CN117063414A - Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) verification in non-terrestrial networks - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for wireless communication includes verifying PUR configuration in an NTN based on location-related information associated with satellites. For example, the UE may determine whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location-related information of satellites in the non-terrestrial network. The UE may also transmit a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid. For example, the UE may determine whether a parameter satisfies a threshold based on location-related information associated with the satellite, and transmit UL data in PUR occasions based on the determined parameter satisfying the threshold.

Description

Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) verification in non-terrestrial networks

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/707,140, filed on 3 months 29 of 2022, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.63/169,562, filed on 4 months 1 of 2021, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth below and for all applicable purposes.

Technical Field

The present disclosure is directed to wireless communication systems and methods. Certain aspects provide techniques for verifying pre-configured uplink resources (PURs) in a non-terrestrial wireless communication network.

Introduction to the invention

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be able to support communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include several Base Stations (BSs), each supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise referred to as User Equipment (UEs), simultaneously.

To meet the increasing demand for extended mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technology is evolving from Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology to next generation New Radio (NR) technology, which may be referred to as fifth generation (5G). For example, NR is designed to provide lower latency, higher bandwidth or higher throughput, and higher reliability than LTE. NR is designed to operate over a wide range of frequency bands, for example from a low frequency band below about 1 gigahertz (GHz) and an intermediate frequency band from about 1GHz to about 6GHz, to a high frequency band, such as the mmWave band. NR is also designed to operate across different spectrum types from licensed spectrum to unlicensed and shared spectrum. Spectrum sharing enables operators to opportunistically aggregate spectrum to dynamically support high bandwidth services. Spectrum sharing may extend the benefits of NR technology to operational entities that may not be able to access licensed spectrum.

The 5G network may be terrestrial, non-terrestrial, or a combination of both terrestrial and non-terrestrial. In a non-terrestrial network (NTN), satellites or other aerial devices (e.g., high altitude balloons) may act as wireless nodes to relay communications to and from UEs and BSs. Satellites may provide a wider coverage area in areas of the world where ground-based infrastructure is impractical.

Brief summary of some examples

The following outlines some aspects of the disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the technology in question. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a summarized form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The present disclosure describes mechanisms for verifying a pre-configured uplink resource (PUR) configuration in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) based on location information provided by satellites. For example, the UE may determine a timing advance, frequency compensation, or other parameter based on at least one of a position or velocity of the satellite, and determine whether the parameter meets a configured threshold. If the parameter meets the threshold, the UE may transmit in a PUR based on the determined parameter. Accordingly, using the position and/or velocity information of the satellite (which may be broadcast), the UE may determine and use one or more parameters that may be associated with the likelihood that the timing and/or frequency compensated PUR communication will be successfully received by the satellite and subsequently by the BS.

One aspect of the disclosure includes a method for wireless communication performed by a User Equipment (UE). The method may include determining whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location information of satellites in a non-terrestrial network. The method also includes transmitting, in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid, a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite.

One aspect of the disclosure includes a User Equipment (UE) including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor, when executing the instructions stored on the memory, is configured to cause the UE to: determining whether a pre-configured uplink resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location information of satellites in the non-terrestrial network; and in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid, transmitting, via the transceiver, a communication signal in the PUR via the satellite to a Base Station (BS).

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon. The program code includes code for causing a User Equipment (UE) to determine whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location information of satellites in a non-terrestrial network. The program code also includes code for causing the UE to transmit a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid.

An aspect of the disclosure includes a User Equipment (UE). The UE includes means for determining whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location information of satellites in a non-terrestrial network. The UE also includes means for transmitting a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid.

Other aspects, features and embodiments will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific exemplary aspects in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Although features may be discussed below with respect to certain aspects and figures, all aspects may include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more aspects may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more such features may also be used in accordance with aspects discussed herein. In a similar manner, although exemplary aspects may be discussed below as device, system, or method aspects, it should be understood that such exemplary aspects may be implemented in a variety of devices, systems, and methods.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a wireless communication network in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates a radio frame structure in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) communication scheme with propagation delay compensation using timing advance, in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates a PUR communication scheme in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a signaling diagram of a PUR communication scheme in an NTN in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a signaling diagram of a PUR communication scheme in an NTN in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a User Equipment (UE) in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary Base Station (BS) in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 is a flow chart of a communication method in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems (also referred to as wireless communication networks). In various aspects, the techniques and apparatuses may be used for wireless communication networks such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, global system for mobile communications (GSM) networks, fifth generation (5G) or New Radio (NR) networks, and other communication networks. As described herein, the terms "network" and "system" may be used interchangeably.

OFDMA networks may implement radio technologies such as evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, flash-OFDM, and the like. UTRA, E-UTRA and GSM are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Specifically, long Term Evolution (LTE) is a version of UMTS that uses E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS and LTE are described in literature from an organization named "third generation partnership project" (3 GPP), while cdma2000 is described in literature from an organization named "third generation partnership project 2" (3 GPP 2). These various radio technologies and standards are known or under development. For example, the third generation partnership project (3 GPP) is a collaboration between telecommunications associations, which is intended to define the globally applicable third generation (3G) mobile phone specifications. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a 3GPP project aimed at improving the UMTS mobile telephony standard. The 3GPP may define specifications for next generation mobile networks, mobile systems, and mobile devices. The present disclosure focuses on evolution from LTE, 4G, 5G, NR and beyond wireless technologies with shared access to wireless spectrum between networks using new and different radio access technologies or sets of radio air interfaces.

In particular, 5G networks contemplate diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices that may be implemented using an OFDM-based unified air interface. To achieve these objectives, in addition to developing a network for 5G NRFurther enhancements to LTE and LTE-a are considered in addition to the new radio technology of the network. The 5G NR will be scalable to: (1) To have ultra-high density (e.g., about 1M nodes/km) ² ) Ultra-low complexity (e.g., on the order of tens of bits/second), ultra-low energy (e.g., about 10+ years of battery life), and deep coverage of large-scale internet of things (IoT) that can reach challenging locations provides coverage; (2) Providing coverage including mission critical controls with strong security to protect sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., about 99.9999% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., about 1 ms), and users with or lacking a wide range of mobility; and (3) providing coverage with enhanced mobile broadband, including very high capacity (e.g., about 10Tbps/km ² ) Extreme data rates (e.g., multiple Gbps rates, 100+mbps user experience rate), and depth awareness with advanced discovery and optimization.

A 5G NR communication system may be implemented to: using an optimized OFDM-based waveform with a scalable parametric design and Transmission Time Interval (TTI); having a common, flexible framework to efficiently multiplex services and features using a dynamic, low latency Time Division Duplex (TDD)/Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) design; and advanced wireless technologies such as massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), robust millimeter wave (mmWave) transmission, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. Scalability of parameter design (and scaling of subcarrier spacing) in 5G NR can efficiently address operating diverse services across diverse spectrum and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments with less than 3GHz FDD/TDD implementations, subcarrier spacing may occur at 15kHz, e.g., over a Bandwidth (BW) of 5, 10, 20MHz, etc. For other various outdoor and small cell coverage deployments of TDD greater than 3GHz, the subcarrier spacing may occur at 30kHz over 80/100MHz BW. For other various indoor wideband implementations, subcarrier spacing may occur at 60kHz on 160MHz BW by using TDD on the unlicensed portion of the 5GHz band. Finally, for various deployments transmitting with 28GHz TDD using mmWave components, subcarrier spacing may occur at 120kHz over 500MHz BW. In certain aspects, the frequency band for 5G NR is divided into two distinct frequency ranges: frequency range 1 (FR 1) and frequency range 2 (FR 2). The FR1 band includes bands at 7GHz or less (e.g., between about 410MHz to about 7125 MHz). The FR2 band includes a band in the mmWave range between about 24.25GHz and about 52.6 GHz. The mmWave band may have a shorter range than the FR1 band, but a higher bandwidth than the FR1 band. Additionally, 5G NR may support different sets of subcarrier spacings for different frequency ranges.

The scalable parameter design of 5G NR facilitates scalable TTI to meet diverse latency and quality of service (QoS) requirements. For example, shorter TTIs may be used for low latency and high reliability, while longer TTIs may be used for higher spectral efficiency. Efficient multiplexing of long and short TTIs allows transmission to begin on symbol boundaries. The 5G NR also contemplates a self-contained integrated subframe design with uplink/downlink scheduling information, data, and acknowledgements in the same subframe. The self-contained integrated subframes support communication in unlicensed or contention-based shared spectrum, support adaptive uplink/downlink that can be flexibly configured on a per-cell basis to dynamically switch between UL and downlink to meet current traffic needs.

