CN118283650A

CN118283650A - Communication method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN118283650A
Application number: CN202211733654.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 仲亚萍; 胡星星
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-30
Filing date: 2022-12-30
Publication date: 2024-07-02
Also published as: WO2024140216A1

Abstract

The present application discloses a communication method and a communication device, and the present application can be applied to a wireless communication system, such as a satellite communication system. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment determines whether the terminal equipment is located in a first area, wherein the first area is an area indicated by first TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment; and when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid. The terminal device may store a plurality of TN coverage information, where the first TN coverage information is one of the plurality of TN coverage information. When the terminal equipment determines that the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective, the new system information containing TN coverage information does not need to be read; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN overlay information can be reduced, thereby saving power consumption.

Description

Communication method and communication device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a communication method and a communication device in the field of non-terrestrial network communications.

Background

Non-ground network (non-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS, NTN) is represented by non-ground equipment such as satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude platforms and the like, and the method has the advantages of wide coverage range, long communication distance, high reliability, high flexibility, high throughput and the like. The introduction of non-terrestrial networks into the fifth Generation mobile network (5 th-Generation, 5G) can provide communication services for areas that are difficult to cover by terrestrial networks (TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS, TN), such as the ocean, forests, etc., can also enhance the reliability of 5G communications, such as providing more stable and better quality communication services for trains, airplanes, and users on these vehicles, can also provide more data transmission resources, and can support a greater number of connections.

Currently, the terminal device generally uses the following two conditions to determine whether the system message stored therein is invalid: 1. after 3 hours from the time of confirming and storing the system information, the system information is invalid; 2. after a public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN), cell identity, or value tag (valuetage) of the system message is changed, the system message is invalidated. After the terminal device determines that the stored system message is invalid, it needs to re-read and store a new system message. However, determining whether the stored system message is invalid by the two conditions will determine that some valid system messages are invalid. Therefore, the terminal equipment can read the system information which is not needed to be read, and the power consumption is high. Therefore, a scheme of more accurately determining whether a system message is invalid needs to be studied in order to save power consumption.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application discloses a communication method and a communication device, which can save the power consumption of terminal equipment.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: the terminal equipment determines whether the terminal equipment is located in a first area, wherein the first area is an area indicated by first ground network TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment; and when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid. The terminal device may store a plurality of TN coverage information, where the first TN coverage information is one of the plurality of TN coverage information.

In the embodiment of the application, when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is determined to be effective. When the terminal equipment determines that the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective, the new system information containing TN coverage information does not need to be read; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN overlay information can be reduced, thereby saving power consumption.

In one possible implementation, the first region is a region covered by TN, or the first region includes a region covered by TN and a region not covered by TN. Optionally, the area covered by TN is associated with a frequency point of a TN cell, and the area not covered by TN is not associated with a frequency point of a TN cell.

In this implementation, it is determined, by the first area, whether the system message containing the TN-coverage information stored by the terminal device is valid, so as to reduce the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN-coverage information.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area (such as all areas) indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment and first information and second information are the same, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is valid, wherein the first information comprises a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal equipment through a system information block (system information block, SIB) 1, the second information comprises the target parameter associated with a second system message stored by the terminal equipment, and the first system message and the second system message both comprise TN coverage information, and the target parameter comprises at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN), or a value tag (valuetag). For example, the terminal device stores TN-coverage information 1, TN-coverage information 2, and a second system message including TN-coverage information 3, where TN-coverage information 1 indicates area 1, TN-coverage information 2 indicates area 2, TN-coverage information 3 indicates area 3, and examples of at least one area indicated by TN-coverage information that is not stored in the terminal device are: the terminal equipment is not located in zone 1 nor zone 2 nor zone 3.

In the implementation manner, when the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area indicated by TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment and the first information and the second information are the same, determining that a system message containing TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is valid; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN overlay information can be reduced, thereby saving power consumption. The first information and the second information being identical indicate that the first system message and the second system message are identical, so that the first system message does not need to be read, and the number of times of reading the system message containing TN coverage information can be further reduced.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area (such as all areas) indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment and the first information and the second information are different, determining that the system information containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid, wherein the first information comprises a target parameter related to a first system message read by the terminal equipment through SIB1, the second information comprises the target parameter related to a second system message stored by the terminal equipment, and the first system message and the second system message both contain the TN coverage information, and the target parameter comprises at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN or a value tag.

When the terminal equipment is not located in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, the TN coverage information in the second system message indicates that TN coverage conditions around the current position of the terminal equipment cannot be indicated, so that the terminal equipment needs to be acquired again. And when the first information and the second information are the same, indicating that TN coverage information carried in the first system information is the same as TN coverage information in the stored first system information. And when the first information and the second information are different, indicating that new TN coverage information exists. Therefore, when the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area (such as all areas) indicated by the stored TN coverage information and the first information and the second information are different, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid; the invalidation of the system message containing the TN-coverage information can be accurately determined.

In one possible implementation manner, after determining that the system message containing TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is invalid, the method further includes: the terminal equipment reads the first system message; and the terminal equipment stores TN coverage information contained in the first system message under the condition of reserving the first TN coverage information. Reserving the first TN coverage information may be considered not deleting the first TN coverage information.

In the implementation manner, under the condition that the terminal equipment reserves the first TN coverage information, the TN coverage information contained in the first system message is saved; so as to determine whether the system message of the contained TN coverage information is valid or not by using the stored plurality of TN coverage information.

In one possible implementation manner, after determining that the system message containing TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is invalid, the method further includes: the terminal equipment reads the first system message; and the terminal equipment deletes the stored first TN coverage information and stores TN coverage information contained in the first system message.

In this implementation, by deleting the stored first TN coverage information, storage resources may be saved.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the terminal equipment is not positioned in at least one area (such as all areas) indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid.

In the implementation manner, when the terminal equipment is located in the first area, the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is determined to be effective; when the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area (such as all areas) indicated by the stored TN coverage information, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN overlay information can be reduced, thereby saving power consumption.

In a possible implementation manner, first information and second information are different, the first information includes a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB1, the second information includes the target parameter associated with a second system message stored by the terminal device, the first system message and the second system message each include TN coverage information, and the target parameter includes at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN, or a value tag.

The first information and the second information are different, indicating that the first system message and the second system message are different. When the first information and the second information are different, the terminal equipment determines whether the terminal equipment is located in the first area or not so as to further determine whether the stored system message containing TN coverage information is valid or not.

In one possible implementation manner, the determining, by the terminal device, whether it is located in the first area includes: when first information and second information are different, the terminal equipment determines whether the first information and the second information are located in the first area, the first information comprises target parameters related to a first system message read by the terminal equipment through SIB1, the second information comprises the target parameters related to a second system message stored by the terminal equipment, the first system message and the second system message both comprise TN coverage information, and the target parameters comprise at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN or a value tag.

When the first information and the second information are different, the terminal equipment determines whether the terminal equipment is located in the first area or not so as to further determine whether the stored system message containing TN coverage information is valid or not.

In one possible implementation manner, the terminal device meets a target condition, where the target condition includes any one of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; and the terminal equipment receives the system message change indication, and the first cell is an NTN cell.

In one possible implementation manner, the determining, by the terminal device, whether it is located in the first area includes: when a target condition is met, the terminal device determines whether the target condition is located in the first area, wherein the target condition comprises any one of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; and the terminal equipment receives the system message change indication, and the first cell is an NTN cell. The system message change indication may be used to indicate that a change has occurred in the system message.

In one possible implementation manner, the determining, by the terminal device, whether it is located in the first area includes: and when the terminal equipment reads SIB1, determining whether the SIB1 is positioned in the first area. Optionally, the terminal device periodically reads SIB1.

When the terminal equipment reads SIB1, determining whether the SIB1 is located in the first area so as to update the system message containing TN coverage information in time.

In one possible implementation, the first system message further includes information of a frequency point bound to the first area.

The first system message also contains information of the frequency points bound with the first area, so that the frequency points bound with the first area are obtained according to the first system message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the area of the first region is larger than the area of the NTN cell.

The area of the area indicated by the TN coverage information of the area level is larger than that of one NTN cell. The first area indicated by the first TN-coverage information may be regarded as TN-coverage information of one area level, or may be TN-coverage information of a cell level.

In this implementation manner, the area of the first area is larger than the area of one NTN cell, so that the number of times that the terminal device reads the system message including the TN coverage information can be reduced.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication method, including: the network equipment generates a system message containing second TN coverage information, wherein the second TN coverage information is used for indicating a TN coverage area and/or a TN non-coverage area in a second area, and the area of the second area is larger than that of an NTN cell; and the network equipment broadcasts the system message when the NTN cell supported by the network equipment is positioned in the second area. A plurality of TN cells may be included in the second region. Alternatively, a plurality of TN cells belong to the second region. An NTN cell supported by a network device may be understood as being served by the network device. The communication method of the second aspect may be replaced by: when the supported NTN cell is located in a second area, the network equipment generates a system message containing second TN coverage information, and broadcasts the system message, wherein the second TN coverage information is used for indicating a TN coverage area and/or a TN non-coverage area in the second area, and the area of the second area is larger than that of one NTN cell.

In the embodiment of the application, when the network equipment supports the NTN cell in the second area, broadcasting a system message containing second TN coverage information; the number of times of updating the system message containing the TN-coverage information can be reduced.

In one possible implementation, the second area is the whole coverage area of a satellite in a satellite orbit, or the second area is a partial coverage area of a satellite in a satellite orbit, or the second area is the whole or partial coverage area of a plurality of satellites in a satellite orbit, or the second area is the coverage area provided by a satellite connected to a base station, or the second area is the coverage area of a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the NTN cells supported by the network equipment enter a third area and do not completely exit the second area, broadcasting a system message containing the second TN coverage information and third TN coverage information, wherein the third TN coverage information is used for indicating an area with TN coverage and/or an area without TN coverage in the third area. For example, the third zone comprises at least one zone covered by TN.

In the implementation manner, when the coverage of the NTN cell supported by the network equipment enters a third area and does not completely exit the second area, broadcasting a system message containing second TN coverage information and third TN coverage information; so that the terminal device knows the conditions or information of TN coverage in the second area and the third area according to the system message.

In one possible implementation, the network device broadcasts a system message containing the third TN-coverage information when its supported NTN cells enter a third region and exit the second region entirely.

