WO2022152631A1

WO2022152631A1 - Methods, communications device and infrastructure equipment for a non-terrestrial network

Info

Publication number: WO2022152631A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/050285
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shin Horng Wong; Martin Warwick Beale
Original assignee: Sony Group Corporation; Sony Europe B.V.
Priority date: 2021-01-13
Filing date: 2022-01-07
Publication date: 2022-07-21

Abstract

A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non- terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: storing motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; updating the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmitting a first uplink signal to the non- terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the updated motion information, wherein the updated motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

Description

METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT FOR A NON- TERRESTRIAL NETWORK

The present application claims the Paris Convention priority of European patent application EP21151456.7, filed 13 January 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communications devices, infrastructure equipment and methods of operating communications devices and infrastructure equipment, and specifically to providing information regarding non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment of a non-Terrestrial Network, NTN, to a communications device.

Description of Related Art

The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

Third and fourth generation mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the third generation partnership project (3GPP) defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architectures, are able to support more sophisticated services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, may be expected to increase ever more rapidly.

Future wireless communications networks will therefore be expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with a wider range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than current systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected that future wireless communications networks will efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the "Internet of Things", and may typically be associated with the transmission of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance.

In view of this there is expected to be a desire for future wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) system / new radio access technology (RAT) systems, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles. There is similarly expected to be a desire for such connectivity to be available over a wide geographic area. One example area of current interest in this regard includes so-called “non-terrestrial networks”, or NTN for short. The 3GPP has proposed in Release 15 of the 3GPP specifications to develop technologies for providing coverage by means of one or more antennas mounted on an airborne or space -borne vehicle [1].

Non-terrestrial networks may provide service in areas that cannot be covered by terrestrial cellular networks (i.e. those where coverage is provided by means of land-based antennas), such as isolated or remote areas, on board aircraft or vessels, or may provide enhanced service in other areas. The expanded coverage that may be achieved by means of non-terrestrial networks may provide service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or ‘internet of things’ (loT) devices, or for passengers on board moving platforms (e.g. passenger vehicles such as aircraft, ships, high speed trains, or buses). Other benefits may arise from the use of non-terrestrial networks for providing multicast/broadcast resources for data delivery.

The use of different types of network infrastructure equipment and requirements for coverage enhancement give rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

In a first aspect there is described a method of operating a communications device configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: storing motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; updating the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmitting a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the updated motion information, wherein the updated motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

In a second aspect there is described a method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: determining that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identifying motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; identifying a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; scheduling the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and:

Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio access technology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device configured in accordance with example embodiments;

Figure 4 is reproduced from [1], and illustrates a first example of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) featuring an access networking service relay node and based on a satellite/aerial platform with a bent pipe payload;

Figure 5 is reproduced from [1], and illustrates a second example of an NTN featuring an access networking service relay node and based on a satellite/aerial platform connected to a gNodeB;

Figure 6 schematically shows an example of a wireless communications system comprising an NTN part and a terrestrial network (TN) part which may be configured to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 7A shows an example arrangement where an infrastructure equipment transmits satellite motion information to a communications device on a message scheduling an uplink transmission by the communications device.

Figure 7B shows an example arrangement where an infrastructure equipment transmits satellite motion information to a communications device on a message scheduling a downlink transmission by the communications device.

Figure 8A shows an example arrangement where an infrastructure equipment transmits satellite motion information to a communications device on a downlink shared channel prior to an uplink transmission by the communications device.

Figure 8B shows an example arrangement where an infrastructure equipment transmits satellite motion information to a communications device on a downlink shared channel prior to an uplink acknowledgement, by the communications device, of the downlink transmission.

Figure 8C shows an arrangement where an infrastructure equipment transmits satellite motion information to a communications device on a semi -persistent basis.

Figure 9A shows an arrangement where an uplink transmission by a communications device is delayed until a time after the communications device has received updated satellite motion information.

Figure 9B shows an arrangement where an uplink acknowledgement of a downlink transmission by a communications device is delayed until a time after the communications device has received updated satellite motion information.

Figure 10A shows an arrangement where a communications device is provided with multiple uplink transmission opportunities. Figure 10B shows an arrangement where a communications device is provided with multiple uplink acknowledgement opportunities.

Figure 11 shows a flowchart illustrating an example method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of an NTN.

Figure 12 shows a flowchart illustrating an example method of operating a communications device configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of an NTN.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 100 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [2] . It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

The network 100 includes a plurality of base stations 101 connected to a core network part 102. Each base station provides a coverage area 103 (e.g. a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 104. Data is transmitted from the base stations 101 to the communications devices 104 within their respective coverage areas 103 via a radio downlink. Data is transmitted from the communications devices 104 to the base stations 101 via a radio uplink. The core network part 102 routes data to and from the communications devices 104 via the respective base stations 101 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Communications devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminals, mobile radios, terminal devices, and so forth. Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment / network access nodes, may also be referred to as transceiver stations / nodeBs / e-nodeBs (eNB), g-nodeBs (gNB) and so forth. In this regard, different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, example embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems such as 5G or new radio as explained below, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

New Radio Access Technology (5G)

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network architecture for a new RAT wireless communications network / system 200 based on previously proposed approaches which may also be adapted to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure described herein. The new RAT network 200 represented in Figure 2 comprises a first communication cell 201 and a second communication cell 202. Each communication cell 201, 202, comprises a controlling node (centralised unit) 221, 222 in communication with a core network component 210 over a respective wired or wireless link 251, 252. The respective controlling nodes 221, 222 are also each in communication with a plurality of distributed units (radio access nodes / remote transmission and reception points (TRPs)) 211, 212 in their respective cells. Again, these communications may be over respective wired or wireless links. The distributed units (DUs) 211, 212 are responsible for providing the radio access interface for communications devices connected to the network. Each distributed unit 211, 212 has a coverage area (radio access footprint) 241, 242 where the sum of the coverage areas of the distributed units under the control of a controlling node together define the coverage of the respective communication cells 201, 202. Each distributed unit 211, 212 includes transceiver circuitry for transmission and reception of wireless signals and processor circuitry configured to control the respective distributed units 211, 212.

In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network component 210 of the new RAT communications network represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 102 represented in Figure 1, and the respective controlling nodes 221, 222 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 211, 212 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 101 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless communications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may he with the controlling node / centralised unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs.

A communications device or UE 260 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first communication cell 201. This communications device 260 may thus exchange signalling with the first controlling node 221 in the first communication cell via one of the distributed units 211 associated with the first communication cell 201. In some cases communications for a given communications device are routed through only one of the distributed units, but it will be appreciated in some other implementations communications associated with a given communications device may be routed through more than one distributed unit, for example in a soft handover scenario and other scenarios.

In the example of Figure 2, two communication cells 201, 202 and one communications device 260 are shown for simplicity, but it will of course be appreciated that in practice the system may comprise a larger number of communication cells (each supported by a respective controlling node and plurality of distributed units) serving a larger number of communications devices.

It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT communications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless communications systems having different architectures.

Thus example embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless communications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, example embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 101 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a control unit / controlling node 221, 222 and / or a TRP 211, 212 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

A more detailed illustration of a communications device 270 and an example network infrastructure equipment 272, which may be thought of as an eNB or a gNB 101 or a combination of a controlling node 221 and TRP 211, is presented in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the communications device 270 is shown to transmit uplink data to the infrastructure equipment 272 of a wireless access interface as illustrated generally by an arrow 274. The UE 270 is shown to receive downlink data transmitted by the infrastructure equipment 272 via resources of the wireless access interface as illustrated generally by an arrow 288. As with Figures 1 and 2, the infrastructure equipment 272 is connected to a core network 276 (which may correspond to the core network 102 of Figure 1 or the core network 210 of Figure 2) via an interface 278 to a controller 280 of the infrastructure equipment 272. The infrastructure equipment 272 may additionally be connected to other similar infrastructure equipment by means of an inter-radio access network node interface, not shown on Figure 3.