Various other aspects and features of the disclosure are described further below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosed herein is merely representative and not limiting. Based on the teachings herein one of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or both structures and functionality that is complementary to or different from one or more of the aspects set forth herein. For example, the methods may be implemented as part of a system, apparatus, device, and/or as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium for execution on a processor or computer. Furthermore, an aspect may comprise at least one element of a claim.

NR includes features for facilitating communication of low power devices, such as industrial sensors. For example, narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology that enables IoT devices to communicate at low power. The NB-IoT device (e.g., UE) may be configured with Preconfigured Uplink Resources (PUR) that allow the UE to transmit in a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) while in idle mode without performing a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure. The PUR may indicate a periodic set of time-frequency resources to the UE. The periodicity of an instance of PUR may be relatively large (e.g., 81.92 seconds or longer). Although RACH procedures may not be used to transmit communications in PUR, the PUR configuration may be verified before there are communications to be transmitted in PUR occasions.

In some scenarios, a User Equipment (UE) may operate in idle mode. The UE verifies the PUR configuration using a timer-based approach or a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) approach before transmitting in a pre-configured uplink resource (PUR) in the terrestrial network while operating in idle mode. For example, the UE may determine whether one or more RSRP measurements are valid measurements and whether timing alignment verification is valid. However, these verification schemes may not necessarily be useful or practical in NTN. For example, in NTN, because the distance between the UE and the satellite may be much greater than the distance between the UE and the BS in the terrestrial network, the UE may determine time and/or frequency precompensation and/or timing advance before transmitting the UL transmission in the PUR. Further, RSRP may not vary much in NTN cells. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides other approaches to validating PUR configurations in NTNs.

According to some aspects, the UE may verify PUR configuration in the NTN based on location information provided by satellites. For example, the UE may determine a timing advance, frequency compensation, or other parameter based on at least one of a position or velocity of the satellite, and may determine whether the parameter meets a configured threshold. If the parameter meets the threshold, the UE may transmit in a PUR based on the determined parameter. Accordingly, using the position and/or velocity information of the satellite (which may be broadcast), the UE may determine and use one or more parameters that may be associated with the likelihood that the timing and/or frequency compensated PUR communication will be successfully received by the satellite and subsequently by the BS.

Fig. 1 illustrates a wireless communication network 100 in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. Network 100 may be a 5G network. The network 100 includes a number of Base Stations (BSs) 105 (labeled 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e, and 105f, respectively) and other network entities. BS105 may be a station in communication with UE 115 and may also be referred to as an evolved node B (eNB), next generation eNB (gNB), access point, and so on. Each BS105 may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of BS105 and/or a BS subsystem serving this coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

BS105 may provide communication coverage for macro cells or small cells (such as pico cells or femto cells), and/or other types of cells. Macro cells generally cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscription with the network provider. Small cells (such as pico cells) typically cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscription with the network provider. A small cell, such as a femto cell, will also typically cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residence) and may be available for restricted access by UEs associated with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG), UEs of users in the residence, etc.) in addition to unrestricted access. The BS for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro BS. The BS for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell BS, a pico BS, a femto BS, or a home BS. In the example shown in fig. 1, BSs 105D and 105e may be conventional macro BSs, and BSs 105a-105c may be macro BSs enabled with one of three-dimensional (3D), full-dimensional (FD), or massive MIMO. BSs 105a-105c may utilize their higher dimensional MIMO capabilities to increase coverage and capacity using 3D beamforming in both elevation and azimuth beamforming. BS105f may be a small cell BS, which may be a home node or a portable access point. BS105 may support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells.

The network 100 may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, each BS may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different BSs may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, each BS may have different frame timing and transmissions from different BSs may not be aligned in time.

The UEs 115 are dispersed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. UE 115 may also be referred to as a terminal, mobile station, subscriber unit, station, or the like. The UE 115 may be a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless telephone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, and so forth. In one aspect, the UE 115 may be a device that includes a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, the UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, UEs 115 that do not include UICCs may also be referred to as IoT devices or internet of everything (IoE) devices. UEs 115a-115d are examples of mobile smart phone type devices that access network 100. UE 115 may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communications, including Machine Type Communications (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), etc. UEs 115e-115h are examples of various machines configured for communication that access the network 100. UEs 115i-115k are examples of vehicles equipped with wireless communication devices configured for communication that access the network 100. The UE 115 may be capable of communicating with any type of BS, whether a macro BS, a small cell, or the like. In fig. 1, a lightning beam (e.g., a communication link) indicates a wireless transmission between the UE 115 and the serving BS105, a desired transmission between BSs 105, a backhaul transmission between BSs, or a side link transmission between UEs 115, the serving BS105 being a BS designated to serve the UE 115 on the Downlink (DL) and/or Uplink (UL).

In operation, BSs 105a-105c may serve UEs 115a and 115b using 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial techniques, such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or multi-connectivity. The macro BS105d may perform backhaul communications with BSs 105a-105c, as well as the small cell BS105 f. The macro BS105d may also transmit multicast services subscribed to and received by UEs 115c and 115 d. Such multicast services may include mobile televisions or streaming video, or may include other services for providing community information (such as weather emergencies or alerts, such as amber alerts or gray alerts).

BS105 may also communicate with a core network. The core network may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. At least some BSs 105 (which may be, for example, a gcb or an example of an Access Node Controller (ANC)) may interface with the core network over a backhaul link (e.g., NG-C, NG-U, etc.), and may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with UEs 115. In various examples, BSs 105 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through a core network) over a backhaul link (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which may be a wired or wireless communication link.

The network 100 may also support mission critical communications with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission critical devices, such as the UE 115e, which may be a drone. The redundant communication links with UE 115e may include links from macro BSs 105d and 105e, and links from small cell BS105 f. Other machine type devices, such as UE 115f (e.g., a thermometer), UE 115g (e.g., a smart meter), and UE 115h (e.g., a wearable device), may communicate directly with BSs (such as small cell BS105f and macro BS105 e) through network 100, or in a multi-step long configuration by communicating with another user equipment relaying its information to the network (such as UE 115f communicating temperature measurement information to smart meter UE 115g, which is then reported to the network through small cell BS105 f). Network 100 may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low latency TDD/FDD communications, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), internet of vehicles (V2X), cellular V2X (C-V2X) communications between UEs 115I, 115j or 115k and other UEs 115, and/or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications between UEs 115I, 115j or 115k and BS 105.

In some implementations, network 100 utilizes OFDM-based waveforms for communication. An OFDM-based system may divide the system BW into a plurality (K) of orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as subcarriers, tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In some examples, the subcarrier spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed and the total number of subcarriers (K) may depend on the system BW. The system BW may also be partitioned into sub-bands. In other examples, the subcarrier spacing and/or the duration of the TTI may be scalable.

In some aspects, BS105 may assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency Resource Blocks (RBs)) for Downlink (DL) and Uplink (UL) transmissions in network 100. DL refers to a transmission direction from BS105 to UE 115, and UL refers to a transmission direction from UE 115 to BS 105. The communication may take the form of a radio frame. The radio frame may be divided into a plurality of subframes or slots, e.g. about 10. Each time slot may be further divided into sub-slots. In FDD mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes UL subframes in the UL band and DL subframes in the DL band. In TDD mode, UL and DL transmissions occur in different time periods using the same frequency band. For example, a subset of subframes in a radio frame (e.g., DL subframes) may be used for DL transmission, and another subset of subframes in the radio frame (e.g., UL subframes) may be used for UL transmission.

The DL subframe and the UL subframe may be further divided into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have predefined regions for transmission of reference signals, control information, and data. The reference signal is a predetermined signal that facilitates communication between the BS105 and the UE 115. For example, the reference signal may have a particular pilot pattern or structure in which pilot tones may span the operating BW or band, each pilot tone being located at a predefined time and a predefined frequency. For example, BS105 may transmit cell-specific reference signals (CRSs) and/or channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RSs) to enable UE 115 to estimate DL channels. Similarly, UE 115 may transmit Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) to enable BS105 to estimate UL channels. The control information may include resource assignments and protocol control. The data may include protocol data and/or operational data. In some aspects, BS105 and UE 115 may communicate using self-contained subframes. The self-contained subframe may include a portion for DL communication and a portion for UL communication. The self-contained subframes may be DL-centric or UL-centric. The DL centric sub-frame may comprise a longer duration for DL communications than a duration for UL communications. The UL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for UL communication than a duration for DL communication.

