Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: receiving indication information, which indicates a first time, wherein the first time indicates at least one of the following pieces of information: first information, which is time information of a satellite stopping service, and second information, which is time information of a cell state transition, and cell states comprise a normal state and a store and forward state; and performing cell selection or reselection on the basis of the first time. By means of implementing the method, a terminal device can be instructed to select an appropriate cell, thereby ensuring that the terminal device rationally utilizes communication resources and maintains connectivity, and improving communication efficiency.

Description

Communication methods and devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510392500.2, filed on March 28, 2025, entitled "Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of communication technology, communication networks have adopted more and more operating modes to cope with different external conditions. For example, the store-and-forward (SF or S&F) mode of a satellite allows data to be temporarily stored and then forwarded when the connection between the satellite and the ground network is lost, thereby providing communication services to users. However, since the operating mode of a cell may change, how to select a suitable cell is a problem that needs to be solved for terminal equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application discloses a communication method and apparatus that can instruct a terminal device to select a suitable cell, thereby ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains a connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application disclose a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the terminal device, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. This application does not limit the scope of the method.

[0006] The method includes: receiving indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: first information, the first information being time information of satellite service interruption; second information, the second information being time information of cell state transition, the cell state including normal state and store-and-forward state; and performing cell selection or reselection based on the first time.

[0007] It is understandable that the first time can indicate different information under different circumstances. For example, for a terminal device in one situation, the first time can indicate the time when the satellite service stops, while for a terminal device in another situation, the first time can indicate the time when the cell status is displayed. Therefore, for terminal devices in different situations, the same first time can be used to select or reselect cells to choose a suitable cell, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0008] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information or the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the first priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode; if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be selected or reselected or the cell is set to the second priority; the first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0009] It is understood that the first terminal device can be a terminal device with store-and-forward functionality. That is, the first terminal device can communicate in a cell whose cell state is store-and-forward in store-and-forward mode. The first time indicates the second information, which is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state. If the current time is earlier than the first time, it indicates that the cell state has not yet transitioned from a normal state to a store-and-forward state; that is, at the current time, the cell state is normal. Therefore, when the cell state is normal, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to a low priority (e.g., first priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines to select or reselect the cell or sets its priority to a high priority (e.g., second priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting that cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0010] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the indication information also indicates a second time. The second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the first priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode; if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be selected or reselected or the cell is set to the second priority. The first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time and the current time being later than the second time.

[0011] It is understandable that the instruction information also indicates a second time, meaning that the first terminal device can select or reselect a cell based on both the first and second times. Selecting or reselecting a cell based on two times improves the reliability of the first terminal device's cell selection or reselection compared to selecting or reselecting a cell based on only one time.

[0012] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the first condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0013] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the third priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode; if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be the cell to be selected or reselected; the second condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0014] It is understood that the first terminal device can be a terminal device with store-and-forward functionality, meaning that the first terminal device can communicate in a cell in store-and-forward mode. The first time indicates the second information, which is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state. Therefore, if the current time is later than the first time, it indicates that the cell's state has already transitioned from a normal state to a store-and-forward state. In other words, at the current time, the cell's state is store-and-forward. Therefore, when the cell is in store-and-forward mode, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., third priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The third priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select that cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0015] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the indication information also indicates a second time. The second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the third priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode; if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined as the cell to be selected or reselected. The second condition includes the current time being later than the first time and the current time being earlier than the second time.

[0016] In other words, the first terminal device can select or reselect a cell based on both a first time and a second time. Selecting or reselecting a cell based on two time points improves the reliability of the first terminal device's cell selection or reselection compared to selecting or reselecting a cell based on only one time point.

[0017] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the second condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0018] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the fourth priority if a third condition is met; if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be the cell to be selected or reselected; the third condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0019] It is understood that the first terminal device can be a terminal device with store-and-forward functionality. That is, the first terminal device can communicate in a cell whose cell state is store-and-forward in store-and-forward mode. The first time indicates the second information, which is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward to normal state. If the current time is earlier than the first time, it indicates that the cell state is store-and-forward. Therefore, when the cell state is store-and-forward, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., fourth priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. Fourth priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select that cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0020] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the third condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0021] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the fifth priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode; if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be selected or reselected or the cell is set to the sixth priority; the fourth condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0022] It is understood that the first terminal device can be a terminal device with store-and-forward functionality. That is, the first terminal device can communicate in a cell whose cell state is store-and-forward in store-and-forward mode. The first time indicates the second information, which is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward to normal state. Therefore, if the current time is later than the first time, it indicates that the cell state has already transitioned from store-and-forward to normal state; that is, at the current time, the cell state is normal. Thus, when the cell state is normal, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to a low priority (e.g., fifth priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell, or sets the cell's priority to a high priority (e.g., sixth priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting that cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0023] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the fourth condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0024] Optionally, if the value of the first parameter is the second value, it is determined that the cell will not be accessed.

[0025] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: under the condition of satisfying a fifth condition, determining whether to access the cell based on a second parameter, the second parameter being used to indicate whether the cell prohibits access, the fifth condition including the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0026] It is understandable that the second terminal device may be a terminal device without store-and-forward functionality. That is, the second terminal device cannot communicate in a cell whose cell status is store-and-forward in store-and-forward mode. The first time indicates the first information, which indicates the time information when the satellite stopped serving. If the current time is earlier than the first time, it means the satellite is serving the cell. Therefore, the second terminal device can determine whether to access the cell based on a second parameter. For example, if the value of the first parameter is the first value, it indicates that access to the cell is allowed; if the value of the first parameter is the second value, it indicates that access to the cell is prohibited.

[0027] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The fifth condition also includes the current time being later than the second time.

[0028] In other words, the second terminal device can select or reselect cells based on both a first time and a second time. Selecting or reselecting cells based on two time points improves the reliability of the first terminal device's cell selection or reselection compared to selecting or reselecting cells based on only one time point.

[0029] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: determining not to access the cell when a sixth condition is met, wherein the sixth condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0030] It is understandable that the second terminal device may be a terminal device without store-and-forward functionality. In other words, the second terminal device cannot communicate in a cell where the cell status is store-and-forward. The first time indicates the first information, which indicates the time information when the satellite stopped service. If the current time is later than the first time, it means that the satellite has stopped serving the cell. Therefore, the second terminal device cannot communicate through this cell, and thus, the second terminal device is determined not to access the cell.

[0031] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The sixth condition also includes the current time being earlier than the second time.

[0032] In other words, the first terminal device can select or reselect a cell based on both a first time and a second time. Selecting or reselecting a cell based on two time points improves the reliability of the first terminal device's cell selection or reselection compared to selecting or reselecting a cell based on only one time point.