In the implementation manner, when the supported NTN cell enters a third area and does not completely exit the second area, the network equipment broadcasts a system message containing second TN coverage information and third TN coverage information; broadcasting a system message containing third TN coverage information when the coverage of the NTN cell enters a third area and completely exits from the second area; when the NTN cell covers the second area and the third area at the same time, the frequency of the terminal frequently acquiring the system information is reduced, the ping-pong effect is reduced, and the signaling overhead is also reduced.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the NTN cells supported by the network equipment enter a third area and do not completely exit the second area, broadcasting a system message containing third TN coverage information, wherein the third TN coverage information is used for indicating an area with TN coverage and/or an area without TN coverage in the third area.

In the implementation manner, when the network device enters a third area and does not completely exit the second area from the supported NTN cell, broadcasting a system message containing third TN coverage information; so that the terminal device can know the TN covered area in the third area according to the system message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and when the network equipment completely exits the second area from the NTN cell supported by the network equipment, updating the system message containing the TN coverage information.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the network equipment sends a system message change instruction when changing TN coverage information contained in the system message.

In this implementation, the system message change instruction is sent, so that the terminal device can know that the system message of the contained TN coverage information is changed.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication method, including: the method comprises the steps that first network equipment generates a system message containing second TN coverage information, wherein the second TN coverage information is used for indicating a TN coverage area and/or a TN non-coverage area in a second area, the second area comprises areas corresponding to a plurality of cells generated by at least one network equipment, and the at least one network equipment comprises the first network equipment; the first network device broadcasts the system message.

In the embodiment of the application, the system message containing the second TN coverage information broadcast by the first network device is a regional system message. The first network device does not need to frequently update the system message containing the TN coverage information, so that the update times of the system message containing the TN coverage information are reduced, and the power consumption of the terminal device is further reduced.

In one possible implementation, the plurality of cells includes a plurality of adjacent NTN cells, and the second area includes coverage areas of the plurality of cells. For example, the plurality of cells are a plurality of adjacent NTN cells. The coverage area of the second area including the plurality of cells may be the coverage area of the second area including all or part of each of the plurality of cells, or may be the coverage area of a part of the plurality of cells and all of another part of the cells.

In one possible implementation, the at least one network device broadcasts a system message containing the second TN coverage information. That is, a plurality of neighboring cells broadcast a system message containing the same TN-coverage information, such that the plurality of neighboring cells form a larger area, i.e., a second area. And the terminal equipment does not need to frequently read the system information containing TN coverage information in the second area, so that the power consumption is saved.

In one possible implementation, the first network device broadcasting the system message includes: the first network device broadcasts the system message when its generated cell is located within the second region.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system including: the system comprises first network equipment and second network equipment, wherein the first network equipment and the second network equipment both broadcast system messages containing second TN coverage information, the second TN coverage information is used for indicating a TN coverage area and/or a TN non-coverage area in a second area, the second area comprises areas corresponding to a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells comprise coverage areas of a first cell generated by the first network equipment and second cells generated by the second network equipment, and the first cell and the second cell are different.

In the embodiment of the application, the system messages containing the second TN coverage information broadcast by the first network device and the second network device are regional system messages. The first network device and the second network device do not need to update the system message containing TN coverage information frequently, so that the update times of the system message containing TN coverage information are reduced, and the power consumption of the terminal device is further reduced.

In one possible implementation, the plurality of cells includes a plurality of adjacent NTN cells, and the second area includes coverage areas of the plurality of cells.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device having a function of implementing the behavior in the method embodiment of the first aspect described above. The communication device may be a terminal device, a component of a terminal device (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software by hardware, where the hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions described above. In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module, where: the processing module is used for determining whether the terminal equipment is located in a first area, wherein the first area is an area indicated by first ground network TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment; and when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to determine that, when the terminal device is not located in at least one area (for example, all areas) indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device and the first information and the second information are the same, the system message stored in the terminal device and containing the TN coverage information is valid, where the first information includes a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB1, the second information includes the target parameter associated with a second system message stored in the terminal device, and both the first system message and the second system message include the TN coverage information, and the target parameter includes at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN, or a value tag.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to determine that, when the terminal device is not located in at least one area (for example, all areas) indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device and the first information and the second information are different, the system message stored in the terminal device and containing the TN coverage information is invalid, where the first information includes a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB1, the second information includes the target parameter associated with a second system message stored in the terminal device, and both the first system message and the second system message include the TN coverage information, and the target parameter includes at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN, or a value tag.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is configured to receive (or read or acquire) the first system message; the processing module is further configured to store TN coverage information included in the first system message, where the first TN coverage information is reserved.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is configured to receive (or read or acquire) the first system message; the processing module is further configured to delete the stored first TN coverage information, and store TN coverage information included in the first system message.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to determine that the system message including the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device is invalid when the terminal device is not located in at least one area (for example, all areas) indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is specifically configured to determine, when first information and second information are different, whether the first information and the second information are located in the first area, where the first information includes a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB1, the second information includes the target parameter associated with a second system message stored by the terminal device, where the first system message and the second system message each include TN coverage information, and the target parameter includes at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN, or a value tag.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is specifically configured to determine whether the terminal device is located in the first area when a target condition is met, where the target condition includes any one of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; and the terminal equipment receives the system message change indication, and the first cell is an NTN cell. The system message change indication may be used to indicate that a change has occurred in the system message.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is specifically configured to determine, when SIB1 is read, whether the terminal device is located in the first area. Optionally, the terminal device periodically reads SIB1.

Possible implementations of the terminal device of the fifth aspect may be seen in the various possible implementations of the first aspect.

With respect to the technical effects brought about by the various possible implementations of the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the first aspect or of the various possible implementations of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device having a function of implementing the behavior in the method embodiment of the second aspect described above. The communication device may be a network device, a component of a network device (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a system on a chip), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software by hardware, where the hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions described above. In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module, where: the processing module is configured to generate a system message including second TN-coverage information, where the second TN-coverage information is used to indicate a region with TN-coverage and/or a region without TN-coverage in a second region, and an area of the second region is greater than an area of one NTN cell; the transceiver module is configured to broadcast the system message when an NTN cell supported by the network device is located in the second area.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to broadcast a system message including the second TN-coverage information and third TN-coverage information when the NTN cell supported by the network device enters a third area and does not completely exit the second area, where the third TN-coverage information is used to indicate an area with TN-coverage and/or an area without TN-coverage in the third area.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to broadcast a system message including the third TN coverage information when the NTN cell supported by the network device enters a third area and completely exits the second area.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to broadcast a system message including third TN-coverage information, where the third TN-coverage information is used to indicate a region with TN-coverage and/or a region without TN-coverage in the third region when the NTN cell supported by the network device enters the third region and does not completely exit the second region.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to update a system message including TN-coverage information when the NTN cell supported by the network device completely exits the second area.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to send a system message change instruction when changing TN coverage information included in the system message.

Possible implementations of the terminal device of the sixth aspect may be seen in the various possible implementations of the second aspect.

With respect to the technical effects brought about by the various possible implementations of the sixth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the second aspect or of the various possible implementations of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device having a function of implementing the behavior in the method embodiment of the third aspect described above. The communication device may be a network device, a component of a network device (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a system on a chip), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software by hardware, where the hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions described above. In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module, where: the processing module is configured to generate a system message including second TN coverage information, where the second TN coverage information is used to indicate a region with TN coverage and/or a region without TN coverage in a second region, the second region includes a region corresponding to a plurality of cells generated by a plurality of network devices, and the plurality of network devices includes a first network device; the receiving and transmitting module is used for broadcasting the system message.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is specifically configured to broadcast the system message when the cell generated by the first network device is located in the second area.

Possible implementations of the terminal device of the seventh aspect may be seen in the various possible implementations of the third aspect.

Regarding the technical effects brought about by the various possible implementations of the seventh aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the third aspect or of the various possible implementations of the third aspect.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communications apparatus, the communications apparatus comprising a processor coupled with a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communications apparatus to perform the method of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect described above.

In the embodiment of the present application, in the process of executing the above method, the process of sending information (or signals) in the above method may be understood as a process of outputting information based on instructions of a processor. In outputting the information, the processor outputs the information to the transceiver for transmission by the transceiver. This information, after being output by the processor, may also need to be subjected to other processing before reaching the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives input information, the transceiver receives the information and inputs it to the processor. Further, after the transceiver receives the information, the information may need to be further processed before being input to the processor.

With respect to operations such as sending and/or receiving, etc., as referred to by a processor, if not explicitly stated or if not contradicted by actual or inherent logic in the relevant description, may be generally understood as processor-based instruction output.

In implementation, the processor may be a processor dedicated to performing the methods, or may be a processor that executes computer instructions in a memory to perform the methods, such as a general-purpose processor. For example, the processor may also be configured to execute a program stored in the memory, which when executed, causes the communication device to perform the method as described above in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

In one possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device. In one possible implementation, the memory is located within the communication device.

In one possible implementation, the processor and the memory may also be integrated in one device, i.e. the processor and the memory may also be integrated together.

In one possible implementation, the communication device further comprises a transceiver for receiving signals or transmitting signals, etc.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides another communication apparatus comprising processing circuitry and interface circuitry for acquiring data or outputting data; the processing circuitry is to perform the method as set forth in any of the above first aspect to the above third aspect.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program comprising program instructions which when executed cause a computer to perform the method as set out in any of the first to third aspects above.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising a computer program comprising program instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to perform the method as set out in any of the first to third aspects above.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, including the terminal device according to the fifth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, and the communication apparatus according to the sixth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, including the terminal device according to the fifth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, and the communication apparatus according to the seventh aspect or any possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip comprising a processor and a communication interface, the processor reading instructions stored on a memory via the communication interface, performing the method as described in any one of the first to third aspects above.