In some aspects, network 100 may be a NR network deployed over a licensed spectrum. BS105 may transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including Primary Synchronization Signals (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signals (SSS)) in network 100 to facilitate synchronization. BS105 may broadcast system information associated with network 100, including, for example, a Master Information Block (MIB), remaining system information (RMSI), and Other System Information (OSI), to facilitate initial network access. In some examples, BS105 may broadcast PSS, SSS, and/or MIB in the form of a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), and may broadcast RMSI and/or OSI on a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). The MIB may be transmitted on a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH).

In some aspects, the UE 115 attempting to access the network 100 may perform an initial cell search by detecting PSS from the BS 105. The PSS may enable synchronization of the period timing and may indicate the physical layer identity value. UE 115 may then receive the SSS. The SSS may enable radio frame synchronization and may provide a cell identity value that may be combined with a physical layer identity value to identify the cell. The PSS and SSS may be located in the center portion of the carrier or at any suitable frequency within the carrier.

After receiving the PSS and SSS, UE 115 may receive the MIB. The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and/or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE 115 may receive RMSI and/or OSI. RMSI and/or OSI may include Radio Resource Control (RRC) information related to Random Access Channel (RACH) procedures, paging, control resource set for Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring (CORESET), physical UL Control Channel (PUCCH), physical UL Shared Channel (PUSCH), power control, and SRS.

After obtaining the MIB, RMSI, and/or OSI, the UE 115 may perform a random access procedure to establish a connection with the BS 105. In some examples, the random access procedure may be a four-step random access procedure. For example, the UE 115 may transmit a random access preamble and the BS105 may respond with a random access response. The Random Access Response (RAR) may include a detected random access preamble Identifier (ID) corresponding to the random access preamble, timing Advance (TA) information, UL grant, temporary cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), and/or backoff indicator. Upon receiving the random access response, the UE 115 may transmit a connection request to the BS105 and the BS105 may respond with a connection response. The connection response may indicate a contention resolution scheme. In some examples, the random access preamble, RAR, connection request, and connection response may be referred to as message 1 (MSG 1), message 2 (MSG 2), message 3 (MSG 3), and message 4 (MSG 4), respectively. In some examples, the random access procedure may be a two-step random access procedure in which the UE 115 may transmit the random access preamble and the connection request in a single transmission, and the BS105 may respond by transmitting the random access response and the connection response in a single transmission.

After establishing the connection, the UE 115 and BS105 can enter a normal operation phase in which operation data can be exchanged. For example, BS105 may schedule UE 115 for UL and/or DL communications. BS105 may transmit UL and/or DL scheduling grants to UE 115 via the PDCCH. The scheduling grant may be transmitted in the form of DL Control Information (DCI). The BS105 may transmit DL communication signals (e.g., carry data) to the UE 115 via the PDSCH according to the DL scheduling grant. UE 115 may transmit UL communication signals to BS105 via PUSCH and/or PUCCH according to UL scheduling grants. This connection may be referred to as an RRC connection. When the UE 115 actively exchanges data with the BS105, the UE 115 is in an RRC connected state.

In an example, after establishing a connection with BS105, UE 115 may initiate an initial network attach procedure with network 100. BS105 may coordinate with various network entities or fifth generation core (5 GC) entities, such as Access and Mobility Functions (AMFs), serving Gateways (SGWs), and/or packet data network gateways (PGWs), to complete network attach procedures. For example, BS105 may coordinate with network entities in 5GC to identify UEs, authenticate UEs, and/or authorize UEs to transmit and/or receive data in network 100. Furthermore, the AMF may assign a group of Tracking Areas (TAs) to the UE. Once the network attach procedure is successful, a context is established in the AMF for the UE 115. After successfully attaching to the network, the UE 115 may move around the current TA. To Track Area Updates (TAU), the BS105 may request the UE 115 to periodically update the network 100 with the location of the UE 115. Alternatively, the UE 115 may report only the location of the UE 115 to the network 100 when entering a new TA. TAU allows network 100 to quickly locate UE 115 and page UE 115 upon receiving an incoming data packet or call to UE 115.

In some aspects, BS105 may communicate with UE 115 using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) techniques to improve communication reliability, e.g., to provide ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) services. BS105 may schedule UE 115 for PDSCH communication by transmitting DL grants in the PDCCH. The BS105 may transmit DL data packets to the UE 115 according to the schedule in the PDSCH. DL data packets may be transmitted in the form of Transport Blocks (TBs). If the UE 115 successfully receives the DL data packet, the UE 115 may transmit a HARQ Acknowledgement (ACK) to the BS 105. Conversely, if the UE 115 fails to successfully receive the DL transmission, the UE 115 may transmit a HARQ Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) to the BS 105. Upon receiving the HARQ NACK from the UE 115, the BS105 may retransmit the DL data packet to the UE 115. The retransmission may include the same encoded version of DL data as the initial transmission. Alternatively, the retransmission may comprise a different encoded version of the DL data than the initial transmission. UE 115 may apply soft combining to combine encoded data received from the initial transmission and retransmission for decoding. BS105 and UE 115 may also apply HARQ for UL communications using a mechanism substantially similar to DL HARQ.

In some aspects, the network 100 may operate on a system BW or a Component Carrier (CC) BW. Network 100 may divide system BW into multiple BWP (e.g., multiple parts). BS105 may dynamically assign UE 115 to operate on a certain BWP (e.g., a certain portion of the system BW). The assigned BWP may be referred to as an active BWP. UE 115 may monitor active BWP for signaling information from BS 105. BS105 may schedule UE 115 for UL or DL communications in active BWP. In some aspects, BS105 may assign BWP pairs within a CC to UEs 115 for UL and DL communications. For example, the BWP pair may include one BWP for UL communication and one BWP for DL communication.

The UE 115 may be configured with pre-configured uplink resources (PURs) that allow the UE 115 to transmit in a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) while in idle mode without performing a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure. PUR may indicate a periodic set of time-frequency resources to UE 115, which may be referred to as PUR or PUR opportunities. The periodicity of an instance of PUR opportunities may be relatively large (e.g., 81.92 seconds or longer). Although RACH procedures may not be used to transmit communications in PUR, the PUR configuration may be verified before there are communications to be transmitted in PUR occasions.

In a terrestrial network while operating in idle mode, UE 115 may use a timer-based approach or a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) approach to verify PUR configuration. For example, UE 115 may determine or measure the signal power of communications received by BS105 and/or satellite 110 to determine whether the received signal power (RSRP) is within an acceptable range or whether the signal power has changed such that the time/frequency resources indicated in the PUR configuration are no longer useful or likely to result in successful transmissions.

In some aspects, the network 100 may include non-terrestrial wireless nodes or devices, such as satellites (e.g., low Earth Orbit (LEO), geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO)), high altitude balloons, or other non-terrestrial devices. For example, network 100 may include one or more satellites configured to relay communications between BS105 and UE 115. Satellites may provide a larger coverage area for a group of UEs and may provide coverage in areas where fixed-ground BSs are impractical. Further, the UE 115 may be provided with a pre-configured uplink resource (PUR) configuration that indicates periodic time/frequency resources for transmitting UL communications in PUSCH without performing a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure while the UE 115 is in idle mode. The UE may be configured to verify PUR configuration based on one or more criteria associated with propagation delays or frequency shifts associated with potential PUR communications. In this regard, UE 115 may be configured to verify PUR configuration based on location information provided by satellites. The UE 115 may determine a Timing Advance (TA), frequency offset, UE-to-satellite distance, or other suitable parameter and compare the parameter or parameter variation to a threshold. If the parameter meets the threshold, the UE 115 may verify the PUR configuration and transmit the UL communication to the satellite in the PUR. In some aspects, UE 115 may perform PUR verification each time the UE has UL data to transmit in the PUR.

Fig. 2 is a timing diagram illustrating a radio frame structure 200 in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. The radio frame structure 200 may be employed by BSs (such as BS 105) and UEs (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100) for communication. In particular, the BS may communicate with the UE using time-frequency resources configured as shown in the radio frame structure 200. In fig. 2, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units, and the y-axis represents frequency in some arbitrary units. The transmission frame structure 200 comprises a radio frame 201. The duration of the radio frame 201 may vary depending on the aspects. In an example, the radio frame 201 may have a duration of about 10 milliseconds. The radio frame 201 includes a number M of time slots 202, where M may be any suitable positive integer. In one example, M may be about 10.

Each slot 202 includes a number of subcarriers 204 in frequency and a number of symbols 206 in time. The number of subcarriers 204 and/or the number of symbols 206 in the slot 202 may vary depending on aspects, such as based on channel bandwidth, subcarrier spacing (SCS), and/or CP mode. One subcarrier 204 in frequency and one symbol 206 in time form one Resource Element (RE) 212 for transmission. A Resource Block (RB) 210 is formed from a number of consecutive subcarriers 204 in frequency and a number of consecutive symbols 206 in time.

