WO2025160865A1

WO2025160865A1 - Method, device and computer program product for wireless communication

Info

Publication number: WO2025160865A1
Application number: PCT/CN2024/075098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Menghan WANG; Jinguo Zhu; Zhijun Li
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2024-01-31
Filing date: 2024-01-31
Publication date: 2025-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-31

Abstract

A wireless communication method is disclosed. The method comprises transmitting, by a network node to a wireless communication node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Description

METHOD, DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document is directed generally to wireless communications, and in particular to 5^th generation (5G) communications or 6^th generation (6G) communications.

BACKGROUND

In 5G communication, Radio Access Network (RAN) nodes are widely used. The RAN nodes support New Radio (NR) devices via the NR user plane and control plane protocols. The existing satellite network behaves like a RAN node, referred to as Satellite RAN node. However, the satellite network connectivity is still a topic to be discussed.

SUMMARY

This document relates to methods, systems, and computer program products for a wireless communication.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method. In an embodiment, the wireless communication method includes: transmitting, by a network node to a wireless communication node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Various embodiments may preferably implement the following features:

Preferably, the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes comprises one or more Internet Protocol, IP, addresses of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises: storing, by the network node, one or more IP addresses of the one or more access and mobility management nodes within a service area of the network node.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises: establishing, by the network node, a connection with the wireless communication node based on an IP address of the network node.

Preferably, the IP address of the network node is configured by the wireless communication node.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises, before the transmitting of the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes, at least one of:

receiving, by the network node from the wireless communication node, a setup request;

receiving, by the network node from the wireless communication node, a request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes; or

determining, by the network node, the one or more access and mobility management nodes within a service area of the network node that are able to be connected by the wireless communication node.

Preferably, the setup request comprises at least one of:

a satellite identifier of the wireless communication node;

a global identifier of the wireless communication node;

a list of supported Tracking Areas, TAs;

a list of supported Public Land Mobile Networks, PLMNs; or

one or more supported Single –Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAIs, per TA.

Preferably, the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to a setup request, and wherein the response responding to the setup request further comprises at least one of:

a list of supported PLMNs; or

a list of supported S-NSSAIs per PLMN.

Preferably, the request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes comprises at least one of:

a list of supported TAs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

one or more supported S-NSSAIs per TA.

Preferably, the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to a request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Preferably, the one or more access and mobility management nodes within the service area of the network node are determined based on at least one of:

information received from the wireless communication node; or

the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Preferably, the wireless communication node is a satellite wireless communication node.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method. In an embodiment, the wireless communication method includes: receiving, by a wireless communication node from a network node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Various embodiments may preferably implement the following features:

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises: establishing, by the wireless communication node, a connection with the network node based on an IP address of the network node.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises, before the receiving of the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes, at least one of:

transmitting, by the wireless communication node to the network node, a first setup request;

transmitting, by the wireless communication node to the network node, a request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Preferably, the first setup request comprises at least one of:

a satellite identifier of the wireless communication node;

a global identifier of the wireless communication node;

a list of supported Tracking Areas, TAs;

a list of supported Public Land Mobile Networks, PLMNs; or

Preferably, the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to the setup request, wherein the response responding to the setup request further comprises at least one of:

a list of supported PLMNs; or

a list of supported S-NSSAIs per PLMN.

a list of supported TAs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

one or more supported S-NSSAIs per TA.

Preferably, the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to the request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises: establishing, by the wireless communication node, a connection with one or more access and mobility management nodes based on the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes received from the network node.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises: transmitting, by the wireless communication node to an access and mobility management node, a second setup request, wherein the second setup request comprises at least one of:

a satellite identifier of the wireless communication node;

a global identifier of the wireless communication node;

a list of supported TAs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

one or more supported S-NSSAIs, per TA.

Preferably, the wireless communication method further comprises: receiving, by the wireless communication node from an access and mobility management node, a response responding to the second setup request, wherein the response responding to the second setup request comprises at least one of:

a list of served Globally Unique AMF IDs, GUAMIs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

a list of supported S-NSSAIs per PLMN.

