GB2622796A

GB2622796A - Apparatus, methods and computer programs

Info

Publication number: GB2622796A
Application number: GB2214102.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Babu Natarajan Rajesh; CHANDRASHEKAR Subramanya; Selvaganapathy Srinivasan; Khare Saurabh
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2022-09-27
Filing date: 2022-09-27
Publication date: 2024-04-03
Also published as: GB202214102D0

Abstract

A first set up request 700 is sent from a non-terrestrial base station NTN-gNB to a first network entity (AMF) associated with a first communications network (PLMN 1). The NTN-gNB receives from the AMF, a first set up response 702 comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, which is usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment UE located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network. The AMF receives from an LMF, information indicating that a UE has moved out of a first PLMN and in response, the AMF informs a NTN-gNB. A UE receives a message from an AMF when it moves out of a first PLMN, the message indicating a change to a second PLMN. The UE then registers with the second PLMN.

Description

Title APPARATUS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Field

The present application relates to a methods, apparatus, systems and computer programs and in particular but not exclusively to methods, apparatus, systems and computer programs which are used in networks with non-terrestrial base stations.

Background

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and/or other nodes by 1() providing carriers between the various entities involved in the communications path. A communication system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communication sessions may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, video, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and/or content data and so on. Non-limiting examples of services provided comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

In a wireless communication system at least a part of a communication session between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless systems comprise public land mobile networks (PLMN), satellite-based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN). Some wireless systems can be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems.

The communication system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and/or parameters which shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. One example of a communications system is UTRAN (3G radio). Other examples of communication systems are the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology and so-called 50 or New Radio (NR) networks. NR is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

Summary

According to an aspect, there is provided a method comprising: causing a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network: and receiving from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network..

The method may comprise causing a second set up request to be sent from the non-terrestrial base station to a second network entity associated with a second communications network: and receiving from the second network entity, a second set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the second communications network.

The request may comprise information indicating that the non-terrestrial base station is a non-terrestrial base station.

The first and/or second network entities may comprise an access mobility management function.

The geographical information may comprise geographical coordinates The method may comprise receiving information from the first network entity indicating a change in network for a user equipment.

The method may comprise receiving geo-coordinate information for the user equipment and using said geo-coordinate information to determine an updated communications network for said user equipment.

The method may comprise providing information about the updated communications network to the first network entity.

The method may be provided by an apparatus. The apparatus may be provided in a non-terrestrial base station or be a non-terrestrial base station.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for causing a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network: and means for receiving from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network.

The apparatus may comprise means for causing a second set up request to be sent from the non-terrestrial base station to a second network entity associated with a second communications network and means for receiving from the second network entity, a second set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the second communications network The request may comprise information indicating that the non-terrestrial base station is a non-terrestrial base station.

The geographical information may comprise geographical coordinates The apparatus may comprise means for receiving information from the first network entity indicating a change in network for a user equipment.

The apparatus may comprise means for receiving geo-coordinate information for the user equipment and means for using said geo-coordinate information to determine an updated communications network for said user equipment The apparatus may comprise means for providing information about the updated communications network to the first network entity.

The apparatus may be provided in a non-terrestrial base station or be a non-terrestrial base station.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: cause a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network: and receive from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network.

The circuitry may be configured to cause a second set up request to be sent from the non-terrestrial base station to a second network entity associated with a second communications network and receive from the second network entity, a second set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the second communications network.

The geographical information may comprise geographical coordinates The circuitry may be configured to receive information from the first network entity indicating a change in network for a user equipment The circuitry may be configured to receive geo-coordinate information for the user equipment and use said geo-coordinate information to determine an updated communications network for said user equipment.

The circuitry may be configured to provide information about the updated communications network to the first network entity.

The apparatus may be provided in a non-terrestrial base station or be a non-terrestrial base station According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to: cause a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network. and receive from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network.

The apparatus may be caused to cause a second set up request to be sent from the non-terrestrial base station to a second network entity associated with a second communications network and to receive from the second network entity, a second set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the second communications network.

The first and/or second network entities may comprise an access mobility management function, The geographical information may comprise geographical coordinates The apparatus may be caused to receive information from the first network entity indicating a change in network for a user equipment.

The apparatus may be caused to receive geo-coordinate information for the user equipment and to use said geo-coordinate information to determine an updated communications network for said user equipment.

The apparatus may be caused to provide information about the updated communications network to the first network entity The apparatus may be provided in a non-terrestrial base station or be a non-terrestrial base station.

According to another aspect there is provided a method comprising: receiving information at a first network entity from a location management function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network; and in response to receiving the information, causing a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network.

The method may comprise subscribing to receive the information at the first network entity from the location management function when there is an event, said event being moving of the user equipment out of the first communications network The method may comprise causing a message to be sent to the user equipment configuring motion event reporting provided by the user equipment.

The information indicating that the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network may comprise information indicating that the user equipment has crossed a border of the first communications network.

The message sent to the non-terrestrial base station may comprise the location information of the user equipment The message sent to the non-terrestrial base station may comprise geographical coordinates of the user equipment.

The method may comprise receiving identity information of a second communications network from the non-terrestrial base station for the user equipment.

The method may comprise triggering a de-registration procedure to deregister the user equipment from the first network entity.

The de-registration procedure may comprise causing sending to the user equipment one or more of a cause for the deregistration and information identifying a second network to be selected for registration.

The method may comprise in response to said information, causing a radio resource control release procedure to be carried with the user equipment.