In an example, a BS (e.g., BS105 in fig. 1) may schedule UEs (e.g., UE 115 in fig. 1) for UL and/or DL communications at the time granularity of slot 202 or mini-slot 208. Each time slot 202 may be time-divided into a number K of mini-slots 208. Each mini-slot 208 may include one or more symbols 206. Mini-slots 208 in slot 202 may have a variable length. For example, when the slot 202 includes a number N of symbols 206, the mini-slot 208 may have a length between 1 symbol 206 and (N-1) symbols 206. In some aspects, mini-slot 208 may have a length of about two symbols 206, about four symbols 206, or about seven symbols 206. In some examples, the BS may schedule UEs at a frequency granularity of Resource Blocks (RBs) 210 (e.g., comprising about 12 subcarriers 204).

Fig. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a PUR communication scheme 300 with propagation delay compensation using timing advance in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure. Scheme 300 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100) for communication. In scheme 300, BS105 communicates with UE 115 through satellite 110. Accordingly, communications sent from BS105 to UE 115 are first transmitted to satellite 110, which satellite 110 transmits or relays to UE 115. For example, BS105 transmits PUR configuration 302 to UE 115 via satellite 110. The transmission of PUR configuration 302 may have a propagation delay due to the distance between BS105 and satellite 110, and the distance between satellite 110 and UE 115.

PUR configuration 302 includes or indicates one or more parameters for UE 115 to use the PUR. The PUR configuration 302 indicates a periodic set of time and/or frequency resources in which the UE 115 can transmit UL data in PUSCH while in idle mode without first performing RACH procedures. For example, PUR configuration 302 may indicate a time and/or frequency location of the periodic set of time and/or frequency resources, which may be referred to as PUR or PUR opportunities. Each PUR in the set may occupy one or more symbols in time (e.g., symbol 206) and/or one or more subcarriers in frequency (e.g., subcarrier 204). In some aspects, PUR is PUSCH resources preconfigured for UL transmissions by UE 115. In some examples, PUR configuration 302 may indicate a time slot and/or symbol, subcarrier frequency, periodicity, or other parameter that UE 115 can use to transmit UL data in PUR occasion 304 or instance. Parameters of PUR configuration 302 may include timing advance verification parameters, PUR identity, PUR start time, etc.

Because UE 115 is operating in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), PUR configuration 302 may also specify one or more verification parameters that are used to verify PUR configuration 302. PUR configuration 302 may also specify one or more thresholds or reference values that UE may use to verify PUR configuration 302 prior to transmitting UL data in PUR occasion 304. For example, PUR configuration 302 may indicate to UE 115 the use of a Timing Advance (TA) associated with a propagation delay for transmitting communications from UE 115 to BS105 via satellite 110. The TA includes a first portion TA _SAT Second portion TA _GnB ，TA _SAT Associated with propagation delay of signals (e.g., PUR communications 306) to be transmitted from UE 115 to satellite 110, TA _GnB Associated with the propagation delay of the signal transmitted from satellite 110 to BS 105. UE 115 uses the TA for UL transmissions to compensate for this propagation delay. Accordingly, if T ₀ Representing the start of PUR occasion 304, UE 115 may be at, for example, T ₀ The TA is ready for PUR communication 306 to be transmitted.

In some aspects, UE 115 may determine the TA based on location information provided by satellites 110. For example, UE 115 may monitor Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or Global Positioning System (GPS) information broadcast by satellites 110, which may indicate the position and/or velocity of satellites 110 relative to the earth. The UE 115 may further determine the TA based on location information of the UE 115, such as the GPS location of the UE, or the positioning of the UE 115 relative to the satellites 110.

In addition to time compensation for propagation delay, the UE 115 may also compensate for frequency shifts due to movement of the satellite 110 relative to the UE 115. For example, if satellite 110 is moving fast relative to UE 115, the doppler effect may cause the signal received by satellite 110 to appear to be either higher in frequency (blue-shifted) than the signal transmitted by UE 115 or lower in frequency (red-shifted) than the signal transmitted by UE 115. Accordingly, UE 115 may use the frequency compensation factor to compensate for the frequency shift such that the communication signal (e.g., PUR communication 306) will be received by satellite 110 and/or BS105 within the designated carrier or subcarrier indicated in PUR configuration 302.

UE 115 verifies PUR configuration 302 before transmitting UL data in PUR occasion 304. In some aspects, validating PUR configuration 302 may increase the chance that UL communications transmitted by UE 115 are successfully received by satellite 110 and/or BS105 in the configured set of time/frequency resources associated with the PUR.

In NTN, measuring signal power may be unsuitable for verifying PUR configuration due to the relatively large distance 120 between satellite 110 and UE 115. For example, the signal power of communications transmitted by satellite 110 may not vary significantly even if satellite 110 moves outside of the appropriate operating limits to communicate with UE 115. Accordingly, the present disclosure describes mechanisms for verifying PUR configuration based on location information of satellites 110. In particular, this mechanism for verifying PUR configuration may include a mechanism for verifying Timing Advance (TA) of communications transmitted through satellite 110. As will be described further below, the location information may be indicative of positioning information and/or velocity information of the satellites 110. The location information may be provided with fixed coordinates, or relative coordinates with respect to the UE 115. In some aspects, the location information may be referred to as location-related information. For example, the location-related information may include or indicate an absolute physical location, a relative physical location, elevation angle, velocity information, and/or time-based information associated with the satellites 110. For example, in some aspects, the UE 115 may configure a timer having a duration configured according to the timer. The location-related information associated with satellite 110 may include a time at which the communication was received. In another aspect, UE 115 may determine whether the PUR configuration is valid upon expiration of a timer. In another aspect, the location-related information may include one or more location identifiers. The location identifier may be provided by the cell in the system information. In some aspects, the location identifier may include one or more of a cell identity, a tracking area code, a zone identity, and/or a virtual cell identity.

For example, in some aspects, the UE 115 may not receive physical location data (e.g., GPS data, GNSS data) from the satellites 110. Accordingly, the TA may be calculated based on the last known position of the satellite 110. In another aspect, UE 115 may calculate the physical location of satellites 110 from time information received in the system information. In other aspects, if no physical location is available, UE 115 may determine whether to check the validity of the PUR configuration based on the configured verification timer. In some aspects, a time threshold may be configured for determining whether a PUR configuration is valid. The threshold and/or timer may be configured by RRC signaling. In other aspects, the threshold and/or timer may be broadcast using a System Information Block (SIB).

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a PUR communication scheme 400 in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure. Scheme 400 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100) for communication. In particular, in the scheme 400 shown in fig. 4, the UE 115 is configured with PUR for transmitting UL data in PUSCH while the UE 115 is in idle mode, as similarly explained above. BS105 communicates with UE 115 through satellite 110. Accordingly, communications sent from BS105 to UE 115 are first transmitted to satellite 110, which satellite 110 transmits or relays to UE 115. Satellite 110 is shown in orbit around the earth, with BS105 and UE 115 being stationary or substantially stationary on the earth's surface. Satellite 110 is spaced apart from UE 115 by distance 120. Satellite 110 is configured to transmit and/or receive communications using a transmission beam (e.g., a directional focused signal) and within a beam range 126 having a beam center 124. The transmit beam may cover a certain spatial angle (or beam range) and the beam center 124 may refer to the central portion of the spatial angle covered by the beam. Satellite 110 orbits the earth at a speed 122. Satellite 110 is configured to receive UL communications from UEs 115 and relay or forward UL communications to BS105. Further, satellite 110 is configured to receive DL communications from BS105 and relay or forward the DL communications to UE 115.

When operating in idle mode, UE 115 may use one or more parameters to verify a PUR configured by a PUR configuration before transmitting in the PUR. For example, the UE 115 may determine or calculate a Timing Advance (TA) for communications to/from the satellite 110 based on the distance 120 of the satellite 110 from the UE 115. The distance 120 may be determined based on location information provided by the satellites 110 (e.g., GNSS, GPS, etc.). In some aspects, the GNSS information may include the position and/or velocity of the satellites 110. Additionally, the GNSS information may provide time stamps at which the position and/or velocity of the satellites 110 are measured. Accordingly, the UE 115 may determine the distance 120 based on the location of the satellites 110 (provided by GNSS information) and the location of the UE. In some other aspects, the UE 115 may determine the TA based on a timestamp indicated by the GNSS information and a time during which the GNSS information was received (clock time of the UE). For example, the UE 115 may calculate a time difference between a time stamp and a time of receipt or arrival of the GNSS information. UE 115 may compare a Timing Advance (TA) to a threshold. In other aspects, the UE 115 may compare the distance 120 itself to a threshold. The threshold may be a parameter of the PUR configuration. In some aspects, the threshold may be referred to as a reference value. If the TA (or distance 120) meets a threshold (e.g., is below the threshold), the UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration and in turn transmit UL data in a subsequent PUR occasion.