Preferably, wireless communication node is a satellite wireless communication node.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a network node. In an embodiment, the network node includes a communication unit and a processor. The processor is configured to: transmit, via the communication unit to a wireless communication node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication node. In an embodiment, the wireless communication node includes a communication unit and a processor. The processor is configured to:receive, via the communication unit from a network node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

The present disclosure relates to a computer program product comprising a computer-readable program medium code stored thereupon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a wireless communication method recited in any one of foregoing methods.

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to providing features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In accordance with various embodiments, exemplary systems, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed herein. It is understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example and not limitation, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who read the present disclosure that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be made while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and applications described and illustrated herein. Additionally, the specific order and/or hierarchy of steps or operations in the methods disclosed herein are merely exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of steps or operations of the disclosed methods or processes can be re-arranged while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the methods and techniques disclosed herein present various steps or operations in a sample order, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless expressly stated otherwise.

The above and other aspects and their implementations are described in greater detail in the drawings, the descriptions, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an establishment of a connection between a RAN node and a network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a Control Plane Protocol Stack between 5G-AN and AMF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an architecture support of an AMG agent between an on-board gNB and an AMF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a Control Plane Protocol Stack between the satellite RAN node and the AMF agent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a Control Plane Protocol Stack between the satellite RAN node and the AMF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a procedure for a connection between a satellite RAN node and a ground network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a schematic diagram of a wireless communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a schematic diagram of a wireless communication node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9 to 10 show flowcharts of methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, the transparent mode satellite access may be assumed. In some embodiments, the deployment of an eNB or an gNB on a satellite for regenerative may be studied based on the satellite access for the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) deployment.

In some embodiments, the RAN nodes may be deployed fixed on the ground so the connection between the RAN nodes and network are stable. In some embodiments, if gNB/eNB is embedded on a LEO/MEO satellite, the moving of RAN nodes may have an impact on the connection between the satellite RAN nodes and the network.

An object of the present disclosure is to support the connection between satellite RAN nodes and a network.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an establishment of a connection between a RAN node and a network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the procedure may include at least one of the following operations.

step 0. In some embodiments, an initial remote Internet Protocol (IP) end point to be used for Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) initialization may be provided to the RAN node for each Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) that the RAN node is supposed to connect to.

Step 1. In some embodiments, the RAN may establish a first SCTP with each AMF using a configured IP address.

In some embodiments, the RAN node may use different source and/or destination IP end point (s) if the SCTP establishment towards one IP end point fails.

Step 2. In some embodiments, once SCTP connectivity has been successfully established, the RAN node and the AMF may exchange application level configuration data over Next Generation Application Protocol (NGAP) with the Next Generation (NG) Setup procedure. This may be helpful for these two nodes to interwork correctly on the NG interface.

The RAN node may initiate the NG Setup procedure by sending NG Setup Request message to the AMF including (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., Global RAN Node ID, and/or list of supported Tracking Area (s) (TA (s) ) , and/or list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

Step 3. In some embodiments, the AMF may store the information provided by the RAN node. The AMF may provide the (relevant) configuration information to the RAN node in the NG Setup Response message. The message may include a list of served Globally Unique AMF Identifier (GUAMI (s) ) , and/or a list of supported Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN (s) ) , and/or a list of supported Single–Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI (s) ) per PLMN, etc.

Step 4. In some embodiments, the RAN node may initiate the RAN Configuration Update procedure by sending a RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message to the AMF including an appropriate set of updated configuration data that it has just taken into operational use. For example, if the RAN node changes the supported list of TA (s) , then the RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message may include the updated list of TA (s) the RAN node supports.

Step 5. In some embodiments, the AMF may update the list of TA (s) supported by the RAN node and may respond with RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE message.

FIG. 2 shows a control plane protocol stack between 5G-AN and AMF.

In some embodiments, the NGAP denotes an Application Layer Protocol between the 5G-AN node and the AMF. The SCTP may guarantee delivery of signalling messages between AMF and 5G-AN node (N2 interface) . In the paragraphs below, some aspects of the present disclosure are provided, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Besides, different aspects described below can be combined unless expressly stated otherwise. In particular, aspects in any of the “Aspects” (e.g., Aspect 1) described below can be combined with aspects of any other “Aspect” (e.g., Aspect 2) described below and vice versa.