[0033] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell switching from normal state to store-and-forward state, and the method further includes: if the current time is the same as the first time, and the first terminal device has already accessed the cell, then the communication mode of the first terminal device is switched from normal mode to store-and-forward mode.

[0034] It is understood that the first terminal device can be a terminal device with store-and-forward functionality. That is, the first terminal device can communicate in a cell whose cell state is store-and-forward in store-and-forward mode. The first time indicates the second information, which is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward to normal state. Therefore, if the current time is the same as the first time, it means that the cell state is exactly transitioning from normal to store-and-forward. Thus, if the first terminal device has already connected to the cell, its communication mode can be switched from normal mode to store-and-forward mode, thereby reducing the number of cell switching operations and ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, improving communication efficiency.

[0035] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the method further includes: if the current time is the same as the first time, determining whether to not access the cell or leave the connection state.

[0036] It is understandable that the second terminal device may be a terminal device without store-and-forward functionality. In other words, the second terminal device cannot communicate in a cell where the cell status is store-and-forward. The first time indicates the first information, which indicates the time information when the satellite stops service. If the current time is the same as the first time, it means that the satellite has just begun to stop service to that cell. Therefore, the second terminal device cannot communicate through that cell, and thus, the second terminal device is determined not to access the cell.

[0037] Secondly, this application discloses another communication method, which can be executed by a network device, or by a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the network device, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. This application does not limit this method.

[0038] The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0039] The method includes: determining indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: first information, the first information being time information of satellite service interruption; second information, the second information being time information of cell state transition, the cell state including normal state and store-and-forward state; and sending the indication information to the terminal device.

[0040] Optionally, when the terminal device is a first terminal device, the indication information is located in a first information field; when the terminal device is a second terminal device, the indication information is located in a second information field, and the first information field and the second information field are different.

[0041] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, and the first time indicates the second information.

[0042] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, and the first time indicates the first information.

[0043] Optionally, sending the indication information includes sending the indication information once or multiple times, wherein the multiple sending of the indication information indicates different first times.

[0044] It is understandable that by sending indication information once or multiple times, and with each instruction indicating a different initial time, network devices can enable terminal devices to select or reselect cells more accurately.

[0045] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which can be a terminal device or a device (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a circuit) within the terminal device.

[0046] The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior described in the method example of the first aspect above. This function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described function.

[0047] One possible implementation of the communication device includes:

[0048] A transceiver unit is configured to receive indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: first information, the first information indicating the time information when the satellite stops service; second information, the second information indicating the time information of cell state transition, the cell state including normal state and store-and-forward state;

[0049] The processing unit is used to perform cell selection or reselection based on the first time.

[0050] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the processing unit is further configured to, under the condition of satisfying a first condition, set the cell to a first priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine whether to select or reselect the cell or set the cell to a second priority; the first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0051] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, the indication information also indicates a second time, the second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state, the processing unit is further configured to, under the condition of satisfying a first condition, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to a first priority; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine whether to select or reselect the cell or set the cell to a second priority; the first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time and the current time being later than the second time.

[0052] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the first condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0053] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information or the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, the processing unit is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the third priority if the second condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine the cell as the cell to be selected or reselected; the second condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0054] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, the indication information also indicates a second time, the second time indicating the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state, the processing unit is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the third priority if the second condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine the cell as the cell to be selected or reselected; the second condition includes the current time being later than the first time and the current time being earlier than the second time.

[0055] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the second condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0056] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the processing unit is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the fourth priority if a third condition is met; and to determine the cell as the cell to be selected or reselected if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode; the third condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0057] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the third condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0058] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the processing unit is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the fifth priority if the fourth condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine whether to select or reselect the cell or set the cell to the sixth priority; the fourth condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0059] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the fourth condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0060] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine not to access the cell if the value of the first parameter is a second value.

[0061] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to access the cell based on a second parameter when a fifth condition is met, the second parameter being used to indicate whether the cell prohibits access, the fifth condition including the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0062] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The fifth condition also includes the current time being later than the second time.

[0063] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the processing unit is further configured to determine not to access the cell if a sixth condition is met, the sixth condition including the current time being later than the first time.

[0064] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The sixth condition also includes the current time being earlier than the second time.

[0065] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from normal state to store-and-forward state, and the processing unit is further configured to switch the communication mode of the first terminal device from normal mode to store-and-forward mode if the first terminal device has already accessed the cell when the current time is the same as the first time.

[0066] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to not access the cell or leave the connection state when the current time is the same as the first time.

[0067] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which can be a network device or a device within a network device (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a circuit).

[0068] The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the second aspect, and will not be repeated here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the second aspect described above. This function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described function.

[0069] One possible implementation of the communication device includes:

[0070] A processing unit is configured to determine indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: first information, the first information being the time information of satellite service interruption; second information, the second information being the time information of cell state transition, the cell state including normal state and store-and-forward state;

[0071] A transceiver unit is used to send the instruction information to the terminal device.

[0072] Optionally, when the terminal device is a first terminal device, the indication information is located in a first information field; when the terminal device is a second terminal device, the indication information is located in a second information field, and the first information field and the second information field are different.

[0073] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, and the first time indicates the second information.

[0074] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, and the first time indicates the first information.

[0075] Optionally, the transceiver unit is also used to send indication information once or multiple times, wherein the multiple transmissions of indication information indicate different first times.

[0076] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, which can be a terminal device or a device within a terminal device (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a circuit). The communication device may include a processor, a memory, an input interface, and an output interface. The input interface is used to receive information from other communication devices besides the communication device, and the output interface is used to output information to other communication devices besides the communication device. The processor invokes a computer program stored in the memory to execute the communication method provided in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0077] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a network device or a device within a network device (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a circuit). The communication device may include a processor, a memory, an input interface, and an output interface. The input interface is used to receive information from other communication devices besides the communication device, and the output interface is used to output information to other communication devices besides the communication device. The processor invokes a computer program stored in the memory to execute the communication method provided in the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect.

[0078] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication system comprising at least one terminal device and at least one network device, wherein when at least one of the aforementioned terminal devices and at least one of the aforementioned network devices are operating in the communication system, they are used to perform the communication method described in the first or second aspect above.

[0079] Eighthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions that, when the computer program or computer instructions are executed, cause the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, to be performed.

[0080] Ninthly, this application provides a computer program product including executable instructions that, when the computer program product is run on a communication device, causes the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, to be executed.

[0081] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a communication device including a processor and potentially a memory, for implementing the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The communication device may be a chip system, which may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0082] In the eleventh aspect, this application provides a computer program, including program code, which, when a computer runs the computer program, executes the communication method provided in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0083] In a twelfth aspect, this application provides a chip including a processor, the processor being configured to perform the communication method provided in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0084] In a thirteenth aspect, this application provides a chip system including at least one processor, a memory, and an interface circuit. The memory, the interface circuit, and the at least one processor are interconnected via lines. The at least one memory stores instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor, they implement the communication method provided in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0085] The accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application are described below.