In some aspects, UE 115 may determine a frequency offset for communicating with satellite 110. The frequency offset may be based on, for example, the velocity 122 of the satellite 110. In other aspects, the UE 115 may determine the frequency compensation based on the location of the satellites 110. UE 115 may calculate the frequency offset and compare the calculated frequency offset to a threshold, which may be configured in a PUR configuration.

In another aspect, UE 115 may determine distance 128 from beam center 124. UE 115 may compare distance 128 to a threshold, which may be configured in a PUR configuration. If distance 128 meets a threshold (e.g., is below a threshold), UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration and in turn transmit UL data in a next PUR occasion. In some aspects, the UE may determine a distance to a beam center based on beam positioning information provided by the satellites.

In another aspect, the UE 115 may determine an elevation angle θ, which is the angular positioning of the satellite 110 relative to the tangential surface of the earth. If θ meets a threshold (e.g., is greater than a threshold), UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration and in turn transmit UL data in PUR occasions. In some aspects, the UE 115 may determine the elevation angle based on at least one of a location of the satellite and a propagation delay between the satellite 110 and the UE 115. In some aspects, UE 115 may determine the elevation angle further based on the location and/or time information of UE 115. In some aspects, the UE 115 may determine its own location and/or time information based on location information (e.g., in GNSS readings) provided by the satellites 110.

In another aspect, UE 115 may determine a drift rate of satellite 110, which may be associated with velocity 122. In some aspects, the drift rate may be indicated by the network (e.g., BS 105) to the UE 115 in SIB messages, MAC control elements (MAC CEs), or RRC messages. The UE 115 may calculate a drift rate and compare the calculated drift rate to a threshold. If the drift meets a threshold (e.g., is greater than the threshold), the UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration and in turn transmit UL data in PUR occasions.

In some aspects, the UE 115 may use the measured signal power in combination with one or more of the parameters described above (e.g., TA, frequency offset). For example, UE 115 may measure a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), a signal-to-interference ratio (SINR), or other signal power or quality measurement of a reference signal transmitted by BS105 via satellite 110 and compare the signal power or quality measurement to a corresponding threshold. The result of the comparison may be used in conjunction with another parameter so that UE 115 may verify PUR based on a comparison of signal power or quality to a first threshold and a comparison of another parameter (e.g., TA) to a second threshold. In some aspects, the UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration if the signal power or quality or another parameter (e.g., TA) meets a corresponding threshold. Further, in some aspects, UE 115 may use a combination of parameters (such as TA and frequency offset) to verify PUR configuration.

In some aspects, UE 115 may compare the determined verification parameters (e.g., TA, frequency offset) to a threshold to verify PUR configured by PUR configuration. The threshold or reference value may be an absolute threshold. For example, if the measured TA is less than the TA threshold, UE 115 may confirm the PUR and the UE may transmit in the PUR. If the measured TA is greater than the TA threshold, then the UE 115 may determine that the PUR is invalid and the UE may refrain from transmitting in the PUR. In other aspects, if the measured TA is greater than the TA threshold, the UE 115 may attempt to re-verify the PUR, which may include receiving updated or refreshed location information (e.g., GNSS data) from the satellites 110, calculating an updated TA, and comparing the updated TA to the threshold. In another example, if the elevation angle of the UE is less than the threshold, the UE 115 may determine that the PUR configuration is invalid.

In other aspects, UE 115 may compare the change in the verification parameter to a threshold. For example, UE 115 may determine a TA change as compared to a previous TA measurement measured, for example, for a previous PUR occasion/transmission. If the TA change since the previous PUR occasion is greater than the change threshold, UE 115 may not validate the PUR configuration and refrain from transmitting in the PUR. In some aspects, in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, the UE may attempt to re-verify the PUR configuration by adjusting the change threshold. In another example, if the TA change since the previous PUR occasion is below a change threshold, UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration and in turn transmit in the PUR occasion. Similarly, if the frequency offset change exceeds the frequency offset change threshold, UE 115 may not confirm the PUR configuration. However, if the TA change or the frequency offset change is less than the corresponding change threshold, the UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration for UL data transmission in the next PUR occasion.

In another aspect, UE 115 may be configured to update the reference value or threshold in response to determining that the determined verification parameters (e.g., TA, frequency offset) do not satisfy the threshold. For example, if UE 115 fails to validate the PUR configuration based on the GNSS readings and the new satellite positioning estimates, UE 115 may be configured to adjust the reference values and attempt to re-validate the PUR configuration based on the updated reference values. For example, UE 115 may be configured to update the reference value based on a previously determined authentication parameter value (e.g., TA change, etc.), such as the most recent authentication parameter value. In an aspect, if UE 115 determines that the PUR configuration is invalid based on the frequency offset, UE 115 may update the threshold for the frequency offset based on a previous determination or calculation of the frequency offset that resulted in the PUR configuration validation. In some aspects, in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid based on the verification parameters, the UE 115 may be configured to recalculate the verification parameters by obtaining new or updated location information (e.g., GNSS readings, ephemeris data) from satellites.

In some aspects, one or more of the thresholds and/or timers described herein may be configured using RRC signaling. In another aspect, one or more of the thresholds and/or timers described herein may be broadcast in system information (such as one or more SIB messages).

Fig. 5 is a signaling diagram of PUR communication scheme 500 in NTN in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure. Scheme 500 is employed by BS105 and UE 115 in a network, such as network 100, and satellite 110 to communicate. Satellite 110 is a wireless node or wireless communication device in the NTN and is configured to relay communications between UE 115 and BS 105. In this regard, satellite 110 may allow for a larger coverage area in areas of the world where fixed ground BSs are not present or practical. In particular, in scheme 500, UE 115 is configured with PUR for transmitting UL data in PUSCH while the UE 115 is in idle mode, as similarly explained above.

In act 502, the BS105 transmits the PUR configuration to the satellite 110. The PUR configuration indicates a periodic set of time/frequency resources that UE 115 can use for UL communication while UE 115 is in idle mode. In particular, time/frequency resources, which may be referred to as PUR occasions or instances, may be used by the UE 115 without performing RACH procedures. The PUR configuration may include a plurality of PUR parameters including timing (symbols, slots), subcarriers, and validation criteria.

In act 504, satellite 110 transmits the PUR configuration to UE 115. In some aspects, act 504 may be described as relaying or forwarding the PUR configuration received from BS105 to UE 115.

In act 506, ue 115 monitors satellite location information, which may be broadcast by satellites 110 according to one or more satellite location formats, such as a standard, such as GNSS, GPS, or any other suitable format or standard for satellite positioning information. The satellites 110 may transmit positioning signals that include location information that may be indicative of the location and/or velocity of the satellites 110. The location information may be fixed (e.g., relative to the earth), or may be relative to the location and/or velocity of the UE 115. Satellite location information may be transmitted in a broadcast channel.

In act 508, satellite 110 transmits the location information. As explained above, satellite 110 may transmit location information in a broadcast channel (e.g., PBCH, SIB message, etc.). In some aspects, act 508 includes broadcasting a GNSS reading including at least positioning information for the satellite, a velocity of the satellite, and a time stamp. In some aspects, the location information further includes beam location information, which may allow the UE 115 to determine the location of a beam (e.g., beam center) relative to the UE 115. In some aspects, the location information may also be referred to as location-related information.

In act 510, ue 115 determines authentication parameters based on the location information received in act 508. In some aspects, act 510 may also include UE 115 determining authentication parameters based on the location and/or timing information of UE 115. For example, UE 115 may determine its own location based on GNSS readings from satellites 110. Further, the UE 115 may determine satellite navigation timing information from GNSS readings. The authentication parameter type may be provided or indicated in the PUR configuration, among other things. For example, the PUR configuration may indicate or include verification criteria, including verification parameters. The verification parameters may be Timing Advance (TA), frequency compensation, drift rate of the satellite 110, and elevation angle of the satellite 110 relative to the UE 115, distance of the UE 115 from the beam center of the satellite's beam range, reference signal power measurements (e.g., RSRP), distance of the UE 115 from the satellite 110, or any other suitable verification parameters or combinations thereof. Accordingly, act 510 may include UE 115 calculating a value of the verification parameter based on the location information provided by satellites 110.