Drawings

In order to more clearly describe the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the background art, the following description will describe the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments of the present application or the background art.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mapping manner of a ground stationary cell;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a mapping scheme of a terrestrial mobile cell;

fig. 3 is an example of a change of a TN area in an NTN cell along with movement of a satellite according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a CU-DU separation architecture;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7A, fig. 7B, fig. 7C, and fig. 7D are examples of a first area provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a communication method interaction flow chart provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is an interaction flow chart of a communication method for updating a system message containing TN coverage information by a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 12 is an example of an NTN cell and a second area according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 13 is an example of a TN domain in an NTN cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is an example of a TN domain in another NTN cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is an example of a TN domain in another NTN cell according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1600 according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device 170 according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device 180 according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The terms first and second and the like in the description, the claims and the drawings of the present application are used for distinguishing between different objects and not for describing a particular sequential order. It will be appreciated that the various numerical numbers referred to in the embodiments of the present application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence number of each process does not mean the sequence of the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined according to the function and the internal logic. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. Such as a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to the list of steps or elements but may include other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those of skill in the art will explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

The terminology used in the following embodiments of the application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. As used in the specification of the present application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used in this disclosure refers to and encompasses any or all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items. For example, "a and/or B" may represent: only a, only B and both a and B are present, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The term "plurality" as used in the present application means two or more. In the text description of the present application, the character "/", generally indicates that the front-rear associated object is an or relationship. The term "at least one" as used in the present application means one or more.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to a" means that there is a correspondence between a and B, and B may be determined according to a. It should also be understood that determining (or generating) B from (or based on) a does not mean determining (or generating) B from (or based on) a alone, but may also determine (or generate) B from (or based on) a and/or other information.

In order to facilitate understanding of the aspects of the present application, the terms and technical solutions related to the embodiments of the present application are first described below.

For convenience of description, the NTN network will be described below by taking a non-terrestrial device as an example, and the present application is not limited to the NTN network of other non-terrestrial devices.

Low-orbit satellites and medium-orbit satellites are divided into two ground mapping modes: a mapping manner of a terrestrial stationary cell (quad-earth-fixed cell) and a mapping manner of a terrestrial mobile cell (earth-moving cell).

In general, the higher the orbit of a satellite, the larger its coverage area, but the longer the delay of communication. In general, the orbit of a satellite can be classified into: the track height of the low track and the ground track is 160-2 000km; the track height of the middle track is 2 000-35 786km; the orbit has an orbit height of 35.786 km, and the relative position of the satellite running on the orbit and the earth is not influenced by the rotation of the earth.

Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate a cell mapping manner by taking a part or all of functions of a node B (gNB) that is continuously evolved by satellite implementation as an example, and the present application is not limited to the manner described in fig. 1 and 2. The mapping mode of the ground static cells means that the positions of cells (cells) are fixed on the ground, and the mobile satellites form the cells by adjusting the beam of the mobile satellites. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mapping manner of a ground stationary cell. In fig. 1, gNB1 and gNB2 may be considered as base stations on the satellite, with gNB1 and gNB2 moving from right to left. Referring to fig. 1, at time T1: cell 1 and cell 2 have the beam coverage of gNB1, and cell 3 and cell 4 are covered by the beam of gNB 2; time T2: although the gNB1 and the gNB2 move leftwards, the gNB1 and the gNB2 can still adjust own wave beams, and coverage of the cell 1, the cell 2, the cell 3 and the cell 4 is ensured; time T3: compared to time T1, gNB1 and gNB2 have moved a sufficient distance, gNB1 cannot provide coverage for cell 2 again by adjusting the beam, gNB2 cannot provide coverage for cell 4 by adjusting the beam, at which time gNB2 may provide coverage for cell 2 and gNB3 may provide coverage for cell 4.

The mapping manner of the ground mobile cell means that the moving satellite does not dynamically adjust its beam direction, and the beam generated by the satellite moves on the ground along with the movement of the satellite. Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a mapping manner of a ground mobile cell. In fig. 2, gNB1 and gNB2 may be considered as base stations on the satellite, with gNB1 and gNB2 moving from right to left. Referring to fig. 2, at time T1: this area is covered by cell 1, cell 2, cell 3, cell 4 of gNB1 and gNB2, while at T3 this area is covered by cell 2, cell 3, cell 4, cell 5 of gNB1, gNB2 and gNB 3. Or, at time T1: gNB1 covers cell 1 and cell 2, gNB2 covers cell 3 and cell 4; time T3: gNB1 covers cell 2, gNB2 covers cell 2 and cell 3, gNB3 covers cell 5.

System information (system information, SI)

The system message is a message sent by a cell (e.g., a TN cell or NTN cell) or by a network device to all terminal devices within the cell. In a New Radio (NR) system, the minimum SI is divided into a master information block (master information block, MIB) and SIB1, and other SIs, and the minimum SI is periodically transmitted by a cell or network device. Wherein the MIB provides the most basic initial access information such as system frame number, carrier spacing, synchronization signal and PBCH block (SSB) offset and acquisition mode information of SIB 1. SIB1 may also be referred to as remaining minimum system information (REMAINING MINIMUM SYSTEM INFORMATION, RMSI). RMSI typically include cell selection and initial access information (e.g., PLMN, tracking area code (TRACKING AREA code, TAC), cell identity (CELLID), etc.), other SI information (value table, PLMN, cell ID, etc.), scheduling information (SI period, window length, SIB mapping, etc.), and cell configuration information (frequency band, frequency point, bandwidth, initial BWP configuration, etc.).

The terminal device may obtain information of other SI through SIB1, for example, value tag of other SI, PLMN, cell ID, etc. All SIBs except MIB and SIB1 may be referred to as other SIs, while other SIs (SIB 2, SIB3, SIB4 … … SIBX) are transmitted in the systemization message. Other SIs may be sent periodically or based on a request from a terminal device for base station power saving. Any SIB other than SIB1 may be configured as a cell-specific SIB or a region-specific SIB using the indication in SIB 1. The cell-specific SIB is only applicable to the cell providing the SIB, and the system message is not applicable when the terminal device moves to another cell. While the region-specific SIB is applicable to a region called SI region, which is composed of one or more cells, identified by systemInformationAreaID, i.e. the region-level SIB does not need to be updated when the terminal device moves within a plurality of cells within the same region. Currently, system messages can only broadcast system messages of one area.

Due to the constant high speed movement of the satellites, the TN area (i.e., the area covered by TN) within the NTN cell will change as the satellites move while the NTN cell is moving. The network device may broadcast a system message containing TN-coverage information in its supported NTN cells to inform the terminal device, where the TN-coverage information is used to indicate a region with TN-coverage and/or a region without TN-coverage in the NTN cells. The terminal equipment can determine whether TN coverage exists around according to the TN coverage information, and whether TN frequency point measurement needs to be started or not.

Subsequent SIBXX herein may represent a system message containing TN overlay information. SIBXX issued by the NTN cell needs to be updated frequently as the satellite moves. When the network device updates SIBXX, the network device may issue a system message change indication to the terminal devices within its supported NTN cells. Fig. 3 is an example of a change of a TN area in an NTN cell along with movement of a satellite according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 3, at time T1, the NTN cell includes a TN region 1 and a TN region 2; from time T1 to time T2, the NTN cell moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in fig. 3; at time T2, the NTN cell includes TN-cell 2 and TN-cell 3. SIBXX issued by the network device at the time of T1 contains TN coverage information 1, where TN coverage information 1 includes TN information 1 indicating TN area 1 and TN information 2 indicating TN area 2. At time T2, the network device updates TN-coverage information 1 to include TN information 2 and TN information 3 indicating TN-zone 3. Or, the network device contains TN-coverage information 2 in SIBXX issued at the time of T2, where TN-coverage information 2 contains TN information 2 and TN information 3. It will be appreciated that the network device broadcasts system messages containing different TN coverage information at times T1 and T2. The network device issues a system message change indication before issuing a system message containing TN-coverage information 2.

In one scheme, after receiving the system message change instruction from the network device, the terminal device reads the system message after the network device is changed. Since SIBXX issued by the NTN cell needs to be updated frequently along with the movement of the satellite, the terminal equipment can frequently read the system information after the network equipment is changed by adopting the scheme, and the power consumption is higher. In the above scheme, after the terminal device receives the system message change instruction from the network device, the reason that the terminal device will read the system message after the network device is changed is that the terminal device determines that the stored TN coverage information is invalid. Therefore, a scheme of more accurately determining whether a system message is invalid needs to be studied in order to save power consumption. The embodiment of the application provides a communication scheme which can more accurately determine whether the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is effective, thereby saving power consumption. In addition, the embodiment of the application also provides a communication scheme capable of reducing the times of updating the system message containing TN coverage information by the network equipment. The following describes a system architecture to which the communication scheme provided by the embodiment of the present application is applicable.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to fig. 4, the network element related to the system architecture mainly includes: terminal equipment, core network equipment, and one or more access network equipment (only 2 are shown). In some embodiments, the wireless communication system may be comprised of a plurality of cells, each cell containing one or more access network devices therein, the access network devices providing communication services to a plurality of terminal devices. In a wireless communication system, a plurality of terminal devices can communicate with each other. The terminal device is located in the coverage area of one or more cells (carriers) provided by the access network device, i.e. the cells serving the terminal device may be one or more. A terminal device in a wireless communication system may perform a cell switch, i.e. from a currently accessed cell to another cell, e.g. to a cell that may provide better service for the terminal device.

A terminal device, also called User Equipment (UE), mobile Station (MS), mobile Terminal (MT), etc., is a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user. For example, the terminal device is a handheld device, an in-vehicle device, or the like having a wireless connection function. Currently, examples of some terminal devices are: a mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook, a palm, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a wearable device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in unmanned (SELF DRIVING), a wireless terminal in teleoperation (remote medical surgery), a wireless terminal in smart grid (SMART GRID), a wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (SMART CITY), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), a subscriber unit (subscore), a cellular phone (cellular phone), a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (personal DIGITAL ASSISTANT, PDA) computer, a laptop (laser computer), a machine type communication (MACHINE TYPE communication, MTC) terminal, an unmanned aerial vehicle, and the like. The terminal device may be any type of terminal in a 5G or a communication system that evolves after 5G, and the present application is not limited to this.