The infrastructure equipment 272 includes a receiver 282 connected to an antenna 284 and a transmitter 286 connected to the antenna 284. Correspondingly, the communications device 270 includes a controller 290 connected to a receiver 292 which receives signals from an antenna 294 and a transmitter 296 also connected to the antenna 294.

The controller 280 is configured to control the infrastructure equipment 272 and may comprise processor circuitry which may in turn comprise various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing functionality as explained further herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or as appropriately configured functions of the processor circuitry. Thus the controller 280 may comprise circuitry which is suitably configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming / configuration techniques for equipment in wireless telecommunications systems. The transmitter 286 and the receiver 282 may comprise signal processing and radio frequency filters, amplifiers and circuitry in accordance with conventional arrangements. The transmitter 286, the receiver 282 and the controller 280 are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment 272 will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

Correspondingly, the controller 290 of the communications device 270 is configured to control the transmitter 296 and the receiver 292 and may comprise processor circuitry which may in turn comprise various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing functionality as explained further herein. These sub-units may be implemented as discrete hardware elements or as appropriately configured functions of the processor circuitry. Thus the controller 290 may comprise circuitry which is suitably configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming / configuration techniques for equipment in wireless telecommunications systems. Likewise, the transmitter 296 and the receiver 292 may comprise signal processing and radio frequency filters, amplifiers and circuitry in accordance with conventional arrangements. The transmitter 296, receiver 292 and controller 290 are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the communications device 270 will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality, for example a power source, user interface, and so forth, but these are not shown in Figure 3 in the interests of simplicity.

The controllers 280, 290 may be configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, which may be non-volatile memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium.

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs)

An overview of NR-NTN can be found in [1], and much of the following wording, along with Figures 4 and 5, has been reproduced from that document as a way of background.

As a result of the wide service coverage capabilities and reduced vulnerability of space/airbome vehicles to physical attacks and natural disasters, Non-Terrestrial Networks are expected to:

• foster the roll out of 5G service in un-served areas that cannot be covered by terrestrial 5G network (isolated/remote areas, on board aircrafts or vessels) and underserved areas (e.g. sub- urban/rural areas) to upgrade the performance of limited terrestrial networks in a cost effective manner;

• reinforce the 5G service reliability by providing service continuity for M2M/IoT devices or for passengers on board moving platforms (e.g. passenger vehicles-aircraft, ships, high speed trains, bus) or ensuring service availability anywhere especially for critical communications, future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications; and to

• enable 5G network scalability by providing efficient multicast/broadcast resources for data delivery towards the network edges or even user terminal.

The benefits relate to either Non-Terrestrial Networks operating alone or to integrated terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial networks. They will impact at least coverage, user bandwidth, system capacity, service reliability or service availability, energy consumption and connection density. A role for NonTerrestrial Network components in the 5G system is expected for at least the following verticals: transport, Public Safety, Media and Entertainment, eHealth, Energy, Agriculture, Finance and Automotive. It should also be noted that the same NTN benefits apply to 4G and/or LTE technologies and that while NR is sometimes referred to in the present disclosure, the teachings and techniques presented herein are equally applicable to 4G and/or LTE.

Figure 4 illustrates a first example of an NTN architecture based on a satellite/aerial platform (which may be referred to as non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment) with a bent pipe payload, meaning that the same data is sent back down to Earth as is received by the satellite/aerial platform, with only frequency or amplification changing; i.e. acting like a pipe with a u-bend. In this example NTN, the satellite or the aerial platform will therefore relay a NR (or LTE) signal between the gNodeB (or eNodeB) and UEs transparent manner. In such examples, a UE may be considered to receive signals from the satellite, despite the fact that the signal originated from the gNodeB (or eNodeB), and that the satellite relays signals to the UE in a transparent manner.

Figure 5 illustrates a second example of an NTN architecture based on a satellite/aerial platform (which may also be referred to as non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment) comprising a gNodeB (or eNodeB in the examples of this disclosure). In this example NTN, the satellite or aerial platform carries a full or part of a gNodeB to generate or receive a NR signal to/from the UEs. For example, in addition to frequency conversion and amplification, the satellite/aerial platform may also decode a received signal. This requires the satellite or aerial platform to have sufficient on-board processing capabilities to be able to include a gNodeB or eNodeB functionality.

Figure 6 schematically shows an example of a wireless communications system 300 which may be configured to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 300 in this example is based broadly around an LTE-type or 5G-type architecture. Many aspects of the operation of the wireless communications system / network 300 are known and understood and are not described here in detail in the interest of brevity. Operational aspects of the wireless communications system 300 which are not specifically described herein may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the current LTE- standards or the proposed 5G standards.

The wireless communications system 300 comprises a core network part 302 (which may be a 4G core network or a 5G core network) in communicative connection with a radio network part. The radio network part comprises a terrestrial station 301 connected to a non-terrestrial network part 310. The non-terrestrial network part 310 may be an example of infrastructure equipment. Alternatively, or in addition, the non-terrestrial network part 310 may be mounted on a satellite vehicle or on an airborne vehicle. In some cases, the base station (e.g. g-Node B / e-node B) may be fully implemented in the terrestrial station 301 or in the non-terrestrial network part 310, or may be partially implemented in one or both of the terrestrial station 301 or in the non-terrestrial network part 310.

The non-terrestrial network part 310 may communicate with a communications device 306, located within a cell 308, by means of a wireless access interface provided by a wireless communications link 314. For example, the cell 308 may correspond to the coverage area of a spot beam generated by the non-terrestrial network part 310. The boundary of the cell 308 may depend on an altitude of the nonterrestrial network part 310 and a configuration of one or more antennas of the non-terrestrial network part 310 by which the non-terrestrial network part 310 transmits and receives signals on the wireless access interface.

The non-terrestrial network part 310 may be a satellite in an orbit with respect to the Earth, or may be mounted on such a satellite. For example, the satellite may be in a geo-stationary earth orbit (GEO) such that the non-terrestrial network part 310 does not move with respect to a fixed point on the Earth’s surface. The geo-stationary earth orbit may be approximately 36,786km above the Earth’s equator. The satellite may alternatively be in a low-earth orbit (LEO), in which the non-terrestrial network part 310 may complete an orbit of the Earth relatively quickly, thus providing moving cell coverage. Alternatively, the satellite may be in a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO), so that the non-terrestrial network part 310 moves with respect to a fixed point on the Earth’s surface. The non-terrestrial network part 310 may be an airborne vehicle such as an aircraft, or may be mounted on such a vehicle. The airborne vehicle (and hence the non-terrestrial network part 310) may be stationary with respect to the surface of the Earth or may move with respect to the surface of the Earth. In Figure 6, the terrestrial station 301 is shown as ground-based, and connected to the non-terrestrial network part 310 by means of a wireless communications link 312. The non-terrestrial network part 310 receives signals representing downlink data transmitted by the base station 301 on the wireless communications link 312 and, based on the received signals, transmits signals representing the downlink data via the wireless communications link 314 providing the wireless access interface for the communications device 306. Similarly, the non-terrestrial network part 310 receives signals representing uplink data transmitted by the communications device 306 via the wireless access interface comprising the wireless communications link 314 and transmits signals representing the uplink data to the terrestrial station 301 on the wireless communications link 312. The wireless communications links 312, 314 may operate at a same frequency, or may operate at different frequencies.

The extent to which the non-terrestrial network part 310 processes the received signals may depend upon a processing capability of the non-terrestrial network part 310. For example, the non-terrestrial network part 310 may receive signals representing the downlink data on the wireless communication link 312, amplify them and (if needed) re-modulate onto an appropriate carrier frequency for onwards transmission on the wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications link 314. Alternatively, the non-terrestrial network part 310 may be configured to decode the signals representing the downlink data received on the wireless communication link 312 into un-encoded downlink data, reencode the downlink data and modulate the encoded downlink data onto the appropriate carrier frequency for onwards transmission on the wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications link 314.

The non-terrestrial network part 310 may be configured to perform some of the functionality conventionally carried out by a base station (e.g. a gNodeB or an eNode B), such as base station 101 of Figure 1. In particular, latency-sensitive functionality (such as acknowledging a receipt of the uplink data, or responding to a RACH request) may be performed by the non-terrestrial network part 310 partially implementing some of the functions of a base station.

