Method for store and forward operations

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device of the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system. The method comprises being provided with an indication of store and forward (S&F) operations from a base station of the wireless communication system, and when / if the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, then the wireless device does not send low priority service data to base station and stores them in the wireless device buffer, until the store and forward (S&F) operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

Description

[0001] 202406229

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Method for Store and Forward Operations

[0005] The present invention relates to a method and system for store and forward operations, generally related to mobile communications.

[0006] TECHNNICAL FIELD

[0007] Satellite-based Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are crucial in providing connectivity with global coverage including rural and offshore areas, which are fundamental for supporting important use cases in future networks. In particular, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) using standardized 3GPP protocols are well positioned to provide global loT services.

[0008] Standardization efforts for NTN are underway for forthcoming 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) releases and focus on transparent (also referred to as “bentpipe”) as well as regenerative payload architectures where the satellite platform is necessarily connected to a ground station to be able to provide satellite access services to loT devices, thus requiring complex ground segment infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation deployments.

[0009] BACKGROUND

[0010] So far, there are defined standard specific measurement, mobility, and service continuity enhancements between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. Despite the numerous benefits derived from LEO satellite applications, several issues are still open. Among them, the rapid mobility of LEO satellites around the Earth leads to frequent disconnections of the feeder link between the LEO satellite and the NTN Gateway (NTN-GW) on the ground. Further, some LEO satellite constellations may only provide discontinuous coverage, particularly in the early deployment stages. While LEO satellites continuously move on their orbit around the Earth, they may only be intermittently available and / or accessible for end users in a certain geographical area. Hence, different LEO satellites may serve a certain geographical 202406229

[0011] 2 area or end user for a limited time. In this context, LEO satellites network deployments targeting delay tolerant loT applications benefit from architectures based on the use of support for store and forward (S&F) operations, where satellite access remains operational even at times when the satellite is not connected to a ground station. Received data packets will be stored at the satellite and forwarded to a ground station, when a feeder link can be re-established.

[0012] US 2024063896 A1 [D1 ] describes methods and devices for wireless communication of an apparatus, e.g., a UE, a network entity, and / or a base station, designed to provide continuous service. According to [D1 ], the network broadcasts or indicates its support for each service (e.g., store and forward service and / or forward immediately service) in the SIB. The network also broadcasts or indicates its support for each service during a registration procedure over satellite access. Accordingly, upon registration with the network, the network informs the UE of the supported services.

[0013] US 2024276213 A1 [D2] discloses systems, methods, and software of performing a store and forward service for mobile terminated messages to user equipment via satellite access. According to [D2], a home network of user equipment (UE) receives a first message request from an application server that includes a secured packet destined for the user equipment via satellite access, and determines whether the user equipment supports the store and forward service via satellite access. When the user equipment supports the store and forward service, the home network provides integrity protection of the secured packet at the home network by deriving a message authentication code based on the secured packet and a home network key, and send a second message request to a serving network of the user equipment with the secured packet and the message authentication code contained in a home network container. Prior to the store and forward service, a store and forward support indicator is inserted, at the user equipment, in a control plane message directed to the serving network, wherein the store and forward support indicator indicates whether the user equipment supports the store and forward service via satellite access; and the control plane message is sent from the user equipment to the serving network. 202406229

[0014] 3

[0015] WO 2024159793 A1 [D3] relates to store and forward operations. In an aspect, a user equipment receives a configuration for a store and forward operation from a network device. Based on the configuration, the user equipment determines to initiate the store and forward operation. In this way, the store and forward operation may be initiated at appropriate occasions.

[0016] WO 2024108921 A1 [D4] presents systems and methods for timing enhancement in store and forward mode. A wireless communication node configures a waiting duration indicative of a duration to a next service period of a satellite, and a serving duration indicative of a duration of a service period of the satellite. The wireless communication node sends the waiting duration and the serving duration, to be used by a wireless communication device during a random access procedure.

