SATELLITE DATA PROVISIONING IN A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK

A method by a wireless device includes receiving, from a network node, data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to wireless communications and, more particularly, systems and methods for satellite data provisioning in a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN).

BACKGROUND

In 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 8, the Evolved Packet System (EPS) was specified. EPS is based on the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio network and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC). It was originally intended to provide voice and mobile broadband (MBB) services but has continuously evolved to broaden its functionality. Since Release 13 Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and LTE-M are part of the LTE specifications and provide connectivity to massive machine type communications (mMTC) services.

In 3GPP Release 15, the first release of the 5G System (5GS) was specified. This is a new generation's radio access technology intended to serve use cases such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC) and mMTC. 5G includes the New Radio (NR) access stratum interface and the 5G Core Network (5GC). The NR physical and higher layers are reusing parts of the LTE specification, and additional components are introduced when motivated by the new use cases.

In Release 15, 3GPP also started the work to prepare NR for operation in a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN). The work was performed within the study item “NR to support Non-Terrestrial Networks” and resulted in TR 38.811 [Error! Reference source not found.]. In Release 16, the work to prepare NR for operation in an NTN network continued with the study item “Solutions for NR to support Non-Terrestrial Network”. In parallel, the interest to adapt LTE for operation in NTN is growing. As a consequence, 3GPP is working on support for NTN in both LTE and NR in Release 17.

Satellite Communications

A satellite radio access network usually includes the following components:A satellite that refers to a space-borne platform.An earth-based gateway that connects the satellite to a base station or a core network, depending on the choice of architecture.Feeder link that refers to the link between a gateway and a satellite Access link that refers to the link between a satellite and a UE.

Depending on the orbit altitude, a satellite may be categorized as low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), or geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite:LEO: Typical heights ranging from 250-1,500 km, with orbital periods ranging from 90-120 minutes.MEO: Typical heights ranging from 5,000-25,000 km, with orbital periods ranging from 3-15 hours.GEO: Height at about 35,786 km, with an orbital period of 24 hours.

The significant orbit height means that satellite systems are characterized by a path loss that is significantly higher than what is expected in terrestrial networks. To overcome the pathloss, it is often required that the access and feeder links are operated in line of sight conditions, and that the UE is equipped with an antenna offering high beam directivity.

A communication satellite typically generates several beams over a given area. The footprint of a beam is usually in an elliptic shape, which has been traditionally considered as a cell. The footprint of a beam is also often referred to as a spotbeam. The spotbeam may move over the earth surface with the satellite movement or may be earth fixed with some beam pointing mechanism used by the satellite to compensate for its motion. The size of a spotbeam depends on the system design, which may range from tens of kilometers to a few thousands of kilometers.FIG.1illustrates an example architecture of a satellite network with bent pipe transponders.

In comparison to the beams observed in a terrestrial network, the NTN beam may be very wide and cover an area outside of the area defined by the served cell. Beams covering adjacent cells will overlap and cause significant levels of intercell interference. To overcome the large levels of interference, a typical approach for an NTN is to configure different cells with different carrier frequencies and polarization modes.

Throughout this disclosure, the terms ‘beam’ and ‘cell’ are used interchangeably, unless explicitly noted otherwise. Though certain embodiments described herein are focused on NTN, the methods and techniques disclosed herein apply to any wireless network dominated by line of sight conditions.

Ephemeris Data

According to 3GPP TR 38.821, ephemeris data should be provided to the UE such as, for example, to assist with pointing a directional antenna (or an antenna beam) towards the satellite and to calculate correct Timing Advance (TA) and Doppler shift. The contents of the ephemeris data and the procedures on how to provide and update such data have not yet been studied in detail.

A satellite orbit can be fully described using six parameters. Exactly which set of parameters is used can be decided by the system design; many different representations are possible. For example, a choice of parameters used often in astronomy is the set (a, ε, i, Ω, ω, t). Here, the semi-major axis a and the eccentricity ε describe the shape and size of the orbit ellipse; the inclination i, the right ascension of the ascending node Ω, and the argument of periapsis ω determine its position in space, and the epoch t determines a reference time (e.g. the time when the satellites moves through periapsis).FIG.2illustrates example orbital elements including these parameters.

A two-line element set (TLE) is a data format encoding a list of orbital elements of an Earth-orbiting object for a given point in time, the epoch. As an example of a different parametrization, TLEs use mean motion n and mean anomaly M instead of a and t.

A completely different set of parameters is the position and velocity vector (x, y, z, vx, vy, vz) of a satellite. These are sometimes called orbital state vectors. They can be derived from the orbital elements and vice versa since the information they contain is equivalent. All these formulations (and many others) are possible choices for the format of ephemeris data to be used in NTN.

It would be desirable if a wireless device such as a User Equipment (UE) could determine the position of a satellite with accuracy of at least a few meters [2]. However, several studies have shown that this might be hard to achieve when using the de-facto standard of TLEs. On the other hand, LEO satellites often have GNSS receivers and can determine their position with some meter level accuracy.

Another aspect discussed during the study item and captured in 3GPP TR 38.821 is the validity time of ephemeris data. Predictions of satellite positions in general degrade with increasing age of the ephemeris data used, due to atmospheric drag, maneuvering of the satellite, imperfections in the orbital models used, etc. Therefore, the publicly available TLE data are updated quite frequently, for example. The update frequency depends on the satellite and its orbit and ranges from weekly to multiple times a day for satellites on very low orbits which are exposed to strong atmospheric drag and need to perform correctional maneuvers often.

So, while it seems possible to provide the satellite position with the required accuracy, care needs to be taken to meet these requirements such as, for example, when choosing the ephemeris data format, or the orbital model to be used for the orbital propagation.

Ephemeris data consists of at least five parameters describing the shape and position in space of the satellite orbit. It also comes with a timestamp, which is the time when the other parameters describing the orbit ellipse were obtained. The position of the satellite at any given time in the nearer future can be predicted from this data using orbital mechanics. The accuracy of this prediction will, however, degrade as one projects further and further into the future. The validity time of a certain set of parameters depends on many factors like the type and altitude of the orbit, but also the desired accuracy, and ranges from the scale of a few days to a few years.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. For example, according to certain embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed to provide satellite ephemeris data in an NTN.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a wireless device includes receiving, from a network node, data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

According to certain embodiments, a wireless device is adapted to receive, from a network node, data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a network node includes transmitting data associated with an airborne or spaceborne system to a wireless device. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

According to certain embodiments, a network node is adapted transmit data associated with an airborne or spaceborne system to a wireless device. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. For example, one technical advantage may be that certain embodiments enable the network node in an NTN to optimize the amount of satellite data that is provided to a device at a time. As another example, a technical advantage of certain embodiments may be that a wireless device may optimize its operations by only acquiring expired satellite data instead of all of it when only parts are expired. This leads to less network overhead and improved device power efficiency, both highly important properties. Conversely, without, such ephemeris data, it may be very expensive to perform cell search and neighbor cell measurements due to the large Doppler shift that is associated with non-geostationary satellites and the vast space that needs to be searched in order to detect a satellite.