Aspect 1:

In some embodiments, when the satellite RAN node moves around the earth in the low earth orbit or the medium earth orbit, it may not be preferable to locally configure or store the IP addresses of all AMFs in the satellite RAN node. For example, the number of IP addresses of all AMFs on the earth that can be connected by the satellite RAN node may be large. The owner or provider of the satellite RAN node, and the AMF/the core network may be different. In that case, it may not be possible to configure the satellite RAN node with IP addresses of AMFs. The IP address of AMF could be dynamically changed, and it may be difficult to update the satellite RAN node with an updated IP address. This may in particular apply when the number of updated IP addresses is pretty large.

In some embodiments, a new Network Function (NF) is introduced, which may be referred to as AMF agent in the following. The new NF may provide the IP address (es) of all AMF (s) within the service area of the AMF agent to a satellite RAN node which establishes connection with the AMF agent, so that the satellite RAN node can establish a connection with the AMF using the AMF address provided by the AMF agent.

FIG. 3 shows an architecture support of an AMF agent between an on-board gNB and an AMF.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, a new NF is introduced which may be referred to as, e.g., the AMF agent. The functionalities supported by the new NF may include at least one of:

maintaining the latest remote IP end point (s) (e.g., IP address (es) ) of all AMF (s) within its service area; and/or

establishing SCTP connectivity (Transport Network Layer (TNL) Associations) with the satellite RAN node; and/or

determining the AMF (s) within its service area that can be connected by the satellite RAN node; and/or

providing AMF address (es) (e.g., IP address (es) of all AMF (s) ) which are within its service area and all AMF (s) which can be connected by the satellite RAN node to satellite RAN node during an application level procedure. The application level procedure may be, e.g., an NG Setup procedure, a new procedure which may be referred to as. e.g., an AMF Address Request procedure.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3, in time T, the on-board gNB 1 may be within the service area of the AMF agent A. AMF 1 to AMF n may be within the service area of AMF agent A. Later in time T+k, due to mobility of satellite, the on-board gNB 1 may move to a location which is outside the service area of the AMF agent A and may be within the service area of the AMF agent B. AMF n+1 to AMF m may be within the service area of the AMF agent B.

Aspect 2:

FIG. 4 shows a control plane protocol stack between the satellite RAN node and the AMF agent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 5 shows a control plane protocol stack between the satellite RAN node and the AMF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The Control Plane Protocol Stack between the satellite RAN node and the AMF agent according to an embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. The NG-AP may be transported over SCTP, between the AMF agent and the on-board gNB via the NTN Gateway. There may be no NAS layer connection between the AMF agent and the on-board gNB.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the NG-AP may be transported over SCTP, between the 5GC and the on-board gNB, but via the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Gateway. The Non-access stratum (NAS) protocol may be transported by the NG-AP protocol, between the 5GC and the on-board gNB, via the NTN Gateway.

Aspect 3:

According to an embodiment, the following steps may be performed on a node level.

Step 0. Remote IP end point (s) (e.g., IP address (es) ) to be used for SCTP initialization may be provided to the satellite RAN node for the AMF agent (s) the satellite RAN node can connect to.

Step 1. The satellite RAN node may use a destination IP end point of the AMF agent the satellite RAN node can connect to establish SCTP connectivity.

The satellite RAN node may use different destination IP end point (s) if the SCTP establishment towards one IP end point fails until the satellite RAN node successfully establishes SCTP connectivity with one AMF agent.

The satellite RAN node may successfully establish SCTP connectivity with the AMF agent.

Step 2. The satellite RAN node may initiate the NG Setup procedure by sending an NG Setup Request message to the AMF agent. The message may include (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., Satellite ID, and/or Global RAN Node ID, and/or list of supported TA(s) , and/or list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

Step 3a. The AMF agent may respond to the satellite RAN node with an NG Setup Response message, which includes (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or list of supported S-NSSAI (s) per PLMN, etc.

Step 3b. The AMF agent may determine the AMF (s) the satellite RAN node can connect to. In some embodiments, the AMF agent may determine the AMF (s) based on, e.g., the satellite RAN node information provided by the satellite RAN node and the AMF information configured in the AMF agent. The AMF agent may respond to the satellite RAN node with an NG Setup Response message. The message may include a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to, etc.

