WO2024016933A1 - 一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置 - Google Patents

一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置 Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2024016933A1
WO2024016933A1 PCT/CN2023/101613 CN2023101613W WO2024016933A1 WO 2024016933 A1 WO2024016933 A1 WO 2024016933A1 CN 2023101613 W CN2023101613 W CN 2023101613W WO 2024016933 A1 WO2024016933 A1 WO 2024016933A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
information
cell
ntn
terminal device
coverage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/CN2023/101613
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
吴小宁
仲亚萍
胡星星
耿婷婷
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Huawei Technologies Co Ltd filed Critical Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority to EP23841999.8A priority Critical patent/EP4535867A4/en
Publication of WO2024016933A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024016933A1/zh
Priority to US19/022,839 priority patent/US20250159595A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0055—Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/16—Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0055—Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
    • H04W36/0061—Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link of neighbour cell information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/08—Reselecting an access point
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/24—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
    • H04W36/32—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/20—Selecting an access point
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/04—Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/06—Airborne or Satellite Networks

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular, to a cell search method and a communications device.
  • non-terrestrial network In a non-terrestrial communication network (non-terrestrial network, NTN), the coverage area provided by the non-terrestrial communication network equipment changes due to the movement of the non-terrestrial communication network equipment (such as satellites). In this way, when the number of non-terrestrial communication network devices is relatively small and cannot provide continuous coverage of the NTN network, for a terminal device located at a certain location, the terminal device may not be able to receive the signal of the NTN network at a certain moment, thus You will experience discontinuous coverage of the NTN network. This phenomenon is called NTN discontinuous coverage.
  • NTN discontinuous coverage This phenomenon is called NTN discontinuous coverage.
  • the terminal device in the NTN discontinuous coverage scenario, when the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device needs to stop executing the idle state function. Because, after the terminal equipment stops executing the idle state function, the terminal equipment cannot perform functions related to terminal access such as cell search. Therefore, it may affect the terminal device's access to the network, thereby affecting the communication experience.
  • This application provides a cell search method and communication device, which are used to improve the probability of terminal equipment staying in a terrestrial communication network (terrestrial network, TN) under NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, which is beneficial to improving communication experience.
  • a terrestrial communication network terrestrial network, TN
  • NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios which is beneficial to improving communication experience.
  • this application provides a cell search method, which is applied to terminal equipment.
  • the terminal device receives the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite; in addition, the terminal device also receives first information, and the first information is used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells. Then, the terminal device determines whether it is within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information. When the terminal device determines that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells based on the first information.
  • the service information includes ephemeris information and/or service start time information.
  • the service information includes ephemeris information of adjacent satellites.
  • the service information also includes ephemeris information of the serving satellite.
  • the service start time information is used to indicate the time when neighboring satellites start to provide services to terminal devices in a certain geographical area.
  • the coverage information of the NTN cell can indicate at least one NTN cell, and the at least one NTN cell includes an NTN serving cell and/or an NTN neighboring cell.
  • the search for TN neighbor cells means that the terminal device starts the process of searching for a TN cell that can be camped on.
  • the terminal device may search for a TN neighbor cell (that is, find a TN neighbor cell that can camp on it), or it may not be able to search for a TN neighbor cell (that is, it can find a TN neighbor cell that can camp on it). No TN neighbor cell that can reside was found).
  • the terminal device can receive the first information for instructing the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells, even if the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or the terminal device is located at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device can It is possible to search TN neighbor cells based on the first information without immediately stopping execution of the idle state function. Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in the TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information and search time indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell, that is, whether there is a TN neighbor cell near the geographical area where the NTN serving cell is located. For example, the TN neighbor cell indication information received by the terminal equipment indicates that the NTN serving cell has a TN neighbor cell. For another example, the TN neighbor cell indication information received by the terminal equipment indicates that the NTN serving cell does not have a TN neighbor cell.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate the length of time that the terminal device is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells, that is, the maximum length of time between the time when the terminal device starts searching for TN neighbor cells and the time when the terminal device stops searching for TN neighbor cells.
  • the time indicated by the search time indication information is T1.
  • the terminal device starts to search for TN neighboring cells, it can start a timer 1 with a duration of T1.
  • the terminal device will continue to search for TN neighboring cells until the timer expires. Server 1 timed out.
  • the terminal device can receive the search time indication information and limit the terminal device's search based on the search time indication information.
  • the time-consuming TN neighbor cell allows the terminal device to perform a search within the search time configured on the network side, and prevents the terminal device from continuing to search without finding a TN neighbor cell where it can reside. Therefore, it is beneficial to save energy consumption of terminal equipment.
  • the terminal device searches for TN neighbor cells based on the first information, including: when the TN neighbor cell indication information indicates that a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell, the terminal device indicates the information at the search time Search TN neighbor cells within the indicated time period.
  • the terminal device when the terminal device searches for a TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information and within the geographical area where the terminal device is located, the terminal device camps on the TN neighbor cell.
  • the terminal device can determine that a TN cell exists near the NTN cell based on the TN neighbor cell indication information to trigger the terminal device to not be within the coverage of the NTN cell or to search for TN neighbor cells at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, thereby preventing the terminal device from When it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell, it directly stops executing the idle state function (that is, directly related to the AS side function). Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in the TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the idle state function that is, directly related to the AS side function
  • the method further includes: when the terminal device does not search for a TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information, the terminal device stops executing the idle state function.
  • the terminal device can also limit the time it takes for the terminal device to search for a TN neighbor cell based on the duration indicated by the search time indication information, thereby preventing the terminal device from continuing to search without finding a TN neighbor cell in which it can reside. Therefore, it is beneficial to save energy consumption of terminal equipment.
  • the first information also includes a distance threshold, which is used to indicate that the idle state function is executed when the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the method also includes: when the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold, the terminal device performs an idle state function.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last when the terminal equipment was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or where the terminal equipment was last when the terminal equipment was triggered to stop executing the idle state function. geographical location.
  • the terminal device can obtain the distance threshold, and when it stops executing the idle state function, the terminal device can store the current geographical location of the terminal device as a reference geographical location, so that the terminal device moves to a distance from the reference geographical location.
  • the idle state function can be restarted when the threshold is exceeded. It is helpful to prevent terminal equipment from missing TN neighboring cells due to continuous stop executing idle state functions, and is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment searching for TN neighboring cells, thus ensuring communication of terminal equipment.
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, and the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is used to indicate the geographical area in which at least one TN neighboring cell exists.
  • the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor area may be longitude and latitude, administrative area or national area, etc.
  • the geographical area can be represented by geographical location information such as latitude and longitude, administrative area or country area.
  • the terminal device After the terminal device receives the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell, if the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, then The terminal device will search for TN neighboring cells based on the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell.
  • the terminal device searching for TN neighboring cells based on the first information includes: the terminal device searching for TN neighboring cells within the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell.
  • the terminal device can obtain the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells to determine which geographical areas have TN neighboring cells. Therefore, the terminal device searches for the TN neighboring cells in the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells, which is beneficial to improving the probability of the terminal device searching for the TN neighboring cells.
  • the method further includes: when the geographical location where the terminal equipment is currently located does not belong to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal equipment stops executing the idle state function.
  • the NTN access network equipment can provide the terminal equipment with the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells to indicate to the terminal equipment which geographical areas have TN neighboring cells. If the terminal equipment determines based on the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell that the terminal equipment is not within the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. Stop executing the idle state function. It is helpful to prevent the terminal equipment from continuously searching for TN neighboring cells in a geographical area where there are no TN neighboring cells, and is beneficial to saving the energy consumption of the terminal equipment.
  • the method further includes: when the current geographical location of the terminal device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device triggers execution of the idle state function.
  • the NTN access network equipment can provide the terminal equipment with the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells to indicate to the terminal equipment which geographical areas have TN neighboring cells. If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in the TN neighbor cell pair based on the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell, Within the geographical area indicated by the corresponding geographical area information, when the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell, it does not need to directly stop executing the idle state function (that is, it does not need to directly turn off the AS side function). Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in the TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identity information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the method also includes: when the current geographical location of the terminal device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device searches for at least one TN neighbor cell indicated by the TN neighbor cell information.
  • the NTN access network device can provide TN neighbor cell information to the terminal device to indicate the frequency point, accordingly, the terminal device can determine the frequency point of at least one TN neighbor cell based on the TN neighbor cell information, and then the terminal device can determine the frequency point of at least one TN neighbor cell based on the TN neighbor cell information. It is possible to search TN neighboring cells based on the aforementioned frequency points instead of blindly searching TN neighboring cells. Therefore, it is helpful to narrow the frequency range of search and improve search efficiency.
  • the method before the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells based on the first information, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device is not in the When the NTN cell is within the coverage area, a search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information is triggered.
  • the first indication information indicates the time when the terminal equipment uses the first information to search for TN neighboring cells, which time is between condition 1 (that is, the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell) and condition 2 (that is, the terminal equipment is within the coverage of the NTN cell). The edge of the coverage area of the NTN cell) the moment when either of these two conditions is true.
  • the NTN access network device displays the first indication information to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information when it determines that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, and It is not necessary to immediately search for TN neighbor cells based on the first information upon receiving the first information. That is to say, when receiving the first information, the terminal device does not need to immediately start searching for TN neighbor cells based on the first information. It is beneficial to prevent the terminal equipment from always searching for TN neighboring cells when it receives the first information but is located within the coverage of the NTN cell, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal equipment and improving the power saving performance of the terminal equipment. In addition, terminal equipment within the NTN cell coverage can also be prevented from accessing the TN as much as possible, which helps reduce the load on the TN network.
  • this application provides a cell search method, which is applied to access network equipment.
  • the access network device sends satellite service information and NTN cell coverage information of the satellite; in addition, the access network device also sends first information, which is used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • the access network equipment is an NTN access network equipment.
  • the access network equipment can provide the terminal equipment with the first information for instructing the terminal equipment to search for TN neighboring cells, the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, even if the terminal equipment is not covered by the NTN cell
  • the terminal device can also search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information without immediately stopping to perform the idle state function. Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in the TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information and search time indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell. Indicates the time period that the terminal device is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells.
  • the first information also includes a distance threshold, which is used to indicate that the execution of the idle state function is triggered when the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last when the terminal equipment was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last triggered to stop executing the idle state function. .
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, and the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is used to indicate the geographical area in which at least one TN neighboring cell exists.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the access network device sending the first information includes: the access network device sending the first information to the terminal device within a preset time range before the service stop time of the NTN serving cell where the terminal device is located. First information.
  • the service stop time of the NTN cell refers to the time when the NTN access network equipment turns off the radio frequency module corresponding to the NTN cell, that is, the time when the NTN access network equipment turns off the beam corresponding to the NTN cell.
  • the NTN cell is an NTN quasi-terrestrial fixed cell.
  • the beam of the NTN access network equipment can cover a geographical area for a period of time. After the aforementioned period of time exceeds, the NTN access network equipment turns off the radio frequency module corresponding to the NTN cell. , that is, the NTN access network equipment turns off the beam corresponding to the NTN cell.
  • the NTN access network equipment can be used when the NTN cell is about to reach the service stop time (that is, before the NTN access network equipment is about to turn off the radio frequency module corresponding to the NTN cell, or when the NTN access network equipment is about to turn off the corresponding radio frequency module of the NTN cell).
  • the first information is sent before the beam), instead of continuously sending the first information during the entire period during which the NTN cell provides services to the terminal equipment. Not only can the terminal device receive the first information just before it needs to use the first information, but it can also help save signaling overhead, and can also save energy consumption caused by the terminal device receiving signaling.
  • the method before the access network device sends the first information to the terminal device, the method further includes: the access network device determines based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite The terminal equipment is about to leave the coverage area of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage area of the NTN cell.
  • the method further includes: the access network device sending first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is in A search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information is triggered when the coverage area of the NTN cell is at the edge.
  • this application provides a cell search method, which is applied to terminal equipment. Specifically, the terminal device obtains the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, and the terminal device is located in the TN cell; when the terminal device determines that the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information time, the terminal equipment starts to search for NTN cells.
  • the terminal equipment is located in the TN cell, which can be understood to mean that the terminal equipment resides in the TN cell.
  • the terminal device can receive the system broadcast message of the TN cell.
  • the terminal equipment residing in the TN can obtain the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, and determine whether there is NTN coverage based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell (that is, determine whether it is in the NTN cell). within coverage). Then, when it is determined that it is within the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device starts to search for the NTN cell; when it is determined that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device does not start searching for the NTN cell. Therefore, it is helpful for the terminal device to determine under what conditions it can trigger the search for NTN cells so as to re-camp from TN to NTN, which is beneficial to load balancing management.
  • the method further includes: the terminal device receiving first time information, the first time information being used for the terminal device to determine the moment to start searching for NTN cells, or for the terminal device to determine to re-enter the NTN cell. The time to select the NTN cell.
  • the TN access network device sends different first time information to different terminal devices. Therefore, different terminal devices start searching for NTN cells at different times, or different terminal devices reselect to NTN cells at different times. That is to say, the first time information has the function of staggering the time when different terminal devices start searching for NTN cells; or the first time information has the function of staggering the time when different terminal devices reselect to NTN cells.
  • the TN access network device provides the first time information to the terminal device, so that the terminal device determines the time to start searching for the NTN cell or the time to reselect the NTN cell based on the first time information, which is conducive to the terminal device accurately Start searching for NTN cells or reselecting to NTN cells at a certain time.
  • the TN access network device may send different first time information to different terminal devices (for example, terminal devices of different TN cells), so that different terminal devices determine different times to start searching for NTN cells, or determine The reselection time to the NTN cell is different. This will help terminal devices start searching for NTN cells at different times or trigger reselection to an NTN cell, thus preventing a large number of terminal devices from accessing the NTN network at the same time.
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the first time, and the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the terminal device determines the time to start searching for an NTN cell, or the terminal device determines the time to reselect to an NTN cell, including:
  • T is the time when the NTN cell search starts or the time when the NTN cell is reselected
  • M1 is the first time of TN
  • D is the first duration
  • R is the random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the time when the terminal equipment predicts NTN coverage.
  • the adjustment The coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the terminal device determines the time to start searching for an NTN cell, or the terminal device determines the time to reselect to an NTN cell, including:
  • T is the time when the NTN cell search starts or the time when the NTN cell is reselected
  • M2 is the time when the terminal equipment predicts NTN coverage
  • D is the first duration
  • R is the random number generated by the terminal equipment.
  • the terminal device obtains the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, including: when the terminal device is stationed in the NTN cell, it stores the received service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell. Coverage information.
  • the terminal equipment camped on an NTN cell at a certain moment in history, and can receive satellite service information and coverage information of the NTN cell broadcast by the NTN access network equipment.
  • the terminal device can store the received satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell, so that when the terminal device needs to search for an NTN cell again, it can determine whether the terminal device is currently within the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device can store the received satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell when camping on the NTN cell, so that the terminal device can obtain the satellite without network coverage after leaving the NTN cell.
  • the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell help the terminal device quickly decide whether the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device obtains the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, including: the terminal device receives the service information of the satellite from the TN cell and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the TN access network equipment broadcasts the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell; accordingly, the terminal equipment receives the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell broadcast by the TN access network equipment to the terminal equipment can be configured by the operation and maintenance personnel to the TN access network equipment, or the NTN access network equipment can pass the access network
  • the interface between devices eg,
  • the terminal equipment can receive the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell in the TN cell, which is helpful for the terminal equipment stationed in the TN cell to decide whether the terminal equipment is in the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell. within the coverage area or at the edge of the NTN cell coverage area.
  • this application provides a cell search method, which is applied to TN access network equipment.
  • the TN access network device sends satellite service information and NTN cell coverage information of the satellite to the terminal device in the TN cell.
  • the service information and the coverage information are used by the terminal device based on the service information and the coverage information. Start searching for NTN cells when it is determined to be within the coverage of an NTN cell.
  • the method further includes: the TN access network device sending first time information, the first time information being used for the terminal device to determine the moment when it starts to search for NTN cells, or for the terminal device to The device determines the time to reselect to the NTN cell.
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the first time, and the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the time when the terminal device predicts NTN coverage.
  • the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device. number.
  • the present application provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device.
  • the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.
  • the transceiver module is configured to receive service information of a satellite and coverage information of an NTN cell of the satellite; and receive first information, which is used to instruct the communication device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • the processing module is configured to determine whether the communication device is within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the processing module is also configured to search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information when it is determined based on the service information and the coverage information that the cell is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information and search time indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell. Indicates that the communication device is allowed to be used for searches The duration of the TN neighborhood.
  • the processing module is specifically configured to search for TN neighboring cells within the duration indicated by the search time indication information when the TN neighbor cell indication information indicates that the NTN serving cell has a TN neighbor cell.
  • the processing module is also configured to stop executing the idle state function when the communication device fails to search for a TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information.
  • the first information also includes a distance threshold.
  • the processing module is also used to perform an idle state function when the distance between the current geographical location of the communication device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the communication device was last when the communication device was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or the geographical location where the communication device was last when it was triggered to stop executing the idle state function. .
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells.
  • the processing module is specifically configured to search for TN neighboring cells within the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell.
  • the processing module is also configured to stop executing the idle state function when the current geographical location of the communication device does not belong to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell.
  • the processing module is also configured to trigger execution of the idle state function when the current geographical location of the communication device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell
  • the processing module is also configured to search for at least one TN neighboring cell indicated by the TN neighboring cell information when the current geographical location of the communication device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighboring cell.
  • the processing module is also configured for the communication device to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell and triggers the trigger based on the first indication information.
  • Information search TN neighborhood where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell and triggers the trigger based on the first indication information.
  • this application also provides a communication device, which may be an access network device.
  • the access network equipment is an NTN access network equipment.
  • the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.
  • the transceiver module is used to send satellite service information and NTN cell coverage information of the satellite.
  • a processing module used to generate first information.
  • the transceiver module is also used to send first information, where the first information is used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information and search time indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell. Indicates the time period that the terminal device is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells.
  • the first information also includes a distance threshold, which is used to indicate that the execution of the idle state function is triggered when the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last when the terminal equipment was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last triggered to stop executing the idle state function. .
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, and the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is used to indicate the geographical area in which at least one TN neighboring cell exists.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the transceiver module is specifically configured to send the first information to the terminal device within a preset time range before the service stop time of the NTN serving cell where the terminal device is located.
  • the processing module is also configured to determine that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. The edge of the range.
  • the transceiver module is also configured to send first indication information to the terminal device.
  • the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is about to leave the coverage of the NTN cell or is in the coverage area of the NTN cell.
  • the edge of the coverage range triggers a search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information.
  • the present application provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device, and the communication device is located in a TN cell.
  • the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.
  • the transceiver module is used to obtain the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite;
  • the processing module is used to start searching for NTN when it is determined to be within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information. community.
  • the transceiver module is also configured to receive first time information.
  • the first time information is used for the communication device to determine the moment to start searching for NTN cells, or for the communication device to determine reselection. to the NTN community.
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the time of the NTN cell M1 is the first time of TN; D is the first duration; R is the random number generated by the communication device.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the time of the NTN cell M2 is the time when the terminal equipment predicts NTN coverage; D is the first duration; R is the random number generated by the communication device.
  • the processing module is configured to store the received satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell when the communication device is camped on the NTN cell.
  • the transceiver module is configured to receive service information from satellites of the TN cell and coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • this application provides a communication device, which may be an access network device.
  • the access network equipment is a TN access network equipment.
  • the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.
  • the transceiver module is used to send the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite to the terminal equipment in the TN cell.
  • the service information and the coverage information are used by the terminal equipment to determine based on the service information and the coverage information. Start searching for NTN cells when within the coverage of NTN cells.
  • the transceiver module is also used to send first time information.
  • the first time information is used for the terminal device to determine the moment to start searching for NTN cells, or for the terminal device to determine reselection. to the NTN community.
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the first time, and the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the time when the terminal device predicts NTN coverage.
  • the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device. number.
  • inventions of the present application provide a communication device.
  • the communication device may be the terminal device in the aforementioned embodiment, or may be a chip in the terminal device.
  • the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module.
  • the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver;
  • the terminal device may also include a storage module, which may be a memory; the storage module is used to store instructions, the The processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module, so that the terminal device executes the method in the first aspect or any implementation of the first aspect; or, executes the third aspect or any implementation of the third aspect. method in.
  • the processing module can be a processor, and the transceiver module can be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc.; the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module, so that the The terminal device performs the method in the first aspect or any implementation of the first aspect; or, performs the method in the third aspect or any implementation of the third aspect.
  • the storage module may be a storage module within the chip (eg, register, cache, etc.), or may be a storage module in the terminal device located outside the chip (eg, read-only memory, random access memory, etc.).
  • the communication device may be the access network equipment in the aforementioned embodiments, or It may be a chip in the access network device.
  • the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module.
  • the processing module can be a processor, and the transceiver module can be a transceiver;
  • the access network device can also include a storage module, and the storage module can be a memory;
  • the storage module is used to Store instructions, and the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module, so that the terminal device performs the second aspect or the method in any implementation of the second aspect; or, performs the fourth aspect or any method of the fourth aspect.
  • the processing module can be a processor, and the transceiver module can be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc.; the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to The terminal device is caused to execute the method in the second aspect or any implementation of the second aspect; or, to execute the method in the fourth aspect or any implementation of the fourth aspect.
  • the storage module may be a storage module within the chip (eg, register, cache, etc.), or may be a storage module located outside the chip within the access network device (eg, read-only memory, random access memory, etc.) .
  • the present application provides a communication device, which may be an integrated circuit chip.
  • the integrated circuit chip includes a processor.
  • the processor is coupled to a memory, and the memory is used to store programs or instructions.
  • the communication device performs the method described in any one of the embodiments of the foregoing aspects.
  • embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method described in any one of the embodiments of the foregoing aspects.
  • embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium, including instructions. When the instructions are run on a computer, they cause the computer to perform the method described in any of the embodiments of the previous aspects. .
  • embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, which includes a terminal device that performs the foregoing first aspect and any one of the embodiments of the first aspect, and a terminal device that performs the foregoing second aspect and any one of the second aspects.
  • Access network equipment in any embodiment.
  • the communication system includes a terminal device that performs the foregoing third aspect and any one of the embodiments of the third aspect; and an access network device that performs any of the foregoing fourth aspect and any one of the embodiments of the fourth aspect.