An access network device refers to a radio access network (radio access network, RAN) node (or device), also referred to as a base station, that accesses a terminal device to a wireless network. Currently, some examples of RAN nodes are: a further evolved Node B (gNB), a transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a Node B (Node B, NB), a base station controller (base station controller, BSC), a base transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), baseband unit (BBU), or wireless fidelity (WIRELESS FIDELITY, wifi) Access Point (AP), satellite, access backhaul (IAB), etc. In addition, in a network structure, the access network device may be a RAN device including a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU) node or a Distributed Unit (DU) node, or may be a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node. The RAN equipment comprising CU nodes and DU nodes splits the protocol layers of gNB in the New Radio (NR) system, part of the functions of the protocol layers are put in CU centralized control, and the rest of the functions of all the protocol layers are distributed in DUs, so that the CU centralized control on the DUs. Further, CUs can be further divided into control plane (CU-CP) and user plane (CU-UP). Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a CU-DU separation architecture. Referring to fig. 5, each DU is connected to a CU through an F1 logical interface; radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, medium access control (MEDIA ACCESS control, MAC) layer, and physical layer (PHYSICAL LAYER, PHY) related operations are handled by DUs; service data adaptation protocol (SERVICE DATA adaptation protocol, SDAP) layer, radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) layer and packet data convergence protocol (PACKET DATA convergence protocol, PDCP) layer related operations are handled by the CU. The CU-CP is responsible for a control plane (control plane) function and mainly comprises RRC and PDCP corresponding to the control plane, namely PDCP-C. The PDCP-C is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of control plane data, integrity protection, data transmission and the like. The CU-UP is responsible for the user plane (user plane) function and mainly comprises SDAP and PDCP corresponding to the user plane, namely PDCP-U. Where the SDAP is mainly responsible for handling data of the core network and mapping flows (flows) to bearers. The PDCP-U is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of a data surface, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, data transmission and the like. Wherein CU-CP and CU-UP are connected through E1 interface. The CU-CP represents a CU connected to the core network through Ng interfaces. The CU-CP is connected to the DU through the F1 interface control plane (i.e., F1-C). CU-UP is connected to DU through F1 interface user plane (i.e. F1-U). Of course, a further possible implementation is that the PDCP-C is also in the CU-UP.

The core network device refers to a device in a Core Network (CN) that provides service support for the terminal device. Currently, examples of some core network devices are: an access and mobility management function (ACCESS AND mobility management function, AMF) entity, a session management function (session management function, SMF) entity, a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) entity, etc., not explicitly recited herein. The AMF entity can be responsible for access management and mobility management of the terminal; the SMF entity may be responsible for session management, such as session establishment of a user; the UPF entity may be a functional entity of a user plane, and is mainly responsible for connecting to an external network. It should be noted that, in the present application, an entity may also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity. For example, the AMF entity may also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. For another example, the SMF entity may also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, etc.

The communication scheme provided by the embodiment of the application is also applicable to other communication systems. For example, a wireless local area network system such as a satellite communication system, an internet of things (internet of things, ioT) network or an internet of vehicles (V2X), a universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS), a wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN), a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), a fifth generation (5th generation,5G) communication system, and a future sixth generation (6th generation,6G) communication system, and the like. The communication scheme provided by the embodiment of the application is also suitable for other communication systems which relate to TN coverage information which needs to be changed and issued by network equipment.

The communication system to which the communication scheme provided in the embodiment of the present application is applicable is merely illustrative, and the communication system to which the present application is applicable is not limited thereto, and is generally described herein, and will not be described in detail.

The following describes a communication scheme provided by an embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, the method includes:

601. The terminal device determines whether it is located within the first area.

The first area is an area indicated by first TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment. The first area is an area covered by TN. Or the first zone is a zone without TN coverage. Or the first area comprises a TN covered area and a TN uncovered area. The first area may be an area larger than the actual coverage area of the NTN cell or may be an area smaller than the actual coverage area of the NTN cell. Fig. 7A, fig. 7B, fig. 7C, and fig. 7D are examples of the first area provided by the embodiment of the present application. Referring to fig. 7a,701 shows a first region including a region with TN coverage on the left and a region without TN coverage on the right. Referring to fig. 7b and 702, a first area is a coverage area of an NTN cell, where the first area includes two areas covered by TN, that is, TN area 1 and TN area 2, and the areas except for TN area 1 and TN area 2 in the first area are areas without TN coverage. Referring to fig. 7c,703 shows a first area, where the first area is a coverage area of an NTN cell, TN area 1 in the first area is an area with TN coverage, and all areas except the TN area in the first area are areas without TN coverage. Referring to fig. 7d and 704, the first area is a coverage area of the NTN cell, the first area is divided into areas 1 to 8, and the total of 8 areas, TN areas 3 and 4 are areas covered by TN, and the other areas are areas covered by TN. It should be noted that fig. 7A to 7D are only some examples, but not all examples, of the first area, and the possible forms of the first area are not limited herein.

The terminal device may store a plurality of TN-coverage information (may be referred to as TN-zone information), and the first TN-coverage information is one of the plurality of TN-coverage information. Each TN coverage information indicates one or more zones, see description of the first zone above. The terminal device may also store a system message containing TN-coverage information. The system message containing the TN coverage information may be a cell-specific system message or an area-specific system message. For example, the terminal device stores K TN coverage information and a system message including the TN coverage information, where the system message further includes a target parameter, and K is an integer greater than 0. In this example, the terminal device holds (k+1) TN coverage information in total. The purpose of the TN coverage information is to enable the terminal device to evaluate whether TN coverage exists around and whether TN frequency point measurement needs to be started according to the TN coverage information. The measurements of the TN frequency points may include, but are not limited to, measurements of cell reselection, radio resource management (radio resource management, RRM) measurements, and the like. TN coverage information may indicate all conditions of TN coverage within an area, including areas with TN coverage and areas without TN coverage. The TN coverage information may be used to indicate the area covered by the TN and the total coverage. Referring to fig. 7a, the TN coverage information indicates the coverage of the NTN cell and the area with TN coverage in the left half, and the terminal device may derive that there is no TN coverage in the right half. TN coverage information may also be used to indicate areas with TN coverage and areas without TN coverage, as shown in FIG. 7A to indicate that the left half has TN coverage and the right half has no TN coverage. The TN coverage information can also achieve the purpose by associating frequency points with region information, wherein the region with the associated TN frequency points is covered by TN, and the region without the associated TN frequency points is not covered by TN. For example, TN coverage information is used to indicate which areas have TN coverage, and TN coverage information may be understood as geographical location information having TN coverage; it may also be indicated which areas are not covered by TN, i.e. which geographical locations are not covered by TN. For another example, TN coverage information is geographic location information that may be used to determine whether TN coverage is present or not. The embodiment of the application does not limit the concrete form of TN coverage information.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device determines whether the target condition is located in the first area when the target condition is met, where the target condition includes any one of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; the terminal equipment receives a system message change instruction, and the first cell is an NTN cell. The system message change instruction may be used to instruct a change to a system message including TN-coverage information, or may be used to instruct a change to another system message. Examples of possible parts of the terminal device entering the first cell are as follows: starting up the terminal equipment to select a first cell; the terminal equipment reselects to a first cell; the terminal equipment is switched from other cells to a first cell; the terminal equipment enters a first cell from an area without network coverage; the terminal device enters the first cell from the foreign system. An example of the terminal device power-on selection of the first cell is as follows: the terminal equipment is started up, and the terminal equipment is selectively accessed into a satellite cell (first cell), namely, the terminal equipment is started up and is selectively accessed into the first cell. One example of a reselection of the terminal device to the first cell is as follows: the terminal equipment starts up to select an NTN cell (not a first cell), the terminal equipment performs cell reselection, the first cell is selected, and the terminal equipment resides in the first cell. One example of a handover of a terminal device from another cell to a first cell is as follows: due to the movement of the satellites, the location of the terminal device is covered by another satellite or by other cells within the same satellite, and a cell handover of the terminal device occurs.

The first area is an example of a plurality of areas indicated by TN coverage information stored by the terminal device. The target condition may be understood as a trigger condition for the terminal device to determine whether it is located within the area indicated by the TN coverage information it holds (including the first area). For example, when the terminal device enters the first cell, the terminal device determines whether the terminal device is located in region 1 (i.e., the first region), region 2, regions 3, … …, region F (an integer greater than 1), respectively; when the terminal equipment is located in any one of the areas 1 to F, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is effective; otherwise, determining that the system message containing TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid. For another example, after receiving the system message change instruction, the terminal device determines whether the terminal device is located in the area 1 (i.e., the first area), the area 2, the areas 3, … …, and the area F (an integer greater than 1), respectively; when the terminal equipment is located in any one of the areas 1 to F, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is effective; otherwise, determining that the system message containing TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid. Steps 601 and 602 may be understood as operations in which the terminal device decides (or otherwise determines) whether or not its stored system message containing TN coverage information is valid, the target condition being one possible trigger condition for triggering the decision. The terminal device can make a decision when triggering the scene of entering the first cell, or can make a decision according to the implementation of the terminal device, such as a periodic decision, or when the moving range of the terminal device exceeds a certain distance; decision making may also be performed upon receipt of a Public Warning System (PWS) notification; the decision may also be made after receiving a request from an upper layer, such as a positioning request. The embodiment of the application does not limit the condition that the terminal equipment triggers to judge (or determine) whether the stored system message containing TN coverage information is valid or not. When the target condition is met, the terminal equipment determines whether the terminal equipment is located in the first area or not so as to update the system message containing TN coverage information in time.

602. And when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid.

In the application, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is valid can be further understood as: it is determined that the terminal device does not need to re-read the system message containing the TN coverage information. Or determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is valid can be further understood as: and determining whether TN coverage exists around the terminal equipment which is determined before the terminal equipment continues to use. For example, the terminal device has previously determined that its periphery is free of TN coverage, and when the terminal device is located in the first area, it is still determined that its periphery is free of TN coverage. For another example, the terminal device determines that the periphery of the terminal device has TN coverage before and measures TN frequency points in the TN frequency point set 1; when the terminal equipment is located in the first area, the coverage of surrounding TN is still determined, and TN frequency points in the TN frequency point set 1 are continuously measured.

Step 602 may be replaced with: and when the terminal equipment is not positioned in at least one area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is invalid. For example, when the terminal device is not located in the whole area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device, it is determined that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device is invalid. For example, the TN-coverage information stored in the terminal device indicates 10 areas, each of which has a meaning similar to that of the first area described above, and when none of the 10 areas contains the terminal device (i.e., the terminal device is not located in the 10 areas), it is determined that the system message containing the TN-coverage information stored in the terminal device is invalid. After determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid, the terminal equipment can actively trigger the update of the system message containing the TN coverage information once. For example, after determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device is invalid, the terminal device uses a procedure of obtaining the system message to obtain a new system message containing the TN coverage information, and updates the stored system message containing the TN coverage information, for example, deletes the old system message containing the TN coverage information, and stores the newly obtained system message containing the TN coverage information. The system message including the TN coverage information acquired by the terminal device may be a system message including the TN coverage information updated by the cell (the NTN cell to which the terminal device is currently connected) or a system message including the TN coverage information of a new coverage cell (e.g., a new NTN cell).

