the monitoring list includes other satellites except the satellite 1, such as sending the first indication information including the identifier of satellite 2, or sending the first indication information used to indicate that the terminal device is a terminal device that is not accessed for the first time, to indicate to the satellite 1 that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list.

[0209] In an alternative implementation, the first indication information is carried in an access request of the terminal device, and the access request is used to request to establish a communication connection with the first network device, or in other words, the access request is used to request to access the first network device. The access request can be, for example, an attach request, a service request, or a TAU message. This manner can reduce signaling overhead.

[0210] In an alternative implementation, the terminal device directly sends a NAS message to the MME in the first network device, and the NAS message carries the first indication information. The NAS message can be, for example, an attach request, a service request, a tracking area update (TAU) message, and the like. The NAS message sent by the terminal device to the MME in the first network device is transmitted through the access network device in the first network device, for example, through the eNB.

[0211] In another alternative implementation, the terminal device can send an access stratum (AS) message to an access network device in the first network device, the AS message carrying the first indication information. The access network device parses the AS message and sends the first indication information to the MME in the first network device via an S1 interface. Alternatively, the access network device parses the AS message and sends, to the MME in the first network device via the S1 interface, indication information that the second list and / or the wait timer are not configured, the wait timer being a wait timer corresponding to each network device in the second list or a wait timer corresponding to a next network device that will cover the terminal device, the wait timer corresponding to a network device indicating a time duration for which the terminal device waits for the network device to cover the terminal device.

[0212] As can be seen, the terminal device can send the first indication information to the MME in the first network device currently requested to be accessed, directly or indirectly, to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting time duration.

[0213] In an alternative implementation, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, including sending the first indication information to the first network device if a first condition is met. The first condition includes that no failure occurs in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list, or the first condition includes that no failure occurs in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list.

[0214] For example, no failure occurs in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list, which means that the terminal device successfully establishes a communication connection with some or all of the network devices indicated by the first list, or the terminal device has not requested to establish a communication connection with some of the network devices indicated by the first list. For example, no failure occurs in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list, which means that the terminal device successfully establishes a communication connection with some or all of the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the terminal device has not requested to establish a communication connection with some of the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list.

[0215] In an optional implementation, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device when the first condition is not met. That is, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device when the terminal device fails to establish a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list, or when the terminal device fails to establish a communication connection with all the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list. This manner is advantageous for the first network device to configure a list and / or a waiting duration for the terminal device without obtaining the registration information of the terminal device, and is further advantageous for the terminal device to request access to the network device indicated by the list and / or the waiting duration configured by the first network device when the terminal device fails to establish a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list and all the network devices indicated by the first list cover the terminal device.

[0216] Optionally, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device when the terminal device fails to establish a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list, or when the terminal device fails to establish a communication connection with all the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list, and the first network device is the last network device covering the terminal device among the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, so that the first network device configures a list and / or a waiting duration for the terminal device without obtaining the registration information of the terminal device.

[0217] In an optional implementation, the terminal device deletes the first list and / or the first waiting duration when the first condition is not met. When the terminal device is rejected by all the network devices indicated by the first list, the terminal device deletes the first list and / or the first waiting duration, and then reselects a network device to access. This manner can release the storage resource of the terminal device.

[0218] In another optional implementation, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device through a first cell under the first network device, and the sending includes: sending the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell under the first network device when a second condition is met. The second condition includes: receiving fourth indication information from the first cell under the first network device, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on or access.

[0219] The fourth indication information is used for indicating that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, and / or is used for indicating that the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on or access, which indicates that the terminal device can access the first network device through the first cell. The terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell, so that the first network device does not configure a list indicating one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device and / or a waiting time length for the terminal device in a case where registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, thereby reducing the probability of data packet loss and waste of storage resources.

[0220] In another optional implementation, the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell under the first network device in a case where the second condition is not met. When the second condition is not met, it indicates that the first cell under the first network device may not work in the store-and-forward mode, or it indicates that the terminal device is not allowed to access the first cell under the first network device, and the terminal device does not send the first indication information to the first network device, so as to save signaling overhead.

[0221] In another optional implementation, the terminal device sending the first indication information to the first network device includes: sending the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell under the first network device in a case where the first condition and the second condition are both met.

[0222] When the first condition and the second condition are both met, the terminal device can determine that the first network device is not the last network device covering the terminal device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, and the terminal device can access the first network device, and the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, so that the first network device knows that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting time length, thereby facilitating the first network device not to configure a new list and / or a waiting time length for the terminal device.

[0223] S1003. The first network device determines not to configure a second list and / or a second waiting time length for the terminal device based on the first indication information, the second list including information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the second waiting time length being a time length for the terminal device to wait to be covered by the one or more network devices.

[0224] In an optional implementation, the first network device determines not to configure the second list and / or the second waiting time length for the terminal device based on the first indication information includes: determining not to configure the second list and / or the second waiting time length for the terminal device based on the first indication information in a case where registration information of the terminal device is not obtained.

[0225] It can be understood that, since the first network device is one of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, the first network device can obtain the registration information of the terminal device from the core network side before covering the terminal device. However, if some unexpected situation occurs, such as the first network device cannot obtain the registration information of the terminal device from the core network side due to the deterioration of the feeder link between the first network device and the core network side, the first network device does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and therefore the first network device does not allow the terminal device to access.

[0226] Based on the received first indication information, the first network device can know that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration, and therefore the first network device considers that each of the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration can obtain the registration information of the terminal device before covering the terminal device and store the data to be sent to the terminal device. Therefore, in the case where the first network device does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, or in the case where the first network device determines not to allow the terminal device to access, the first network device determines not to configure the terminal device with the second list and / or the second waiting duration, so that the terminal device can continue to request access to the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the future, which is beneficial to the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and reduces the probability of data packet loss.

[0227] In addition, the terminal device can continue to request access to the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the future, which can reduce the resource waste caused by the terminal device not accessing the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the future, and the terminal device storing the registration information of the terminal device and the data of the terminal device.