  • Figure 1A is a network architecture diagram applicable to the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 1B is another network architecture diagram applicable to the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 1C is another network architecture diagram applicable to the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 1D is another network architecture diagram applicable to the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 2 is a flow chart of the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 3 is another flow chart of the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 4 is an example diagram of reference geographical location and distance threshold in this application.
  • Figure 5 is another flow chart of the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 6 is an example diagram of the geographical area indication indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring area in this application;
  • Figure 7 is another flow chart of the cell search method in this application.
  • Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the communication device in this application.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication device in this application.
  • Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication device in this application.
  • the cell search method proposed in this application can be applied to 5G NR (5G New Radio) systems, the 6th generation mobile communication technology (6G) systems and subsequent evolution standards, and this application does not limit this.
  • the communication system at least includes terminal equipment, access network equipment and core network equipment.
  • terminal equipment includes equipment that provides voice and/or data connectivity to users.
  • this may include a handheld device with wireless connectivity or a processing device connected to a wireless modem.
  • the terminal device can communicate with the core network (for example, 5G core network (5th generation core, 5GC)) via the radio access network (RAN), and can exchange voice and/or data with the RAN.
  • 5G core network for example, 5th generation core, 5GC
  • RAN radio access network
  • the terminal equipment may also be called a terminal (Terminal), user equipment (UE), wireless terminal equipment, mobile terminal (MT) equipment, subscriber unit (subscriber unit), subscriber station (subscriber station), Mobile station (MS), mobile station (mobile), remote station (remote station), access point (access point, AP), remote terminal equipment (remote terminal), access terminal equipment (access terminal), user Terminal device (user terminal), user agent (user agent), or user device (user device), etc.
  • UE user equipment
  • MT mobile terminal
  • subscriber unit subscriber unit
  • subscriber station subscriber station
  • MS mobile station
  • remote station remote station
  • access point access point
  • AP remote terminal equipment
  • access terminal equipment access terminal
  • user Terminal device user terminal
  • user agent user agent
  • user device user device
  • the terminal device can be a mobile phone (mobile phone), tablet computer (Pad), computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, industrial control Wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grid, transportation safety ), wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, etc.
  • the terminal device in this application can be any of the above-mentioned devices or chips, and there is no specific limitation here. Whether as a device or a chip, the terminal device can be manufactured, sold or used as an independent product. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, the terminal device is taken as an example for introduction.
  • the access network device can be any device with wireless transceiver functions and can be used to be responsible for air interface-related functions, such as wireless link maintenance functions, wireless resource management functions, and some mobility management functions.
  • the access network equipment can also be configured with a base band unit (BBU), which has baseband signal processing functions.
  • BBU base band unit
  • the access network device may be an access network device (radio access network, RAN) that currently provides services to the terminal device.
  • RAN radio access network
  • some common examples of access network equipment are: Node B (Node B, NB), evolved Node B (evolved Node B, eNB), and next-generation Node B (Node B) in 5G new radio (new radio, NR) systems.
  • next generation node B nodes in the 6G system (for example, xNodeB), transmission reception point (TRP), wireless network controller (radio network controller, RNC), base station controller (base station controller, BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (for example, home evolved node (home evolved NodeB) or home node (home Node B, HNB)), etc.
  • the access network equipment may include a centralized unit (CU) (also known as control unit) and/or distributed unit (DU) equipment.
  • the RAN equipment including CU and DU separates the protocol layer of gNB in the NR system.
  • the access network device in the embodiment of the present application can be any of the above devices or a chip in the above device, and there is no specific limitation here. Whether as equipment or as a chip, the access network equipment can be manufactured, sold or used as an independent product. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, access network equipment is taken as an example for introduction.
  • CU and DU can be segmented according to the protocol stack.
  • RRC radio resource control
  • SDAP service data adaptation protocol
  • PDCP packet data convergence protocol
  • RLC radio link control
  • MAC media access control
  • PHY physical layer
  • CU and DU are connected through the F1 interface.
  • the CU represents the gNB and connects to the core network through the NG interface.
  • the CU represents the gNB and connects to other gNBs through the Xn interface.
  • the CU can also represent the gNB and connect to other eNBs through the X2 port to perform dual connectivity operations. Further, CU can also be divided into a control plane (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP). Among them, CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function, mainly including RRC and the PDCP corresponding to the control plane (i.e., PDCP-C). PDCP-C Main responsible for encryption and decryption of control plane data, integrity protection, and data transmission. CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, mainly including SDAP and PDCP (i.e. PDCP-U) corresponding to the user plane. Among them, SDAP is mainly responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers.
  • PDCP-U is mainly responsible for data plane encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, serial number maintenance and data transmission.
  • CU-CP and CU-UP are connected through the E1 interface.
  • CU-CP represents gNB connected to the core network through the NG interface and connected to the DU through the F1 interface control plane (ie F1-C).
  • CU-UP is connected to DU through the F1 interface user plane (ie F1-U).
  • Another possible implementation is that PDCP-C is also in CU-UP.
  • the CU control plane CU-CP also includes a further segmentation architecture, that is, the existing CU-CP is further segmented into CU-CP1 and CU-CP2.
  • CU-CP1 includes various radio resource management functions (for example, mobility management, specific values of each information in the downlink RRC message sent by the terminal device, etc.), and CU-CP2 only includes RRC functions (for example, responsible for generating downlink RRC messages and decoding uplink RRC messages) and PDCP-C functions (that is, the basic functions of control plane signaling at the PDCP layer).
  • RRC functions for example, responsible for generating downlink RRC messages and decoding uplink RRC messages
  • PDCP-C functions that is, the basic functions of control plane signaling at the PDCP layer.
  • Core network equipment refers to equipment in the core network (CN) that provides business support for terminal equipment.
  • core network equipment Currently, some common examples of core network equipment are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entities, session management function (SMF) entities, user plane function (UPF) entities ) entities, etc., which are not listed here.
  • AMF access and mobility management function
  • SMF session management function
  • UPF user plane function
  • the AMF entity can be responsible for the access management and mobility management of the terminal device
  • the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment, etc.
  • the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting to external networks.
  • the entities in this application may also be called network elements or functional entities.
  • the AMF entity may also be called an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity; and for example, the SMF entity may also be called an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity.
  • the core network equipment in this application at least includes AMF entities.
  • the cell search method proposed in this application can be applied to the non-terrestrial communication network NTN architecture.
  • non-terrestrial communication networks based on NG-RAN architectures (NTN-based NG-RAN architectures) defined in the 3GPP protocol.
  • NTN-based NG-RAN architectures NTN-based NG-RAN architectures
  • some or all of the functions of the aforementioned access network equipment can be used through non-terrestrial communication network equipment (such as satellites, tethered unmanned aerial systems (TUA), lighter than air UAVs) , LTA), heavier than air UAS (HTA), high altitude communication platform (high altitude platform station, HAPS) at least one); alternatively, the access network equipment is implemented through non-terrestrial communication network equipment Provide services to terminal devices.
  • TAA unmanned aerial systems
  • HTA lighter than air UAS
  • HAPS high altitude communication platform
  • HAPS high altitude platform station
  • NTN access network equipment The access network equipment in the NTN architecture is called NTN access network equipment. It should be noted that this application takes the non-terrestrial communication network equipment as a satellite as an example for description, but this application is not limiting. The non-terrestrial communication network equipment may also be any other of the above, that is, the satellite described in the present invention can also be replaced by any of the above non-terrestrial communication network equipment. Several common examples are introduced below:
  • the base station on the ground serves as the access network equipment
  • the satellite serves as the remote radio unit (RRU) (also known as L1relay or L1 relay), which has wireless frequency conversion (frequency conversion) And frequency amplification (frequency amplification) and other functions are used to realize relay transparent transmission
  • RRU remote radio unit
  • NTN gateway is used to forward signals from satellites or signals from access network equipment.
  • the NTN gateway is located on the ground.
  • the terminal device sends NR Uu wireless interface signals to the access network device through satellite relay transparent transmission and NTN gateway forwarding.
  • the ground access network equipment After receiving the signal, the ground access network equipment communicates with the ground core network equipment according to the traditional land communication network technology. Similarly, when the core network equipment sends a signal to the terminal equipment, the base station on the ground (for example, the gNB on the ground) also serves as the access network equipment, and the satellite is also used to realize signal relay and transparent transmission. The specific process is similar to the aforementioned process and will not be described again here. In this example, ground base stations, satellites and NTN gateways form an NTN access network device.
  • the satellite serves as an access network device or the satellite has the function of an access network device.
  • the ground terminal equipment sends Uu wireless interface signals to the access network equipment (ie, satellite) through the service link with the satellite.
  • the satellite receives the Uu wireless interface signal from the terminal device and analyzes and processes the received signal.
  • satellites exchange information with the NTN gateway on the ground through feeder links. For example, satellites exchange NG port information with core network equipment on the ground. The satellite generates NG port information and sends the NG port information to the core network through the NTN gateway on the ground.
  • the core network equipment generates NG port information and sends the NG port information to the satellite through the NTN gateway on the ground.
  • the satellite will generate the following signals: the signal of the Uu port wireless interface, and the signal of the satellite radio interface (SRI) on the feeder link between the NTN gateway and the satellite.
  • SRI satellite radio interface
  • the satellite and NTN gateway form an NTN access network device.
  • FIG. 1D another example of a RAN architecture based on regenerative satellites is shown.
  • the satellite serves as the DU of the access network equipment
  • the ground base station for example, gNB-CU
  • the CU serves as the CU of the access network equipment.
  • ground terminal equipment ground terminal equipment
  • the Uu wireless interface signal is sent to the DU (that is, the satellite) of the access network device through the service link with the satellite.
  • the DU (i.e., satellite) of the access network device receives and analyzes the NR-Uu wireless interface signal from the terminal device.
  • the DU of the access network device generates F1 information, and the DU of the access network device sends F1 port information to the CU of the access network device through the feeder link and NTN gateway.
  • the CU of the access network device generates F1 port information, and the CU of the access network device sends the F1 port information to the DU of the access network device through the NTN gateway and feeder link.
  • the CU of the terrestrial access network equipment communicates with the terrestrial core network equipment according to the traditional terrestrial communication network technology.
  • the satellite will generate the following signals: the signal of the Uu port wireless interface, and the signal of the satellite wireless interface on the feeder link between the NTN gateway and the satellite.
  • the feeder link transmits F1 port information.
  • ground base stations, satellites and NTN gateways form an NTN access network device.
  • the ground base stations in the examples shown in Figure 1B, Figure 1C and Figure 1D can also be implemented by base stations of other network standards, such as evolved Node B (eNB).
  • eNB evolved Node B
  • nodes in the 6G system for example, xNodeB
  • the NTN access network equipment involved in this application can also be applied to other NTN architectures.
  • the network system of this application also includes land communication network access network equipment (not shown in the figure).
  • the functions of the TN access network equipment please refer to the previous introduction to the access network equipment, which will not be described again here.
  • the idle mode tasks (also known as idle mode tasks or access stratum (AS) side functions) mainly include terminal equipment performing cell search (including searching NTN cells and/or TN cells), cell camping (including attempts to camp on NTN cells and/or TN cells) and other functions. That is to say, after the terminal device stops executing the idle state function, the terminal device cannot perform cell search and other functions related to the terminal access layer.
  • cell search including searching NTN cells and/or TN cells
  • cell camping including attempts to camp on NTN cells and/or TN cells
  • the terminal device cannot perform cell search and other functions related to the terminal access layer.
  • this application proposes a cell search method and communication device, which are used to improve the probability of terminal equipment searching for TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, which is beneficial to improving communication experience.
  • the access network equipment and terminal equipment involved in this method may be applicable to NTN as shown in any one of the examples in Figure 1B, Figure 1C, and Figure 1D, and the access network equipment is an NTN access network equipment. Specifically, the NTN access network equipment and terminal equipment will perform the following steps.
  • Step 201 The NTN access network device sends the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite; accordingly, the terminal device receives the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • the NTN access network equipment broadcasts the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • the terminal device obtains the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite from the system broadcast message of the NTN access network device.
  • service information includes ephemeris information and/or service start time information.
  • ephemeris information also known as ephemeris data or ephemeris
  • the terminal device can determine the position of the satellite based on the orbit information.
  • the ephemeris information may be expressed in a two-line orbital element (TLE) format.
  • the ephemeris information of the aforementioned satellites includes ephemeris information of the serving satellite and/or ephemeris information of neighboring satellites.
  • the serving satellite is the satellite that currently provides services to the terminal device.
  • Neighbor satellites are incoming satellites that provide services to terminal devices.
  • the terminal device can determine when the serving satellite leaves a specific position on the satellite orbit to stop providing services to the terminal device based on the ephemeris information of the serving satellite, and can determine when it arrives on the satellite orbit based on the ephemeris information of neighboring satellites.
  • the specific location serves as a service satellite to continue to provide services to terminal equipment.
  • the service start time information is used to indicate the time when the satellite starts to provide services to terminal equipment in a certain geographical area.
  • the foregoing service start time information includes the time when neighboring satellites start providing services to terminal devices in a certain geographical area.
  • the geographical area is the geographical area covered by the service satellite.
  • the coverage information of the NTN cell is the information related to the coverage of the NTN cell of the NTN access network equipment corresponding to the satellite.
  • the coverage information of the NTN cell is used to indicate the NTN cell coverage of the serving satellite and/or the NTN cell coverage of the adjacent satellite.
  • the coverage information of the NTN cell includes coverage information of the moving cell (moving cell) and/or coverage information of the quasi-earth fixed cell (quasi-earth fixed cell).
  • a mobile cell refers to an NTN cell whose coverage area slides from the ground (that is, the coverage of the satellite cell can move or slide on the ground).
  • the beam of a satellite in a mobile cell does not adjust the emission angle.
  • Quasi-Earth fixed cells are a concept opposite to mobile cells.
  • Quasi-Earth fixed cells refer to NTN cells whose satellite coverage can be fixed to a certain area on the ground for a period of time.
  • the quasi-Earth is fixed and small The beam in the area can adjust the emission angle.
  • the satellite can gaze at a fixed area on the ground for a period of time.
  • the cell range and position of the quasi-Earth fixed cell are fixed.
  • the coverage information of the mobile cell is the elevation of the mobile cell and/or the cell coverage radius of the mobile cell.
  • the elevation angle may include the leftmost elevation angle and the rightmost elevation angle of the reference satellite movement direction.
  • the coverage information of the quasi-Earth fixed cell is the reference position of the quasi-Earth fixed cell and the cell coverage radius of the quasi-Earth fixed cell.
  • the reference position of the quasi-Earth fixed cell can be the center position of the ground area covered by the cell, which can be expressed by longitude and latitude.
  • the cell coverage radius is the distance between the aforementioned reference position and the edge of the aforementioned cell coverage.
  • the NTN access network device can broadcast the satellite's service information and the satellite's NTN cell coverage information in the same broadcast message, or it can broadcast the satellite's service information and the satellite's NTN cell in different broadcast messages. coverage information.
  • the NTN access network device broadcasts the information of neighboring satellites (for example, the service information of neighboring satellites and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the neighboring satellite) and the information of the serving satellite (for example, the information of the serving satellite) in different broadcast messages. service information and coverage information of the NTN cell of the serving satellite).
  • the service information of the neighboring satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the neighboring satellite are broadcast in the broadcast message #1
  • the service information of the serving satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the serving satellite are broadcast in the broadcast message #2.
  • the terminal device can determine the NTN access network device based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. Based on the coverage of the NTN cell on the ground, combined with the geographical location of the terminal device, the terminal device can determine whether it is within the coverage of the NTN cell of the NTN access network device, or whether it has moved to the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. .
  • the edge of the NTN cell's coverage can be understood as, when the signal quality detected by the terminal device is lower than a certain threshold, the terminal device is considered to be at the edge of the NTN cell's coverage. Or when the signal quality detected by the terminal device is lower than a certain threshold, the terminal device is located in the NTN cell. When the terminal device moves away from the NTN cell, the signal quality detected by the terminal device will continue to decrease. .
  • the NTN access network equipment also broadcasts the satellite ID (satellite ID).
  • Step 202 The NTN access network device sends the first information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the first information.
  • the NTN access network device broadcasts the first information.
  • the terminal device obtains the first information from a system broadcast message of the NTN access network device.
  • the NTN access network equipment may broadcast the first information, the satellite's service information, and the satellite's NTN cell coverage information through the same broadcast message, or may broadcast the first information, the satellite's service information, and the satellite's NTN cell coverage information respectively through different broadcast messages.
  • the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite are not specifically limited in this application.
  • the first information is used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • searching for TN neighbor cells means that the terminal device starts the process of searching for a TN cell that can be camped on.
  • the terminal device may search for a TN neighbor cell (that is, find a TN neighbor cell that can camp on), or it may not be able to search for a TN neighbor cell ( That is, no TN neighbor cell that can reside is found). It should be noted that after the terminal equipment is camped in the TN cell, the terminal equipment can subsequently access the TN cell.
  • the first information may also instruct the terminal device to access the TN neighboring cell.
  • the terminal device triggers the search for TN neighbor cells when receiving the first information, or the terminal device triggers the search for TN neighbor cells only under certain conditions after receiving the first information.
  • the terminal device triggers a search for TN neighboring cells after receiving the first information and when the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the first information can also provide the terminal device with information that the terminal device may use when searching for TN neighboring cells. Based on the different content provided by the first information, the first information has the following implementation methods:
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information, and search time indication information and/or distance threshold.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether there is a TN neighbor cell in the NTN serving cell;
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate the length of time the terminal device is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells;
  • the distance threshold is used to indicate the terminal device When the distance between the current geographical location and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold, the idle state function is triggered.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last when the terminal equipment was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last triggered to stop executing the idle state function. .
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, and the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is used to indicate the geographical area in which at least one TN neighboring cell exists.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information, and the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information and/or cell identification information of the TN neighbor cell.
  • the NTN access network device may trigger sending of the first information only at a specific time or under specific conditions. Specifically, the NTN access network device may send the first information in any of the following situations.
  • the NTN access network device sends the first information within a preset time range before the service stop time of the NTN serving cell where the terminal device is located.
  • the service stop time of the NTN cell refers to the time when the NTN cell stops providing services to the terminal equipment in the current physical area being served.
  • an NTN cell is an NTN quasi-terrestrial fixed cell, and the beam of the NTN access network equipment can fixedly cover a geographical area for a period of time.
  • the service stop time of the NTN cell reaches, the NTN cell no longer covers the geographical area.
  • the aforementioned preset time range is used to represent the time interval between the time when the NTN access network device sends the first information and the time when the NTN cell stops serving.
  • the preset time range can be determined by the NTN access network equipment. It can be understood that the NTN access network equipment sends the first information before the NTN cell is about to stop serving.
  • the NTN access network device may serve multiple NTN cells. Whenever the service of an NTN cell is about to stop, the NTN access network device broadcasts the first information to the terminal device of the NTN cell. For a certain terminal device in the NTN cell, the NTN access network device sends the first information just before the NTN serving cell where the terminal device is located is about to stop serving.
  • the NTN access network device may also send the service stop time of the NTN cell.
  • the NTN access network device may carry the information element "t-service" in the system broadcast message, and the information element "t-service” carries the service stop time of the NTN cell.
  • the service stop time may be sent before the first information, may be sent after the first information, or may be sent at the same time as the first information, which is not limited here.
  • the NTN access network device can use this embodiment to send the first information at cell granularity, that is, the NTN access network device broadcasts the first information to each terminal device in the NTN cell, and each terminal device in the NTN cell Received the same first message.
  • the NTN access network equipment can send the first information when the NTN cell is about to reach the service stop time, instead of continuously sending the first information during the entire period during which the NTN cell provides services to the terminal equipment.
  • the terminal device receive the first information just before it needs to use the first information, but it will also not cause the terminal device to use the first information when there is still NTN cell coverage (for example, based on the first information that will be introduced later) Searching TN cells) can also help save signaling overhead and save energy consumption caused by terminal equipment receiving signaling.
  • the NTN access network device determines that the terminal device is about to leave the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. When, the NTN access network device triggers sending the first information to the terminal device.
  • this embodiment can be applied to a scenario where the NTN cell is a mobile cell.
  • the NTN access network equipment can obtain the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, the NTN access network equipment can determine the location of the NTN cell based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. Ground coverage.
  • the NTN access network equipment can learn the location where the terminal equipment is located. The geographical location, and then the NTN access network equipment combined with the geographical location of the terminal equipment can determine whether the terminal equipment is about to leave the coverage of the NTN cell of the NTN access network equipment, and whether it is moving to the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the NTN access network device may send the first information to the terminal device through a dedicated RRC message.
  • the NTN access network device can use this embodiment to send the first information at the terminal device granularity, that is, the NTN access network device can determine whether the terminal device is about to leave the NTN access network device for a certain terminal device in the NTN cell. The coverage area of the NTN cell, and whether to move to the edge of the coverage area of the NTN cell, and then send the first information to the terminal device. Different terminal devices in the NTN cell may receive different first information at different times.
  • the NTN access network equipment can send the first information when the NTN cell is about to reach the service stop time, instead of continuously sending the first information during the entire period during which the NTN cell provides services to the terminal equipment.
  • the terminal device receive the first information just before it needs to use the first information, but it will also not cause the terminal device to use the first information when there is still NTN cell coverage (for example, based on the first information that will be introduced later) Searching TN cells) is also helpful to save signaling overhead and can also save the terminal equipment from receiving signaling. energy consumption.
  • Step 203 The NTN access network device sends the first indication information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information.
  • the NTN access network device broadcasts the first indication information.
  • the terminal device obtains the first indication information from a system broadcast message of the NTN access network device.
  • Step 203 is an optional step.
  • the NTN access network device may broadcast the first information, the first indication information, the satellite's service information, and the satellite's NTN cell coverage information through the same broadcast message, or may use different broadcast messages.
  • the broadcast messages respectively broadcast the first information, the first indication information, the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, which are not specifically limited in this application.
  • the NTN access network equipment and the terminal equipment perform steps 201, 202 and Step 203 is not limited in time order.
  • the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell to trigger a search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information. It can also be understood that the first indication information indicates the time when the terminal equipment uses the first information to search for TN neighboring cells, which time is between condition 1 (that is, the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell) and condition 2 (that is, the terminal equipment is within the coverage of the NTN cell). The edge of the coverage area of the NTN cell) the moment when either of these two conditions is true.
  • the coverage of the NTN cell can be determined by the terminal device based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the relevant introduction in step 201 above please refer to the relevant introduction in step 201 above, which will not be described again here.
  • the NTN access network device displays the first indication information to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information when it determines that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, and It is not necessary to immediately search for TN neighbor cells based on the first information upon receiving the first information. That is to say, when receiving the first information, the terminal device does not need to immediately start searching for TN neighbor cells based on the first information. It is helpful to prevent the terminal equipment from always searching for TN neighboring cells when it receives the first information but is located within the coverage of the NTN cell, thereby saving energy consumption of the terminal equipment and improving the power saving performance of the terminal equipment. In addition, terminal equipment within the NTN cell coverage can also be prevented from accessing the TN as much as possible, which helps reduce the load on the TN network.
  • Step 204 When the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells based on the first information.
  • the terminal device can detect (for example, periodic detection or event-triggered detection) whether the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell or whether it is in the NTN cell. the edge of coverage.
  • the terminal device triggers a search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information. , that is, the terminal device uses the first information to find a TN neighbor cell where it can reside.
  • the aforementioned NTN cell includes an NTN serving cell and an NTN neighboring cell.
  • the terminal equipment is not within the coverage of the NTN cell, which means that the terminal equipment is neither within the coverage of the NTN serving cell nor the coverage of the NTN neighboring cell.
  • the terminal equipment is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. It means that the terminal equipment is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN network. That is, the terminal equipment will not be covered by the NTN cell.
  • the terminal equipment is at the edge of the coverage area of the NTN serving cell or the terminal equipment is at the edge of the coverage area of the NTN neighboring cell.
  • searching for a TN neighbor cell refers to a process in which the terminal device searches for a TN neighbor cell that can reside in a certain range (for example, a certain time range or a certain geographical area).
  • the terminal device may search for a TN neighbor cell based on the first information. area (that is, the terminal device finds a TN neighbor cell where it can camp), or it may not be able to find a TN neighbor cell (that is, the terminal device does not find a TN neighbor cell where it can camp).
  • the terminal device fails to search the TN neighbor cell within the specified search time and/or the specified search area, the terminal device will stop executing the idle state function (that is, stop executing the idle state task, or turn off the AS side function).
  • stopping execution of the idle state function can be specifically manifested in that the terminal device stops performing cell search (including stopping NTN cell search and TN cell search), stops camping on a certain cell, and will not access a certain cell.
  • stopping the execution of the idle state function can also be represented by the terminal device turning off the TN radio frequency module and the NTN radio frequency module.
  • the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells based on the first information only when it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. This may be determined by the terminal device based on the first indication information. In this case, the NTN access network equipment needs to perform step 203; it may also be specified by the protocol. In this case, the NTN access network equipment does not need to perform step 203.
  • the above description about "when the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information" can also be replaced with "when the terminal device determines based on the service information Information and coverage information determine that the terminal equipment is about to be out of the coverage of the NTN cell or about to be at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.”
  • the NTN access network device is an access network device with a CU-DU separation architecture
  • the information sent by the NTN access network device to the terminal device may be generated or obtained by the CU and sent to the terminal device through the DU.
  • the CU includes CU-CP1, CU-CP2 and CU-UP
  • CU-CP1 generates or obtains the aforementioned information (for example, the service information introduced above, NTN cell coverage information, first information and first instruction information, etc.) and sent to CU-CP2.
  • CU-CP2 encapsulates and packages the information to be sent to the terminal device according to the protocol encapsulation function, and then sends the encapsulated information to the terminal device through DU.
  • the process of the CU sending information can be a process in which the DU transparently transmits the information to the terminal device.
  • the process is that the DU directly sends the information received from the CU to the terminal device without modifying the information; it can also be that the DU modifies the information based on the information received from the CU combined with the information related to the information that the DU can obtain, and then DU sends the modified information to the terminal device.
  • the DU can send the modified information to the CU so that the CU and DU can align the information.
  • the process of the CU sending the first information to the terminal device through the DU may be that the CU in the NTN access network device generates the first information, and directly transparently transmits the first information to the terminal device through the DU in the NTN access network device. .
  • the process of the CU sending the first indication information to the terminal device through the DU may be that the CU in the NTN access network device generates the first indication information, and directly transparently transmits the first indication information to the terminal device through the DU in the NTN access network device. an instruction message.