The radio resource control release procedure may comprise causing sending to the user equipment one or more of an indication of a change of network and information identifying a second network to be selected.

The method may be performed in apparatus. The apparatus may be provided in or be a network entity. The network entity may be the first network entity. The network entity may be a core network entity. The network entity may comprise an access and mobility management function.

According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for receiving information at a first network entity from a location management function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network; and means for causing, in response to receiving the information, a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network.

The apparatus may comprise means for subscribing to receive the information at the first network entity from the location management function when there is an event, said event being moving of the user equipment out of the first communications network.

The apparatus may comprise means for causing a message to be sent to the user equipment configuring motion event reporting provided by the user equipment.

The apparatus may comprise means for receiving identity information of a second communications network from the non-terrestrial base station for the user equipment.

The apparatus may comprise means for triggering a de-registration procedure to deregister the user equipment from the first network entity.

The apparatus may comprise means for, in response to said information, causing a radio resource control release procedure to be carried with the user equipment.

The apparatus may be provided in or be a network entity. The network entity may be the first network entity. The network entity may be a core network entity. The network entity may comprise an access and mobility management function.

According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: receive information at a first network entity from a location management function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, and cause, in response to receiving the information, a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network.

The circuitry may be configured to subscribe to receive the information at the first network entity from the location management function when there is an event, said event being moving of the user equipment out of the first communications network.

The circuitry may be configured to cause a message to be sent to the user equipment configuring motion event reporting provided by the user equipment The information indicating that the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network may comprise information indicating that the user equipment has crossed a border of the first communications network.

The message sent to the non-terrestrial base station may comprise the location information of the user equipment The message sent to the non-terrestrial base station may comprise geographical coordinates of the user equipment The circuitry may be configured to receive identity information of a second communications network from the non-terrestrial base station for the user equipment.

The circuitry may be configured to trigger a de-registration procedure to dereg ster the user equipment from the first network entity.

The circuitry may be configured to, in response to said information, cause a radio resource control release procedure to be carried with the user equipment.

According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to: receive information at a first network entity from a location management function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network; and cause, in response to receiving the information, a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network.

The apparatus may be caused to subscribe to receive the information at the first network entity from the location management function when there is an event, said event being moving of the user equipment out of the first communications network.

The apparatus may be caused to cause a message to be sent to the user equipment configuring motion event reporting provided by the user equipment.

The apparatus may be caused to receive identity information of a second communications network from the non-terrestrial base station for the user equipment.

The apparatus may be caused to trigger a de-registration procedure to deregister the user equipment from the first network entity.

The apparatus may be caused to, in response to said information, cause a radio resource control release procedure to be carried with the user equipment.

The apparatus may be provided in or be a network entity. The network entity may be the first network entity. The network entity may be a core network entity. The network entity may comprise an access and mobility management function According to another aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network; and in response, causing the user equipment to register with the second communications network.

The information indicating a change to a second communications network may comprise information identifying the second communications network.

The message may comprise a radio resource control release message.

The message may comprise a deregistration message.

The method may be performed by an apparatus. The apparatus may be provided in or be a user equipment.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for receiving a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network; and in response, causing the user equipment to register with the second communications network.

The message may comprise a radio resource control release message.

The message may comprise a deregistration message.

The apparatus may be provided in or be a user equipment.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: receive a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network; and in response, cause the user equipment to register with the second communications network.

The message may comprise a radio resource control release message.

The message may comprise a deregistration message.

The apparatus may be provided in or be a user equipment.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to: receive a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network; and in response, causing the user equipment to register with the second communications network.

The message may comprise a radio resource control release message.

The message may comprise a deregi strati on message.

The apparatus may be provided in or be a user equipment.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods set out previously.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed cause any of the methods set out previously to be performed.

According to an aspect there is provided a computer program comprising computer executable code which when cause any of the methods set out previously to be performed.

According to an aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least one of the above methods. According to an aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods set out previously.

According to an aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which when executed cause any of the methods set out previously to be performed.

According to an aspect, there is provided a non-volatile tangible memory medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least one of the above 30 methods.

In the above, many different aspects have been described. It should be appreciated that further aspects may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the aspects described above.

Various other aspects are also described in the following detailed description and in the attached claims.

Description of Figures

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example architecture in which some embodiments may be provided; Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example communication device; Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an example apparatus; Figure 4 shows one example of a non-terrestrial network providing access to user equipment; Figure 5 shows the initiation and reporting of location events for a deferred 5GC-MT-LR procedure for Periodic, Triggered and UE Available Location Events; Figure 6 shows an example where a satellite beam covers country A, country B and country C; Figure 7 shows a signal flow for a set up procedure; Figure 8 shows a modification provided by some embodiments to steps 11 to 18 of the signal flow of Figure 5; Figure 9 shows a modification provided by some embodiments after step 27 of the signal flow of Figure 5; Figure 10 shows the signal flow when the UE is dereg stered from one PLMN and registered 20 to the new PLMN Figure 11 shows another modification provided by some embodiments after step 27 of the signal flow of Figure 5; Figure 12 shows a prediction-based border (PLMN) crossing check signal flow.; Figure 13 show a first method of some embodiments; Figure 14 shows a second method of some embodiments; Figure 15 shows a third method of some embodiments; and Figure 16 shows a schematic representation of a non-volatile memory medium storing instructions which when executed by a processor allow a processor to perform one or more of the steps of any of the methods of Figures 13 to 15.