[0228] In an optional implementation, when the first indication information is carried in the access request, the first network device can further send an access response to the terminal device, the access response being used to indicate that the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails to be established, and the access response not carrying the second list and / or the second waiting duration. Correspondingly, the terminal device further performs the following steps: receiving the access response from the first network device; determining a second network device to be requested to access, the second network device being included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being the network device corresponding to the first waiting duration. In other words, the second network device is a network device different from the first network device among the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0229] The first network device receives an access request of the terminal device in a case where the terminal device does not obtain the registration information, and thus sends an access response to the terminal device, the access response being used to indicate that the communication connection establishment fails. In addition, the first network device also learns that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting time through the first indication information in the access request, and thus the access response sent by the first network device does not carry the second list and / or the second waiting time reconfigured by the first network device. Therefore, the terminal device can still determine the network device to be accessed from the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time. This manner is beneficial to the terminal device to still access the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time after the communication connection with the first network device fails, and thus is beneficial to the one or more network devices to be able to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and can reduce the probability of data packet loss and resource waste.

[0230] Optionally, the MME in the first network device can directly send a NAS message to the terminal device, the NAS message carrying the access response, and the access network equipment in the first network device transparently transmitting the NAS message sent by the MME to the terminal device. Optionally, the MME in the first network device sends an S1 message to the access network equipment in the first network device, the S1 message carrying the access response; after being parsed by the access network equipment, the access network equipment sends the access response to the terminal device through an AS message (such as an RRC message).

[0231] In an optional implementation, the first network device also releases the information of the terminal device, the information of the terminal device referring to the information about the terminal device sent by the terminal device to the first network device, such as including the identifier of the terminal device, the access request of the terminal device, the reason for the terminal device to request access, and the like. This manner can make the first network device not request to obtain the registration information of the terminal device again when the terminal device is covered again by the first network device after covering the terminal device and connecting the core network, and can reduce the repeated registration of the terminal device, or reduce the possible error registration, and reduce the signaling overhead.

[0232] Optionally, the terminal device requests access to the second network device when the terminal device is covered by the coverage range of the second network device. Specifically, the terminal device sends an access request to the second network device when the terminal device is covered by the coverage range of the second network device, the access request being used to request to establish a communication connection with the second network device, or in other words, the access request being used to request to access the second network device. Optionally, the access request sent by the terminal device to the second network device carries the first indication information, so that the second network device learns that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0233] In an alternative implementation, the first list does not include information of one or more third network devices, which are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device. That is, the first list configured by the terminal device does not include information of one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device, thereby facilitating the terminal device not to access the one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device, and reducing the probability of failure of the terminal device in accessing the network.

[0234] In another alternative implementation, the terminal device further performs the following steps: receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a third list, the third list including information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device being a third network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device; and determining a fifth network device to be accessed, the fifth network device being included in the fourth network device.

[0235] It can be seen that the first list configured by the terminal device does not include information of one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device, while the third list reconfigured by the terminal device includes information of a fourth network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device, which facilitates the terminal device to subsequently request access to the fourth network device that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device, improves the probability of successful access of the terminal device, and reduces the probability of data packet loss.

[0236] It can be seen that in the SF scenario, the network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device will not configure a new second list and / or a second waiting duration for the terminal device in the case that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration. Thus, the terminal device can still request access to a network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the case of failure in accessing the first network device, thereby facilitating the one or more network devices to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and reducing the probability of data packet loss.

[0237] In addition, the terminal device can continue to request access to the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, which reduces the resource waste caused by the terminal device not to access the network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, and the terminal device storing the registration information of the terminal device and the data of the terminal device.

[0238] The embodiments of the present application also propose an exemplary communication method based on the communication method 100 shown in FIG. 10, taking the first network device as satellite 1 including an eNB and an MME, and the satellite 1 not obtaining the registration information of the terminal device as an example. The method is shown in FIG. 11, and the interaction process includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0239] S1101. The terminal device sends an attach request to the satellite 1, and the attach request carries the first indication information. Correspondingly, the satellite 1 receives the attach request from the terminal device.

[0240] The attach request is used to request to access the satellite 1, or in other words, to request to establish a communication connection with the satellite 1. The first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list and / or the wait timer, the monitoring list includes information of one or more satellites that will cover the terminal device, and the wait timer is a time length for the terminal device to wait to be covered by the one or more satellites, and the satellite 1 is included in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list and / or the wait timer. The first indication information can refer to the description in S1001, and will not be described here. The information of each satellite in the one or more satellites can refer to the information of each network device in the one or more network devices in S1001, and will not be described here.

[0241] In addition, the implementation manner in which the terminal device sends the attach request to the satellite 1 can refer to the implementation manner in which the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device in S1001, and will not be described here.

[0242] S1102. The satellite 1 sends an attach reject to the terminal device, and the attach reject is used to indicate that the terminal device fails to access, and the attach reject does not carry the monitoring list and / or the wait timer. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the attach reject from the satellite 1.

[0243] It can be understood that the satellite 1 does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and cannot know whether the terminal device is legal, so that the satellite 1 sends the attach reject to the terminal device to inform the terminal device that the access to the satellite 1 fails. In addition, the satellite 1 knows that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list and / or the wait timer through the first indication information in the attach request, so as to determine not to configure the terminal device with a new monitoring list and / or a wait timer, so as to ensure that the terminal device can still access the satellite indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or wait timer. Therefore, the satellite 1 sends the attach reject to the terminal device without carrying the newly configured monitoring list and / or wait timer, so that the terminal device can continue to access one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or wait timer in the future, thereby facilitating the one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or wait timer to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and reducing the probability of data packet loss and waste of storage resources.

[0244] In addition, the implementation of the satellite 1 sending the attach reject to the terminal device can refer to the implementation of the first network device sending the access response to the terminal device in S1003, and details are not described herein.

[0245] In an optional implementation, the satellite 1 can also release the information of the terminal device. The information of the terminal device can refer to the description in S1003, and details are not described herein. In this way, when the satellite 1 is connected to the core network again, the satellite 1 does not need to request to obtain the registration information of the terminal device, which can reduce the possible false registration and signaling overhead.

[0246] S1103. The terminal device determines a satellite 2 to be requested to access, and the satellite 2 is included in one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or wait timer.

[0247] It can be understood that the terminal device knows that it has not successfully accessed the satellite 1 based on the attach reject from the satellite 1, and has not received the monitoring list and / or the wait timer reconfigured by the satellite 1 for the terminal device, and thus continues to determine the satellite 2 to be requested to access from the one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or the wait timer, that is, the satellite 2 is one of the one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or the wait timer.

[0248] In an optional implementation, the terminal device requests to access the satellite 2 when the satellite 2 covers the terminal device.