  • the process of the CU sending the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell to the terminal device through the DU may be that the CU in the NTN access network device generates the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the DU stores updated More accurate service information and/or NTN cell coverage information, at this time, DU can send updated service information and/or NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device.
  • the DU may also feed back updated service information and/or coverage information of the NTN cell to the CU, so that the CU and DU can align the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the process of CU sending service information and NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device through DU or the CU can directly transparently transmit the generated service information and NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device through DU, and DU does not sense the service information. and NTN cell coverage information.
  • the terminal device can receive the first information for instructing the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells, even if the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or the terminal device is located at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device can It is possible to search TN neighbor cells based on the first information without immediately stopping execution of the idle state function. Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment searching for TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the terminal device can search for TN cells within the specified search time.
  • the first information may indicate a specified search time.
  • NTN access network equipment and terminal equipment will perform the following steps:
  • Step 301 The NTN access network equipment broadcasts the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite; accordingly, the terminal equipment receives the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • Step 301 is similar to step 201.
  • Step 301 please refer to the relevant introduction in step 201, which will not be described again here.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information, search time indication information and/or distance threshold.
  • the terminal device can obtain the TN neighbor cell indication information, search time indication information and distance threshold in the manner introduced in steps 302 and 303 below.
  • Step 302 The NTN access network device broadcasts the TN neighbor cell indication information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the TN neighbor cell indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell, that is, whether there is a TN neighbor cell in the geographical area where the NTN serving cell is located, and/or whether there is a TN neighbor cell in the vicinity of the geographical area where the NTN serving cell is located. There are TN neighbor cells.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information received by the terminal device indicates that the NTN serving cell has a TN neighbor cell.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information received by the terminal equipment indicates that the NTN serving cell does not have a TN neighbor cell.
  • the NTN access network device when the NTN access network device determines that the NTN serving cell has a TN neighbor cell, the NTN access network device will not only broadcast instructions TN neighbor cell indication information indicating that the NTN serving cell has a TN neighbor cell, and step 303 (i.e. broadcast search time indication information and/or distance threshold) will also be performed; when the NTN access network equipment determines that the NTN serving cell does not have a TN neighbor cell , the NTN access network device only broadcasts the TN neighbor cell indication information indicating that the NTN serving cell does not have a TN neighbor cell, and does not perform step 303 (that is, it does not broadcast the search time indication information and distance threshold).
  • step 303 i.e. broadcast search time indication information and/or distance threshold
  • the NTN access network device also broadcasts the frequency point information of the TN neighboring cells and/or the cell identification information of the TN neighboring cells.
  • the frequency point information of the TN neighboring cells and the cell identification information of the TN neighboring cells please refer to the relevant description in step 503 below.
  • Step 303 The NTN access network device broadcasts the search time indication information and/or the distance threshold; accordingly, the terminal device receives the search time indication information and/or the distance threshold.
  • Step 303 is an optional step.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate the length of time that the terminal device is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells, that is, the maximum length of time between the time when the terminal device starts searching for TN neighbor cells and the time when the terminal device stops searching for TN neighbor cells. .
  • the time indicated by the search time indication information is T1.
  • the terminal device starts to search for TN neighboring cells, it can start a timer 1 with a duration of T1.
  • the terminal device will continue to search for TN neighboring cells until the timer expires. Server 1 timed out.
  • the NTN access network device can determine the search time indication information based on the number of TN neighbor cells and other information. For example, if the number of TN neighboring cells is large (for example, the number of TN neighboring cells is greater than or equal to a certain threshold), the NTN access network device sets a shorter duration as the search time indication information; if the number of TN neighboring cells less (for example, the number of TN neighbor cells is less than or equal to a certain threshold), the NTN access network device sets a longer duration as the search time indication information.
  • the NTN access network device sends search time indication information to the terminal device, which is used to limit the time it takes for the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells. This enables the terminal device to perform the search within the search time configured on the network side and avoids the need for the terminal device to search. The device continues to search without finding a TN neighbor cell where it can reside. Therefore, it is beneficial to save energy consumption of terminal equipment.
  • the distance threshold is used to indicate that the idle state function is executed when the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal equipment and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the reference geographical location is the terminal equipment's last time due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the specific use of the distance threshold will be introduced in step 307 and will not be described in detail here.
  • the NTN access network device can determine the distance threshold based on information such as the number of TN neighboring cells and the distance between different TN neighboring cells. For example, if the number of TN neighboring cells is large and the distance between different TN neighboring cells is small, the NTN access network equipment sets a shorter distance as the distance threshold; if the number of TN neighboring cells is small, Moreover, the distance between different TN neighboring cells is relatively large, so the NTN access network equipment sets a longer distance as the distance threshold.
  • the terminal device can obtain the search time indication information and distance threshold through any of the following implementation methods.
  • the NTN access network device broadcasts search time indication information, and the terminal device receives the search time indication information through a system broadcast message.
  • the terminal device determines the distance threshold by itself. For example, the terminal device uses the preset distance as the distance threshold. For example, the terminal device determines the distance threshold based on the characteristics of the geographical location where the terminal device is located. For example, if the terminal device is far from the coast, the terminal device determines a longer distance as the distance threshold; if the terminal device is close to the coast, the terminal device determines a shorter distance as the distance threshold.
  • the NTN access network device broadcasts a distance threshold, and the terminal device receives the distance threshold through a system broadcast message. Furthermore, the terminal device determines the search time indication information itself. For example, the terminal device uses the preset time period as the search time indication information. Exemplarily, the terminal device determines the search time indication information based on current communication needs. For example, if the terminal device determines that there is a need to send and receive data frequently based on the current service type, the terminal device determines a longer duration as the search time indication information; if the terminal device determines that there is less need to send and receive data based on the current service type, then the terminal device determines that there is a need to send and receive data frequently based on the current service type. The terminal device determines a shorter duration as the search time indication information.
  • the NTN access network device broadcasts the search time indication information and the distance threshold, and the terminal device receives the search time indication information and the distance threshold through a system broadcast message.
  • the NTN access network device when the NTN access network device executes step 303, there is no time sequence limit for step 303 and step 302.
  • the NTN access network device may execute step 302 first and then step 303, or may execute step 303 first and then step 302, or may execute step 302 and step 303 at the same time.
  • the NTN access network device when the NTN access network device performs step 302 and step 303 at the same time, the NTN access network device can send the TN neighbor cell indication information, the search time indication information and the distance threshold through different messages, or through the same message.
  • TN neighbor cell indication information, search time indication information and distance threshold There are no specific limitations here.
  • Step 304 The NTN access network device broadcasts the first indication information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information.
  • Step 304 is an optional step. Step 304 is similar to step 203. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in step 203, which will not be described again here.
  • Step 305 When the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells within the time period indicated by the search time indication information.
  • the terminal device can determine the NTN access network device based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. Based on the coverage of the NTN cell on the ground, combined with the geographical location of the terminal device, the terminal device can determine whether it is within the coverage of the NTN cell of the NTN access network device, or whether it has moved to the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. .
  • the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, please refer to the relevant description in step 204 above, which will not be described again here.
  • the time length indicated by the search time indication information is T1.
  • the terminal device determines that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device begins to search for TN neighboring cells and starts a timer 1 with a duration of T1.
  • the terminal device will Continue searching for TN neighbor cells until timer 1 times out. If during the running of timer 1, the terminal device searches for a TN neighbor cell (that is, the terminal device finds a TN neighbor cell that can reside), then the terminal device will execute step 306a; if during the running of timer 1, the terminal device The device has not found a TN neighbor cell (that is, the terminal device has not found a TN neighbor cell that can reside).
  • the terminal device will perform step 306b.
  • the terminal device will record the geographical location of the terminal device when the timer 1 times out, and store the geographical location as a reference geographical location.
  • this embodiment does not limit the geographical area in which the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells, that is, it does not limit the geographical areas in which the terminal device searches for TN neighboring cells. For example, within the time period indicated by the search time indication information, the terminal device may search for TN neighboring cells near the geographical location where the terminal device is located. If the terminal device can move, the geographical location of the terminal device will also change as the terminal device moves.
  • Step 306a When the terminal device searches for a TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information, the terminal device camps on the searched TN neighbor cell.
  • the terminal device attempts to camp in the searched TN neighbor cell.
  • the terminal device accesses the TN neighbor cell, and then the terminal device connects to the TN network through the TN neighbor cell.
  • Step 306b When the terminal device does not search for a TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information, the terminal device stops executing the idle state function.
  • step 204 For an introduction to the function of stopping execution of the idle state, please refer to the relevant description in step 204 above, and will not be described again here.
  • the terminal device will record the geographical location where the terminal device is located when the terminal device triggers to stop executing the idle state function, and store the geographical location as a reference geographical location.
  • the terminal device may also perform step 307 after performing step 306b.
  • step 307 may not depend on steps 306a and 306b.
  • the terminal device may also perform step 307.
  • Step 307 When the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold, the terminal device performs the idle state function.
  • Step 307 is an optional step.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last when it performed a search for a TN cell triggered by discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or the last time it was triggered to stop executing the idle state function.
  • the geographical location of the terminal device For example, if the terminal device does not search for the TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information, at this time, the terminal device will not only stop executing the idle mode function, but also determine the geographical location of the terminal device when it stops executing the idle mode function. For reference geographical location.
  • the geographical location of the terminal device is determined as the reference geographical location #1.
  • the terminal device reaches the geographical location E due to movement, if the distance between the geographical location E and the reference geographical location #1 exceeds the distance threshold, the terminal device performs an idle state function (for example, the terminal device searches for a TN cell).
  • the terminal device uses the geographical location E as a new reference geographical location, which is called reference geographical location #2. If the terminal device does not search for a TN cell when performing the idle state function, the terminal device stops performing the idle state function.
  • the terminal device When subsequently arriving at the geographical location F due to movement, if the distance between the geographical location E and the reference geographical location #2 exceeds the distance threshold, the terminal device will re-execute the idle state function.
  • the terminal device uses the geographical location F as a new reference geographical location. Then proceed according to the above mechanism.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location of the terminal device when timer 1 expires, and the duration of timer 1 is the duration indicated by the search time indication information. For example, the terminal device starts timer 1 when it starts searching for TN neighboring cells, and continues to search for TN neighboring cells while timer 1 is running. When timer 1 times out, the terminal device determines the current geographical location as the reference geographical location.
  • the terminal device can determine the reference geographical location using any of the aforementioned implementation methods.
  • the reference geographical location determined by the aforementioned two implementation methods may be the same geographical location.
  • the terminal device performs an idle state function (that is, the terminal device performs an idle state task, or turns on the AS side function). Specifically, the terminal device starts to perform a cell search.
  • the terminal device may start searching for TN neighboring cells or may start searching for NTN neighboring cells. For example, if the terminal device can also determine whether the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information, or determine that the terminal device is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. If the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device starts searching for TN neighboring cells; if the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device starts searching for NTN. Neighborhood.
  • the search time indicated by the search time indication information obtained by the terminal device is T1
  • the distance threshold is distance threshold 1.
  • the terminal device stops executing the idle state function at point O that is, turns off the AS side function
  • the terminal device will store point O as the reference geographical location (that is, reference location 1).
  • the terminal device will start executing the idle state function (i.e. turn on AS side function), and continuously searches for TN neighboring cells.
  • the terminal device will also start timer 1 (the duration of timer 1 is T1).
  • the terminal equipment stops executing the idle state function again (that is, turns off the AS side function), And, point B is stored as a new reference geographical location (ie, reference location 2).
  • the terminal device may start executing the idle state function again (that is, turning on the AS side function) because the position after movement reaches the distance threshold 1 with the reference position 2. This cycle will not be repeated.
  • the NTN access network device can indicate the existence of a TN cell near the NTN cell through the TN neighbor cell indication information to trigger the terminal device to not be within the coverage of the NTN cell or to search for TN neighbor cells at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, thereby This prevents the terminal equipment from directly stopping executing the idle state function (that is, directly related to the AS side function) when it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell. Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in the TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the NTN access network equipment can also provide the terminal equipment with a specified search time (that is, the time indicated by the search time indication information) to limit the time it takes for the terminal equipment to search for TN neighboring cells, and to prevent the terminal equipment from finding a location where it can reside. Continue searching while remaining TN neighbors. Therefore, it is beneficial to save energy consumption of terminal equipment.
  • a specified search time that is, the time indicated by the search time indication information
  • the NTN access network equipment can also provide a distance threshold to the terminal equipment, and the terminal equipment can store the current geographical location of the terminal equipment as a reference geographical location when it stops executing the idle state function, so that the terminal equipment moves to the distance When the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold, the idle state function can be started again. It is helpful to prevent terminal equipment from missing TN neighboring cells due to continuous stop executing idle state functions, and is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in TN neighboring cells, thus ensuring communication of terminal equipment.
  • the terminal device can search for TN cells within a prescribed search area.
  • the first information may indicate a specified search area.
  • the NTN access network equipment and terminal equipment will perform the following steps.
  • Step 501 The NTN access network equipment broadcasts the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite; accordingly, the terminal equipment receives the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • Step 501 is similar to step 201.
  • Step 501 please refer to the relevant introduction in step 201, which will not be described again here.
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information.
  • the terminal device can obtain the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell and the TN neighbor cell information in the manner introduced in steps 502 and 503 below.
  • Step 502 The NTN access network equipment broadcasts the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells; accordingly, the terminal equipment receives the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells.
  • the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is used to indicate the geographical area in which at least one TN neighboring cell exists.
  • the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor area may be longitude and latitude, administrative area or national area, etc.
  • the geographical area can be represented by geographical location information such as latitude and longitude, administrative area or country area.
  • TN neighboring cell there is at least one TN neighboring cell in this geographical area, but this does not mean that there is coverage of TN neighboring cells (TN coverage for short) at any location in this geographical area.
  • the beam coverage of all TN neighboring cells in the geographical area may not necessarily completely cover the geographical area.
  • the scope of the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells is greater than or equal to the union of the coverage areas of at least one TN neighboring cell.
  • the entire rectangular box represents the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell
  • the non-shaded area represents the coverage of the three TN neighbor cells in the geographical area (i.e., TN neighbor cell 1 , the coverage of TN neighbor 2 and the coverage of TN neighbor 3)
  • the shaded area indicates the area without TN coverage in the geographical area.
  • the union of the three areas (that is, the non-shaded area) of the coverage area of TN neighbor cell 1, the coverage area of TN neighbor cell 2, and the coverage area of TN neighbor cell 3 is smaller than the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell.
  • area i.e., the area included in the entire rectangle
  • the area in this geographical area that is not covered by TN i.e., the shaded area
  • the foregoing example only uses a rectangle as an example to represent the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, but does not mean that the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is only a rectangle.
  • the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells can also be in any shape such as a circle, an ellipse, an irregular shape, etc. This application does not limit the shape of the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells.
  • the terminal device After the terminal device receives the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell, if the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, the terminal device will Search for TN neighbor cells based on the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in step 505 below.
  • Step 503 The NTN access network device broadcasts the TN neighbor cell information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the TN neighbor cell information.
  • Step 503 is an optional step.
  • the TN neighbor cell information is used to indicate the TN neighbor cell in the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the aforementioned TN neighbor cell.
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the terminal equipment searches for TN neighboring cells in the frequency points indicated by the TN neighboring cell information.
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the cell identification information of each TN neighboring cell corresponds to a frequency point.
  • the terminal device can determine the frequency point of the TN neighboring cell indicated by the cell identification information based on the corresponding relationship between the cell identification information and the frequency point, so that the terminal device can determine the frequency point of the TN neighboring cell indicated by the cell identification information based on the corresponding relationship between the TN neighboring cell and the frequency point.
  • the neighbor cell information determines at least one frequency point.
  • the cell identification information may be a physical cell identifier (PCI).
  • the correspondence between the cell identification information and the frequency points obtained by the terminal equipment can be saved when the terminal equipment last accessed a TN neighboring cell, that is, when the terminal equipment accessed a certain TN cell at a certain moment in history,
  • the terminal equipment stores the cell identity and cell frequency point of the TN cell.
  • the terminal device may also obtain the correspondence between the cell identification information and the frequency point from other devices or through an external interface. There are no limitations here.
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and cell identification information of the at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the NTN access network device can provide TN neighbor cell information to the terminal device to indicate the frequency point, accordingly, the terminal device can determine the frequency point near the geographical area where the terminal device is located based on the TN neighbor cell information, and then the terminal device can It is possible to search TN neighboring cells based on the aforementioned frequency points instead of blindly searching TN neighboring cells. Therefore, it is helpful to narrow the frequency range of search and improve search efficiency.
  • the NTN access network device when the NTN access network device executes step 503, there is no time sequence limit for step 503 and step 502.
  • the NTN access network device may execute step 502 first and then step 503, or may execute step 503 first and then step 502, or may execute step 502 and step 503 at the same time.
  • the NTN access network device may send the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell and the TN neighbor cell information through different messages, or may send it through the same message.
  • the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell and the TN neighbor cell information There are no specific limitations here.
  • Step 504 The NTN access network device broadcasts the first indication information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information.
  • Step 504 is an optional step. Step 504 is similar to step 203. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in step 203, which will not be described again here.
  • Step 505 When the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, the terminal device is in the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell. Search TN neighboring cells within.
  • the terminal device can determine the NTN access network device based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. Based on the coverage of the NTN cell on the ground and the geographical location of the terminal device, the terminal device can determine whether it is within the coverage of the NTN cell of the NTN access network device, or whether it is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, please refer to the relevant description in step 204 above, which will not be described again here.
  • the terminal device When the terminal device determines that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device will further determine whether the terminal device is in the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell. If the current geographical location of the terminal device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device will search for the TN neighbor cell based on the TN neighbor cell information. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in step 506a. If the current geographical location of the terminal device does not belong to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device stops executing the idle state function. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in step 506b.
  • Step 506a When the current geographical location of the terminal device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device searches for at least one TN neighbor cell indicated by the TN neighbor cell information.
  • step 503 For the introduction of TN neighbor cell information, please refer to step 503, which will not be described again here.
  • the terminal device can determine that the current geographical location belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device is not yet sure whether it is within the coverage of a certain TN neighbor cell, and , whether it is possible to find a TN neighbor cell that can reside. Since the terminal device can determine the frequency point of at least one TN neighboring cell based on the TN neighboring cell information, the terminal device can search for the TN neighboring cell in the aforementioned frequency point, that is, perform signaling on the frequency point of the aforementioned at least one TN neighboring cell. Measurement, evaluation and other operations are performed to determine the TN neighbor area suitable for the terminal equipment to reside.
  • the terminal device may search for a TN neighboring cell that can camp based on the frequency point of the at least one TN neighboring cell, or may not search for a TN neighboring cell that can camp on. If the terminal device searches for a TN neighbor cell that can camp in the frequency point of at least one of the aforementioned TN neighbor cells, the terminal device attempts to camp in the TN neighbor cell, and may then access the TN neighbor cell. If the terminal device does not search for a TN neighbor cell that can reside in the frequency point of at least one of the aforementioned TN neighbor cells, the terminal device stops executing the idle state function. Optionally, if the terminal device can move, the terminal device may also perform step 507 after stopping executing the idle state function.
  • Step 506b When the current geographical location of the terminal device does not belong to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device stops executing the idle state function.
  • step 204 For an introduction to the function of stopping execution of the idle state, please refer to the relevant description in step 204 above, and will not be described again here.
  • the terminal device may also perform step 507 after performing step 506b.
  • Step 507 When the current geographical location of the terminal device belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device triggers the execution of the idle state function.
  • Step 507 is an optional step.
  • the terminal device may move to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell.
  • the terminal device detects that it has moved to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell, the terminal device triggers the execution of the idle state function.
  • the terminal device performs an idle state function (that is, the terminal device performs an idle state task, or turns on the AS side function). Specifically, the terminal device starts to perform a cell search.
  • the terminal device may start searching for TN neighboring cells or may start searching for NTN neighboring cells. For example, if the terminal device can also determine whether the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information, or determine that the terminal device is at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell. If the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device starts searching for TN neighboring cells; if the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device starts searching for NTN. Neighborhood.
  • step 502 and step 503 in this embodiment can also be replaced with the following content:
  • NTN access network equipment can broadcast TN neighbor cell information in different regions, that is, NTN access network equipment broadcasts different TN neighbor cell information in different geographical areas. Terminal devices in different geographical areas receive different TN neighbor cell information. If the terminal device receives the TN neighbor cell information, and the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell, the terminal device based on the TN neighbor cell The neighbor cell indicated by the information searches for the TN neighbor cell.
  • the NTN access network equipment can provide the terminal equipment with the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells to indicate to the terminal equipment which geographical areas have TN neighboring cells. If the terminal equipment determines that the terminal equipment is within the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell based on the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, the terminal equipment does not need to directly stop executing the idle state function if it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell ( That is, there is no need to directly turn off the AS side function). Therefore, it is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment searching for TN in NTN discontinuous coverage scenarios, and to improve the communication experience.
  • the terminal device can also start executing the idle state function (that is, turning on the AS side function) after moving to the geographical area corresponding to the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighbor cell. It is helpful to prevent terminal equipment from missing TN neighboring cells due to continuous stop executing idle state functions, and is helpful to increase the probability of terminal equipment staying in TN neighboring cells, thus ensuring communication of terminal equipment.
  • the idle state function that is, turning on the AS side function
  • the NTN access network equipment can also provide search frequency points (that is, the frequency points of at least one TN neighbor cell determined based on TN neighbor cell information) to the terminal device to limit the number of frequency points measured when the terminal device searches for TN neighbor cells. , which is conducive to narrowing the frequency range of search and improving search efficiency.
  • search frequency points that is, the frequency points of at least one TN neighbor cell determined based on TN neighbor cell information
  • the terminal device may need to reconnect. NTN.
  • the current standard does not provide a solution for how the terminal equipment returns from TN to NTN.
  • this application also provides a cell search method for terminal equipment in the TN to search for NTN cells and then return from the TN to the NTN.
  • Step 701 The terminal device obtains the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • the terminal equipment is located in a TN cell.
  • the terminal equipment resides in the TN cell, and the terminal equipment is in an idle state.
  • the terminal device can receive the system broadcast message of the TN cell.
  • the terminal device can obtain the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell through any of the following implementation methods.
  • the terminal device when the terminal device is camped on an NTN cell, it stores the received service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell. For example, the terminal equipment camped on an NTN cell at a certain moment in history, and can receive satellite service information and coverage information of the NTN cell broadcast by the NTN access network equipment. Furthermore, the terminal device can store the received satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell, so that when the terminal device needs to search for an NTN cell again, it can determine whether the terminal device is currently within the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device receives service information from satellites of the TN cell and coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the TN access network equipment broadcasts the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell; accordingly, the terminal equipment receives the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell broadcast by the TN access network equipment to the terminal equipment can be configured by the operation and maintenance personnel to the TN access network equipment, or the NTN access network equipment can pass the access network
  • the interface between devices eg,
  • the terminal device can determine based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite. Whether the terminal equipment is within the coverage of the NTN cell of the NTN access network equipment, or whether it moves to the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device determines that the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information, the terminal device performs step 703a; when the terminal device determines that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information.
  • the terminal device When within the coverage area or at the edge of the coverage area of the NTN cell, the terminal device performs step 703b.
  • the terminal device When within the coverage area or at the edge of the coverage area of the NTN cell, the terminal device performs step 703b.
  • only those terminal devices that previously camped in the TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN network need to perform steps 703a and 703b. These terminal devices will record that they camped in the TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN network.
  • Step 702 The TN access network device sends the first time information; accordingly, the terminal device receives the first time information.
  • Step 702 is an optional step.
  • the TN access network device performs step 702, there is no clear time sequence limit for the TN access network device to perform steps 701 and 702. That is to say, the TN access network device can perform step 701 first and then step 702, or it can perform step 702 first and then step 701, or it can also perform step 701 and step 702 at the same time.
  • the TN access network device can send the service information, NTN cell coverage information and first time information respectively through different messages, or through the same message. Service information, NTN cell coverage information and first time information. There are no specific limitations here.
  • the TN access network device broadcasts the first time information; accordingly, the terminal device obtains the first time information from the system broadcast message broadcast by the TN access network device.
  • the terminal device that receives the first time information may be a terminal device that previously camped in a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN network. For example, only terminal equipment camping in a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN network needs to receive the first time information.
