NTN SON Report Forwarding for Mobility Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), mobility-related issues such as handover failures and radio link failures are complex due to the movement of satellites, leading to challenges in determining whether failures are caused by user equipment (UE) mobility or NTN cell mobility, and in efficiently forwarding Self-Organizing Network (SON) reports across dynamic NTN cells.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves enhancing UE capabilities to include specific information in Self-Organizing Network (SON) reports, such as whether an event occurred under NTN or terrestrial network coverage, and whether the event was due to UE mobility or NTN cell mobility. Additionally, network nodes are equipped with methods to determine whether to retrieve and forward these reports, based on the network type and availability of communication interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SON reports are forwarded using legacy procedures based on CGI or PCI combined with carrier frequency, then the forwarding mechanism works for terrestrial networks, but the mechanism becomes unreliable in NTNs due to dynamic cell characteristics and satellite movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the SON report forwarding mechanism adaptable to changing NTN conditions. Specifically, it introduces dynamic cell identification methods that account for satellite movement and cell reconfiguration, allowing the system to automatically adjust to dynamic NTN environments while maintaining reliable report forwarding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters for cell identification in NTN scenarios. Instead of relying on static CGI or PCI-frequency combinations, it introduces new parameters such as satellite orbit information, beam identification, and time-stamped cell state information to reliably identify cells in dynamic NTN environments
2Measurement precision
If mobility configurations are adjusted frequently to account for satellite movement, then the accuracy of mobility management improves, but the system complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments mobility management into distinct phases and responsibilities. It separates satellite orbit prediction functions from UE mobility measurement functions, and divides mobility parameter adjustments into network-configured baseline values and UE-autonomous adjustments based on measured conditions, reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables UEs to autonomously perform mobility measurements and self-adjust mobility parameters based on pre-configured rules and satellite ephemeris data. This self-service capability reduces the need for frequent network signaling and complex centralized control, while maintaining accurate mobility management
Data Source
AI summary
Reporting of events in non-terrestrial network, NTN, coverage. An example method, in a wireless device operating in a wireless communication network, comprises detecting (310) one of one or more pre-determined triggering events and, responsive to the detected triggering event, determining (320) whether the triggering event occurred while the wireless device was operating under non-terrestrial network coverage or under terrestrial network coverage, and/or determining whether the triggering event was due to wireless device mobility or non-terrestrial network cell mobility. The method further comprises saving (330), for reporting to the wireless communication network, information corresponding to this determining.