NTN Gateway Switching Using Feeder and Service Link Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-terrestrial networks (NTN), conventional link quality detection methods for terrestrial networks fail to distinguish between feeder link and service link quality, leading to poor communication quality due to inadequate gateway station switching.
Innovation Solution
A method for gateway station switching in NTN communication that involves a terminal device comparing link quality with both a source and target gateway station, using uplink reference signals to determine channel quality and trigger switching based on threshold comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional link quality detection method is used in NTN communication, then the gateway station can detect link quality, but it cannot distinguish whether the quality problem is on the feeder link or service link, leading to inability to determine gateway station switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the link quality detection into two separate measurements: feeder link quality (measured by the gateway station using downlink reference signals from the satellite) and service link quality (measured by the terminal device using downlink reference signals from the gateway station). This segmentation allows precise identification of which link segment causes quality degradation, enabling informed gateway station switching decisions.
2Reliability
If the terminal device sends uplink reference signal after sending first indication information, then the gateway station can detect channel quality for switching decision, but the quantity of signal transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the terminal device autonomously determines gateway station switching by comparing service link quality (measured via downlink reference signals) against a threshold. When the quality deteriorates below the threshold, the terminal device directly triggers switching without requiring additional uplink reference signal transmissions, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining switching reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway station switching method and apparatus. When quality of a link from a terminal device to a source gateway station through a satellite is poor, the source gateway station sends third indication information to a target gateway station, so that the target gateway station feeds back second channel quality to the source gateway station, that is, quality of a link from the terminal device to the target gateway station through the satellite. The source gateway station determines, based on the second channel quality and first channel quality that represents the quality of the link from the terminal device to the source gateway station through the satellite, whether to switch the terminal device to the target gateway station.