  • the first time information is used for the time when the terminal device determines to start searching for an NTN cell, or when the terminal device determines to reselect to an NTN cell.
  • the TN access network equipment sends different first time information to different terminal equipment (for example, terminal equipment in different TN cells), or different TN access network equipment sends different first time information. Therefore, different terminal devices start searching for NTN cells at different times, or different terminal devices reselect to NTN cells at different times. That is to say, the first time information has the function of staggering the time when different terminal devices start searching for NTN cells; or the first time information has the function of staggering the time when different terminal devices reselect to NTN cells.
  • the first time information can be implemented in a variety of ways, which are introduced below:
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the first time.
  • the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the terminal device can use the following formula 1 to calculate the time to start searching for an NTN cell or the time to reselect to an NTN cell.
  • T M1+R ⁇ D; (Formula 1)
  • T represents the time when the terminal equipment starts to search for the NTN cell or reselects to the NTN cell;
  • M1 represents the first moment of TN access network equipment configuration;
  • D represents the first duration of TN access network equipment configuration;
  • R represents the terminal A random number generated by the device.
  • the first moment and/or the first duration used by different TN cells may be different, and the adjustment coefficients used by different terminal devices may also be different random numbers.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the time when the terminal equipment predicts NTN coverage.
  • the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal equipment.
  • the first time information is used when the terminal device determines the time to reselect to the NTN cell.
  • the time to reselect to the NTN cell is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the time when the terminal device searches for the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device can use the following formula 2 to calculate the time to start searching for an NTN cell or the time to reselect to an NTN cell.
  • T M2+R ⁇ D; (Formula 2)
  • T represents the time when the terminal equipment starts to search for NTN cells or the time when it is reselected to an NTN cell
  • M2 represents the time when the terminal equipment predicts NTN coverage or the time when the terminal equipment searches for NTN cells
  • D represents the time when the TN access network equipment is configured The first duration
  • R represents the random number generated by the terminal device.
  • different terminal devices may predict NTN coverage at different times, the first duration used by different TN cells may be different, and the adjustment coefficients used by different terminal devices may be different random numbers.
  • the TN access network equipment provides the first time information to the terminal equipment, so that the terminal equipment determines the time to start searching for the NTN cell or the time to reselect the NTN cell based on the first time information, which is helpful for the terminal equipment to accurately locate the NTN cell. Start searching for NTN cells or reselecting to NTN cells at a certain moment.
  • the TN access network device may send different first time information to different terminal devices (for example, terminal devices of different TN cells), so that different terminal devices determine different times to start searching for NTN cells, or determine The reselection time to the NTN cell is different. This will help terminal devices start searching for NTN cells at different times or trigger reselection to an NTN cell, thus preventing a large number of terminal devices from accessing the NTN network at the same time.
  • Step 703a If the terminal device determines that it is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, the terminal device starts to search for the NTN cell.
  • the TN access network device does not perform step 702, but only performs step 701.
  • the terminal equipment residing in the TN determines that it is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the received satellite service information and the NTN cell coverage information of the satellite, and the terminal equipment immediately starts searching for the NTN cell. For example, the terminal device starts to measure frequency points where NTN cells may exist, and determines whether there may be NTN cells capable of camping on based on the measurement results of each frequency point.
  • the TN access network device performs step 701 and step 702.
  • the terminal device can receive the information at the first time. After the terminal device receives the first time information, the terminal device will determine the specific time to start searching for the NTN cell based on the first time information, or the time to reselect the NTN cell.
  • the first time information is used for the terminal device to determine the time to start searching for NTN cells.
  • the terminal device calculates the time to start searching for the NTN cell based on the first time information.
  • the terminal device when the terminal device residing in the TN determines that it is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the received satellite service information and the satellite's NTN cell coverage information, the terminal device does not immediately start searching for the NTN cell. Instead, the search for the NTN cell is started at the time when the search for the NTN cell is started determined based on the first time information.
  • each terminal device located in the TN can start searching for NTN cells at different times, and each terminal device may Reselecting to NTN cells at different times is helpful to avoid a large number of terminal devices from accessing the NTN network at the same time.
  • the first time information is used for the terminal device to determine the moment when it reselects to the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device calculates the time of reselection to the NTN cell based on the first time information, please refer to the relevant description in step 702 above, which will not be described again here.
  • the terminal device when the terminal device residing in the TN determines that it is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the received service information of the satellite and the NTN cell coverage information of the satellite, the terminal device immediately starts searching for the NTN cell.
  • the terminal device when the terminal device finds an NTN cell that meets the reselection evaluation conditions and is suitable for reselection, the terminal device triggers reselection to the NTN cell at the moment of reselection to the NTN cell determined based on the first time information.
  • each terminal device located in the TN will reselect the NTN cell at different times even if it searches for the NTN cell at the same time.
  • Step 703b If the terminal device determines that it is not within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and coverage information, the terminal device does not start searching for the NTN cell.
  • the terminal equipment stationed in the TN can obtain the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite, and determine whether there is NTN coverage based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell (that is, determine whether it is in the NTN cell within the coverage area). For example, the terminal device determines whether the terminal device currently has NTN coverage based on the current geographical location, satellite service information, and satellite NTN cell coverage information. Then, when it is determined that it is within the coverage range of the NTN cell, the terminal device starts to search for the NTN cell; when it is determined that it is not within the coverage range of the NTN cell, the terminal device does not start searching for the NTN cell. Therefore, it is helpful for the terminal device to determine under what conditions it can trigger the search for NTN cells so as to re-camp from TN to NTN, which is beneficial to load balancing management.
  • the TN access network equipment can provide the first time information to the terminal equipment, and the terminal equipment can determine the time to start searching for the NTN cell or the time to reselect the NTN cell based on the first time information. Therefore, it is beneficial for the terminal equipment to When within the coverage of an NTN cell, it is possible to know when to start searching for an NTN cell or when to reselect to an NTN cell.
  • the TN access network equipment can broadcast different first time information in different TN cells
  • different terminal equipment can generate different random numbers and then generate different times to start searching for NTN cells (or reselect to NTN cells). time), therefore, it is beneficial for different terminal devices to stagger the time when they start to search for NTN cells (or stagger the time when they reselect to NTN cells), which is helpful to avoid a large number of terminal devices accessing NTN at the same time and triggering registration updates, thereby having It is helpful to avoid causing NTN network congestion.
  • the information sent by the TN access network device to the terminal device can be generated or obtained by the CU and sent to the terminal device through the DU.
  • the CU includes CU-CP1, CU-CP2 and CU-UP
  • CU-CP1 generates or obtains the aforementioned information (for example, the service information introduced above, NTN cell coverage information and first time information, etc.) , and sent to CU-CP2.
  • CU-CP2 encapsulates and packages the information to be sent to the terminal device according to the protocol encapsulation function, and then sends the encapsulated information to the terminal device through DU.
  • the CU sends information to the terminal device through DU (for example, the service information introduced above, the coverage information of the NTN cell and the time information, etc.), it can be the process of DU transparently transmitting information to the terminal device, that is, the DU directly sends the information received from the CU to the terminal device without modifying the information; it can also be the process of the DU receiving the information from the CU.
  • the information is modified by combining the information related to the information that the DU can obtain, and then the DU sends the modified information to the terminal device.
  • the DU can send the modified information to the CU so that the CU and DU can align the information.
  • the process of the CU sending the first time information to the terminal device through the DU may be that the CU in the TN access network device generates the first time information, and directly transparently transmits the first time information to the terminal device through the DU in the TN access network device. information at a time.
  • the process of the CU sending the service information and NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device through the DU may be that the CU in the TN access network device generates the service information and the NTN cell coverage information.
  • the DU stores updated More accurate service information and/or NTN cell coverage information, at this time, DU can send updated service information and/or NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device.
  • the DU may also feed back updated service information and/or coverage information of the NTN cell to the CU, so that the CU and DU can align the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the process of CU sending service information and NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device through DU or the CU can directly transparently transmit the generated service information and NTN cell coverage information to the terminal device through DU, and DU does not sense the service information. and NTN cell coverage information.
  • FIG. 8 it is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 80 provided in this embodiment. It should be understood that the terminal device in the method embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 may be based on the structure of the communication device 80 shown in FIG. 8 in this embodiment.
  • the communication device 80 includes at least one processor 801 , at least one memory 802 and at least one transceiver 803 . Among them, the processor 801, the memory 802 and the transceiver 803 are connected. Optionally, communication device 80 may also include an input device 805, an output device 806, and one or more antennas 804. Among them, the antenna 804 is connected to the transceiver 803, and the input device 805 and the output device 806 are connected to the processor 801.
  • the memory 802 is mainly used to store software programs and data.
  • the memory 802 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 801.
  • the memory 802 may be integrated with the processor 801, for example, integrated into one or more chips.
  • the memory 802 can store the program code for executing the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 801.
  • the various computer program codes executed can also be regarded as the driver of the processor 801.
  • FIG. 8 in this embodiment only shows one memory and one processor.
  • the communication device 80 may have multiple processors or multiple memories, which are not limited here.
  • the memory 802 may also be called a storage medium or a storage device.
  • the memory 802 may be a storage element on the same chip as the processor (ie, an on-chip storage element), or an independent storage element, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the transceiver 803 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device 80 and the access network equipment, and the transceiver 803 can be connected to the antenna 804.
  • Transceiver 803 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx.
  • one or more antennas 804 can receive radio frequency signals
  • the receiver Rx of the transceiver 803 is used to receive the radio frequency signals from the antennas 804 and convert the radio frequency signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, and convert the digital baseband signals into digital baseband signals.
  • the signal or digital intermediate frequency signal is provided to the processor 801, so that the processor 801 performs further processing on the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation processing and decoding processing.
  • the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 803 is also used to receive the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 801, and convert the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and pass it through a or Multiple antennas 804 transmit the radio frequency signals.
  • the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more levels of down-mixing processing and analog-to-digital conversion processing on the radio frequency signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal.
  • the sequence of the aforementioned down-mixing processing and analog-to-digital conversion processing is The order is adjustable.
  • the transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more levels of upmixing processing and digital-to-analog conversion processing on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain a radio frequency signal.
  • the upmixing processing and digital-to-analog conversion processing The order is adjustable.
  • Digital baseband signals and digital intermediate frequency signals can be collectively referred to as digital signals.
  • the aforementioned transceiver 803 may also be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc.
  • the devices used to implement the receiving function in the transceiver unit can be regarded as the receiving unit
  • the devices used in the transceiver unit used to implement the transmitting function can be regarded as the transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, and the receiving unit also It can be called a receiver, input port, receiving circuit, etc.
  • the sending unit can be called a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit, etc.
  • the processor 801 may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU).
  • the baseband processor and the CPU may be integrated together or separated.
  • the processor 801 can be used to implement various functions for the terminal device, for example, to process communication protocols and communication data, or to control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, and process data of software programs; or use To assist in completing computing processing tasks, such as graphics and image processing or audio processing, etc.; or the processor 801 is used to implement one or more of the above functions.
  • the output device 806 communicates with the processor 801 and can display information in a variety of ways, which are not limited here.
  • the communication device 80 is used to execute the method of the terminal device in the corresponding embodiment of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 5.
  • the transceiver 803 in the communication device 80 is used to receive the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite; and, receive the first information, which is used to instruct the communication device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • the processor 801 is configured to determine whether the communication device 80 is within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the processor 801 is also configured to search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information when it is determined based on the service information and the coverage information that the cell is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information and search time indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell. Indicates the length of time the communication device 80 is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells.
  • the processor 801 is specifically configured to, when the TN neighbor cell indication information indicates that the NTN serving cell has a TN neighbor cell, search for the TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information.
  • the processor 801 is also configured to stop executing the idle state function when the communication device 80 fails to search for a TN neighbor cell within the time period indicated by the search time indication information.
  • the first information also includes a distance threshold.
  • the processor 801 is also configured to perform an idle state function when the distance between the current geographical location of the communication device 80 and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the communication device 80 was last when the communication device 80 was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or where the communication device 80 was last when it was triggered to stop performing the idle state function. geographical location.
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cells.
  • the processor 801 is specifically configured to search for TN neighboring cells within the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell.
  • the processor 801 is also configured to stop executing the idle state function when the current geographical location of the communication device 80 does not belong to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell.
  • the processor 801 is also configured to trigger execution of the idle state function when the current geographical location of the communication device 80 belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighbor cell.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell
  • the processor 801 is also configured to search for at least one TN neighboring cell indicated by the TN neighboring cell information when the current geographical location of the communication device 80 belongs to the geographical area indicated by the geographical area information of the TN neighboring cell.
  • the processor 801 is also configured for the communication device 80 to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell and triggers the trigger based on the The first information searches TN neighbor cells.
  • the communication device 80 is used to perform the aforementioned method of the terminal device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7 .
  • the transceiver 803 in the communication device 80 is used to obtain the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite; the processor 801 is used to determine that it is within the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information. , start searching for NTN cells.
  • the transceiver 803 is also used to receive first time information.
  • the first time information is used for the communication device 80 to determine the moment to start searching for NTN cells, or for the communication device 80 to Determine the time to reselect to the NTN cell.
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the processor 801 is configured to store the received satellite service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell when the communication device 80 is camped on an NTN cell.
  • the transceiver 803 is configured to receive service information from satellites of the TN cell and coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • FIG. 9 it is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device 90 provided in this embodiment.
  • the access network equipment in the method embodiment corresponding to Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5 or Figure 7 can be based on the structure of the communication device 90 shown in Figure 9 in this embodiment.
  • the communication device 90 includes at least one processor 901, at least one memory 902, at least one transceiver 903, at least one network interface 905 and one or more antennas 904.
  • the processor 901, the memory 902, the transceiver 903 and the network interface 905 are connected through a connecting device, and the antenna 904 is connected to the transceiver 903.
  • the aforementioned connection device may include various interfaces, transmission lines or buses, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment.
  • the memory 902 is mainly used to store software programs and data.
  • the memory 902 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 901.
  • the memory 902 may be integrated with the processor 901, for example, integrated into one or more chips.
  • the memory 902 can store the program code for executing the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 901.
  • the various computer program codes executed can also be regarded as the driver of the processor 901.
  • FIG. 9 in this embodiment only shows one memory and one processor.
  • the communication device 90 may have multiple processors or multiple memories, which are not limited here.
  • the memory 902 may also be called a storage medium or a storage device.
  • the memory 902 may be a storage element on the same chip as the processor (ie, an on-chip storage element), or an independent storage element, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the transceiver 903 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device 90 and the terminal device, and the transceiver 903 can be connected to the antenna 904.
  • Transceiver 903 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx.
  • one or more antennas 904 can receive radio frequency signals
  • the receiver Rx of the transceiver 903 is used to receive the radio frequency signals from the antennas 904 and convert the radio frequency signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, and convert the digital baseband signals into digital baseband signals.
  • the signal or digital intermediate frequency signal is provided to the processor 901 so that the processor 901 performs further processing on the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation processing and decoding processing.
  • the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 903 is also used to receive the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 901, and convert the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and pass it through a or Multiple antennas 904 transmit the radio frequency signals.
  • the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more levels of down-mixing processing and analog-to-digital conversion processing on the radio frequency signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal.
  • the sequence of the aforementioned down-mixing processing and analog-to-digital conversion processing is The order is adjustable.
  • the transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more levels of upmixing processing and digital-to-analog conversion processing on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain a radio frequency signal.
  • the upmixing processing and digital-to-analog conversion processing The order is adjustable.
  • Digital baseband signals and digital intermediate frequency signals can be collectively referred to as digital signals.
  • the aforementioned transceiver 903 may also be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc.
  • the devices used to implement the receiving function in the transceiver unit can be regarded as the receiving unit
  • the devices used in the transceiver unit used to implement the transmitting function can be regarded as the transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, and the receiving unit also It can be called a receiver, input port, receiving circuit, etc.
  • the sending unit can be called a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit, etc.
  • the aforementioned processor 901 is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire network equipment, execute software programs, and process data of the software programs, for example, to support the communication device 90 to execute what is described in the previous embodiments. Actions.
  • the communication device 90 may include a baseband processor and a central processor.
  • the baseband processor is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data.
  • the central processor is mainly used to control the entire communication device 90, execute software programs, and process software. program data.
  • the processor 901 can integrate the functions of the baseband processor and the central processing unit. Those skilled in the art can understand that the baseband processor and the central processing unit can also be independent processors, interconnected through technologies such as buses.
  • the communication device 90 may include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, the communication device 90 may include multiple central processors to enhance its processing capabilities, and various components of the communication device 90 may be configured through various bus connection.
  • the baseband processor can also be expressed as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip.
  • the central processing unit can also be expressed as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip.
  • the function of processing communication protocols and communication data can be built into the processor, or can be stored in the memory in the form of a software program, and the processor executes the software program to implement the baseband processing function.
  • the aforementioned network interface 905 is used to connect the communication device 90 to other communication devices through communication links.
  • the network interface 905 may include a network interface between the communication device 90 and the core network element, such as the S1 interface; the network interface 905 may also include the communication device 90 and other network devices (such as other access network devices or core network devices). network interface between elements), such as X2 or Xn interface.
  • the communication device 90 is configured to execute the method of the NTN access network equipment in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, or FIG. 5.
  • the transceiver 903 in the communication device 90 is used to transmit the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • Processor 901 used to generate first information.
  • the transceiver 903 is also used to send first information, where the first information is used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • the first information includes TN neighbor cell indication information and search time indication information.
  • the TN neighbor cell indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell.
  • the search time indication information is used to indicate whether a TN neighbor cell exists in the NTN serving cell. Indicates the time period that the terminal device is allowed to search for TN neighbor cells.
  • the first information also includes a distance threshold, which is used to indicate that the execution of the idle state function is triggered when the distance between the current geographical location of the terminal device and the reference geographical location reaches the distance threshold.
  • the reference geographical location is the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last when the terminal equipment was triggered to perform a search for a TN cell due to discontinuous coverage of the NTN cell, or the geographical location where the terminal equipment was last triggered to stop executing the idle state function. .
  • the first information includes geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell, and the geographical area information corresponding to the TN neighboring cell is used to indicate the geographical area in which at least one TN neighboring cell exists.
  • the first information also includes TN neighbor cell information
  • the TN neighbor cell information includes frequency point information of at least one TN neighbor cell and/or cell identification information of at least one TN neighbor cell.
  • the transceiver 903 is specifically configured to send the first information to the terminal device within a preset time range before the service stop time of the NTN serving cell where the terminal device is located.
  • the processor 901 is also configured to determine based on the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is within the coverage of the NTN cell. Edge of coverage.
  • the transceiver 903 is also used to send first indication information to the terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or is within the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the edge of the coverage area of the cell triggers a search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information.
  • the communication device 90 is configured to execute the method of the TN access network equipment in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7 .
  • the transceiver 903 in the communication device 90 is used to send the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite to the terminal equipment in the TN cell.
  • the service information and the coverage information are used by the terminal equipment based on the service information and the coverage information.
  • the coverage information determines that the NTN cell starts to be searched when it is within the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the transceiver 903 is also used to send first time information.
  • the first time information is used for the terminal device to determine the moment to start searching for NTN cells, or for the terminal device to determine to re-enter the NTN cell. The time to select the NTN cell.
  • the first time information includes a first moment and a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the first time, and the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device.
  • the first time information includes a first duration.
  • the time when the NTN cell search is started or the time when the NTN cell is reselected is equal to the product of the adjustment coefficient and the first duration plus the time when the terminal device predicts NTN coverage.
  • the adjustment coefficient is a random number generated by the terminal device. number.
  • this application also provides a communication device 100.
  • the communication device 100 may be a terminal device or an access network device, or may be a component (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) of the terminal device or the access network device.
  • the communication device 100 may also be other communication modules used to implement the methods in the method embodiments of this application.
  • the communication device 100 may include a processing module 1001 (or referred to as a processing unit).
  • a processing module 1001 or referred to as a processing unit.
  • an interface module 1002 or a transceiver unit or a transceiver module
  • a storage module 1003 or a storage unit
  • the interface module 1002 is used to implement communication with other devices.
  • the interface module 1002 may be, for example, a transceiver module or an input/output module.
  • one or more modules as shown in Figure 10 may be implemented by one or more processors, or by one or more processors and memories; or by one or more processors and a transceiver; or may be implemented by one or more processors, memories, and transceivers, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.
  • the processor, memory, and transceiver can be set individually, or they can Integrated into one.
  • the communication device 100 has the function of implementing the terminal device described in the embodiment of this application.
  • the communication device 100 includes modules or units or means (means) corresponding to the terminal equipment executing the steps involved in the terminal equipment described in the embodiments of this application.
  • the functions, units or means (means) can be implemented by software or by hardware. , it can also be implemented through hardware to execute corresponding software, or it can also be implemented through a combination of software and hardware.
  • the communication device 100 has the function of implementing the access network equipment described in the embodiments of this application.
  • the communication device 100 includes modules or units or means (means) corresponding to the access network equipment performing the steps involved in the access network equipment described in the embodiments of this application.
  • the functions, units or means (means) can be implemented through software. Realization, either through hardware, or through hardware executing corresponding software implementation, or through a combination of software and hardware. For details, reference may be made to the corresponding descriptions in the foregoing corresponding method embodiments.
  • each module in the communication device 100 in the embodiment of the present application can be used to execute the method of the terminal device in the corresponding embodiment of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 5 in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the interface module 1002 in the communication device 100 is used to receive service information of a satellite and coverage information of an NTN cell of the satellite; and to receive first information used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • the processing module 1001 is configured to determine whether the terminal device is within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information of the NTN cell.
  • the processing module 1001 is also configured to search for TN neighboring cells based on the first information when it is determined based on the service information and the coverage information that the cell is not within the coverage of the NTN cell or at the edge of the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • each module in the communication device 100 in the embodiment of the present application can be used to execute the method of the terminal device in the corresponding embodiment of FIG. 7 in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the interface module 1002 in the communication device 100 is used to obtain the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite.
  • the processing module 1001 is configured to start searching for an NTN cell when it is determined to be within the coverage of an NTN cell based on the service information and the coverage information.
  • each module in the communication device 100 in the embodiment of the present application can be used to perform the method of the NTN access network equipment in the corresponding embodiment of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 5 in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the interface module 1002 in the communication device 100 is used to send service information of a satellite and coverage information of an NTN cell of the satellite.
  • the interface module 1002 is also used to send first information, where the first information is used to instruct the terminal device to search for TN neighboring cells.
  • each module in the communication device 100 in the embodiment of the present application can be used to execute the method of the TN access network equipment in the corresponding embodiment of FIG. 7 in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the interface module 1002 in the communication device 100 is used to send the service information of the satellite and the coverage information of the NTN cell of the satellite to the terminal equipment in the TN cell.
  • the service information and the coverage information are used by the terminal equipment based on the service information and the The coverage information determines that the NTN cell starts to be searched when it is within the coverage of the NTN cell.
  • the present application provides a computer program product including one or more computer instructions.
  • the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part.
  • the method related to the terminal device in the aforementioned Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5 or Figure 7 is implemented.
  • the computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device.
  • the computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted over a wired connection from a website, computer, server, or data center (for example, coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (for example, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means to transmit to another website, computer, server or data center.
  • the computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can store, or a data storage device such as a server or data center integrated with one or more available media.
  • the available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital versatile discs (DVD)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid state disks (SSD)) wait.
  • magnetic media e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes
  • optical media e.g., digital versatile discs (DVD)
  • semiconductor media e.g., solid state disks (SSD)
  • this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is executed by the processor to implement the terminal device-related functions as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5 or FIG. 7. Methods.
  • this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is executed by the processor to implement the NTN access network equipment related tasks as shown in Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figure 5. Methods.
  • this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program, and the computer program is executed by the processor to implement the method related to the TN access network equipment in Figure 7.
  • the size of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution.
  • the execution order of each process should be determined by its functions and internal logic, and should not be used in the embodiments of the present application.
  • the implementation process constitutes any limitation.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