In one possible implementation manner, after determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is invalid, the terminal device reads a first system message containing the TN coverage information, that is, a system message containing the TN coverage information currently broadcast by the network device; and the terminal equipment stores the TN coverage information contained in the first system message under the condition of reserving the first TN coverage information. The first TN-coverage information may be retained without deleting the first TN-coverage information. In the implementation manner, under the condition that the terminal equipment reserves the first TN coverage information, the TN coverage information contained in the first system message is saved; so as to determine whether the system message of the contained TN coverage information is valid or not by using the stored plurality of TN coverage information. For example, after the terminal device is started, the system message 1 is read, the system message 1 includes TN coverage information 1 indicating the area 1, and the terminal stores the system message 1 and stores the TN coverage information 1. After the terminal equipment moves, the system information 2 is read, the system information 2 comprises TN coverage information 2 of an indication area 2, the terminal deletes the system information 1, saves the system information 2, saves the TN coverage information 2 at the same time, and saves the TN coverage information 1 (optional). The terminal equipment judges whether the stored system information is valid or not through the TN coverage information 1 and the TN coverage information 2.

In one possible implementation manner, after determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is invalid, the terminal device reads a first system message containing the TN coverage information, that is, a system message containing the TN coverage information currently broadcast by the network device; and the terminal equipment stores TN coverage information contained in the first system message, and deletes the first TN coverage information, namely, does not retain the first TN coverage information. In the implementation mode, the terminal equipment stores TN coverage information contained in the first system message and deletes the first TN coverage information; the storage overhead can be saved. For example, after the terminal device is started, the system message 1 is read, the system message 1 includes TN coverage information 1 indicating the area 1, and the terminal stores the system message 1 and the TN coverage information 1. After the terminal equipment moves, reading a system message 2, wherein the system message 2 comprises TN coverage information 2 of an indication area 2, deleting the system message 1 and the TN coverage information 1 by the terminal, storing the system message 2, and simultaneously storing the TN coverage information 2. The terminal equipment judges whether the stored system information is valid or not through the TN coverage information 1.

The main principle of the embodiment of the application is as follows: the terminal device decides (or determines) whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is valid according to the own position information. The method flow in fig. 6 is an example in which the terminal device decides (or determines) whether the stored system information including TN coverage information is valid according to its own location information. For SIBXX (system message containing TN coverage information) stored by the terminal device, when the location of the terminal device is in the area indicated by the stored TN coverage information, the terminal device determines that the stored system message containing TN coverage information is valid, and the terminal device can use the valid system message without re-acquiring the system message containing TN coverage information. When the position of the terminal equipment is not in the area indicated by the stored TN coverage information, the stored system information containing the TN information is invalid, and the system information containing the TN coverage information needs to be read again. For example, when the UE is at the junction of NTN cell 1 and NTN cell 2, i.e. TN region 1, the UE has received TN coverage information indicating TN region 1 (region with TN coverage) in NTN cell 1, and when the UE reselects to NTN cell 2, the UE does not need to reacquire because TN coverage information indicating TN region 1 is already available. However, when the UE moves to the NTN cell 2 and moves beyond the TN region 1, the UE actively acquires the system message containing the TN coverage information broadcast by the NTN cell 2 once because the UE does not have the stored TN coverage information. The terminal device judges (or determines) whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective according to the own position information, so that the number of times of reading the system information can be reduced, and the power consumption is saved.

In the embodiment of the application, when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is determined to be effective. When the terminal equipment determines that the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective, the new system information containing TN coverage information does not need to be read; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN overlay information can be reduced, thereby saving power consumption.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method flow in fig. 8 is one possible implementation of the method described in fig. 6. In the implementation manner, when the terminal equipment is not located in the area indicated by the stored TN coverage information, whether the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is valid or not is determined by comparing whether the first information and the second information are the same or not; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN-coverage information can be further reduced.

As shown in fig. 8, the method includes:

801. The terminal equipment determines whether the TN coverage information is in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment.

The determining, by the terminal device, whether it is located in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device may be: the terminal equipment determines whether the TN coverage information is in any area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment. If the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device indicates only one area, such as the first area, the terminal device determines whether it is located in the first area. If the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device indicates a plurality of areas, the terminal device determines whether the TN coverage information is located in one of the plurality of areas. If the terminal equipment is located in one of the areas, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid; otherwise, determining that the system message containing TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is invalid. For example, the TN-coverage information stored in the terminal apparatus indicates 10 areas (including the above-described first area), each of which has a meaning similar to that of the above-described first area, and when none of the 10 areas contains the terminal apparatus (i.e., the terminal apparatus is not located in the 10 areas), it is determined that the system message containing the TN-coverage information stored in the terminal apparatus is invalid.

The trigger condition of the terminal device to execute step 801 may be the same as the trigger condition of step 601, and will not be described herein.

802. And when the terminal equipment is not positioned in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment, determining whether the first information and the second information are identical.

The first information comprises target parameters associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB 1. The first system message is a system message containing TN overlay information. The first system message is understood to be a system message which is currently available (readable) by the terminal device and contains TN coverage information. Or the first system message may be understood as a system message currently broadcast by the network device containing TN coverage information. Since the system message containing the TN-coverage information belongs to other SIs, SIBI may contain the target parameters associated with the first system message. The target parameter associated with a system message may be a target parameter associated with TN-coverage information contained in the system message. The second information includes target parameters associated with a second system message stored in the terminal device. The second system message stored by the terminal device may contain TN-coverage information, and the terminal device stores the above-mentioned second information associated with the second system message. The first system message and the second system message each include TN-coverage information. The second system message may be a system message including TN coverage information last stored by the terminal device. In one possible implementation, the terminal device only stores one system message containing the TN-coverage information, which contains the target parameters. For example, before the terminal device stores the second system message, the terminal device stores TN-coverage information 1, TN-coverage information 2, and system message 1 including TN-coverage information 3, and the terminal device also stores the target parameter associated with system message 1; after acquiring the second system message, the terminal device saves the second system message and deletes the system message 1. One possible way is that the terminal device will continue to save the TN-coverage information 3 or the area information indicated by the TN-coverage information 3 in the system message 1. Another possible way is for the terminal device to delete its stored TN-coverage information 3 or the region information indicated by TN-coverage information 3.

The target parameter comprises at least one of a cell identity, a region identity, a public land mobile network PLMN, or a value tag. The first information and the second information may be identical, and the target parameter associated with the first system message and the target parameter associated with the second system message are identical. For example, the target parameters include cell identity, PLMN, and value tags; the first information and the second information being identical means that the cell identity in the first information is identical to the cell identity in the second information, the PLMN in the first information is identical to the PLMN in the second information, and the value tag in the first information is identical to the value tag in the second information. The first information and the second information may be different in that the target parameter associated with the first system message and the target parameter associated with the second system message are not identical. For example, the target parameters include cell identity, PLMN, and value tags; if the cell identification in the first information is different from the cell identification in the second information, the first information is different from the second information; if the PLMN in the first information is different from the PLMN in the second information, the first information is different from the second information; if the value tag in the first information is different from the value tag in the second information, the first information is different from the second information. It is understood that the first information and the second information are different when at least one parameter of the first information and the second information is different. In one possible implementation manner, the terminal device may compare the parameter in the first information with the parameter in the second information, and determine that the first information and the second information are different when at least one parameter in the first information and the second information are different; and determining that the first information and the second information are the same when each parameter in the first information and each parameter in the second information are the same.

803. And when the first information and the second information are the same, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid.

After determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device is valid, the terminal device does not need to acquire (read) the first system message. That is, the terminal device does not need to acquire the first system message including the TN coverage information currently broadcast by the network device, so that power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

Step 803 may be replaced by: when the first information and the second information are different, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is invalid; and acquiring a first system message containing TN coverage information, and storing the first system message. Step 803 may also be replaced by: and when the first information and the second information are different, the terminal equipment acquires the first system message containing TN coverage information and stores the first system message. Steps 802 and 803 may be replaced with: when the terminal equipment is located in the region indicated by TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, the system information containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is determined to be effective.

In the embodiment of the application, when the terminal equipment is not positioned in the area indicated by the stored TN coverage information, whether the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is effective is further determined by comparing whether the first information and the second information are the same; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN-coverage information can be further reduced.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method flow in fig. 9 is one possible implementation of the method described in fig. 6. In the implementation manner, when the first information and the second information are different, whether the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is valid or not is determined according to whether the terminal equipment is not located in the area indicated by the stored TN coverage information; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN-coverage information can be further reduced. As shown in fig. 9, the method includes:

901. The terminal equipment reads the target parameters associated with the first system message through the SIB 1.

The first system message is a system message containing TN coverage information broadcast by the network device. The trigger condition of the terminal device performing step 901 may be the same as or different from the trigger condition of the terminal device performing step 601. For example, the terminal device periodically reads SIB1 to obtain the target parameter associated with the system message including the TN coverage information. For another example, when the moving distance of the terminal equipment exceeds a certain distance, the target parameter associated with the first system message is read through the SIB 1. For another example, after receiving the PWS notification, the terminal device reads the target parameter associated with the first system message through SIB 1. For another example, after receiving a request (e.g., a positioning request) from an upper layer, the terminal device reads the target parameter associated with the first system message through SIB 1.

902. The terminal device determines whether the first information and the second information are identical.

The first information comprises target parameters associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB 1. The second information includes target parameters associated with the second system message stored by the terminal device. The manner in which the terminal device determines whether the first information and the second information are the same may refer to the description related to step 802, which is not repeated here.

903. When the first information and the second information are different, the terminal equipment determines whether the first information and the second information are located in the area indicated by TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment.

The implementation manner in which the terminal device determines whether it is located in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal device may refer to step 801.

904. When the terminal equipment is located in the region indicated by TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, the system information containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is determined to be effective.

Step 904 may be replaced by: when the terminal equipment is not located in the area indicated by TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, determining that the system information containing TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is invalid; and acquiring a first system message containing TN coverage information, and storing the first system message. Step 904 may also be replaced by: when the terminal equipment is not located in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment acquires a first system message containing the TN coverage information and stores the first system message.