Step 4. For step 3a above, the AMF agent may not provide a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to. The satellite RAN node may initiate a new application level procedure over NGAP to ask for address (es) of AMF (s) the satellite RAN node can connect to.

In some embodiments, the procedure may be referred to as, e.g., AMF Address Request procedure. The satellite RAN node may initiate the procedure by sending an AMF Address Request message to the AMF agent. The AMF Address Request message may include, e.g., a list of supported TA (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

Step 5. If the AMF agent receives an AMF Address Request message from the satellite RAN node, the AMF agent may determine the AMF (s) the satellite RAN node can connect to based on, e.g., the satellite RAN node information provided by the satellite RAN node and the AMF information configured in the AMF agent. The AMF agent may respond to the satellite RAN node with an AMF Address Response message. The message may include a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to, etc.

Step 6. The satellite RAN node may use an IP end point of AMF (s) received from the AMF agent to establish an SCTP connectivity with each AMF.

The satellite RAN node may successfully establish SCTP connectivity with each AMF.

Step 7. Once SCTP connectivity has been successfully established, the satellite RAN node and the AMF may exchange application level configuration data over NGAP with the NG Setup procedure. The configuration data may help these two nodes to interwork correctly on the NG interface.

The satellite RAN node may initiate the NG Setup procedure by sending an NG Setup Request message to the AMF including the (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., Satellite ID, and/or Global RAN Node ID, and/or a list of supported TA (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

Step 8. The AMF may store the information provided by satellite RAN node. The AMF may provide the (relevant) configuration information to the satellite RAN node in the NG Setup Response message. The message may include a list of served GUAMI (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or a list of supported S-NSSAI (s) per PLMN, etc.

Step 9. The satellite RAN node may initiates the RAN Configuration Update procedure by sending a RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message to the AMF including an appropriate set of updated configuration data that it has just taken into operational use. For example, if the satellite RAN node changes the supported list of TA (s) , the RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message may include the updated list of TA (s) the satellite RAN node supports.

Step 10. The AMF may update the list of TA (s) supported by the satellite RAN node and may respond with a RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE message.

According to an embodiment, the following steps may be performed on a User Equipment (UE) level.

Step 11. The UE may register via the satellite RAN node with a NAS transport message carrying a registration request sent to the AMF. The AMF may respond to the registration request with a registration accept message.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the (new) network function NF or AMF agent may implement at least one of the following features.

In some embodiments, it may be locally configured with the latest remote IP end point (s) of all AMF(s) within its service area.

In some embodiments, it may establish SCTP connectivity with a satellite RAN node.

In some embodiments, it may receive an NG Setup Request message from a Satellite RAN Node.

In some embodiments, the NG Setup Request message may include (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., Satellite ID, and/or Global RAN Node ID, and/or a list of supported TA (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

In some embodiment, the AMF agent may determine the AMF (s) within its service area that can be connected by the satellite RAN node based on, e.g., the satellite RAN node information provided by the satellite RAN node and the AMF information configured in the AMF agent.

In some embodiment, a NG Setup Response message may be sent to a Satellite RAN Node.

In some embodiments, the NG Setup Response message may include (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or a list of supported S-NSSAI (s) per PLMN, and/or a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to.

In some embodiments, the NF may receive an AMF Address Request message from a Satellite RAN Node.

In some embodiments, the AMF Address Request message may include, e.g., a list of supported TA(s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

In some embodiments, the NF may send an AMF Address Response message to a Satellite RAN Node.

In some embodiments, the AMF Address Response message may include a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to, etc.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the satellite RAN Node may implement at least one of the following features.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may be locally configured with remote IP end point (s) of AMF agent (s) the satellite RAN node can connect to.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may establish an SCTP connectivity with AMF agent.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may send a NG Setup Request message to AMF agent.

According to an embodiment, the NG Setup Request message may include (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., Satellite ID, and/or Global RAN Node ID, and/or list of supported TA (s) , and/or list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may receive an NG Setup Response message from AMF agent.

According to an embodiment, the NG Setup Response message may include (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or a list of supported S-NSSAI (s) per PLMN, and/or a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may send an AMF Address Request message to AMF agent.

