Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device receiving a first message that does not comprise monitoring lists, and determining, on the basis of whether the terminal device operates in a store and forward mode or on the basis of first indication information or second indication information in the first message, whether a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device indicated by a first monitoring list accesses a network or performs data transmission, wherein the first monitoring list is a monitoring list stored on the terminal device, and the first monitoring list is used to indicate at least one NTN device available for the terminal device to access. By means of the method, subsequent procedures of the terminal device can be determined when the network does not send a monitoring list to the terminal device.

Description

Communication method and communication apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411377931.3, filed on September 27, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and communication apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0003] The feeder discontinuous scenario is also referred to as a store and forward (S&F) scenario, in which an access connection and a feeder connection are not available at all times during the operation of a satellite, i.e., the access connection and the feeder connection are disconnected for a period of time. In the S&F scenario, data / signaling sent by a terminal device or a server needs to be buffered on the satellite, and then the information is sent to the terminal device or the server when the feeder or service link is available. In the S&F mode, the data sent by the terminal device or the server is first stored on the NTN device, and then forwarded to the destination. In the S&F mode, only delay-tolerant services can be supported.

[0004] In the S&F scenario, after the terminal device sends an access request or a data transmission request each time, the network carries a monitoring list in the response message, which indicates at least one satellite available for the terminal device to access. Then, when the terminal device and the network perform the next interaction, the terminal device can access the network or perform data transmission through the satellite indicated by the received monitoring list. However, if the network does not carry the monitoring list in the response message sent to the terminal device at a certain time, how the terminal device performs the next interaction with the network is a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus, which can determine the subsequent process of the terminal device when the network does not send the monitoring list to the terminal device.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a circuit, etc., which can also be a logical module, hardware and / or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device) applied to the terminal device.

[0007] The method can comprise: receiving a first message, the first message being a response message of a first request message, the first request message being used to request access to a network or perform data transmission; in a case where a first condition is met, accessing the network or performing the data transmission through a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device indicated by a first monitoring list, the first monitoring list being a monitoring list stored on the terminal device, the first monitoring list being used to indicate at least one NTN device available for the terminal device to access; or in a case where a second condition is met, accessing the network or performing the data transmission through any satellite; wherein the first condition comprises that the first message does not include a monitoring list, and at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device works in a store-and-forward mode, the first message includes first indication information, or the terminal device stores the first monitoring list, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the network or performs the data transmission through a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list; and the second condition comprises that the first message does not include a monitoring list, and at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, or the first message includes second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not access the network or perform the data transmission through a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list.

[0008] Based on the above scheme, the terminal device determines whether to use the stored monitoring list by itself or according to the indication of the network, so that the timeliness of data transmission can be ensured while the energy saving of the terminal device is achieved.

[0009] The mobility management network element can be an MME or an AMF, or a network element having a similar function in other communication systems.

[0010] The terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode, which can be understood as that the terminal device receives an S&F indication broadcast by an NTN device, and / or the terminal device supports an S&F mode, and / or the terminal device receives an S&F indication broadcast by an NTN device and feeds back an S&F capability. The terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, which can be understood as that the terminal device works in a normal mode.

[0011] The terminal device stores the first monitoring list, which can be understood as that the context information of the terminal device includes the first monitoring list. It should be understood that the mobility management network element can obtain the context of the terminal device from the HSS or the UDM, and determine whether the context information of the terminal device includes the first monitoring list, or the mobility management network element deployed on the NTN device obtains the context of the terminal device from the mobility management network element deployed on the ground, wherein the mobility management network element deployed on the NTN device can be the same as or different from the mobility management network element deployed on the ground.

[0012] In some implementations, the method further includes: deleting the first monitoring list when the second condition is met.

[0013] In some implementations, the second indication information is further used to instruct the terminal device to delete the first monitoring list.

[0014] In some implementations, the method further includes: receiving a second message, the second message including the first monitoring list.

[0015] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a mobility management network element or a module (for example, a processor, a chip, or a circuit, etc., which can also be a logical module, hardware and / or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the mobility management network element) applied to the mobility management network element.

[0016] The method can include: receiving a first request message from a terminal device, the first request message being used to request access to a network or perform data transmission; determining to send a first message not including a monitoring list to the terminal device when a third condition or a fourth condition is met, the first message being a response message of the first request message; the third condition including that the terminal device works in a store-and-forward mode, and further including at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device stores a first monitoring list, a second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element according to the first request message is the same as the first monitoring list, the first monitoring list or the second monitoring list being used to indicate at least one non-terrestrial network (NTN) device available for the terminal device to access; the fourth condition including that the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode.

[0017] Based on the above scheme, the first message not including the monitoring list is sent to the terminal device, and the terminal device can determine whether to use the stored monitoring list, so that the timeliness of data transmission can be ensured while the energy saving of the terminal device is achieved.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first message comprises first indication information for instructing the terminal device to access a satellite access network or perform data transmission via a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list, when the third condition is met; and the first message comprises second indication information for instructing the terminal device not to access a satellite access network or perform data transmission via a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list, when the fourth condition is met.

[0019] Based on the above scheme, the terminal device is instructed whether to use the stored monitoring list.

[0020] In some embodiments, the second indication information is further used to instruct the terminal device to delete the first monitoring list.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: determining to send, to the terminal device, a first message comprising a second monitoring list, when a fifth condition is met, the fifth condition comprising that the terminal device operates in a store-and-forward mode, and the second monitoring list is different from the first monitoring list.

[0022] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: sending a second message, the second message comprising the first monitoring list.

[0023] In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which has the function of implementing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more units corresponding to the above functions.

[0024] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which has the function of implementing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more units corresponding to the above functions.

