NTN UE Capability Exchange for NGSO Satellite Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-terrestrial network (NTN) technologies lack efficient methods for UE capability information exchange, leading to resource wastage and procedural delays in providing high-performance NTN access.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a UE capability enquiry message transmission and response between a non-terrestrial network device and user equipment, utilizing a transceiver and processor to exchange UE capability information, including additional NTN-specific parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional terrestrial network methods are used for UE capability exchange, then existing procedures can be maintained, but NTN-specific parameters cannot be properly exchanged leading to resource wastage and procedural delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the existing UE capability enquiry and information message framework to serve dual purposes: traditional terrestrial network capability exchange and NTN-specific capability exchange. By making the message structure universal and adaptable, the system can handle both legacy and NTN-specific parameters without requiring separate dedicated procedures, thus improving adaptability while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the capability information message structure to include additional NTN-specific parameters such as orbit type, satellite location, and communication mode. These parameter changes enable the message to carry NTN-specific capability information while maintaining compatibility with existing terrestrial network procedures, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If NTN capability information is exchanged using existing message formats, then backward compatibility is maintained, but additional NTN-specific parameters cannot be transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds NTN-specific parameters within the existing capability information message structure, effectively nesting new information within a familiar framework. The message format accommodates both traditional parameters and NTN-specific parameters, ensuring that capability information remains complete while maintaining backward compatibility with existing message formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The capability information message structure is designed to be dynamic and flexible, allowing it to adapt and include NTN-specific parameters when needed while maintaining its original functionality for terrestrial networks. This dynamic structure prevents information loss by ensuring all necessary parameters can be transmitted without requiring a complete message format replacement.
3Reliability
If detailed NTN capability information is collected from UEs, then network optimization is improved, but procedure complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs capability information exchange during the initial network attachment procedure, specifically in the RRC setup phase. By conducting this action preliminarily before actual data transmission begins, the network obtains necessary capability information without delaying subsequent communication operations. This preliminary action improves reliability while minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The capability enquiry and information exchange is integrated into the continuous RRC procedure flow, ensuring that capability information collection does not interrupt or significantly delay the overall network attachment process. The useful action of capability exchange continues seamlessly within the existing procedure timeline, maintaining productivity while ensuring complete information collection for network optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
In embodiments, a method performed by a non-terrestrial network (NTN) device includes transmitting a UE capability enquiry message to a user equipment (UE) and receiving a UE capability information message corresponding to the UE capability enquiry message from the UE. The UE capability information includes at least one of information for indicating one of a plurality of types of NTN non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) or information on a maximum number of one or more satellites accessible in the UE.