As mentioned above, a base station may be co-located with the non-terrestrial network part 310; for example, both may be mounted on the same satellite vehicle or airborne vehicle, and there may be a physical (e.g. wired, or fibre optic) connection on board the satellite vehicle or airborne vehicle, providing the coupling between the terrestrial station 301 and the non-terrestrial network part 310. In such co-located arrangements, a wireless communications feeder link between the base station and a terrestrial station 301 may provide connectivity between the base station (co-located with the nonterrestrial network part 310) and the core network part 302.

The terrestrial station 301 may be a NTN Gateway that is configured to transmit signals to the terrestrial network part 310 via the wireless communications link 312 and to communicate with the core network part 302. That is, in some examples the terrestrial station 301 may not include base station functionality. For example, if the base station is co-located with the non-terrestrial network part 310, as described above, the terrestrial station 301 does not implement base station functionality. In other examples, the base station may be co-located with the NTN Gateway in the terrestrial station 301, such that the terrestrial station 301 is capable of performing base station (e.g. gNode B or eNodeB) functionality.

In some examples, even if the base station is not co-located with the non-terrestrial network part 310 (such that the base station functionality is implemented by a ground-based component), the terrestrial station 301 may not necessarily implement the base station functionality. In other words, the base station (e.g. gNodeB or eNodeB) may not be co-located with the terrestrial station 301 (NTN Gateway). In this manner, the terrestrial station 301 (NTN Gateway) transmits signals received from the non-terrestrial network part 310 to a base station (not shown in Figure 6). In such an example, the base station (e.g. gNodeB or eNodeB) may be considered as being part of core network part 302, or may be separate (not shown in Figure 6) from the core network part 302 and located logically between the terrestrial station 301 (NTN Gateway) and the core network part 302.

In some cases, the communications device 306 shown in Figure 6 may be configured to act as a relay node. That is, it may provide connectivity to one or more terminal devices such as the terminal device 304. When acting as a relay node, the communications device 306 transmits and receives data to and from the terminal device 304, and relays it, via the non-terrestrial network part 310 to the terrestrial station 301. The communications device 306, acting as a relay node, may thus provide connectivity to the core network part 302 for terminal devices which are within a transmission range of the communications device 306.

In some cases, the non-terrestrial network part 310 is also connected to a ground station 320 via a wireless link 322. The ground station may for example be operated by the satellite operator (which may be the same as the mobile operator for the core and/or radio network or may be a different operator) and the link 322 may be used as a management link and/or to exchange control information. In some cases, once the non-terrestrial network part 310 has identified its current position and velocity, it can send position and velocity information to the ground station 320. The position and velocity information may be shared as appropriate, e.g. with one or more of the UE 306, terrestrial station 301 and base station, for configuring the wireless communication accordingly (e.g. via links 312 and/or 314).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many scenarios can be envisaged in which the combination of the communications device 306 and the non-terrestrial network part 310 can provide enhanced service to end users. For example, the communications device 306 may be mounted on a passenger vehicle such as a bus or train which travels through rural areas where coverage by terrestrial base stations may be limited. Terminal devices on the vehicle may obtain service via the communications device 306 acting as a relay, which communicates with the non-terrestrial network part 310.

There is a need to ensure that connectivity for the communications device 306 with the base station 301 can be maintained, in light of the movement of the communications device 306, the movement of the non-terrestrial network part 310 (relative to the Earth’s surface), or both. According to conventional cellular communications techniques, a decision to change a serving cell of the communications device 306 may be based on measurements of one or more characteristics of a radio frequency communications channel, such as signal strength measurements or signal quality measurements. In a terrestrial communications network, such measurements may effectively provide an indication that the communications device 306 is at, or approaching, an edge of a coverage region of a cell, since, for example, path loss may broadly correlate to a distance from a base station. However, such conventional measurement-based algorithms may be unsuitable for cells generated by means of the transmission of beams from a non-terrestrial network part, such as the cell 308 generated by the non-terrestrial network part 310. In particular, path loss may be primarily dependent on an altitude of the non-terrestrial network part 310 and may vary only to a very limited extent (if at all) at the surface of the Earth, within the coverage region of the cell 308. As a result, the strength of a received signal may be always lower than that from a terrestrial base station, which thus will always be selected when available.

A further challenge of conventional techniques may be the relatively high rate at which cell changes occur for the communications device 306 obtaining service from one or more non-terrestrial network parts. For example, where the non-terrestrial network part 310 is mounted on a satellite in a low-earth orbit (LEO), the non-terrestrial network part 310 may complete an orbit of the Earth in around 90 minutes; the coverage of a cell generated by the non-terrestrial network part 310 will move very rapidly, with respect to a fixed observation point on the surface of the Earth. Similarly, it may be expected that the communications device 306 may be mounted on an airborne vehicle itself, having a ground speed of several hundreds of kilometres per hour.

Satellite positional information

One particular difficulty associated with LEO NTNs is the large distances and relative speeds between the UE and the gNB compared to terrestrial networks. For example, if a non-terrestrial network part is mounted on a satellite in LEO, the distance between the non-terrestrial network part and the UE may be between 600km to 1200km. Hence, the propagation delay between the UE (hereinafter the term UE is used to refer to any communications device configured to communicate with a non-terrestrial part of an NTN) and the gNB is significantly larger than for terrestrial networks, particularly in a ‘transparent’ arrangement such as that shown in Figure 4. For example, for an NTN using a transparent LEO satellite, the Round Trip Time (RTT) between the UE and the gNB may be between approximately 8ms to approximately 26 ms.

In order to take into account this large propagation delay, uplink transmissions would need to apply a large Timing Advance (TA) and the gNB would need to take this into account of for scheduling of uplink data. The timing advance that needs to be applied depends on the location of the UE within the cell footprint of the satellite. Since the cell footprint can be large, there can be a large variation of the timing advance that needs to be applied, depending on the UE location within the cell footprint.

In addition to the increased RTT between the UE and the gNB, the NTN system also needs to take into account the movement of the satellite. For example, a LEO satellite can be travelling at 7.56 km/second (27,216 km/h) relative to the UE, which would cause significant Doppler shift that the UE needs to compensate for. In order to factor in the Doppler shift, i.e. pre-compensation for the frequency of the uplink transmissions, the UE needs to know its own geo-location and the motion (e.g. position and velocity) of the satellite. The geo-location of the UE can, for example, be obtained from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or from any other suitable means.

The position and velocity of the satellite can be derived from the satellite ephemeris information, that is the satellite orbital trajectory, which can be periodically broadcast to the UE, e.g. via System Information Blocks (SIBs). However, broadcasting ephemeris information, e.g. every 100ms, can lead to high signaling overhead.

Furthermore, signaling ephemeris information does not take into account perturbations in the satellite orbit and hence may not provide sufficient accuracy to determine the required timing advance and frequency compensation. In particular, satellites in LEO do not exist in a perfect vacuum and thus experience a number of factors such as varying drag coefficients or gravitational forces which perturb the orbit of the satellite. As such, as the time since a UE last received a periodic broadcast of the satellite ephemeris information increases, the accuracy with which the UE can accurately determine the position and velocity of the satellite decreases.

One possibility is that instead of sending ephemeris information, the gNB or an NTN Gateway can derive the satellite position and velocity and broadcast it via the SIBs. The satellite position and velocity may be determined by the gNB or NTN Gateway, for example, via GNSS or other suitable means. The gNB or NTN Gateway may determine the satellite position and velocity via communications on the network itself, or the gNB or NTN Gateway may determine the satellite position and velocity by other means, separate from the network. For example, the gNB or NTN Gateway may derive the satellite position and velocity, e.g. via a telemetry link to the satellite, and the gNB may transmit that information in the SIBs. The gNB/NTN Gateway may estimate satellite position and velocity at the System Frame Number (SFN) in which the SIB is broadcasted, thereby providing real time position and velocity information. Hereinafter, the term ‘gNB’ is used to refer to any of a base station, a gNB, an eNB or an NTN gateway, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

SIBs are broadcasted periodically and consequently the gNB is not aware of when a UE last read a SIB broadcast, as a UE may not necessarily read each and every SIB broadcast. As such, the UE may not have up to date information at the point where the gNB schedules the UE with an uplink transmission. Therefore, the UE may not be able to accurately compensate for the Doppler shift between the UE and the satellite. Furthermore, for half-duplex frequency division multiplex (HF FDD) UEs, the gNB may not be able to schedule any uplink transmission that may collide with the SIB transmission that carries the satellite information in the downlink. As such, the scheduling for such a UE may be restricted.