[0025] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises at least one processor configured to cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or perform the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. Optionally, the at least one processor is coupled with at least one memory for storing computer program or instructions, and the at least one processor is configured to invoke and run the computer program or instructions from the at least one memory, so as to cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or perform the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. Optionally, the at least one processor can be included in the communication apparatus, or can be configured outside the communication apparatus. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises the at least one memory. Further optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a communication interface coupled with the at least one processor, and configured to input information and / or data to the at least one processor, or output information and / or data from the at least one processor. As an example, the communication interface can include an input interface and / or an output interface, or an interface circuit, etc.

[0026] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises a communication interface and a circuit, the communication interface is configured to receive a signal to be processed, and transmit the signal to the circuit; and the circuit is configured to process the signal, so as to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect; or perform the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. Optionally, the communication interface is further configured to output the signal processed by the circuit. As an example, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a hardware circuit, a bus, a module, a pin, or other types of communication interfaces. The signal includes information and / or data. Optionally, the communication apparatus can be a chip.

[0027] In a seventh aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, which stores computer program codes or instructions, when the computer program codes or instructions are run on a computer, the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect is implemented; or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect is implemented.

[0028] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which comprises computer program codes or instructions, when the computer program codes or instructions are run on a computer, the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect is implemented; or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect is implemented.

[0029] In a ninth aspect, a wireless communication system is provided, comprising the communication apparatus according to the third aspect and the communication apparatus according to the fourth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is an example of a communication system suitable for the technical solutions of the present application.

[0031] FIG. 2 is another example of a communication system suitable for the technical solutions of the present application.

[0032] FIG. 3 is yet another example of a communication system suitable for the technical solutions of the present application.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 400 provided by the present application.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 500 provided by the present application.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 600 provided by the present application.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus provided by the present application.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication apparatus provided by the present application.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments provided by the present application, the following points are explained:

[0040] 1) In the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship, if there is no special description and logical conflict.

[0041] 2) The arrows or blocks shown by dashed lines in the schematic diagrams in the drawing part of the specification of the present application represent optional steps or optional modules.

[0042] 3) The ordinal numbers such as “first”, “second” and the like mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first message and the second message can be the same message or different messages, and such names do not represent the difference in content, size, application scenario, sending end / receiving end, priority or importance of the two messages. In addition, the numbering of steps in each embodiment introduced in the present application is only to distinguish different steps, and is not used to limit the sequence of the steps.

[0043] 4) In this application, descriptions such as “when…”, “under the circumstances of…” and “if” all refer to the fact that the device will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. They are not time limits, nor do they require the device to make a judgment action when it is implemented, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0044] 5) In this application, "instruction" or "for instruction" can include both direct and indirect instruction. When describing an instruction as being used to instruct A, it may include whether the instruction directly instructs A or indirectly instructs A, but does not necessarily mean that the instruction carries A.

[0045] The indication methods involved in the embodiments of this application should be understood to cover various methods that enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately. Moreover, the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. This application does not limit the sending method, for example.

[0046] The "instruction information" in the embodiments of this application can be an explicit instruction, that is, a direct instruction through signaling, or an instruction obtained by combining other rules or parameters with the parameters indicated by the signaling, or by deduction. It can also be an implicit instruction, that is, an instruction obtained based on rules or relationships, or based on other parameters, or by deduction. This application does not specifically limit it in this regard.

[0047] 6) The “protocol” used in this application may refer to standard protocols in the field of communications, such as fourth-generation (4G) protocols. th Generation 4G network, fifth generation (5G) network th This application does not limit the scope of network protocols such as generation (5G), NR protocol, and related protocols applied in future communication systems.

[0048] 7) In this application, "communication" can also be described as "data transmission", "information transmission", "data processing", etc. "Transmission" includes "sending" and "receiving".

[0049] 8) In this application, "sending information to XX (device)" can be understood as the destination of the information being that device. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to that device. "Receiving information from XX (device), or receiving information from XX (device)" can be understood as the source of the information being that device, and can include receiving information directly or indirectly from that device. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source.

[0050] 9) The terms "comprise" and "comprising", and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those listed steps or elements but can include additional steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0051] In various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial number of each process described above does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0052] In the present application, each example can be referred to each other without logical contradiction, for example, the method and / or terms between the method embodiments can be referred to each other, for example, the functions and / or terms between the device embodiments can be referred to each other, for example, the functions and / or terms between the device examples and the method examples can be referred to each other.

[0053] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0054] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile communication system (UMTS), 5th generation (5G) system or new radio (NR) or other evolved communication systems, etc.

[0055] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 100. Various embodiments of the present application can be applied to the network architecture shown in Figure 1. Each part involved in the network architecture shown in Figure 1 will be described below.

[0056] 1. Terminal device.

[0057] The terminal device can also be referred to as: user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user equipment, etc.

[0058] The terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, such as a handheld phone, a car phone, etc. Currently, some examples of the terminal device are a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device having wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc., and the like.

[0059] The terminal device can also be a wearable device. The wearable device can also be referred to as a wearable smart device, which is a general term for devices that are designed and developed by applying wearable technology to daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes, etc. The wearable device is a portable device that is directly worn on the body or integrated into a user's clothes or accessories. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also a device that realizes powerful functions through software support and data interaction and cloud interaction. The general wearable smart device includes a device with full functions and large size, which can realize complete or partial functions without relying on a smart phone, such as a smart watch or smart glasses, etc., and a device that focuses on a certain application function and can be used in cooperation with other devices, such as a smart phone, such as various smart wristbands and smart jewelry for monitoring vital signs, etc.

[0060] In addition, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an internet of things (IoT) system. The IoT is an important part of future information technology development, and its main technical feature is to connect objects through communication technology and network, so as to realize the intelligent network of man-machine interconnection and object-object interconnection.