[0249] It can be understood that the terminal device sends an access request to the satellite 2 when the coverage of the satellite 2 covers the terminal device, such as sending an attach request to the satellite 2 to request to access the satellite 2.

[0250] Optionally, when the terminal device sends the access request to the satellite 2, if there is still a satellite not covering the terminal device in the one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or the wait timer, the access request sent to the satellite 2 can carry first indication information, so that the satellite 2 does not configure a new monitoring list and / or a wait timer for the terminal device without obtaining the registration information of the terminal device.

[0251] It can be seen that the satellite 1 currently requested to access by the terminal device and not obtaining the registration information of the terminal device does not carry a new monitoring list and / or a wait timer in the attach reject sent to the terminal device in the case that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list and / or the wait timer through the first indication information in the attach request from the terminal device. Thus, the terminal device continues to request to access the satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the configured monitoring list and / or the wait timer, which is conducive to the satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list and / or the wait timer to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and can reduce the probability of data packet loss and reduce the waste of storage resources.

[0252] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method 200. FIG. 12 is an interaction diagram of the communication method 200. The communication method 200 is described from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device and the first network device. The communication method 200 includes but is not limited to the following steps.

[0253] S1201. The terminal device sends an access request to the first network device, and the access request is used to request the establishment of a communication connection with the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the access request from the terminal device.

[0254] The first network device is a network device currently covering the terminal device, so that the terminal device sends the access request to the first network device to request the establishment of a communication connection with the first network device.

[0255] In addition, the access request can be an attach request, or a service request, or a TAU message.

[0256] In an optional implementation, the path through which the terminal device sends the access request to the first network device can refer to the path through which the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device in S1002 described above, and will not be described again.

[0257] S1202. The first network device sends a second list and / or a second waiting time length to the terminal device, the second list includes information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the second waiting time length is a time length during which the terminal device waits to be covered by the one or more network devices. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second list and / or the second waiting time length from the first network device.

[0258] The information of each network device in the one or more network devices can refer to the description in S1001 described above, and will not be described again. The second list and the second waiting time length can refer to the first list and the first waiting time length in S1001 described above, and will not be described again.

[0259] In an optional implementation, the first network device sends the second list and / or the second waiting duration to the terminal device, including: the first network device sends the second list and / or the second waiting duration to the terminal device in a case where the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained. The first network device receives an access request from the terminal device, and since the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, it is unable to know whether the terminal device is legitimate, and thus does not allow the terminal device to request access, that is, it is determined that the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails to be established. In this way, the first network device configures the second list and / or the second waiting duration for the terminal device, so as to indicate to the terminal device one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device through the second list and / or the second waiting duration, which is beneficial to the terminal device to be able to request access to a network device in the one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device in the future, and can improve the probability of successful access of the terminal device.

[0260] In an optional implementation, the first network device sends the second list and / or the second waiting duration to the terminal device, and the path can refer to the path in which the first network device sends the access response to the terminal device in S1003, and details are not described herein.

[0261] In an optional implementation, the first network device further sends an access response to the terminal device, and the access response is used to indicate that the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails to be established. In this way, the terminal device can know that the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails to be established based on the access response. Optionally, the access response can be an attach reject, or can be a service reject, or can be a TAU reject message.

[0262] In an optional implementation, in a case where the first network device further sends the access response to the terminal device, the second list and / or the second waiting duration can be carried in the access response, which can save signaling overhead.

[0263] S1203. The terminal device determines a second network device to be requested to access in a case where the first list and / or the first waiting duration have been configured, the second network device being included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration.

[0264] It can be understood that the terminal device receives the second list and / or the second waiting duration configured by the first network device for the terminal device in the case that the terminal device fails to establish a connection with the first network device. However, the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration before receiving the second list and / or the second waiting duration. In order to enable the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration to send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, the terminal device still requests access to the network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration. Therefore, even if the terminal device receives the second list and / or the second waiting duration configured by the first network device, the terminal device still determines the second network device to be requested to access from the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration, that is, the determined second network device to be requested to access is included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0265] In other words, in the case that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration, even if the terminal device receives the second list and / or the second waiting duration configured by the first network device, the terminal device ignores the second list and / or the second waiting duration, or does not use the second list and / or the second waiting duration, or does not request access to the network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the second list and / or the second waiting duration, but requests access to the network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration. In this way, the network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration can send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and the probability of data packet loss and the waste of storage resources can be reduced.

[0266] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can further delete the second list and / or the second waiting duration to release the storage resources.

[0267] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can further send third indication information to the first network device, the third indication information being used to instruct the first network device to release the information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the first network device further performs the following steps: receiving the third indication information from the terminal device; and releasing the information of the terminal device based on the third indication information. The information of the terminal device can be referred to the description of S1003, and will not be described herein again. In this way, when the first network device covers the terminal device again after connecting with the core network, the first network device no longer requests to obtain the registration information of the terminal device based on the information of the terminal device, and the repeated registration or error registration of the terminal device can be reduced, and the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0268] Optionally, the third indication information can be an AS message, such as msg1, msg3, or msg5 of random access. In this way, after receiving the AS message, the access network device in the first network device can forward the AS message to the MME in the first network device through the S1 interface.

[0269] Optionally, the third indication information can also be a NAS message, such as an attach request, a service request, or a TAU message. In this way, the terminal device sends the NAS message to the MME in the first network device, and the access network device transmits the NAS message transparently.

[0270] In another optional implementation, if the first network device covers the terminal device again and connects to the core network again after covering the terminal device, the first network device can determine not to re-register or update the registration of the terminal device through internal implementation of the core network side. For example, when the first network device covers the terminal device again and connects to the core network again after covering the terminal device, the core network sends indication information to the first network device to indicate that the registration information of the terminal device is not stored, and the first network device does not store the registration information of the terminal device, that is, does not re-register or update the registration of the terminal device. For another example, when the first network device covers the terminal device again and connects to the core network again after covering the terminal device, the first network device requests the core network to obtain the registration of the terminal device, and fails to obtain the registration of the terminal device, that is, fails to register the terminal device, and then determines not to re-register or update the registration of the terminal device.

[0271] In an optional implementation, the third indication information is also used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting time. In this way, the first network device can know that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting time, so as to know that the terminal device can not use the second list and / or the second waiting time configured by the first network device for the terminal device. In this way, when the terminal device requests access to the first network device again and the first network device determines that the terminal device fails to access, the first network device does not configure a new list and / or waiting time for the terminal device, so that the terminal device can continue to request access to the network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting time, which can reduce the probability of data packet loss and waste of storage resources.