[0017] However, when the service is provided by LEO satellites, and the feeder link is only intermittently available, user data needs to be stored at satellite until feeder link is available again and data can be forwarded to ground segment (e.g., packet gateway or cloud services).

[0018] Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to enable UE data transmissions during store and forward satellite operations.

[0019] This objective is achieved according to the invention by means of the technical characteristics mentioned in the independent claims.

[0020] The invention relies on clearly defining method steps of providing indication by UE to base station whether it supports S&F functionality or not. By applying these steps, the invention aims to minimize UE impact throughout the entire process.

[0021] The dependent claims include advantageous further developments and improvements of the present invention. 202406229

[0022] 4

[0023] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device of the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system. The method comprises:

[0024] - establishing a wireless connection with a network node,

[0025] - providing an indication to a network node, whether the wireless device supports store and forward (S&F) functionality or not,

[0026] - receiving a configuration message from the network node, wherein the configuration message includes service-specific indications for operating in store and forward (S&F) mode.

[0027] By applying these steps, the network configures the wireless device transmission behavior during S&F operations, considering service (e.g., delay-tolerant) as well as satellite (e.g., buffer size) characteristics. The invention is advantageous by enhancing efficiency of NTN service access and provisioning. Further, wireless devices that do not support S&F functionality can save energy by refraining from accessing a satellite or aerial node operating in S&F mode.

[0028] In one embodiment, the method is performed by a wireless device (e.g., a UE) in wireless communication with a base station (e.g., an eNB). Base station functionalities can be hosted in ground segment infrastructure (e.g., NTN gateway) or aboard a satellite and / or aerial node. The method comprises the following steps: providing by UE an indication to base station whether it supports S&F functionality or not. Upon receiving indication that UE supports S&F functionality, the base station configures to UE which services are allowed to transmit when operating in S&F mode. When the S&F operation is enabled, then UE will not send low priority service data to base station and store in the UE buffer, until S&F operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

[0029] In one embodiment, the base station (e.g., eNB) configures high priority services, for which the UE is allowed to transmit data during S&F operations. The UE is not 202406229

[0030] 5 allowed to transmit low priority service data. Service priorities may be chosen based on service characteristics, such as tolerated packet delay. 1 bit is indicated for each service type. 0 means ’’not allowed” (e.g., low priority). 1 means “allowed” (e.g., high priority).

[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for store and forward operations, comprising a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of the method claims.

[0032] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a user equipment for store and forward operations, comprising a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of the method claims.

[0033] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a base station comprising an apparatus for store and forward operations.

[0034] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a wireless communication system comprising a base station with a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of method claims, in communication with at least one UE configured to implement steps of the method claims.

[0035] Figures

[0036] For a better understanding of the principle of the present invention, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0037] Like reference numerals are used in the figures for the same or equivalent elements and are not necessarily described again for each figure. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments and that the features described may also be combined or modified without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 202406229

[0038] 6

[0039] Figures 1 presents an illustration of a feeder link switch over (FLSO) in a non-geostationary network scenario,

[0040] Fig. 1 a shows a standard scenario with both feeder link and service link available, Fig. 1 b shows an initial moment when the feeder link is gone,

[0041] Fig. 1 c illustrates a subsequent moment when another feeder link is available, Fig. 2 presents an embodiment of a method for store and forward operations, performed at UE,

[0042] Fig. 3 presents an embodiment of the method for store and forward operations, performed at base station.

[0043] Detailed description

[0044] The detailed description set forth below, with reference to annexed drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent only the configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Although terminology from 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) NTN may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0045] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0046] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the 202406229

[0047] 7 element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0048] In some embodiments, a more general term “network node” may be used and may correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node, which communicates with a UE (directly or via another node) and / or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, MeNB, eNB, Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a network node belonging to MCG (Master Cell Group) or SCG (Secondary Cell Group), base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, gNodeB, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU (Remote Radio Unit), RRH (Remote Radio Head), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g. Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), etc.), Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Operations Support System (OSS), Self-Optimized Network (SON), positioning node (e.g. Evolved- Serving Mobile Location Centre (E-SMLC)), Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT), test equipment (physical node or software), etc.