[0061] 2. (Radio) access network ((R)AN): used to provide network access functions for authorized users in a specific area, and can use different quality transmission tunnels according to the level of users, service requirements, etc. The (R)AN network element can manage radio resources, provide access services for terminal devices, and then complete the forwarding of control signals and user data between terminal devices and core networks. Specifically, the (R)AN can also be understood as a base station in the (R)AN, which can be referred to as an access network device.

[0062] Specifically, the access network device can be a transmission reception point (TRP), and can also be an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, and can also be a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB, or a home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), and can also be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or the access network device can be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and an access network device in a 5G network or a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN) network, etc. It can be an access point (AP) in a WLAN, and can be a gNB in a new radio (NR) system. Embodiments of the present application are not limited. In one network structure, the access network device can include a centralized unit (CU) node, or a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node, or a RAN device including a control plane CU node (CU-CP node) and a user plane CU node (CU-UP node) and a DU node.

[0063] 3、access and mobility management function (AMF): mainly used for mobility management and access management, etc. Specifically, the AMF can be used to implement the functions of the mobility management entity (MME) except for session management, such as lawful interception, or access authorization (or authentication), etc.

[0064] 4、session management function (SMF): also known as a session management function network element, mainly used for session management, terminal device Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection of a manageable user plane function, a terminal point of a policy control or charging function interface, and downlink data notification, etc. Specifically, the source session management network element 110, the anchor session management network element 120, and the target session management network element 190 in FIG. 1 can all be SMFs.

[0065] It should be understood that in the above system architecture 100, the access network device 120 can be the RAN in FIG. 2; the access and mobility management network element 130 can be the AMF in FIG. 2; and the session management network element 140 can be the SMF in FIG. 2, without limitation.

[0066] Optionally, the system architecture 200 can also include:

[0067] 5、user plane function (UPF): also known as a user plane function or a user plane network element or a user plane function network element, used for packet routing and forwarding, or quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data, etc.

[0068] 6、data network (DN): used to provide a network for transmitting data, such as an Internet network, etc.

[0069] 7、authentication server function (AUSF): mainly used for user authentication, etc.

[0070] 8、policy control function (PCF): a unified policy framework for guiding network behavior, providing policy rule information for control plane function network elements (such as AMF, SMF network elements, etc.), etc.

[0071] 9、Unified Data Management (UDM): used for processing user identification, access authentication, registration, or mobility management, etc.

[0072] 10、Application Function (AF): mainly supports interaction with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) core network to provide services, for example, affecting data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing some services of third parties to the network side. It can be understood as a third-party server, for example, an application server in the Internet, providing relevant service information, including providing service quality requirement information corresponding to the service to the PCF, and sending user plane data information of the service to the PSA-UPF. The AF can be a content provider (CP).

[0073] 11、Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF): used for selection of network slices.

[0074] In the system architecture 100, the N1 interface is a reference point between the terminal device and the AMF; the N2 interface is a reference point between the (R)AN and the AMF, used for sending non-access stratum (NAS) messages, etc.; the N3 interface is a reference point between the (R)AN and the I-UPF, used for transmitting user plane data, etc.; the N4 interface is a reference point between the SMF and the I-UPF, used for transmitting information such as tunnel identification information of the N3 connection, data buffering indication information, and downlink data notification messages; the N5 interface is a reference point between the PCF and the AF; the N6 interface is a reference point between the UPF and the DN, used for transmitting user plane data, etc.; the N7 interface is a reference point between the SMF and the PCF; the N8 interface is a reference point between the AMF and the UDM; the N9 interface is a reference point between UPFs; the N10 interface is a reference point between the SMF and the UDM; the N11 interface is a reference point between the AMF and the SMF; the N12 interface is a reference point between the AMF and the AUSF; and the N22 interface is a reference point between the AMF and the NSSF.

[0075] It should be understood that the above system architecture 100 is only a network architecture described from the perspective of the reference point architecture, and the network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and any network architecture capable of realizing the functions of the above-mentioned network elements is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0076] It should be noted that the interface names between the various network elements in FIG. 1 are only an example, and the names of the interfaces in the specific implementation can be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations thereto.

[0077] It should be noted that the names of the various network elements (such as SMF, AF, UPF, etc.) included in FIG. 1 are also only an example, and do not constitute a limitation on the functions of the network elements themselves. In 5G networks and future other networks, the above-mentioned various network elements can also be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations thereto. For example, in other networks, part or all of the above-mentioned various network elements can continue to use the terms in 5G, or other names can be used, etc. A unified description is made here, and the following will not be described again. In addition, it should be understood that the names of the messages (or signaling) transmitted between the above-mentioned various network elements are also only an example, and do not constitute any limitation on the functions of the messages themselves.

[0078] The network architecture shown in the above FIG. 1 is only an example, and the network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and any network architecture capable of realizing the functions of the above-mentioned various network elements is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0079] For example, in some network architectures, the network function entities such as AMF, SMF, PCF, and UDM are all called network functions (network function, NF); or in some other network architectures, the set of AMF, SMF, PCF, and UDM can be called a control plane function.

[0080] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture 200. The various embodiments of the present application can also be applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 2. The various parts involved in the network architecture shown in FIG. 2 will be described below.

[0081] 1. Mobile Management Entity (MME): MME is a key control node of the LTE access network. It is responsible for paging and marking processes including retransmission for idle mode users (UE). The MME is similar to the functions of the AMF plus the SMF in the network architecture 100.

[0082] 2. Serving Gateway (SGW): A mobile core network element with functions such as local mobility anchor point for inter-eNodeB handover, mobility anchor for inter-3GPP mobility, packet routing and forwarding, transport level packet marking, inter-operator charging considerations, etc. Similar to the UPF in the network architecture 100, it also has part of the SMF function.

[0083] 3、Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW): PDN Gateway (PGW): The PDN Gateway serves as a connection point to provide the UE with transmission between the public data network (PDN). A UE can access multiple PDNs through multiple PGWs at the same time. The PGW implements the implementation of control policies, packet filtering for users, charging, lawful interception and packet screening. Similar to the UPF in the network architecture 100, there are also some SMF functions.

