The invention provides a method and an architecture for deploying non-terrestrial cellular network base stations, so as to enable cellular network coverage in remote areas, where no fixed infrastructure is available. The proposed methods allow for efficient power management at the terminal devices that need to synchronize to the airborne or spaceborne cellular base stations. This is particularly important for IoT devices, which have inherently limited power are computing resources.

Methods and systems for mobility management in non-terrestrial networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first communication node, includes: during a first time period, communicating with a non-terrestrial communication node utilizing a first communication link, wherein the non-terrestrial communication node provides at least one geographic cell in which a user equipment device (UE) is present during the first time period; during a second time period, communicating with a second communication node utilizing a second communication link, wherein a third communication link is established between the non-terrestrial communication node and the second communication node and the first communication link is no longer utilized during the second time period; and determining to maintain the first communication node as an anchor node for communications between a core network and the UE during both the first and second time periods.

The invention provides a method and an architecture for deploying non-terrestrial cellular network base stations, so as to enable cellular network coverage in remote areas, where no fixed infrastructure is available. The proposed methods allow for efficient power management at the terminal devices that need to synchronize to the airborne or spaceborne cellular base stations. This is particularly important for IoT devices, which have inherently limited power are computing resources.

Access, mobility management and regulatory services are supported for satellite access to a Fifth Generation (5G) core network (5GCN). Signaling including data and voice for radio cells supported by a satellite is transported between UEs and a core network via an earth station. When the satellite is transferred to a new earth station, the signaling can be transferred to the new earth station and possibly to a new base station. The UEs may remain with their current radio cells with a regenerative satellite or be assisted to remain with their current radio cells with a transparent satellite. The signaling transfer between the earth stations may occur at a Level 1 or Level 2. A modified handover procedure may be used with a regenerative satellite with split architecture when there is a change of base station.

This application discloses a method for processing a round trip delay, a related apparatus, and a readable storage medium, and pertains to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: receiving a delay quantization parameter of a common round trip delay RTD, where the delay quantization parameter includes a first quantization parameter, and the first quantization parameter is used to indicate a height-related delay; and obtaining the common RTD based on the delay quantization parameter. The height-related delay is indicated by using the first quantization parameter, so that the common RTD is obtained based on the first quantization parameter.

A satellite provides communication between user terminals (UTs) and ground stations that connect to other networks, such as the Internet. To establish initial contact with a satellite, a UT searches for a satellite's beacon using a phased array or other steerable antenna with a directional receive pattern. The UT retrieves a sky coverage map and stored satellite ephemeris data. The sky coverage map defines discrete areas of the entire sky, with each area based on satellite beacon coverage areas, receive beamwidth of the UT receive antenna, and receive antenna horizon limits. Based on a geolocation of the UT, time, and the ephemeris data, a predicted area in the sky of the satellite is determined. Candidate areas of the sky coverage map are determined that overlap the predicted area, and the receive antenna is directed to search the candidate areas for the satellite beacon.

Various arrangements are presented for using an estimated timing advance for user equipment communications. A location of an instance of user equipment may be determined. An estimated distance between the user equipment and a communication satellite may be determined using the determined location of the user equipment and an estimated satellite location. An estimated timing offset using the calculated estimated distance may be determined. An uplink data frame may be transmitted by the user equipment to the satellite such that a timing of transmission of the uplink data frame is based on the calculated estimated timing offset.

Facilitating multi-slot frequency hopping can comprise generating configuration data associated with configuring a mobile device with a multi-slot operation, associated with slots of the mobile device, for sending uplink channel control data or traffic channel data. Additionally, facilitating multi-slot frequency hopping can comprise transmitting the configuration data to the mobile device, resulting in a multi-slot configuration of the mobile device, wherein the configuration data comprises hopping patterns to be used by the slots.

Access, mobility management and regulatory services are supported for satellite access to a 5G core network. Radio cells supported by a satellite may be moving as the satellite moves and may undergo changes, e.g. when a satellite is transferred from one earth station to another. A base station may broadcast a remaining lifetime for a radio cell (e.g. in a system information block) which indicates to UEs how much longer the radio cell can be accessed before a change occurs. A radio cell may also indicate support for one or more fixed tracking areas (TAs) in coverage of the radio cell. A base station may broadcast a remaining lifetime for each TA to indicate to UEs how much longer a TA will be supported by the radio cell. UEs can use the indications to perform cell change or handover to other radio cells and/or other satellites.

Access, mobility management and regulatory services are supported for satellite access to a Fifth Generation (5G) core network (5GCN). A location of a UE may be obtained by a UE or by a base station and used to determine a country in which the UE is located. The UE can then select a serving PLMN in the country of the UE which is accessible from a radio cell supported by a satellite. The UE can register with the serving PLMN and receive information from the serving PLMN concerning fixed cells and fixed tracking areas supported by the serving PLMN. If the UE attempt to register with a PLMN not in the country of the UE, a serving base station can reject the attempt and indicate the country to the UE.