According to an embodiment, the AMF Address Request message may include, e.g., a list of supported TA (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may receive an AMF Address Response message from the AMF agent.

According to an embodiment, the AMF Address Response message may include a list of AMF address (es) that the satellite RAN node can connect to, etc.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may establish an SCTP connectivity with the AMF using an IP address received from the AMF agent.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may send an NG Setup Request message to the AMF.

According to an embodiment, the NG Setup Request message may include (relevant) configuration information. The configuration information may comprise, e.g., Satellite ID, and/or Global RAN Node ID, and/or a list of supported TA (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or supported S-NSSAI (s) per TA, etc.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may receive an NG Setup Response message from the AMF.

According to an embodiment, the NG Setup Response message may include, e.g., a list of served GUAMI (s) , and/or a list of supported PLMN (s) , and/or a list of supported S-NSSAI (s) per PLMN, etc.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may send a RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message to the AMF.

According to an embodiment, the RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message may include, e.g., an updated TA list.

According to an embodiment, the satellite RAN Node may receive a RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE message from the AMF.

FIG. 7 relates to a diagram of a wireless communication terminal 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication terminal 30 may be a tag, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet computer, an electronic book or a portable computer system and is not limited herein. The wireless communication terminal 30 may be used to implement the UE described in this disclosure. The wireless communication terminal 30 may include a processor 300 such as a microprocessor or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) , a storage unit 310 and a communication unit 320. The storage unit 310 may be any data storage device that stores a program code 312, which is accessed and executed by the processor 300. Embodiments of the storage unit 310 include but are not limited to a subscriber identity module (SIM) , read-only memory (ROM) , flash memory, random-access memory (RAM) , hard-disk, and optical data storage device. The communication unit 320 may a transceiver and is used to transmit and receive signals (e.g., messages or packets) according to processing results of the processor 300. In an embodiment, the communication unit 320 transmits and receives the signals via at least one antenna 322 or via wiring.

In an embodiment, the storage unit 310 and the program code 312 may be omitted and the processor 300 may include a storage unit with stored program code.

The processor 300 may implement any one of the steps or operations in exemplified embodiments on the wireless communication terminal 30, e.g., by executing the program code 312.

The communication unit 320 may be a transceiver. The communication unit 320 may as an alternative or in addition be combining a transmitting unit and a receiving unit configured to transmit and to receive, respectively, signals to and from a wireless communication node.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication terminal 30 may be used to perform the operations of the UE described in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the processor 300 and the communication unit 320 collaboratively perform the operations described in this disclosure. For example, the processor 300 performs operations and transmit or receive signals, message, and/or information through the communication unit 320.

FIG. 8 relates to a diagram of a wireless communication node 40 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication node 40 may be a satellite, a base station (BS) , a gNB, a network entity, a Domain Name System (DNS) server, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) , Serving Gateway (S-GW) , Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW) , a radio access network (RAN) , a next generation RAN (NG-RAN) , a data network, a core network, a communication node in the core network, or a Radio Network Controller (RNC) , and is not limited herein. In addition, the wireless communication node 40 may include (perform) at least one network function such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) , a session management function (SMF) , a user place function (UPF) , a policy control function (PCF) , an application function (AF) , etc. The wireless communication node 40 may be used to implement the satellite RAN node, the AMF agent or the AMF (s) described in this disclosure. The wireless communication node 40 may include a processor 400 such as a microprocessor or ASIC, a storage unit 410 and a communication unit 420. The storage unit 410 may be any data storage device that stores a program code 412, which is accessed and executed by the processor 400. Examples of the storage unit 410 include but are not limited to a SIM, ROM, flash memory, RAM, hard-disk, and optical data storage device. The communication unit 420 may be a transceiver and is used to transmit and receive signals (e.g., messages or packets) according to processing results of the processor 400. In an embodiment, the communication unit 420 transmits and receives the signals via at least one antenna 422 or via wiring.

In an embodiment, the storage unit 410 and the program code 412 may be omitted. The processor 400 may include a storage unit with stored program code.

The processor 400 may implement any steps or operations described in exemplified embodiments on the wireless communication node 40, e.g., via executing the program code 412.