Detailed Description of the Figures

In the following certain embodiments are explained with reference to mobile communication devices capable of communication via a wireless cellular system and mobile communication systems serving such mobile communication devices. Before explaining in detail, the exemplifying embodiments, certain general principles of a wireless communication system, access systems thereof, and mobile communication devices are briefly explained with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 to assist in understanding the technology underlying the described examples In particular, in the following, different exemplifying embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the embodiments may be applied, a radio access architecture based on long term evolution advanced (LIE Advanced, LTE-A) or new radio (NR, SG), without restricting the embodiments to such an architecture, however. The embodiments may also be applied to other kinds of communications networks having suitable means by adjusting parameters and procedures appropriately. Some examples of other options for suitable systems are the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN), wireless local area network (WLAN or Wi-Fi), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS), ZigBee®, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems (IMS) or any combination thereof Fig. 1 depicts examples of simplified system architectures only showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in Fig. 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system typically comprises also other functions and structures than those shown in Fig. 1.

The embodiments are not, however, restricted to the system given as an example but a person skilled in the art may apply the solution to other communication systems provided with necessary properties.

The example of Fig. I shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network. For example, the radio access network may support sidelink communications described below in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows devices 100 and 102. The devices 100 and 102 are configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels with a node 104. The node 104 is further connected to a core network 106. In one example, the node 104 may be an access node such as (e/g)NodeB serving devices in a cell. In one example, the node 104 may be a non-3GPP access node. The physical link from a device to a (e/g)NodeB is called uplink or reverse link and the physical link from the (e/g)NodeB to the device is called downlink or forward link. It should be appreciated that (e/g)NodeBs or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point etc. entity suitable for such a usage.

A communications system typically comprises more than one (e/g)NodeB in which case the (e/g)NodeBs may also be configured to communicate with one another over links, wired or wireless, designed for the purpose. These links may be used for signalling purposes.

The (e/g)NodeB is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to. The NodeB may also be referred to as a base station, an access point or any other type of interfacing device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. The (e/g)NodeB includes or is coupled to transceivers.

From the transceivers of the (e/g)NodeB, a connection is provided to an antenna unit that establishes bi-directional radio links to devices. The antenna unit may comprise a plurality of antennas or antenna elements. The (e/g)NodeB is further connected to the core network 106 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the deployed technology, the (e/g)NodeB is connected to a serving and packet data network gateway (S-GW +P-GW) or user plane function (UPF), for routing and forwarding user data packets and for providing connectivity of devices to one or more external packet data networks, and to a mobile management entity (MME) or access mobility management function (AMF), for controlling access and mobility of the devices.

Exemplary embodiments of a device are a subscriber unit, a user device, a user equipment (UE), a user terminal, a terminal device, a mobile station, a mobile device, etc The device typically refers to a mobile or static device ( e.g. a portable or non-portable computing device) that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating with or without an universal subscriber identification module (USIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: mobile phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handset, a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), a device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and/or touch screen computer, tablet, game console, notebook, multimedia device, a machine-type communications (MTC) device, a Cellular Internet of things (CIoT) device or any combinations of these or the like. It should be appreciated that a device may be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. A device may also be a device having capability to operate in Internet of Things (IoT) network which is a scenario in which objects are provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-tocomputer interaction, e.g., to be used in smart power grids and connected vehicles. The device may also utilise cloud. In some applications, a device may comprise a user portable device with radio parts (such as a watch, earphones or eyeglasses) and the computation is carried out in the cloud.

The device illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface are allocated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a device may be implemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node. An example of such a relay node is a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the base station. The device (or in some embodiments a layer 3 relay node) is configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities.

Various techniques described herein may also be applied to a cyber-physical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the implementation and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected information and communications technology, ICT, devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals.

Additionally, although the apparatuses have been depicted as single entities, different units, processors and/or memory units (not all shown in Fig. 1) may be implemented.

5G enables using multiple input -multiple output (M IMO) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available. 5G mobile communications supports a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications (such as (massive) machine-type communications (mMTC), including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control). 50 is expected to have multiple radio interfaces, e.g., below 60Hz or above 24 GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also being integrable with existing legacy radio access technologies, such as the LTE. Integration with the LTE may be implemented, at least in the early phase, as a system, where macro coverage is provided by the LTE and 50 radio interface access comes from small cells by aggregation to the LTE. In other words, 5G is planned to support both inter-RAT operability (such as L fE-5G) and inter-RI operability (inter-radio interface operability, such as below 60Hz -cmWave, 6 or above 24 GHz -cmWave and mmWave). One of the concepts considered to be used in 50 networks is network slicing in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

The current architecture in LIE networks is fully distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network. The low latency applications and services in 5G require to bring the content close to the radio which leads to local break out and multi-access edge computing (MEC). 5G enables analytics and knowledge generation to occur at the source of the data. This approach requires leveraging resources that may not be continuously connected to a network such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and sensors. MEC provides a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It also has the ability to store and process content in close proximity to cellular subscribers for faster response time. Edge computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature analysis, cooperative distributed peer-to-peer ad hoc networking and processing also classifiable as local cloud/fog computing and grid/mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing, cloudlet, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomic self-healing networks, remote cloud services, augmented and virtual reality, data caching, Internet of Things (massive connectivity and/or latency critical), critical communications (autonomous vehicles, traffic safety, real-time analytics, time-critical control, healthcare applications).