Other advantages may be readily apparent to one having skill in the art. Certain embodiments may have none, some, or all of the recited advantages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, a more general term “network node” may be used and may correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node, which communicates with a UE (directly or via another node) and/or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, Master eNodeB (MeNB), a network node belonging to Master Cell Group (MCG) or Secondary Cell Group (SCG), base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB (eNB), gNodeB (gNB), network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g. Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), etc.), Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Operations Support System (OSS), Self Organizing Network (SON), positioning node (e.g. Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC)), Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT), test equipment (physical node or software), etc.

In some embodiments, the non-limiting term user equipment (UE) or wireless device may be used and may refer to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and/or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), Unified Serial Bus (USB) dongles, UE category M1, UE category M2, Proximity Services UE (ProSe UE), Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V UE), Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X UE), etc.

Additionally, terminologies such as base station/gNB and UE should be considered non-limiting and do in particular not imply a certain hierarchical relation between the two; in general, “gNodeB” could be considered as device 1 and “UE” could be considered as device 2 and these two devices communicate with each other over some radio channel. And in the following the transmitter or receiver could be either gNB, or UE.

According to certain embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed to provide satellite ephemeris data in an NTN. Specifically, methods and systems are provided wherein a network node first determines a set of satellites for which ephemeris data is to be provided to devices in the cell. The network node further determines the ephemeris data of said satellites. Finally, the network node transmits the ephemeris data of the satellites in the determined satellite set. Alternatively, the network node may forward the ephemeris data to another network node that, in turn, transmits it.

InFIG.4, network node160includes processing circuitry170, device readable medium180, interface190, auxiliary equipment184, power source186, power circuitry187, and antenna162. Although network node160illustrated in the example wireless network ofFIG.4may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node160are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium180may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

Processing circuitry170may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node160components, such as device readable medium180, network node160functionality. For example, processing circuitry170may execute instructions stored in device readable medium180or in memory within processing circuitry170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry170may include a system on a chip (SOC).

Interface190is used in the wired or wireless communication of signalling and/or data between network node160, network106, and/or wireless devices110. As illustrated, interface190comprises port(s)/terminal(s)194to send and receive data, for example to and from network106over a wired connection. Interface190also includes radio front end circuitry192that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna162. Radio front end circuitry192comprises filters198and amplifiers196. Radio front end circuitry192may be connected to antenna162and processing circuitry170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna162and processing circuitry170. Radio front end circuitry192may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or wireless devices via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry192may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters198and/or amplifiers196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna162may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

Power circuitry187may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node160with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry187may receive power from power source186. Power source186and/or power circuitry187may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node160in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source186may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry187and/or network node160. For example, network node160may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry187. As a further example, power source186may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry187. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a network node is provided to efficiently provide airborne or spaceborne platform data to a wireless device that needs to perform an action. Examples of spaceborne platforms include low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, medium Earth orbiting (MEO) satellites, and geosynchronous Earth orbiting (GEO) satellites. Examples of airborne platforms include airplanes, balloons, and airships, which can collectively be referred to as High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS). Though satellite is used as a concrete example to describe the methods herein, the techniques, systems, and methods are also applicable to HAPS.

FIG.5Aillustrates a flowchart of an example method200by a network node160, according to certain embodiments. The network provides satellite information to a wireless device such as a UE, for example.

At a step210, the network node first determines a set of cells that are to be included in the action to be performed by the wireless device. An action, in this aspect, may be, e.g., a neighbor cell mobility measurement or a stationary replacement satellite measurement, i.e., a satellite that will replace the present satellite that is providing coverage in the serving or camping cell using an earth fixed beam. Other actions are not precluded.

At step220, having determined the cells upon which the action is to be performed, the network node then determines the satellites that are associated with said cells. For neighbor cell measurements, it may be identified that two cell types exist: Cells for which the same satellite is associated to all neighbor cells and the serving cell, and cells for which at least one other satellite is associated to at least one neighbor cell.

Upon determining the satellites associated with respective cells, the satellite data is determined for the associated satellites, at step230. Such satellite data may include, but is not limited to: Cell Identifier (Cell ID); Satellite Identifier (Satellite ID); Carrier information (e.g. frequency, bandwidth) and/or Bandwidth part (BWP) of cell; Satellite ephemeris data; Time interval of cell coverage; Validity duration for ephemeris data; Cell reference location; Koffset.

The Cell ID and Satellite ID are included to identify to which cell and satellite, respectively, the data relates. The carrier information and/or bandwidth part is included to indicate where in the spectrum the cell may be found since overlapping cells may be disadvantageous. Satellite ephemeris data is included to indicate the satellite trajectory and position, network orbits that are used in the NTN, etc. The time interval indicates during which time some of the data is valid. For example, a satellite will only cover a cell while it is visible in that cell after which it needs to be replaced with another satellite. Hence, the satellite data may comprise both current and future data.

At step240, the determined satellite data is transmitted to the wireless device. In various particular embodiments, the transmission step may further be separated into substeps: in a first substep242, satellite data may be separated such as, for example, with regard to data longevity. Separating with regard to longevity implies that data that the device will need to update frequently is separated from data that the device will need to update infrequently. Frequently updated data may consist of the Satellite ID serving the cells upon which the action is to be performed. For example, the satellite that is associated with a neighbor cell may change frequently and hence, the Satellite ID associated with that satellite will need frequent update. In another example, ephemeris data of a satellite may last for hours or more, implying it may need less frequent updates. In yet another example, satellite orbits or suborbits may only need infrequent updates due to, for example, the addition or removal of satellites to the network. Longevity may not be explicitly stated as a reason for separation, but it may be implicit such that data is separated with regard to which SIB it is located in with the implicit understanding that some SIBs need to be decoded more often than others.

Longevity of data, and thereby the need for updating it, may further depend on satellite altitude. For example, visibility of a typical LEO satellite passage may be less than 10 minutes (with earth-fixed beams) whereas a MEO satellite passage may be visible from earth for several hours and GEO satellites appears to be located at fixed locations in the sky making them always visible from the same location on earth.

In a second substep244, data may be allocated to SIBs for transmission, in a particular embodiment. As stated earlier, data belonging to different SIBs may need to be decoded more or less often, which is why the transmission frequency of the SIBs may also differ such that the more frequently needed data is provided in more frequently transmitted SIBs. Finally, in a substep246, the different SIBs are transmitted in their respective configured resources.

In a particular embodiment, the network node may indicate updates to the satellite data in an easily accessible signal or channel, e.g., SIB1, a DCI indicating a short message that signals the satellite data is updated. In that case, this update may indicate that any of the satellite information is new or that a subset of the satellite data is new. Such a subset of the satellite data may comprise unexpected changes, such as, for example, due to an unexpected event, changes that the device is not able to predict, changes that occur infrequently, or similar. In a related embodiment, the information may also indicate which kind of information is updated.

In a particular embodiment, steps210-242may be executed in a separate node from steps244-246. In that case, the former steps may be executed in, e.g., a core network node and the latter steps may be executed in a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, e.g., a gNB, a satellite gateway node or in a regenerative satellite node.