[0084] 4、Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF): Defined in the 3GPP standard, it is the integration of PDF and CRF, which completes the dynamic QoS policy control and dynamic flow-based charging control function, and also provides authorization control function based on user subscription information. Similar to the PCF in the network architecture 100.

[0085] 5、System Capabilities Exchange Function (SCEF): Used for interaction between operators and service providers. Similar to the NEF in the network architecture 100.

[0086] 6、Home Subscriber Server (HSS): A core database in the user's home network that stores user information. Used to save the subscription information of IMS users in the home network, and provides a management interface for operators and end users to customize and modify subscription data. The main information saved in the HSS includes: IMS user identification, IMS user security context, IMS user routing information and service subscription information. Similar to the HLR in the GSM system. Similar to the UDM in the network architecture 100.

[0087] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are applicable to both the network architecture 100 and the network architecture 200, and the functions of some network elements are similar and can be replaced when explained in the specification. For example, the MME has the functions of mobility management and part of the session management, corresponding to the AMF and the SMF. The PCRF corresponds to the PCF, the HSS corresponds to the UDM, and the SGW, PGW corresponds to the UPF.

[0088] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 300 in a satellite scenario.

[0089] 3GPP is committed to combining 5G network with satellite, from R15 version, 3GPP has carried out standardization work of non-terrestrial network (NTN) and satellite overall architecture (SAT_ARCH).

[0090] NTN includes two scenarios of transparent forwarding and regenerative forwarding. The transparent payload NTN can regard the satellite as a relay node on the network side, the satellite changes the frequency carrier of the uplink radio frequency signal, filters and amplifies it before downlink transmission, but the signal waveform carried does not change. The regenerative payload is the effective payload of the uplink radio frequency signal before it is transmitted on the downlink, including demodulation / decoding, encoding / modulation, etc., for example, the satellite has all or part of the base station function, and optionally can also have all or part of the core network function (for example, taking 4G core network as an example, the satellite has MME, SGW, etc.).

[0091] In the regenerative satellite architecture, it is not currently specified in the standard which network elements / devices are deployed on the satellite and which are deployed on the ground.

[0092] For example, 1) the base station can be deployed on the satellite, and the entire set of core network elements are deployed on the ground. 2) The base station and part of the core network elements can be deployed on the satellite (for example, RAN+MME / AMF), and the other core network elements are deployed on the ground (HSS / UDM, PCRF / PCF, UPF / SGW / PGW). 3) The base station and the entire set of core network elements can be deployed on the satellite, and connected with the application server on the ground through the feeder link. 4) The base station and part of the functions of the entire set of core network elements (such as part of the MME function, part of the SGW function, etc.) can be deployed on the satellite, and connected with the core network elements or other functional modules on the ground through the feeder link (at this time, the satellite has the entire set of core network elements, and the ground also has part of the core network elements or functional modules, and these network elements on the ground can have some special functions, which are used for S&F service).

[0093] The service link in FIG. 3 refers to the link between the satellite and the terminal device, and the feeder link refers to the link between the satellite and the gateway station. As shown in FIG. 3, 5GC is a 5G core network (5G core network), which can also be replaced by a 4G core network, that is, an evolved packet core (EPC). The satellite and the gateway station are maintained by the satellite operator.

[0094] For the convenience of understanding the embodiments of the present application, some basic concepts related to the present application are briefly described.

[0095] 1. Non-terrestrial networks (NTN): including satellite networks, high-altitude platforms, and unmanned aerial vehicles, etc. nodes, with global coverage, long-distance transmission, flexible networking, easy deployment, and no geographical conditions restrictions, etc. significant advantages, has been widely used in marine communication, positioning navigation, disaster relief, scientific experiments, video broadcasting and earth observation, etc. multiple fields. Terrestrial 5G networks and satellite networks are integrated with each other, taking advantages of each other, and together forming a global seamless coverage of sea, land, air, sky, and earth integrated communication network, which meets the user's ubiquitous business needs. The NTN device in the present application includes a satellite or other communication equipment above the ground.

[0096] 2. Feeding discontinuous scenario

[0097] 3GPP R19 version discusses the feeding discontinuous scenario based on regenerative payload, which is also called store and forward (S&F) scenario. As shown in the figure, in this scenario, the network element / device on the satellite is not available at all times for access connection and feeding connection, that is, the access connection and the feeding connection will be disconnected for a period of time.

[0098] In this scenario, the access connection and the feeding connection cannot be available at the same time. Therefore, the network element / device deployed on the satellite needs to receive and store the uplink data of the UE when the access connection is available, and forward the stored uplink data of the UE to the ground network element / device when the feeding connection is available, and receive and store the downlink data sent to the UE from the ground network element / device. When the access connection is available again, the stored downlink data is forwarded to the UE.

[0099] Under the S&F scenario, the data / signaling sent by the UE or the server needs to be buffered on the satellite, and then when the feeding or service link is available, the information is sent to the UE or the server.

[0100] In the S&F mode, only delay-tolerant services can be supported.

[0101] The S&F mode is generally applied to IoT services. The terminal corresponding to the IoT service is generally sensitive to energy consumption.

[0102] 3GPP R19 standard defines that 4G network supports S&F, and defines MME-split architecture, i.e. part of MME function is located on satellite (called MME-on board) and part of MME function is located on ground (called MME-on ground). Regarding the interface between MME-on board and MME-on ground, 3GPP does not define, and the present application does not define, and hereinafter MME-on board and MME-on ground are not distinguished, and are all referred to as MME.

[0103] 3. UE's onboarding procedure

[0104] 3GPP defines a two-step procedure to complete UE's onboarding. The brief introduction is as follows:

[0105] Step 1: Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) broadcasts S&F indication, which indicates that satellite works in S&F mode.