The communication system is also able to communicate with other networks 112, such as a public switched telephone network, or a VoIP network, or the Internet, or a private network, or utilize services provided by them. The communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services, for example at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in Fig. 1 by "cloud" 114). The communication system may also comprise a central control entity, or a like, providing facilities for networks of different operators to cooperate for example in spectrum sharing The technology of Edge cloud may be brought into a radio access network (RAN) by utilizing network function virtualization (NE V) and software defined networking (SDN). Using the technology of edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node operationally coupled to a remote radio head or base station comprising radio parts. It is also possible that node operations will be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts. Application of cloud RAN architecture enables RAN real time functions being carried out at or close to a remote antenna site fin a distributed unit, DU 108) and non-real time functions being carried out in a centralized manner n a centralized unit, CU 110).

It should also be understood that the distribution of labour between core network operations and base station operations may differ from that of the LTE or even be non-existent. Some other technology advancements probably to be used are Big Data and all-IP, which may change the way networks are being constructed and managed. SG (or new radio, NR) networks are being designed to support multiple hierarchies, where MEC servers can be placed between the core and the base station or NodeB (gNB). It should be appreciated that MEC can be applied in 40 networks as well.

SG may also utilize satellite communication to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling. Possible use cases are providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (loT) devices or for passengers on board of vehicles, Mobile Broadband, (NB3B) or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications.

Satellite communication may utilise geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano)satellites are deployed). Each satellite in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite-enabled network entities that create on-ground cells. The on-ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay node or by a gNB located on-ground or in a satellite.

It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system and in practice, the system may comprise a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs, the device may have access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may comprise also other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements, etc. At least one of the (e/g)NodeBs or may be a Home(e/g)NodeB. Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio communication system a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be provided. Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which are large cells, usually having a diameter of up to tens of kilometres, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto-or picocells. The (e/g)NodeBs of Fig. 1 may provide any kind of these cells. A cellular radio system may be implemented as a multilayer network including several kinds of cells. Typically, in multilayer networks, one access node provides one kind of a cell or cells, and thus a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs are required to provide such a network structure.

For fulfilling the need for improving the deployment and performance of communication systems, the concept of "plug-and-play" (e/g)NodeBs has been introduced.

Typically, a network which is able to use "plug-and-play" (e/g)Node Bs, includes, in addition to Home (e/g)NodeBs (H(e/g)NodeBs), a home node B gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in Fig. 1). A HNB Gateway (HNB-GW), which is typically installed within an operator's network may aggregate traffic from a large number of HNBs back to a core network.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of an apparatus 200. The apparatus may be provided in a network entity. The network entity may be a core network entity. The network entity may comprise an access and mobility management function. The apparatus may be in or be a non-terrestrial base station. Examples of non-terrestrial base stations include a satellite base station as well as the NTN-gNB or any other suitable base station.

The apparatus may have at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause one or more functions to be performed. In this example, the apparatus may comprise at least one random access memory (RAM) 211a, and/or at least one read only memory (ROM) 211b, and/or at least one processor 212, 213 and/or an input/output interface 214. The at least one processor 212, 213 may be 15 coupled to the RAM 211a and the ROM 211b. The at least one processor 212, 213 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 215. The software code 215 may for example allow to perform one or more steps to perform one or more of the present aspects. Figure 3 illustrates an example of a communications device 300, such as the UE illustrated on Figure 1. The communications device 300 may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. The communications device 300 may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications. The communications may be one or more of voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia, data, machine data and soon, The communications device 300 may receive signals over an air or radio interface 307 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In Figure 3 transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 306. The transceiver apparatus 306 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the communications device.

The communications device 300 may be provided with at least one processor 301, and/or at least one memory ROM 302a, and/or at least one RAM 302b and/or other possible components 303 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. The at least one processor 301 is coupled to the RAM 302b and the ROM 302a. The at least one processor 301 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 308. The software code 308 may for example allow to perform one or more of the present aspects. The software code 308 may be stored in the ROM 302a.

The processor, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 304.

The communications device may optionally have a user interface such as keypad 305, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. Optionally one or more of a display, a speaker and a microphone may be provided depending on the type of the communications device.

In the following examples, the term UE or user equipment is used. This term encompasses any of the examples of a communication device such as previously discussed including machine devices. Where satellite communications are supported, a non-terrestrial network NTN may refer to a network, or segment of a network using RF (radio frequency) resources on board a satellite (or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) platform).

One example of a non-terrestrial network providing access to user equipment is shown in Figure 4. The satellite or UAS platform provides service links to user equipment. The area covered by the satellite or UAS platform is serviced by beams. The beam footprints covering the satellite or UAS platform service area is shown schematically in Figure 4. Communication between the data network and the satellite may be via gateway device.

The table below gives some examples of NTN platforms.

Platforms Altitude range Orbit Typical beam footprint size Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite 300 -1500 km Circular around the earth 100 -1000 km Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite 7000 -25000 km 100 -1000 km Geostationary Earth 35 786 km notional station keeping position fixed in terms of elevation/azimuth with respect to a given earth point 200 -3500 km Orbit (GEO) satellite UAS platform (including HAPS-High altitude platform system) 8 -50 km (20 km for HAPS) 5 -200 km High Elliptical Orbit (HEO) satellite 400 -50000 km Elliptical around the earth 200 -3500 km GEO satellites and UAS may be used to provide continental, regional or local service. A constellation of LEO and/or N1E0 may be used to provide services in both Northern and Southern hemispheres. In some case, the constellation can provide global coverage including polar regions. For global coverage, this may require appropriate orbit inclination, sufficient beams to be generated and inter-satellite links Reference is made to Figure 5 which shows Figure 6.3.1-1 of IS 23.273. This summarizes the initiation and reporting of location events for a deferred 5GC-MT-LR procedure for Periodic, Triggered and UE Available Location Events. The procedure supports mobility of a UE within a VPLMN (visited PLNIN)5GCN (5G core network) and from a 5GCN to an EPC (evolved packet core). Entities shown in this Figure are UE, NC-RAN (next generation radio access network), AMY (Access and Mobility Management Function), LNIF (location management function), visited gateway mobile location centre (V-GMLC) 640, home GN1LC (H-GIVILC), UDNI (unified data management), external client, NEF (network exposure function) and AF (application function).