[0086] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figures 1B to 1D are schematic diagrams of the architecture of an NTN communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0089] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0090] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0091] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0092] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0093] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) communication systems, new radio (NR) communication systems, LTE-A advanced (LTE-A) communication systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, internet of things (IoT) communication systems, narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) communication systems, integrated sensing and communication systems, frequency division duplex (FDD) communication systems, time division duplex (TDD) communication systems, non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication systems, wireless projection communication systems, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) communication systems, public land mobile network (PLMN) communication systems, and non-public networks. The network (NPN) communication system, as well as communication systems that evolve after 5G communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or non-3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) communication systems, are not restricted.

[0094] For example, please refer to Figure 1A, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system may include at least one terminal device and at least one network device. The terminal device can be connected to the network device wirelessly or via a wired connection, enabling uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) communication between the terminal device and the network device. Terminal devices can also be connected wirelessly or via a wired connection, enabling sidelink (SL) communication between them.

[0095] Terminal devices and network devices, network devices and network devices, and terminal devices and terminal devices can communicate using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. This application does not limit the spectrum resources used by terminal devices and network devices.

[0096] The terminal equipment involved in this application is an entity on the user side used to receive or transmit signals, providing voice and / or data to the user. Terminal equipment may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), access terminal, UE unit, UE station, mobile device, mobile station, mobile station, mobile terminal, mobile client, mobile unit, remote station, remote terminal, remote unit, wireless unit, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device, etc. Among them, the access terminal can be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal in a future 5G communication system, terminal in a future evolved PLMN, or terminal in a future NPN, etc. Hereinafter, it is sometimes simply referred to as a terminal.

[0097] It should be noted that the terminal device described in the embodiments of this application can be a terminal as a final product, such as the various terminal devices mentioned above, or it can be a component or part with terminal functions, or it can be a communication chip (such as a processor, baseband chip, or chip system, etc.) that can be applied in a terminal. That is to say, components, parts, or chips applied in the above-mentioned devices also belong to terminal devices.

[0098] In Figure 1A, network devices are exemplified as access network (AN) devices. Access network devices, also known as radio access network (RAN) devices, or simply access networks, are nodes or devices that connect terminal devices to a wireless network. In other words, the access network provides access services to terminal devices, enabling them to access (or connect to) the network. Access networks can support both wired and wireless access.

[0099] Optionally, the access network consists of multiple AN / RAN nodes. AN / RAN nodes can include, but are not limited to: access points (APs), enhanced node Bs (eNBs), home evolved Node Bs (HNBs), baseband units (BBUs), next-generation node Bs (gNBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), transmission points (TPs), or other access nodes, such as wireless relay nodes or wireless backhaul nodes. AN / RAN nodes can be one or more antenna panels, or network nodes constituting gNBs or transmission points, such as BBUs or distributed units (DUs), or devices performing RAN functions in communication systems such as D2D, V2X, M2M, and U2U. The AN / RAN node can be a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), or an access network in a communication system evolved after 5G, such as xNodeB in a 6G communication system, or an access network in a PLMN network evolved after 5G, etc., without limitation. Furthermore, the solution provided in this application can be applied to satellite communication systems, such as an NTN integrated into a 5G system or a future evolved communication system. In this case, the network equipment can be a satellite with access network equipment functionality, or access network equipment deployed on a satellite.

[0100] It should be noted that the network device described in the embodiments of this application can be a network device as a final product, such as the various network devices mentioned above, or it can be a component or part with network device functions, or it can be a communication chip (such as a processor, baseband chip, or chip system, etc.) that can be applied in a network device. That is to say, components, parts, or chips applied in the above-mentioned devices also belong to network devices.

[0101] It should be noted that although the network architecture shown in Figure 1A shows the access network and terminal equipment, the application scenario may not be limited to the access network and terminal equipment. For example, it may also include equipment for carrying virtualized network functions. These are obvious to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0102] Furthermore, the number and types of network devices and terminal devices included in the network architecture shown in Figure 1A are merely examples, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. For example, it may also include more or fewer terminal devices communicating with the network devices. As another example, it may also include more or fewer network devices communicating with the terminal devices. For the sake of brevity, they are not described one by one in the accompanying drawings.

[0103] Optionally, the communication system may also include network devices not shown in Figure 1A, such as core network (CN) devices, data network devices, etc.

[0104] In different communication systems, core network equipment (hereinafter referred to as core network) can correspond to different devices. For example, in a 3G communication system, it can correspond to the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and / or the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN); in a 4G communication system, it can correspond to the Mobility Management Entity (MME) and / or the Serving Gateway (S-GW); and in a 5G communication system, it can correspond to the aforementioned Policy Control Function (PCF) network elements, Unified Data Management (UDM) network elements, Application Function (AF) network elements, Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network elements, Session Management Function (SMF) network elements, Location Management Function (LMF) network elements, and User Plane Function (UPF) network elements, etc.

[0105] Among them, the UPF network element is responsible for managing the transmission of user plane data and quality of service (QoS) control, traffic statistics and other functions. It can perform user data packet forwarding according to the routing rules of the session management network element, such as sending uplink data to the data network or other user plane network elements, and forwarding downlink data to other user plane network elements or (R)AN network elements.

[0106] The AMF (Access Default Mode) network element is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The LMF (Local Mode Default Mode) network element manages and controls location service requests from target terminals and processes location-related information. The SMF (Supply, Service Default Mode) network element manages sessions, allocating and releasing resources for terminal device sessions. The UDM (User Default Mode) network element manages the context of user subscriptions, such as storing terminal device subscription information. The PCF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) network element is responsible for user policy management. Similar to the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) network element in LTE, it is primarily responsible for policy authorization, quality of service (QoS), and generating charging rules, and distributing these rules to the UPF (User Default Mode) network element via the SMF network element to complete the installation of the corresponding policies and rules. The AF (Application Default Mode) network element can be a third-party application control platform or the operator's own equipment. The AF network element is responsible for application management and can provide services to multiple application servers.

[0107] In this embodiment, the data network device is hereinafter referred to as the data network. The data network is used to provide business services to users. Generally, the client is a terminal, and the server is the data network. The data network provided by the data network may include a private network, such as a local area network (LAN). The data network may also include an external network not managed by an operator, such as the Internet. Alternatively, the data network may include a proprietary network jointly deployed by operators, such as a network providing Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services.

[0108] In some embodiments, the network device and the terminal device may also be referred to as communication devices, which may be general-purpose devices or special-purpose devices. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0109] This application does not limit the location of the terminal equipment and network equipment; the terminal equipment and network equipment can be in a fixed state or in a mobile state. The terminal equipment and network equipment can be deployed on land, or on water, in the air, etc.