FIG.6illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus300in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown inFIG.3). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device110or network node160shown inFIG.3). Apparatus300is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.5and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.5is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus300. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

According to certain embodiments, first determining module310may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus300. For example, first determining module310may determine a set of cells that are to be included for the action to be performed by a wireless device.

According to certain embodiments, second determining module320may perform certain other of the determining functions of the apparatus300. For example, second determining module320may determine the satellites that are associated with the cells upon which the action is to be performed.

According to certain embodiments, third determining module330may perform certain other of the determining functions of the apparatus300. For example, third determining module330may determine the satellite data for the associated satellites.

According to certain embodiments, transmitting module340may perform certain of the transmitting functions of the apparatus300. For example, transmitting module340may transmit the determined satellite data to the wireless device.

FIG.7depicts another method400by a network node160, according to certain embodiments. At step410, the network node160determines an action to be performed by the wireless device110. At step420, the network node160determines at least one an airborne or spaceborne system associated with the action be performed by the wireless device110. At step430, the network node160determines data associated with the at least one an airborne or spaceborne system that is associated with the action to be performed by the wireless device110. At step440, the network node160transmits the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system to the wireless device110.

In a particular embodiment, the network node160determines at least one cell associated with the action to be performed by the wireless device110.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises at least one cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device110is currently served.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises an edge cell, and the data further comprises data associated at least one additional neighboring cell.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises a corner cell, and the data further comprises data associated at least two additional neighboring cells.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises a serving cell in which the wireless device110is served, and the data comprises data associated with the at least one serving cell.

In a particular embodiment, the action to be performed by the wireless device110comprises at least one of: performing a Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement for the at least one cell; replacing a RRM measurement for the at least one cell; performing a user equipment (UE) mobility handover to the at least one cell; and performing a service link handover to the at least one cell.

In a further particular embodiment, the action includes performing the service link handover and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a serving cell that will provide coverage in the serving cell at a future time.

In a further particular embodiment, the action includes performing the UE mobility handover and/or a RRM measurement, and the data includes ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device110is currently served.

In a further particular embodiment, the network node160determines the at least one cell is associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

In a particular embodiment, the method by the network node160further includes: determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is expired or will expire; determining updated data for the portion of the data that is expired or will expire; and transmitting the updated data to the wireless device110.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the portion of the data is expired or will expire includes determining that a timer associated with the data has expired or will expire.

In a further particular embodiment, the updated data is transmitted in at least one SIB.

In a further particular embodiment, the method further includes transmitting, by the network node160, a signal to the wireless device110, and the signal indicates that the data has been updated.

In a further particular embodiment, the signal is DCI indicating that the data has been updated.

In a further particular embodiment, the signal comprises a short message code point.

In a particular embodiment, the signal comprises a SIB1.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of: a cell identifier; a satellite identifier; carrier information and/or Bandwidth part (BWP) of the neighboring cell; satellite ephemeris data; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; and Koffset.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of: semi-stationary data that changes according to a first periodicity; coarse data that changes according to a second periodicity; and fine data that changes according third periodicity. The first periodicity is greater than the second periodicity and the third periodicity, and the second periodicity is greater than the third periodicity.

In a further particular embodiment, transmitting the data comprises transmitting the semi-stationary data, the coarse data, and the fine data in separate transmissions.

In a further particular embodiment, the fine data comprises a satellite index.

In a further particular embodiment, the coarse data comprises at least one of: a satellite index, and short term ephemeris data.

In a further particular embodiment, the semi-stationary data comprises at least one of: an orbit index, and long term ephemeris data.

In a further particular embodiment, a transmission of the fine data comprises a reference a SIB containing the coarse data.

In a particular embodiment, the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one satellite. In a further particular embodiment, the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device110is served. In a further particular embodiment, the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a serving cell, and the satellite provides future coverage of the serving cell for the wireless device110.

In a particular embodiment the airborne or spaceborne system comprises a High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) or a HAPS as IMT Base Station (HIBS).

In a particular embodiment, the network node160separates the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system into at least two portions of data. Each portion of data is associated with a measure of longevity, and each measure of longevity is a measure of how long each portion of data will be valid and/or require an update.

In a particular embodiment, transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data via SI.

In a further particular embodiment, prior to transmitting the SI, the network node transmits a signal to the wireless device. The signal indicates at least one transmission resource for receiving the SI by the wireless device110. In a further particular embodiment, the at least one transmission resource comprises at least one a transmission time, a transmission frequency, and/or a periodicity.

In a further particular embodiment, the signal comprises a SIB1 or a downlink control information (DCI) message.

In a particular embodiment, transmitting the data includes periodically transmitting the data to the wireless device110.

In a particular embodiment, prior to determining the at least one an airborne or spaceborne system associated with the action be performed by the wireless device110, the network node160determines at least one coverage type for which the data is to be provided.

In a further particular embodiment, in the at least one coverage type comprises at least one of: a current neighboring cell coverage, a future serving cell coverage; and a future neighboring cell coverage.

In a further particular embodiment, each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a SIB index, a SIB periodicity, and/or a ephemeris content.

In a further particular embodiment, each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a particular one of a plurality of satellites.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one coverage type is associated with a satellite index.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one coverage type is associated with an ephemeris validity duration.

FIG.8illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus500in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown inFIG.3). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device110or network node160shown inFIG.3). Apparatus500is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.7and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.7is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus500. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

According to certain embodiments, first determining module510may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus500. For example, first determining module510may determine an action to be performed by the wireless device.

According to certain embodiments, second determining module520may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus500. For example, second determining module520may determine at least one an airborne or spaceborne system associated with the action be performed by the wireless device.

According to certain embodiments, third determining module530may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus500. For example, third determining module530may determine data associated with the at least one an airborne or spaceborne system that is associated with the action to be performed by the wireless device.

According to certain embodiments, transmitting module540may perform certain of the transmitting functions of the apparatus500. For example, transmitting module540may transmit the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system to the wireless device.

FIG.9depicts another method600by a network node160, according to certain embodiments. At step610, the network node160transmits data associated with an airborne or spaceborne system to a wireless device110. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

In a particular embodiment, the network node160determines an action to be performed by the wireless device110based on the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

In a further particular embodiment, the action is associated with at least one cell.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a further particular embodiment, the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one satellite associated with the serving cell or the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell.

In a further particular embodiment, the action comprises a service link handover and the ephemeris data is associated with a satellite, the satellite providing coverage in a serving cell at a future time.

In a further particular embodiment, the action comprises a UE mobility handover and/or a RRM measurement and the ephemeris data is associated with a satellite in a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a particular embodiment, the network node160determines that at least a portion of the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is expired or will expire. The network node160also determines updated data for the portion of the data that is expired or will expire and transmits, to the wireless device110, information indicating that the data has been updated.

In a particular embodiment, when determining that the portion of the data is expired or will expire, the network node160determines that a timer associated with the data has expired or will expire.

In a further particular embodiment, the information transmitted to the wireless device110includes the updated data.

In a particular embodiment, the information transmitted to the wireless device110comprises system information (SI), downlink control information (DCI), or a short message code point.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of: a cell identifier; a satellite identifier; carrier information and/or BWP of a neighboring cell; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; and Koffset.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of semi-stationary data that changes according to a first periodicity, coarse data that changes according to a second periodicity, and fine data that changes according third periodicity. The first periodicity is greater than the second periodicity and the third periodicity, and the second periodicity is greater than the third periodicity.