A motion event may be reported by a UE. This motion event is where the UE moves by more than a predefined straight-line distance from a previous location. The motion event may be reported one or more times. A motion event report may contain an indication of the event occurrence. A location estimate may be included in the report if requested by the LCS (location services) client or AT (application function).

The Location Management Function, LMF may manages the overall co-ordination and scheduling of resources required for the location of a UE that is registered with or accessing the 5GCN. The LIMP calculates or verifies a final location and any velocity estimate and may estimate the achieved accuracy. The EMT receives location requests for a target UE from the serving AMP using the Nlmf interface. The LMF interacts with the UE in order to exchange location information applicable to UE assisted and UE based position methods and interacts with the NC-RAN, N3INVF (non-3GPP inter-working function) or TNAN (trusted non-3GPP access network) in order to obtain location information.

The LMF determines the result of the positioning in geographical co-ordinates as for example, defined in TS 23.032 or UE exact location in different co-ordinates or format defined in different specifications. If requested and if available, the positioning result may also include the velocity of the UE.

Referring back to Figure 5 this summarizes the initiation and reporting of location events for a deferred 5GC-MT-LR (5G core network mobile terminated location) procedure for periodic, triggered and UE Available Location Events. The procedure supports mobility of 30 a UE within a VPLMN 5GCN and from a 5GCN to an EPC.

For motion event reporting, the LCS Service Request (referenced la in Figure 5) includes the threshold linear distance, the duration of event reporting, the minimum and maximum time intervals between successive event reports, the maximum event sampling interval, whether location estimates are be included in event reports (and associated location QoS), and whether only one location report is required or more than one.

As referenced 11 in Figure 5, the AMF notifies the UE of the location request and verifies privacy requirements if required by the location request received at step 5 from the V-S GMLC and supported by the UE. The ANIF includes in the notification to the UE the type of deferred location request in the case of periodic or triggered location.

As referenced 22 in Figure 5, for the area event or motion event, the TIE monitors the requested event at intervals equal to or less than the maximum event sampling interval. An event trigger is detected by the UE when any of the following occur: (i) a requested area event or motion event has been detected and the minimum reporting time interval has elapsed since the last report (if this is not the first event report); (ii) a requested periodic location event has occurred; or (iii) the maximum reporting time for an area event or motion event has expired. When a trigger or periodic event is detected and if the HE is camped on or connected to (or can otherwise access) an access type allowed by the LMF at step 16 (via a LCS periodic triggered invoke request), the UE proceeds to step 23. At step 23, the UE performs location measurements. If the UE cannot access an allowed access type, the UE may skip reporting the trigger event or may report the trigger event at a later time when an allowed access type becomes available, according to requirements received from the LNIF at step 16.

Geography associated logistical complexities may occur when a satellite's coverage crosses country borders and/or the UE's communications use terrestrial equipment (e.g. Earth stations) that are in a different country to the UE. A given satellite beam footprint may cover more than one country. Consider the example shown in Figure 6 where a satellite beam covers country A, country B and country C. Due to lawful interception requirements, a UE situated in country A must connect to country A core network. Otherwise, the lawful interception requirements of the country cannot be fulfilled.

To support the same, in idle mode mobility or 5G registration case, due to TAI (tracking area identity)/cell size, which may span over multiple neighbouring countries (or coincide), a TIE may be located in the Countryl camps in the sNB (satellite NodeB) in Country 1 but the sNB will select the Country 2 ANff(core network). Currently the AMY contacts the LN1F to find the country code where UE is located. Based on the LMF's provided country code, if it is different than the ANIF country code, the AMT. rejects the Registration Request so that UE can select the right PLMN/country. 3GPP takes the view that TIE provided location is not trusted. In some cases, UE may not provide the location itself With this approach, the UE may perform two registrations to select right PLMN. (For example, a registration is made, the network may reject the registration and then UE makes another registration). Some embodiments may provide methods which reduces the number of registrations required to select the right PLMN to one.

In some embodiments, when the connected UE crosses the actual country/international border and is still connected to same sNB, the LMF can still get/derive the UE location from previous PLMN.

In some embodiments, the AMF and LMF are configured with the country-specific geocoordinates data defining the PLMN boundary. This data may alternatively or additionally be 10 input via the NWDAF (network data analytics function) to the ANIF.

Some embodiments may use common mobility assistance information The common mobility assistance information may include time, predicted UE location, and next predicted network. The predicted assistance information may be used by the RAN to assist in a handover preparation phase. The common mobility assistance information may contain a group of, at a certain time interval, predicted UE location and next predicted network.

In some embodiments, there may be no interface between ANLF of one PLMN to another PLMN (AMP) connected to same sNB Where there is an interface between the AMF of one PLMN to another PLIVIN (AMIE) connected to same sNB, that may be used.