[0049] In some embodiments, the non-limiting term user equipment (UE) or wireless device may be used and may refer to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and / or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), PAD (Packet Assembler / Disassembler), tablet, mobile terminals, smart 202406229

[0050] 8 phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB (Universal Serial Bus) dongles, UE category Ml, UE category M2, ProSe (Proximity Services) UE, V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) UE, V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) UE, etc.

[0051] Additionally, terminologies such as base station / eNB and UE should be considered non-limiting and do in particular not imply a certain hierarchical relation between the two; in general, “eNB” could be considered as device 1 and “UE” could be considered as device 2 and these two devices communicate with each other over some radio channel. And in the following the transmitter or receiver could be either eNB, or UE. The same applies to “first base station” and “second base station”; throughout this description, at some point, “first base station” is equivaled with a source or serving eNB / cell, and “second base station” is equivaled with a target eNB / cell.

[0052] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the embodiments may be embodied as a system, apparatus, method, or program product. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects.

[0053] For example, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom very-large-scale integration (“VLSI”) circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. The disclosed embodiments may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like. As another example, the disclosed embodiments may include one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function.

[0054] Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a program product embodied in one or more computer readable storage devices storing machine readable code, computer readable code, and / or program code, referred hereafter as code. The 202406229

[0055] 9 storage devices may be tangible, non- transitory, and / or non-transmission. The storage devices may not embody signals. In a certain embodiment, the storage devices only employ signals for accessing code.

[0056] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be a storage device storing the code. The storage device may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0057] More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the storage device would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (“RAM”), a read-only memory (“ROM”), an erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM” or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0058] Code for carrying out operations for embodiments may be any number of lines and may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages including an object- oriented programming language such as Python, Ruby, Java, Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language, or the like, and / or machine languages such as assembly languages. The code may execute entirely on the user’s computer, partly on the user’s computer, partly on the user’s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user’s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (“LAN”), wireless LAN (“WLAN”), or a wide area network (“WAN”), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider (“ISP”)). 202406229

[0059] 10

[0060] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an embodiment. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0061] Aspects of the embodiments are described below with reference to schematic flowchart diagrams and / or schematic block diagrams of methods, apparatuses, systems, and program products according to embodiments. It will be understood that each block of the schematic flowchart diagrams and / or schematic block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the schematic flowchart diagrams and / or schematic block diagrams, can be implemented by code. This code may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other 202406229

[0062] 11 programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart diagrams and / or block diagrams.

[0063] The code may also be stored in a storage device that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the storage device produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function / act specified in the flowchart diagrams and / or block diagrams.

[0064] The code may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the code which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart diagrams and / or block diagrams.

[0065] The flowchart diagrams and / or block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of apparatuses, systems, methods, and program products according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart diagrams and / or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions of the code for implementing the specified logical function(s).

[0066] It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more blocks, or portions thereof, of the illustrated figures. 202406229

[0067] 12

[0068] Fig. 1a schematically shows standard routing data by means of feeder link switches for Earth-moving cells, as described by 3GPP standard specifications. Feeder link is required for routing data to packet gateway and / or cloud services. A base station (i.e. , LTE eNB) provides a UE with a time indication when the feeder link switch will occur (expressed by t-Service). Most precisely, t-Service is the time information on when an NTN cell is going to stop serving the area it is currently covering, as specified in TS 36.304 (3GPP TS 36.304 V18.2.0 (2024-06); Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); User Equipment (UE) procedures in idle mode (Release 18)).

[0069] The mentioned indicators are either included or derived from SIB3 (System Information Block 3), SIB31 , SIB32, SIB33, SIB31 -NB, SIB31 -NB, SIB32-NB, SIB33-NB data, for example: t-Service-r17 (indicates the time information on when a cell provided via NTN quasi-Earth fixed system is going to stop serving the area it is currently covering), t-ServiceStart-r18 indicates the time information on when the target satellite is going to start serving the area currently covered by the serving satellite.