本申请公开了一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置，在该方法中，终端设备能够接收用于指示终端设备搜索陆地通信网络TN邻区的第一信息，即使终端设备不在非陆地通信网络NTN小区的覆盖范围内或终端设备位于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该终端设备也能够基于第一信息搜索TN邻区而不会立即停止执行空闲态功能。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。

Description

一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置
本申请要求于2022年07月21日提交中国专利局、申请号为202210860137.9、发明名称为“一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置”的中国专利申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。
技术领域
本申请实施例涉及通信领域，尤其涉及一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置。
背景技术
非陆地通信网络(non-terrestrial network，NTN)中，由于非陆地通信网络设备(例如卫星)的移动导致非陆地通信网络设备提供的覆盖区域是变化的。这样当非陆地通信网络设备的数量比较少，无法提供NTN网络的连续的覆盖时，对于位于某个位置的终端设备而言，该终端设备在某个时刻可能不能收到NTN网络的信号，从而会经历NTN网络非连续覆盖的情况，这种现象被称为NTN非连续覆盖。
在目前的5G通信标准中，在NTN非连续覆盖场景下，要求终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，终端设备需要停止执行空闲态功能。由于，终端设备在停止执行空闲态功能之后，该终端设备无法执行小区搜索等与终端接入相关的功能。因此，可能影响终端设备接入到网络，进而影响通信体验。
发明内容
本申请提供了一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置，用于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到陆地通信网络(terrestrial network，TN)的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
第一方面，本申请提供了一种小区搜索方法，该方法应用于终端设备中。具体地，终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；此外，该终端设备还会接收第一信息，该第一信息用于指示该终端设备搜索TN邻区。然后，该终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。当该终端设备确定不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该终端设备基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
其中，该服务信息包括星历信息和/或服务开始时间信息。其中，该服务信息包括邻卫星的星历信息。可选的，该服务信息还包括服务卫星的星历信息。该服务开始时间信息用于指示邻卫星开始为某个地理区域的终端设备提供服务的时间。该NTN小区的覆盖信息能够指示至少一个NTN小区，该至少一个NTN小区包括NTN服务小区和/或NTN邻区。该搜索TN邻区指终端设备启动寻找能够驻留的TN小区的过程，该终端设备可能搜索到TN邻区(即找到能够驻留的TN邻区)，也可能搜索不到TN邻区(即未找到能够驻留的TN邻区)。
本申请中，由于终端设备能够接收用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区的第一信息，即使终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或终端设备位于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该终端设备也能够基于第一信息搜索TN邻区而不会立即停止执行空闲态功能。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息。
其中，TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，即指示NTN服务小区所在的地理区域附近是否存在TN邻区。例如，终端设备收到的TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区。又例如，终端设备收到的TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区不存在TN邻区。
其中，搜索时间指示信息用于指示该终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长，即终端设备从开始搜索TN邻区的时刻到终端设备停止搜索TN邻区的时刻之间间隔的最大时长。例如，搜索时间指示信息指示的时长为T1，终端设备从开始搜索TN邻区时可以启动一个时长为T1的定时器1，在该定时器1运行期间终端设备会持续搜索TN邻区直到该定时器1超时。
本实施方式中，终端设备能够收到搜索时间指示信息，基于该搜索时间指示信息限制终端设备搜索 TN邻区的耗时，能够使终端设备在网络侧配置的搜索时间内执行搜索，能够避免终端设备在未找到能够驻留的TN邻区的情况下持续搜索。因此，有利于节省终端设备的能耗。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区，包括：当该TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区时，该终端设备在该搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内搜索TN邻区。
可选的，当该终端设备在该搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内且在该终端设备所在的地理区域内搜索到TN邻区时，该终端设备驻留到该TN邻区。
本实施方式中，终端设备能够基于TN邻区指示信息确定NTN小区附近存在TN小区以触发终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘搜索TN邻区，从而避免终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内时直接停止执行空闲态功能(即直接关于AS侧功能)。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该方法还包括：当该终端设备在该搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内未搜索到TN邻区，该终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。
本实施方式中，终端设备还能够基于搜索时间指示信息指示的时长限制终端设备搜索TN邻区的耗时，能够避免终端设备在未找到能够驻留的TN邻区的情况下持续搜索。因此，有利于节省终端设备的能耗。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括距离门限，该距离门限用于指示该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限时执行空闲态功能。
该方法还包括：当该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限，该终端设备执行空闲态功能。
其中，参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，该终端设备上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。
本实施方式中，终端设备能够获得距离门限，并且，终端设备能够在停止执行空闲态功能时存储该终端设备当前所在的地理位置作为参考地理位置，以使得终端设备移动到距离参考地理位置达到距离门限时能够再次启动执行空闲态功能。有利于避免终端设备因持续停止执行空闲态功能而错过TN邻区，有利于提高终端设备搜索到TN邻区的几率，进而保障终端设备的通信。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息用于指示存在至少一个TN邻区的地理区域。示例性的，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息可以是经纬度、行政区域或者国家区域等。该地理区域可以由经纬度、行政区域或者国家区域等地理位置信息表示。
可选的，当终端设备收到TN邻区对应的地理区域信息之后，若终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，则该终端设备将基于该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区，包括：该终端设备在该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内搜索TN邻区。
本实施方式中，终端设备能够获得TN邻区对应的地理区域信息，以确定哪些地理区域存在TN邻区。因此，该终端设备在TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内搜索TN邻区，有利于提高终端设备搜索到TN邻区的几率。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该方法还包括：当该终端设备当前所在的地理位置不属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，该终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备能够向终端设备提供TN邻区对应的地理区域信息以向终端设备指示哪些地理区域存在TN邻区。若终端设备基于TN邻区对应的地理区域信息确定该终端设备不在TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内，则终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘的情况下停止执行空闲态功能。有利于避免终端设备在没有TN邻区的地理区域内持续搜索TN邻区，有利于节省终端设备的能耗。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该方法还包括：当该终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，该终端设备触发执行空闲态功能。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备能够向终端设备提供TN邻区对应的地理区域信息以向终端设备指示哪些地理区域存在TN邻区。若终端设备基于TN邻区对应的地理区域信息确定该终端设备在TN邻区对 应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内，则终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内的情况下可以不用直接停止执行空闲态功能(即不用直接关闭AS侧功能)。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。该方法还包括：当该终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，该终端设备搜索该TN邻区信息指示的至少一个TN邻区。
本实施方式中，由于NTN接入网设备能够向终端设备提供TN邻区信息以指示频点，相应地，终端设备能够基于该TN邻区信息确定至少一个TN邻区的频点，进而终端设备能够基于前述频点搜索TN邻区，而不是盲搜TN邻区。因此，有利于缩小搜索的频点范围，提高搜索效率。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区之前，该方法还包括：该终端设备接收第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。也可以理解为，第一指示信息指示了终端设备使用第一信息搜索TN邻区的时间，该时间为条件1(即终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内)和条件2(即终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘)这两个条件中任意一个条件成立的时刻。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备通过第一指示信息显示地指示终端设备确定不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时才基于第一信息搜索TN邻区，而不用在收到第一信息时便立即基于第一信息搜索TN邻区。也就是说，终端设备在收到第一信息时可以不用立即启动基于第一信息搜索TN邻区。有利于避免终端设备在收到第一信息但位于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时一直搜索TN邻区，从而节省终端设备的能耗，提高终端设备的省电性能。此外，也可以使得在NTN小区覆盖范围内的终端设备尽量不接入TN，有助于降低TN网络的负载。
第二方面，本申请提供了一种小区搜索方法，该方法应用于接入网设备中。具体地，接入网设备发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；此外，该接入网设备还会发送第一信息，该第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。
可选的，该接入网设备为NTN接入网设备。
本申请中，由于接入网设备能够向终端设备提供用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区的第一信息、卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，即使终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或终端设备位于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该终端设备也能够基于第一信息搜索TN邻区而不会立即停止执行空闲态功能。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括距离门限，该距离门限用于指示该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限时触发执行空闲态功能。其中，参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息用于指示存在至少一个TN邻区的地理区域。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该接入网设备发送第一信息，包括：该接入网设备在终端设备所在的NTN服务小区的服务停止时间之前的预设时间范围内向该终端设备发送该第一信息。
其中，NTN小区的服务停止时间指NTN接入网设备关闭NTN小区对应的射频模块的时刻，即NTN接入网设备关闭NTN小区对应的波束的时刻。例如，NTN小区为NTN准地球固定小区，NTN接入网设备的波束能够在一段时间内固定覆盖在一片地理区域上，在超出前述一段时间后，NTN接入网设备关闭NTN小区对应的射频模块，即NTN接入网设备关闭NTN小区对应的波束。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备能够在NTN小区即将到达服务停止时间时(即NTN接入网设备即将关闭NTN小区对应的射频模块之前，或，NTN接入网设备即将关闭NTN小区对应的波束之前)发送第一信息，而不是NTN小区为终端设备提供服务的整个周期持续发送第一信息。不仅能够使得终端设备恰好在需要使用第一信息之前收到第一信息，还有利于节省信令开销，也能够节省终端设备接收信令而造成的能耗。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该接入网设备向该终端设备发送第一信息之前，该方法还包括：该接入网设备基于该卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该终端设备即将离开NTN小区的覆盖范围或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该方法还包括：该接入网设备向该终端设备发送第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
需要说明的是，本方面的具体实施方式和有益效果与前文第一方面中的部分实施方式类似，具体可参见第一方面的具体实施方式和其有益效果，在此不再赘述。
第三方面，本申请提供了一种小区搜索方法，该方法应用于终端设备中。具体地，终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，该终端设备位于TN小区中；当该终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定该终端设备处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，该终端设备开始搜索NTN小区。
其中，该终端设备位于TN小区中，可以理解为，终端设备驻留在TN小区中。该终端设备可以接收TN小区的系统广播消息。
本申请中，驻留在TN的终端设备能够获取卫星的服务信息和卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，并基于该服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息确定是否有NTN覆盖(即确定是否处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内)。进而确定在处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，终端设备开始搜索NTN小区；确定不处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内或处于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，终端设备不开启搜索NTN小区。因此，有利于终端设备确定在何种条件下能够触发搜索NTN小区，以便于从TN重新驻留到NTN，进而有利于负载均衡管理。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该方法还包括：该终端设备接收第一时间信息，该第一时间信息用于该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
可选的，TN接入网设备向不同的终端设备发送不同的第一时间信息。因此，不同的终端设备在不同的时刻开始搜索NTN小区，或者，不同的终端设备在不同的时刻重选至NTN小区。也就是说，第一时间信息具有将不同的终端设备开始搜索NTN小区的时刻错开的功能；或者，第一时间信息具有将不同的终端设备重选至NTN小区的时刻错开的功能。
本实施例中，TN接入网设备向终端设备提供第一时间信息，以使得终端设备基于第一时间信息确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻，有利于终端设备准确地在某一时刻开始搜索NTN小区或重选至NTN小区。此外，TN接入网设备可以向不同的终端设备(例如，不同TN小区的终端设备)发送不同的第一时间信息，以使得不同的终端设备确定的开始搜索NTN小区的时刻不同，或者，确定的重选至NTN小区的时刻不同。进而有利于终端设备在不同的时刻开始搜索NTN小区或触发重选至NTN小区，避免大量的终端设备同时接入NTN网络。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上第一时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
示例性的，该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻，包括：
该终端设备基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：
T＝M1+R×D；
其中，T为该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或该重选至NTN小区的时刻；M1为TN该第一时刻；D为该第一时长；R为该终端设备生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻，该调整 系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
示例性的，该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻，包括：
该终端设备基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：
T＝M2+R×D；
其中，T为该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或该重选至NTN小区的时刻；M2为该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻；D为该第一时长；R为该终端设备生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，包括：该终端设备驻留在NTN小区时存储接收的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。例如，终端设备在历史某一时刻驻留到NTN小区，并且，能够接收NTN接入网设备广播的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。进而，该终端设备能够存储接收的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息，以便于该终端设备再次有搜索NTN小区的需求时能够确定该终端设备当前是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围内。
本实施方式中，终端设备在驻留到NTN小区时能够存储接收的卫星的服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息，以便于该终端设备在离开NTN小区之后还能够在没有网络覆盖的情况下获得卫星的服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息，有利于终端设备快速地基于服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息决策该终端设备是否处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否处于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，包括：该终端设备接收来自TN小区的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。例如，TN接入网设备广播卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息；相应地，终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。其中，TN接入网设备广播给终端设备的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息，可以由运维人员配置给该TN接入网设备，也可以是NTN接入网设备通过接入网设备之间的接口(例如，Xn)接口发送给TN接入网设备的，还可以是TN接入网设备从地面网关或核心网设备获取的，具体此处不做限定。
本实施方式中，终端设备能够在TN小区接收卫星的服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息，有利于驻留在TN小区的终端设备基于服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息决策该终端设备是否处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否处于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。
第四方面，本申请提供了一种小区搜索方法，该方法应用于TN接入网设备中。具体地，TN接入网设备向TN小区中的终端设备发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，该服务信息和该覆盖信息用于该终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时开始搜索NTN小区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该方法还包括：该TN接入网设备发送第一时间信息，该第一时间信息用于该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上第一时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
需要说明的是，本方面的具体实施方式和有益效果与前文第三方面中的部分实施方式类似，具体可参见第三方面的具体实施方式和其有益效果，在此不再赘述。
第五方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是终端设备。该通信装置包括收发模块和处理模块。其中，收发模块，用于接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；以及，接收第一信息，该第一信息用于指示通信装置搜索TN邻区。该处理模块，用于基于服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息确定通信装置是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。该处理模块，还用于在基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该通信装置允许用于搜索 TN邻区的时长。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，具体用于当该TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区时，在搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，还用于当通信装置在该搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内未搜索到TN邻区，停止执行空闲态功能。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括距离门限。该处理模块，还用于当该通信装置当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限，执行空闲态功能。其中，参考地理位置为该通信装置上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该通信装置所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该通信装置所在的地理位置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，具体用于在该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，还用于当该通信装置当前所在的地理位置不属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，停止执行空闲态功能。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，还用于当该通信装置当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，触发执行空闲态功能。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息；
该处理模块，还用于当该通信装置当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，搜索该TN邻区信息指示的至少一个TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，还用于该通信装置接收第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
需要说明的是，本方面的具体实施方式和有益效果与前文第一方面中的部分实施方式类似，具体可参见第一方面的具体实施方式和其有益效果，在此不再赘述。
第六方面，本申请还提供了一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是接入网设备。可选的，该接入网设备为NTN接入网设备。该通信装置包括收发模块和处理模块。其中，收发模块，用于发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。处理模块，用于生成第一信息。该收发模块，还用于发送第一信息，该第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括距离门限，该距离门限用于指示该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限时触发执行空闲态功能。其中，参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息用于指示存在至少一个TN邻区的地理区域。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发模块，具体用于在终端设备所在的NTN服务小区的服务停止时间之前的预设时间范围内向该终端设备发送该第一信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，还用于基于该卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发模块，还用于向该终端设备发送第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示该终端设备即将离开NTN小区的覆盖范围或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
需要说明的是，本方面的具体实施方式和有益效果与前文第一方面中的部分实施方式类似，具体可参见第一方面的具体实施方式和其有益效果，在此不再赘述。
第七方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是终端设备，该通信装置位于TN小区中。该通信装置包括收发模块和处理模块。其中，收发模块，用于获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；该处理模块，用于在基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，开始搜索NTN小区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发模块，还用于接收第一时间信息，该第一时间信息用于该通信装置确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于该通信装置确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。
该处理模块，具体用于基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：T＝M1+R×D；其中，T为该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或该重选至NTN小区的时刻；M1为TN该第一时刻；D为该第一时长；R为该通信装置生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时长。
该处理模块，具体用于基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：T＝M2+R×D；其中，T为该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或该重选至NTN小区的时刻；M2为该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻；D为该第一时长；R为该通信装置生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理模块，用于在通信装置驻留在NTN小区时存储接收的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发模块，用于接收来自TN小区的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。
需要说明的是，本方面的具体实施方式和有益效果与前文第三方面中的部分实施方式类似，具体可参见第三方面的具体实施方式和其有益效果，在此不再赘述。
第八方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是接入网设备。可选的，该接入网设备为TN接入网设备。该通信装置包括收发模块和处理模块。其中，收发模块，用于向TN小区中的终端设备发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，该服务信息和该覆盖信息用于该终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时开始搜索NTN小区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发模块，还用于发送第一时间信息，该第一时间信息用于该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
可选的，该第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上第一时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
可选的，该第一时间信息包括第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
需要说明的是，本方面的具体实施方式和有益效果与前文第三方面中的部分实施方式类似，具体可参见第三方面的具体实施方式和其有益效果，在此不再赘述。
第九方面，本申请实施例提供了一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是前述实施方式中的终端设备，也可以是该终端设备内的芯片。该通信装置可以包括处理模块和收发模块。当该通信装置是终端设备时，该处理模块可以是处理器，该收发模块可以是收发器；该终端设备还可以包括存储模块，该存储模块可以是存储器；该存储模块用于存储指令，该处理模块执行该存储模块所存储的指令，以使该终端设备执行第一方面或第一方面的任一种实施方式中的方法；或者，执行第三方面或第三方面的任一种实施方式中的方法。当该通信装置是终端设备内的芯片时，该处理模块可以是处理器，该收发模块可以是输入/输出接口、管脚或电路等；该处理模块执行存储模块所存储的指令，以使该终端设备执行第一方面或第一方面的任一种实施方式中的方法；或者，执行第三方面或第三方面的任一种实施方式中的方法。该存储模块可以是该芯片内的存储模块(例如，寄存器、缓存等)，也可以是该终端设备内的位于该芯片外部的存储模块(例如，只读存储器、随机存取存储器等)。
第十方面，本申请实施例提供了一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是前述实施方式中的接入网设备，也 可以是该接入网设备内的芯片。该通信装置可以包括处理模块和收发模块。当该通信装置是接入网设备时，该处理模块可以是处理器，该收发模块可以是收发器；该接入网设备还可以包括存储模块，该存储模块可以是存储器；该存储模块用于存储指令，该处理模块执行该存储模块所存储的指令，以使该终端设备执行第二方面或第二方面的任一种实施方式中的方法；或者，执行第四方面或第四方面的任一种实施方式中的方法。当该通信装置是接入网设备内的芯片时，该处理模块可以是处理器，该收发模块可以是输入/输出接口、管脚或电路等；该处理模块执行存储模块所存储的指令，以使该终端设备执行第二方面或第二方面的任一种实施方式中的方法；或者，执行第四方面或第四方面的任一种实施方式中的方法。该存储模块可以是该芯片内的存储模块(例如，寄存器、缓存等)，也可以是该接入网设备内的位于该芯片外部的存储模块(例如，只读存储器、随机存取存储器等)。
第十一方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，该装置可以是集成电路芯片。该集成电路芯片包括处理器。该处理器与存储器耦合，该存储器用于存储程序或指令，当该程序或指令被该处理器执行时，使得该通信装置执行如前述各个方面的中的任一种实施方式所介绍的方法。
第十二方面，本申请实施例提供了一种包含指令的计算机程序产品，当其在计算机上运行时，使得该计算机执行如前述各个方面中的任一种实施方式所介绍的方法。
第十三方面，本申请实施例提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，包括指令，当该指令在计算机上运行时，以使得计算机执行如前各个方面中的任一种实施方式所介绍的方法。
第十四方面，本申请实施例提供了一种通信系统，该通信系统包括执行前述第一方面以及第一方面的任一种实施方式中的终端设备，执行前述第二方面以及第二方面的任一种实施方式中的接入网设备。或者，该通信系统包括执行前述第三方面以及第三方面的任一种实施方式中的终端设备；以及，执行前述第四方面以及第四方面的任一种实施方式中的接入网设备。
附图说明
图1A为本申请中小区搜索方法适用的一个网络架构图；
图1B为本申请中小区搜索方法适用的另一个网络架构图；
图1C为本申请中小区搜索方法适用的另一个网络架构图；
图1D为本申请中小区搜索方法适用的另一个网络架构图；
图2为本申请中小区搜索方法的一个流程图；
图3为本申请中小区搜索方法的另一个流程图；
图4为本申请中参考地理位置和距离门限的一个示例图；
图5为本申请中小区搜索方法的另一个流程图；
图6为本申请中TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域指示的一个示例图；
图7为本申请中小区搜索方法的另一个流程图；
图8为本申请中通信装置的一个实施例示意图；
图9为本申请中通信装置的另一个实施例示意图；
图10为本申请中通信装置的另一个实施例示意图。
具体实施方式
下面将结合本申请实施例中的附图，对本申请实施例中的技术方案进行清楚、完整地描述，显然，所描述的实施例仅仅是本申请一部分实施例，而不是全部的实施例。
本申请的说明书和权利要求书及上述附图中的术语“第一”、“第二”、“第三”、“第四”等(如果存在)是用于区别类似的对象，而不必用于描述特定的顺序或先后次序。应该理解这样使用的术语在适当情况下可以互换，以便这里描述的实施例能够以除了在这里图示或描述的内容以外的顺序实施。此外，术语“包括”和“具有”以及他们的任何变形，意图在于覆盖不排他的包含，例如，包含了一系列步骤或单元的过程、方法、系统、产品或设备不必限于清楚地列出的那些步骤或单元，而是可包括没有清楚地列出的或对于这些过程、方法、产品或设备固有的其它步骤或单元。
应理解，本文中术语“和/或”，仅仅是一种描述关联对象的关联关系，表示可以存在三种关系，例 如，A和/或B，可以表示：单独存在A，同时存在A和B，单独存在B这三种情况。另外，本文中字符“/”，一般表示前后关联对象是一种“或”的关系。
为便于理解，下面先对本申请提出的小区搜索方法的系统架构和应用场景进行介绍：
本申请提出的小区搜索方法可以应用于5G NR(5G New Radio)系统、第六代的移动信息技术(the 6th generation mobile communication technology，6G)系统以及后续演进制式中，本申请对此不作限定。该通信系统至少包括终端设备、接入网设备和核心网设备。
其中，终端设备，包括向用户提供语音和/或数据连通性的设备。例如，可以包括具有无线连接功能的手持式设备或连接到无线调制解调器的处理设备。该终端设备可以经无线接入网(radio access network，RAN)与核心网(例如，5G核心网(5th generation core，5GC))进行通信，可以与RAN交换语音和/或数据。该终端设备也可以被称为终端(Terminal)、用户设备(user equipment，UE)、无线终端设备、移动终端(mobile terminal，MT)设备、用户单元(subscriber unit)、用户站(subscriber station)，移动站(mobile station，MS)、移动台(mobile)、远程站(remote station)、接入点(access point，AP)、远程终端设备(remote terminal)、接入终端设备(access terminal)、用户终端设备(user terminal)、用户代理(user agent)、或用户装备(user device)等。此外，该终端设备可以是手机(mobile phone)、平板电脑(Pad)、带无线收发功能的电脑、虚拟现实(virtual reality，VR)终端设备、增强现实(augmented reality，AR)终端设备、工业控制(industrial control)中的无线终端、无人驾驶(self-driving)中的无线终端、远程手术(remote medical surgery)中的无线终端、智能电网(smart grid)中的无线终端、运输安全(transportation safety)中的无线终端、智慧城市(smart city)中的无线终端、智慧家庭(smart home)中的无线终端等等。应理解，本申请的实施例对终端设备所采用的具体技术和具体设备形态不做限定。本申请中的终端设备可以是上述任意一种设备或芯片，具体此处不做限定。无论作为设备还是作为芯片，该终端设备都可以作为独立的产品进行制造、销售或者使用。在本实施例以及后续实施例中，以终端设备为例进行介绍。
接入网设备，可以是任意一种具有无线收发功能的设备，可以用于负责空中接口相关的功能，例如，无线链路维护功能、无线资源管理功能、部分移动性管理功能。此外，该接入网设备还可以配置有基带单元(base band unit，BBU)，具备基带信号处理功能。示例性的，接入网设备可以是当前为终端设备提供服务的接入网设备(radio access network，RAN)。目前，接入网设备的一些常见示例为：节点B(Node B，NB)、演进型节点B(evolved Node B，eNB)、5G新无线(new radio，NR)系统中的下一代节点B(next generation node B，gNB)、6G系统中的节点(例如，xNodeB)、传输接收点(transmission reception point，TRP)、无线网络控制器(radio network controller，RNC)、基站控制器(base station controller，BSC)、基站收发台(base transceiver station，BTS)、家庭基站(例如，家庭演进节点(home evolved NodeB)或家庭节点(home Node B，HNB))等。此外，在云接入网(cloud radio access network，CloudRAN)或开放式接入网(open radio access network，ORAN)等网络结构中，接入网设备可以是包括集中式单元(centralized unit，CU)(也被称为控制单元)和/或分布式单元(distributed unit，DU)的设备。其中，包括CU和DU的RAN设备将NR系统中gNB的协议层拆分开，部分协议层的功能放在CU集中控制，剩下部分或全部协议层的功能分布在DU中，由CU集中控制DU。应理解，本申请实施例中的接入网设备可以是上述任意一种设备或上述设备中的芯片，具体此处不做限定。无论作为设备还是作为芯片，该接入网设备都可以作为独立的产品进行制造、销售或者使用。在本实施例以及后续实施例中，以接入网设备为例进行介绍。
可选的，当接入网设备是由CU和DU构成时，多个DU可以共用一个CU。CU和DU的切分可以按照协议栈切分。例如，如图1A所示，一种可能的方式是将无线资源控制(radio resource control，RRC)、服务数据适应协议(service data adaptation protocol，SDAP)以及分组数据汇聚协议(packet data convergence protocol，PDCP)层部署在CU中，其余的无线链路控制(radio link control，RLC)层、介质访问控制(media access control，MAC)层以及物理层(physical，PHY)部署在DU中。CU和DU之间通过F1接口连接。CU代表gNB通过NG接口和核心网连接，CU代表gNB通过Xn接口和其他gNB连接，CU还可以代表gNB通过X2口和其他eNB连接执行双连接操作。进一步地，CU还可以划分为控制面(CU-CP)和用户面(CU-UP)。其中，CU-CP负责控制面功能，主要包含RRC和控制面对应的PDCP(即PDCP-C)。PDCP-C主要 负责控制面数据的加解密、完整性保护以及数据传输等。CU-UP负责用户面功能，主要包含SDAP和用户面对应的PDCP(即PDCP-U)。其中，SDAP主要负责将核心网的数据进行处理并将flow映射到承载。PDCP-U主要负责数据面的加解密、完整性保护、头压缩、序列号维护以及数据传输等。其中，CU-CP和CU-UP通过E1接口连接。CU-CP代表gNB通过NG接口和核心网连接，通过F1接口控制面(即F1-C)和DU连接。CU-UP通过F1接口用户面(即F1-U)和DU连接。还有一种可能的实现是PDCP-C也在CU-UP中。CU的控制面CU-CP还包括一种进一步切分的架构，即将现有的CU-CP进一步切分为CU-CP1和CU-CP2。其中，CU-CP1包括各种无线资源管理功能(例如，移动性管理、为终端设备发送的下行RRC消息中各个信息的具体取值等)，CU-CP2仅包括RRC功能(例如，负责生成下行RRC消息和解码上行RRC消息)和PDCP-C功能(即控制面信令在PDCP层的基本功能)。
核心网设备，是指为终端设备提供业务支持的核心网(core network，CN)中的设备。目前，核心网设备的一些常见示例为：接入和移动性管理功能(access and mobility management function，AMF)实体、会话管理功能(session management function，SMF)实体、用户面功能(user plane function，UPF)实体等等，此处不一一列举。其中，AMF实体可以负责终端设备的接入管理和移动性管理；SMF实体可以负责会话管理，如用户的会话建立等；UPF实体可以是用户面的功能实体，主要负责连接外部网络。需要说明的是，本申请中实体也可以称为网元或功能实体。例如，AMF实体也可以称为AMF网元或AMF功能实体；又例如，SMF实体也可以称为SMF网元或SMF功能实体等。应注意，本申请中的核心网设备至少包括AMF实体。
示例性的，本申请提出的小区搜索方法可以应用于非陆地通信网络NTN架构中。例如，3GPP协议中定义的基于NG-RAN架构的非陆地通信网络(NTN-based NG-RAN architectures)。此时，前述接入网设备中的部分或全部的功能可以通过非陆地通信网络设备(例如卫星，系留无人机(tethered unmanned aerial system，TUA)、比空气轻无人机(lighter than air，LTA)、比空气重无人机(heavier than air UAS，HTA)、高空通信平台(high altitude platform station，HAPS)中的至少一种)实现；或者，接入网设备通过非陆地通信网络设备为终端设备提供服务。该NTN架构中的接入网设备被称为NTN接入网设备。需要说明的是，本申请以非陆地通信网络设备为卫星为例进行描述，但本申请并不限定。非陆地通信网络设备还可能是以上其他任何一种，即本发明中的描述的卫星还可以用以上任何一种非陆地通信网络设备替代。下面将分别对几种常见的示例进行介绍：