The present disclosure provides means for providing a UE with up to date satellite motion information for a scheduled uplink transmission.

In some examples, the satellite motion information may be signalled in a UE-specific downlink control information (DCI) message. In this manner, the satellite motion information may be transmitted to the UE without requiring additional network traffic or signalling. In other words, the satellite motion information may be provided to the UE within messages that would still otherwise have been sent to the UE.

In the example arrangement 400 shown in Figure 7A, a gNB 401 sends an uplink (UL) Grant DCI message 402 scheduling an uplink transmission on a physical uplink channel 412, such as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). By providing the satellite motion information in the UL Grant, the UE can then apply the satellite motion information for frequency pre -compensation in the scheduled PUSCH.

In the example arrangement 450 shown in Figure 7B, the DCI may also be a downlink (DL) Grant DCI scheduling a downlink transmission on a physical downlink channel 462, such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) . In response to receiving DL Grant DCI, a UE will often respond on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) 463 with a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) associated with the downlink transmission. Accordingly, as the UE has been provided with the satellite motion information in the DL Grant DCI, the UE can apply the satellite motion information for frequency compensation in the PUCCH.

In addition or alternatively to including the satellite motion information in a UL Grant DCI or a DL Grant DCI, the satellite motion information may be included within an activation DCI activating a configured grant PUSCH (CG-PUSCH).

In addition or alternatively to including the satellite motion information in a UL Grant DCI, DL Grant DCI or activation DCI for a CG-PUSCH, the satellite motion information may be included within an activation DCI activating a semi-persistent scheduling PDSCH (SPS-PDSCH).

In addition or alternatively to including the satellite motion information in a UL Grant DCI, DL Grant DCI, activation DCI for a CG-PUSCH or activation DCI for SPS-PDSCH, the satellite motion information may be included within a deactivation DCI deactivating a semi-persistent scheduling PDSCH (SPS-PDSCH). In response to receiving a deactivation DCI, a UE will often respond on a PUCCH with a HARQ-ACK indication that it has received the deactivation DCI and will therefore deactivate the SPS-PDSCH. Accordingly, as the UE has been provided with the satellite motion information in the deactivation DCI, the UE can apply the satellite motion information for frequency compensation in the PUCCH.

The gNB does not necessarily need to transmit the satellite motion information to the UE in every UE- specific DCI sent to the UE, but rather may only transmit the satellite motion information to the UE when it determines that the UE’s satellite motion information should be updated. For example, if the gNB determines that the time since the UE last received satellite motion information is comparatively small such that the satellite’s position and velocity can be accurately determined by the UE, the gNB may not transmit the satellite motion information to the UE. Conversely, if the gNB determines that the time since the UE last received satellite motion information is comparatively large such that the satellite’s position and velocity cannot be accurately determined by the UE, the gNB transmits the satellite motion information to the UE. In some examples the gNB may decide to send new satellite motion information depending on a satellite motion variation since the last update.

In some examples, the UE may only be sent partial satellite motion information. For example, the gNB may determine that the satellite motion information last received by the UE is partially up to date and therefore only requires an incremental update. For example, the UE may be sent information regarding a change (or delta) in the satellite motion information, rather than absolute satellite motion information. Alternatively, the UE may be sent only the particular values for the satellite motion information that have changed. That is, in some examples the values associated with satellite position may be largely similar to the current satellite motion information stored by the UE and only a subset of the values have changed, such as the values after a particular decimal place, and therefore only those values that have changed may be sent to the UE. As only a portion of the satellite motion information is sent to the UE, less bits are required to transmit the satellite motion information to the UE, thereby reducing the DCI overhead.

Additionally or alternatively to transmitting satellite motion information in a DCI message, the gNB may transmit satellite motion information to the UE on a downlink transmission, such as a PDSCH, that has been scheduled by a DCI message. For example, if the satellite motion information is comparatively large in size it may not be efficiently transmittable in a DCI message and thus may be scheduled within a PDSCH. The PDSCH can be scheduled by the gNB to be received by the UE prior to a scheduled UL transmission (such as a PUSCH, dynamic grant PUSCH (DG- PUSCH), PUCCH, or configured grant PUSCH (CG-PUSCH)), thereby providing the UE with the satellite motion information for frequency pre-compensation for its UL transmission.

In the example arrangement 500 shown in Figure 8A, the gNB 501 transmits a DL Grant DCI message 511 to the UE 502, where the DL Grant schedules a PDSCH 512 which will transmit the satellite motion information to the UE 501. The gNB then proceeds to transmit the satellite motion information on the PDSCH 512. The UE may then respond to the PDSCH 512 with a HARQ-ACK on a PUCCH (not shown) using the satellite motion information to perform frequency pre-compensation for the PUCCH. After the UE 502 has received the satellite motion information on the PDSCH 512, the gNB 501 may transmit a UL Grant DCI message 513 to the UE 502, scheduling a PUSCH 514. The UE 502 performs frequency pre-compensation based on the satellite motion information received on the PDSCH 512 and begins its UL transmission on the PUSCH 514.

In Figure 8A, the DL Grant DCI 511 and PDSCH 512 are shown as being received prior to the UL Grant 513. However, in some examples, one or both of the DL Grant DCI 511 and the PDSCH 512 may be received after the UL Grant DCI 513 but before the PUSCH 514 scheduled by the UL Grant DCI 513. In some examples, scheduling information for the PDSCH 512 on which the satellite motion information is to be transmitted may be transmitted to the UE 502 together with the UL Grant 513 scheduling the UE’s 502 UL transmission.

Figure 8B shows an example arrangement 550 where a gNB 551 transmits to a UE 552 a UL Grant DCI 561 and a DL Grant DCI 562 that schedules a PDSCH 563. In Figure 8B, the UL Grant DCI 561 is shown as being transmitted prior to the DL Grant DCI 562 and the PDSCH 563, however the UL Grant 561 may alternatively be transmitted after one or both of the DL Grant DCI 562 and PDSCH 563. In the example of Figure 8B, the DL Grant DCI 562 may include partial satellite motion information and the PDSCH 563 may include the full satellite motion information. In this manner, if the UE 552 has recently read an SIB containing the satellite motion information (which the gNB 551 would be unaware of), the UE 552 only needs to process the DL Grant DCI 562 to ensure that its satellite motion information is up to date and may be able to adequately perform frequency pre -compensation without needing to read the PDSCH 563. In this manner, the PDSCH 563 may be ignored by the UE 552. As a result, the UE 552 may be able to begin its UL transmission earlier and may also save on power consumption.

In some examples, the PDSCH 512, 563 may include the full satellite motion information and may also be transmitted to the UE 502, 552 before a subsequent DCI message. Such a DCI message may include partial satellite motion information to provide incremental updates to the UE 502, 552. Accordingly, the gNB 501, 551 ensures that the UE 502, 552 has up to date satellite motion information before providing smaller incremental updates, thereby minimising the quantity of data that is sent over the network.

A PDSCH 512, 563 transmitting the satellite motion information may, in addition to including the satellite motion information, include other information for the UE 502, 552, such as information of one or more layers above a radio link control layer in a protocol stack, for example application information or higher layer signalling (such as radio resource control (RRC) signalling). The satellite motion information included in the PDSCH 512, 563 may then be used by the UE 502, 552 for performing frequency pre-compensation for a PUCCH response carrying a HARQ-ACK (not shown).

When transmitting the satellite motion information within a PDSCH 512, 563, there are various ways of encoding the satellite motion information. For example, the satellite motion information may be transmitted as a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). By encoding the satellite motion information in this manner, the UE may be provided with an indication of the satellite motion information in a relatively fast manner by re-using readily available and efficient communications messages or protocols already configured in the UE.