In some embodiments, the UE does not need to be aware of the PLMN boundaries 20 based on geo-coordinates and hence cannot choose a PLMN on its own. This may be advantageous as the UE does not need to be loaded with a relatively large quantity of dynamic data taking into account the inter-country travel by air or land.

Some embodiments may relate to the idle mode. Some embodiments may avoid the UE selecting the wrong PLMN and then having the network instructing the UE to select the right 25 PLMN.

Some embodiments may detect when a UE has crossed over the serving PLMN area border and is located in the area belonging to another PLMN. In some embodiments, the same sNB serving the UE has a coverage area which spans across two or more PLMNs. The sNB may be connected to the different PLMN core networks in the backhaul This may be for connected and/or idle UEs.

Some embodiments may cause the UE to de-register with the serving PLMN and register with the new PLMN based on its location. This may be for connected and/or idle UEs.

In some embodiments, the sNB during setup with an AMT. from a different PLMN will receive geo-coordinates which define the PLMN area boundary sewed by each of the PLNIN/AMF.

In some embodiments, the AMF subscribes with the LN1F to get notified about any LTE crossing the PLMN border.

In some embodiments, motion event reporting is configured based on "common mobility assistance information" for the HE from the AF/AMF.

In some embodiments, once the LMF determines based on the received location report and the derived geographical co-ordinates that TIE has crossed the border, the LMF will notify 10 the AMF.

In some embodiments, motion event reporting may be for individual UEs or a group of UEs associated with a proxy-UE (for example an airplane).

In some embodiments, the LMF can do it based on motion event or based on prediction when UE will cross the broader so that LMF continues checking TIE location can be avoid (more options are possible) In some embodiments, the AMTF indicates to the sNB a change in PLMN for the UE and indicates the geo-coordinates of the UE based on which the sNB is able to determine the new PLMN/ANIF and indicates the new PLMN to AN1F in its response.

In some embodiments, the AMP triggers a de-registration procedure towards the UE and indicates "change in PLMN" as the cause and also indicates the PLMN which is to be selected.

In some embodiments, the UE completes dc-registration with serving PLMN and triggers new registration with new PLMN.

In some embodiments, the LMF indicates to the sNB (over the LMF-RANinterface) 25 that the UE has left a PLMN area by indicating the LTE geo-coordinates.

In some embodiments, the sNB will do the RRC release -with indication of PLMN change and/or the new PLIVIN ID In some embodiments, the LTE triggers dc-registration with sewing PLIVIN and triggers new registration with new PLMN.

In this document, references to sNB should be understood to be also applicable to NTN-gNBs and vice versa.

Reference is made to Figure 7 which shows a signal flow for a set up procedure In this procedure, the sNB/NTN-gNB is setup with AMF from different PLMN and receives the geocoordinates that defines the PLMN area boundary sewed by each of the PLMN/AMF.

As referenced 700, a NTN-gNB (or a sNB) sends a set up request to the AMF of a first PLNIN, PLIVIN1. The request may comprise one or more of a TAC (tracking area code), the PLMN identity associated with the NTN-gNB (or sNB), and the identity of the NTN-gNB (or sNB).

As referenced 702, the AMU' of the first PLMN, sends a response to the NTN-gNB (or sNB). This response will provide the geo-coordinates of the first PLMN. This area can be specific to the coverage supported by the NTN-gNB or sNB, or the whole country.

As referenced 704, the NTN-gNB (or sNB) sends a set up request to the AMF of a second PLMN, PLNIN2. This may comprise the same information as the request sent to the 10 AMIE' of the first PLMN> As referenced 706m the AMF of the second PLMN, sends a response to the NTN-gNB (or sNB). This response will provide the geo-coordinates of the second PLMN. This area can be specific to the coverage supported by the NTN-gNB or sNB, or the whole country.

In some embodiments, when an AMF identifies the NG set up request received is from sNB (satellite Node Base station) or gNB serving NTN, the AMF indicates, in the set-up response, the PLMN area geo-coordinates. This area can be specific to the coverage supported by gNB serving NTN or whole country.

Reference is made to Figure 8 which shows a modification provided by some embodiments to steps 11 to 18 of the signal flow of Figure 5.

As referenced 11, the AMF sends a NAS (non-access stratum) location notification invoke request to the UE. It should be noted that during configuration, the motion event reporting is based on common mobility assistance information. The AMF notifies the UE of the location request (e.g.as referenced 5 in Figure 5) and may verify privacy requirements if required by the location request and supported by the UE. The AMF may include in the notification to the TIE the type of deferred location request in the case of periodic or triggered location.

As referenced 12, the UE send a NAS location return result to the AMF location notification invoke request.

As referenced 13, the AMF will perform a LMF selection process using the location return result from the UE.

As referenced 14, the AMF sends a Nlmf location determining request to the LMF. This is to initiate a request for deferred UE location.

As referenced 15, the UE is positioned by the LMF in conjunction with the HE.

As referenced 16, the LMF sends a LCS periodic triggered invoke request to the UP, As referenced 17, the UE send to the LIVE a LCS periodic triggered invoke response. As referenced 18, the LIVE provides a Nlmf location determining response which provides the location of the UE.

As referenced 800, once the LMF is selected to serve the LTE, the AMF subscribes to the LMF for the event when the UE crosses the PLMN border. To subscribe, the UE details and the PLMN geocoordinates may be provided to the LW'. When the LMF determines that the UE has crossed the PLMN border, this event is notified to the AMIE In some embodiments, the AMF subscribes for event notifications from the LMF. The LMF gets location reports from the TIE and when the LIVE detects that the UE has crossed the PLMN border, it will indicate the same to AMF.