In a further particular embodiment, the coarse data comprises at least one of: a satellite index, and short term ephemeris data, and the semi-stationary data comprises at least one of: an orbit index, and long term ephemeris data.

In a particular embodiment, when transmitting the data, the network node160transmits the data via SI.

In a particular embodiment, prior to transmitting the SI, the network node160transmits a signal to the wireless device110, and the signal indicates at least one transmission resource for receiving the SI by the wireless device. The at least one transmission resource includes at least one a transmission time, a transmission frequency, and/or a periodicity.

In a further particular embodiment, prior to transmitting the data to the wireless device110, the network node160determines at least one coverage time interval for which the data is to be provided.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one coverage time interval comprises at least one of: a current neighboring cell coverage time interval, a future serving cell coverage time interval; and a future neighboring cell coverage time interval.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one coverage time interval is associated with a SIB index, a SIB periodicity, a ephemeris content, and/or a satellite index.

FIG.10illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus700in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown inFIG.3). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device110or network node160shown inFIG.3). Apparatus700is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.9and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.9is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus700. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

According to certain embodiments, transmitting module710may perform certain of the transmitting functions of the apparatus700. For example, transmitting module710may transmit data associated with an airborne or spaceborne system to a wireless device110. The data includes satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

It may further be recognized that different cells may need different number of neighbor satellite information.FIG.11illustrates an example800of neighbor satellites and replacing satellites in a cell, according to certain embodiments. In the example ofFIG.11, each satellite projects seven beams or cells on an are on the ground. The center cell indicates the satellite index. Here, it is evident that the center cell may do entirely without any neighbor satellite data whereas an edge cell, i.e., a cell only neighboring cells from one additional satellite may require satellite data from one additional satellite. A corner cell is a cell neighboring cells from two additional satellites and may require satellite data from a corresponding number of satellites. Although in reality, cell borders may not be as perfect as in the illustration, it may still be assumed that different cells will have different needs for neighboring satellite data.

Antenna111may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna111may be separate from wireless device110and be connectable to wireless device110through an interface or port. Antenna111, interface114, and/or processing circuitry120may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a wireless device. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another wireless device. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna111may be considered an interface.

As illustrated, interface114comprises radio front end circuitry112and antenna111. Radio front end circuitry112comprise one or more filters118and amplifiers116. Radio front end circuitry112is connected to antenna111and processing circuitry120and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna111and processing circuitry120. Radio front end circuitry112may be coupled to or a part of antenna111. In some embodiments, wireless device110may not include separate radio front end circuitry112; rather, processing circuitry120may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry122may be considered a part of interface114. Radio front end circuitry112may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or wireless devices via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry112may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters118and/or amplifiers116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna111may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

As illustrated, processing circuitry120includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry122, baseband processing circuitry124, and application processing circuitry126. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry120of wireless device110may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry122, baseband processing circuitry124, and application processing circuitry126may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry124and application processing circuitry126may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry122may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry122and baseband processing circuitry124may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry126may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry122, baseband processing circuitry124, and application processing circuitry126may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry122may be a part of interface114. RF transceiver circuitry122may condition RF signals for processing circuitry120.

Processing circuitry120may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a wireless device. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry120by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by wireless device110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

User interface equipment132may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with wireless device110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment132may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to wireless device110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment132installed in wireless device110. For example, if wireless device110is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if wireless device110is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment132may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment132is configured to allow input of information into wireless device110and is connected to processing circuitry120to allow processing circuitry120to process the input information. User interface equipment132may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment132is also configured to allow output of information from wireless device110, and to allow processing circuitry120to output information from wireless device110. User interface equipment132may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment132, wireless device110may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment134is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by wireless devices. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment134may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source136may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. wireless device110may further comprise power circuitry137for delivering power from power source136to the various parts of wireless device110which need power from power source136to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry137may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry137may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case wireless device110may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry137may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source136. Power circuitry137may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source136to make the power suitable for the respective components of wireless device110to which power is supplied.

FIG.13illustrates an example method900by a wireless device110, according to certain embodiments. The method illustrates a how a wireless device110decodes satellite data about a neighboring satellite in order for the wireless device110to perform an action related to the neighboring satellite.

At step910, the wireless device110determines an action to perform on a neighboring cell associated to a neighboring satellite. For example, the action may include performing a neighbor cell measurement or replacing a satellite measurement or performing a handover. In a particular embodiment, the neighbor cell measurement may include a RSRP or other cell quality measurement.

In a second step920, the wireless device110determines an expiration for the satellite data that is related to the determined action on the neighboring or replaced cell. In a particular embodiment, a first substep922of step920, may include determining, by the wireless device110, what cells to be used in the action. In a second substep924, the satellites that are related to the determined cells may be identified, in a particular embodiment. Finally, in a third substep926, the necessary information of the associated satellites may be determined, in a particular embodiment. Similar to the methods and techniques described above, in a particular embodiment, the satellite data may comprise at least one of: Cell ID; Satellite ID; carrier information (e.g. frequency, bandwidth) and/or Bandwidth part (BWP) of cell; satellite ephemeris data; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; Koffset; etc.

Following determining satellite data to be used for the action, the wireless device110determines if the satellite data is expired at step930. This may be done by data being associated with a timer and the timer is expired.

Optionally, in case the satellite information is determined to be expired at step930, the wireless device110may update the expired information, at step940. In a particular embodiment, step940may also be divided into substeps such that in a first substep942, the wireless device110determines which SIB is associated with the expired data, and in a second substep944, the wireless device110determines the resource allocation of said SIB and in a final substep946the wireless device110decodes the SIB. In case satellite data is not expired, or subsequent to acquiring new satellite data, the wireless device110starts to perform the determined action at step950.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110estimates when the action will be finished including updating the satellite data which includes any satellite data expiring before the end of the action. Such an estimate may be based on SIB transmission instants, measurement gaps associated with the action or other information that is known to the device.

In a particular embodiment, prior to updating satellite data, the wireless device110may decode an easily accessible signal or channel, e.g., SIB1, a DCI indicating a short message that is used to signal if the satellite data is updated, in order to determine if satellite data needs updating for reasons other than the already known time intervals. This may also include decoding what kind of satellite data that needs updating.

What is described above for satellites is equally valid for other airborne or spaceborne platforms, e.g., High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) or HAPS as IMT Base stations (HIBS).

FIG.14illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus1000in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown inFIG.3). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device110or network node160shown inFIG.3). Apparatus1000is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.13and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.13is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus1000. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

According to certain embodiments, first determining module1010may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus1000. For example, first determining module1010may determine an action to perform on a neighboring cell associated to a neighboring satellite.

According to certain embodiments, second determining module1020may perform certain other of the determining functions of the apparatus1000. For example, second determining module1020may determine an expiration associated with the satellite data for the satellites associated with the neighboring cells that are associated with the action to be performed.