In some aspects, UE 115 may initiate PUR configuration verification based on the PUR configuration verification timer configuration in act 510. For example, in some aspects, the UE 115 may configure a timer having a duration configured according to the timer. UE 115 may determine whether the PUR configuration is valid upon expiration of the timer. In one example, UE 115 may receive a PUR configuration verification timer configuration, e.g., from BS105, and determine whether the PUR configuration is valid based at least on the timer configuration.

In act 512, ue 115 compares the verification parameters determined or calculated in act 510 to a threshold to determine whether to verify PUR configuration for the upcoming PUR occasion. In this regard, act 510 may include determining an absolute verification parameter value, and act 512 may include comparing the absolute verification parameter value to an absolute threshold. In other aspects, act 510 may include determining a verification parameter value change as compared to a previously determined verification parameter value (e.g., TA at a previous PUR occasion) and comparing the verification parameter value change to a verification parameter change threshold. For example, if the frequency offset determined for the PUR occasion changes by an amount exceeding the change threshold, UE 115 may not confirm the PUR configuration.

In act 514, UR 115 transmits UL data to satellite 110 in PUR opportunities in response to the verification parameter satisfying the threshold and confirming the PUR configuration. In some aspects, the UE 115 may transmit UL data in a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) without performing a RACH procedure. Further, UE 115 may transmit UL data while in idle mode. PUR opportunities may have a relatively large periodicity, such as 81.92 seconds or longer. In some aspects, UE 115 may transmit UL data based on the verification parameters determined in act 510. For example, UE 115 may transmit UL data based on the timing advance to compensate for the propagation delay so that BS105 receives UL data at the correct time associated with the PUR configuration. Further, UE 115 may compensate for the doppler shift by adjusting the frequency of the transmitted UL signal such that the UL signal is received by satellite 110 in the correct subcarrier frequency associated with the PUR configuration.

In some aspects, UE 115 may determine that the PUR configuration associated with act 514 is invalid. In this regard, UE 115 may consider PUR opportunities as "skipped". In other words, UE 115 may determine that the PUR configuration is to be skipped such that UE 115 does not communicate in the PUR occasion.

In act 516, satellite 110 transmits UL data to BS105 in the PUR. In some aspects, transmitting UL data to BS105 may be referred to as relaying the data to BS 105.

Fig. 6 is a signaling diagram of a PUR communication scheme 600 in an NTN in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure. Scheme 600 is employed by BS105 and UE 115 in a network, such as network 100, and satellite 110 to communicate. In scheme 600, UE 115 is configured to correct the reference value or threshold in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid.

In act 602, the BS105 transmits the PUR configuration to the satellite 110. The PUR configuration indicates a periodic set of time/frequency resources that UE 115 can use for UL communication while UE 115 is in idle mode. In particular, time/frequency resources, which may be referred to as PUR occasions or instances, may be used by the UE 115 without performing RACH procedures. The PUR configuration may include a plurality of PUR parameters including timing (symbols, slots), subcarriers, and validation criteria.

In act 604, satellite 110 transmits the PUR configuration to UE 115. In some aspects, act 604 may be described as relaying or forwarding the PUR configuration received from BS105 to UE 115.

In act 606, ue 115 monitors satellite location information, which may be broadcast by satellite 110 according to one or more satellite location formats, such as standard GNSS, GLONASS, GPS, or any other suitable format or standard for satellite positioning information. The location information may indicate the location and/or velocity of the satellites 110. The location information may be fixed (e.g., relative to the earth), or may be relative to the location and/or velocity of the UE 115. Satellite location information may be transmitted in a broadcast channel.

In act 608, the satellite 110 transmits location information. As explained above, the satellites 110 may transmit location information in a broadcast channel.

In act 610, ue 115 determines authentication parameters based on the location information received in act 608. The verification parameters may be provided or indicated in the PUR configuration, among other things. For example, the PUR configuration may indicate or include verification criteria, including verification parameters. The verification parameters may be Timing Advance (TA), frequency compensation, drift rate of the satellite 110, and elevation angle of the satellite 110 relative to the UE 115, distance of the UE 115 from the beam center of the satellite's beam range, reference signal power measurements (e.g., RSRP), distance of the UE 115 from the satellite 110, or any other suitable verification parameters or combinations thereof. Accordingly, act 610 may include UE 115 calculating a value of the verification parameter based on the location information provided by satellites 110.

In act 612, ue 115 compares the verification parameters determined or calculated in act 510 to a threshold to determine whether to verify PUR configuration for the upcoming PUR occasion. In this regard, act 610 may include determining an absolute verification parameter value, and act 612 may include comparing the absolute verification parameter value to an absolute threshold. In other aspects, act 510 may include determining a verification parameter value change as compared to a previously determined verification parameter value (e.g., TA at a previous PUR occasion) and comparing the verification parameter value change to a verification parameter change threshold. For example, if the frequency offset determined for the PUR occasion changes by an amount exceeding the change threshold, UE 115 may not confirm the PUR configuration.

In act 614, in response to the verification parameter not meeting the threshold and determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, UE 115 is configured to adjust a threshold or reference value used to determine whether the PUR configuration is invalid. For example, in some aspects, UE 115 may adjust the threshold based on a previous successful PUR verification (in which the verification parameter value meets the threshold). For example, UE 115 may change the threshold to a previously determined verification parameter value that resulted in PUR configuration validation.

In other aspects, act 614 may include obtaining new position information from satellites 110 to recalculate the verification parameter values in addition to or in lieu of the steps described above. Based on the new location information, UE 115 may compare the updated verification parameter values to a threshold to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid. If the updated verification parameter value still does not meet the threshold value, UE 115 may determine that the PUR configuration is invalid.

In act 616, ue 115 compares the verification parameter value to the updated threshold value (which was updated in act 614). If the verification parameter value meets the updated threshold, the UE 115 may confirm the PUR configuration. If the verification parameters do not meet the updated threshold, the UE 115 may obtain updated location information from the satellites, or may determine that the PUR configuration is invalid. In some aspects, in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, UE 115 may initiate a RACH procedure to request time/frequency resources for transmitting UL data.

In act 618, UR 115 transmits UL data to satellite 110 in PUR opportunities in response to the verification parameters meeting the updated threshold. In some aspects, the UE 115 may transmit UL data in a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) without performing a RACH procedure. Further, UE 115 may transmit UL data while in idle mode. PUR opportunities may have a relatively large periodicity, such as 81.92 seconds or longer. In some aspects, UE 115 may transmit UL data based on the verification parameters determined in act 510. For example, UE 115 may transmit UL data based on the timing advance to compensate for the propagation delay so that BS105 receives UL data at the correct time associated with the PUR configuration. Further, UE 115 may compensate for the doppler shift by adjusting the frequency of the transmitted UL signal such that the UL signal is received by satellite 110 in the correct subcarrier frequency associated with the PUR configuration.

In act 620, satellite 110 transmits UL data to BS105 in the PUR. In some aspects, transmitting UL data to BS105 may be referred to as relaying the data to BS 105.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary UE 700 in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. UE 700 may be UE 115 as discussed above in fig. 1. As shown, UE 700 may include a processor 702, memory 704, PUR verification module 708, transceiver 710 (including modem subsystem 712 and Radio Frequency (RF) unit 714), and one or more antennas 716. These elements may be coupled to each other. The term "coupled" may mean directly or indirectly coupled or connected to one or more intervening elements. For example, the elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, e.g., via one or more buses.

The processor 702 may include a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a controller, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 702 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

Memory 704 may include cache memory (e.g., cache memory of processor 702), random Access Memory (RAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, solid state memory devices, hard disk drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In an aspect, the memory 704 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memory 704 may store or have instructions 706 recorded thereon. The instructions 706 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 702, cause the processor 702 to perform the operations described herein with reference to the UE 115 in connection with aspects of the disclosure (e.g., aspects of fig. 3-6 and 10). The instructions 706 may also be referred to as program code. Program code may be used to cause a wireless communication device to perform these operations, for example, by causing one or more processors (such as processor 702) to control or command the wireless communication device to do so. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be construed broadly to include any type of computer-readable statement. For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, and the like. "instructions" and "code" may comprise a single computer-readable statement or a number of computer-readable statements.

PUR verification module 708 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, PUR verification module 708 may be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and/or instructions 706 stored in memory 704 and executed by processor 702. In some examples, PUR verification module 708 may be integrated within modem subsystem 712. For example, PUR verification module 708 may be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within modem subsystem 712.

PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location information of satellites in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid further based on the location information of UE 700. For example, in some aspects, the processor 702 and/or PUR verification module 708 are configured to determine the location of the UE based on GNSS readings from satellites. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether a timing advance for transmitting communication signals to the BS in PUR meets a threshold based on at least one of positioning or satellite time information (e.g., provided in GNSS readings). In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether the frequency offset satisfies a threshold based on at least one of a position or a velocity of the satellite. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether a distance between the UE and a transmission beam associated with a satellite satisfies a threshold based on at least one of a position or a velocity of the satellite. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether an elevation angle associated with the UE and the satellite satisfies a threshold based on at least one of a position or a velocity of the satellite. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the received signal power associated with the reference signal. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine whether a drift rate of the satellite meets a threshold based on at least one of a position or a velocity of the satellite. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine a verification parameter based on the location information of the satellite and compare the verification parameter to a threshold. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is configured to determine a verification parameter based on the location information of the satellite and compare a difference between the verification parameter and a previous verification parameter to a threshold.

The PUR verification module 708 is further configured to transmit a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is further configured to adjust a threshold in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, and determine whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the threshold. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is further configured to receive a positioning signal from a satellite that indicates location information of the satellite. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is further configured to receive a threshold configuration and determine whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the threshold configuration. For example, the threshold configuration may include one or more thresholds for comparing verification parameters (e.g., timing advance, drift rate, elevation angle) to corresponding thresholds. In some aspects, PUR verification module 708 is further configured to receive a PUR configuration verification timer configuration and determine whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the timer configuration.

As shown, transceiver 710 may include a modem subsystem 712 and an RF unit 714. The transceiver 710 may be configured to bi-directionally communicate with other devices, such as the BS 105. Modem subsystem 712 may be configured to modulate and/or encode data from memory 704 and/or PUR verification module 708 according to a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) (e.g., a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit 714 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data (e.g., PUCCH control information, PRACH signal, PUSCH data) from the modem subsystem 712 (for outbound transmissions) or modulated/encoded data originating from a transmission of another source, such as another UE 115 or BS 105. The RF unit 714 may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as being integrated together in transceiver 710, modem subsystem 712 and RF unit 714 may be separate devices that are coupled together at UE 115 to enable UE 115 to communicate with other devices.

RF unit 714 may provide modulated and/or processed data, such as data packets (or more generally, data messages that may include one or more data packets and other information), to an antenna 716 for transmission to one or more other devices. The antenna 716 may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices. An antenna 716 may provide received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver 710. Transceiver 710 may provide demodulated and decoded data (e.g., DCI, SSB, RMSI, MIB, SIB, MAC CE, RRC message, PUR configuration) to PUR verification module 708 for processing. Antenna 716 may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs to maintain multiple transmission links. The RF unit 714 may configure an antenna 716.

In an aspect, the UE 700 may include multiple transceivers 710 implementing different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an aspect, the UE 700 may include a single transceiver 710 that implements multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an aspect, the transceiver 710 may include various components, wherein different combinations of components may implement different RATs.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary BS 800 in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. BS 800 may be BS105 in network 100 as discussed above in fig. 1. As shown, BS 800 may include a processor 802, a memory 804, a PUR verification module 808, a transceiver 810 including a modem subsystem 812 and an RF unit 814, and one or more antennas 816. These elements may be coupled to each other. The term "coupled" may mean directly or indirectly coupled or connected to one or more intervening elements. For example, the elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, e.g., via one or more buses.

The processor 802 may have various features as a special-purpose type of processor. For example, these features may include CPU, DSP, ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 802 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The memory 804 may include cache memory (e.g., of the processor 802), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, solid state memory devices, one or more hard drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In some aspects, the memory 804 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 804 may store instructions 806. The instructions 806 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 802, cause the processor 802 to perform the operations described herein (e.g., aspects of fig. 3-6). The instructions 806 may also be referred to as code, which may be broadly interpreted to include any type of computer-readable statement(s), as discussed above.

PUR verification module 808 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, PUR verification module 808 may be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and/or instructions 806 stored in memory 804 and executed by processor 802. In some examples, PUR verification module 808 may be integrated within modem subsystem 812. For example, PUR verification module 808 may be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within modem subsystem 812.

PUR verification module 808 is configured to configure a UE, such as one of UEs 115, with a PUR communication scheme that includes verification criteria. The PUR configuration may include a plurality of parameters including a first slot and/or symbol of a PUR occasion, a subcarrier frequency, a periodicity, and/or any other suitable parameter. The PUR configuration may also indicate to the UE one or more types of verification parameters, such as Timing Advance (TA), frequency offset, distance to beam center, drift rate, or any other suitable type of parameter. The PUR configuration also indicates to the UE one or more thresholds or reference values for verifying PUR based on the calculated verification parameters.

As shown, transceiver 810 may include a modem subsystem 812 and an RF unit 814. Transceiver 810 may be configured to bi-directionally communicate with other devices, such as UEs 115 and/or 800, another BS105, and/or another core network element. Modem subsystem 812 may be configured to modulate and/or encode data according to an MCS (e.g., an LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). RF unit 814 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data (e.g., SSB, RMSI, MIB, SIB, FBE configuration, PRACH configuration, PDCCH, PDSCH, MAC CE, RRC message, PUR configuration) from modem subsystem 812 (on an outbound transmission) or from another source (such as UE 115). The RF unit 814 may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as being integrated together in transceiver 810, modem subsystem 812 and/or RF unit 814 may be separate devices coupled together at BS105 to enable BS105 to communicate with other devices.

RF unit 814 may provide modulated and/or processed data, such as data packets (or more generally, data messages that may include one or more data packets and other information), to antenna 816 for transmission to one or more other devices. Antenna 816 may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices and provide received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at transceiver 810. Transceiver 810 may provide demodulated and decoded data (e.g., PUCCH control information, PRACH signal, PUSCH data) to PUR verification module 808 for processing. Antenna 816 may include multiple antennas of similar or different design in order to maintain multiple transmission links.

In an aspect, BS 800 may include multiple transceivers 810 implementing different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an aspect, BS 800 may include a single transceiver 810 that implements multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an aspect, transceiver 810 may include various components, where different combinations of components may implement different RATs.

Fig. 9 is a flow chart of a communication method 900 in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. The steps of method 900 may be performed by a computing device of an apparatus (e.g., a processor, processing circuitry, and/or other suitable components) or other suitable apparatus for performing the steps. For example, a UE (such as UE 115) may utilize one or more components (such as processor 702, memory 704, PUR verification module 708, transceiver 710, and one or more antennas 716) to perform the steps of method 900. Method 900 may employ a similar mechanism as described in fig. 3-6. As illustrated, the method 900 includes several enumeration steps, but aspects of the method 900 may include additional steps before, after, and between these enumeration steps. In some aspects, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At block 910, the UE determines whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location information of satellites in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes at least one of satellite-based positioning or satellite navigation timing information (e.g., timing information provided in GNSS readings) to determine whether a timing advance for transmitting communication signals in the PUR to the BS meets a threshold. In some aspects, the UE determines whether the PUR configuration is valid based on location information of the UE. For example, in some aspects, the UE may be configured to determine its location based on GNSS readings, propagation delays, or any other suitable type of location information from satellites. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining whether the frequency compensation satisfies a threshold based on satellite-based positioning. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining whether a distance between the UE and a transmission beam associated with the satellite satisfies a threshold based on beam positioning information of the satellite. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining whether an elevation angle associated with the UE and the satellite meets a threshold based on at least one of a satellite positioning or a propagation delay. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining whether the PUR configuration is valid based on a received signal power associated with the reference signal. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining whether a drift rate of the satellite meets a threshold based on at least one of a position fix or a timestamp in satellite position information. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining verification parameters based on satellite location information and comparing the verification parameters to a threshold. In some aspects, determining whether the PUR configuration is valid includes determining a verification parameter based on the location information of the satellite and comparing a difference between the verification parameter and a reference verification parameter to a threshold. In some aspects, the UE may utilize one or more components (such as the processor 702, the memory 704, the PUR verification module 708, the transceiver 710, and the one or more antennas 716) to perform the operations at block 910.

In block 920, the UE transmits a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid. In some aspects, the UE may utilize one or more components (such as the processor 702, the memory 704, the PUR verification module 708, the transceiver 710, and the one or more antennas 716) to perform the operations at block 920.

In some aspects, method 900 further includes adjusting a threshold in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, and determining whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the threshold. In some aspects, the method 900 further includes receiving a positioning signal from a satellite that indicates position information for the satellite. In some aspects, method 900 further includes receiving a threshold configuration, and determining whether the PUR configuration is valid is further based on the threshold configuration. In some aspects, method 900 further comprises receiving a PUR configuration verification timer configuration, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid is further based on the timer configuration.