[0272] Optionally, the third indication information includes the first list. Optionally, the third indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list includes information of the network device other than the first network device. Optionally, the third indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is the Nth terminal device that requests access to the network. Optionally, the third indication information includes the first waiting time. For specific implementations of the third indication information, refer to the description of S1002 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0273] In an optional implementation, the first list does not include information of one or more third network devices, which are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device. This implementation can be referred to the description of S1003 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0274] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further performs the following steps: receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a third list, the third list including information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device being a third network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device; determining a fifth network device to be accessed, the fifth network device being included in the fourth network device. This implementation can be referred to the description of S1003 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0275] It can be seen that in the SF scenario, in the case that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration, even if the first network device currently requested to be accessed reconfigures the second list and / or the second waiting duration for the terminal device, the terminal device still requests to access a network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration. Therefore, the network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration can send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and the probability of data packet loss can be reduced.

[0276] In addition, the terminal device can continue to request to access the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the future, and the resource waste caused by the terminal device not accessing the network device indicated by the first list and / or the first waiting duration in the future and the terminal device storing the registration information of the terminal device and the data of the terminal device can be reduced.

[0277] The embodiments of the present application also propose an exemplary communication method based on the communication method 200 shown in FIG. 12, taking the first network device as satellite 1 including eNB and MME, and the satellite 1 not obtaining the registration information of the terminal device as an example. The method can be seen from FIG. 13, and the interaction process includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0278] S1301. The terminal device sends an attach request to the satellite 1, the attach request being used to request to access the satellite 1. Correspondingly, the satellite 1 receives the attach request from the terminal device.

[0279] It can be understood that the terminal device sends the attach request to the satellite 1 when the terminal device is covered by the coverage range of the satellite 1, to request to access the satellite 1.

[0280] S1302. The satellite 1 sends an attach reject to the terminal device, the attach reject is used to indicate the terminal device access failure, and the attach reject carries the monitoring list#2 and / or the wait timer#2. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the attach reject from the satellite 1.

[0281] It can be understood that since the satellite 1 does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, the satellite 1 cannot know whether the terminal device is legal, and therefore does not allow the terminal device to request access, and sends the attach reject to the terminal device to indicate the terminal device access failure.

[0282] In addition, the first network device also configures the monitoring list#2 and / or the wait timer#2 for the terminal device in the case that the terminal device requests access failure, the monitoring list#2 includes information of one or more satellites that will cover the terminal device, and the wait timer#2 is a time length that the terminal device waits to be covered by the one or more satellites. Therefore, the attach reject also carries the monitoring list#2 and / or the wait timer#2 configured by the satellite 1 for the terminal device. Wherein, the information of each satellite in the one or more satellites can refer to the information of each network device in the one or more network devices in the above S1002, and will not be described again.

[0283] S1303. The terminal device determines the satellite 2 to be requested to access in the case that the monitoring list#1 and / or the wait timer#1 have been configured, the satellite 2 is included in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list#1 and / or the wait timer#1.

[0284] It can be understood that, in the case that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1, even if the terminal device is further configured with the monitoring list #2 and / or the wait timer #2 by the first network device, in order to ensure that the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1 can send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, the terminal device still determines to request access to the satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1, that is, the determined satellite 2 to be requested to access is included in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1, and the use of the monitoring list #2 and / or the wait timer #2 is ignored, so that the probability of data packet loss and the waste of storage resources can be reduced.

[0285] Optionally, the terminal device can further send third indication information to the satellite 1, and the third indication information is used to instruct the satellite 1 to release the information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the satellite 1 further performs the following steps: receiving the third indication information from the terminal device; and releasing the information of the terminal device based on the third indication information. In this way, when the satellite 1 covers the terminal device again and covers the gateway station and the core network again, the satellite 1 no longer requests to acquire the registration information of the terminal device, so that the repeated registration or error registration of the terminal device can be reduced, and the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0286] Optionally, other implementation manners of the third indication information can be referred to the description in the above S1203, and will not be described herein again.

[0287] It can be seen that, in the case that the terminal device has been configured with the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1, even if the terminal device receives the monitoring list #2 and / or the wait timer #2 reconfigured by the satellite 1, the terminal device still requests access to the satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1, so that the satellite in the one or more satellites indicated by the monitoring list #1 and / or the wait timer #1 can send the stored data of the terminal device to the terminal device, and the probability of data packet loss and the waste of storage resources can be reduced.

[0288] The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method 300, and FIG. 14 is an interaction schematic diagram of the communication method 300. The communication method 300 is described from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device and the network device. The communication method 300 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0289] S1401. The first network device sends a first list to the terminal device, the first list comprising information of one or more sixth network devices, and the first list not comprising information of one or more third network devices. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first list from the first network device.

[0290] The one or more sixth network devices are network devices that have obtained or will obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and the one or more third network devices are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device. The first network device is a network device to which the terminal device currently requests to access.

[0291] In an optional implementation, the first network device sends the first list to the terminal device, comprising: sending the first list to the terminal device in a case where the registration information of the terminal device is not obtained, or in a case where it is determined that the terminal device is not allowed to access.

[0292] It can be understood that the core network side on the ground can know which network devices have failed to send the registration information of the terminal device. Therefore, when a subsequent network device covering the gateway station is connected to the core network side and receives the registration information of the terminal device, the core network side can indicate the network devices that have failed to receive the registration information of the terminal device to the network device in the form of a list. Then, before the terminal device leaves the terminal device, if it is determined to allocate the terminal device with the list for indicating one or more network devices, it is determined not to allocate the terminal device with the network devices that have failed to receive the registration information of the terminal device, and / or not to allocate the terminal device with the waiting time length corresponding to the network devices that have failed to receive the registration information of the terminal device, so as to reduce the probability of the terminal device failing to access these network devices again.

[0293] That is, when the first network device configures the terminal device with the first list, the network devices that have successfully received the registration information of the terminal device from the core network on the ground are considered, and the network devices that will be able to receive the registration information of the terminal device from the core network on the ground are considered, and the network devices that have failed to receive the registration information of the terminal device are not considered. Therefore, the first list comprises information of one or more sixth network devices that have obtained or will obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and does not comprise information of one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device.