According to certain embodiments, third determining module1030may perform certain other of the determining functions of the apparatus1000. For example, third determining module1030may determine if the satellite data for the satellites associated with the neighboring cells that are associated with the action to be performed is expired.

According to certain embodiments, an optional updating module1040may perform certain of the updating functions of the apparatus1000. For example, optional updating module1040may update the expired satellite data for the satellites associated with the neighboring cells that are associated with the action to be performed.

According to certain embodiments, performing module1050may perform certain of the performing functions of the apparatus1000. For example, performing module1050may perform the action on the neighboring cell associated to the neighboring satellite.

FIG.15depicts another method1100by a wireless device110, according to certain embodiments. At step1110, the wireless device110determines an action to perform, the action associated with an airborne or spaceborne system. At step1120, the wireless device110selects data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system. At step1130, the wireless device110performs the action based on the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110determines the airborne or spaceborne system that is associated with the action.

In a particular embodiment, the action comprises an action associated with at least one cell. In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises at least one cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device110is currently served. In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises an edge cell, and the data further comprises data associated at least one additional neighboring cell. In another particular embodiment, the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises a corner cell, and the data further comprises data associated at least two additional neighboring cells.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises at least one serving cell in which the wireless device110is served, and the data comprises data associated with the at least one serving cell.

In a particular embodiment, the action may include at least one of: performing a Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement for the at least one cell; replacing a RRM measurement for the at least one cell; performing a user equipment (UE) mobility handover to the at least one cell; and performing a service link handover to the at least one cell.

In a further particular embodiment, the action comprises a service link handover and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a serving cell, the satellite providing coverage in the serving cell at a future time.

In a further particular embodiment, the action comprises the UE mobility handover and/or a RRM measurement and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110determines the at least one cell to be used in the action associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110determines that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid. In a further particular embodiment, the wireless device110receives SI from the network node and determines that the data is valid based on the SI.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid comprises: determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is expired and updating the portion of the data that is expired.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the portion of the data is expired includes determining that a timer associated with the data has expired.

In a further particular embodiment updating the portion of the data may include determining at least one system information block (SIB) associated with the data, determining a resource allocation associated with the SIB, receiving the SIB associated with the data, and decoding the SIB associated with the data.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid may include: determining when the action will be complete; determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the action will expire before the action is complete; and updating the portion of the data that will expire before the action is complete.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid may include decoding a signal from a network node160and determining, based on the signal from the network node160, that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid. In a further particular embodiment, the signal comprises SI. In another embodiment, the signal may include a SIB1. In still another embodiment, the signal may include DCI. In yet another embodiment, the signal may include a short message code point.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the data associated with the action is valid may include: decoding a signal from a network node160; determining, based on the signal from the network node160, that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system needs to be updated; and updating the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

In a further particular embodiment, determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid may include determining that a timer associated with the data has not expired.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of: a cell identifier; a satellite identifier; carrier information and/or Bandwidth part (BWP) of the neighboring cell; satellite ephemeris data; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; and Koffset.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of semi-stationary data that changes according to a first periodicity, coarse data that changes according to a second periodicity, and fine data that changes according third periodicity. The first periodicity is greater than the second periodicity and the third periodicity, and the second periodicity is greater than the third periodicity.

In a further particular embodiment, the semi-stationary data, the coarse data, and the fine data are received in separate transmissions.

In a further particular embodiment, the fine data comprises a satellite index.

In a further particular embodiment, the coarse data comprises at least one of: a satellite index, and short term ephemeris data.

In a further particular embodiment, the semi-stationary data comprises at least one of: an orbit index, and long term ephemeris data.

In a further particular embodiment, a transmission of the fine data comprises a reference a SIB containing the coarse data.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device may receive the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system from the network node. In a further particular embodiment, the data comprises ephemeris data received as SI.

In another particular embodiment, prior to receiving the SI, the wireless device may receive a signal from the network node, the signal indicating at least one transmission resource for receiving the SI.

In a further particular embodiment, the signal comprises a SIB1 or a DCI message.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one transmission resource comprises at least one a transmission time, a transmission frequency, and/or a periodicity.

In a particular embodiment, the data is periodically received.

In a particular embodiment, the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one satellite.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is served.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a serving cell, the satellite providing future coverage of the serving cell for the wireless device.

In a particular embodiment, the airborne or spaceborne system comprises a High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) or a HAPS as IMT Base Station (HIBS).

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least two portions of data, and each portion of data is associated with a measure of longevity. Each measure of longevity is a measure of how long each portion of data will be valid and/or require an update.

In a particular embodiment, the data is associated with at least one coverage type.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one coverage type comprises at least one of: a current neighboring cell coverage, a future serving cell coverage; and a future neighboring cell coverage.

In a further particular embodiment, each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a SIB index, a SIB periodicity, and/or a ephemeris content.

In a further particular embodiment, each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a particular one of a plurality of satellites.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one coverage type is associated with a satellite index.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one coverage type is associated with an ephemeris validity duration.

FIG.16illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus1200in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown inFIG.3). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device110or network node160shown inFIG.3). Apparatus1200is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.15and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.15is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus1200. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

According to certain embodiments, determining module1210may perform certain of the determining functions of the apparatus1200. For example, determining module1210may determine an action to perform, the action associated with an airborne or spaceborne system.

According to certain embodiments, selecting module1220may perform certain of the selecting functions of the apparatus1200. For example, selecting module1220may select data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

According to certain embodiments, performing module1230may perform certain of the performing functions of the apparatus1200. For example, performing module1230may perform the action based on the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

FIG.17depicts another method1300by a wireless device110, according to certain embodiments. At step1310, the wireless device110receives, from a network node160, data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system. The data comprising satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110performs an action based on the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

In a further particular embodiment, the action associated with at least one cell.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110determines when the action will be complete and determines that at least a portion of the data will expire before the action is complete. The wireless device110updates the portion of the data that will expire before the action is complete.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a further particular embodiment, the at least one cell comprises at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a further particular embodiment, when performing the at least one action, the wireless device110performs a measurement associated with the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell before coverage in the serving cell ceases.

In a further particular embodiment, the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one satellite associated with the serving cell or the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell.

In a further particular embodiment, the action comprises a service link handover and the ephemeris data is associated with a satellite providing coverage in the serving cell at a future time.

In a further particular embodiment, the action comprises a UE mobility handover and/or a RRM measurement and the ephemeris data is associated with a satellite in a cell that neighbors the serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless device110determines whether the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid based on information received from the network node or based on whether a timer associated with the data has expired.

In a further particular embodiment, the information received from the network node comprises SI, DCI, or short message code point.

In a particular embodiment, upon determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is expired or is about to expire, the wireless device110updates the portion of the data that is expired or is about to expire.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system further comprises at least one of: a cell identifier; a satellite identifier; carrier information and/or BWP of a neighboring cell; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; and Koffset. As used herein, the time interval of cell coverage includes a time the satellite begin providing coverage to an area until a time when the satellite will stop providing coverage to the area.

In a particular embodiment, the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of semi-stationary data that changes according to a first periodicity, coarse data that changes according to a second periodicity, and fine data that changes according to a third periodicity, and wherein:

the first periodicity is greater than the second periodicity and the third periodicity, and the second periodicity is greater than the third periodicity.