The satellite motion information may also be transmitted in a radio resource control (RRC) message. Using an RRC message to transmit the satellite motion information may have lower specification impact than other comparable methods and uses less resources. For example, MAC-CE headers have size limits and thus cannot be made too large. The satellite motion information may also be transmitted using non- access stratum (NAS) signalling. Use of NAS signalling in this manner reduces any impact on radio access network (RAN) layers.

In some examples, a PDSCH transmission including the satellite motion information may be transmitted on a semi-persistent basis, for example using semi-persistent signalling (SPS). Using an SPS PDSCH transmission, the satellite motion information is transmitted periodically in one or more activated SPS instances. These SPS instances may, in some cases, be periodic.

Figure 8C shows an example arrangement 600 where a gNB 601 transmits satellite motion information to a UE 602 using semi-persistent signalling. An SPS activation message 611, for example a DCI message that signals a number of SPS downlink transmissions (SPS-PDSCH) 613, 615, 617 may be transmitted by the gNB 601 to the UE 602. The satellite motion information may be signalled to the UE 602 in one or more of the SPS-PDSCHs 613, 615, 617, for example SPS-PDSCH 613. The UE 602 may then use the satellite motion information to perform frequency pre-compensation for a PUCCH 619 carrying a HARQ-ACK in response to the SPS-PDSCHs 613, 615, 617.

The PUCCH 619 may in some cases carry a HARQ-ACK for each SPS-PDSCH 613, 615, 617, or the PUCCH 619 may carry only a single HARQ-ACK for all SPS-PDSCHs 613, 615, 617. The UE 602 may, in some examples, transmit only a single PUCCH 619 carrying multiple HARQ-ACKs, or the UE 602 may transmit a separate PUCCH 619 for each SPS-PDSCH 613, 615, 617. The satellite motion information may be included in each SPS-PDSCH 613, 615, 617, or the satellite motion information may be included in only a single SPS-PDSCH 613, 615, 617 of the signalled set of SPS instances. If the satellite motion information is included in only one SPS-PDSCH 613, 615, 617 of the set of SPS instances, the satellite motion information may be used to acknowledge each of the SPS-PDSCHs in the set of SPS instances. The set of SPS instances including the SPS-PDSCHs 613, 615, 617 may in some cases be transmitted periodically.

In some examples, the satellite motion information may be transmitted to a UE in a group common DCI (GC-DCI). A GC-DCI may be addressed to a group of UEs and is therefore beneficial for the gNB if it wishes to provide scheduling information to multiples UEs. Accordingly, the gNB can send a GC-DCI including the satellite motion information and additionally schedule multiple UEs within that group. Additionally or alternatively, the satellite motion information may be transmitted to one or more UEs in a PDSCH that has been scheduled by a GC-DCI.

In particular examples, the GC-DCI may contain partial satellite motion information and also schedule a PDSCH for the UE. The PDSCH may carry full (or alternatively the remaining) satellite motion information. Accordingly, a group of UEs may firstly read the GC-DCI to determine if they need to update their satellite motion information before proceeding to read the PDSCH. As such, UEs that have recently updated their satellite motion information do not need to read the PDSCH, thereby saving on power consumption.

In some examples, the UE may receive satellite motion information through SIB broadcasts, as described above. In these examples, when a UE is provided with a UL Grant or DL Grant DCI message scheduling a PUSCH or PUCCH, the PUSCH and PUCCH may be scheduled to occur after a UE has received a subsequent SIB broadcast.

For an enhanced MTC (eMTC) transmission, a PUSCH/PUCCH is typically transmitted four subframes after the UL Grant/PDSCH. In these examples, the PUSCH/PUCCH may be delayed such that the PUSCH/PUCCH occurs more than four subframes after the UL Grant/PDSCH. The PUSCH/PUCCH may be delayed by either a pre-determined time or an indicated time in the UL Grant/DL Grant DCI message.

An example arrangement 700 is shown in Figure 9A, where a gNB 701 transmits the satellite motion information to a UE 702 via SIB broadcasts 711, 713. In Figure 9A the SIB broadcasts 711, 713 are shown as individual transmissions from the eNB/gNB 701 to the UE 702, however it should be appreciated that this illustration is only for simplicity purposes and in reality the SIBs 711, 713 are broadcast for reception by any number of devices. The SIB 711, 713 broadcasts are periodic in nature such that a second SIB 713 is broadcasted by the gNB 701 a predetermined time period 721 after the first SIB 711.

In this example, the gNB 701 is aware of when SIB 711 was broadcasted and therefore the most recent time at which the UE 702 may have received satellite motion information. The gNB 701 may then determine, for example, before transmitting a UL Grant DCI 712 transmission to the UE 702, that the time since the last SIB broadcast 711 is above a pre-determined threshold. As such, the gNB 702 may determine that the UE 702 should be provided with updated satellite motion information.

Accordingly, the UL Grant DCI message 712 scheduled and transmitted to the UE 702 by the gNB 701 (or eNB) delays an associated PUSCH 714 transmission until a time after the UE has received the next SIB 713. That is, instead of being scheduled the traditional four subframes (in eMTC) after the UL Grant DCI 712, the PUSCH 714 may be scheduled more than four subframes after the UL Grant DCI 712. In this manner, the time 722 between an end of the UL Grant DCI 712 and the start of the PUSCH 714 may be scheduled to be large enough to allow the UE 702 to receive the subsequent SIB 713 broadcast before the PUSCH 714. Accordingly, the UE 702 is able to accurately perform frequency pre -compensation for the PUSCH 714 without requiring the satellite motion information to be added to one or more separate messages, thereby preserving network resources.

In this example, the gNB 701 knows when the next SIB broadcast 713 is scheduled and can therefore accurately schedule the PUSCH 714 to occur after SIB broadcast 713. Furthermore, the UL Grant 712 may contain instructions for the UE 702 to listen for and read SIB 713, or alternatively the UE 702 may listen for and read SIB broadcast 713 without any instruction from the gNB 701.

Figure 9B shows another example arrangement 750 in which a gNB 751 transmits to a UE 752 a DL Grant DCI message 762 scheduling a PDSCH 763 in which the UE 752 is to receive a downlink transmission. The DL Grant DCI message 762 is transmitted at a point in time after a first SIB broadcast 761. In this example, the gNB 751 is aware of when SIB 761 was broadcasted and therefore the most recent time at which the UE 752 may have received satellite motion information. The gNB 751 may then determine, for example, before transmitting a DL Grant DCI 762 transmission to the UE 752, that the time since the last SIB broadcast 761 is above a pre-determined threshold. As such, the gNB 752 may determine that the UE 752 should be provided with updated satellite motion information.

Accordingly, a PUCCH 765 carrying a HARQ-ACK for the PDSCH 763 is scheduled to be transmitted by the UE 752 after the UE 752 has received the next SIB broadcast 764. In other words, the transmission of the PUCCH 765 is delayed until a time after the UE 752 has received a subsequent SIB broadcast 764. That is, instead of being scheduled the traditional four subframes after the PDSCH 763, the PUCCH 765 is scheduled more than four subframes after the PDSCH 763. In the examples included in this disclosure, the PUCCH 765 may be scheduled either by the DL Grant DCI 762 or by the PDSCH 763 itself.

In this manner, the time 772 between an end of the PDSCH 763 and the start of the PUCCH 765 may be scheduled to be large enough to allow the UE 752 to receive the subsequent SIB 764 broadcast before the PUCCH 765. Accordingly, the UE 752 is able to accurately perform frequency pre -compensation for the PUCCH 765 without requiring the satellite motion information to be added to one or more separate messages, thereby preserving network resources. In an example arrangement, the UE is provided with satellite motion information in an UL Grant DCI or a DL Grant DCI if the time between the transmission of a SIB that contains satellite motion information and a PUSCH or PUCCH is greater than a threshold, where the threshold is either known (e.g. via a standard) or is signaled to the UE by RRC signaling. The UE may monitor for a different DCI format depending on the time since SIB containing satellite motion information was last transmitted. For example, if the time since SIB containing satellite motion information was last transmitted is greater than the threshold, the UE monitors for a DCI format that contains satellite motion information; conversely if the time since SIB containing satellite motion information was last transmitted is less than or equal to the threshold, the UE monitors for a DCI format that does not contain satellite motion information.