如图1B所示，为基于透传卫星的RAN架构(RAN architecture with transparent satellite)的一种示例。其中，地面的基站(例如，地面的gNB)作为接入网设备；卫星作为远程无线单元(remote radio unit，RRU)(也被称为L1relay或L1中继)，具备无线频率变频(frequency conversion)和频率放大(frequency amplification)等功能，用于实现中继透传；NTN网关用于转发来自卫星的信号或来自接入网设备的信号。NTN网关位于地面。在该网络结构中，终端设备通过卫星中继透传以及NTN网关转发向接入网设备发送NR Uu无线接口信号。地面接入网设备收到信号后，与地面的核心网设备按照传统技术中的陆地通信网络技术进行通信。类似的，当核心网设备向终端设备发信号时，地面的基站(例如，地面的gNB)也作为接入网设备，卫星也用于实现信号中继透传。具体与前述过程类似，此处不予赘述。在本示例中，地面的基站、卫星和NTN网关组成了一个NTN接入网设备。
如图1C所示，为基于再生卫星(regenerative satellite)的RAN架构的一种示例。其中，该卫星作为接入网设备或者卫星具有接入网设备功能。在该网络结构中，地面终端设备通过与卫星间的服务链路(service link)向接入网设备(即卫星)发送Uu无线接口信号。卫星作为接入网设备从终端设备接收Uu无线接口信号，并将收到的信号解析处理。卫星作为接入网设备通过馈电链路(feeder link)与地面的NTN网关交互信息。例如，卫星与地面的核心网设备交互NG口信息。卫星生成NG口信息，并通过地面的NTN网关向核心网发送NG口信息。类似的，核心网设备生成NG口信息，并通过地面的NTN网关向卫星发送NG口信息。在本示例中，卫星会产生如下信号：Uu口无线接口的信号，NTN网关与卫星之间的馈电链路上的卫星无线接口(satellite radio interface，SRI)的信号。在本示例中，可选的，卫星和NTN网关组成了一个NTN接入网设备。
如图1D所示，为基于再生卫星(regenerative satellite)的RAN架构的另一种示例。其中，卫星作为接入网设备的DU，而地面基站(例如，gNB-CU)作为接入网设备的CU。在该网络结构中，地面终端设备 通过与卫星之间的服务链路(service link)向接入网设备的DU(即卫星)发送Uu无线接口信号。接入网设备的DU(即卫星)接收并解析来自终端设备的NR-Uu无线接口信号。例如，接入网设备的DU生成F1信息，接入网设备的DU通过馈电链路及NTN网关向接入网设备的CU发送F1口信息。接入网设备的CU生成F1口信息，接入网设备的CU通过NTN网关及馈电链路向接入网设备的DU发送F1口信息。地面的接入网设备的CU与地面的核心网设备按照传统技术中的陆地通信网络技术通信。在本示例中，卫星会产生如下信号：Uu口无线接口的信号，NTN网关与卫星之间的馈电链路上的卫星无线接口的信号。其中馈电链路传输F1口信息。在本示例中，地面的基站、卫星和NTN网关组成了一个NTN接入网设备。
应理解，前述图1B、图1C以及图1D所示示例中的地面基站除了可以采用gNB实现之外，还可以采用其他网络制式的基站实现，例如，演进型节点B(evolved Node B，eNB)、6G系统中的节点(例如，xNodeB)等，具体此处不做限定。此处仅是对几种常见NTN架构进行介绍，本申请涉及的NTN接入网设备除了可以适用于图1B、图1C或图1D所示的NTN架构，还可以运用于其他NTN架构，在此不做限定。此外，本申请的网络系统中还存在陆地通信网络接入网设备(图未示)，关于TN接入网设备的功能介绍请参阅前文关于接入网设备的介绍，此处不予赘述。
当出现NTN非连续覆盖时，要求终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内时停止执行空闲态功能(not perform idle mode tasks)。该空闲态功能(idle mode tasks)(也被称为空闲态任务或接入层(access stratum，AS)侧功能)主要包括终端设备进行小区搜索(包括搜索NTN小区和/或TN小区)、小区驻留(包括尝试驻留到NTN小区和/或TN小区)等功能。也就是说，终端设备在停止执行空闲态功能之后，该终端设备无法执行小区搜索等与终端接入层相关的功能。然而，通信系统中不仅有NTN，还可能有TN。直接停止执行空闲态功能可能影响终端设备接入到TN，进而影响通信体验。
对此，本申请提出了一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置，用于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下搜索到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
下面将结合图2对本申请提出的小区搜索方法的主要流程进行介绍。该方法涉及的接入网设备和终端设备可以适用于如图1B、图1C以及图1D中任意一种示例所示的NTN，并且，该接入网设备为NTN接入网设备。具体地，NTN接入网设备和终端设备将执行如下步骤。
步骤201，NTN接入网设备发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；相应地，终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。
可选的，NTN接入网设备广播卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。例如，终端设备从NTN接入网设备的系统广播消息中获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。
其中，服务信息(service information)包括星历信息和/或服务开始时间信息。其中，星历信息(也被称为星历数据(ephemeris data)或星历表)，用于指示运行的卫星的运行轨道信息。终端设备根据该运行轨道信息可以确定卫星的位置。示例性的，星历信息可以是通过两行轨道数据(two-line orbital element，TLE)格式来表示的。可选的，前述卫星的星历信息包括服务卫星的星历信息和/或邻卫星的星历信息。其中，服务卫星是当前为终端设备提供服务的卫星。邻卫星是即将达到的(incoming)为终端设备提供服务的卫星。一般地，终端设备能够基于服务卫星的星历信息确定服务卫星在何时离开卫星轨道上的特定位置而停止为终端设备提供服务，能够基于邻卫星的星历信息确定在何时到达卫星轨道上的特定位置而作为服务卫星继续为终端设备提供服务。该服务开始时间信息用于指示卫星开始为某个地理区域的终端设备提供服务的时间。可选的，前述服务开始时间信息包括邻卫星开始为某个地理区域的终端设备提供服务的时间。可选的，该地理区域为服务卫星覆盖的地理区域。
NTN小区的覆盖信息是卫星对应的NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖相关的信息。可选的，该NTN小区的覆盖信息用于指示服务卫星的NTN小区覆盖范围和/或邻卫星的NTN小区覆盖范围。可选的，NTN小区的覆盖信息包括移动小区(moving cell)的覆盖信息和/或准地球固定小区(quasi-earth fixed cell)的覆盖信息。其中，移动小区指该小区的覆盖区域是从地面扫过(slide)(即卫星的小区的覆盖能够在地面移动或滑动)的NTN小区。一般地，移动小区的卫星的波束不调整发射角度，随着卫星在卫星轨道上运行，小区覆盖不会停留在一片固定区域而处于移动状态。准地球固定小区是与移动小区相对的概念，准地球固定小区指在一段时间内卫星覆盖能够固定在地面的某一片区域的NTN小区。一般地，准地球固定小 区的波束可以调整发射角度，随着卫星在卫星轨道上运行卫星可以在一段时间内凝视地面的一片固定区域，在该段时间内，准地球固定小区的小区范围和位置固定。示例性的，移动小区的覆盖信息为移动小区的仰角(elevation)和/或移动小区的小区覆盖半径。其中，仰角可以包括参考卫星移动方向的最左仰角和最右仰角。示例性的，准地球固定小区的覆盖信息为准地球固定小区的参考位置和准地球固定小区的小区覆盖半径。其中，准地球固定小区的参考位置可以是小区覆盖的地面区域的中心位置，可以通过经度和纬度来表示。此外，小区覆盖半径为前述参考位置与前述小区覆盖的边缘之间的距离。
可选的，NTN接入网设备可以在同一个广播消息中广播卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，也可以在不同的广播消息中广播卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。可选的，NTN接入网设备在不同的广播消息中广播邻卫星的信息(例如，邻卫星的服务信息和该邻卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息)和服务卫星的信息(例如，服务卫星的服务信息和该服务卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息)。例如，在广播消息#1中广播邻卫星的服务信息和邻卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，在广播消息#2中广播服务卫星的服务信息和服务卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。
本实施例中，终端设备在收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息之后，该终端设备可以基于卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该NTN接入网设备的NTN小区在地面的覆盖情况，结合该终端设备所在的地理位置，该终端设备能够确定是否在NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖范围内，或者，是否移动到NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。其中，NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，可以理解为，终端设备检测到的信号质量低于某个阈值时，则认为该终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。或者终端设备检测到的信号质量低于某个阈值时该终端设备在NTN小区中所在的位置，当该终端设备向远离该NTN小区的方向移动时，该终端设备检测到的信号质量将继续降低。
可选的，NTN接入网设备还广播卫星的标识(satellite ID)。
步骤202，NTN接入网设备发送第一信息；相应地，终端设备接收第一信息。
可选的，NTN接入网设备广播第一信息。例如，终端设备从NTN接入网设备的系统广播消息中获取第一信息。
应注意，在实际应用中，NTN接入网设备可能通过同一广播消息广播第一信息、卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，也可能通过不同的广播消息分别广播第一信息、卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，具体本申请不做限定。
其中，该第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。其中，搜索TN邻区指终端设备启动寻找能够驻留的TN小区的过程，该终端设备可能搜索到TN邻区(即找到能够驻留的TN邻区)，也可能搜索不到TN邻区(即未找到能够驻留的TN邻区)。需要说明的是，终端设备驻留在TN小区之后，终端设备后续可以接入TN小区。可选的，第一信息还可以指示终端设备接入TN邻区。
可选的，该终端设备在收到第一信息时便触发搜索TN邻区，或者，该终端设备在收到第一信息后在某个特定条件下才会触发搜索TN邻区。例如，终端设备在收到第一信息之后且在该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时触发搜索TN邻区。
此外，第一信息除了能够指示终端设备搜索TN邻区之外，还能够向终端设备提供该终端设备在搜索TN邻区时可能使用的信息。基于第一信息提供的内容不同，第一信息有如下几种实施方式：
在一种可能的实施方式中，第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息，以及，搜索时间指示信息和/或距离门限。其中，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区；该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长；该距离门限用于指示该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限时触发执行空闲态功能。其中，参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。
关于TN邻区指示信息、搜索时间指示信息以及距离门限的具体解释将在后文图3对应的实施例进行介绍，此处不予赘述。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息用于指示存在至少一个TN邻区的地理区域。可选的，第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括TN邻区的频点信息和/或小区标识信息。
关于TN邻区对应的地理区域信息和TN邻区信息的具体解释将在后文图5对应的实施例进行介绍，此处不予赘述。
应注意，NTN接入网设备可以在特定时刻或特定条件下才触发发送第一信息。具体地，NTN接入网设备可以在如下任意一种情况下发送第一信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，NTN接入网设备在终端设备所在的NTN服务小区的服务停止时间之前的预设时间范围内发送第一信息。
其中，NTN小区停止服务，可以理解为，NTN小区停止为当前服务的物理区域的终端设备提供服务。NTN小区的服务停止时间指NTN小区停止为当前服务的物理区域的终端设备提供服务的时刻。例如，NTN小区为NTN准地球固定小区，NTN接入网设备的波束能够在一段时间内固定覆盖在一片地理区域上。当NTN小区的服务停止时间达到时，该NTN小区不再覆盖该地理区域。
此外，前述预设时间范围用于表示NTN接入网设备发送第一信息的时刻距离NTN小区停止服务时间之间的时长间隔。该预设时间范围可以由NTN接入网设备确定。可以理解为，NTN接入网设备在该NTN小区即将停止服务之前发送第一信息。
示例性的，该NTN接入网设备可能服务多个NTN小区，每当某个NTN小区的服务即将停止时，该NTN接入网设备便向该NTN小区的终端设备广播第一信息。对于该NTN小区中的某一个终端设备来说，NTN接入网设备在终端设备所在的NTN服务小区即将停止服务之前发送了第一信息。
可选的，当NTN接入网设备采用本实施方式发送第一信息时，该NTN接入网设备还可能发送NTN小区的服务停止时间。例如，该NTN接入网设备可以在系统广播消息中携带信元“t-service”，该信元“t-service”携带NTN小区的服务停止时间。可选的，服务停止时间可以在第一信息之前发送，也可以在第一信息之后发送，也可以与第一信息同时发送，在此不做限定。
可选的，NTN接入网设备可以采用本实施方式发送小区粒度的第一信息，即NTN接入网设备向NTN小区中的每个终端设备广播第一信息，NTN小区中的每个终端设备收到相同的第一信息。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备能够在NTN小区即将到达服务停止时间时发送第一信息，而不是NTN小区为终端设备提供服务的整个周期持续发送第一信息。不仅能够使得终端设备恰好在需要使用第一信息之前收到第一信息，同时还不会导致终端设备在还有NTN小区覆盖的时候使用第一信息(例如，后文将介绍的基于第一信息搜索TN小区)，还有利于节省信令开销，也能够节省终端设备接收信令而造成的能耗。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，NTN接入网设备基于该卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定终端设备即将离开该NTN小区的覆盖范围或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该NTN接入网设备触发向该终端设备发送第一信息。
可选的，本实施方式可以应用于NTN小区为移动小区的场景。
由于，NTN接入网设备能够获得卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，因此，NTN接入网设备能够基于卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该NTN小区在地面的覆盖情况。又由于，NTN接入网设备与该NTN小区中的终端设备存在信令交互，或者，该NTN接入网设备存储有该终端设备的上下文，因此，NTN接入网设备能够获知终端设备所在的地理位置，进而NTN接入网设备结合终端设备所在的地理位置能够确定该终端设备是否即将离开NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖范围，以及，是否移动到NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。这种情况下，NTN接入网设备可以通过专用RRC消息向终端设备发送第一信息。
可选的，NTN接入网设备可以采用本实施方式发送终端设备粒度的第一信息，即NTN接入网设备能够针对NTN小区中某一个终端设备确定该终端设备是否即将离开NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖范围，以及，是否移动到NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，进而向该终端设备发送第一信息。NTN小区中的不同的终端设备可能在不同的时刻收到不同的第一信息。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备能够在NTN小区即将到达服务停止时间时发送第一信息，而不是NTN小区为终端设备提供服务的整个周期持续发送第一信息。不仅能够使得终端设备恰好在需要使用第一信息之前收到第一信息，同时还不会导致终端设备在还有NTN小区覆盖的时候使用第一信息(例如，后文将介绍的基于第一信息搜索TN小区)，还有利于节省信令开销，也能够节省终端设备接收信令而造成的 能耗。
步骤203，NTN接入网设备发送第一指示信息；相应地，终端设备接收第一指示信息。
可选的，NTN接入网设备广播第一指示信息。例如，终端设备从NTN接入网设备的系统广播消息中获取第一指示信息。
步骤203为可选的步骤。当NTN接入网设备执行步骤203时，NTN接入网设备可能通过同一广播消息广播第一信息、第一指示信息、卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，也可能通过不同的广播消息分别广播第一信息、第一指示信息、卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，具体本申请不做限定。应注意，当通过不同的广播消息分别广播第一信息、第一指示信息、卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息时，NTN接入网设备和终端设备执行步骤201、步骤202和步骤203没有时间先后顺序的限定。
其中，第一指示信息用于指示终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。也可以理解为，第一指示信息指示了终端设备使用第一信息搜索TN邻区的时间，该时间为条件1(即终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内)和条件2(即终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘)这两个条件中任意一个条件成立的时刻。
其中，NTN小区的覆盖范围可以是终端设备基于服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息确定的，具体请参阅前文步骤201中的相关介绍，此处不予赘述。
本实施方式中，NTN接入网设备通过第一指示信息显示地指示终端设备确定不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时才基于第一信息搜索TN邻区，而不用在收到第一信息时便立即基于第一信息搜索TN邻区。也就是说，终端设备在收到第一信息时可以不用立即启动基于第一信息搜索TN邻区。有利于避免终端设备在收到第一信息但位于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时一直搜索TN邻区，从而节省终端设备的能耗，提高终端设备的省电性能。此外，也可以使得在NTN小区覆盖范围内的终端设备尽量不接入TN，有助于降低TN网络的负载。
步骤204，当终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，终端设备基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
本实施例中，终端设备在收到服务信息和覆盖信息之后，该终端设备可以检测(例如，周期性检测或者通过事件触发检测)该终端设备是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。当条件1(即终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内)和条件2(即终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘)中任意一个条件成立时，终端设备触发基于第一信息搜索TN邻区，即终端设备利用第一信息寻找能够驻留的TN邻区。
应注意，前述NTN小区包括NTN服务小区以及NTN邻区。终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内，指终端设备既不在NTN服务小区的覆盖范围内，也不在NTN邻区的覆盖范围内。终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，指终端设备在NTN网络的覆盖范围的边缘，即终端设备即将没有NTN小区的覆盖。例如，终端设备在NTN服务小区的覆盖范围的边缘或者终端设备NTN邻区的覆盖范围的边缘。
可选的，搜索TN邻区指终端设备在某个范围(例如，某个时间范围或某个地理区域)寻找能够驻留的TN邻区的过程，终端设备基于第一信息可能搜索到TN邻区(即终端设备寻找到能够驻留的TN邻区)，也可能搜索不到TN邻区(即终端设备未寻找到能够驻留的TN邻区)。当终端设备在规定的搜索时间和/或规定的搜索区域中未能够搜索到TN邻区时，该终端设备将停止执行空闲态功能(即停止执行空闲态任务，或，关闭AS侧功能)。
可选的，停止执行空闲态功能具体可以表现为终端设备停止执行小区搜索(包括停止进行NTN小区搜索和TN小区搜索)、停止驻留到某个小区、也不会接入到某个小区。可选的，停止执行空闲态功能也可以表现为终端设备关闭TN射频模块和NTN射频模块。
应理解，前述规定的搜索时间和/或规定的搜索区域与第一信息的具体实现方式相关，将在后文图3和图5对应的实施例中进行详细介绍，此处不予赘述。
需要说明的是，终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时才基于第一信息搜索TN邻区，可以是终端设备基于第一指示信息确定的，在这种情况下，NTN接入网设备需要执行步骤203；也可以是由协议规定的，在这种情况下，NTN接入网设备不用执行步骤203。
可选的，以上关于“当终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘”的描述，还可以替换为“当终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备即将不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或即将在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘”的描述。
还应注意，本实施例中，若NTN接入网设备为CU-DU分离架构的接入网设备时，NTN接入网设备发送给终端设备的信息(例如，前文介绍的服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息、第一信息和第一指示信息等)可以由CU生成或获取并通过DU发送给终端设备。可选的，若CU包括CU-CP1、CU-CP2和CU-UP，则由CU-CP1生成或获取前述信息(例如，前文介绍的服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息、第一信息和第一指示信息等)，并发送给CU-CP2，然后，由CU-CP2按照协议封装的功能将待发送给终端设备的信息进行封装打包，然后，将封装后的信息通过DU发送给终端设备。
可选的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送信息(例如，前文介绍的服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息、第一信息和第一指示信息等)的过程，可以是DU透传信息给终端设备的过程，即DU将从CU收到的信息直接发送给终端设备而不对信息进行修改；也可以是DU将从CU收到的信息结合该DU能够获取的与信息相关的信息对信息进行修改，然后DU向终端设备发送修改后的信息。可选的，当采用后者实现时，DU可以将修改后的信息发送给CU，以便CU和DU对齐该信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送第一信息的过程，可以是NTN接入网设备中的CU生成第一信息，通过NTN接入网设备中的DU直接向终端设备透传第一信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送第一指示信息的过程，可以是NTN接入网设备中的CU生成第一指示信息，通过NTN接入网设备中的DU直接向终端设备透传第一指示信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息的过程，可以是NTN接入网设备中的CU生成服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息，但是，DU中存储有更新的更准确的服务信息和/或NTN小区的覆盖信息，此时，DU可以向终端设备发送更新的服务信息和/或NTN小区的覆盖信息。可选的，DU也可能向CU反馈更新的服务信息和/或NTN小区的覆盖信息，以便CU和DU对齐服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息的过程，也可以CU将生成的服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息直接通过DU透传给终端设备，DU不感知服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息。
本申请中，由于终端设备能够接收用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区的第一信息，即使终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或终端设备位于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该终端设备也能够基于第一信息搜索TN邻区而不会立即停止执行空闲态功能。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下搜索到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
下面将结合图3对本申请提出的小区搜索方法的一种实施例进行进一步介绍。本实施例中，终端设备能够在规定的搜索时间内搜索TN小区。例如，第一信息可以指示规定的搜索时间。具体地，NTN接入网设备和终端设备将执行如下步骤：
步骤301，NTN接入网设备广播卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；相应地，终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。
步骤301与步骤201类似，具体请参阅步骤201中的相关介绍，此处不予赘述。
本实施例中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息，以及，搜索时间指示信息和/或距离门限。具体地，终端设备可以通过如下步骤302和步骤303介绍的方式获得TN邻区指示信息、搜索时间指示信息和距离门限。
步骤302，NTN接入网设备广播TN邻区指示信息；相应地，终端设备接收TN邻区指示信息。
其中，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，即指示NTN服务小区所在的地理区域内是否存在TN邻区，和/或，NTN服务小区所在的地理区域的附近是否存在TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，终端设备收到的TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，终端设备收到的TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区不存在TN邻区。
应理解，当NTN接入网设备确定NTN服务小区存在TN邻区时，该NTN接入网设备不仅会广播指 示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区的TN邻区指示信息，还会执行步骤303(即广播搜索时间指示信息和/或距离门限)；当NTN接入网设备确定NTN服务小区不存在TN邻区时，该NTN接入网设备仅广播指示NTN服务小区不存在TN邻区的TN邻区指示信息，而不执行步骤303(即不广播搜索时间指示信息和距离门限)。
可选的，NTN接入网设备还广播TN邻区的频点信息和/或TN邻区的小区标识信息。关于TN邻区的频点信息和TN邻区的小区标识信息的介绍请参阅后文步骤503中的相关描述。
步骤303，NTN接入网设备广播搜索时间指示信息和/或距离门限；相应地，终端设备接收搜索时间指示信息和/或距离门限。
步骤303为可选的步骤。
其中，该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长，即终端设备从开始搜索TN邻区的时刻到终端设备停止搜索TN邻区的时刻之间间隔的最大时长。例如，搜索时间指示信息指示的时长为T1，终端设备从开始搜索TN邻区时可以启动一个时长为T1的定时器1，在该定时器1运行期间终端设备会持续搜索TN邻区直到该定时器1超时。
可选的，NTN接入网设备可以基于TN邻区的数量等信息确定搜索时间指示信息。例如，若TN邻区的数量较多(例如，TN邻区的数量大于或等于某个阈值)，该NTN接入网设备设置一个较短的时长作为搜索时间指示信息；若TN邻区的数量较少(例如，TN邻区的数量小于或等于某个阈值)，该NTN接入网设备设置一个较长的时长作为搜索时间指示信息。
本实施例中，NTN接入网设备向终端设备发送搜索时间指示信息，用于限制终端设备搜索TN邻区的耗时，能够使终端设备在网络侧配置的搜索时间内执行搜索，能够避免终端设备在未找到能够驻留的TN邻区的情况下持续搜索。因此，有利于节省终端设备的能耗。
其中，该距离门限用于指示该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限时执行空闲态功能，该参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。关于距离门限的具体用途将在步骤307中进行介绍，此处不予赘述。
可选的，NTN接入网设备可以基于TN邻区的数量以及不同TN邻区之间间隔的距离等信息确定距离门限。例如，若TN邻区的数量较多，且，不同TN邻区之间间隔的距离较小，该NTN接入网设备设置一个较短的距离为距离门限；若TN邻区的数量较少，且，不同TN邻区之间间隔的距离较大，该NTN接入网设备设置一个较长的距离作为距离门限。
此外，终端设备可以通过如下任意一种实施方式获取搜索时间指示信息和距离门限。
在一种可能的实施方式中，NTN接入网设备广播搜索时间指示信息，终端设备通过系统广播消息接收搜索时间指示信息。此外，终端设备自己确定距离门限。示例性的，终端设备将预设的距离作为距离门限。示例性的，终端设备基于终端设备所在的地理位置的特征确定距离门限。例如，若终端设备远离海岸，则终端设备确定一个较长的距离作为距离门限；若终端设备靠近海岸，则终端设备确定一个较短的距离作为距离门限。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，NTN接入网设备广播距离门限，终端设备通过系统广播消息接收该距离门限。此外，终端设备自己确定搜索时间指示信息。示例性的，终端设备将预设的时长作为搜索时间指示信息。示例性的，终端设备基于当前的通信需求确定搜索时间指示信息。例如，若终端设备基于当前的业务类型确定存在频繁收发数据的需求，则终端设备确定一个较长的时长作为搜索时间指示信息；若终端设备基于当前的业务类型确定收发数据的需求较少，则终端设备确定一个较短的时长作为搜索时间指示信息。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，NTN接入网设备广播搜索时间指示信息和距离门限，该终端设备通过系统广播消息接收搜索时间指示信息和距离门限。
本实施例中，当NTN接入网设备执行步骤303时，步骤303与步骤302无时间先后顺序的限定。该NTN接入网设备可以先执行步骤302再执行步骤303，也可以先执行步骤303再执行步骤302，还可以同时执行步骤302和步骤303。此外，当NTN接入网设备同时执行步骤302和步骤303时，该NTN接入网设备可以通过不同的消息分别发送TN邻区指示信息、搜索时间指示信息和距离门限，也可以通过同一消息发送TN邻区指示信息、搜索时间指示信息和距离门限。具体此处不做限定。
步骤304，NTN接入网设备广播第一指示信息；相应地，终端设备接收第一指示信息。
步骤304为可选的步骤。步骤304与步骤203类似，具体请参阅步骤203中的相关介绍，此处不予赘述。
步骤305，当终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，终端设备在搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内搜索TN邻区。
本实施例中，终端设备在收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息之后，该终端设备可以基于卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该NTN接入网设备的NTN小区在地面的覆盖情况，结合该终端设备所在的地理位置，该终端设备能够确定是否在NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖范围内，或者，是否移动到NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。关于终端设备如何确定终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘的介绍请参阅前文步骤204中的相关描述，此处不予赘述。
例如，搜索时间指示信息指示的时长为T1。当终端设备确定不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，终端设备开始搜索TN邻区并启动一个时长为T1的定时器1，在该定时器1运行期间终端设备会持续搜索TN邻区直到该定时器1超时。若在该定时器1运行期间，终端设备搜索到TN邻区(即终端设备寻找到能够驻留的TN邻区)，则该终端设备将执行步骤306a；若在该定时器1运行期间，终端设备未搜索到TN邻区(即终端设备未寻找到能够驻留的TN邻区)，当该定时器1超时后，终端设备将执行步骤306b。可选的，终端设备将记录该定时器1超时时该终端设备所在的地理位置，并将该地理位置存储为参考地理位置。
应注意，本实施例并不限定终端设备搜索TN邻区的地理区域，即不限定终端设备在哪些地理区域搜索TN邻区。例如，在搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内，该终端设备可以在终端设备所在的地理位置附近搜索TN邻区。若终端设备能够移动，终端设备所在的地理位置也将随着终端设备的移动发生变化。
步骤306a，当终端设备在搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内搜索到TN邻区时，终端设备驻留到搜索到的TN邻区。
具体地，终端设备尝试驻留到搜索到的TN邻区中。可选的，当该TN邻区不是禁止接入的小区时，该终端设备接入到该TN邻区，进而该终端设备通过该TN邻区连接入TN网络。
步骤306b，当终端设备在搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内未搜索到TN邻区时，终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。
关于停止执行空闲态功能的介绍请参阅前文步骤204中的相关描述，此处不予赘述。
可选的，终端设备将记录该终端设备触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置，并将该地理位置存储为参考地理位置。
可选的，若终端设备能够移动，该终端设备在执行了步骤306b之后还可能执行步骤307。
可选的，步骤307也可以不依赖于步骤306a和306b。例如，终端设备在基于NTN网络非连续覆盖而停止执行空闲态功能后，若终端设备能够获得参考地理位置和距离门限，则终端设备也可以执行步骤307。
步骤307，当终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到距离门限时，终端设备执行空闲态功能。
步骤307为可选的步骤。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。例如，终端设备在该搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内未搜索到TN邻区，此时，该终端设备不仅停止执行空闲态功能，还将停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置确定为参考地理位置。又例如，终端设备在基于NTN网络非连续覆盖而停止执行空闲态功能时或由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时，该终端设备所在的地理位置确定为参考地理位置#1。当终端设备由于移动而到达地理位置E时，如果地理位置E与参考地理位置#1的距离超过距离门限，则该终端设备执行空闲态功能(例如，该终端设备搜索TN小区)。终端设备将地理位置E作为新的参考地理位置，称为参考地理位置#2。如果该终端设备执行空闲态功能时没有搜索到TN小区，则该终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。该终端设备 后续由于移动而到达地理位置F时，如果地理位置E与参考地理位置#2的距离超过距离门限，则该终端设备重新执行空闲态功能。终端设备将地理位置F作为新的参考地理位置。之后再按照以上机制处理。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，该参考地理位置为终端设备中定时器1超时时该终端设备所在的地理位置，该定时器1的时长为搜索时间指示信息指示的时长。例如，终端设备在开始搜索TN邻区时启动定时器1，并在该定时器1运行期间持续搜索TN邻区。当定时器1超时时，该终端设备将当前所在的地理位置确定为参考地理位置。
应注意，终端设备可以采用前述任意一种实施方式确定参考地理位置。可选的，前述两种实施方式确定的参考地理位置可能是同一地理位置。
此外，终端设备执行空闲态功能(即终端设备执行空闲态任务，或者，开启AS侧功能)具体可以表现为终端设备启动执行小区搜索。可选的，该终端设备可能启动搜索TN邻区，也可能启动搜索NTN邻区。示例性的，若终端设备还可以基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围内，或者，确定该终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。若该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，则该终端设备启动搜索TN邻区；若该终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围内，则该终端设备启动搜索NTN邻区。
为便于理解，以图4为例，终端设备获得的搜索时间指示信息指示的搜索时长为T1，距离门限为距离门限1。若终端设备在O点停止执行空闲态功能(即关闭AS侧功能)，则该终端设备将O点作为参考地理位置(即参考位置1)进行存储。随着终端设备的移动，当该终端设备移动至A点，并且，A点与参考位置1(即O点)之间的距离达到距离门限1，该终端设备将启动执行空闲态功能(即开启AS侧功能)，并且，持续搜索TN邻区。可选的，终端设备还将启动定时器1(该定时器1的时长为T1)。若终端设备经过搜索时长T1之后移动到B点，并且，该终端设备在定时器1运行期间仍旧未搜索到TN邻区，则该终端设备再次停止执行空闲态功能(即关闭AS侧功能)，并且，将B点作为新的参考地理位置(即参考位置2)进行存储。可选的，若终端设备未获得新的距离门限，该终端设备还可能因为移动后所在的位置与参考位置2达到距离门限1而再次启动执行空闲态功能(即开启AS侧功能)。以此循环，不再赘述。
本实施例中，NTN接入网设备能够通过TN邻区指示信息指示NTN小区附近存在TN小区以触发终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘搜索TN邻区，从而避免终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内时直接停止执行空闲态功能(即直接关于AS侧功能)。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下驻留到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
进一步地，NTN接入网设备还能够向终端设备提供规定的搜索时长(即搜索时间指示信息指示的时长)，以限制终端设备搜索TN邻区的耗时，能够避免终端设备在未找到能够驻留的TN邻区的情况下持续搜索。因此，有利于节省终端设备的能耗。
此外，该NTN接入网设备还能够向终端设备提供距离门限，并且，终端设备能够在停止执行空闲态功能时存储该终端设备当前所在的地理位置作为参考地理位置，以使得终端设备移动到距离参考地理位置达到距离门限时能够再次启动执行空闲态功能。有利于避免终端设备因持续停止执行空闲态功能而错过TN邻区，有利于提高终端设备驻留到TN邻区的几率，进而保障终端设备的通信。
下面将结合图5对本申请提出的小区搜索方法的另一种实施例进行进一步介绍。本实施例中，终端设备能够在规定的搜索区域内搜索TN小区。例如，第一信息可以指示规定的搜索区域。具体地，NTN接入网设备和终端设备将执行如下步骤。
步骤501，NTN接入网设备广播卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；相应地，终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。
步骤501与步骤201类似，具体请参阅步骤201中的相关介绍，此处不予赘述。
本实施例中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息。可选的，第一信息还包括TN邻区信息。具体地，终端设备可以通过如下步骤502和步骤503介绍的方式获得TN邻区对应的地理区域信息和TN邻区信息。
步骤502，NTN接入网设备广播TN邻区对应的地理区域信息；相应地，终端设备接收TN邻区对应的地理区域信息。
其中，TN邻区对应的地理区域信息用于指示存在至少一个TN邻区的地理区域。示例性的，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息可以是经纬度、行政区域或者国家区域等。该地理区域可以由经纬度、行政区域或者国家区域等地理位置信息表示。
应注意，该地理区域中存在至少一个TN邻区，但是，不代表该地理区域中任何一个位置都存在TN邻区的覆盖(简称TN覆盖)。也就是说，该地理区域中的全部TN邻区的波束覆盖范围并不一定能够完全覆盖该地理区域。TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域的范围大于或等于至少一个TN邻区的覆盖范围的并集。为便于理解，以图6为例，整个矩形框表示TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域，非阴影区域表示该地理区域内的3个TN邻区的覆盖范围(即TN邻区1的覆盖范围、TN邻区2的覆盖范围以及TN邻区3的覆盖范围)，阴影区域表示该地理区域中没有TN覆盖的区域。其中，TN邻区1的覆盖范围、TN邻区2的覆盖范围以及TN邻区3的覆盖范围这三个区域的并集(即非阴影区域)小于TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域(即整个矩形包含的区域)，该地理区域中没有TN覆盖的区域(即阴影区域)小于TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域(即整个矩形包含的区域)。
应理解，前述示例中仅仅是以矩形作为示例表示TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域，而不代表TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域仅为矩形。TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域还可以是圆形、椭圆形、无规则形状等任何一种形状，本申请不对TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域的形状进行限定。
当终端设备收到TN邻区对应的地理区域信息之后，若终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，则该终端设备将基于该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息搜索TN邻区。具体请参阅后文步骤505中的相关介绍。
步骤503，NTN接入网设备广播TN邻区信息；相应地，终端设备接收TN邻区信息。
步骤503为可选的步骤。
其中，TN邻区信息用于指示前述TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域中的TN邻区。TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息。该终端设备在TN邻区信息指示的频点中搜索TN邻区。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。其中，每个TN邻区的小区标识信息对应一个频点，该终端设备能够基于小区标识信息与频点之间的对应关系确定该小区标识信息指示的TN邻区的频点，从而能够基于TN邻区信息确定至少一个频点。可选的，小区标识信息可以是物理小区标识(physical cell identifier，PCI)。
可选的，终端设备获得的小区标识信息与频点之间的对应关系可以是终端设备上一次接入TN邻区时保存的，即终端设备在历史某一时刻接入某个TN小区时，该终端设备存储了该TN小区的小区标识和小区频点。此外，终端设备也可能从其他设备或通过外部接口获取小区标识信息与频点之间的对应关系。此处不做限定。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和前述至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。
本步骤中，由于NTN接入网设备能够向终端设备提供TN邻区信息以指示频点，相应地，终端设备能够基于该TN邻区信息确定终端设备所在地理区域附近的频点，进而终端设备能够基于前述频点搜索TN邻区，而不是盲搜TN邻区。因此，有利于缩小搜索的频点范围，提高搜索效率。