[0110] In this embodiment, network devices deployed in the air can be referred to as non-terrestrial network devices, and network devices deployed on the ground can be referred to as terrestrial network devices. An NTN communication system includes at least one non-terrestrial network device, while network devices in a terrestrial communication system are all terrestrial network devices. Terrestrial network devices, relative to non-terrestrial network devices, are stationary or move at a relatively slow speed. In other words, non-terrestrial network devices, relative to terrestrial network devices, can be high-speed mobile network devices.

[0111] Non-terrestrial network equipment may include satellites, high-altitude platforms (HAPs), drones, hot air balloons, low-Earth orbit satellites, medium-Earth orbit satellites, high-Earth orbit satellites, etc., without limitation. The term "satellite" in this application can refer to a collection of satellites and other network equipment related to satellite communication; therefore, in this application, the descriptions "satellite" and "satellite network equipment" are equivalent.

[0112] In an NTN communication network, access network equipment can be deployed in the following three ways:

[0113] In the first deployment method, non-terrestrial network equipment can serve as RAN (Access Service) functions. Terrestrial network equipment that does not serve as RAN functions can communicate with the core network through ground stations (such as NTN gateways) in the terrestrial network equipment to solve coverage problems in remote areas such as mountainous and marine regions.

[0114] In the second deployment method, non-terrestrial network equipment and ground stations in terrestrial network equipment can serve as radio frequency units, and access networks (such as base stations) other than ground stations in terrestrial network equipment can serve as RAN functions.

[0115] In the third deployment method, no non-terrestrial network equipment is deployed to perform RAN functions, and no terrestrial network equipment is deployed. The RAN functions are performed by the access network (such as base stations) of the terrestrial network equipment, excluding the terrestrial stations.

[0116] Please refer to Figures 1B to 1D, which are schematic diagrams of an NTN communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of this application. Figures 1B to 1D illustrate an NTN communication system integrated with a 5G communication system. It should be understood that the solution provided by this embodiment can be applied to future NTN systems that integrate communication systems. The access network can be a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), and the core network can be a 5G core network (5G CN). This architecture can be understood as an NTN-based NG-RAN architecture.

[0117] The interface between the terminal equipment and the access network is called the air interface, such as the NR Uu interface. The NG interface, as the interface between the access network and the core network, is mainly used for exchanging non-access stratum (NAS) signaling in the core network, as well as user service data. The Xn interface is the interface between access networks, mainly used for exchanging handover signaling. The N6 interface can be the interface between the core network and the data network.

[0118] It should be noted that the above interfaces are exemplified using a 5G communication system. Different communication systems may use different names. For example, in a 4G communication system, the interface between access networks can be an X2 interface, and the interface between the access network and the core network can be an S1 interface, etc. Of course, in future communications, the names of these interfaces may remain unchanged or can be replaced with other names; this application does not limit this.

[0119] As shown in Figures 1B to 1D, an NTN system may include at least one terminal device, at least one non-terrestrial network device, and at least one terrestrial network device. Specifically, in Figure 1B, the non-terrestrial network device is a satellite, and the terrestrial network device includes a ground station, a 5G base station, a 5G user plane processing unit, a 5G control plane processing unit, and data network equipment.

[0120] The 5G core network equipment consists of multiple functional units, which can be divided into control plane and data plane functional entities, as shown in Figures 1B to 1D: the 5G control plane processing unit and the 5G user plane processing unit. The 5G control plane processing unit may include the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network elements and Location Management Function (LMF) network elements shown in Figures 1B to 1D, and may also include PCF, UDM, AF, SMF, etc. (not shown in the figures). The ground station is responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between the satellite (access network equipment) and the core network equipment. The functions of terminal equipment and various network devices are as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0121] The system architecture shown in Figure 1B can be called a transparent satellite access architecture (e.g., RAN architecture with transparent satellite). As shown in Figure 1B, the terminal device accesses the network through the air interface, and the 5G base station is deployed on the ground and connected to the ground station communicating with the satellite, which can be understood as the second deployment method mentioned above. In the scenario corresponding to this architecture, the role of the satellite is: radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion and amplification. That is to say, the satellite can achieve transparent transmission and forwarding, acting as a layer 1 delay to regenerate the physical layer signal, and does not have other higher protocol layers.

[0122] The satellite shown in Figure 1C can be called a regenerative satellite without an inter-satellite link (ISL).

[0123] The terminal device accesses the network via an air interface. The access network equipment is specifically a 5G base station, which is deployed on a satellite and connected to the core network equipment via a wireless link. This can be understood as the first deployment method mentioned above.

[0124] The satellite shown in Figure 1D can be referred to as a regenerable satellite with an inter-satellite link (ISL). The ISL between the two satellites is connected via the Xn interface. Signaling interaction and user data transmission between the satellites can be completed between access network devices, which can be understood as the third deployment method mentioned above.

[0125] In this embodiment, the terminal device or network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on top of the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and memory (also referred to as main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as Linux, Unix, Android, iOS, or Windows. The application layer includes applications such as browsers, address books, word processing software, and instant messaging software. Furthermore, this embodiment does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution entity of the method provided in this embodiment, as long as it can communicate according to the method provided in this embodiment by running a program that records the code of the method provided in this embodiment. For example, the execution entity of the method provided in this embodiment can be a terminal device or a network device, or a functional module in the terminal device or network device that can call and execute a program.

[0126] Furthermore, various aspects or features of this application can be implemented as methods, apparatus, or articles of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein encompasses a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or medium. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes), optical discs (e.g., compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMs), cards, sticks, or key drives, etc.). The various storage media described herein may represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0127] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the following explanations of the technical terms that may appear in the embodiments of this application are provided. The terminology used in the implementation section of this application is only used to explain specific embodiments of this application and is not intended to limit this application.

[0128] (1) Feeder link: This describes a link in a satellite communication system used for data transmission between a ground gateway station and the satellite. Ground-based terminal equipment establishes a connection with the satellite in space via a service link. Simultaneously, the satellite communicates with the ground gateway via the feeder link. The ground gateway is also generally called a ground station or ground gateway station. The ground gateway station is responsible for routing data from the terminal equipment to terrestrial telephone, television networks, or the Internet.

[0129] (2) Service link: The service link is a communication link that is directly facing the end user or device and is responsible for transmitting data between the terminal device and the network device.

[0130] With the development of communication technology, communication networks have adopted more and more operating modes to cope with different external conditions. For example, the store-and-forward (S&F) mode of satellites allows data to be temporarily stored and then forwarded when the connection between the satellite and the ground network is lost, thereby providing communication services to users. However, since the operating mode of a cell may change, how to select a suitable cell is a problem that needs to be solved for terminal equipment.

