NTN Terminal State Switching for Discontinuous Satellite Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-terrestrial networks (NTN) with discontinuous coverage, terminal devices face challenges in managing power consumption and network connectivity due to unpredictable network availability, particularly in IoT scenarios where power saving configurations like PSM and eDRX are mismatched with actual network coverage, leading to inefficient power usage and communication quality issues.
Innovation Solution
Terminal devices and network devices determine and utilize first time information to switch states based on a first time period leading to network non-coverage entry and a duration of non-coverage, enabling predictive power management and state switching to optimize power consumption and communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If terminal devices use power saving configurations (PSM and eDRX) in NTN with discontinuous coverage, then power consumption is reduced, but network connectivity and communication quality deteriorate due to mismatched state transitions with actual network availability
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device predicts the network non-coverage start instant and time period in advance using satellite orbital parameters and coverage information. Based on this prediction, the terminal proactively switches from connected state to power saving state before actual network non-coverage occurs, ensuring both power saving and maintaining network connectivity when available. The network side also determines time information and provides indications to terminals to coordinate state transitions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If terminal devices switch to power saving state based on conventional configurations, then power consumption is reduced, but state transition timing becomes inaccurate due to unpredictable network non-coverage in NTN
Solution Approach 1:
The network side determines first time information related to network non-coverage duration and provides feedback indications to terminal devices. Terminals use this feedback to adjust their state transition timing, switching from connected state to power saving state at accurate moments. This feedback mechanism ensures state transition timing accuracy while maintaining power saving benefits in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a method and apparatus for wireless communication. One example method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, system information that indicates that a cell corresponding to a serving satellite supports discontinuous coverage; transmitting, by the terminal device, first time information to a network device, wherein the first time information is related to at least one of a first time period or a second time period; performing, by the terminal device, a transition from a first state to a second state based on the first time information; and determining, by the terminal device and based on a third time period included in the first information.