本实施例中，当NTN接入网设备执行步骤503时，步骤503与步骤502无时间先后顺序的限定。该NTN接入网设备可以先执行步骤502再执行步骤503，也可以先执行步骤503再执行步骤502，还可以同时执行步骤502和步骤503。此外，当NTN接入网设备同时执行步骤502和步骤503时，该NTN接入网设备可以通过不同的消息分别发送TN邻区对应的地理区域信息和TN邻区信息，也可以通过同一消息发送TN邻区对应的地理区域信息和TN邻区信息。具体此处不做限定。
步骤504，NTN接入网设备广播第一指示信息；相应地，终端设备接收第一指示信息。
步骤504为可选的步骤。步骤504与步骤203类似，具体请参阅步骤203中的相关介绍，此处不予赘述。
步骤505，当终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，终端设备在该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内搜索TN邻区。
本实施例中，终端设备在收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息之后，该终端设备可以基于卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该NTN接入网设备的NTN小区在地面的覆盖情况，结合该终端设备所在的地理位置，该终端设备能够确定是否在NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖范围内，或者，是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。关于终端设备如何确定终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘的介绍请参阅前文步骤204中的相关描述，此处不予赘述。
当终端设备确定不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，该终端设备将进一步确定该终端设备是否处于该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域。若终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域，则该终端设备将基于TN邻区信息搜索TN邻区。具体请参阅步骤506a中的相关介绍。若终端设备当前所在的地理位置不属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域，则该终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。具体请参阅步骤506b中的相关介绍。
步骤506a，当终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，终端设备搜索TN邻区信息指示的至少一个TN邻区。
其中，关于TN邻区信息的介绍请参阅步骤503，此处不予赘述。
本步骤中，虽然，终端设备能够确定当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域，但是，该终端设备还不确定是否在某一个TN邻区的覆盖范围内，以及，是否能够寻找到能够驻留的TN邻区。由于，终端设备能够基于TN邻区信息确定至少一个TN邻区的频点，因此，该终端设备可以在前述频点中搜索TN邻区，即在前述至少一个TN邻区的频点上进行信号测量、评估等操作，进而确定出适合该终端设备驻留的TN邻区。
应理解，该终端设备基于前述至少一个TN邻区的频点可能搜索到能够驻留的TN邻区，也可能搜索不到能够驻留的TN邻区。若终端设备在前述至少一个TN邻区的频点中搜索到能够驻留的TN邻区，则终端设备尝试驻留到该TN邻区，进而可能接入到该TN邻区。若终端设备在前述至少一个TN邻区的频点中未搜索到能够驻留的TN邻区，则终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。可选的，若终端设备能够移动，该终端设备在停止执行空闲态功能之后，还可能执行步骤507。
步骤506b，当终端设备当前所在的地理位置不属于TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。
关于停止执行空闲态功能的介绍请参阅前文步骤204中的相关描述，此处不予赘述。
可选的，若终端设备能够移动，该终端设备在执行了步骤506b之后还可能执行步骤507。
步骤507，当终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，终端设备触发启动执行空闲态功能。
步骤507为可选的步骤。
具体地，终端设备在停止执行空闲态功能后，该终端设备可能又移动到了TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域。当该终端设备检测到自己移动到TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域之后，该终端设备触发启动执行空闲态功能。
其中，终端设备执行空闲态功能(即终端设备执行空闲态任务，或者，开启AS侧功能)具体可以表现为终端设备启动执行小区搜索。可选的，该终端设备可能启动搜索TN邻区，也可能启动搜索NTN邻区。示例性的，若终端设备还可以基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定该终端设备是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围内，或者，确定该终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。若该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，则该终端设备启动搜索TN邻区；若该终端设备在NTN小区的覆盖范围内，则该终端设备启动搜索NTN邻区。
此外，还可以将本实施例中的步骤502和步骤503替换为如下内容：
NTN接入网设备可以分区域广播TN邻区信息，即NTN接入网设备在不同的地理区域广播不同的TN邻区信息。不同的地理区域的终端设备收到不同的TN邻区信息。若终端设备收到了TN邻区信息，且，该终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘，则该终端设备基于该TN邻区 信息指示的邻区搜索TN邻区。
本实施例中，NTN接入网设备能够向终端设备提供TN邻区对应的地理区域信息以向终端设备指示哪些地理区域存在TN邻区。若终端设备基于TN邻区对应的地理区域信息确定该终端设备在TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内，则终端设备不在NTN小区的覆盖范围内可以不用直接停止执行空闲态功能(即不用直接关闭AS侧功能)。因此，有利于提高终端设备在NTN非连续覆盖场景下搜索到TN的几率，有利于提升通信体验。
此外，终端设备还能够在移动至TN邻区对应的地理区域信息对应的地理区域内后启动执行空闲态功能(即开启AS侧功能)。有利于避免终端设备因持续停止执行空闲态功能而错过TN邻区，有利于提高终端设备驻留到TN邻区的几率，进而保障终端设备的通信。
此外，NTN接入网设备还能够向终端设备提供搜索频点(即基于TN邻区信息确定的至少一个TN邻区的频点)，以限制终端设备搜索TN邻区时测量的频点的数量，有利于缩小搜索的频点范围，提高搜索效率。
应注意，终端设备驻留到TN邻区之后(例如，终端设备采用前述任意一种实施例介绍的方案搜索到TN邻区并驻留到TN邻区之后)，该终端设备可能需要重新连入NTN。但是，目前的标准并未给出终端设备如何从TN回到NTN的解决方式。
对此，本申请还提供了一种小区搜索方法，用于TN中的终端设备搜索NTN小区，进而从TN回到NTN。
下面将结合图7对本申请提出的另一种小区搜索方法的主要流程进行介绍。具体地，TN接入网设备和终端设备将执行如下步骤。
步骤701，终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。
其中，该终端设备位于TN小区中。可选的，终端设备驻留在TN小区中，该终端设备处于空闲态。该终端设备可以接收TN小区的系统广播消息。
此外，关于卫星的服务信息和卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息的解释请参阅前文步骤201中的相关介绍，此处不予赘述。
具体地，终端设备可以通过如下任意一种实施方式获取服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备驻留在NTN小区时存储接收的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。例如，终端设备在历史某一时刻驻留到NTN小区，并且，能够接收NTN接入网设备广播的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。进而，该终端设备能够存储接收的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息，以便于该终端设备再次有搜索NTN小区的需求时能够确定该终端设备当前是否在NTN小区的覆盖范围内。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，该终端设备接收来自TN小区的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。例如，TN接入网设备广播卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息；相应地，终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。其中，TN接入网设备广播给终端设备的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息，可以由运维人员配置给该TN接入网设备，也可以是NTN接入网设备通过接入网设备之间的接口(例如，Xn)接口发送给TN接入网设备的，还可以是TN接入网设备从地面网关或核心网设备获取的，具体此处不做限定。
本实施例中，驻留在TN中的终端设备在收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息之后，该终端设备可以基于卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该终端设备是否在NTN接入网设备的NTN小区的覆盖范围内，或者，是否移动到NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。当终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定该终端设备处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，终端设备执行步骤703a；当终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定该终端设备不处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内或处于NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，终端设备执行步骤703b。可选的，只有那些之前由于NTN网络非连续覆盖而驻留到TN小区的终端设备才需要执行步骤703a和步骤703b。这些终端设备会记录自己是由于NTN网络非连续覆盖而驻留到TN小区。
步骤702，TN接入网设备发送第一时间信息；相应地，终端设备接收第一时间信息。
步骤702为可选的步骤。当TN接入网设备执行步骤702时，TN接入网设备执行步骤701与步骤702没有明确的时间先后顺序的限定。也就是说，该TN接入网设备可以先执行步骤701再执行步骤702，也可以先执行步骤702再执行步骤701，还可以同时执行步骤701和步骤702。此外，当TN接入网设备同时执行步骤701和步骤702时，该TN接入网设备可以通过不同的消息分别发送服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息和第一时间信息，也可以通过同一消息发送服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息和第一时间信息。具体此处不做限定。
可选的，TN接入网设备广播第一时间信息；相应地，终端设备从TN接入网设备广播的系统广播消息获取第一时间信息。
可选的，接收第一时间信息的终端设备可以是之前由于NTN网络非连续覆盖而驻留到TN小区的终端设备。例如，即仅由于NTN网络非连续覆盖而驻留到TN小区的终端设备才需要接收第一时间信息。
其中，该第一时间信息用于终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
可选的，TN接入网设备向不同的终端设备(例如，不同TN小区内的终端设备)发送不同的第一时间信息，或者，不同的TN接入网设备发送不同的第一时间信息。因此，不同的终端设备在不同的时刻开始搜索NTN小区，或者，不同的终端设备在不同的时刻重选至NTN小区。也就是说，第一时间信息具有将不同的终端设备开始搜索NTN小区的时刻错开的功能；或者，第一时间信息具有将不同的终端设备重选至NTN小区的时刻错开的功能。
具体地，第一时间信息可以有多种实现方式，下面分别进行介绍：
在一种可能的实施方式中，第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上第一时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
示例性的，终端设备可以采用如下公式1计算开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻。
T＝M1+R×D；(公式1)
其中，T表示终端设备开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻；M1表示TN接入网设备配置的第一时刻；D表示TN接入网设备配置的第一时长；R表示终端设备生成的随机数。
可选的，不同的TN小区所使用的第一时刻和/或第一时长可能不同，不同的终端设备使用的调整系数为随机数也可能不同。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，第一时间信息包括第一时长。该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。可选的，该第一时间信息用于终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻时，重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上该终端设备搜索NTN小区的时刻。
示例性的，终端设备可以采用如下公式2计算开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻。
T＝M2+R×D；(公式2)
其中，T表示终端设备开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻；M2表示该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻或终端设备搜索NTN小区的时刻；D表示TN接入网设备配置的第一时长；R表示终端设备生成的随机数。
可选的，不同的终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻可能不同，不同的TN小区所使用的第一时长可能不同，不同的终端设备使用的调整系数为随机数也可能不同。
本步骤中，TN接入网设备向终端设备提供第一时间信息，以使得终端设备基于第一时间信息确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻，有利于终端设备准确地在某一时刻开始搜索NTN小区或重选至NTN小区。此外，TN接入网设备可以向不同的终端设备(例如，不同TN小区的终端设备)发送不同的第一时间信息，以使得不同的终端设备确定的开始搜索NTN小区的时刻不同，或者，确定的重选至NTN小区的时刻不同。进而有利于终端设备在不同的时刻开始搜索NTN小区或触发重选至NTN小区，避免大量的终端设备同时接入NTN网络。
步骤703a，若终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内，则终端设备开始搜索NTN小区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，TN接入网设备不执行步骤702，仅执行步骤701。在这种方案下，驻留在TN中的终端设备基于收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内，该终端设备立即开始搜索NTN小区。例如，终端设备开始测量可能存在NTN小区的频点，并基于各个频点的测量结果确定是否可能存在能够驻留的NTN小区。
在另一种可能的实施方式中，TN接入网设备执行步骤701和步骤702。终端设备可以接收第一时间信息。当终端设备收到了第一时间信息之后，该终端设备将基于第一时间信息确定具体开启搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，重选到NTN小区的时刻。
在一种可能的示例中，第一时间信息用于该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻。关于终端设备如何基于第一时间信息计算开始搜索NTN小区的时刻的介绍请参阅前文步骤702中的相关描述，此处不予赘述。在这种方案下，驻留在TN中的终端设备基于收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，该终端设备不是立即开始搜索NTN小区，而是在基于第一时间信息确定的开始搜索NTN小区的时刻开始搜索NTN小区。
本实例中，由于，不同的终端设备基于第一时间信息能够确定的开始搜索NTN小区的时刻不同，因此，位于TN中的各个终端设备能够在不同的时刻开始搜索NTN小区，进而各个终端设备可能在不同的时刻重选至NTN小区，有利于避免大量的终端设备同时接入NTN网络。
在另一种可能的示例中，第一时间信息用于该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。关于终端设备如何基于第一时间信息计算重选至NTN小区的时刻的介绍请参阅前文步骤702中的相关描述，此处不予赘述。在这种方案下，驻留在TN中的终端设备基于收到卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，该终端设备立即开始搜索NTN小区。但是，当该终端设备寻找到满足重选评估条件且适合进行重选的NTN小区时，该终端设备在基于第一时间信息确定的重选至NTN小区的时刻触发重选至该NTN小区。
本实例中，由于，不同的终端设备基于第一时间信息能够确定的重选至NTN小区的时刻不同，因此，位于TN中的各个终端设备即使同时搜索NTN小区，也会在不同的时刻重选至NTN小区，有利于避免大量的终端设备同时接入NTN网络。
步骤703b，若终端设备基于服务信息和覆盖信息确定不处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内，则终端设备不开启搜索NTN小区。
本实施例中，驻留在TN的终端设备能够获取卫星的服务信息和卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，并基于该服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息确定是否有NTN覆盖(即确定是否处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内)。例如，终端设备根据当前所在地理位置、卫星的服务信息和卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定终端设备当前是否有NTN覆盖。进而确定在处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，终端设备开始搜索NTN小区；确定不处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，终端设备不开启搜索NTN小区。因此，有利于终端设备确定在何种条件下能够触发搜索NTN小区，以便于从TN重新驻留到NTN，进而有利于负载均衡管理。
进一步地，TN接入网设备能够向终端设备提供第一时间信息，该终端设备能够基于第一时间信息确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻，因此，有利于终端设备在处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时能够明确在何时开始搜索NTN小区或在何时重选至NTN小区。
进一步地，当TN接入网设备可以在不同的TN小区广播不同的第一时间信息，不同的终端设备能够生成不同的随机数进而生成不同的开始搜索NTN小区的时刻(或重选至NTN小区的时刻)，因此，有利于不同的终端设备将开始搜索NTN小区的时刻错开(或重选至NTN小区的时刻错开)，有利于避免同时存在大量终端设备接入NTN而触发注册更新，进而有利于避免造成NTN网络阻塞。
应注意，本实施例中，若TN接入网设备为CU-DU分离架构的接入网设备时，TN接入网设备发送给终端设备的信息(例如，前文介绍的服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息和第一时间信息等)可以由CU生成或获取并通过DU发送给终端设备。可选的，若CU包括CU-CP1、CU-CP2和CU-UP，则由CU-CP1生成或获取前述信息(例如，前文介绍的服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息和第一时间信息等)，并发送给CU-CP2，然后，由CU-CP2按照协议封装的功能将待发送给终端设备的信息进行封装打包，然后，将封装后的信息通过DU发送给终端设备。
可选的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送信息(例如，前文介绍的服务信息、NTN小区的覆盖信息和第 一时间信息等)的过程，可以是DU透传信息给终端设备的过程，即DU将从CU收到的信息直接发送给终端设备而不对信息进行修改；也可以是DU将从CU收到的信息结合该DU能够获取的与信息相关的信息对信息进行修改，然后DU向终端设备发送修改后的信息。可选的，当采用后者实现时，DU可以将修改后的信息发送给CU，以便CU和DU对齐该信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送第一时间信息的过程，可以是TN接入网设备中的CU生成第一时间信息，通过TN接入网设备中的DU直接向终端设备透传第一时间信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息的过程，可以是TN接入网设备中的CU生成服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息，但是，DU中存储有更新的更准确的服务信息和/或NTN小区的覆盖信息，此时，DU可以向终端设备发送更新的服务信息和/或NTN小区的覆盖信息。可选的，DU也可能向CU反馈更新的服务信息和/或NTN小区的覆盖信息，以便CU和DU对齐服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息。
示例性的，CU通过DU向终端设备发送服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息的过程，也可以CU将生成的服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息直接通过DU透传给终端设备，DU不感知服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息。
如图8所示，为本实施例提供的一种通信装置80的结构示意图。应当理解的是，前述图2、图3、图5或图7对应的方法实施例中的终端设备可以基于本实施例中图8所示的通信装置80的结构。
通信装置80包括至少一个处理器801、至少一个存储器802和至少一个收发器803。其中，处理器801、存储器802和收发器803相连。可选地，通信装置80还可以包括输入设备805、输出设备806和一个或多个天线804。其中，天线804与收发器803相连，输入设备805、输出设备806与处理器801相连。
本实施例中，存储器802主要用于存储软件程序和数据。存储器802可以是独立存在，与处理器801相连。可选地，存储器802可以和处理器801集成于一体，例如集成于一个或多个芯片之内。其中，存储器802能够存储执行本申请实施例的技术方案的程序代码，并由处理器801来控制执行，被执行的各类计算机程序代码也可被视为是处理器801的驱动程序。应当理解的是，本实施例中的图8仅示出了一个存储器和一个处理器，但是，在实际应用中，通信装置80可以存在多个处理器或多个存储器，具体此处不做限定。此外，存储器802也可以称为存储介质或者存储设备等。存储器802可以为与处理器处于同一芯片上的存储元件(即片内存储元件)，或者为独立的存储元件，本申请实施例对此不做限定。
本实施例中，收发器803可以用于支持通信装置80与接入网设备之间射频信号的接收或者发送，收发器803可以与天线804相连。收发器803包括发射机Tx和接收机Rx。具体地，一个或多个天线804可以接收射频信号，收发器803的接收机Rx用于从天线804接收所述射频信号，并将射频信号转换为数字基带信号或数字中频信号，并将数字基带信号或数字中频信号提供给所述处理器801，以便处理器801对数字基带信号或数字中频信号做进一步的处理，例如解调处理和译码处理。此外，收发器803中的发射机Tx还用于从处理器801接收经过调制的数字基带信号或数字中频信号，并将经过调制的数字基带信号或数字中频信号转换为射频信号，并通过一个或多个天线804发送所述射频信号。具体地，接收机Rx可以选择性地对射频信号进行一级或多级下混频处理和模数转换处理以得到数字基带信号或数字中频信号，前述下混频处理和模数转换处理的先后顺序是可调整的。发射机Tx可以选择性地对经过调制的数字基带信号或数字中频信号时进行一级或多级上混频处理和数模转换处理以得到射频信号，所述上混频处理和数模转换处理的先后顺序是可调整的。数字基带信号和数字中频信号可以统称为数字信号。
应当理解的是，前述收发器803也可以称为收发单元、收发机、收发装置等。可选地，可以将收发单元中用于实现接收功能的器件视为接收单元，将收发单元中用于实现发送功能的器件视为发送单元，即收发单元包括接收单元和发送单元，接收单元也可以称为接收机、输入口、接收电路等，发送单元可以称为发射机、发射器或者发射电路等。
处理器801可以是基带处理器，也可以是中央处理单元(central processing unit，CPU)，基带处理器和CPU可以集成在一起或者分开。处理器801可以用于为终端设备实现各种功能，例如用于对通信协议以及通信数据进行处理，或者用于对整个终端设备进行控制，执行软件程序，处理软件程序的数据；或者用 于协助完成计算处理任务，例如对图形图像处理或者音频处理等等；或者处理器801用于实现上述功能中的一种或者多种。
此外，输出设备806和处理器801通信，可以以多种方式来显示信息，具体从此处不做限定。
在一种设计中，通信装置80用于执行前述图2、图3或图5对应实施例中终端设备的方法。通信装置80中的收发器803用于接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；以及，接收第一信息，该第一信息用于指示通信装置搜索TN邻区。该处理器801，用于基于服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息确定通信装置80是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。该处理器801，还用于在基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该通信装置80允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，具体用于当该TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区时，在搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，还用于当通信装置80在该搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内未搜索到TN邻区，停止执行空闲态功能。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括距离门限。该处理器801，还用于当该通信装置80当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限，执行空闲态功能。其中，参考地理位置为该通信装置80上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该通信装置80所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该通信装置80所在的地理位置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，具体用于在该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，还用于当该通信装置80当前所在的地理位置不属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，停止执行空闲态功能。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，还用于当该通信装置80当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，触发执行空闲态功能。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息；
该处理器801，还用于当该通信装置80当前所在的地理位置属于该TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，搜索该TN邻区信息指示的至少一个TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，还用于该通信装置80接收第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
在另一种设计中，通信装置80用于执行前述图7对应实施例中终端设备的方法。通信装置80中的收发器803用于获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；该处理器801，用于在基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，开始搜索NTN小区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发器803，还用于接收第一时间信息，该第一时间信息用于该通信装置80确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于该通信装置80确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。该处理器801，具体用于基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：T＝M1+R×D；其中，T为该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或该重选至NTN小区的时刻；M1为TN该第一时刻；D为该第一时长；R为该通信装置80生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一时间信息包括第一时长。该处理器801，具体用于基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：T＝M2+R×D；其中，T为该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或该重选至NTN小区的时刻；M2为该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻；D为该第一时长；R为该通信装置80生成的随机数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器801，用于在通信装置80驻留在NTN小区时存储接收的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发器803，用于接收来自TN小区的卫星的服务信息和该NTN小区的覆盖信息。
需要说明的是，本实施例的具体实施方式和有益效果可参考上述实施例中终端设备的方法，此处不再赘述。
如图9所示，为本实施例提供的另一种通信装置90的结构示意图。应当理解的是，前述图2、图3、图5或图7对应的方法实施例中的接入网设备可以基于本实施例中图9所示的通信装置90的结构。例如，图2、图3或图5对应的方法实施例中的NTN接入网设备，或者，图7对应的方法实施例中的TN接入网设备。
通信装置90包括至少一个处理器901、至少一个存储器902、至少一个收发器903、至少一个网络接口905和一个或多个天线904。处理器901、存储器902、收发器903和网络接口905通过连接装置相连，天线904与收发器903相连。其中，前述连接装置可包括各类接口、传输线或总线等，本实施例对此不做限定。
其中，存储器902主要用于存储软件程序和数据。存储器902可以是独立存在，与处理器901相连。可选地，存储器902可以和处理器901集成于一体，例如集成于一个或多个芯片之内。其中，存储器902能够存储执行本申请实施例的技术方案的程序代码，并由处理器901来控制执行，被执行的各类计算机程序代码也可被视为是处理器901的驱动程序。应当理解的是，本实施例中的图9仅示出了一个存储器和一个处理器，但是，在实际应用中，通信装置90可以存在多个处理器或多个存储器，具体此处不做限定。此外，存储器902也可以称为存储介质或者存储设备等。存储器902可以为与处理器处于同一芯片上的存储元件(即片内存储元件)，或者为独立的存储元件，本申请实施例对此不做限定。
本实施例中，收发器903可以用于支持通信装置90与终端设备之间射频信号的接收或者发送，收发器903可以与天线904相连。收发器903包括发射机Tx和接收机Rx。具体地，一个或多个天线904可以接收射频信号，收发器903的接收机Rx用于从天线904接收所述射频信号，并将射频信号转换为数字基带信号或数字中频信号，并将数字基带信号或数字中频信号提供给所述处理器901，以便处理器901对数字基带信号或数字中频信号做进一步的处理，例如解调处理和译码处理。此外，收发器903中的发射机Tx还用于从处理器901接收经过调制的数字基带信号或数字中频信号，并将经过调制的数字基带信号或数字中频信号转换为射频信号，并通过一个或多个天线904发送所述射频信号。具体地，接收机Rx可以选择性地对射频信号进行一级或多级下混频处理和模数转换处理以得到数字基带信号或数字中频信号，前述下混频处理和模数转换处理的先后顺序是可调整的。发射机Tx可以选择性地对经过调制的数字基带信号或数字中频信号时进行一级或多级上混频处理和数模转换处理以得到射频信号，所述上混频处理和数模转换处理的先后顺序是可调整的。数字基带信号和数字中频信号可以统称为数字信号。
应当理解的是，前述收发器903也可以称为收发单元、收发机、收发装置等。可选地，可以将收发单元中用于实现接收功能的器件视为接收单元，将收发单元中用于实现发送功能的器件视为发送单元，即收发单元包括接收单元和发送单元，接收单元也可以称为接收机、输入口、接收电路等，发送单元可以称为发射机、发射器或者发射电路等。
此外，前述处理器901主要用于对通信协议以及通信数据进行处理，以及对整个网络设备进行控制，执行软件程序，处理软件程序的数据，例如用于支持通信装置90执行前述实施例中所描述的动作。通信装置90可以包括基带处理器和中央处理器，其中，基带处理器主要用于对通信协议以及通信数据进行处理，中央处理器主要用于对整个通信装置90进行控制，执行软件程序，处理软件程序的数据。如图9中的处理器901可以集成基带处理器和中央处理器的功能，本领域技术人员可以理解，基带处理器和中央处理器也可以是各自独立的处理器，通过总线等技术互联。本领域技术人员可以理解，通信装置90可以包括多个基带处理器以适应不同的网络制式，通信装置90可以包括多个中央处理器以增强其处理能力，通信装置90的各个部件可以通过各种总线连接。所述基带处理器也可以表述为基带处理电路或者基带处理芯片。所述中央处理器也可以表述为中央处理电路或者中央处理芯片。对通信协议以及通信数据进行处理的功能可以内置在处理器中，也可以以软件程序的形式存储在存储器中，由处理器执行软件程序以实现基带处理功能。
此外，前述网络接口905用于使通信装置90通过通信链路，与其它通信装置相连。具体地，网络接口905可以包括通信装置90与核心网网元之间的网络接口，例如S1接口；网络接口905也可以包括通信装置90和其他网络设备(例如其他接入网设备或者核心网网元)之间的网络接口，例如X2或者Xn接口。
在一种设计中，通信装置90用于执行前述图2、图3或图5对应实施例中NTN接入网设备的方法。通信装置90中的收发器903用于发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。处理器901，用于生成第一信息。该收发器903，还用于发送第一信息，该第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，该TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，该搜索时间指示信息用于指示该终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括距离门限，该距离门限用于指示该终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到该距离门限时触发执行空闲态功能。其中，参考地理位置为该终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时该终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时该终端设备所在的地理位置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息，该TN邻区对应的地理区域信息用于指示存在至少一个TN邻区的地理区域。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，该TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发器903，具体用于在终端设备所在的NTN服务小区的服务停止时间之前的预设时间范围内向该终端设备发送该第一信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该处理器901，还用于基于该卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发器903，还用于向该终端设备发送第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示该终端设备不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时触发基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
在另一种设计中，通信装置90用于执行前述图7对应实施例中TN接入网设备的方法。通信装置90中的收发器903用于向TN小区中的终端设备发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，该服务信息和该覆盖信息用于该终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时开始搜索NTN小区。
在一种可能的实施方式中，该收发器903，还用于发送第一时间信息，该第一时间信息用于该终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于该终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
可选的，该第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上第一时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
可选的，该第一时间信息包括第一时长。可选的，该开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻等于调整系数与第一时长的乘积加上该终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻，该调整系数为该终端设备生成的随机数。
需要说明的是，本实施例的具体实施方式和有益效果可参考上述实施例中接入网设备的方法，此处不再赘述。
如图10所示，本申请还提供了一种通信装置100。该通信装置100可以是终端设备或接入网设备，也可以是终端设备或接入网设备的部件(例如，集成电路、芯片等)。该通信装置100也可以是其他用于实现本申请方法实施例中的方法的通信模块。
该通信装置100可以包括处理模块1001(或称为处理单元)。可选的，还可以包括接口模块1002(或称为收发单元或收发模块)和存储模块1003(或称为存储单元)。接口模块1002用于实现与其他设备进行通信。接口模块1002例如可以是收发模块或输入输出模块。
在一种可能的设计中，如图10中的一个或者多个模块可能由一个或者多个处理器来实现，或者由一个或者多个处理器和存储器来实现；或者由一个或多个处理器和收发器实现；或者由一个或者多个处理器、存储器和收发器实现，本申请实施例对此不作限定。所述处理器、存储器、收发器可以单独设置，也可以 集成于一体。
该通信装置100具备实现本申请实施例描述的终端设备的功能。例如，通信装置100包括终端设备执行本申请实施例描述的终端设备涉及步骤所对应的模块或单元或手段(means)，所述功能或单元或手段(means)可以通过软件实现，或者通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现，还可以通过软件和硬件结合的方式实现。详细可进一步参考前述对应方法实施例中的相应描述。
或者，通信装置100具备实现本申请实施例描述的接入网设备的功能。例如，所述通信装置100包括接入网设备执行本申请实施例描述的接入网设备涉及步骤所对应的模块或单元或手段(means)，所述功能或单元或手段(means)可以通过软件实现，或者通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现，还可以通过软件和硬件结合的方式实现。详细可进一步参考前述对应方法实施例中的相应描述。
可选的，本申请实施例中的通信装置100中各个模块可以用于执行本申请实施例中图2、图3或图5对应实施例中终端设备的方法。例如，通信装置100中的接口模块1002用于接收卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；以及，接收第一信息，该第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。该处理模块1001，用于基于服务信息和NTN小区的覆盖信息确定终端设备是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或是否在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。该处理模块1001，还用于在基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定不在该NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在该NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，基于该第一信息搜索TN邻区。
可选的，本申请实施例中的通信装置100中各个模块可以用于执行本申请实施例中图7对应实施例中终端设备的方法。例如，通信装置100中的接口模块1002用于获取卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。处理模块1001，用于在基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，开始搜索NTN小区。
需要说明的是，本实施例的其他实现方式可以参阅前文图8对应实施例中的通信装置80，此处不予赘述。
可选的，本申请实施例中的通信装置100中各个模块可以用于执行本申请实施例中图2、图3或图5对应实施例中NTN接入网设备的方法。例如，通信装置100中的接口模块1002用于发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息。处理模块1001，用于生成第一信息。该接口模块1002，还用于发送第一信息，该第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。
可选的，本申请实施例中的通信装置100中各个模块可以用于执行本申请实施例中图7对应实施例中TN接入网设备的方法。通信装置100中的接口模块1002用于向TN小区中的终端设备发送卫星的服务信息和该卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，该服务信息和该覆盖信息用于该终端设备基于该服务信息和该覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时开始搜索NTN小区。
需要说明的是，本实施例的其他实现方式可以参阅前文图9对应实施例中的通信装置90，此处不予赘述。
此外，本申请提供了一种计算机程序产品，该计算机程序产品包括一个或多个计算机指令。在计算机上加载和执行该计算机程序指令时，全部或部分地产生按照本申请实施例该的流程或功能。例如，实现如前述图2、图3、图5或图7中的终端设备相关的方法。又例如，实现如前述图2、图3或图5的NTN接入网设备相关的方法。又例如，实现如前述图7的TN接入网设备相关的方法。该计算机可以是通用计算机、专用计算机、计算机网络或者其他可编程装置。该计算机指令可以存储在计算机可读存储介质中，或者从一个计算机可读存储介质向另一计算机可读存储介质传输，例如，该计算机指令可以从一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心通过有线(例如，同轴电缆、光纤、数字用户线(digital subscriber line，DSL))或无线(例如，红外、无线、微波等)方式向另一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心进行传输。该计算机可读存储介质可以是计算机能够存储的任何可用介质或者是包含一个或多个可用介质集成的服务器、数据中心等数据存储设备。该可用介质可以是磁性介质，(例如，软盘、硬盘、磁带)、光介质(例如，数字通用光盘(digital versatile disc，DVD))、或者半导体介质(例如固态硬盘(solid state disk，SSD))等。
此外，本申请还提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，该存储介质存储有计算机程序，该计算机程序被处理器执行以实现如前述图2、图3、图5或图7中的终端设备相关的方法。
此外，本申请还提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，该存储介质存储有计算机程序，该计算机程序被处理器执行以实现如前述图2、图3或图5中的NTN接入网设备相关的方法。
此外，本申请还提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，该存储介质存储有计算机程序，该计算机程序被处理器执行以实现如前述图7中的TN接入网设备相关的方法。
应理解，在本申请的各种实施例中，上述各过程的序号的大小并不意味着执行顺序的先后，各过程的执行顺序应以其功能和内在逻辑确定，而不应对本申请实施例的实施过程构成任何限定。
所属领域的技术人员可以清楚地了解到，为描述的方便和简洁，上述描述的系统，装置和单元的具体工作过程，可以参考前述方法实施例中的对应过程，在此不再赘述。