[0294] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further performs the following steps: receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a third list, the third list comprising information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device being a third network device that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device among the one or more third network devices; and determining a fifth network device to be requested to access, the fifth network device being included in the fourth network device.

[0295] It can be understood that, if the network device that has failed to receive the registration information of the terminal device succeeds in receiving the registration information of the terminal device after connecting with the ground core network side subsequently, the ground core network side will also synchronize this information to other network devices, and when the other network devices subsequently allocate a new list and / or waiting duration for the terminal device, the network device that succeeds in receiving the registration information of the terminal device can be configured into the list and / or the waiting duration.

[0296] Therefore, the third list received by the terminal device can include information of a fourth network device that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device in the one or more third network devices. Further, the terminal device can determine a fifth network device to be requested to access from the fourth network device indicated by the third list. In this way, the terminal device can subsequently request to access the fourth network device that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device, and the probability of data packet loss can be reduced.

[0297] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can also request to access the fifth network device when the terminal device is covered by the coverage of the fifth network device, for example, send an access request to the fifth network device to request to access the fifth network device.

[0298] It can be seen that, in the embodiments of the present application, the first list configured by the first network device for the terminal device includes information of one or more sixth network devices that have obtained or will obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and does not include information of one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device, so that the terminal device can request to access the one or more sixth network devices that have obtained or will obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and will not request to access the one or more third network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device, and the probability of successful access of the terminal device to the network device can be improved.

[0299] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication method 400, and FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of the communication method 400. The communication method 400 is described from the perspective of the terminal device. The communication method 400 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0300] S1501. The terminal device determines whether the fifth indication information exists in the system broadcast message from the first cell under the first network device. The fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first cell works in the store-and-forward mode, and / or is used to indicate whether the first cell allows the terminal device of the store-and-forward type to camp.

[0301] In an optional implementation, the system broadcast message of the first cell under the first network device can be a system information block (SIB) 1 broadcast by the first cell under the first network device.

[0302] Optionally, the fifth indication information carries a store-and-forward indication (SF indication), and the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode.

[0303] It should be understood that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, and it can also be understood that the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, or the first network device is a store-and-forward type network device.

[0304] Optionally, the fifth indication information carries a cell barred SF information element, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate whether a store-and-forward type terminal device is allowed to camp on or access the first cell under the first network device, and is used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode.

[0305] Optionally, when the cell barred SF information element carried by the fifth indication information is set to barred, a store-and-forward type terminal device is not allowed to camp on or access a cell; when the cell barred SF information element carried by the fifth indication information is set to not barred, the store-and-forward type terminal device is allowed to camp on or access a cell. For example, the SIB1 broadcast by the first cell under the first network device carries the cell barred SF information element, and the cell barred SF information element is set to barred, so that the store-and-forward type terminal device is barred from camping on the first cell under the first network device.

[0306] S1502. The terminal device determines whether to allow camping on the first cell based on non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell in the absence of the fifth indication information.

[0307] The non-terrestrial network cell barring information can be a cell barred NTN information element, and the cell barred NTN information element can be broadcast by the first cell under the first network device to the terminal device through a system broadcast message, for example, the cell barred NTN information element can be broadcast by the first cell under the first network device to the terminal device through SIB1. In addition, the non-terrestrial network cell barring information can also be referred to as legacy non-terrestrial network cell barring information, for example, the cell barred NTN information element can be referred to as legacy cell barred NTN.

[0308] It can be understood that the terminal device determines that the first cell under the first network device does not broadcast the fifth indication information through the system broadcast message in the absence of the fifth indication information. In this case, the terminal device determines whether to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device. Compared with the terminal device directly determining not to camp on / access the first cell under the first network device, this manner can improve the accuracy of the terminal device determining whether to camp on / access the first cell under the first network device.

[0309] In an optional embodiment, the terminal device determines whether to allow camping on the first cell under the first network device based on the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device, including: determining not to allow camping on the first cell under the first network device in the case that the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device indicates barring; and determining to allow camping on the first cell under the first network device in the case that the non-terrestrial network cell barring information indicates non-barring.

[0310] For example, the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not allowed to camp on the first cell under the first network device in the case that the cellbarredNTN information element is set to barred; and the terminal device determines that the terminal device is allowed to camp on the first cell under the first network device in the case that the cellbarredNTN information element is set to not barred.

[0311] It can be seen that, through this method, the terminal device can determine whether the fifth indication information exists in the system broadcast message from the first cell under the first network device, and in the case that the fifth indication information does not exist in the system broadcast message from the first cell under the first network device, the terminal device can determine whether to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device, instead of directly determining not to camp on the first cell under the first network device, thereby improving the accuracy of the terminal device determining whether to camp on / access the first cell under the first network device.

[0312] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, any one of the communication methods shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 12, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 can be implemented alone, or multiple communication methods can be combined. It should be noted that FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 cannot be combined. The description of the combination of multiple communication methods can be referred to the foregoing description, and has corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be described again.

[0313] In addition, in the O-RAN architecture, the RIC is mainly responsible for the management and control of the network. There is no interface between the RIC and the MME, and there is an interface between the RIC and the access network device. Therefore, for the communication method 100, the communication method 200, and the communication method 300, the RIC can be used to indicate the satellite identifier of the terminal device whose registration information is unsuccessfully or successfully received to the access network device. The following is an example of the O-RAN architecture shown in FIG. 3, and satellite 1 includes eNB1 and satellite 2 includes eNB2. The interaction between eNB1, eNB2, and RIC is described, and FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the interaction, which includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0314] S1601. The eNB1 of the satellite 1 sends an E2 message #1 to the RIC, and the E2 message #1 is used to indicate that the satellite 1 fails to receive the registration information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the RIC receives the E2 message #1 from the eNB1.

[0315] It can be understood that the satellite 1 can determine whether the satellite 1 successfully receives the registration information of the terminal device sent by the core network. For example, the satellite 1 determines that the satellite 1 fails to successfully receive the registration information of the terminal device sent by the core network through the internal implementation of the core network. In this case, when the satellite 1 covers the gateway station, the eNB1 of the satellite 1 sends the E2 message #1 to the RIC to indicate that the satellite 1 fails to receive the registration information of the terminal device.

[0316] S1602. The RIC sends an E2 message #2 to the eNB2 of the satellite 2, and the E2 message #2 is used to indicate that the satellite 1 fails to receive the registration information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the eNB2 receives the E2 message #2 from the RIC.