[0131] This application proposes a communication method that can instruct a terminal device to select a suitable cell, thereby ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains a connection, thus improving communication efficiency.

[0132] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below. The communication devices involved in this communication method may include terminal devices and network devices. The system architecture can be referred to in the descriptions of Figures 1A to 1D, and will not be repeated here. It should be understood that the terminal device in the embodiments of this application may be a terminal as a final product, or a component or module with terminal functions, or a communication chip (e.g., processor, baseband chip, or chip system) that can be applied in a terminal. The network device in the embodiments of this application may be a network device as a final product, or a component or module with network device functions, or a communication chip (e.g., processor, baseband chip, or chip system) that can be applied in a network device.

[0133] Please refer to Figure 2, which is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0134] Step S201: The network device sends an instruction message.

[0135] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the instruction information.

[0136] The indication information can indicate a first time, which in turn indicates first information and / or second information. The first information indicates the time of satellite service cessation, including the cessation of service links for quasi-terrestrial fixed cells and the cessation of feeder links for quasi-terrestrial fixed and terrestrial mobile networks. The second information indicates the time of cell state transition, where cell state includes normal mode and store-and-forward mode. Cell state transition can include transitions when the service link is available but the feeder link is available or when the feeder link is unavailable. For example, it could be a transition from normal mode to store-and-forward mode, or a transition from store-and-forward mode to normal mode. Normal mode can refer to a state where both the service link and feeder link are available, while store-and-forward mode (SF mode) can refer to a state where the service link is available but the feeder link is unavailable. The second information indicating the time of cell state transition can be either indicating the transition from normal mode to store-and-forward mode, or indicating the time of transition from store-and-forward mode to normal mode.

[0137] The information displayed at the first moment may differ for different terminal devices.

[0138] For example, the first terminal device can immediately indicate the second information, namely, information indicating a cell state transition. Here, the first terminal device is a terminal device with store-and-forward functionality, or in other words, a terminal device that supports store-and-forward satellite operations. That is, the first terminal device can communicate in a cell whose cell state is store-and-forward in store-and-forward mode.

[0139] For example, for the second terminal device, the first information can be indicated at the first moment, namely, the time information indicating when the satellite service will stop. The second terminal device may be a terminal device without store-and-forward functionality, meaning it cannot communicate in a cell where the cell state is store-and-forward. The second terminal device may be, for example, a terminal device conforming to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 19 (R19) technical specifications (which can be called an R19 UE), a terminal device developed based on the 3GPP Release 19 draft standard (not officially frozen) (which can be called a pre-R19 UE), or other UEs without store-and-forward functionality; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0140] In one possible implementation, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in the store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from the store-and-forward state to the normal state.

[0141] In one possible implementation, the instruction information can be determined by the network device.

[0142] For example, a network device can periodically determine the indication information. Alternatively, a network device can determine the indication information based on the current network conditions. This application does not limit this approach.

[0143] In one possible implementation, the instruction information can be sent in a System Information Block (SIB), for example, in SIB3, SIB31, SIB33, etc. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0144] In one possible implementation, the instruction information can be located in different information domains for different terminal devices.

[0145] For example, for the first terminal device, the indication information can be located in the first information field, and for the second terminal device, the indication information can be located in the second information field. The first information field and the second information field are different.

[0146] The indication information being located in different information fields can mean that the indication information is located in different system information blocks. For example, for the first terminal device, the indication information may be located in SIB31, and for the second terminal device, the indication information may be located in SIB33. Alternatively, the indication information being located in different information fields within the same system information block can mean that the indication information is located in different information fields within the same system information block. For example, for the first terminal device, the indication information may be located in information field A of SIB3, and for the second terminal device, the indication information may be located in information field B of SIB3. Information fields A and B are not the same information field.

[0147] It is understandable that the indication information may be located in different information domains for different terminal devices, meaning that different terminal devices can receive the indication information in different information domains.

[0148] In one possible implementation, the network device can send instruction information once or multiple times.

[0149] When the indication information indicates a first time, the first time indicated by the indication information sent multiple times by the network device may be different. For example, the network device may send the first time 'a' at time point A and the first time 'b' at time point B. Time point A is not equal to time point B, and first time 'a' is not equal to first time 'b'.

[0150] When the indication information indicates a first time and a second time, the first time and the second time indicated by the indication information sent multiple times by the network device may be different. For example, the network device may send a first time a and a second time a at time point A, and send a first time b and a second time b at time point B. Time point A is not equal to time point B, first time a is not equal to first time b and / or second time a is not equal to second time b.

[0151] Step S202: The terminal device performs cell selection or reselection based on the first time.

[0152] After receiving the indication information, if the indication information points to the serving cell (i.e., the cell where the terminal device is located), the terminal device can choose whether to disconnect from the cell or switch the communication mode based on the indication information. If the indication information points to a neighboring cell (a cell adjacent to the serving cell, or a neighboring cell configured in the network), the terminal device can perform cell selection or reselection based on the indication information. Cell selection or reselection includes priority setting or measurement of cell selection or reselection, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0153] The following explanation illustrates how cell selection or reselection is performed when the terminal devices are the first terminal device and the second terminal device, based on the specific information indicated at the first moment.

[0154] In the first possible implementation, the terminal device is a first terminal device, which indicates the first information at the first time, and the first information indicates the time information when the satellite stops service.

[0155] If the current time is earlier than the first time, it means that the cell's state has not yet transitioned from normal to store-and-forward. In other words, at the current time, the cell's state is normal. Therefore, when the cell is in normal state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to low priority (e.g., first priority), while the first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell or sets its priority to high priority (e.g., second priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0156] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time. If the current time is earlier than the first time but later than the second time, it means that the cell's state has not yet transitioned from the normal state to the store-and-forward state. In other words, at the current time, the cell's state is normal. Therefore, when the cell's state is normal, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to low priority (e.g., first priority), and the first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., second priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting that cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0157] Optionally, the indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell. When the value of the first parameter is a first value, for example, 1, and the cell is in a normal state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to a low priority (e.g., first priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell, or sets its priority to a high priority (e.g., second priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency. Whether the cell is in a normal state can be determined as above by the time relationship between the current time and the first time. Further, it can be determined by the time relationship between the current time and the first and second times. The value of the first parameter indicates that the first terminal device can access the cell.

[0158] If the value of the first parameter is the second value, for example, if the value of the first parameter is 0, then it is determined that the device will not access the cell. Specifically, the first parameter being the second value indicates that the first terminal device is prohibited from accessing the cell.

