A method for Xx/Xn interface communication is disclosed, comprising: at an Xx/Xn gateway for communicating with, and coupled to, a first and a second radio access network (RAN), receiving messages from the first RAN according to a first Xx/Xn protocol and mapping the received messages to a second Xx/Xn protocol for transmission to the second RAN; maintaining state of one of the first RAN or the second RAN at the Xx/Xn gateway; executing executable code received at an interpreter at the Xx/Xn gateway as part of the received messages; altering the maintained state based on the executed executable code; and receiving and decoding an initial Xx/Xn message from the first RAN; identifying specific strings in the initial Xx/Xn message; matching the identified specific strings in a database of stored scripts; and performing a transformation on the initial Xx/Xn message, the transformation being retrieved from the database for stored scripts, the stored scripts being transformations.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for supporting estimation of inter-satellite link acquisition times in a satellite constellation. The method includes computing or generating an indication of a statistical model based on observations for prior link acquisition times. The method further includes communicating an indication such as a statistical model for link acquisition times or related parameters through a communication network, or a combination thereof. The indication may be communicated using one or more transmission techniques or protocols, such as flooding, a link state protocol or gossip protocol. Based on the disseminated indication, future link acquisition times can be predicted by satellites in the satellite constellation. Embodiments of the invention use a statistical-based computation approach, such as regression modelling or random variable modelling, to estimate link acquisition times or associated estimation parameters. The estimates or associated estimation parameters may then be disseminated through the constellation.

Various solutions for uplink synchronization in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications are proposed. An apparatus implemented in a user equipment (UE) receives a system information block (SIB) of a target cell via a non-terrestrial (NT) network node of the NTN. The apparatus obtains an explicit epoch time from the SIB of the target cell. Then, the apparatus performs an uplink (UL) synchronization with the target cell through adjusting an uplink transmit time according to the explicit epoch time.

Lightweight inter-satellite handover device and method for a mega LEO satellite network are provided. An attribute extraction sub-module extracts attributes of handover users in a user information storage unit. Based on the attributes of the handover users, a cluster sub-module clusters the handover users into user clusters. A decision set generator sub-module generates target satellite sets of the user clusters, determines each target satellite of the target satellite sets of the user clusters of each LEO satellite whether belongs to LEO satellites in a management domain of a handover decision point of managing the LEO satellite based on management domain information in a LEO satellite information storage unit, and if YES, performing inter-satellite handover by a centralized decision unit, otherwise performing inter-satellite handover by a distributed decision unit. Therefore, lightweight inter-satellite handover is achieved, cost of handover decision is reduced, and resource utilization of LEO satellite is increased.

An enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) may include LDACS ground stations; and a LDACS airborne stations, each configured to communicate with the LDACS ground stations at a given class of service from among different classes of service. The enhanced LDACS may also include a network controller configured to operate the LDACS ground stations and LDACS airborne stations at the different user classes of service.

A method of operating a first non-terrestrial network part supporting a plurality of spot beams providing corresponding coverage areas in a wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising: communicating with a communications device in a first coverage area associated with a first spot beam of the first non-terrestrial network part: identifying a new coverage area for the communications device, the new coverage area corresponding to a coverage area of a second spot beam different from the first spot beam, and implementing a mobility procedure for the communications device; wherein, if the second spot beam is supported by the first non-terrestrial network part, the mobility procedure is a first mobility procedure and if the second spot beam is supported by a second non-terrestrial network part different from the first non-terrestrial network part the mobility procedure is a second mobility procedure different from the first mobility procedure.

A beam splitting hand off systems architecture and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: generating a first beam with a single electronically steered flat-panel antenna to track a first satellite; generating a second beam with the single electronically steered flat-panel antenna to track a second satellite simultaneously while generating the first beam to track the first satellite; and handing off traffic from the first satellite to the second satellite.

A method performed by a first network entity associated with a first airborne or orbital communication node for enabling at least one wireless device in a wireless communications network to switch from being served by a first service link of the first airborne or orbital communication node to being served by a second service link of a second airborne or orbital communication node, is provided. The method comprises transmitting, to the at least one wireless device, information associated with a reference signal of a transmission beam transmitted over the second service link of the second airborne or orbital communication node, comprising information indicating the location over time of the second airborne or orbital communication node. A first network entity, a wireless device and method therein are also provided, as well as, computer programs and carriers.

Apparatus, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating on-demand ephemeris and beam information requests are disclosed herein. An example method for wireless communication at a UE includes transmitting a request for requested information, the requested information including one or more of system information and satellite information. The example method also includes receiving a response message based on the request, the response message including one or more of: an NTN system information block, satellite information associated with at least one requested communication satellite, and beam information associated with the at least one requested communication satellite.

An apparatus method and system are disclosed for dynamically implementing spectrum configuration plans in a satellite communication system. A spectrum configuration plan is created, and validated to determine if it can be utilized within the predetermined coverage area. If any errors are generated while validating the spectrum configuration plan, it is rejected. Otherwise, system components are configured to provide communication within the predetermined coverage area using parameters specified in the spectrum configuration plan. The spectrum configuration plan is also transmitted to all terminals in the coverage area. The spectrum configuration plan is subsequently implemented for all communication within the predetermined coverage area.