Steps 903 and 904 may be replaced by: and when the first information and the second information are the same, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid.

In the embodiment of the application, when the first information and the second information are different, whether the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is effective is determined according to whether the terminal equipment is not positioned in the region indicated by the stored TN coverage information; the number of times of reading the system message containing the TN-coverage information can be further reduced.

Fig. 10 is an interaction flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method flow in fig. 10 is one possible implementation of the method described in fig. 6. In the implementation mode, the network equipment changes TN coverage information in the system message, and the terminal equipment is not indicated by the system message change indication, so that the cost of unnecessary updating the system message of the terminal equipment can be saved. As shown in fig. 10, the method includes:

1001. the network device broadcasts a system message containing the first TN coverage information.

The possible forms of TN coverage information broadcast by the network devices are described in more detail below and will not be described here. The TN overlay information may be issued in the form of a system message, i.e., contained in the system message; the method can also be issued through RRC special signaling; the embodiment of the application does not limit the form of the network equipment for issuing TN coverage information. The TN overlay information may be included in an existing system message or may be a new system message.

1002. And the terminal equipment acquires and stores the first TN coverage information.

The storing of the first TN coverage information by the terminal device may be storing a system message including the first TN coverage information.

One possible implementation of step 1002 is as follows: and when the terminal equipment meets the target condition and the terminal equipment does not store TN coverage information, the terminal equipment acquires and stores the first TN coverage information. For example, the target condition is any one of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; the terminal equipment receives a system message change instruction; the terminal equipment receives the PWS notification; the terminal device receives a request (e.g., a positioning request) from an upper layer.

One possible implementation of step 1002 is as follows: and when the terminal equipment meets the target condition and the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is invalid, the terminal equipment acquires and stores the first TN coverage information. The implementation manner of determining that the stored system message containing the TN coverage information is invalid by the terminal device may refer to the method flows in fig. 6, fig. 8, and fig. 9, which are not described herein. In this implementation manner, before the terminal device obtains and stores the first TN coverage information, it is determined whether the system message stored by the terminal device and containing the TN coverage information is valid. And the terminal equipment acquires and stores the first TN coverage information after determining that the stored system information containing the TN coverage information is invalid.

Steps 1001 to 1002 are examples of acquiring and saving a (or a copy of) TN overlay information for the terminal apparatus. The manner in which the terminal device obtains and stores the other TN coverage information is similar to the manner in which the first TN coverage information is obtained and stored.

Optionally, after the terminal device re-acquires the new TN coverage information, the terminal device stores the new TN coverage information, and does not delete the stored TN coverage information. The terminal device can splice or form a larger map of the TN coverage area according to the stored TN coverage information.

Optionally, after the TN coverage information indicating the same area is stored, the terminal device receives the TN coverage information again, and the UE does not need to repeatedly store, but only stores one TN coverage information. The specific preservation of new or old TN coverage information depends on the implementation of the terminal device.

Alternatively, the terminal device may choose to save the size of the TN coverage information. It can be understood that the terminal device may select to store several pieces of TN coverage information, or may determine the number of stored TN coverage information according to the memory size. For example, the terminal device is preconfigured to store at most 10 copies of TN coverage information.

Optionally, the validity of the TN coverage information stored by the terminal device may exceed three hours. Since the location of the TN-coverage information relative to the earth's surface is fixed and does not substantially change, the validity of the terminal device for storing the TN-coverage information may be longer. In the prior art, the validity duration of all the system messages is 3 hours, SIBXX may not follow the validity principle of 3 hours, and the TN coverage information may be relatively longer than 3 hours.

Optionally, the TN-coverage information includes TN-region information and frequency point information bound to the TN-region. The TN-zone information indicates a zone with TN-coverage and/or a zone without TN-coverage, and the TN-zone may include a zone with TN-coverage and a zone without TN-coverage. The TN area is an area indicated by TN area information. One possible way is that when a frequency point bound to a certain TN region is not empty, the region is represented as a region covered by TN, i.e. a region covered by TN; when a frequency point bound by a certain TN area is empty, the area is represented as an area without TN coverage, i.e., an NTN only area. Another possibility is that when a region is not covered by TN, the network device does not issue TN coverage information indicating the region, i.e. the region is a region not covered by TN.

1003. The network device broadcasts a system message containing the fourth TN coverage information.

The fourth TN coverage information is different from the first TN coverage information. Before broadcasting the system message containing the fourth TN coverage information, the network device changes TN coverage information in the system message, i.e. changes the first TN coverage information into the fourth TN coverage information. Due to the movement of the satellite, the change of the coverage of the NTN cell, the NTN cell (or network device) changes the TN coverage information contained in the system message. The network device can send a system message change instruction so as to inform the terminal device that the system message is changed; the system message change instruction may not be transmitted, that is, the terminal device may not be notified that the system message is changed. The network device does not send a system change instruction, so that the number of times of reading the system information by the terminal device can be reduced in batches, and the power consumption of the terminal device is reduced.

1004. The terminal equipment determines whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is valid.

The target condition may be a trigger condition for the terminal device to execute step 1004.

Step 1004 is implemented as follows: the terminal equipment determines whether the TN coverage information is in an area indicated by TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment; when the terminal equipment is positioned in the TN coverage information indication area stored by the terminal equipment, determining that the system information containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is effective; and when the terminal equipment is not positioned in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is invalid. In the implementation mode, the terminal equipment determines whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective according to the position information of the terminal equipment and the stored TN coverage information; the number of times of reading the system message including the TN-coverage information can be reduced.

Another possible implementation of step 1004 is as follows: the terminal equipment determines whether the TN coverage information is in an area indicated by TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment; when the terminal equipment is positioned in the TN coverage information indication area stored by the terminal equipment, determining that the system information containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is effective; and when the terminal equipment is not positioned in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment, determining whether the third information and the second information are the same. When the third information and the second information are the same, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid; and when the third information and the second information are different, determining that the system message which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is invalid. The third information comprises target parameters related to a system message which is read by the terminal equipment through the SIB1 and contains the fourth TN coverage information. In this implementation, the terminal device may acquire the third information by reading SIB 1.

Step 1004 is implemented as follows: the terminal equipment determines whether the third information and the second information are the same; when the third information and the second information are the same, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid; and when the third information and the second information are different, the terminal equipment determines whether the third information and the second information are positioned in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment. When the terminal equipment is positioned in the TN coverage information indication area stored by the terminal equipment, determining that the system information containing the TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is effective; and when the terminal equipment is not positioned in the area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is invalid. Before determining whether the third information and the second information are the same, the terminal device may acquire the third information carried by SIB 1.

1005. And after the terminal equipment determines that the stored system message containing TN coverage information is invalid, the terminal equipment reads the system message containing fourth TN coverage information.

1006. And the terminal equipment stores the system message of the fourth TN coverage information under the condition of reserving the first TN coverage information.

Step 1006 may be replaced with: and the terminal equipment deletes the stored first TN coverage information and stores the system message of the fourth TN coverage information.

Step 1005 and step 1006 may be replaced with: after determining that the stored system message containing the TN coverage information is valid, the terminal device does not need to read the system message containing the fourth TN coverage information.

In the embodiment of the application, the network equipment changes the TN coverage information in the system message, the terminal equipment can be indicated without a system message change indication, and the cost of unnecessary updating the system message of the terminal equipment can be saved. The terminal equipment determines whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective or not according to the position information of the terminal equipment and the stored TN coverage information; the number of times of reading the system message including the TN-coverage information can be reduced.

The foregoing embodiments mainly describe a scheme in which a terminal device determines whether a system message containing TN coverage information stored therein is valid. The terminal equipment can reduce the frequency of reading the system information containing the TN coverage information by more accurately determining whether the stored system information containing the TN coverage information is effective, thereby saving power consumption. The scheme for updating the system message containing TN coverage information by the network device provided by the embodiment of the application is described below. In the scheme for updating the system message containing the TN coverage information by the network equipment, the network equipment does not need to frequently update the system message containing the TN coverage information, so that the updating times of the system message are reduced, and the power consumption of the terminal equipment is further reduced. The following describes a scheme for updating a system message containing TN coverage information by using a network device according to an embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 11 is an interaction flow chart of a communication method for updating a system message including TN coverage information by a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. The following describes an example of updating a system message containing TN coverage information corresponding to a certain cell by using a network device, that is, a system message containing TN coverage information for the same cell. As shown in fig. 11, the method includes:

1101. the network device broadcasts a system message containing the second TN coverage information.

The second TN-coverage information is used for indicating a region with TN-coverage and/or a region without TN-coverage in the second region. The area of the second area may be larger than the coverage area of the NTN cell broadcasting the system information. Since the NTN cell is mobile, at some point in time the second area may contain one complete NTN cell. Since the area of the second region is larger than the coverage area of one NTN cell, the second TN-coverage information may be referred to as region-level TN-coverage information. Fig. 12 is an example of an NTN cell and a second area according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to fig. 12, area 1 is one example of the second area, area 2 is another example of the second area, the coverage area of the NTN cell is smaller than the area of area 1, and the coverage area of the NTN cell is smaller than the area of area 2.

In one possible implementation, the second area is a total coverage area of a satellite in a satellite orbit, or the second area is a partial coverage area of a satellite in a satellite orbit, or the second area is a total or partial coverage area of a plurality of satellites in a satellite orbit, or the second area is a coverage area provided by a satellite connected to a base station, or the second area is a coverage area provided by a satellite connected to the same gateway station, or the second area is a coverage area covered by a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells. Or the second area is an area divided by the operator. The region indicated by the TN-coverage information of the region level may be divided by: the total coverage area of a satellite, which may be a satellite orbit, is defined as an area; a partial coverage area, which may be a satellite in a satellite orbit, is defined as an area; all or part of the coverage area, which may be a satellite in multiple satellite orbits, is defined as an area; the coverage area that may be provided by all satellites that may be connected to a base station is defined as an area; the area covered by the serving cell and the surrounding one or more neighbor cells may be defined as an area. The area of the above second area is larger than the coverage area of the NTN cell broadcasting the system information, which may be understood as that TN coverage information in system messages including TN coverage information broadcast by a plurality of neighboring cells is the same, and the areas corresponding to the plurality of neighboring cells are different (i.e., the coverage areas served by the plurality of neighboring cells are different). In other words, the plurality of neighboring cells broadcast a system message containing the same TN-coverage information, and the second area indicated by the TN-coverage information is an area corresponding to the plurality of neighboring cells (e.g., a coverage area serving the plurality of neighboring cells). The second area may include all or part of the coverage area of each of the plurality of neighboring cells, or may include part of the coverage area of one of the plurality of neighboring cells and all of the coverage area of another of the plurality of neighboring cells.