[0159] If the current time is later than the first time, it indicates that the cell's state has transitioned from normal to store-and-forward. In other words, at the current time, the cell is in store-and-forward mode. Therefore, when the cell is in store-and-forward mode, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., third priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The third priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select this cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0160] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time. If the current time is later than the first time but earlier than the second time, it means that the cell's state has transitioned from a normal state to a store-and-forward state. That is, at the current time, the cell's state is store-and-forward. Therefore, when the cell is in a store-and-forward state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., third priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The third priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select this cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0161] Optionally, the indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell. When the value of the first parameter is a first value, for example, 1, and the cell is in a store-and-forward state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., third priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The third priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency. Whether the cell is in a store-and-forward state can be determined as above by the time relationship between the current time and the first time. Further, it can be determined by the time relationship between the current time, the first time, and the second time. The value of the first parameter indicates that the first terminal device can access the cell.

[0162] If the value of the first parameter is the second value, for example, if the value of the first parameter is 0, then it is determined that the device will not access the cell. Specifically, the first parameter being the second value indicates that the first terminal device is prohibited from accessing the cell.

[0163] If the current time is equal to the first time, it means that the cell's state is just transitioning from the normal state to the store-and-forward state. Therefore, if the first terminal device has already connected to the cell, the communication mode of the first terminal device can be switched from the normal mode to the store-and-forward mode, thereby reducing the number of times the first terminal device switches cells, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0164] If the current time is later than the first time and later than the second time, then the first terminal device leaves the connected state.

[0165] In the second possible implementation, the terminal device is a first terminal device, which indicates the second information at the first time. The second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from the normal state to the store-and-forward state.

[0166] If the current time is earlier than the first time, it means that the cell's state has not yet transitioned from normal to store-and-forward. In other words, at the current time, the cell's state is normal. Therefore, when the cell is in normal state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to low priority (e.g., first priority), while the first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell or sets its priority to high priority (e.g., second priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0167] Optionally, the indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell. When the value of the first parameter is a first value, for example, 1, and the cell is in a normal state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to a low priority (e.g., first priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell, or sets its priority to a high priority (e.g., second priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency. Whether the cell is in a normal state can be determined as shown above through the time relationship between the current time and the first time. The value of the first parameter indicates that the first terminal device can access the cell.

[0168] If the value of the first parameter is the second value, for example, if the value of the first parameter is 0, then it is determined that the device will not access the cell. Specifically, the first parameter being the second value indicates that the first terminal device is prohibited from accessing the cell.

[0169] If the current time is later than the first time, it indicates that the cell's state has transitioned from normal to store-and-forward. In other words, at the current time, the cell is in store-and-forward mode. Therefore, when the cell is in store-and-forward mode, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., third priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The third priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select this cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0170] Optionally, the indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell. The value of the first parameter is a first value, for example, a value of 1.

[0171] When the cell is in store-and-forward mode, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., third priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The third priority is a high priority, increasing the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select the cell for communication, thus reducing communication mode switching and ensuring efficient use of communication resources and connection maintenance, thereby improving communication efficiency. Whether the cell is in store-and-forward mode can be determined as shown above by the relationship between the current time and the first time. The value of the first parameter indicates that the first terminal device can access the cell.

[0172] If the value of the first parameter is the second value, for example, if the value of the first parameter is 0, then it is determined that the device will not access the cell. Specifically, the first parameter being the second value indicates that the first terminal device is prohibited from accessing the cell.

[0173] If the current time is equal to the first time, it means that the cell's state is just transitioning from the normal state to the store-and-forward state. Therefore, if the first terminal device has already connected to the cell, the communication mode of the first terminal device can be switched from the normal mode to the store-and-forward mode, thereby reducing the number of times the first terminal device switches cells, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0174] The third possible implementation involves a first terminal device that immediately indicates the second information, which is the time information of the cell transitioning from the store-and-forward state to the normal state.

[0175] If the current time is earlier than the first time, it means the cell's state has not yet transitioned from store-and-forward to normal. In other words, at the current time, the cell is in store-and-forward state. Therefore, when the cell is in store-and-forward state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., fourth priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines which cell to select or reselect. The fourth priority is a high priority, which increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select this cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0176] Optionally, the indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell. When the value of the first parameter is a first value, for example, 1, and the cell is in a store-and-forward state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to high priority (e.g., fourth priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines to select or reselect the cell. This increases the likelihood that the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode will select the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency. Whether the cell is in a store-and-forward state can be determined as above by the time relationship between the current time and the first time. The value of the first parameter indicates that the first terminal device can access the cell.

[0177] If the value of the first parameter is the second value, for example, if the value of the first parameter is 0, then it is determined that the device will not access the cell. Specifically, the first parameter being the second value indicates that the first terminal device is prohibited from accessing the cell.

[0178] If the current time is later than the first time, it indicates that the cell's state has transitioned from store-and-forward to normal state, meaning that the cell is currently in a normal state. Therefore, when the cell is in a normal state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to a low priority (e.g., fifth priority), while the first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell, or sets its priority to a high priority (e.g., sixth priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting that cell for communication, thereby reducing the frequency of communication mode switching, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency.

[0179] Optionally, the indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell. When the value of the first parameter is a first value, for example, 1, and the cell is in a normal state, the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode sets the cell's priority to a low priority (e.g., fifth priority). The first terminal device in non-store-and-forward mode determines whether to select or reselect the cell, or sets its priority to a high priority (e.g., sixth priority). This reduces the likelihood of the first terminal device in store-and-forward mode selecting the cell for communication, thereby reducing the switching of the first terminal device's communication mode, ensuring that the terminal device makes reasonable use of communication resources and maintains the connection, and improving communication efficiency. Whether the cell is in a normal state can be determined as above by the time relationship between the current time and the first time. The value of the first parameter indicates that the first terminal device can access the cell.

[0180] If the value of the first parameter is the second value, for example, if the value of the first parameter is 0, then it is determined that the device will not access the cell. Specifically, the first parameter being the second value indicates that the first terminal device is prohibited from accessing the cell.

[0181] The fourth possible implementation is that the terminal device is a second terminal device, which immediately indicates the first information, which is the time when the satellite stops providing service.

[0182] If the current time is earlier than the first time, it indicates that the satellite is serving the cell. Therefore, the second terminal device can determine whether to access the cell based on the second parameter. For example, if the value of the first parameter is the first value, it indicates that access to the cell is allowed; if the value of the first parameter is the second value, it indicates that access to the cell is prohibited. Specifically, if the value of the second parameter is the first value, it indicates that access to the cell is allowed.

[0183] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time. If the current time is earlier than the first time but later than the second time, it indicates that the satellite is serving the cell. Therefore, the second terminal device can determine whether to access the cell based on the second parameter. For example, if the value of the first parameter is a first value, it indicates that access to the cell is allowed; if the value of the first parameter is a second value, it indicates that access to the cell is prohibited. Specifically, if the value of the second parameter is a first value, it indicates that access to the cell is allowed.