[0106] Step 2: When service link is available, UE initiates attach procedure, i.e. sends attach request to MME through E-UTRAN, carrying S&F capability, indicating that UE supports S&F.

[0107] Step 3: Since MME does not have UE context, such as UE's subscription data, authentication data, MME rejects UE's attach request.

[0108] Step 4: MME sends attach reject to UE, carrying S&F wait timer, monitoring list. The monitoring list is composed of at least one satellite.

[0109] After the expiration of S&F wait timer, UE can access any satellite in the monitoring list. In this way, UE can only receive satellites in the monitoring list, rather than satellites in the entire satellite constellation. This enables UE to save energy.

[0110] At the same time of performing step 4, MME obtains UE context from HSS.

[0111] Next, UE performs step 5.

[0112] Step 5: When S&F wait timer expires, UE accesses any satellite in the monitoring list. That is, UE re-initiates attach procedure to MME, as shown in steps 1 and 2.

[0113] Since the MME has the UE context at this time, the MME can accept the attach request of the UE, that is, the attach accept returned by the MME to the UE, can carry the S&F wait timer and the monitoring list.

[0114] The above briefly introduces the scenario to which the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied in combination with FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, and introduces the basic concepts that can be involved in the embodiments of the present application, and introduces the network access process of the UE in the basic concepts. As described in the background, it is assumed that the UE sends an access / attach request or a data transmission request, and the network carries a monitoring list (referred to as an old monitoring list) in the response message, and then in the next interaction between the UE and the network, the network does not carry a new monitoring list (referred to as a new monitoring list) in the response message, then if the UE uses the old monitoring list, it can cause the data transmission to be not timely, and if the old monitoring list is not used, it can cause the energy consumption to increase.

[0115] Therefore, how the UE performs subsequent interaction with the network is a problem to be solved.

[0116] In order to solve the above problem, the present application provides a communication method, in order to achieve the energy saving of the UE while ensuring the timeliness of data transmission.

[0117] For ease of understanding and description, the sensing method of the embodiments of the present application is described below by taking the interaction between the mobility management network element and the terminal device as an example, but this should not constitute any limitation on the execution subject of the sensing method of the embodiments of the present application. For example, the method executed by the mobility management network element can also be executed by a module (such as a circuit, a chip or a chip system, etc.) of the mobility management network element, and can also be implemented by a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the function of the mobility management network element. The method executed by the terminal device can also be executed by a module (such as a circuit, a chip or a chip system, etc.) of the terminal device, and can also be implemented by a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the function of the terminal device.

[0118] Among them, the mobility management network element can be MME or AMF, or other communication system network element with similar function.

[0119] It should be understood that the description of the specific scenario in the embodiments of the present application is only an example, and the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the application scenarios described above, and is also applicable to the application scenarios with similar problems.

[0120] It should be understood that all the names of nodes and messages in this application are only names set for the convenience of description in this application, and the names in the actual network can be different. It should not be understood that this application limits the names of various nodes and messages. On the contrary, any name with the same or similar function as the nodes or messages used in this application is considered as a method or equivalent replacement of this application, and is within the protection scope of this application. The following will not be described again.

[0121] FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 400 provided by this application. The following steps are included:

[0122] S410, the mobility management network element receives a first request message from the terminal device, and the first request message is used to request access to the network or perform data transmission; correspondingly, the terminal device sends the first request message.

[0123] The first request message can be a message for requesting to initiate a (Non-Access Stratum, NAS) procedure, such as a Tracking Area Update (TAU) TAU procedure, a Service request procedure, or an attach procedure. Specifically, the terminal device sends a TAU request message, a Service request message, or an attach request message to the mobility management network element.

[0124] For example, the terminal device sends the first request message to the mobility management network element through an access network device (such as eNB2). In order to describe concisely, the description of the access network device as an intermediate node is omitted hereinafter. For example, the terminal device sending a message to the mobility management network element through the access network device is collectively referred to as the terminal device sending a message to the mobility management network element, and the mobility management network element sending a message to the terminal device through the access network device is collectively referred to as the mobility management network element sending a message to the terminal device.

[0125] S420, in the case of meeting a third condition or a fourth condition, the mobility management network element determines to send a first message not including a monitoring list to the terminal device, and the first message is a response message of the first request message.

[0126] The third condition includes that the terminal device works in a store-and-forward mode (S&F mode), and further includes at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device has a first monitoring list stored thereon, and a second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element according to the first request message is the same as the first monitoring list, wherein the first monitoring list or the second monitoring list is used to indicate at least one NTN device available for the terminal device to access.

[0127] The fourth condition includes: the terminal device is not operating in store-and-forward mode.

[0128] The monitoring list indicates to the terminal equipment the NTN devices used to send and receive Mobile Initiated (MO) / Mobile Termination (MT) signaling and data, while the network will only use the NTN devices in the monitoring list to process downlink data or signaling (mobile terminated traffic, MT traffic).

[0129] In this application, if a monitoring list is not provided to the terminal device, the terminal device may continue to use the previously provided monitoring list.

[0130] In this context, the terminal device operating in store-and-forward mode can be understood as follows: the terminal device receives an S&F indication broadcast by the NTN device, and / or the terminal device supports S&F mode, and / or the terminal device receives an S&F indication broadcast by the NTN device and responds with its S&F capability. The terminal device not operating in store-and-forward mode can be understood as operating in normal mode.

[0131] The terminal device stores a first monitoring list, which can be understood as the terminal device's context information including the first monitoring list. It should be understood that the mobility management network element can obtain the terminal device's context from the HSS or UDM and determine whether the terminal device's context information includes the first monitoring list. Alternatively, a mobility management network element deployed on a satellite can obtain the terminal device's context from a mobility management network element deployed on the ground. The mobility management network element deployed on the satellite and the mobility management network element deployed on the ground can be the same or different.