The network device may obtain the TN coverage information through operations and management (O & M) or satellite control centers, or may obtain the TN coverage information through pre-configuration. In addition, the TN coverage information of the neighboring cell may be obtained through interaction between network devices (e.g., base stations), for example, between 5G base stations through interaction between XN interfaces to obtain the TN coverage information of the peer cell.

The system message including the TN coverage information of the area level sent by the network device is the system message of the area level. For example, when the network device is located in the second area in which the NTN cell supported (or generated) by the network device is located, the network device broadcasts a system message containing the second TN-coverage information, i.e., the system message containing the TN-coverage information does not need to be changed. The network device may reduce the update frequency of the system messages containing the TN coverage information by issuing system messages at the zone level.

1102. And the terminal equipment reads and stores the system message containing the second TN coverage information.

One possible implementation of step 1102 is as follows: when the terminal device meets the target condition and the terminal device does not store TN coverage information, the terminal device acquires (or reads) and stores a system message containing second TN coverage information. For example, the target condition is any one of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; the terminal equipment receives a system message change instruction; the terminal equipment receives the PWS notification; the terminal device receives a request (e.g., a positioning request) from an upper layer.

Another possible implementation of step 1102 is as follows: and when the terminal equipment meets the target condition and the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains the TN coverage information is invalid, the terminal equipment acquires and stores the system information which contains the second TN coverage information.

1103. And when the supported NTN cell enters the third area and does not completely exit the second area, the network equipment broadcasts a system message containing second TN coverage information and third TN coverage information.

The third TN-coverage information is used for indicating a region with TN-coverage and/or a region without TN-coverage in the third region. The network device updates the system message containing the TN-coverage information when entering a new zone, e.g., a third zone, from the second zone. There are two ways in which the network device updates the system message containing the TN overlay information, one is a soft update and the other is a hard update.

Soft update: SIBXX of one NTN cell may contain TN-coverage information for multiple regions, each region being assigned one region ID (systeminformationAreaID); when the NTN cell enters a new TN-zone (e.g., a third zone), the NTN cell adds new TN-coverage information (e.g., third TN-coverage information) to the system message, and then when the NTN cell completely exits the old zone (e.g., a second zone), the old TN-coverage information (e.g., second TN-coverage information) is deleted from the system message. Step 1103 employs a soft update approach. Referring to fig. 12, when the NTN cell moves to the overlapping area of the area 1 and the area 2, or when the NTN cell moves to cover the area 1 and the area 2 at the same time, the NTN cell may add TN-coverage information (e.g., third TN-coverage information) corresponding to the area 2 to the system message first, and when the NTN cell moves out of the area 1, move out of the system message again TN-coverage information (e.g., second TN-coverage information) corresponding to the area 1.

Hard update: SIBXX of one NTN cell may contain TN-coverage information of only one region; when the NTN cell coverage has just entered a new TN-zone, or when the NTN cell coverage has completely left an old zone, the NTN cell updates a system message containing TN-coverage information. Step 1103 may be replaced with step 1103': and when the NTN cells supported by the network equipment enter a third area and do not completely exit the second area, broadcasting a system message containing third TN coverage information, wherein the third TN coverage information is used for indicating an area with TN coverage and/or an area without TN coverage in the third area. Step 1103 may also be replaced with step 1103": when the network equipment enters a third area and does not completely exit the second area from the supported NTN cell, broadcasting a system message containing second TN coverage information; and broadcasting a system message containing third TN coverage information when the NTN cell completely enters the third area. The system message broadcast by the network device contains the third TN coverage information and does not contain the second TN coverage information. Step 1103' employs a hard update approach.

It should be noted that, regardless of the update mode, when the NTN cell needs to change the TN coverage information contained in the system message, the network device may issue a system message change instruction to the terminal device. In a possible implementation manner, before the terminal device performs step 1103, the network device changes TN coverage information included in the system message, and issues a system message change instruction to the terminal device. In the implementation manner, a system message change instruction is issued to the terminal equipment, so that the terminal equipment can update the system message of the TN coverage information in time.

1104. The terminal equipment determines whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is valid.

Step 1104 may refer to step 1004. One possible implementation of step 1104 is as follows: the terminal equipment determines whether the fourth information and the fifth information are the same; when the fourth information and the fifth information are the same, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid; and when the fourth information and the fifth information are different, determining that the system message containing TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment is five-effect. The fourth information comprises target parameters related to a third system message read by the terminal equipment through the SIB1, and the fifth information comprises the target parameters related to the fourth system message stored by the terminal equipment. The third system message is a system message containing the second TN coverage information and the third TN coverage information. The fourth system message is a system message containing the second TN-coverage information.

1105. And after the terminal equipment determines that the stored system message containing the TN coverage information is invalid, the terminal equipment reads the system message containing the second TN coverage information and the third TN coverage information.

1106. And the terminal equipment stores the system information of the second TN coverage information and the third TN coverage information under the condition of reserving the second TN coverage information.

Step 1106 may be replaced with: the terminal equipment deletes the second TN coverage information and stores the system information of the second TN coverage information and the third TN coverage information contained in the second TN coverage information; this saves memory overhead.

Steps 1105 and 1106 may be replaced by: after determining that the stored system message containing the TN coverage information is valid, the terminal device does not need to read the system message containing the second TN coverage information and the third TN coverage information.

1107. When the network device enters the third area and completely exits the second area from the supported NTN cell, the network device broadcasts a system message containing third TN coverage information.

1108. The terminal equipment determines whether the stored system information containing TN coverage information is valid.

Step 1108 may refer to step 1004. When the terminal equipment determines that the stored system information containing TN coverage information is effective, the terminal equipment does not need to acquire the system information containing the third TN coverage information, which is broadcasted by the network equipment. And when the terminal equipment determines that the stored system information containing TN coverage information is invalid, acquiring the system information containing the third TN coverage information, which is broadcasted by the network equipment.

Wherein steps 1103-1108 are optional.

In the embodiment of the application, when the TN area covered by the NTN cell is frequently updated due to the movement of the satellite, the network equipment transmits the area-level system information to the terminal equipment, and the network equipment does not need to frequently update the system information containing TN coverage information, so that the update times of the system information containing TN coverage information are reduced, and the power consumption of the terminal equipment is further reduced.

Several possible ways of delivering TN coverage information are described below.

The NTN cell or network device may directly indicate that there is TN-covered location information, for example, by the following possible means, as well as other means not listed.

One possible way is that the TN coverage information indicates a center point (which may also be referred to as a reference point) and a distance threshold (which may also be referred to as a radius) of the area with TN coverage. As shown in fig. 13, there are 2 TN frequency points covered in the NTN cell, that is, TN area 1 and TN area 2, where TN area 1 is represented by a center point 1 and a distance threshold 1; TN area 2 is represented by a center point 2 and a distance threshold 2. It will be appreciated that the TN region may consist of 1 TN cell or may be composed of a plurality of TN cells. The TN region may not be a cell, but only represents one region where a TN frequency point is covered. The terminal equipment can calculate the distance between the terminal equipment and the center point of the TN area, and compare the distance with a distance threshold; when the distance is smaller than or equal to a distance threshold, the terminal equipment is considered to be in the TN coverage area; when the distance is greater than the distance threshold, the terminal device is considered not to be within the TN coverage area. According to the above mode, when the distance between the terminal equipment calculation and the center point 1 is smaller than or equal to the distance threshold 1, the terminal equipment is indicated to be in the TN area 1, namely TN coverage is indicated to be nearby the terminal equipment; when the distance between the terminal equipment and the center point 1 is greater than the distance threshold 1, the terminal equipment is not in the TN area 1. Similarly, when the distances between the terminal equipment and the center points of all TN areas are not within the respective distance thresholds, the terminal equipment is indicated to be not in the coverage area of TN, and the terminal equipment is in the coverage area of NTN only. The terminal device may store only the region information covered by the TN.

Another possible way is that the TN-coverage information issued by the network device is polygonal shape information identifying the area covered by the TN. The number of the polygon shapes issued by the network device is not limited, and one or a plurality of polygon shapes can be issued. When the position of the terminal device is in the polygon-identified position area, the terminal device falls within the TN coverage area. Similarly, when the location of the terminal device is not in the location area of all the polygon identifiers, the terminal device is in the NTN only area. The terminal device only stores the TN covered area information.

Another possible way is that the TN-coverage information is TN-coverage information within region a. For example, the TN coverage information indicates the coverage of the area a and the area within the area a where TN coverage exists. For another example, the TN-coverage information indicates an area having TN coverage and an area having no TN coverage in the area a. The area a may be larger in range than the cell. The terminal device can save the TN coverage condition of the whole area A, including the area with TN coverage and the area without TN coverage in the area A.

The direct indication of the location information covered by the TN means that the network device directly transmits the location information of the TN domain and/or the location information of the domain a to the terminal device. The terminal equipment can directly acquire TN coverage information in the area A, geographical position information with TN coverage and geographical position information without TN coverage, and extra calculation is not needed. And the terminal equipment stores TN coverage information. In other words, the terminal device stores geographical location information covered by TN and geographical location information not covered by TN.

The NTN cell or the network device may indirectly indicate geographical location information covered by the TN, possibly in the following manner:

One possible way is that the TN coverage information indicates edge lines (or boundary lines) of the TN region (i.e., the region with TN coverage) and the NTN region. For example, as shown in fig. 14, the network device may issue a TN area and an edge line of the NTN area, or issue an indication direction, and the terminal device may calculate the area covered by the TN according to the size of the NTN cell and the information such as the edge line issued by the network device.

Another possible way is that the TN coverage information indicates a distance range from the reference point/center point of the NTN cell and an angle based on the reference direction. As shown in fig. 15, the network device issues a direction, and the distances between the direction angles a, d1 and d2, and the area between the two dotted lines is the geographical position actually covered by the TN, which is obtained after the terminal device calculates.