Claims (35)

  1. 一种小区搜索方法，其特征在于，包括：
    终端设备接收卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的非陆地通信网络NTN小区的覆盖信息；
    所述终端设备接收第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述终端设备搜索陆地通信网络TN邻区；
    当所述终端设备基于所述服务信息和所述覆盖信息确定所述终端设备不在所述NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在所述NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时，所述终端设备基于所述第一信息搜索TN邻区。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，所述TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，所述搜索时间指示信息用于指示所述终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长。
  3. 根据权利要求2所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备基于所述第一信息搜索TN邻区，包括：
    当所述TN邻区指示信息指示NTN服务小区存在TN邻区时，所述终端设备在所述搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内搜索TN邻区。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    当所述终端设备在所述搜索时间指示信息指示的时长内未搜索到TN邻区，所述终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。
  5. 根据权利要求4所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息还包括距离门限；
    所述方法还包括：
    当所述终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到所述距离门限，所述终端设备执行空闲态功能，所述参考地理位置为所述终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时所述终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，所述终端设备上次触发停止执行空闲态功能时所述终端设备所在的地理位置。
  6. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息。
  7. 根据权利要求6所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备基于所述第一信息搜索TN邻区，包括：
    所述终端设备在所述TN邻区对应的地理区域信息指示的地理区域内搜索TN邻区。
  8. 根据权利要求7所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    当所述终端设备当前所在的地理位置不属于所述TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，所述终端设备停止执行空闲态功能。
  9. 根据权利要求8所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    当所述终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于所述TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，所述终端设备触发执行空闲态功能。
  10. 根据权利要求8或9所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，所述TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息；
    所述方法还包括：
    当所述终端设备当前所在的地理位置属于所述TN邻区的地理区域信息指示的地理区域时，所述终端设备搜索所述TN邻区信息指示的至少一个TN邻区。
  11. 根据权利要求1至10中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备基于所述第一信息搜索TN邻区之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述终端设备接收第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述终端设备不在所述NTN小区的覆盖范围内时触发基于所述第一信息搜索TN邻区。
  12. 一种小区搜索方法，其特征在于，包括：
    接入网设备发送卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息；
    所述接入网设备发送第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示终端设备搜索TN邻区。
  13. 根据权利要求12所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息包括TN邻区指示信息和搜索时间指示信息，所述TN邻区指示信息用于指示NTN服务小区是否存在TN邻区，所述搜索时间指示信息用于指示所述终端设备允许用于搜索TN邻区的时长。
  14. 根据权利要求13所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息还包括距离门限，所述距离门限用于指 示所述终端设备当前所在的地理位置与参考地理位置之间的距离达到所述距离门限时触发执行空闲态功能，所述参考地理位置为所述终端设备上次由于NTN小区非连续覆盖触发的执行搜索TN小区时所述终端设备所在的地理位置，或者，所述终端设备触发停止执行空闲态功能时所述终端设备所在的地理位置。
  15. 根据权利要求12所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息包括TN邻区对应的地理区域信息。
  16. 根据权利要求15所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一信息还包括TN邻区信息，所述TN邻区信息包括至少一个TN邻区的频点信息和/或至少一个TN邻区的小区标识信息。
  17. 根据权利要求12至16中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述接入网设备发送第一信息，包括：
    所述接入网设备在终端设备所在的NTN服务小区的服务停止时间之前的预设时间范围内向所述终端设备发送所述第一信息。
  18. 根据权利要求12至16中任意一种所述的方法，其特征在于，所述接入网设备向所述终端设备发送第一信息之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述接入网设备基于所述卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息确定所述终端设备即将离开所述NTN小区的覆盖范围或在所述NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘。
  19. 根据权利要求12至18中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述接入网设备向所述终端设备发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述终端设备不在所述NTN小区的覆盖范围内或在所述NTN小区的覆盖范围的边缘时触发基于所述第一信息搜索TN邻区。
  20. 根据权利要求12至19中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述接入网设备为NTN接入网设备。
  21. 一种小区搜索方法，其特征在于，包括：
    终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，所述终端设备位于TN小区中；
    当所述终端设备基于所述服务信息和所述覆盖信息确定所述终端设备处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时，所述终端设备开始搜索NTN小区。
  22. 根据权利要求21所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述终端设备接收第一时间信息，所述第一时间信息用于所述终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于所述终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
  23. 根据权利要求22所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。
  24. 根据权利要求23所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，所述终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻，包括：
    所述终端设备基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：
    T＝M1+R×D；
    其中，T为所述开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或所述重选至NTN小区的时刻；M1为TN所述第一时刻；D为所述第一时长；R为所述终端设备生成的随机数。
  25. 根据权利要求22所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一时间信息包括第一时长。
  26. 根据权利要求25所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，所述终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻，包括：
    所述终端设备基于如下公式确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或重选至NTN小区的时刻：
    T＝M2+R×D；
    其中，T为所述开始搜索NTN小区的时刻或所述重选至NTN小区的时刻；M2为所述终端设备预测有NTN覆盖的时刻；D为所述第一时长；R为所述终端设备生成的随机数。
  27. 根据权利要求21至26中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，包括：
    所述终端设备驻留在NTN小区时存储接收的卫星的服务信息和所述NTN小区的覆盖信息。
  28. 根据权利要求21至26中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备获取卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，包括：
    所述终端设备接收来自TN小区的卫星的服务信息和所述NTN小区的覆盖信息。
  29. 一种小区搜索方法，其特征在于，包括：
    TN接入网设备向TN小区中的终端设备发送卫星的服务信息和所述卫星的NTN小区的覆盖信息，所 述服务信息和所述覆盖信息用于所述终端设备基于所述服务信息和所述覆盖信息确定处于NTN小区的覆盖范围内时开始搜索NTN小区。
  30. 根据权利要求29所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述TN接入网设备发送第一时间信息，所述第一时间信息用于所述终端设备确定开始搜索NTN小区的时刻，或者，用于所述终端设备确定重选至NTN小区的时刻。
  31. 根据权利要求30所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一时间信息包括第一时刻和第一时长。
  32. 根据权利要求30所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一时间信息包括第一时长。
  33. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器；
    其中，存储器存储有计算机程序；
    所述处理器调用所述计算机程序以使得所述通信装置执行如权利要求1至11中任意一项所述的方法；或者，执行如权利要求21至28中任意一项所述的方法。
  34. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器；
    其中，存储器存储有计算机程序；
    所述处理器调用所述计算机程序以使得所述通信装置执行如权利要求12至20中任意一项所述的方法；或者，执行如权利要求29至32中任意一项所述的方法。
  35. 一种计算机可读存储介质，存储有指令，当所述指令在计算机上运行时，使得计算机执行如权利要求1至11中任意一项所述的方法；或者，执行如权利要求12至20中任意一项所述的方法；或者，执行如权利要求21至28中任意一项所述的方法；或者，执行如权利要求29至32中任意一项所述的方法。
PCT/CN2023/101613 2022-07-21 2023-06-21 一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置 Ceased WO2024016933A1 (zh)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23841999.8A EP4535867A4 (en) 2022-07-21 2023-06-21 CELL SEARCH METHOD AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE
US19/022,839 US20250159595A1 (en) 2022-07-21 2025-01-15 Cell search method and communication apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202210860137.9A CN117479240A (zh) 2022-07-21 2022-07-21 一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置
CN202210860137.9 2022-07-21

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US19/022,839 Continuation US20250159595A1 (en) 2022-07-21 2025-01-15 Cell search method and communication apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024016933A1 true WO2024016933A1 (zh) 2024-01-25

Family

ID=89616981

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CN2023/101613 Ceased WO2024016933A1 (zh) 2022-07-21 2023-06-21 一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20250159595A1 (zh)
EP (1) EP4535867A4 (zh)
CN (1) CN117479240A (zh)
WO (1) WO2024016933A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20240314680A1 (en) * 2023-03-17 2024-09-19 T-Mobile Innovations Llc Precise network searching for extraterrestrial base stations
US20240340767A1 (en) * 2023-04-05 2024-10-10 T-Mobile Innovations Llc Precise network searching for terrestrial base stations
US20250106933A1 (en) * 2023-09-27 2025-03-27 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Rrc idle mode transition for non-terrestrial network cell
CN121056946A (zh) * 2024-05-29 2025-12-02 中国星网网络创新研究院有限公司 邻区测量的触发方法、装置、通信设备及通信系统
CN120568419A (zh) * 2024-08-01 2025-08-29 中国星网网络创新研究院有限公司 通信方法、装置、设备及存储介质

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111866964A (zh) * 2019-04-28 2020-10-30 电信科学技术研究院有限公司 一种小区选择方法、网络设备及终端
CN113395717A (zh) * 2020-03-12 2021-09-14 大唐移动通信设备有限公司 一种小区搜索方法、终端及地面无线接入网节点
WO2021180154A1 (en) * 2020-03-11 2021-09-16 Mediatek Singapore Pte. Ltd. Improved cell selection and reselection in leo-based nr-ntn
CN113644950A (zh) * 2020-05-11 2021-11-12 华为技术有限公司 一种非地面网络通信方法及装置
WO2022038573A1 (en) * 2020-08-20 2022-02-24 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Cell reselection priorities between terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111866964A (zh) * 2019-04-28 2020-10-30 电信科学技术研究院有限公司 一种小区选择方法、网络设备及终端
WO2021180154A1 (en) * 2020-03-11 2021-09-16 Mediatek Singapore Pte. Ltd. Improved cell selection and reselection in leo-based nr-ntn
CN113395717A (zh) * 2020-03-12 2021-09-14 大唐移动通信设备有限公司 一种小区搜索方法、终端及地面无线接入网节点
CN113644950A (zh) * 2020-05-11 2021-11-12 华为技术有限公司 一种非地面网络通信方法及装置
WO2022038573A1 (en) * 2020-08-20 2022-02-24 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Cell reselection priorities between terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
MEDIATEK INC.: "Idle mode mobility for NTN-TN scenarios", 3GPP DRAFT; R2-2200621, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE ; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX ; FRANCE, vol. RAN WG2, no. Online; 20220117 - 20220125, 11 January 2022 (2022-01-11), Mobile Competence Centre ; 650, route des Lucioles ; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex ; France, XP052093759 *
See also references of EP4535867A4

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN117479240A (zh) 2024-01-30
US20250159595A1 (en) 2025-05-15
EP4535867A1 (en) 2025-04-09
EP4535867A4 (en) 2025-08-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2024016933A1 (zh) 一种小区搜索方法以及通信装置
US20250089017A1 (en) Method and apparatus for providing configuration information related to paging in wireless communication system
US20230164685A1 (en) Access Control Method and Apparatus for Terminal Device
US20240114442A1 (en) Relay communication method, apparatus, and system
WO2024159587A1 (zh) 用于无线通信的方法及装置
US11290871B2 (en) Tracking area update methods and devices
US20240314882A1 (en) Communication method, terminal device, and network device
WO2023130245A1 (zh) 通信方法、终端设备及网络设备
US20250097800A1 (en) Communication method and communications apparatus
US20240334223A1 (en) Communication method and apparatus
EP4024952A1 (en) Communication method and apparatus
US20240323780A1 (en) Handover method and apparatus
US20230370922A1 (en) Method for entering connected mode, and terminal device
US12470999B2 (en) Communication method, device, and system
US20250141773A1 (en) Communication method and communication apparatus
WO2022233011A1 (zh) 建立连接的方法和终端设备
CN116965086A (zh) 测量信息采集方法、第一接入网设备和终端设备
WO2025010671A9 (zh) 测量调整方法、终端设备和网络设备
WO2023206331A1 (zh) 通信方法及通信装置
CN117395680A (zh) 一种通信的方法和通信装置
WO2022083518A1 (zh) 无线通信方法与装置、终端和存储介质
WO2023039829A1 (zh) 无线通信方法、终端设备以及网络设备
US20240406763A1 (en) Communication method, terminal, communications device, and network device
WO2026066995A1 (zh) 一种通信方法及相关装置
WO2026077156A1 (zh) 一种通信方法及装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 23841999

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2023841999

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2023841999

Country of ref document: EP

Effective date: 20250102

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2023841999

Country of ref document: EP