[0184] If the current time is later than the first time, it means the satellite has stopped serving the cell. Therefore, the second terminal device cannot communicate through the cell, and thus, the second terminal device will not access the cell.

[0185] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time. If the current time is later than the first time but earlier than the second time, it means that the satellite has stopped serving the cell. Therefore, the second terminal device cannot communicate through the cell, and thus, the second terminal device is determined not to access the cell.

[0186] Optionally, if the current time equals the first time (i.e., the current time is the same as the first time), it means the satellite has just begun to stop serving the cell. In this case, the second terminal device cannot communicate through the cell. If the cell is the serving cell of the second terminal device, it leaves the connected state; if the cell is a neighboring cell, it determines not to access the cell.

[0187] The methods of the embodiments of this application have been described in detail above, and the apparatus of the embodiments of this application is provided below.

[0188] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device may include a transceiver unit 301 and a processing unit 302. The transceiver unit 301 may be a device with signal input (receiving) or output (transmitting) capabilities, used for signal transmission with other devices or other components within a device. The processing unit 302 may be a device with processing capabilities, including one or more processors, used for executing instructions (or code or programs), for example, processing communication protocols and communication data. The communication device may be a terminal device or a network device.

[0189] One possible implementation is that the communication device can be a terminal device, wherein:

[0190] The transceiver unit 301 is used to receive indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: first information, the first information indicating the time information when the satellite stops service; second information, the second information indicating the time information of cell state transition, the cell state including normal state and store-and-forward state;

[0191] The processing unit 302 is used to perform cell selection or reselection based on the first time.

[0192] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to, under the condition of satisfying the first condition, set the cell to the first priority if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine whether to select or reselect the cell or set the cell to the second priority; the first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0193] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, the indication information also indicates a second time, the second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to, under the condition of satisfying the first condition, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the first priority; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine whether to select or reselect the cell or set the cell to the second priority; the first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time and the current time being later than the second time.

[0194] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the first condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0195] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information or the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the third priority if the second condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine the cell as the cell to be selected or reselected; the second condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0196] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, the indication information also indicates a second time, the second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the third priority if the second condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine the cell as the cell to be selected or reselected; the second condition includes the current time being later than the first time and the current time being earlier than the second time.

[0197] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the second condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0198] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the fourth priority if a third condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine the cell as the cell to be selected or reselected; the third condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0199] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the third condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0200] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, set the cell to the fifth priority if the fourth condition is met; and to, if the communication mode of the first terminal device is not store-and-forward mode, determine whether to select or reselect the cell or set the cell to the sixth priority; the fourth condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

[0201] Optionally, the indication information further includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the fourth condition further includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

[0202] Optionally, the processing unit 302 is further configured to determine not to access the cell if the value of the first parameter is a second value.

[0203] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to determine whether to access the cell based on a second parameter when a fifth condition is met. The second parameter is used to indicate whether the cell prohibits access, and the fifth condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

[0204] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The fifth condition also includes the current time being later than the second time.

[0205] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to determine not to access the cell if a sixth condition is met, the sixth condition including the current time being later than the first time.

[0206] Optionally, the indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The sixth condition also includes the current time being earlier than the second time.

[0207] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from normal state to store-and-forward state, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to switch the communication mode of the first terminal device from normal mode to store-and-forward mode if the first terminal device has already accessed the cell when the current time is the same as the first time.

[0208] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the processing unit 302 is further configured to determine whether to not access the cell or leave the connection state when the current time is the same as the first time.

[0209] Another possible implementation is that the communication device could be a network device, wherein:

[0210] Processing unit 302 is configured to determine indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: first information, the first information being the time information of satellite service interruption; second information, the second information being the time information of cell state transition, the cell state including normal state and store-and-forward state;

[0211] The transceiver unit 301 is used to send the instruction information to the terminal device.

[0212] Optionally, when the terminal device is a first terminal device, the indication information is located in a first information field; when the terminal device is a second terminal device, the indication information is located in a second information field, and the first information field and the second information field are different.

[0213] Optionally, the terminal device is a first terminal device, and the first time indicates the second information.

[0214] Optionally, the terminal device is a second terminal device, and the first time indicates the first information.

[0215] Optionally, the transceiver unit 301 is also used to send indication information once or multiple times, wherein the first time indicated by the multiple transmissions of indication information is different.

[0216] The implementation of the above-mentioned transceiver unit 301 and processing unit 302 can be referred to the relevant description of the method embodiment shown in FIG2, which will not be repeated here.

[0217] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 4, the communication device may include a processor 111. The processor 111 may also be referred to as a processing unit, which can implement certain control functions. When the processor 111 runs, it causes the communication device to execute the method described in Figure 2 of this embodiment.

[0218] The communication device shown in Figure 4 may further include a storage medium 112, which may also be referred to as a storage unit or a memory. Instructions 114 are stored on the storage medium 112. These instructions 114 can be executed on the processor 111, causing the communication device to perform any of the methods described in Figure 2 of this embodiment.

[0219] Optionally, the processor 111 may include instructions 113 that can be executed on the processor 111 to cause the communication device to perform any of the methods described in FIG2 in the embodiments of this application.

[0220] The communication device can be a terminal device or a network device, used to implement the method described in the method embodiments. However, the scope of the device described in this application is not limited thereto; the communication device can be a standalone device or part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be:

[0221] (1) An independent integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0222] (2) A collection of one or more ICs, wherein the collection of ICs may optionally include a storage component for storing data and / or instructions;

[0223] (3) ASIC, such as modems;

[0224] (4) Modules that can be embedded in other devices.

[0225] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application. For ease of explanation, Figure 5 only shows the main components of the terminal device. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a control circuit, an antenna, and input / output devices. The processor is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs. The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for the conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals and the processing of radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touch screens, displays, and keyboards, are mainly used to receive user input data and output data to the user.

[0226] When the terminal device is powered on, the processor can read the software program from the storage unit, parse and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit processes the baseband signal to obtain the RF signal and transmits the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna. This RF signal is further converted into a baseband signal and output to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal back into data and processes the data.

[0227] For ease of explanation, Figure 5 shows only one memory and processor. In actual terminal devices, multiple processors and memories may exist. Memory may also be referred to as storage medium or storage device, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0228] In one embodiment, the antenna is used to perform the operations performed by the transceiver unit 301 in the above embodiments. The processor can be used to perform the operations performed by the processing unit 302 in the above embodiments.

[0229] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, can implement the relevant steps in the communication method provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0230] This application also provides a computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a computer (or a computer's processor), cause one or more steps of any of the aforementioned communication methods to be performed. If the constituent modules of the aforementioned devices are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0231] This application provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor for calling and executing instructions stored in a memory, causing a communication device with the chip installed to perform any of the methods described above.