The communication unit 420 may be a transceiver. The communication unit 420 may as an alternative or in addition be combining a transmitting unit and a receiving unit configured to transmit and to receive, respectively, signals, messages, or information to and from a wireless communication node or a wireless communication terminal.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication node 40 may be used to perform the operations of the satellite RAN node or the AMF agent described in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the processor 400 and the communication unit 420 collaboratively perform the operations described in this disclosure. For example, the processor 400 performs operations and transmit or receive signals through the communication unit 420.

A wireless communication method is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the wireless communication method may be performed by using a wireless communication node (e.g., a network function (e.g., the AMF agent) ) . In an embodiment, the wireless communication node may be implemented by using the wireless communication node 40 described in this disclosure, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 9, in an embodiment, the wireless communication method includes: transmitting, by a network node to a wireless communication node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

Details in this regard can be ascertained with reference to the paragraphs above, and will not be repeated herein.

Another wireless communication method is also provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the wireless communication method may be performed by using a wireless communication node (e.g., a satellite RAN node) . In an embodiment, the wireless communication node may be implemented by using the wireless communication node 40 described in this disclosure, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 10, in an embodiment, the wireless communication method includes: receiving, by a wireless communication node from a network node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication node used in the present disclosure may indicate the satellite RAN node, the AMF agent or the access and mobility management nodes described above.

In some embodiments, the access and mobility management nodes used in the present disclosure may indicate the AMFs described above.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or configuration, which are provided to enable persons of ordinary skill in the art to understand exemplary features and functions of the present disclosure. Such persons would understand, however, that the present disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, as would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, one or more features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of another embodiment described herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any one of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

It is understood that, in the present disclosure, the term “and/or” or symbol “/” may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, A and/or B and/or C includes any and all combinations of one or more of A, B, and C, including A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and a combination of A and B and C. Likewise, A/B/C includes any and all combinations of one or more of A, B, and C, including A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and a combination of A and B and C.

It is also understood that any reference to an element herein using a designation such as "first, " "second, " and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations can be used herein as a convenient means of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements can be employed, or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner.

Additionally, a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals can be represented using any one of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits and symbols, for example, which may be referenced in the above description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

A skilled person would further appreciate that any one of the various illustrative logical blocks, units, processors, means, circuits, methods and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of the two) , firmware, various forms of program or design code incorporating instructions (which can be referred to herein, for convenience, as "software" or a "software unit” ) , or any combination of these techniques.

To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware, firmware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, units, circuits, operations, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware or software, or a combination of these techniques, depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans can implement the described functionality in various ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions do not cause a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. In accordance with various embodiments, a processor, device, component, circuit, structure, machine, unit, etc. can be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein. The term “configured to” or “configured for” as used herein with respect to a specified operation or function refers to a processor, device, component, circuit, structure, machine, unit, etc. that is physically constructed, programmed and/or arranged to perform the specified operation or function.

Furthermore, a skilled person would understand that various illustrative logical blocks, units, devices, components and circuits described herein can be implemented within or performed by an integrated circuit (IC) that can include a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP) , an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof. The logical blocks, units, and circuits can further include antennas and/or transceivers to communicate with various components within the network or within the device. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be any conventional processor, controller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration to perform the functions described herein. If implemented in software, the functions can be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Thus, the steps or operations of a method or algorithm disclosed herein can be implemented as software stored on a computer-readable medium.

Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that can be enabled to transfer a computer program or code from one place to another. A storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

In this document, the term "unit" as used herein, refers to software, firmware, hardware, and any combination of these elements for performing the associated functions described herein. Additionally, for purpose of discussion, the various units are described as discrete units; however, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, two or more units may be combined to form a single unit that performs the associated functions according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Additionally, memory or other storage, as well as communication components, may be employed in embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above description has described embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, processing logic elements or domains may be used without detracting from the present disclosure. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed by separate processing logic elements, or controllers, may be performed by the same processing logic element, or controller. Hence, references to specific functional units are only references to a suitable means for providing the described functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other implementations without departing from the scope of the claims. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the novel features and principles disclosed herein, as recited in the claims below.