[0132] Optionally, the first monitoring list is sent to the terminal device by the mobility management network element before step S410, that is, the mobility management network element sends the first monitoring list to the terminal device before step S410.

[0133] Optionally, the first monitoring list is sent to the terminal device by other mobility management network elements before step S410.

[0134] The second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element based on the first request message can be understood as follows: after receiving the first request message, the mobility management network element determines the second monitoring list within the process corresponding to the first request message. For example, after receiving an attach request, the mobility management network element determines the second monitoring list based on one or more of the following: the location of the terminal device, the mobility of the terminal device, the availability or unavailability time of the power supply link, and the availability or unavailability time of the service link.

[0135] Based on the above scheme, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when it is determined that the terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode and the first monitoring list is stored on the terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0136] Alternatively, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when it is determined that the terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode and the second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element according to the first request message is the same as the first monitoring list, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0137] Alternatively, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when it is determined that the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0138] Alternatively, the third condition can be replaced by a fifth condition, and the fifth condition includes at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode, the first monitoring list is stored on the terminal device, or the second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element according to the first request message is the same as the first monitoring list.

[0139] Then, the step S420 can be replaced by: when the fifth condition or the fourth condition is met, the mobility management network element determines to send the first message not including the monitoring list to the terminal device. This scheme can be understood as: when the fifth condition is met, the mobility management network element determines to send the first message not including the monitoring list to the terminal device, or when the fourth condition is met, the mobility management network element determines to send the first message not including the monitoring list to the terminal device.

[0140] For example, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when it is determined that the terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0141] For another example, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when it is determined that the first monitoring list is stored on the terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0142] For another example, when the second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element according to the first request message is the same as the first monitoring list, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0143] For example, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when determining that the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, so that the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0144] S430 (optional step), the mobility management network element determines and indicates the terminal device the way of subsequent interaction with the network.

[0145] It should be understood that in step S420, the mobility management network element can determine not to send the monitoring list to the terminal device when determining that the third condition or the fourth condition is met, and the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself.

[0146] Further, the mobility management network element can directly determine and indicate the terminal device the way of subsequent interaction with the network.

[0147] Specifically, when the third condition is met, the first message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the satellite access network or perform data transmission indicated by the first monitoring list.

[0148] Or, when the fourth condition is met, the first message includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to access the satellite access network or perform data transmission indicated by the first monitoring list. Optionally, the second indication information further instructs the terminal device to delete the first monitoring list. Optionally, the first message further includes third indication information, and the third indication information instructs the terminal device to delete the first monitoring list.

[0149] S440, the mobility management network element sends the terminal device the first message not including the monitoring list; correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first message.

[0150] S450, after the terminal device receives the first message, it determines whether to access the NTN device or perform data transmission indicated by the first monitoring list.

[0151] Specifically, in the case where the first condition is met, the terminal device accesses the NTN device or performs data transmission indicated by the first monitoring list, and the first monitoring list is a monitoring list stored on the terminal device.

[0152] Or, in the case where the second condition is met, the terminal device accesses any satellite access network or performs data transmission.

[0153] The first condition includes that the first message does not include the monitoring list, and at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode, or the first message includes the first indication information, or the terminal device stores the first monitoring list.

[0154] The second condition comprises that the first message does not comprise the monitoring list, and at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, or the first message comprises the second indication information.

[0155] The terminal device accesses the network or performs data transmission through any satellite, which can be understood as that the terminal device accesses any satellite in a satellite constellation.

[0156] It should be understood that when the first message does not comprise any indication information, i.e., step S430 is not performed, the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself after receiving the first message.

[0157] Specifically, if the first message does not comprise the monitoring list and the terminal device works in the store-and-forward mode, the terminal device accesses the network or performs data transmission through the NTN device indicated by the first monitoring list.

[0158] Alternatively, if the first message does not comprise the monitoring list and the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, the terminal device accesses the network or performs data transmission through any satellite. Optionally, the terminal device can delete the first monitoring list.

[0159] When the first message comprises the indication information, i.e., step S430 is performed, the terminal device can determine the way of subsequent interaction with the network according to the indication of the indication information after receiving the first message.

[0160] Specifically, if the first message comprises the first indication information, the terminal device accesses the network or performs data transmission through the NTN device indicated by the first monitoring list.

[0161] Alternatively, if the first message comprises the second indication information, the terminal device accesses the network or performs data transmission through any satellite. Optionally, the terminal device can delete the first monitoring list according to the indication of the second indication information.

[0162] It should be understood that the terminal device deleting the first monitoring list can occur when the mode is converted, i.e., the terminal device is converted from working in the S&F mode to working in the normal mode. It can also occur when the UE needs to perform subsequent processes.

[0163] The method 400 shown in FIG. 4 is described below by taking the mobility management network element as MME and the terminal device as UE, for example, in combination with the method 500 shown in FIG. 5. It should be understood that the method 500 is a specific implementation manner of the method 400. In the method 500, the MME determines not to send the monitoring list to the UE, and the UE determines the way of subsequent interaction with the network by itself. The method comprises the following steps:

[0164] S510, the UE sends a TAU request / Service request / attach request to the MME, and the following is described by taking the attach request as an example.

[0165] S520, the MME sends an attach reject / accept message to the UE, carrying an old monitoring list (i.e., an example of the first monitoring list).

[0166] S530, the UE stores the old monitoring list.

[0167] It should be noted that the MME interacting with the UE in steps S510 to S530 and the MME interacting with the UE in subsequent steps can be the same MME or can not be the same MME. If they are not the same MME, the MME interacting with the UE in steps S510 to S530 can be referred to as a first MME, and the MME interacting with the UE in subsequent steps can be referred to as a second MME (i.e., the mobility management network element in method 400), which can obtain the context information of the UE from the HSS or the UDM and learn that the UE stores the old monitoring list.