In the examples of this disclosure, the satellite motion information is described as being periodically provided in a SIB broadcast, however the satellite motion information can additionally or alternatively be provided in a GC-DCI message, and/or a PDSCH scheduled by a GC-DCI. As such, the infrastructure equipment can send the satellite motion information to a group of UEs and additionally schedule multiple UEs within that group.

In some examples, a UE may be provided with two UL resources for UL transmission, where an earlier UL resource is provided prior to the signalling of the satellite motion information and a later UL resource is provided after the signalling of the satellite motion information. The UE selects the earlier UL resource if it has up to date satellite motion information, otherwise it selects the later UL resource and reads the satellite motion information from the SIB broadcast (or GC-DCI message, and/or a PDSCH scheduled by a GC-DCI) prior to the UL transmission. Accordingly, when a gNB is not certain of when the UE last received satellite motion information (for example when the satellite motion information is transmitted via SIB broadcast), the UE can be provided with the flexibility to make use of UL resources at different times, based on whether the UE has up to date satellite motion information.

Figure 10A shows an example arrangement 800 where a gNB 801 transmits a UL Grant DCI message 812 to a UE 802, for example at a time after a first SIB broadcast 811. The UL Grant DCI 812 schedules a first PUSCH 813 for before a second SIB broadcast 813, and a second PUSCH 815 for after the second SIB broadcast 814. As such, if the UE 802 has up to date satellite motion information at the time of the first PUSCH 813, the UE 802 may perform frequency pre -compensation for the first PUSCH 813 and may therefore make use of the first PUSCH 813 for a UL transmission. The determination as to whether the UE 802 has up to date satellite motion information may be made by the UE 802, and may, in some examples, be based on the UL Grant DCI message 812.

If, however, the UE 802 does not have up to date satellite motion information at the time of the first PUSCH 813, the UE 802 may not make use of the first PUSCH 813 (by ignoring the first PUSCH 813) and may instead wait until it receives up to date satellite motion information. After the UE 802 receives satellite motion information via the second SIB broadcast 814, the UE 802 performs frequency precompensation for the second PUSCH 815 and begins its UL transmission. In this manner, by scheduling two PUSCH resources 813, 815 for the UE 802, the UE 802 is given the flexibility to begin its UL transmission as early as possible but at the same time avoiding the need to issue a further UL Grant DCI 812 after the second SIB broadcast 814, thereby providing network efficiency.

Figure 10B shows another example where a gNB 851 transmits DL Grant DCI message 862 to a UE 852, scheduling a PDSCH 863, for example at a time after a first SIB broadcast 861. Two PUCCHs 864, 866 are scheduled, for example by the DL Grant DCI 862 or by the PDSCH 863. A first PUCCH 864 is scheduled for before a second SIB broadcast 865. Accordingly, if the UE 852 has up to date satellite motion information at the time of the first PUCCH 864, the UE 852 may perform frequency pre -compensation for the first PUCCH 864 and may therefore make use of the first PUCCH 864 to transmit a HARQ-ACK to the gNB 851. The determination as to whether the UE 852 has up to date satellite motion information may be made by the UE 852, and may, in some examples, be based on the DL Grant DCI message 862 or PDSCH 863.

A second PUCCH 866 is scheduled for after the second SIB broadcast 865. As such, if the UE 852 does not have up to date satellite motion information at the time of the first PUCCH 864, the UE 852 may not make use of the first PUCCH 864 (by ignoring the first PUCCH 864) and may instead wait until it receives up to date satellite motion information. After the UE 852 receives satellite motion information via the second SIB broadcast 865, the UE 852 performs frequency pre-compensation for the second PUCCH 866 and transmits the HARQ-ACK using the second PUCCH 866. In this manner, by scheduling two PUCCH resources 864, 866 for the UE 852, the UE 852 is given the flexibility to transmit the HARQ-ACK as early as possible without having to send further transmissions to schedule a further PUCCH after the second SIB broadcast 865, thereby providing network efficiency.

Figure 11 shows an example method 900 of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a nonterrestrial network. The method comprises a step 910 of determining that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment (i.e. a satellite) forming part of the NTN.

The method then includes a step 920 of identifying motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device. The method includes a further step 930 of identifying a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices. The method includes a step 940 of scheduling the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time. The method also includes a step 950 of transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.

In this manner, the infrastructure equipment can ensure that the communications device has up to date motion information for the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment at a time when the communications device is to begin an uplink transmission. As such, the communications device is able to accurately determine the position and velocity of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, meaning that the communications device can perform frequency pre-compensation to account for the Doppler shift between the communications device and the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Figure 12 shows an example method 1000 of operating a communications device configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN. The method comprises a step 1010 of storing motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment. The method then comprises a step 1020 of receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the nonterrestrial infrastructure equipment. The method comprises a further step 1030 of updating the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information. The method then includes a step 1040 of transmitting a first uplink transmission to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the updated motion information, wherein the updated motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink transmission. In this manner, the communications device is able to use up to date motion information to account for Doppler shift between the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment and the communications device by performing frequency pre -compensation for uplink transmissions. The communications device is also able to use up to date motion information to account for the propagation distance between the nonterrestrial infrastructure equipment and the communications device by performing timing advance for uplink transmissions.

In some examples, the infrastructure equipment may transmit the motion information to the one or more communications devices in response to determining that one or more communications devices should be provided with the motion information. In this manner, the infrastructure may transmit the motion information to the communications device such that the communications device may begin the first uplink transmission without delay.

Furthermore, the motion information may be included in one or more downlink control information messages. As such, the motion information may be included within communications that would otherwise have been sent to the communications device, resulting in comparatively little impact on network resources.

In addition, the one or more downlink control information messages may additionally include scheduling information for the first uplink transmission by the one or more communications devices. As such, a single message may be used to provide the motion information and to schedule an uplink transmission for which the motion information will be used, thereby providing network efficiency.

In some examples, the first uplink transmission may be transmitted on an uplink shared channel or on an uplink control channel. In this manner, the method can be applied flexibly to allow the communications device to accurately perform frequency pre -compensation for a variety of different uplink transmission types. The terms uplink shared channel and an uplink control channel may, for example, include a PUSCH resource or a PUCCH resource, however the terms uplink shared channel and an uplink control channel should not be interpreted as being limited to these specific uplink resources.

In some examples, the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for a downlink transmission to be received by the one or more communications devices on a downlink shared channel. As such, a single message may be used to provide the motion information and to schedule a downlink transmission, where the motion information may be used for any reply, thereby providing network efficiency.

In some examples, the first uplink signal is transmitted on a configured grant uplink shared channel and the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control information message for activating the first uplink.

In some examples, the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control information message for deactivating a previous uplink signal on a configured grant uplink shared channel

In some examples, the one or more control messages includes an activation downlink control information message for activating an uplink transmission on a configured grant uplink shared channel, and/or an activation downlink control message for activating a semi-persistent downlink transmission PDSCH. In some examples, the one or more control messages includes a deactivation downlink control information message for deactivating an uplink transmission on a configured grant uplink shared channel, and/or a deactivation downlink control message for deactivating a semi-persistent downlink transmission PDSCH.

In some examples, the updated motion information is a portion of total motion information of the nonterrestrial infrastructure equipment. In other words, only a subset of the total motion information required is sent to the communications device. In this manner, only the motion information necessary for the communications device to accurately perform frequency pre-compensation may be sent to the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may determine that the communications device received motion information comparatively recently (for example by determining that the time since a latest transmission or broadcast of motion information is below a predetermined threshold) and that only an incremental update of the motion information is required. As such, the quantity of data transmitted over the network is minimised, thereby providing network efficiency.

In some examples, the updated motion information is transmitted to the one or more communications devices on a downlink shared channel. For example, if the motion information is comparatively large in size (for example such that the motion information cannot be efficiently transmitted via a downlink control message), the motion information may be transmitted to the communications device on a downlink shared channel.