[0070] Fig. 1 b presents a scenario when the satellite still covers the UE’s location, but the feeder link is unavailable. In this case, user data needs to be stored at satellite until another feeder link is established.

[0071] Fig. 1 c illustrates the scenario from Fig. 1 b, but at a subsequent moment, when another feeder link is established, and the stored UE data can be forwarded to the ground segment and subsequently to the intended packet receiver. The eNB will update the t-Service to indicate when the feeder link will be gone again.

[0072] According to invention, there is provided a method for store and forward operations, performed by a UE in wireless communication with at least one base station (i.e., eNB / cell) integrated in an NTN wireless communication system.

[0073] A network node, e.g., eNB, can enquire a UE about its capabilities (e.g., supported functionalities) and request a UE to send its capabilities in the form of a UE 202406229

[0074] 13 capability information message. The UE capability information message is an RRC message that UEs send to a network node (e.g., during initial registration process). Further details on Radio Resource Control can be found in 3GPP TS 36.331 V18.3.1 (2024-09), Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification (Release 18).

[0075] According to invention, UE provides indication to base station whether it supports S&F functionality or not. For example, it indicates this in the UE capability message. One bit is used, 1 means “S&F supported”, 0 means “S&F not supported”. Upon receiving the indication that the UE supports S&F functionality, base station configures to UE which services are allowed to transmit when operating in S&F mode. For example, eNB configures high priority services, for which the UE is allowed to transmit data. The UE is not allowed to transmit low priority service data. Service priorities may be chosen based on service characteristics, such as tolerated delay. Again, one bit is used to indicate each service type. 0 means “not allowed” (e.g., low priority), 1 means “allowed” (e.g., high priority). When the S&F operation is enabled, then the UE doesn’t send low priority service data to BS and stores them in the UE buffer, until S&F operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

[0076] Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of the method for store and forward operations, according to invention, performed by UE.

[0077] UE provides capability information and receives RRC configuration for store and forward operations from base station. When the UE receives an indication of store and forward operations by the base station eNB, e.g. via system information broadcast, the UE performs uplink data transmissions based on the received RRC configuration for store and forward operations. Using RRC is just one example, there are other known signaling options. For example, NAS (Non-Access Stratum) signaling may be used by a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) to enforce transmission policy during S&F mode, additionally or alternatively. 202406229

[0078] 14

[0079] Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of the method for store and forward operations, according to invention, performed by base station eNB.

[0080] After the base station receives the UE capability information, the base station determines and provides a configuration for store and forward operations to the UE (e.g. RRC or NAS). Further on, the base station determines to switch to store and forward operations, e.g., based on calculated orbital movements and known ground segment locations, feeder link availability is predicted to be below a pre-defined threshold, thus, the base station provides an indication of store and forward operations to UEs, e.g. via system information broadcast. Subsequently, the eNB receives and stores uplink data transmissions of configured UE(s).

[0081] Hence, examples provide a method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system. The method is implemented by a wireless device of the wireless communication system. The wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system. The method comprises being provided with an indication of store and forward (S&F) operations from a base station of the wireless communication system. When / if the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, then the wireless device does not send low priority service data to base station and stores them in the wireless device buffer, until the store and forward (S&F) operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

[0082] Examples also provide another method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system. The method is implemented by a base station of a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system. The method comprises providing an indication of store and forward (S&F) operations to a wireless device of the wireless communication system. When / if the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, the method comprises not receiving low priority service data from the wireless device until store and forward (S&F) operation ends.