In a further particular embodiment, the coarse data comprises at least one of a satellite index and short term ephemeris data, and the semi-stationary data comprises at least one of an orbit index and long term ephemeris data.

In a particular embodiment, the data is associated with at least one coverage time interval. The at least one coverage time interval comprises at least one of: a current neighboring cell coverage time interval, a future serving cell coverage time interval; and a future neighboring cell coverage time interval.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one coverage time interval is associated with a SIB index, a SIB periodicity, a ephemeris content, and/or a satellite index.

FIG.18illustrates a schematic block diagram of a virtual apparatus1400in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown inFIG.3). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device110or network node160shown inFIG.3). Apparatus1400is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.17and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.17is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus1400. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

According to certain embodiments, receiving module1410may perform certain of the receiving functions of the apparatus1400. For example, receiving module1410may receive, from a network node160, data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system. The data comprising satellite ephemeris data and a validity duration for the ephemeris data.

InFIG.19, UE1500includes processing circuitry1501that is operatively coupled to input/output interface1505, radio frequency (RF) interface1509, network connection interface1511, memory1515including random access memory (RAM)1517, read-only memory (ROM)1519, and storage medium1521or the like, communication subsystem1531, power source1513, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium1521includes operating system1523, application program1525, and data1527. In other embodiments, storage medium1521may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown inFIG.19, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

InFIG.19, RF interface1509may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface1511may be configured to provide a communication interface to network1543a. Network1543amay encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network1543amay comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface1511may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface1511may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM1517may be configured to interface via bus1502to processing circuitry1501to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM1519may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry1501. For example, ROM1519may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium1521may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium1521may be configured to include operating system1523, application program1525such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file1527. Storage medium1521may store, for use by UE1500, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

InFIG.19, processing circuitry1501may be configured to communicate with network1543busing communication subsystem1531. Network1543aand network1543bmay be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem1531may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network1543b. For example, communication subsystem1531may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another wireless device, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.15, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter1533and/or receiver1535to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter1533and receiver1535of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem1531may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem1531may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network1543bmay encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network1543bmay be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source1513may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE1500.

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments1600hosted by one or more of hardware nodes1630. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications1620(which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications1620are run in virtualization environment1600which provides hardware1630comprising processing circuitry1660and memory1690. Memory1690contains instructions1695executable by processing circuitry1660whereby application1620is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment1600, comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices1630comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry1660, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory1690-1which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions1695or software executed by processing circuitry1660. Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs)1670, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface1680. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media1690-2having stored therein software1695and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry1660. Software1695may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers1650(also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines1640as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines1640, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer1650or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance1620may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines1640, and the implementations may be made in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry1660executes software1695to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer1650, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer1650may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine1640.

As shown inFIG.20, hardware1630may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware1630may comprise antenna16225and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware1630may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO)16100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications1620.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine1640may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines1640, and that part of hardware1630that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines1640, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines1640on top of hardware networking infrastructure1630and corresponds to application1620inFIG.20.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units16200that each include one or more transmitters16220and one or more receivers16210may be coupled to one or more antennas16225. Radio units16200may communicate directly with hardware nodes1630via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signaling can be affected with the use of control system16230which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes1630and radio units16200.

With reference toFIG.21, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network1710, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network1711, such as a radio access network, and core network1714. Access network1711comprises a plurality of base stations1712a,1712b,1712c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area1713a,1713b,1713c. Each base station1712a,1712b,1712cis connectable to core network1714over a wired or wireless connection1715. A first UE1791located in coverage area1713cis configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station1712c. A second UE1792in coverage area1713ais wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station1712a. While a plurality of UEs1791,1792are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station1712.

Telecommunication network1710is itself connected to host computer1730, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer1730may be under the ownership or control of a service provider or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections1721and1722between telecommunication network1710and host computer1730may extend directly from core network1714to host computer1730or may go via an optional intermediate network1720. Intermediate network1720may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network1720, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network1720may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system ofFIG.21as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs1791,1792and host computer1730. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection1750. Host computer1730and the connected UEs1791,1792are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection1750, using access network1711, core network1714, any intermediate network1720and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection1750may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection1750passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station1712may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer1730to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE1791. Similarly, base station1712need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE1791towards the host computer1730.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference toFIG.22. In communication system1800, host computer1810comprises hardware1815including communication interface1816configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system1800. Host computer1810further comprises processing circuitry1818, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry1818may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer1810further comprises software1811, which is stored in or accessible by host computer1810and executable by processing circuitry1818. Software1811includes host application1812. Host application1812may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE1830connecting via OTT connection1850terminating at UE1830and host computer1810. In providing the service to the remote user, host application1812may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection1850.

Communication system1800further includes base station1820provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware1825enabling it to communicate with host computer1810and with UE1830. Hardware1825may include communication interface1826for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system1800, as well as radio interface1827for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection1870with UE1830located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG.22) served by base station1820. Communication interface1826may be configured to facilitate connection1860to host computer1810. Connection1860may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown inFIG.22) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware1825of base station1820further includes processing circuitry1828, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station1820further has software1821stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system1800further includes UE1830already referred to. Its hardware1835may include radio interface1837configured to set up and maintain wireless connection1870with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE1830is currently located. Hardware1835of UE1830further includes processing circuitry1838, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE1830further comprises software1831, which is stored in or accessible by UE1830and executable by processing circuitry1838. Software1831includes client application1832. Client application1832may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE1830, with the support of host computer1810. In host computer1810, an executing host application1812may communicate with the executing client application1832via OTT connection1850terminating at UE1830and host computer1810. In providing the service to the user, client application1832may receive request data from host application1812and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection1850may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application1832may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer1810, base station1820and UE1830illustrated inFIG.22may be similar or identical to host computer1730, one of base stations1712a,1712b,1712cand one of UEs1791,1792ofFIG.21, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown inFIG.22and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that ofFIG.21.

InFIG.22, OTT connection1850has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer1810and UE1830via base station1820, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE1830or from the service provider operating host computer1810, or both. While OTT connection1850is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection1870between UE1830and base station1820is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE1830using OTT connection1850, in which wireless connection1870forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, and/or extended battery lifetime.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection1850between host computer1810and UE1830, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection1850may be implemented in software1811and hardware1815of host computer1810or in software1831and hardware1835of UE1830, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection1850passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software1811,1831may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection1850may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station1820, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station1820. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer1810's measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software1811and1831causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection1850while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG.25is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.21and22. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.25will be included in this section. In step2110(which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step2120, the UE provides user data. In substep2121(which may be optional) of step2120, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep2111(which may be optional) of step2110, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep2130(which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step2140of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

Example Embodiments

Group A Example Embodiments

Example A1. A method by a wireless device comprising: determining an action to perform, the action associated with an airborne or spaceborne system; selecting data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system; and performing the action based on the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

Example A2. The method of Example Embodiments A1, further comprising determining the airborne or spaceborne system that is associated with the action.