Claims

A wireless communication method comprising:

transmitting, by a network node to a wireless communication node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes comprises one or more Internet Protocol, IP, addresses of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of claim 1 or 2 further comprising:

storing, by the network node, one or more IP addresses of the one or more access and mobility management nodes within a service area of the network node.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising:

establishing, by the network node, a connection with the wireless communication node based on an IP address of the network node.
The wireless communication method of claim 4, wherein the IP address of the network node is configured by the wireless communication node.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 1 to 5 further comprising, before the transmitting of the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes, at least one of:

receiving, by the network node from the wireless communication node, a setup request;

receiving, by the network node from the wireless communication node, a request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes; or

determining, by the network node, the one or more access and mobility management nodes within a service area of the network node that are able to be connected by the wireless communication node.
The wireless communication method of claim 6, wherein the setup request comprises at least one of:

a satellite identifier of the wireless communication node;

a global identifier of the wireless communication node;

a list of supported Tracking Areas, TAs;

a list of supported Public Land Mobile Networks, PLMNs; or

one or more supported Single –Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAIs, per TA.
The wireless communication method of claim 1, 6 or 7, wherein the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to a setup request, and wherein the response responding to the setup request further comprises at least one of:

a list of supported PLMNs; or

a list of supported S-NSSAIs per PLMN.
The wireless communication method of claim 6, wherein the request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes comprises at least one of:

a list of supported TAs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

one or more supported S-NSSAIs per TA.
The wireless communication method of claim 1, 6 or 9, wherein the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to a request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the one or more access and mobility management nodes within the service area of the network node are determined based on at least one of:

information received from the wireless communication node; or

the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the wireless communication node is a satellite wireless communication node.
A wireless communication method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless communication node from a network node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes comprises one or more Internet Protocol, IP, addresses of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of claim 13 or 14 further comprising:

establishing, by the wireless communication node, a connection with the network node based on an IP address of the network node.
The wireless communication method of claim 15, wherein the IP address of the network node is configured by the wireless communication node.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 13 to 16 further comprising, before the receiving of the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes, at least one of:

transmitting, by the wireless communication node to the network node, a first setup request;

transmitting, by the wireless communication node to the network node, a request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of claim 17, wherein the first setup request comprises at least one of:

a satellite identifier of the wireless communication node;

a global identifier of the wireless communication node;

a list of supported Tracking Areas, TAs;

a list of supported Public Land Mobile Networks, PLMNs; or

one or more supported Single –Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAIs, per TA.
The wireless communication method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to the setup request, wherein the response responding to the setup request further comprises at least one of:

a list of supported PLMNs; or

a list of supported S-NSSAIs per PLMN.
The wireless communication method of claim 17, wherein the request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes comprises at least one of:

a list of supported TAs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

one or more supported S-NSSAIs per TA.
The wireless communication method of claim 17 or 20, wherein the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes is included in a response responding to the request for the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 13 to 21 further comprising:

establishing, by the wireless communication node, a connection with one or more access and mobility management nodes based on the information of the one or more access and mobility management nodes received from the network node.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 13 to 22 further comprising:

transmitting, by the wireless communication node to an access and mobility management node, a second setup request, wherein the second setup request comprises at least one of:

a satellite identifier of the wireless communication node;

a global identifier of the wireless communication node;

a list of supported TAs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

one or more supported S-NSSAIs, per TA.
The wireless communication method of claim 23 further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless communication node from an access and mobility management node, a response responding to the second setup request, wherein the response responding to the second setup request comprises at least one of:

a list of served Globally Unique AMF IDs, GUAMIs;

a list of supported PLMNs; or

a list of supported S-NSSAIs per PLMN.
The wireless communication method of any of claims 13 to 24, wherein the wireless communication node is a satellite wireless communication node.
A network node, comprising:

a communication unit; and

a processor configured to:

transmit, via the communication unit to a wireless communication node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The network node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a wireless communication method of any of claims 2 to 12.
A wireless communication node, comprising:

a communication unit; and

a processor configured to:

receive, via the communication unit from a network node, information of one or more access and mobility management nodes to allow the wireless communication node to connect to the one or more access and mobility management nodes.
The network node of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a wireless communication method of any of claims 14 to 25.
A computer program product comprising a computer-readable program medium code stored thereupon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a wireless communication method recited in any of claims 1 to 25.