[0317] The E2 message #2 includes the identifier of the eNB1, or the identifier of the satellite 1, or the cell identifier of the cell where the eNB1 is located. In addition, the satellite 2 includes one or more satellites different from the satellite 1.

[0318] Optionally, the E2 message #2 and the E2 message #1 can be the same message, or can be different messages.

[0319] It can be understood that the RIC sends the E2 message #2 to the satellite eNB2 to inform the satellite 2 that the satellite 1 fails to receive the registration information of the terminal device, so as to facilitate the satellite 2 to no longer consider the satellite 1 when configuring the monitoring list and / or the wait timer for the terminal device, thereby facilitating to reduce the probability of the terminal device accessing the satellite failing.

[0320] S1603. The eNB1 of the satellite 1 sends an E2 message #3 to the RIC, and the E2 message #3 is used to indicate that the satellite 1 successfully receives the registration information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the RIC receives the E2 message #3 from the eNB1.

[0321] It can be understood that after satellite 1 covers the connection between the gateway station and the core network again after S1601, the satellite 1 can receive the registration information of the terminal device from the core network again, and the receiving of the registration information of the terminal device is successful. In this case, the eNB1 of the satellite 1 can send an E2 message #3 to the RIC to indicate that the satellite 1 successfully receives the registration information of the terminal device, so that the RIC updates the case that the satellite 1 receives the registration information of the terminal device.

[0322] S1604. The RIC sends an E2 message #4 to the eNB2 of the satellite 2, and the E2 message #4 is used to indicate that the satellite 1 successfully receives the registration information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the eNB2 receives the E2 message #4 from the RIC.

[0323] The E2 message #4 includes the identifier of the eNB1, or the identifier of the satellite 1, or the cell identifier of the cell where the eNB1 is located.

[0324] Optionally, the E2 message #3 and the E2 message #4 can be the same message, or can be different messages.

[0325] It can be understood that the RIC sends the E2 message #4 to the eNB2 to inform the satellite 2 that the satellite 1 has successfully received the registration information of the terminal device, which is beneficial to the satellite 2 when configuring the monitoring list and / or the wait timer for the terminal device, and the satellite 1 can be considered, such as configuring the information of the satellite 1 into the monitoring list, thereby improving the probability of successful access of the terminal device to the satellite.

[0326] It can be seen that in the O-RAN architecture, through the indication on the E2 interface, the satellite 1 can inform other satellites (satellite 2) through the RIC whether the satellite 1 has successfully received the registration information of the terminal device, so that when other satellites (satellite) configure or update the monitoring list, the monitoring list can be configured or updated based on whether the satellite 1 has successfully received the registration information of the terminal device, which can reduce the probability that the satellite indicated by the configured or updated monitoring list does not obtain the registration information of the terminal device, and thereby improve the probability of successful access of the terminal device to the satellite.

[0327] For the technical solutions described in the foregoing, the corresponding device implementation solutions are further described below.

[0328] To implement the functions in the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device and the network device can include hardware structures and / or software modules to implement the above functions in the form of hardware structure, software module, or hardware structure and software module. Whether a certain function is implemented in the form of hardware structure, software module, or hardware structure and software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solutions.

[0329] As shown in FIG. 17, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1700. The communication device 1700 can be a component (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) of a terminal device, and can also be a component (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) of a network device. The communication device 1700 can also be other communication units for implementing the methods in the method embodiments of the present application. The communication device 1700 can include a communication unit 1701 and a processing unit 1702. In a possible implementation, the communication device 1700 can further include a storage unit 1703.

[0330] In a possible design, one or more of the units in FIG. 17 can be implemented by one or more processors, or by one or more processors and memories; or by one or more processors and transceivers; or by one or more processors, memories, and transceivers, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. The processor, memory, transceiver can be separately arranged, or integrated.

[0331] The communication device 1700 has the function of the terminal device or the function of the network device described in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the communication device 1700 includes a reader / writer to execute the modules or units or means corresponding to the steps related to the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and the functions or units or means can be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by executing corresponding software by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. For details, further reference can be made to the corresponding description in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0332] In a possible design, the communication device 1700 can include a processing unit 1702 and a communication unit 1701, and the device is applied to a terminal device.

[0333] The processing unit 1702 is configured to determine a first list and / or a first waiting time length, the first list including information about one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting time length being a time length for the terminal device to wait for coverage by the one or more network devices.

[0334] The communication unit 1701 is configured to send first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration.

[0335] The first network device is a network device currently requested to be accessed by the terminal device.

[0336] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0337] The first indication information includes the first list, or the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list includes information of network devices other than the first network device, or the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is an Nth terminal device requesting to access a network, where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0338] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration, and the first indication information includes the first waiting duration.

[0339] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is carried in an access request, where the access request is used to request to establish a communication connection with the first network device, and the processing unit 1702 is further configured to: receive an access response from the first network device, where the access response is used to indicate that the establishment of the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response does not carry a second list and / or a second waiting duration, the second list includes information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait to be covered by one or more network devices; and determine a second network device to be requested to be accessed, where the second network device is included in one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device is a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration.

[0340] In an optional implementation, the communication unit 1701 sends the first indication information to the first network device, and specifically, the communication unit 1701 sends the first indication information to the first network device in a case where a first condition is met, where the first condition includes that none of all network devices indicated by the first list fails to establish a communication connection, or the first condition includes that none of one or more network devices indicated by the first list other than the first network device fails to establish a communication connection.

[0341] In an alternative implementation, the processing unit 1702 is further configured to delete the first list and / or the first waiting duration when the first condition is not met.

[0342] In another alternative implementation, the communication unit 1701 is configured to send the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell under the first network device, specifically, send the first indication information to the first network device when a second condition is met. The second condition includes: receiving fourth indication information from the first cell under the first network device, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, and / or being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device allows the terminal device of the store-and-forward type to camp on or access.

[0343] In yet another alternative implementation, the communication unit 1701 is configured to send the first indication information to the first network device through the first cell under the first network device, specifically, send the first indication information to the first network device when both a first condition and a second condition are met. The first condition includes: no failure in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices indicated by the first list, or the first condition includes: no failure in establishing a communication connection with all the network devices except the first network device among one or more network devices indicated by the first list. The second condition includes: receiving fourth indication information from the first cell under the first network device, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in the store-and-forward mode, or being used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device allows the terminal device of the store-and-forward type to camp on or access.

