17838052. USER EQUIPMENT (UE) MOBILITY BETWEEN A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (NTN) AND A TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (TN) simplified abstract (QUALCOMM Incorporated)

USER EQUIPMENT (UE) MOBILITY BETWEEN A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (NTN) AND A TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (TN)

Organization Name

QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor(s)

Jae Ho Ryu of San Diego CA (US)

Changhwan Park of San Diego CA (US)

Liangping Ma of San Diego CA (US)

Bharat Shrestha of San Diego CA (US)

Hari Sankar of San Diego CA (US)

USER EQUIPMENT (UE) MOBILITY BETWEEN A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (NTN) AND A TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (TN) - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17838052 titled 'USER EQUIPMENT (UE) MOBILITY BETWEEN A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (NTN) AND A TERRESTRIAL NETWORK (TN)

Simplified Explanation

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described in this patent application. The innovation focuses on supporting mobility between a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell and a terrestrial network (TN) cell for user equipment (UE).

• The UE, when connected to an NTN cell, can determine the timing for a neighboring TN cell using a reference timestamp.
• The first network entity, which supports the NTN cell, can request the reference timestamp from a second network entity that supports the TN cell.
• In response to the request, the second network entity can provide the timestamp to the first network entity.
• The first network entity can then relay the indication of the timestamp to the UE in a measurement gap configuration.
• The UE can utilize the reference timestamp to determine the timing for a measurement gap and monitor for a signal, such as a synchronization signal, from the second network entity supporting the TN cell during the measurement gap.

Potential Applications

• This technology can be applied in wireless communication systems that involve both non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks.
• It can enable seamless mobility for user equipment between these networks, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.

Problems Solved

• The patent addresses the challenge of supporting mobility between non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks.
• It solves the problem of accurately determining the timing for a neighboring terrestrial network cell while connected to a non-terrestrial network cell.

Benefits

• The innovation allows for efficient and reliable handover between non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks.
• It ensures that user equipment can seamlessly transition between these networks without any disruption in service.
• The use of reference timestamps and measurement gaps improves the accuracy and reliability of timing synchronization between the networks.

Original Abstract Submitted

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a user equipment (UE) may support mobility between a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell and a terrestrial network (TN) cell. If the UE is connected to an NTN cell, the UE may determine timing for a neighboring TN cell using a reference timestamp. A first network entity supporting the NTN cell may request the reference timestamp from a second network entity supporting the TN cell. The second network entity may output the timestamp in response to the request. The first network entity may obtain the timestamp and output an indication of the timestamp to the UE in a measurement gap configuration. The UE may use the reference timestamp to determine timing for a measurement gap and may monitor for a signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) from the second network entity supporting the TN cell during the measurement gap.