[0083] Examples of the present disclosure provide a method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system. The method is implemented by a wireless device 202406229

[0084] 15 of the wireless communication system. The wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system. The method comprises:

[0085] - establishing a wireless connection with a network node,

[0086] - providing an indication to a network node, whether the wireless device supports store and forward (S&F) functionality or not,

[0087] - receiving a configuration message from the network node, wherein the configuration message includes service-specific indications for operating in store and forward (S&F) mode.

[0088] When the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, then the wireless device might not send low priority service data to base station, but stores them in the wireless device buffer, until the store and forward (S&F) operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

[0089] The indication of supporting store and forward functionality may be included in the wireless device capability message.

[0090] The indication of supporting store and forward functionality may be described in one bit, wherein 0 means “S&F not supported” and 1 means “S&F supported”.

[0091] Whether a service is allowed to transmit during store and forward (S&F) operations may be indicated in one bit, wherein 0 means “service not allowed”, and 1 means “service allowed”.

[0092] Further on, those service-specific indications may be provided to the wireless device in a RRC configuration message or via NAS signaling.

[0093] Another example is an apparatus for store and forward operations, comprising a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps as outlined above. 202406229

[0094] 16

[0095] Another example is User Equipment (UE) comprising such an apparatus.

[0096] The User Equipment (UE) may be configured to implement one or more of the above method steps, whereby the UE may provide an indication to a base station whether the UE supports store and forward (S&F) functionality or not, receives RRC configuration for store and forward (S&F) operations from the base station, receives indication of store and forward (S&F) operations from the base station, and performs uplink data transmissions based on the received RRC configuration for store and forward (S&F) operations.

[0097] When the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, then the UE might not send low priority service data to the base station but stores them in the UE buffer, until the store and forward (S&F) operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

[0098] The User Equipment (UE) may include the indication of supporting store and forward functionality in the UE capability message.

[0099] Another example is a base station comprising an apparatus according to the above description.

[0100] The base station may be configured as eNB to implement steps of the above-described method in that it receives UE capability information, determines and provides RRC configuration for store and forward (S&F) operations to UE, indicates store and forward (S&F) operations to UE, and receives and stores uplink data transmissions of configured UE(s).

[0101] The base station may configure services for which the UE is allowed to transmit data based on service characteristics and / or UE capabilities (e.g., power class, buffer size, DRX).

[0102] Another example is a wireless communication system comprising a base station according to the above with a processor coupled with a memory in which computer 202406229

[0103] 17 program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement the above method steps, in communication with at least one UE according to the above, wherein the UE comprises a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement the above method steps.

[0104] In examples, a base station may adopt the following behavior:

[0105] • During handover, the source BS sends a list of connected UEs (IDs) along with their priority levels to the target BS. Hence the method for the base station may comprise communicating a list information of connected UEs together with priority levels of the UEs during handover between a source base station and a target base station. The source base station then transmits and the target base station then receives the list information.

[0106] • The target BS / satell ite uses this list to decide the handover order. Hence, the method then comprises deciding handover or an order of UEs to handover based on the list information. For example, only UEs fulfilling a certain priority criterion are allowed to handover. Such criterion may be a priority threshold, i.e. only priorities above or below said priority level are allowed to handover. For example, if the source base station is in non-S&F-mode but the target base station is in S&F-mode, handover of delay critical services could be disadvantageous. If the source base station is in S&F-mode but the target base station is in non-S&F-mode handover of delay critical services could be advantageous.

[0107] • The target BS can reserve uplink resources and send uplink grants based on each UE’s priority. (Reserved resources will be indicated by target BS to source BS, which includes resources / UL grants in HO command message (RRC reconfiguration)). The method for the base station then comprises reserving uplink resources at the target base station based on the priority levels of the UEs and communicating uplink grants between the source base station and the target base station.

[0108] Additionally:

[0109] • If the target BS / satellite detects other UEs (e.g., idle UEs) trying to connect, it will treat them as lower priority compared to the UEs in the provided list. At 202406229

[0110] 18 the target base station, access of UEs indicated in the list information may be prioritized over UEs not indicated in the list information.