Furthermore, scheduling information for the downlink shared channel may be included within a downlink control information message, the downlink control information message additionally including scheduling information for the first uplink transmission. In other words, the downlink control information message may in some examples include scheduling information for an uplink transmission such as a reply to the transmission on the downlink shared channel. Alternatively, the scheduling information for the first uplink transmission may be included on the downlink shared channel with the motion information. As such, the number of messages required to transmit the motion information is minimised to the extent possible, thereby providing network efficiency.

In some examples, information of one or more layers above a radio link control layer in a protocol stack is additionally received by the communications device on the downlink shared channel. As an example of this, application information may additionally be transmitted to the one or more communications devices on the downlink shared channel. As such, the number of messages and resources allocated for the transmission of such application information (or other higher layer signalling) and motion information is minimised.

In some examples, the motion information is transmitted within one or more medium access control layer control elements. By encoding the motion information in this manner, the communications device may be provided with an indication of the satellite motion information faster than comparable methods. Additionally or alternatively, the motion information is transmitted within one or more radio resource control layer messages. Using an RRC message to transmit the satellite motion information may have lower specification impact than other comparable methods and uses less resources. For example, MAC- CE headers have size limits and thus cannot be made too large. Additionally or alternatively, the motion information is transmitted within one or more non-access stratum layer messages. Use of NAS signalling in this manner reduces any impact on RAN layers. In some examples, the downlink shared channel is a semi-persistently scheduled downlink. As such, the communications device is able to read the motion information within a set time period, providing the communications device with the flexibility to read the motion information at a time when it is able, thereby accounting for unexpected factors such as power cycles or temporary losses in connectivity.

In some examples, the method further comprises transmitting, to the one or more communications devices, one or more downlink control information messages including scheduling information for an uplink transmission by the one or more communications devices, wherein the scheduling information for the first uplink transmission indicates that the uplink transmission is to be delayed until a time after the motion information has been received by the one or more communications devices. As such, the infrastructure equipment can ensure that the communications device has up to date motion information at the time of a scheduled uplink transmission, and the infrastructure equipment can do so without transmitting additional messages, thereby minimising the burden on the network.

Furthermore, transmitting the motion information may comprise periodically broadcasting the motion information, and the scheduling information for the first uplink transmission may indicate that the first uplink transmission is to be delayed until a time after a subsequent periodic broadcast of the motion information has been received by the one or more communications devices. As such, the motion information may be provided to the communications device using periodic broadcasts (for example, an SIB broadcast) which therefore does not require additional dedicated transmissions to a particular communications device.

In some examples, the motion information may be transmitted on a downlink control information message common to a group of communications devices, or on a downlink shared channel scheduled by a downlink control information message common to a group of communications devices. In this manner, the infrastructure equipment may provide the satellite motion information to a defined group of communications devices, thereby providing efficient management of satellite motion information by the infrastructure equipment.

In some examples, the first signalling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a second time, the second time being selected to be after the first point in time, the one or more downlink control information messages additionally include second scheduling information for the first uplink signal, the second scheduling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a third time, the third time being selected to be prior to the first point in time, and the method further comprises: the communications device determines, based on the one or more downlink control information messages, not to signal any information using the resources scheduled in the second scheduling information if the respective one or more communications devices do not have the updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment. In this manner, the communications device is able to begin its uplink transmission earlier if it already has up to date motion information and alternatively (if the communications device does not have up to date motion information) the communications device is provided with an opportunity to begin its uplink transmission after it receives updated motion information. Furthermore, this can be done without requiring additional transmissions to be sent specifically to the communications device in order to provide the motion information, thereby providing network efficiency.

In some example, the one or more communications devices are half-duplex communications devices. As such, the communications device is able to schedule an uplink transmission using up to date motion information in a manner which would otherwise not be possible. Further examples of the present disclosure are set out in the following numbered clauses:

Clause 1. A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: storing motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; updating the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmitting a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the updated motion information, wherein the updated motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the updated motion information is included in one or more downlink control information messages.

Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for the first uplink signal.

Clause 4. The method of any of clauses 2-3, wherein the first uplink signal is transmitted on an uplink shared channel or on an uplink control channel.

Clause 5. The method of any of clauses 2-4, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for a downlink signal to be received by the communications device on a downlink shared channel.

Clause 6. The method of any of clauses 2-5, wherein the first uplink signal is transmitted on a configured grant uplink shared channel and the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control information message for activating the first uplink.

Clause 7. The method of any of clauses 2-6, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control information message for deactivating a previous uplink signal on a configured grant uplink shared channel.

Clause 8. The method of any of clauses 2-7, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control message for activating a semi-persistent downlink signal.

Clause 9. The method of any of clauses 2-8, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control message for deactivating a semi-persistent downlink signal.

Clause 10. The method of any of clauses 2-9, wherein the updated motion information is a portion of total motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Clause 11. The method of any of any preceding clause, wherein the updated motion information is received from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment on a downlink shared channel. Clause 12. The method of clause 11, further comprising: receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, scheduling information for the downlink shared channel within a downlink control information message, the downlink control information message additionally including scheduling information for the first uplink signal.

Clause 13. The method of any of clauses 11 or 12, wherein information of one or more layers above a radio link control layer in a protocol stack is additionally received by the communications device on the downlink shared channel.

Clause 14. The method of any of clauses 11-13, wherein the updated motion information is received within one or more of: one or more medium access control layer control elements; one or more radio resource control layer messages; and one or more non-access stratum layer messages.

Clause 15. The method of any of clauses 11-14, wherein the downlink shared channel is a semi- persistently scheduled downlink shared channel.

Clause 16. The method of any preceding clause, further comprising: receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, one or more downlink control information messages including first scheduling information for the first uplink signal; and determining, based on the first scheduling information for the first uplink signal, that the first uplink signal is to be delayed until a time after the updated motion information has been received by the communications device.

Clause 17. The method of clause 16, wherein determining that the first uplink signal is to be delayed until a time after the updated motion information has been received by the communications device comprises determining that the first uplink signal is to be delayed until a time after a subsequent periodic broadcast of the updated motion information has been received by the communications device; and wherein the updated motion information is received, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, in the subsequent periodic broadcast of the motion information.

Clause 18. The method of clause 16 or 17, wherein the communications device is part of a group of communications devices, and wherein the updated motion information is received on a downlink control information message common to the group of communications devices, and/or on a downlink shared channel scheduled by a downlink control information message common to the group of communications devices.

Clause 19. The method of any of clauses 16-18, wherein the first signalling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a second time, the second time being selected to be after a first point in time, the first point in time being a time at which the communications device receives the updated motion information from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally include second scheduling information for the first uplink signal; wherein the second scheduling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a third time, the third time being selected to be prior to the first point in time; and wherein the method further comprises: determining, based on the one or more downlink control information messages, not to signal any information using the resources scheduled in the second scheduling information if the respective one or more communications devices do not have the updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Clause 20. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the communications device is a halfduplex communications device.

Clause 21. A communications device comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN; and a controller configured in combination with the transceiver to store motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receive, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; update the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmit a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the second motion information, wherein the second motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

Clause 22. Circuitry for a communications device, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN; and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to store motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receive, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; update the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmit a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the second motion information, wherein the second motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal. Clause 23. A method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: determining that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identifying motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; identifying a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; scheduling the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.

Clause 24. The method of clause 23, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the motion information to the one or more communications devices in response to a determination that one or more communications devices should be provided with the motion information.

Clause 25. The method of clause 24, wherein the motion information is included in one or more downlink control information messages.

Clause 26. The method of clause 25, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for the one or more uplink signals.

Clause 27. The method of any of clauses 25-26, wherein the one or more uplink signals are to be transmitted on an uplink shared channel or on an uplink control channel.

Clause 28. The method of any of clauses 25-27, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for a downlink signal to be received by the one or more communications devices on a downlink shared channel.

Clause 29. The method of any of clauses 25-28, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control information message for activating an uplink signal on a configured grant uplink shared channel.

Clause 30. The method of any of clauses 25-29, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control information message for deactivating an uplink signal on a configured grant uplink shared channel.