[0344] In an alternative implementation, the first list does not include information of one or more third network devices, the one or more third network devices being network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device.

[0345] In an alternative implementation, the processing unit 1702 is further configured to: receive second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a third list, the third list including information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device being a third network device that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device among the one or more third network devices; and determine a fifth network device to be requested to access, the fifth network device being included in the fourth network device.

[0346] In another possible design, the communication device 1700 can include: a processing unit 1702 and a communication unit 1701, and the device is applied to a first network device;

[0347] The communication unit 1701 is configured to receive first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting duration, the first list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for coverage by one or more network devices.

[0348] The processing unit 1702 is configured to determine, based on the first indication information, not to configure the terminal device with a second list and / or a second waiting duration, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for coverage by one or more network devices.

[0349] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is carried in an access request of the terminal device, and the access request is used to request establishment of a communication connection with the first network device; and the communication unit 1701 is further configured to send an access response to the terminal device, the access response being used to indicate that establishment of the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response does not carry the second list and / or the second waiting duration.

[0350] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0351] The first indication information comprises the first list; or the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list comprises information of network devices other than the first network device; or the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is an Nth terminal device that requests access to a network, and N is an integer greater than 1.

[0352] In an optional implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration; and the first indication information comprises the first waiting duration.

[0353] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1702 is further configured to release information of the terminal device.

[0354] In another possible design, the communication device 1700 can include a processing unit 1702 and a communication unit 1701, and the device is applied to a terminal device.

[0355] The communication unit 1701 is configured to receive a second list and / or a second waiting duration from a first network device, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices, and the first network device being a network device that the terminal device currently requests to access;

[0356] The processing unit 1702 is configured to, in response to receiving the second list and / or the second waiting duration, determine a second network device to be requested to access in a case that a first list and / or a first waiting duration have been configured, the second network device being included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration.

[0357] The first list comprises information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices.

[0358] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1702 is further configured to delete the second list and / or the second waiting duration.

[0359] In an optional implementation, the communication unit 1701 is further configured to send third indication information to the first network device, the third indication information being used to indicate information of the terminal device released by the first network device.

[0360] In an optional implementation, the third indication information is further used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

[0361] In an optional implementation, the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list.

[0362] The third indication information comprises the first list; or the third indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list comprises information of network devices other than the first network device; or the third indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is an Nth terminal device that requests to access a network, and N is an integer greater than 1.

[0363] In an optional implementation, the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration; and the third indication information comprises the first waiting duration.

[0364] In yet another implementation, the communication apparatus comprises: a processing unit 1702 and a communication unit 1701, the apparatus is applied to a terminal device, the processing unit 1702 is configured to process signals;

[0365] The communication unit 1701 is configured to receive a first list, the first list comprises information of one or more sixth network devices, and the first list does not comprise information of one or more third network devices.

[0366] The one or more sixth network devices are network devices that have obtained or are about to obtain registration information of the terminal device, and the one or more third network devices are network devices that have not obtained the registration information of the terminal device.

[0367] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1702 further performs the following steps: receiving second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate a third list, the third list comprises information of a fourth network device, the fourth network device is a third network device in the one or more third network devices that has obtained the registration information of the terminal device; determining a fifth network device to be requested to access, the fifth network device is included in the fourth network device.

[0368] In yet another implementation, the communication apparatus comprises: a processing unit 1702 and a communication unit 1701, the apparatus is applied to a terminal device, the communication unit 1701 is configured to receive / transmit signals;

[0369] The processing unit 1702 is configured to determine whether fifth indication information exists in a system broadcast message from a first cell under a first network device.

[0370] The processing unit 1702 is further configured to, in the absence of the fifth indication information, determine whether to camp on the first cell under the first network device based on non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device.

[0371] The fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first cell under the first network device works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or is used to indicate whether the first cell under the first network device allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp on.

[0372] In an alternative implementation, the processing unit 1702 determines whether to allow camping on the first cell under the first network device based on the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device, specifically: in a case where the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell under the first network device indicates barring, it is determined that camping on the first cell under the first network device is not allowed; in a case where the non-terrestrial network cell barring information indicates non-barring, it is determined that camping on the first cell under the first network device is allowed.

[0373] The embodiments of the present application and the above-mentioned method embodiments are based on the same concept and bring the same technical effects. For specific principles, refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0374] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device 1800, and FIG. 18 is a structural schematic diagram of the communication device 1800. The communication device 1800 can be a terminal device, or a chip, chip system, or processor, etc. for implementing the above-mentioned method; or can be a network device, or a chip, chip system, or processor, etc. for supporting the implementation of the above-mentioned method. The device can be used to implement the method described in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and specific can refer to the description in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0375] The communication device 1800 can include one or more processors 1801. The processor 1801 can be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor, etc. For example, it can be a baseband processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or a central processing unit (CPU). 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 device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of software programs.

[0376] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1800 can include one or more memories 1802, and instructions 1804 can be stored on the memories 1802. The instructions can be run on the processor 1801, so that the communication device 1800 executes the methods described in the above-mentioned method embodiments. Wherein, the instructions can be replaced by programs. In a possible implementation, the memory 1802 can also store data. The processor 1801 and the memory 1802 can be separately arranged or integrated together. The processor 1801 is configured to parse signaling information and process related data; and the memory 1802 is configured to store signaling information and pre-agreed preset values, etc.

[0377] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus 1800 can further include a transceiver 1805, an antenna 1806. The transceiver 1805 can be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, or a transceiving circuit, etc., for implementing a transceiving function. The transceiver 1805 can include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver can be referred to as a receiver, a receiving circuit, etc., for implementing a receiving function; the transmitter can be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitting circuit, etc., for implementing a transmitting function.

[0378] In a possible design, the communication apparatus 1800 can be applied to a terminal apparatus. Specifically, the processor 1801 is configured to perform S1001 in the method shown in FIG. 10, S1203 in the method shown in FIG. 12, and S1501 and S1502 in the method shown in FIG. 15; and the transceiver 1805 is configured to perform S1002 in the method shown in FIG. 10, S1201 and S1202 in the method shown in FIG. 12, and S1401 in the method shown in FIG. 14.

[0379] In another possible design, the communication apparatus 1800 can be applied to a first apparatus. Specifically, the processor 1801 is configured to perform S1003 in the method shown in FIG. 10; and the transceiver 1805 is configured to perform S1002 in the method shown in FIG. 10, S1201 and S1202 in the method shown in FIG. 12, and S1401 in the method shown in FIG. 14.