[0168] For the sake of simplicity, the following is described by taking the first MME and the second MME as the same MME as an example.

[0169] S540, the UE sends a first request message (e.g., a TAU request / Service request / attach request) to the MME through the NTN device indicated by the old monitoring list.

[0170] S550, the MME sends a first message to the UE, the first message being a response message of the first request message, and the first message not including a monitoring list.

[0171] S560, the UE determines whether to perform a subsequent process using the old monitoring list. The subsequent process can be accessing a network or performing data transmission, for example, can be a NAS process or a data transmission process (e.g., a control plane data transmission process).

[0172] Specifically, if the UE works in the S&F mode, the UE performs the subsequent process through the NTN device indicated by the old monitoring list.

[0173] Alternatively, if the UE works in the normal mode, the UE can access any satellite in the satellite constellation. In this case, optionally, the UE can delete the old monitoring list.

[0174] The method 400 shown in FIG. 4 is described below by taking the method 600 shown in FIG. 6 as an example, taking the mobility management network element as the MME, and taking the terminal device as the UE. It should be understood that the method 600 is a specific implementation of the method 400. In the method 600, after the MME determines not to send the monitoring list to the UE, the MME judges and indicates the subsequent interaction mode of the UE with the network. The method includes the following steps:

[0175] S610 to S640 can refer to S510 to S540. For the sake of brevity of description, the first MME and the second MME are taken as the same MME for illustration.

[0176] S650, the MME determines whether to issue the monitoring list (the new monitoring list), and determines whether to instruct the UE to use the old monitoring list.

[0177] Specifically, when at least one of the following conditions is met, it is determined that the monitoring list is not sent to the UE, and the first indication information is sent to the UE, the first indication information instructing the UE to use the old monitoring list:

[0178] The UE works in the S&F mode and the UE context saved by the MME includes the monitoring list (i.e., the old monitoring list); or the UE works in the S&F mode and the new monitoring list generated by the MME is the same as the old monitoring list.

[0179] When at least one of the following conditions is met, it is determined that the monitoring list is not sent to the UE, and the second indication information is sent to the UE, the second indication information instructing the UE not to use the old monitoring list:

[0180] The UE works in the normal mode.

[0181] S660, the MME sends a first message to the UE, the first message being a response message of the first request message, the first message not including the monitoring list, and the first message including the first indication information or the second indication information.

[0182] S670, the UE determines a subsequent procedure according to an indication of the first indication information or the second indication information.

[0183] Specifically, if the first message includes the first indication information, the UE performs the subsequent procedure through the NTN device indicated by the old monitoring list.

[0184] Alternatively, if the first message includes the second indication information, the UE can access any satellite in the satellite constellation. In this case, optionally, the UE can delete the old monitoring list.

[0185] It should be understood that the size of the serial number of the above processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to their functions and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0186] It should also be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referred to if there is no special description and no logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0187] The above is a detailed description of the communication method provided by the present application. The following introduces the communication device provided by the present application.

[0188] In order to realize the functions of the communication device (such as a terminal device or a network device) in the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can realize the corresponding functions in the form of hardware and / or software.

[0189] FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication device 1000 includes a processing module 1001 and a communication module 1002. The communication device 1000 can be a communication device, or a device applied to a communication device and capable of realizing the corresponding functions of the communication device, such as a chip, a processor or a circuit, etc. Illustratively, the communication device can be a terminal device or a mobility management network element in the method embodiments, etc.

[0190] The communication module can also be a transceiving module, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a transceiving device, etc. The processing module can also be a processor, a processing board, a processing unit, or a processing device, etc. Optionally, the communication module is configured to perform the sending operation or the receiving operation of the terminal device or the network device in any one of the method embodiments. The device in the communication module for realizing the receiving function can be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device in the communication module for realizing the sending function can be regarded as a sending unit, that is, the communication module includes the receiving unit and the sending unit. The processing module is configured to perform the operation / process related to the internal implementation of the terminal device or the network device in any one of the method embodiments. The corresponding specific operations of each module can be found in the description of the method embodiments, and will not be described here.

[0191] In addition, optionally, the communication module and / or the processing module can be implemented by a virtual module, for example, the processing module can be implemented by a software function unit or a virtual device, and the communication module can be implemented by a software function or a virtual device. Alternatively, the processing module or the communication module can also be implemented by an entity device, for example, the communication device is implemented by a chip, such as a system on chip (SoC), a hardware circuit, etc., and the communication module can be an input / output circuit and / or a communication interface, which performs an input operation (corresponding to the aforementioned receiving operation) and an output operation (corresponding to the aforementioned sending operation); and the processing module is an integrated circuit or a logic circuit, etc.

[0192] The division of the modules in the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there can be another division manner. In addition, each functional module in each example of the present application can be integrated in one module, or can be a separate physical existence, or two or more modules can be integrated in one module. The integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware, or in the form of a software function module, or a hardware and software combined function module, without limitation.

[0193] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided in the present application. The communication apparatus 1100 can be configured to implement the functions of any one of the communication devices (e.g., terminal device or mobility management network element) in the communication system described in the foregoing examples. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 1100 can be a chip or chip system. Alternatively, the chip system in the present application can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices. The communication apparatus 1100 can include at least one processor 1110. Optionally, the processor 1110 (or processing apparatus) is coupled with a memory, which can be located within the communication apparatus, or the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can also be located outside the communication apparatus. For example, the communication apparatus 1100 can further include at least one memory 1120. The memory 1120 stores computer programs / instructions or data necessary for implementing any one of the method embodiments described above; the processor 1110 can execute the computer programs / instructions or data stored in the memory 1120 to complete the corresponding functions of the terminal device or the mobility management network element in any one of the embodiments described above.