Example A3a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A2, further wherein the action comprises an action associated with at least one cell.

Example A3b. The method of Example Embodiment A3a, wherein the at least one cell comprises at least one cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

Example A3c. The method of Example Embodiment A3b, wherein the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises an edge cell, and wherein the data further comprises data associated at least one additional neighboring cell.

Example A3d. The method of Embodiment A3b, wherein the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises a corner cell, and wherein the data further comprises data associated at least two additional neighboring cells.

Example A3e. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A3a to A3d, wherein the at least one cell comprises at least one serving cell in which the wireless device is served, and the data comprises data associated with the at least one serving cell.

Example A4a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A3a to A3c, wherein the action may include at least one of: performing a Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement for the at least one cell; replacing a RRM measurement for the at least one cell; performing a user equipment (UE) mobility handover to the at least one cell; and performing a service link handover to the at least one cell.

Example A4b. The method of Example Embodiment A4a, wherein the action comprises the service link handover and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a serving cell, the satellite providing coverage in the serving cell at a future time.

Example A4c. The method of Example Embodiment A4a, wherein the action comprises the UE mobility handover and/or a RRM measurement and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

Example A5. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A3a to A4c, further comprising determining the at least one cell to be used in the action associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

Example A6. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A5, further comprising determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid.

Example A1a. The method of Example Embodiment A6, further comprising receiving system information (SI) from the network node, and wherein the data is determined to be valid based on the SI.

Example A7b. The method of Example Embodiment A6, wherein determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid comprises: determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is expired; and updating the portion of the data that is expired.

Example A7c. The method of Example Embodiment A7b, wherein determining that the portion of the data is expired comprises determining that a timer associated with the data has expired.

Example A8. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A7b to A7c, wherein updating the portion of the data comprises: determining at least one system information block (SIB) associated with the data; determining a resource allocation associated with the SIB; receiving the SIB associated with the data; and decoding the SIB associated with the data.

Example A9. The method of Example Embodiment A6, wherein determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid comprises: determining when the action will be complete; determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the action will expire before the action is complete; and updating the portion of the data that will expire before the action is complete.

Example A10a. The method of Example Embodiment A6, wherein determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid comprises: decoding a signal from a network node; and determining, based on the signal from the network node, that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid.

Example A10b. The method of Example Embodiment A10a, wherein the signal comprises system information (SI).

Example A10c. The method of Example Embodiment A10a, wherein the signal comprises a SIB1.

Example A10d. The method of Example Embodiment A10a, wherein the signal comprises downlink control information (DCI).

Example A10e. The method of Example Embodiment A10a, wherein the signal comprises a short message code point.

Example A11. The method of Example Embodiments A6, wherein determining that the data associated with the action is valid comprises: decoding a signal from a network node; and determining, based on the signal from the network node, that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system needs to be updated; and updating the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

Example A12. The method of Example Embodiment A6, wherein determining that the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is valid comprises determining that a timer associated with the data has not expired.

Example A13a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A12, wherein the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of: a cell identifier; a satellite identifier; carrier information and/or Bandwidth part (BWP) of the neighboring cell; satellite ephemeris data; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; and Koffset.

Example A13b. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A13a, wherein the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of semi-stationary data that changes according to a first periodicity, coarse data that changes according to a second periodicity, and fine data that changes according third periodicity, and wherein: the first periodicity is greater than the second periodicity and the third periodicity, and the second periodicity is greater than the third periodicity.

Example A13c. The method of Example Embodiment A13b, wherein the semi-stationary data, the coarse data, and the fine data are received in separate transmissions.

Example A13d. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A13b to A13c, wherein the fine data comprises a satellite index.

Example A13e. The method of any one of Example Embodiment A13b to A13d, wherein the coarse data comprises at least one of: a satellite index, and short term ephemeris data.

Example A13f. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A13b to A13e, wherein the semi-stationary data comprises at least one of: an orbit index, and long term ephemeris data.

Example A13g. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A13c to A13f, wherein a transmission of the fine data comprises a reference a SIB containing the coarse data.

Example A14a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A13g, further comprising receiving the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system from the network node.

Example A14b. The method of Example Embodiment A14a, wherein the data comprises ephemeris data received as system information (SI).

Example A14c. The method of Example Embodiment A14b, further comprising: prior to receiving the SI, receiving a signal from the network node, the signal indicating at least one transmission resource for receiving the SI.

Example A14d. The method of Example Embodiment A14c, wherein the signal comprises a SIB1 or a downlink control information (DCI) message.

Example A14e. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A14c to A14d, wherein the at least one transmission resource comprises at least one a transmission time, a transmission frequency, and/or a periodicity.

Example A14f. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A14a to A14e, wherein the data is periodically received.

Example A15a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A14f, wherein the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one satellite.

Example A15b. The method of Example Embodiment A15a, wherein the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is served.

Example A15c. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A15a to A15b, wherein the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a serving cell, the satellite providing future coverage of the serving cell for the wireless device.

Example A16. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A15, wherein the airborne or spaceborne system comprises a High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) or a HAPS as IMT Base Station (HIBS).

Example A17. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A16, wherein the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least two portions of data, each portion of data being associated with a measure of longevity, each measure of longevity comprising a measure of how long each portion of data will be valid and/or require an update.

Example A18. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A1 to A17, the data is associated with at least one coverage type.

Example A19. The method of Example Embodiment A18, wherein the at least one coverage type comprises at least one of: a current neighboring cell coverage, a future serving cell coverage; and a future neighboring cell coverage.

Example A20. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A18 to A19, wherein each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a SIB index, a SIB periodicity, and/or a ephemeris content.

Example A21. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A18 to A20, wherein each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a particular one of a plurality of satellites.

Example A22. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A18 to A21, wherein the at least one coverage type is associated with a satellite index.

Example A23. The method of any one of Example Embodiments A18 to A22, wherein the at least one coverage type is associated with an ephemeris validity duration.

Example A24. A wireless device comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A23.

Example A25. A computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A23.

Example A26. A computer program product comprising computer program, the computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A23.

Example A27. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments A1 to A23.

Group B Embodiments

Example B1. A method by a network node comprising: determining an action to be performed by the wireless device; determining at least one an airborne or spaceborne system associated with the action be performed by the wireless device; determining data associated with the at least one an airborne or spaceborne system that is associated with the action to be performed by the wireless device; and transmitting the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system to the wireless device.

Example B2. The method of Example Embodiment B1, further comprising determining at least one cell associated with the action to be performed by the wireless device.

Example B3a. The method of Example Embodiment B2, wherein the at least one cell comprises at least one cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

Example B3b. The method of Example Embodiment B3a, wherein the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises an edge cell, and wherein the data further comprises data associated at least one additional neighboring cell.

Example B3c. The method of Embodiment B3a, wherein the at least one cell that neighbors the serving cell comprises a corner cell, and wherein the data further comprises data associated at least two additional neighboring cells.

Example B4. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B2 to B3c, wherein the at least one cell comprises a serving cell in which the wireless device is served, and the data comprises data associated with the at least one serving cell.