Reference is made to Figure 9 which shows a modification provided by some embodiments to the flow after step 27. Steps 22 to 27iks1puu02] of the signal flow of Figure 5 are shown.

As referenced 22, a motion event is detected by the UE.

As referenced 23, in response to the UE detecting the motion event, the UE makes the required location measurements.

As referenced 24, 1KS3] NRB(-141a UE triggered service request procedure is performed between the TIE and the AMF. For example, the UE detects an event, in this case a motion event. The UE thus needs to report the event to the network. Since the UE was in idle state, it moves to CM (connection management) connected state with a service request procedure and invokes the positioning procedure by sending event report.

As referenced 25, the TIE sends an event report to the LMF.

As referenced 26, the LMF sends an event report acknowledgement to the UE.

As referenced 27, the LIVII does the UE positioning to get the exact location of the UE.

As referenced 900, once the LMF determines that the UE is no longer in the same PLMN area based on the derived geo-coordinates, it notifies the AMF about the event. The LMF sends a message to the AMY notifying the AMF that the TIE has crossed the PLMN border. As referenced 902, the AMIE indicates the change of the PLIVIN for the UE to the sNB. The change of PLMIN is based on UE's geo-coordinates. The AMF may provide the UE geo-coordinates to the sNB.

As referenced 904, the sNB based on available geo-coordinates of the different PLNIN/ANIF to which is connected will indicate the appropriate PLMN for the TIE in response to the AMF. The sNB may provide the ID of the new PLMN to the ANIF.

Reference is made to Figure 10 which shows the signal flow when the TIE is deregistered from one PLIVIN and registered to the new PLMN. Based on the detection of UE crossing the PLMN border, the network assists the UE to register with the new PLMN.

Once the ANT (associated with the old PLMN) knows about the new PLMN applicable based on the UE location (for example as referenced 904 in Figure 9, the AMF will trigger the de-registration procedure. As referenced 1000, the AMF associated with the old PLNIN will send a de-registration request to the HE with a cause as "PLIVIN change-and with the new PLMN ID.

As referenced 1002, the TIE will send a de-registration accept message to the AMF of 10 the old PLMN.

As referenced 1004, the UE completes the de-registration procedure with the ANIF old PLMN -PLMN1. This provides a signalling connection release between the UE and the AMF of the old PLNIN.

As referenced 1006, the UE sends a registration requestion to the sNB with the ID of 15 the new PLMN -PLMN 2.

As referenced 1008, the sNB selects the appropriate AMF based on PLMN ID indicated by the UE. The sNB will send a registration request for the UE to the AMF of the new PLMN.

Reference is made to Figure 11 which shows another embodiment. Figure 11 which shows a modification provided by some embodiments to the flow after step 27 Steps 22 to 27[KS5]iNIRB(-16] of the signal flow of Figure 5 are shown.

As referenced 22, a motion event is detected by the UE.

As referenced 23, in response to the HE detecting the motion event, the UE makes the required location measurements.

As referenced 24, a UE triggered service request procedure is performed between the UE and the ANIF.

As referenced 25, the UE sends an event report to the [ME.

As referenced 26, the LNIF sends an event report acknowledgement to the TIE.

As referenced 27, the LNIF does the UE positioning to get the exact location of the UE As referenced 1100, the LMF send a NRPPa (NR positional protocol A) procedure message -positioning deactivation-to the sNB. This message indicates the UP's geo-coordinates and indicates the cause that the UE is out of the PLMN. This provides an indication that the UE is out of the serving PLMN.

As referenced 1102, the sNB does the RRC release. The sNB sends a RRC release message to the UE and indicates the PLMN change (with the new PLMN ID) in the cause.

In response, the UE triggers a registration procedure with new HAIN ID As part of this procedure, the old serving/home network is informed about the UE's registration with new PLMN, Hence the UE is de-registered from the old PI-MN.

Reference is made to Figure 12 which shows a prediction-based border (PLIVIN) crossing check signal flow.

In step la, the ANIF subscribes to the NDWAF to get border crossing predictions for the UE In step lb, the NWDAF collects user data and geographical information to predict when the HE will cross the border. This may be in conjunction with one or more application functions. 10 AL/NIL based prediction may be used to predict the UE border crossing.

In step lc, the NWDAF will provide the predication as user assistance information to the ANIF. For example, the NWDAF may predict when UE will cross the border and provide this prediction as location assistance information to AMT. For example, the predication may be that a particular UE, UE1 will cross the border at a particular time, e.g.,5pm.

In step 2, this prediction is used to trigger the LMF. The AMF triggers the LMF to collect LIE location and determine if the UE has crossed the PLNIN border. The LMI may apply any suitable algorithm to determine the UE location.

In step 3, if the LNIF determines that the UE has crossed the border, then the LNIF informs ANIF. The procedure will then be as previously described. For example, the ANIF may initiate UE deregi strati on.

In some alternative embodiments, when the AMF receives HE assistance information (for example that UE1 will cross the border at 5 PM), the AMF shall send this information to UE. Then UE uses this information to initiate a location determination procedure so that LW' will get the accurate location at that time.

Reference is made to Figure 13 which shows a first method of some embodiments.

This method may be performed by an apparatus. The apparatus may be in or be a non-terrestrial base station. Examples of non-terrestrial base stations include a satellite base station as well as the NTN-gNB or any other suitable base station.