[0380] In a possible implementation, the processor 1801 can store instructions 1803. The instructions 1803 run on the processor 1801, and can cause the communication apparatus 1800 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. The instructions 1803 can be fixed in the processor 1801. In this case, the processor 1801 can be implemented by hardware.

[0381] The embodiments of the present application and any of the above communication method 100 to communication method 400 embodiments are based on the same idea, and bring the same technical effects. For specific principles, refer to the description of any of the above communication method 100 to communication method 400 embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0382] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system, which includes a terminal apparatus and a network apparatus. In another possible design, the system can further include other apparatuses / function network elements that interact with at least one of the terminal apparatus and the network apparatus.

[0383] The embodiments of the present application also provide a chip, which includes a processor. The processor invokes a computer program stored in a memory to enable a communication apparatus including the chip to implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0384] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, realize the functions of any of the method embodiments.

[0385] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, realize the functions of any of the method embodiments.

[0386] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, realizes the functions of any of the method embodiments.

[0387] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification of the present application, claims, and drawings are used to distinguish different objects, and are not used to describe a particular order. "First", "second", and the like are only used for description purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second", and the like can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more.

[0388] In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but can optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or can optionally include other steps or units inherent to the process, method, product, or device.

[0389] In the present embodiment, the phrase "embodiment" means that the specific features, structures, or properties described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase at various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is not mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0390] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, "multiple" refers to two or two or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the relationship between the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A, only B, and A and B at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after it. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including single or multiple combinations of items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0391] In the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example or illustration. Any embodiment or design presented as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Rather, the use of "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner, facilitating understanding.

[0392] In the above embodiments, all or part can be realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When realized by software, it can be realized in the form of a computer program product in whole or in part. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. 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.) mode. 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 high-density digital video disc (digital video disc, DVD)), or semiconductor media (such as solid state disk (solid state disk, SSD)) and the like.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal device, and the method comprises: determining that a first list and / or a first waiting duration have been configured, the first list comprising information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices; sending first indication information to a first network device, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first list, and / or, being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first waiting duration; the first network device being a network device that the terminal device currently requests to access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first list; the first indication information comprising the first list; or, the first indication information being specifically used to indicate that the first list comprises information of network devices other than the first network device; or, the first indication information being specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is a terminal device that requests to access a network for an Nth time, the N being an integer greater than 1.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured the first waiting duration; the first indication information comprising the first waiting duration.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the first indication information being carried in an access request, the access request being used to request to establish a communication connection with the first network device; the method further comprising: receiving an access response from the first network device, the access response being used to indicate that the establishment of the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response not carrying a second list and / or a second waiting duration, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices; determining a second network device to be requested to access, the second network device being included in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the sending of the first indication information to the first network device comprising: sending the first indication information to the first network device in a case where a first condition is met; the first condition comprising: no establishment of a communication connection with all network devices indicated by the first list failing; or, the first condition comprising: or no establishment of a communication connection with all network devices other than the first network device in the one or more network devices indicated by the first list failing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the method further comprising: deleting the first list and / or the first waiting duration in a case where the first condition is not met.

7. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a first network device, and the method comprises: receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that a terminal device has been configured a first list and / or a first waiting duration, the first list comprising information of one or more network devices that will cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices; determining, based on the first indication information, that the terminal device is not configured with a second list and / or a second waiting duration, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, the first indication information is carried in an access request of the terminal device, the access request being used to request establishment of a communication connection with the first network device; and the method further comprises: sending, to the terminal device, an access response, the access response being used to indicate that establishment of the communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device fails, and the access response not carrying the second list and / or the second waiting duration.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list; the first indication information comprises the first list; or the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the first list comprises information of network devices other than the first network device; or the first indication information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device is an Nth terminal device that requests to access a network, N being an integer greater than 1.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration; the first indication information comprises the first waiting duration.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, the method further comprises: releasing information of the terminal device.

12. A communication method, comprising: the method is applied to a terminal device, and the method comprises: receiving, from a first network device, a second list and / or a second waiting duration, the second list comprising information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the second waiting duration being a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices, the first network device being a network device that the terminal device currently requests to access; in response to receiving the second list and / or the second waiting duration, determining, in a case where the terminal device has been configured with a first list and / or a first waiting duration, a second network device to be requested to access, the second network device being included in one or more network devices indicated by the first list, or the second network device being a network device corresponding to the first waiting duration; the first list comprises information of one or more network devices that are about to cover the terminal device, and the first waiting duration is a duration for the terminal device to wait for being covered by one or more network devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, the method further comprises: deleting the second list and / or the second waiting duration.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, the method further comprises: sending, to the first network device, third indication information, the third indication information being used to instruct the first network device to release information of the terminal device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third indication information is further used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list and / or the first waiting duration.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list; the third indication information comprises the first list; or the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device has been configured with the first list; the third indication information comprises the first list; or The third indication information is specifically used for indicating that the first list comprises information of network devices other than the first network device. The third indication information is specifically used for indicating that the terminal device is an Nth terminal device requesting to access a network, where N is an integer greater than 1.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The third indication information is used for indicating that the terminal device has been configured with the first waiting duration. The third indication information comprises the first waiting duration.

18. A method of communication, comprising: The method is applied to a terminal device, and the method comprises: determining whether fifth indication information exists in a system broadcast message from a first cell under a first network device; in a case where the fifth indication information does not exist, determining whether to allow camping on the first cell based on non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell; The fifth indication information is used for indicating that the first cell works in a store-and-forward mode, and / or is used for indicating whether the first cell allows a terminal device of a store-and-forward type to camp.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The determination of whether to allow camping on the first cell based on the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell comprises: in a case where the non-terrestrial network cell barring information from the first cell indicates barring, determining not to allow camping on the first cell; in a case where the non-terrestrial network cell barring information indicates non-barring, determining to allow camping on the first cell.

20. A communications device, characterized by The communication device comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, or a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, or a module for executing the method according to claim 18 or 19.

21. A communications device, characterized by The communication device comprises a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, or configured to execute the method according to claim 18 or 19.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are run on a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 7 to 11 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17 is implemented, or the method according to claim 18 or 19 is implemented.

23. A computer program product comprising instructions, characterized in that, When the instructions are run on a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 7 to 11 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17 is implemented, or the method according to claim 18 or 19 is implemented.

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