Satellite Coverage Gap Management for Non-Terrestrial Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-terrestrial wireless communication networks face challenges with coverage gaps due to satellite orbits, leading to inefficient power consumption and spectral inefficiencies as devices attempt to reconnect during gaps, causing unnecessary signaling overhead and power usage.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UE) and network nodes implement a coverage gap management system that allows UE to transmit a coverage gap indication to the network node before the gap occurs, transitioning from a connected state to a suspended or inactive state at the start of the gap, thereby reducing power consumption and improving spectral efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE attempts to reconnect during coverage gaps, then connection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary actions by detecting upcoming coverage gaps using satellite orbital information and proactively transitioning to idle or inactive states before the coverage gap occurs. This prevents unnecessary reconnection attempts during periods when satellite coverage is unavailable, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining connection reliability through timely state transitions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If UE transitions to idle or inactive state before coverage gap, then power consumption is reduced, but connection establishment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary state transitions by detecting upcoming coverage gaps using satellite ephemeris data and orbital information, then proactively transitioning to idle or inactive states before the coverage gap begins. This timing optimization ensures that the UE is already in the appropriate state when coverage is lost, avoiding unnecessary reconnection delays while reducing power consumption during the coverage gap period.
3Measurement precision
If UE monitors for satellite coverage continuously, then coverage gap detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system performs preliminary coverage gap detection by obtaining satellite orbital information and ephemeris data, then calculates upcoming coverage gaps in advance. This approach achieves accurate coverage gap detection by using pre-fetched orbital parameters to predict when coverage will be lost, thereby reducing the need for continuous monitoring and lowering power consumption.
4Productivity
If UE sends coverage gap indication to network, then network can optimize resource allocation, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE sends coverage gap indications to the network node in advance based on predicted coverage gaps from satellite orbital information. This preliminary notification allows the network to proactively release or reallocate radio resources before the coverage gap occurs, improving resource allocation efficiency. The signaling overhead is minimized by only transmitting indication messages when coverage gaps are predicted, rather than continuous reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may access a serving network via a satellite while in a first state with the serving network, the first state comprising a connected state. The UE may transmit, to the serving network and based on a determination that a coverage gap associated with the satellite is upcoming, a coverage gap indication that indicates that the coverage gap is upcoming. The UE may transition from the connected state to a second state at or before a start of the coverage gap. Numerous other aspects are described.