Position-Based Tracking Area Control for Moving NTN Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-terrestrial networks, determining the tracking area of a terminal device is challenging due to the movement of cells with air-borne platforms, as the geographical position and cell ID are no longer bound, making traditional cell ID change-based methods ineffective.
Innovation Solution
The tracking area is determined based on the absolute position of the terminal device, using methods such as sending indication information to a core network device, which includes configuring TAs based on the device's position, and employing algorithms like minimum circle coverage to manage tracking areas accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cell ID change-based tracking area determination is used, then the method works well in terrestrial networks where geographical position and cell are bound, but it becomes ineffective in NTN scenarios where cells move with air-borne platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter for tracking area determination from cell ID to terminal device's absolute position. In NTN scenarios where cells move with air-borne platforms, the binding between geographical position and cell ID breaks down. By using absolute position information (latitude, longitude, altitude) instead of cell ID, the system adapts to the mobile nature of NTN cells while maintaining reliable tracking area determination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tracking area is determined based on absolute position of terminal device, then tracking area management becomes effective in NTN scenarios, but signaling overhead increases due to position reporting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic tracking area determination based on position changes. Instead of continuous position reporting, the terminal device determines whether to update tracking area information by comparing current position with previously reported position. The device only sends position information when the position change exceeds a threshold or at periodic intervals, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining effective tracking area management in NTN scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If traditional TA list management is used, then paging can be delivered to cells in all TAs, but the complexity increases when cells are mobile and TA boundaries are not fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the terminal device to autonomously determine its tracking area based on absolute position information without relying on complex network-provided TA lists. The terminal device calculates its position, determines the appropriate tracking area, and manages its own tracking area information. This self-service approach reduces network complexity while maintaining paging delivery capability, as the network only needs to provide position-based TA determination algorithms rather than managing complex mobile TA boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for determining a tracking area is provided. One example method includes sending, by a terminal device, indication information to a core network device, where the indication information is used to indicate a position of the terminal device; and receiving, by the terminal device, first TA information from the core network device, where the first TA information includes a TA corresponding to the position of the terminal device, and the TA is determined based on the position of the terminal device. In the foregoing technical solution, the tracking area of the terminal device is managed based on the position of the terminal device, and the tracking area of the terminal device can be managed without depending on a cell ID change of the terminal device.