One possible way is to issue the coverage of the NTN cell to the terminal device, then divide the NTN cell into a plurality of sub-areas, and then tell the terminal device by bit information. For example, as shown in fig. 7D, the terminal device obtains coverage of the NTN cell from the system message, where the TN coverage information included in the system message is 8 bits, for example 11001111, then the terminal device may obtain that the NTN cell is divided into 8 virtual sub-areas according to the number of bits, and if a bit value corresponding to a certain virtual sub-area is 0, it indicates that the virtual sub-area has no TN coverage; if the bit value corresponding to a certain virtual subarea is 1, TN coverage exists in the virtual subarea. In fig. 7D 11001111 shows that regions 3 and 4 are NTN only regions, i.e. regions not covered by TN. For the indirectly indicated TN region information, when the terminal equipment stores the TN region information, the actual geographic position information of the TN region can be generated first and then stored.

Based on the TN coverage information issued by the indirect indication manner, the terminal device may need to generate the area information with TN coverage and/or the area information without TN coverage. One possible way is for the terminal device to directly store the TN coverage information issued by the network device. Another possible way is to convert the indirect information into TN-covered area information and/or TN-free area information, and the terminal device needs to store the generated TN-covered area information and/or TN-free area information. The area information with TN coverage may be actual geographical location information of the area with TN coverage. The region information without TN coverage may be actual geographical location information of the region without TN coverage.

The structure of a communication apparatus that can implement the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Only the communication device is briefly described below, and for implementation details of the scheme, reference may be made to the description of the foregoing method embodiment, which is not repeated herein.

Fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1600 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1600 may correspondingly implement the functions or steps implemented by the terminal device in the above-described method embodiments, or may correspondingly implement the functions or steps implemented by the network device in the above-described method embodiments. The communication device may include a processing module 1610 and a transceiver module 1620. In one possible implementation, a storage unit may be further included, where the storage unit may be used to store instructions (code or programs) and/or data. The processing module 1610 and the transceiver module 1620 may be coupled to the storage unit, for example, the processing module 1610 may read instructions (code or program) and/or data in the storage unit to implement a corresponding method. The units can be independently arranged or partially or fully integrated. For example, the transceiver module 1620 may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module may be a transmitter and the receiving module may be a receiver. The entity corresponding to the transceiver module 1620 may be a transceiver or a communication interface.

In some possible embodiments, the communications apparatus 1600 can correspondingly implement the behaviors and functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments described above. For example, the communication device 1600 may be a terminal device, or may be a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) applied to the terminal device. The transceiver module 1620 may be configured to perform, for example, all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiments of fig. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, such as step 1001, step 1003 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, step 1101 in the embodiment shown in fig. 11, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The processing module 1610 is configured to perform all operations except for the transceiving operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiments of fig. 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11, for example, step 601 and step 602 in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, step 801, step 802, and step 803 in the embodiment shown in fig. 8, step 901, step 902, step 903, and step 904 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and step 1002, step 1004, step 1005, and step 1006 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and step 1102, step 1104, step 1105, step 1106, and step 1108 in the embodiment shown in fig. 11.

In some possible implementations, the communications apparatus 1600 can correspondingly implement the behaviors and functions of the network device in the method embodiments described above. For example, the communication apparatus 1600 may be a network device, or may be a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) applied to the network device. The transceiver module 1620 may be used, for example, to perform all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the network device in the embodiments of fig. 10, 11, such as step 1001, step 1003 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, step 1101, step 1103 in the embodiment shown in fig. 11, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The processing module 1610 is configured to perform all operations performed by the network device except for the transceiving operations, such as changing TN coverage information included in the system message.

Fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device 170 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device in fig. 17 may be the terminal device or the network device.

As shown in fig. 17, the communication device 170 includes at least one processor 1710 and a transceiver 1720.

In some embodiments of the application, the processor 1710 and transceiver 1720 may be used to perform functions or operations performed by a terminal device, etc. Transceiver 1720 performs all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiments of fig. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, for example. The processor 1710 is for example used to perform all operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiments of fig. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 except for the transceiving operations.

In some embodiments of the application, the processor 1710 and transceiver 1720 may be used to perform functions or operations performed by a network device, etc. Transceiver 1720 performs all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the network device in the embodiments of fig. 10, 11, for example. The processor 1710 is configured to perform all operations performed by the network device except for the transceiving operations.

The transceiver 1720 is used to communicate with other devices/apparatuses via a transmission medium. The processor 1710 utilizes the transceiver 1720 to transmit and receive data and/or signaling and is used to implement the methods of the method embodiments described above. The processor 1710 may perform the functions of the processing module 1610, and the transceiver 1720 may perform the functions of the transceiver module 1620.

For example: transceiver 1720 may include radio frequency circuitry, primarily for conversion of baseband signals to radio frequency signals and processing of radio frequency signals, and an antenna. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are mainly used for receiving data input by a user and outputting data to the user.

For example: the communication device 170 may also include at least one memory 1730 for storing program instructions and/or data. Memory 1730 is coupled to processor 1710. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms for information interaction between the devices, units, or modules. Processor 1710 may operate in conjunction with memory 1730. Processor 1710 may execute program instructions stored in memory 1730. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

The processor 1710 can read the software program in the memory 1730, interpret and execute instructions of the software program, and process data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1710 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and then outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit, and the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal outwards in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is transmitted to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives a radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1710, and the processor 1710 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

In another implementation, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna described above may be provided separately from the processor performing the baseband processing, e.g., in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be in a remote arrangement from the communication device.

The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1720, the processor 1710, and the memory 1730 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 1730, the processor 1710 and the transceiver 1720 are connected by a bus 1740 in fig. 17, and the bus is shown by a thick line in fig. 17, which is merely illustrative, but not limited to, the connection manner between other components. The bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 17, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

In the embodiment of the present application, the processor may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be embodied directly in a hardware processor for execution, or in a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor for execution.

Fig. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device 180 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 18, the communication apparatus shown in fig. 18 includes a logic circuit 1801 and an interface 1802. The processing module 1610 in fig. 16 may be implemented with the logic 1801, and the transceiver module 1620 in fig. 16 may be implemented with the interface 1802. The logic circuit 1801 may be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, a system on chip (SoC) chip, or the like, and the interface 1802 may be a communication interface, an input/output interface, or the like. In the embodiment of the application, the logic circuit and the interface can be coupled with each other. The embodiment of the present application is not limited to the specific connection manner of the logic circuit and the interface.

In some embodiments of the present application, the logic circuits and interfaces may be used to perform the functions or operations performed by the terminal device side described above.

In some embodiments of the application, the logic and interfaces may be used to perform the functions or operations performed by the network devices described above, and the like.

The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above-described embodiments.

It should be noted that, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments may be implemented by a program indicating relevant hardware, and the program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Computer-readable storage media includes read-Only Memory (ROM), random-access Memory (random access Memory, RAM), programmable read-Only Memory (programmable read-Only Memory, PROM), erasable programmable read-Only Memory (erasable programmable read Only Memory, EPROM), one-time programmable read-Only Memory (OTPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-Only Memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-Only Memory (Compact Disc read-Only Memory, CD-ROM) or other optical disk Memory, magnetic disk Memory, tape Memory, or any other medium that can be used for carrying or storing data.

The application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions or a computer program which, when run on a computer, cause the method of the above embodiments to be performed.

The application also provides a communication system which comprises the terminal equipment and the network equipment.

The application also provides a chip comprising: a communication interface and a processor; the communication interface is used for receiving and transmitting signals of the chip; the processor is configured to execute the computer program instructions to cause a communication device comprising the chip as described above to perform the method as in the above embodiments.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product described above includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described above for embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable apparatus. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium such as a floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape; but also optical media such as digital video discs; but also semiconductor media such as solid state disks. The computer readable storage medium may be volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage medium.

In various embodiments of the application, where no special description or logic conflict exists, terms and/or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and may reference each other, and features of the various embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logic.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the terminal equipment determines whether the terminal equipment is located in a first area, wherein the first area is an area indicated by first ground network TN coverage information stored by the terminal equipment;

And when the terminal equipment is positioned in the first area, determining that the system information which is stored by the terminal equipment and contains TN coverage information is valid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first zone is a zone with TN coverage or the first zone comprises a zone with TN coverage and a zone without TN coverage.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

When the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area indicated by TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment and the first information and the second information are the same, determining that the system information stored in the terminal equipment and containing the TN coverage information is valid, wherein the first information comprises a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal equipment through a system information block SIB1, the second information comprises the target parameter associated with a second system message stored in the terminal equipment, the first system message and the second system message both contain TN coverage information, and the target parameter comprises at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a public land mobile network PLMN or a value tag.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

When the terminal equipment is not located in at least one area indicated by TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment and first information and second information are different, determining that a system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is invalid, wherein the first information comprises a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal equipment through SIB1, the second information comprises the target parameter associated with a second system message stored in the terminal equipment, the first system message and the second system message both contain the TN coverage information, and the target parameter comprises at least one of a cell identifier, an area identifier, a PLMN or a value tag.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after determining that the system message containing TN-coverage information stored by the terminal device is invalid, the method further comprises:

The terminal equipment reads the first system message;

And the terminal equipment stores TN coverage information contained in the first system message under the condition of reserving the first TN coverage information.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

and when the terminal equipment is not positioned in at least one area indicated by the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment, determining that the system message containing the TN coverage information stored in the terminal equipment is invalid.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 5, wherein first information and second information are different, the first information includes a target parameter associated with a first system message read by the terminal device through SIB1, the second information includes the target parameter associated with a second system message stored by the terminal device, the first system message and the second system message each include TN coverage information, and the target parameter includes at least one of a cell identifier, a region identifier, a PLMN, or a value tag.

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the terminal device fulfils a target condition comprising any of the following: the terminal equipment enters a first cell; and the terminal equipment receives the system message change indication, and the first cell is an NTN cell.

9. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first system message further comprises information of frequency points bound to the first area.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: the area of the first area is larger than that of one NTN cell.

11. A communication device comprising means or units for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer readable storage medium has stored therein a computer program comprising program instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10.

13. A communication device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing computer program instructions for executing the computer program instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10.

14. A chip, comprising:

the communication interface is used for receiving and transmitting signals of the chip; and

A processor for executing computer program instructions to cause a communication device comprising the chip to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10.