Example B5a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B2 to B4, wherein the action to be performed by the wireless device comprises at least one of: performing a Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement for the at least one cell; replacing a RRM measurement for the at least one cell; performing a user equipment (UE) mobility handover to the at least one cell; and performing a service link handover to the at least one cell.

Example B5b. The method of Example Embodiment B5a, wherein the action comprises the service link handover and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a serving cell, the satellite providing coverage in the serving cell at a future time.

Example B5c. The method of Example Embodiment B5a, wherein the action comprises the UE mobility handover and/or a RRM measurement and the data comprises ephemeris data associated with a satellite in a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is currently served.

Example B6. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B2 to B5c, further comprising determining the at least one cell is associated with the airborne or spaceborne system.

Example B7. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B6, further comprising: determining that at least a portion of the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system is expired or will expire; determining updated data for the portion of the data that is expired or will expire; and transmitting the updated data to the wireless device.

Example B8. The method of Example Embodiment B7, wherein determining that the portion of the data is expired or will expire comprises determining that a timer associated with the data has expired or will expire.

Example B9. The method of Example Embodiment B7, wherein the updated data is transmitted in at least one system information block (SIB).

Example 310a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B7 to B9, further comprising transmitting a signal to the wireless device, the signal indicating that the data has been updated.

Example 310b. The method of Example Embodiment 310a, wherein the signal comprises downlink control information (DCI) indicating that the data has been updated.

Example 310c. The method of Example Embodiment 310a, wherein the signal comprises a short message code point.

Example 310d. The method of Example Embodiment 310a, wherein the signal comprises a SIB1.

Example B11a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to 310, wherein the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of: a cell identifier; a satellite identifier; carrier information and/or Bandwidth part (BWP) of the neighboring cell; satellite ephemeris data; time interval of cell coverage; cell reference location; and Koffset.

Example B11b. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B11a, wherein the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one of semi-stationary data that changes according to a first periodicity, coarse data that changes according to a second periodicity, and fine data that changes according third periodicity, and wherein: the first periodicity is greater than the second periodicity and the third periodicity, and the second periodicity is greater than the third periodicity.

Example B11c. The method of Example Embodiment B11b, wherein transmitting the data comprises transmitting the semi-stationary data, the coarse data, and the fine data in separate transmissions.

Example B11d. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B11 b to B11c, wherein the fine data comprises a satellite index.

Example B11e. The method of any one of Example Embodiment B11b to B11d, wherein the coarse data comprises at least one of: a satellite index, and short term ephemeris data.

Example B11f. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B11b to B11e, wherein the semi-stationary data comprises at least one of: an orbit index, and long term ephemeris data.

Example B11g. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B11c to B11f, wherein a transmission of the fine data comprises a reference a SIB containing the coarse data.

Example B12a. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B11g, wherein the airborne or spaceborne system comprises at least one satellite.

Example B12b. The method of Example Embodiment B12a, wherein the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a cell that neighbors a serving cell in which the wireless device is served.

Example B12c. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B12a to B12b, wherein the at least one satellite comprises a satellite associated with a serving cell, the satellite providing future coverage of the serving cell for the wireless device.

Example B13. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B12c, wherein the airborne or spaceborne system comprises a High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) or a HAPS as IMT Base Station (HIBS).

Example B14. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B13, further comprising separating the data associated with the airborne or spaceborne system into at least two portions of data, each portion of data being associated with a measure of longevity, each measure of longevity comprising a measure of how long each portion of data will be valid and/or require an update.

Example B15. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B14, wherein transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data via system information (SI).

Example B16. The method of Example Embodiment B15, further comprising: prior to transmitting the SI, transmitting a signal to the wireless device, the signal indicating at least one transmission resource for receiving the SI by the wireless device.

Example B17. The method of Example Embodiment B16, wherein the at least one transmission resource comprises at least one a transmission time, a transmission frequency, and/or a periodicity.

Example B18. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B16 to B17, wherein the signal comprises a SIB1 or a downlink control information (DCI) message.

Example B19. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B18, wherein transmitting the data comprises periodically transmitting the data to the wireless device.

Example B20. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B1 to B19, further comprising: prior to determining the at least one an airborne or spaceborne system associated with the action be performed by the wireless device, determining at least one coverage type for which the data is to be provided.

Example B21. The method of Example Embodiment B20, wherein the at least one coverage type comprises at least one of: a current neighboring cell coverage, a future serving cell coverage; and a future neighboring cell coverage.

Example B22. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B20 to B21, wherein each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a SIB index, a SIB periodicity, and/or a ephemeris content.

Example B23. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B20 to B22, wherein each type of the at least one coverage type is associated with a particular one of a plurality of satellites.

Example B24. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B20 to B23, wherein the at least one coverage type is associated with a satellite index.

Example B25. The method of any one of Example Embodiments B20 to B24, wherein the at least one coverage type is associated with an ephemeris validity duration.

Example B26. A network node comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B25.

Example B27. A computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B25.

Example B28. A computer program product comprising computer program, the computer program comprising instructions which when executed on a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B25.

Example B29. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer perform any of the methods of Example Embodiments B1 to B25.

Group C Example Embodiments

Example C1. A wireless device comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments; and power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example C2. A network node comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments; power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example C3. A wireless device, the wireless device comprising: an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals; radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the wireless device to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the wireless device that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example C4. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a wireless device, wherein the cellular network comprises a network node having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the network node's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments.

Example C5. The communication system of the pervious embodiment further including the network node.

Example C6. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the network node.

Example C7. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the wireless device comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Example C8. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the wireless device via a cellular network comprising the network node, wherein the network node performs any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments.

Example C9. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the network node, transmitting the user data.

Example C10. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, the method further comprising, at the wireless device, executing a client application associated with the host application.

Example C11. A wireless device configured to communicate with a network node, the wireless device comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the methods of the previous 3 embodiments.

Example C12. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a wireless device, wherein the wireless device comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the wireless device's components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example C13. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein the cellular network further includes a network node configured to communicate with the wireless device.

Example C14. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the wireless device's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Example C15. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the wireless device via a cellular network comprising the network node, wherein the wireless device performs any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example C16. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the wireless device, receiving the user data from the network node.

Example C17. A communication system including a host computer comprising: communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a wireless device to a network node, wherein the wireless device comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the wireless device's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example C18. The communication system of the previous embodiment, further including the wireless device.

Example C19. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the network node, wherein the network node comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the wireless device and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the wireless device to the network node.

Example C20. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the wireless device's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

Example C21. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and the wireless device's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

Example C22. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the network node from the wireless device, wherein the wireless device performs any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example C23. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the wireless device, providing the user data to the network node.

Example C24. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising: at the wireless device, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; and at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

Example C26. A communication system including a host computer comprising a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a wireless device to a network node, wherein the network node comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the network node's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B Example Embodiments.

Example C27. The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the network node.

Example C28. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the network node.

Example C30. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the network node has received from the wireless device, wherein the wireless device performs any of the steps of any of the Group A Example Embodiments.

Example C31. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the network node receiving the user data from the wireless device.

Example C32. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at the network node, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

Example C33. The method of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the network node comprises a base station.

Example C34. The method of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the wireless device comprises a user equipment (UE).