The apparatus may comprise suitable circuitry for providing the method.

Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to provide the method below.

Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may be such as discussed in relation to Figure 2.

The method may be provided by computer program code or computer executable instructions.

The method may comprise as referenced Ti, causing a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network.

The method may comprise as referenced T2 receiving from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network.

It should be appreciated that the method outlined in Figure 13 may be modified to include any of the previously described features.

Reference is made to Figure 14 which shows a second method of some embodiments.

This method may be performed by an apparatus. The apparatus may be provided in or be a network entity. The network entity may be the first network entity. The network entity may be a core network entity. The network entity may comprise an access and mobility management function.

The apparatus may comprise suitable circuitry for providing the method.

The method may be provided by computer program code or computer executable instructions, The method may comprise as referenced Al, receiving information at a first network entity from a location management function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network.

The method may comprise as referenced A2, in response to receiving the information, causing a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network.

It should be appreciated that the method outlined in Figure 14 may be modified to include any of the previously described features.

Reference is made to Figure 15 which shows a third method of some embodiments.

This method may be performed by an apparatus. The apparatus may be in or be a user equipment.

The apparatus may comprise suitable circuitry for providing the method.

Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may be such as discussed in relation to Figure 3.

The method may comprise as referenced B1, receiving a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network.

The method may comprise as referenced B2, in response, means for causing the user equipment to register with the second communications network.

It should be appreciated that the method outlined in Figure 15 may be modified to include any of the previously described features.

Figure 16 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media 900a or 900b storing instructions and/or parameters which when executed by a processor allow the processor to perform one or more of the steps of the methods of any of the embodiments. The non-volatile memory media may be a computer disc (CD), or digital versatile disc (DVD) schematically referenced 900a or a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick schematically referenced 900b. The computer instructions or code may be downloaded and stored in one or more memories. The memory media may store instructions and/or parameters 902 which when executed by a processor allow the processor to perform one or more of the steps of the methods of embodiments.

Computer program code may be downloaded and stored in one or more memories of the device It is noted that while the above describes example embodiments, there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments, there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As used herein, "at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>" and "at least one of <a list of two or more elements>" and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by "and" or "or", mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuitry, software, logic or any combination thereof Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof As used in this application, the term 'circui may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable).

(i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation." This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device. The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and/or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computer-executable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it.

Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media. The term "non-transitory,-as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may comprise one or more of general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

Embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the disclosure.

It should be noted that different claims with differing claim scope may be pursued in related applications such as divisional or continuation applications.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this disclosure will still fall within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Indeed, there is a further embodiment comprising a combination of one or more embodiments with any of the other embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus comprising: means for causing a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network: and means for receiving from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising: means for causing a second set up request to be sent from the non-terrestrial base station to a second network entity associated with a second communications network: and means for receiving from the second network entity, a second set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the second communications network.
3. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the set-up request comprises information indicating that the non-terrestrial base station is a non-terrestrial base station.
4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or second network entities comprises an access mobility management function,
5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the geographical information comprises geographical coordinates.
6. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for receiving information from the first network entity indicating a change in network for a user equipment.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, comprising means for receiving geo-coordinate information for the user equipment and means for using said geo-coordinate information to determine an updated communications network for said user equipment.
8. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for providing information about the updated communications network to the first network entity.
An apparatus comprising: means for receiving information at a first network entity from a location management 10 function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network; and means for, in response to receiving the information, causing a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, comprising means for subscribing to receive the information at the first network entity from the location management function when there is an event, said event being moving of the user equipment out of the first communications network.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, comprising causing a message to be sent to the user equipment configuring motion event reporting provided by the user equipment.
12. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the information indicating that the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network comprises information indicating that the user equipment has crossed a border of the first communications network.
13. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the message sent to the non-terrestrial base station comprises the location information of the user equipment.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the message sent to the non-terrestrial base station comprises geographical coordinates of the user equipment
15. The apparatus as claimed in in any of claims 9 to 14, comprising means for receiving identity information of a second communications network from the non-terrestrial base station for the user equipment.
16. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 15, comprising means for triggering a de-registration procedure to deregister the user equipment from the first network entity.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the de-registration procedure comprises causing sending to the user equipment one or more of a cause for the deregistration and information identifying a second network to be selected for registration.
18. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 17, comprising means for, in response to said information, causing a radio resource control release procedure to be carried with the user equipment
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said radio resource control release procedure comprises causing sending to the user equipment one or more of an indication of a change of network and information identifying a second network to be selected.
20. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network; and in response, means for causing the user equipment to register with the second communications network.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the information indicating a change to a second communications network comprises information identifying the second communications network.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the message comprises a radio resource control release message
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the message comprises a deregistration message
24. A method comprising: causing a first set up request to be sent from a non-terrestrial base station to a first network entity associated with a first communications network: and receiving from the first network entity, a first set up response comprising geographical information indicating the geographical coverage area of the first communications network, said geographical information being usable to select the first communications network for a user equipment located within the geographical coverage area of the first communications network.
25. A method comprising: receiving information at a first network entity from a location management function indicating that a user equipment has moved out of a first communications network; and in response to receiving the information, causing a message to be sent to a non-terrestrial base station serving the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has moved out of the first communications network
26. A method comprising: receiving a message at a user equipment from a first network entity when the user equipment has moved out of a first communications network, the message comprising information indicating a change to a second communications network; and in response, causing the user equipment to register with the second communications network.
27. A computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 24 to 26.