[0194] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1100 can further include a communication interface 1130, and the communication apparatus 1100 can interact with other devices through the communication interface 1130. For example, the communication interface 1130 can be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, pin or other type of communication interface. When the communication apparatus 1100 is a chip or circuit, the communication interface 1130 in the apparatus 1100 can also be an input / output circuit, which can input (or receive) information and / or output (or send) information; the processor can be an integrated circuit or logic circuit, etc., and the processor can determine the output information according to the input information.

[0195] The coupling in the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, for information interaction between devices, units or modules. The processor 1110 can operate in cooperation with the memory 1120 and the communication interface 1130. The connection medium between the processor 1110, the memory 1120 and the communication interface 1130 is not limited in the present application.

[0196] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8, the processor 1110, the memory 1120, and the communication interface 1130 are connected with each other through a bus 1140. The bus 1140 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For the convenience of representation, only one bus 1140 is represented by a line in FIG. 8, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0197] FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by the present application. The chip 30 includes a circuit 31 and a communication interface 32. The circuit 31 can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc., and the communication interface 32 can also be referred to as an input / output circuit, an input / output interface, an interface circuit, etc., and can input information (or receive information) or output information (or send information). The chip 30 can perform the method performed by the terminal device or the mobility management network element in the embodiments of the present application.

[0198] In addition, the present application also provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are run on a computer, the operations and / or processes performed by the terminal device or the mobility management network element in the method embodiments of the present application are performed.

[0199] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer program codes or instructions, and when the computer program codes or instructions are run on a computer, the operations and / or processes performed by the terminal device or the mobility management network element in the method embodiments of the present application are performed.

[0200] In addition, the present application also provides a chip, which includes a processor. A memory for storing a computer program is provided independently of the chip, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the operations and / or processes performed by the terminal device or the mobility management network element in any one of the method embodiments are performed. Further, the chip can also include a communication interface. The communication interface can be an input / output interface, or an interface circuit, etc. Further, the chip can also include the memory.

[0201] The present application provides a communication system, which includes the terminal device and the mobility management network element in the method embodiments.

[0202] The processor in the embodiments of the present application has signal processing capability, and can be a central processing unit (CPU), a general processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc., and can implement or execute the disclosed methods, steps and logic block diagrams in the present application. The general processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in the present application can be directly embodied as hardware processor execution, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module can be located in a random memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory, and combines the hardware to complete the steps of the above method.

[0203] In embodiments of the application, the memory can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. In one embodiment, nonvolatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically EPROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It is to be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, among other things, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0204] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are realized in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. A person skilled in the art can use different methods to realize the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0205] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of the description, the specific working processes of the above-described system, device and unit can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0206] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other manners. For example, the described device embodiments are merely schematic. The division of the units is merely logical function division. There can be other division manners in actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0207] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, i.e., can be located in one place, or can be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment.

[0208] In addition, each functional unit in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit can be a physically separate unit, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0209] If the functions are realized in the form of software function units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes a number of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

[0210] The above description is merely a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method applied to a terminal device comprises: receiving a first message, the first message being a response message of a first request message, the first request message being used for requesting access to a network or performing data transmission; in a case where a first condition is met, accessing the network or performing the data transmission through a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device indicated by a first monitoring list, the first monitoring list being a monitoring list stored on the terminal device, the first monitoring list being used for indicating at least one NTN device available for the terminal device to access; or, in a case where a second condition is met, accessing the network or performing the data transmission through any satellite; wherein the first condition comprises that the first message does not include a monitoring list, and at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device works in a store-and-forward mode, the first message includes first indication information, or the terminal device stores the first monitoring list, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the terminal device to access the network or perform the data transmission through a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list; the second condition comprises that the first message does not include a monitoring list, and at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode, or the first message includes second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the terminal device not to access the network or perform the data transmission through a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: in a case where the second condition is met, deleting the first monitoring list.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second indication information is further used for indicating the terminal device to delete the first monitoring list.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving a second message, the second message including the first monitoring list.

5. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method applied to a mobility management network element comprises: receiving a first request message from a terminal device, the first request message being used for requesting access to a network or performing data transmission; in a case where a third condition or a fourth condition is met, determining to send a first message not including a monitoring list to the terminal device, the first message being a response message of the first request message; the third condition comprises that the terminal device works in a store-and-forward mode, and further comprises at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device stores a first monitoring list, a second monitoring list determined by the mobility management network element according to the first request message is the same as the first monitoring list, the first monitoring list or the second monitoring list being used for indicating at least one non-terrestrial network (NTN) device available for the terminal device to access; the fourth condition comprises that the terminal device does not work in the store-and-forward mode.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, in a case where the third condition is met, the first message includes first indication information, the first indication information being used for indicating the terminal device to access the network or perform the data transmission through a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list; in a case where the fourth condition is met, the first message includes second indication information, the second indication information being used for indicating the terminal device not to access the network or perform the data transmission through a satellite indicated by the first monitoring list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The second indication information is further used for instructing the terminal device to delete the first monitoring list.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: In a case where a fifth condition is met, determining to send, to the terminal device, a first message comprising a second monitoring list, The fifth condition comprises that the terminal device operates in a store-and-forward mode, and the second monitoring list is different from the first monitoring list.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending a second message, the second message comprising the first monitoring list.

10. A communications device, characterized by comprise a module or unit for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4; or comprise a module or unit for implementing the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9.

11. A communications device, characterized by comprise at least one processor configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in a memory, so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is executed; or so that the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 is executed.

12. A chip, characterized by comprise a circuit and a communication interface, the communication interface being configured to receive a signal or information to be processed and send the signal or information to be processed to the circuit; the circuit being configured to process the received signal or information, so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is executed; or so that the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 is executed.

13. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer programs or instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4; or execute the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9.

14. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product comprises computer programs or instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9.

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