Aspects of the disclosure include the following:

1. a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for wireless communication, the method comprising:

determining whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on information about locations associated with satellites in a non-terrestrial network; and

In response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid, communication signals are transmitted in the PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite.

2. The method of clause 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid is further based on:

location information of the UE.

3. The method of any of clauses 1-2, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

based on at least one of satellite positioning or satellite navigation timing information, it is determined whether a timing advance for transmitting communication signals to the BS in the PUR meets a threshold.

4. The method of any of clauses 1-3, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

a determination is made whether the frequency compensation meets a threshold based on the positioning of the satellites.

5. The method of any of clauses 1-4, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

a determination is made based on the beam positioning information of the satellite whether a distance between the UE and a transmission beam associated with the satellite meets a threshold.

6. The method of any of clauses 1-5, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

it is determined whether an elevation angle associated with the UE and the satellite meets a threshold based on at least one of a positioning or propagation delay of the satellite.

7. The method of any of clauses 1-6, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

Whether the PUR configuration is valid is determined based on the received signal power associated with the reference signal.

8. The method of any of clauses 1-7, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

whether the drift rate of a satellite meets a threshold is determined based on at least one of a position or a velocity or a timestamp in the position information of the satellite.

8. The method of clause 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

determining a location identifier associated with the PUR configuration; and

a location identifier provided by the cell in the system information is compared, the location identifier comprising one or more of a cell identity, a tracking area code, a zone identity, and a virtual cell identity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, determining that PUR opportunities are skipped.

9. The method of any of clauses 1-8, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

determining verification parameters; and

the verification parameter is compared to a threshold.

10. The method of any of clauses 1-8, wherein determining that the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

determining verification parameters; and

the difference between the verification parameter and the reference verification parameter is compared to a threshold value.

11. The method of any of clauses 1-10, further comprising:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, adjusting a threshold; and

based on the threshold, it is determined whether the PUR configuration is valid.

12. The method of any of clauses 1-11, further comprising:

a positioning signal is received from a satellite that indicates position information for the satellite.

13. The method of any of clauses 1-12, further comprising:

receive PUR configuration verification timer configuration, and

wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid is further based on the timer configuration.

14. The method of any of clauses 1-13, further comprising:

a threshold configuration is received and,

wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid is further based on the threshold configuration.

15. The method of any of clauses 1-14, further comprising:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, determining that PUR opportunities are skipped.

16. A method for performing wireless communication by a Base Station (BS), the method comprising:

transmitting the preconfigured uplink resource configuration (PUR) to a User Equipment (UE) via a satellite;

the communication signals are received in the PUR from the UE via the satellite based on the location information validation of the PUR configuration associated with the satellite.

17. The method of aspect 16, further comprising:

One or more PUR verification parameters for verifying PUR configuration are transmitted to the UE via the satellite.

18. A User Equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled with the memory and configured to, when executing instructions stored on the memory, cause the UE to perform the actions of any of clauses 1-15.

19. A Base Station (BS), comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to, when executing instructions stored on the memory, cause the BS to perform the actions of any of clauses 16 to 17.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded therein, wherein the program code includes instructions executable by a processor of a User Equipment (UE) to cause the UE to perform the actions of any of clauses 1-15.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program code recorded therein, wherein the program code includes instructions executable by a processor of a Base Station (BS) to cause the BS to perform the actions of any of clauses 16-17.

22. A User Equipment (UE) comprising means for performing the actions of any of clauses 1 to 15.

23. A Base Station (BS) comprising means for performing the actions of any of clauses 16 to 17.

Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software for execution by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described above may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwired or any combination thereof. Features that implement the functions may also be physically located in various places including being distributed such that parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations. In addition, as used herein (including in the claims), an "or" used in an item enumeration (e.g., an item enumeration accompanied by a phrase such as "at least one of or" one or more of ") indicates an inclusive enumeration, such that, for example, an enumeration of [ A, B or at least one of C ] means a or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., a and B and C).

As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art so far and depending on the particular application at hand, many modifications, substitutions and changes may be made in the materials, apparatus, configuration and method of use of the device of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to the specific aspects illustrated and described herein (as they are merely examples of the disclosure), but rather should be fully commensurate with the appended claims and their functional equivalents.

Claims (30)

1. A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for wireless communication, the method comprising:

determining whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on information about locations associated with satellites in a non-terrestrial network; and

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid, communication signals are transmitted in PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

based on at least one of positioning of the satellites or satellite navigation timing information, it is determined whether a timing advance for transmitting the communication signal in the PUR to the BS meets a threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

a determination is made whether the frequency compensation meets a threshold based on the positioning of the satellites.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

a determination is made, based on beam positioning information for the satellite, whether a distance between the UE and a transmission beam associated with the satellite meets a threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

a determination is made whether an elevation angle associated with the UE and the satellite satisfies a threshold based on at least one of a position fix or a propagation delay of the satellite.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

whether the PUR configuration is valid is determined based on a received signal power associated with a reference signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

whether a drift rate of the satellite meets a threshold is determined based on at least one of a position or velocity or a timestamp in the position-related information associated with the satellite.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

Determining a location identifier associated with the PUR configuration; and

comparing the location identifiers provided by cells in system information, the location identifiers comprising one or more of cell identity, tracking area code, zone identity, and virtual cell identity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, determining that PUR opportunities are skipped.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, adjusting a threshold; and

determining whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the threshold.

11. A User Equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled with the memory and configured, when executing instructions stored on the memory, to cause the UE to:

determining whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on information about locations associated with satellites in a non-terrestrial network; and

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid, communication signals are transmitted in PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite via the transceiver.

12. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to cause the UE to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

based on at least one of positioning of the satellites or satellite navigation timing information, it is determined whether a timing advance for transmitting the communication signal in the PUR to the BS meets a threshold.

13. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to cause the UE to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

a determination is made whether the frequency compensation meets a threshold based on the positioning of the satellites.

14. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to cause the UE to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

a determination is made, based on beam positioning information for the satellite, whether a distance between the UE and a transmission beam associated with the satellite meets a threshold.

15. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to cause the UE to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

a determination is made whether an elevation angle associated with the UE and the satellite satisfies a threshold based on at least one of a position fix or a propagation delay of the satellite.

16. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to cause the UE to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

whether the PUR configuration is valid is determined based on a received signal power associated with a reference signal.

17. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to cause the UE to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

whether a drift rate of the satellite meets a threshold is determined based on at least one of a position or velocity or a timestamp in the position-related information associated with the satellite.

18. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to determine whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises the processor being configured to cause the UE to:

determining a location identifier associated with the PUR configuration; and

comparing the location identifiers provided by cells in system information, the location identifiers comprising one or more of cell identity, tracking area code, zone identity, and virtual cell identity.

19. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:

In response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, determining that PUR opportunities are skipped.

20. The UE of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, adjusting a threshold; and

determining whether the PUR configuration is valid based on the threshold.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

code for causing a User Equipment (UE) to determine whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on location related information associated with satellites in a non-terrestrial network; and

code for causing the UE to transmit a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid.

22. A User Equipment (UE), comprising:

means for determining whether a Preconfigured Uplink Resource (PUR) configuration is valid based on information about locations associated with satellites in a non-terrestrial network; and

means for transmitting a communication signal in a PUR to a Base Station (BS) via the satellite in response to determining that the PUR configuration is valid.

23. The UE of claim 22, wherein means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

Means for determining whether a timing advance for transmitting the communication signal in the PUR to the BS meets a threshold based on at least one of positioning of the satellites or satellite navigation timing information.

24. The UE of claim 22, wherein means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

means for determining whether a frequency compensation meets a threshold based on a position fix of the satellite.

25. The UE of claim 22, wherein means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

means for determining, based on beam positioning information of the satellite, whether a distance between the UE and a transmission beam associated with the satellite meets a threshold.

26. The UE of claim 22, wherein means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

means for determining whether an elevation angle associated with the UE and the satellite meets a threshold based on at least one of a position fix or a propagation delay of the satellite.

27. The UE of claim 22, wherein means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid based on a received signal power associated with a reference signal.

28. The UE of claim 22, wherein means for determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

means for determining whether a drift rate of the satellite meets a threshold based on at least one of a position or a velocity or a timestamp in the location related information associated with the satellite.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the PUR configuration is valid comprises:

determining a location identifier associated with the PUR configuration; and

comparing the location identifiers provided by cells in system information, the location identifiers comprising one or more of cell identity, tracking area code, zone identity, and virtual cell identity.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the PUR configuration is invalid, determining that PUR opportunities are skipped.