[0111] For example, a UE is made aware of the operation mode and mode transition time of an incoming satellite (while still be connected to the source satellite). The S&F mode indication (i.e. , sf-OperationMode) and the S&F mode transition time (i.e. , t-ModeSwitching) of the neighbor satellite may be signaled in SIB33 per neighbor satellite.

Claims

20240622919Patent claims1. A method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device of the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises:- being provided with an indication of store and forward (S&F) operations from a base station of the wireless communication system, and when / if the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, then the wireless device does not send low priority service data to base station and stores them in the wireless device buffer, until the store and forward (S&F) operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

2. The method of claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it further comprises,- establishing a wireless connection with a network node,- providing an indication to a network node, whether the wireless device supports store and forward (S&F) functionality or not,- receiving a configuration message from the network node, wherein the configuration message includes service-specific indications for operating in store and forward (S&F) mode.

3. The method of claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that, further on, the indication of supporting store and forward functionality is included in the wireless device capability message, wherein the indication of supporting store and forward functionality is described in one bit, wherein 0 means “S&F not supported” and 1 means “S&F supported”.

4. The method of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that whether a service is allowed to transmit during store and forward (S&F) operations is indicated in one bit, wherein 0 means “service not allowed”, and 1 means “service allowed”.202406229205. The method of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that further on, those service-specific indications are provided to wireless device in a configuration message.

6. Apparatus for store and forward operations, comprising a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of the claims 1 to 5.

7. User Equipment (UE) comprising an apparatus according to claim 6.

8. User Equipment (UE) according to claim 7, configured to implement steps of the claim 1 , whereby the UE receives a configuration for store and forward (S&F) operations from the base station, receives indication of store and forward (S&F) operations from the base station, and performs uplink data transmissions based on the received configuration for store and forward (S&F) operations.

9. User Equipment (UE) according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that, when the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, then the UE does not send low priority service data to base station and stores them in the UE buffer, until store and forward (S&F) operation ends or another network node not operating in store and forward mode is accessed.

10. User Equipment (UE) of claims 8 or 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it includes the indication of supporting store and forward functionality in the UE capability message.11 . A method of exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a base station of a radio access network (RAN) of the wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises:- providing an indication of store and forward (S&F) operations to a wireless device of the wireless communication system, and when / if the store and forward (S&F) operation is enabled, not receiving low priority service data from the wireless device until store and forward (S&F) operation ends.2024062292112. The method of claim 11 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it further comprises- receiving User Equipment (UE) capability information,- determining and providing a configuration for store and forward (S&F) operations to the UE,- indicating store and forward (S&F) operations to UE, and- receiving and storing uplink data transmissions of configured UE(s).

13. The method of one of the claims 11 or 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it further comprises configuring services for which the UE is allowed to transmit data based on service characteristics and / or UE capabilities.

14. The method of one of the claims 11 to 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that whether a service is allowed to transmit during store and forward (S&F) operations is indicated in one bit, wherein 0 means “service not allowed”, and 1 means “service allowed”.

15. The method of one of the claims 11 to 14, further comprising communicating a list information of connected UEs together with priority levels of the UEs during handover between a source base station and a target base station.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising deciding handover based on the list information.

17. The method of one of the claims 15 or 16, further comprising reserving uplink resources at the target base station based on the priority levels of the UEs and communicating uplink grants between the source base station and the target base station.

18. The method of one of the claims 15 to 17, further comprising, at the target base station, prioritizing access of UEs indicated in the list information over UEs not indicated in the list information.2024062292219. Apparatus for store and forward operations, comprising a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of the claims 11 to 18.

20. Base station comprising an apparatus according to claim 19.

21. Wireless communication system comprising a base station according to claim20 with a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of claims 11 to 18, in communication with at least one UE according to one of the claims 7 to 10, wherein the UE comprises a processor coupled with a memory in which computer program instructions are stored, said instructions being configured to implement steps of the claims 1 to 5.

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