UE Cell Measurement in Non-Terrestrial Networks

The patent applies dynamics by making the cell measurement process adaptive rather than static. The UE dynamically adjusts measurement behavior based on the calculated remaining service time (RST). When RST is large, measurements are relaxed or skipped; when RST is small, measurements are performed more frequently. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement accuracy only when necessary, thereby reducing power consumption during periods where the serving cell will remain stable for an extended duration.

The patent changes the parameter used for measurement decision-making from signal quality alone to a combination of remaining service time (RST) and signal quality. By introducing RST as a new parameter that reflects the temporal stability of the serving cell, the system can make informed decisions about when measurements are necessary. This parameter change enables the UE to avoid unnecessary measurements when the cell is expected to remain stable, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy when needed.

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating the remaining service time (RST) in advance before performing cell measurements. The UE receives service time information from the network, calculates how long the current serving cell will remain valid, and uses this pre-calculated RST value to determine the measurement strategy. This preliminary assessment allows the UE to proactively adjust its measurement behavior, performing measurements only when RST indicates potential cell changes are imminent, thereby maintaining connection reliability while reducing unnecessary power consumption.

The patent applies partial action by performing cell measurements selectively rather than continuously. Instead of executing measurements at every opportunity, the UE performs measurements only when the remaining service time (RST) falls below a certain threshold or when other measurement criteria are met. This partial measurement approach is sufficient to maintain connection stability because it focuses measurements on the critical periods when cell changes are most likely, avoiding excessive measurements during stable periods and thus reducing power consumption.

The patent applies dynamics by making measurement relaxation conditional rather than static. The UE dynamically switches between relaxed measurement mode and normal measurement mode based on the remaining service time (RST). When RST is large, measurements are relaxed to save power; when RST decreases below a threshold, the UE transitions to more frequent measurements. This dynamic switching ensures that measurement precision is maintained during critical periods while allowing power savings during stable periods, effectively resolving the contradiction between power consumption and measurement accuracy.

The patent changes the decision parameter for measurement execution from signal quality alone to a combination of remaining service time (RST) and signal quality thresholds. By introducing RST as a gating parameter, the system can apply measurement relaxation when RST is large even if signal quality would normally trigger a measurement. Conversely, when RST is small, measurements are performed more aggressively. This parameter change ensures that measurement precision is maintained when cell changes are likely while enabling power savings when the cell stability is high.