Clause 31. The method of any of clauses 25-30, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control message for activating a semi-persistent downlink signal.

Clause 32. The method of any of clauses 25-31, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control message for deactivating a semi-persistent downlink signal. Clause 33. The method of any of clauses 25-32, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages includes a portion of the total motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Clause 34. The method of any of clauses 24-33, wherein the motion information is transmitted to the one or more communications devices on a downlink shared channel.

Clause 35. The method of clause 34, wherein scheduling information for the downlink shared channel is included within a downlink control information message, the downlink control information message additionally including scheduling information for the one or more uplink signals.

Clause 36. The method of any of clauses 34 or 35, wherein the downlink shared channel additionally includes information of one or more layers above a radio link control layer in a protocol stack.

Clause 37. The method of any of clauses 34-36, wherein the motion information is transmitted within one or more of: one or more medium access control layer control elements; one or more radio resource control layer messages; and one or more non-access stratum layer messages.

Clause 38. The method of any of clauses 34-37, wherein the downlink shared channel is a semi- persistently scheduled downlink shared channel.

Clause 39. The method of any preceding clause, further comprising: transmitting, to the one or more communications devices, one or more downlink control information messages including first scheduling information for the one or more uplink signals; wherein the first scheduling information for the one or more uplink signals indicates that the one or more uplink signals are to be delayed until a time after the motion information has been received by the one or more communications devices.

Clause 40. The method of clause 39, wherein transmitting the motion information comprises periodically broadcasting the motion information; and wherein the scheduling information for the one or more uplink signals indicates that the one or more uplink signals are to be delayed until a time after a subsequent periodic broadcast of the motion information has been received by the one or more communications devices.

Clause 41. The method of clause 39 or 40, wherein transmitting the motion information comprises transmitting on a downlink control information message common to a group of communications devices, and/or on a downlink shared channel scheduled by a downlink control information message common to a group of communications devices.

Clause 42. The method of any of clauses 39-41, wherein the first signalling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at the second time; 1 wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally include second scheduling information for the first uplink signal ; wherein second scheduling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a third time, the third time being selected to be prior to the first point in time; and wherein, based on the first one or more downlink control information messages, the one or more communications devices are configured to determine not to signal any information using the resources scheduled in the second scheduling information if the respective one or more communications devices do not have up-to-date motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Clause 43. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more communications devices are half-duplex communications devices.

Clause 44. Infrastructure equipment for use in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, wherein the infrastructure equipment comprises: a transceiver configured to transmit downlink signals to and/or receive uplink signals from one or more communications devices; and a controller configured in combination with the transceiver to determine that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identify motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; identify a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; schedule the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmit the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.

Clause 45. The infrastructure equipment according to clause 44, wherein the infrastructure equipment is non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Clause 46. The infrastructure equipment according to clause 44, wherein the infrastructure equipment is terrestrial infrastructure equipment and wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit downlink signals to and/or receive uplink signals from the one or more communications devices via non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Clause 47. Circuity for infrastructure equipment for use in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit downlink signals to and/or receive uplink signals from one or more communications devices; and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to determine that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identify motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; identify a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; schedule the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmit the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It will be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Accordingly, in view of the foregoing discussion, from one perspective there has been described a method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN. The method includes a step of determining that one or more communications devices, configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN, should be provided with motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment. The method further includes a step of transmitting, to the one or more communications devices, the motion information. The transmission of the motion information is scheduled such that the motion information is received by the one or more communications devices prior to a first uplink transmission, to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, by the one or more communications devices.

REFERENCES

[1] TR 38.811, “Study on New Radio (NR) to support non terrestrial networks (Release 15)”, 3rd Generation Partnership Project, December 2017.

[2] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

Claims

29 CLAIMS

Claim 1. A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: storing motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; updating the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmitting a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the updated motion information, wherein the updated motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

Claim 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated motion information is included in one or more downlink control information messages.

Claim 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for the first uplink signal.

Claim 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first uplink signal is transmitted on an uplink shared channel or on an uplink control channel.

Claim 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally includes scheduling information for a downlink signal to be received by the communications device on a downlink shared channel.

Claim 6. The method of claims 2, wherein the first uplink signal is transmitted on a configured grant uplink shared channel and the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control information message for activating the first uplink.

Claim 7. The method of claims 2, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control information message for deactivating a previous uplink signal on a configured grant uplink shared channel.

Claim 8. The method of claims 2, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is an activation downlink control message for activating a semi-persistent downlink signal.

Claim 9. The method of claims 2, wherein the one or more downlink control information messages is a deactivation downlink control message for deactivating a semi-persistent downlink signal.

Claim 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the updated motion information is a portion of total motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Claim 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated motion information is received from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment on a downlink shared channel.

Claim 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: 30 receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, scheduling information for the downlink shared channel within a downlink control information message, the downlink control information message additionally including scheduling information for the first uplink signal.

Claim 13. The method of claim 11, wherein information of one or more layers above a radio link control layer in a protocol stack is additionally received by the communications device on the downlink shared channel.

Claim 14. The method of claims 11, wherein the downlink shared channel is a semi-persistently scheduled downlink shared channel.

Claim 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, one or more downlink control information messages including first scheduling information for the first uplink signal; and determining, based on the first scheduling information for the first uplink signal, that the first uplink signal is to be delayed until a time after the updated motion information has been received by the communications device.

Claim 16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining that the first uplink signal is to be delayed until a time after the updated motion information has been received by the communications device comprises determining that the first uplink signal is to be delayed until a time after a subsequent periodic broadcast of the updated motion information has been received by the communications device; and wherein the updated motion information is received, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, in the subsequent periodic broadcast of the motion information.

Claim 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the communications device is part of a group of communications devices, and wherein the updated motion information is received on a downlink control information message common to the group of communications devices, and/or on a downlink shared channel scheduled by a downlink control information message common to the group of communications devices.

Claim 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first signalling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a second time, the second time being selected to be after a first point in time, the first point in time being a time at which the communications device receives the updated motion information from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; wherein the one or more downlink control information messages additionally include second scheduling information for the first uplink signal; wherein the second scheduling information schedules resources for the first uplink signal to occur at a third time, the third time being selected to be prior to the first point in time; and wherein the method further comprises: determining, based on the one or more downlink control information messages, not to signal any information using the resources scheduled in the second scheduling information if the respective one or more communications devices do not have the updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Claim 19. A communications device comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN; and a controller configured in combination with the transceiver to store motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receive, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; update the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmit a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the second motion information, wherein the second motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

Claim 20. Circuitry for a communications device, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit uplink signals to and/or to receive downlink signals from a non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN; and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to store motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; receive, from the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, updated motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment; update the stored motion information based on the received updated motion information; and transmit a first uplink signal to the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment, based on the second motion information, wherein the second motion information is received prior to transmitting the first uplink signal.

Claim 21. A method of operating infrastructure equipment forming part of a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the method comprising: determining that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identifying motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; identifying a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; scheduling the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.

Claim 22. Infrastructure equipment for use in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, wherein the infrastructure equipment comprises: a transceiver configured to transmit downlink signals to and/or receive uplink signals from one or more communications devices; and a controller configured in combination with the transceiver to determine that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identify motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; identify a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; schedule the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmit the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.

Claim 23. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 22, wherein the infrastructure equipment is non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Claim 24. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 22, wherein the infrastructure equipment is terrestrial infrastructure equipment and wherein the infrastructure equipment is configured to transmit downlink signals to and/or receive uplink signals from the one or more communications devices via non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment.

Claim 25. Circuity for infrastructure equipment for use in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, the circuitry comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit downlink signals to and/or receive uplink signals from one or more communications devices; and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transceiver circuitry to determine that one or more communications devices are expected to transmit one or more uplink signals to non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment forming part of the NTN; identify motion information of the non-terrestrial infrastructure equipment for the at least one communication device; 33 identify a first point in time for transmitting the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices; schedule the transmission of the one or more uplink signals by the at least one communications device at a second point in time, the second point in time being selected to be after the first point in time; and transmit the identified motion information to the one or more communications devices at the first point in time.