[0232] This application also provides another chip, including a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is used to call and execute instructions stored in the memory, causing a communication device with the chip installed to perform any of the methods described above.

[0233] This application embodiment also provides another chip, including: an input interface, an output interface, and a processing circuit. The input interface, the output interface, and the processing circuit are connected via internal connection paths. The processing circuit is used to execute any of the methods described above. Optionally, the chip also includes a memory. The input interface, the output interface, the processor, and the memory are connected via internal connection paths. The processor is used to execute code in the memory. When the code is executed, the processor is used to execute any of the methods described above.

[0234] This application also provides another chip system, including at least one processor and a communication interface, wherein the communication interface and at least one processor are interconnected via a line, and the at least one processor is used to run computer programs or instructions to perform any of the methods described above. This chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0235] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device, and a detailed description can be found in the method shown in FIG2.

[0236] The terminal device in this application embodiment can be a terminal as a final product, a component or module with terminal functions, or a communication chip (e.g., processor, baseband chip, or chip system) that can be applied in a terminal. The network device in this application embodiment can be a network device as a final product, a component or module with network device functions, or a communication chip (e.g., processor, baseband chip, or chip system) that can be applied in a network device.

[0237] It should be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be RAM, which is used as an external cache. Memory is any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code having an instruction or data structure form and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiments of this application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing a storage function for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0238] It should also be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, etc.

[0239] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) is integrated into the processor.

[0240] It should be noted that the memories described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

[0241] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments provided herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0242] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0243] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment, depending on actual needs.

[0244] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0245] The steps in the methods of this application can be adjusted, combined, or deleted according to actual needs. Each step in each embodiment can be partially performed (for example, the terminal device may not perform the steps performed by the terminal device in the above embodiments). The execution order of different steps can be changed. The embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments, different embodiments can be combined with each other, and different steps of different embodiments herein can be combined.

[0246] The modules / units in the device of this application embodiment can be merged, divided, and deleted according to actual needs.

[0247] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0248] In this application, it may refer to a communication protocol or specification, such as the 3GPP communication protocol.

[0249] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. (if present) in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0250] In the embodiments of this application, "including" can refer to a relationship of inclusion or an equality relationship. For example, A includes B, which could mean that A includes other content besides B, or that A and B are the same content.

[0251] In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this application is merely a description of the relationship between the related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of singular or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0252] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a terminal device, the method includes: Receive indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: The first information is the time information when the satellite service was interrupted; The second information is the time information of cell state transition, and the cell state includes normal state and store-and-forward state; Cell selection or reselection is performed based on the first time.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the first priority if the first condition is met. If the communication mode of the first terminal device is non-store-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be selected or reselected or the cell is set to the second priority. The first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device. The first time indicates the first information. The indication information also indicates a second time. The second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, then the cell is set to the first priority if the first condition is met. If the communication mode of the first terminal device is non-store-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be selected or reselected or the cell is set to the second priority. The first condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time and the current time being later than the second time.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The indication information also includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the first condition also includes that the value of the first parameter is a first value.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, and the second condition is met, the cell is set to the third priority. If the communication mode of the first terminal device is non-store-forward mode, then the cell is determined as the cell to be selected or reselected. The second condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device. The first time indicates the first information. The indication information also indicates a second time. The second time indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, and the second condition is met, the cell is set to the third priority. If the communication mode of the first terminal device is non-store-forward mode, then the cell is determined as the cell to be selected or reselected. The second condition includes the current time being later than the first time and the current time being earlier than the second time.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The indication information also includes a first parameter, which indicates whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the second condition also includes that the value of the first parameter is a first value.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, and the third condition is met, the cell is set to the fourth priority. If the communication mode of the first terminal device is non-store-forward mode, then the cell is determined as the cell to be selected or reselected. The third condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The indication information also includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the third condition also includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

10. The method according to claim 1 or any one of 8-9, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from store-and-forward state to normal state, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the communication mode of the first terminal device is store-and-forward mode, and the fourth condition is met, then the cell is set to the fifth priority. If the communication mode of the first terminal device is non-store-and-forward mode, then the cell is determined to be selected or reselected or the cell is set to the sixth priority. The fourth condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The indication information also includes a first parameter, which is used to indicate whether the first terminal device can access the cell, and the fourth condition also includes the value of the first parameter being a first value.

12. The method according to any one of claims 4, 7, 9 or 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the value of the first parameter is the second value, it is determined that the cell will not be accessed.

13. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the fifth condition is met, it is determined whether to access the cell based on the second parameter, which is used to indicate whether the cell prohibits access. The fifth condition includes the current time being earlier than the first time.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time information when the cell stops operating in the store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time information when it transitions from the store-and-forward state to the normal state. The fifth condition also includes the current time being later than the second time.

15. The method according to claim 1 or any one of 13-14, characterized in that, The terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the cell selection or reselection based on the first time includes: If the sixth condition is met, it is determined not to access the cell, and the sixth condition includes the current time being later than the first time.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The indication information also indicates a second time, which indicates the time when the cell stops operating in store-and-forward satellite operation mode, or the time when it transitions from store-and-forward state to normal state. The sixth condition also includes the current time being earlier than the second time.

17. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device, the first time indicates the second information, the second information is the time information of the cell transitioning from a normal state to a store-and-forward state, and the method further includes: If the current time is the same as the first time, and the first terminal device has already accessed the cell, then the communication mode of the first terminal device is switched from normal mode to store-and-forward mode.

18. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device is a second terminal device, the first time indicates the first information, and the method further includes: If the current time is the same as the first time, it is determined that the cell will not be accessed or the connection state will be left.

19. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Determine indication information, the indication information indicating a first time, the first time indicating at least one of the following: The first information is the time information when the satellite service was interrupted; The second information is the time information of cell state transition, and the cell state includes normal state and store-and-forward state; The instruction information is sent to the terminal device.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, When the terminal device is a first terminal device, the indication information is located in a first information field; when the terminal device is a second terminal device, the indication information is located in a second information field, and the first information field and the second information field are different.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The terminal device is a first terminal device, and the first time indicates the second information.

22. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The terminal device is a second terminal device, and the first time indicates the first information.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19-22, characterized in that, Sending the indication information includes: The instruction information may be sent once or multiple times, and the first time indicated by the multiple transmissions of the instruction information is different.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-18.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 19-23.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor and a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the method according to any one of claims 1-18 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 19-23 to be implemented.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the method according to any one of claims 1-18 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 19-23 to be implemented.

28. A computer program, characterized in that, Includes program code, which, when the computer runs the computer program, performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-18, or performs the method as described in any one of claims 19-23.

29. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes the communication device according to claim 24 and the communication device according to claim 25.

30. A chip, characterized in that, Includes a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-18, or to perform the method as described in any one of claims 19-23.

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