Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the field of communication, in particular to information transmission methods and apparatuses.

The unmanned aerial vehicle is also known as UAV, which is operated by a radio remote control device with a program control apparatus therein.

With the continuous development of UAV technology, UAV has been widely used. In order to further expand the application range of UAV, cellular network is required to provide some expected service to UAV. However, there is not an existing technical solution for the cellular network obtaining the flight path information on UAV, which reduces the service quality provided by the cellular network for UAV. <NPL>, discusses providing the UAV flight path information via RRC signaling. <CIT> discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle controlling method and apparatus. <NPL>, discusses how UE contains the flight path information to eNB using zone-based mechanism. <NPL>, discloses a handover procedure consisting of the following three phases: handover preparation, handover execution, and handover completion. <NPL>, specifies the radio network layer signalling procedures of the control plane between eNBs in <NPL>, specifies the E-UTRAN radio network layer signaling protocol for the S1 interface.

In order to overcome the problems in the related art, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an information transmission method and apparatus.

a method is provided as defined by claims <NUM> to <NUM>:.

From a second aspect of the present disclosure, an information transmission apparatus is provided as defined by claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The technical solutions provided by the examples of the present disclosure may include the following beneficial effects:.

In the present disclosure, a source base station obtains flight path information on an UAV and sends the flight path information to a target base station, so that the target base station can provide network service to the UAV according to the flight path information on the UAV, thereby realizing the transmission of flight path information on UAV between base stations, and also improving the service quality of the target base station.

In the present disclosure, the target base station receives flight path information on an UAV sent by a source base station and provides network service to the UAV according to the flight path information, thereby realizing the transmission of flight path information on UAV between base stations, and also improving the service quality of the target base station.

It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory, but not restrictive of the present disclosure.

Examples will be described in detail here with the examples thereof expressed in the drawings. Where the following descriptions involve the drawings, like numerals in different drawings refer to like or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following examples do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of the present disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

The term used in the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It shall be understood that, although the terms "first," "second," "third," and the like may be used herein to describe various information, the information should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one category of information from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, indication information may be referred as second information; and similarly, second information may also be referred as indication information. As used herein, the term "if' may be interpreted as "when" or "upon" or "in response to determining" depending on the context.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission method according to some embodiments. <FIG> and <FIG> are both application scene diagrams illustrating information transmission methods according to some embodiments. The information transmission method is applicable to a source base station that currently provides network service to an UAV. As shown in <FIG>, the information transmission method may include steps <NUM>-<NUM>.

At step <NUM>, flight path information on an UAV is obtained.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the source base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV, in addition to predicting which base station the UAV may pass through, the source base station can also notify a target base station of the flight path information during cell handover, so that the target base station can also predict which base station the UAV may pass through, thereby providing better network service to the UAV.

In addition, there are many ways for the source base station to obtain the flight path information on the UAV. It can be that the UAV actively reports the flight path information to the source base station or the source base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV from a core network device.

At step <NUM>, the flight path information on the UAV is sent to the target base station for the target base station to provide network service to the UAV according to the flight path information on the UAV.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the target base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV, the target base station can also predict which base station the UAV may pass through according to the flight path information on the UAV.

In an embodiment, during the cell handover, performing step <NUM> may include:.

In an example application scenario, as shown in <FIG>, the application scenario includes a UAV, a source base station, and a target base station. The source base station is connected with the target base station through X2 interface. After the source base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV, the base station may send the flight path information to the target base station through the X2 interface, so that the target base station can provide network service to the UAV based on the flight path information on the UAV. The X2 interface is an interconnection interface between base stations and supports direct transmission of data and signaling.

In an example application scenario, as shown in <FIG>, the application scenario includes an UAV, a source base station, a mobility management entity (MME), and a target base station. The source base station is connected with the MME through a first S1 interface, and the MME is connected with the target base station through a second S1 interface. After the source base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV, the source base station can send the flight path information to the MME through the first S <NUM> interface for the MME to send the flight path information to the target base station through the second S1 interface, so that the target base station can provide network service to the UAV based on the flight path information on the UAV. The S1 interface is the communication interface between the base station and the MME.

It can be seen from the above embodiment that by collecting the flight path information on the UAV, and sending the flight path information on the UAV to the target base station, the target base station can provide network service to the UAV based on the flight path information on the UAV, which realizes the function of transmitting the flight path information on the UAV between base stations, and also improves the service quality of the target base station.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method according to some embodiments. The information transmission method may be applied in a source base station that currently provides network service to an UAV, and the method is based on the method shown in <FIG>, the source base station is connected with the target base station through the X2 interface; as shown in <FIG>, upon performing step <NUM>, the following steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be included.

At step <NUM>, the flight path information on the UAV is carried into a first handover request signaling.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the source base station may notify the target base station of the flight path information on the UAV through the first handover request signaling. For example, the source base station carries the flight path information on the UAV into a designated location or designated element of the first handover request signaling, so that the target base station can obtain the flight path information from the first handover request signaling.

In an embodiment, upon performing step <NUM>, the following implementations can be adopted but not limited to:.

At step <NUM>, the first handover request signaling is sent to the target base station.

It can be seen from the above embodiments that the flight path information on the UAV is carried into the first handover request signaling, and the first handover request signaling is sent to the target base station, thereby meeting the information transmission requirements based on the X2 interface, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of information transmission.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method according to some embodiments. The information transmission method may be applied in a source base station that currently provides network service to an UAV, and the method is based on the method shown in <FIG>, the source base station is connected with the MME through the first S1 interface, and the MME is connected with the target base station through the second S1 interface; as shown in <FIG>, upon performing step <NUM> is performed, the following steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be included.

At step <NUM>, the flight path information on the UAV is carried into a handover required signaling.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the source base station may notify the MME of the flight path information on the UAV through the handover required signaling, and then the MME notifies the target base station of the flight path information on the UAV through the second handover request signaling. For example, the source base station carries the flight path information on the UAV into a designated location or a designated element in the handover required signaling, so that the MME can obtain the flight path information from the handover required signaling, and then carries the flight path information into a second handover request signaling, and send the second handover request signaling to the target base station. In this way the target base station may learn the flight path information on the UAV sent by the source base station through the MME.

In an embodiment, upon performing step <NUM>, the following implementation can be adopted but not limited to:.

At step <NUM>, the handover required signaling is sent to the MME for the MME to send the flight path information in the handover required signaling to the target base station through a second handover request signaling.

It can be seen from the above embodiment that the flight path information on the UAV is carried into the handover required signaling, and the handover required signaling is sent to the MME for the MME to send the flight path information in the handover required signaling to the target base station through the second handover request signaling, thereby meeting the information transmission requirements based on the S1 interface, and also improving the accuracy and efficiency of information transmission.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission method according to some embodiments. The information transmission method may be applied in a target base station. As shown in <FIG>, the information transmission method may include the following steps <NUM>-<NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the flight path information on the UAV sent by the source base station is received.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the target base station receives the flight path information on the UAV sent by the source base station, the target base station can predict which base station the UAV may pass through, so as to provide better network service to the UAV.

At step <NUM>, the network service is provided to the UAV according to the flight path information on the UAV.

It can be seen from the above embodiment that the flight path information on the UAV sent by the source base station is received, and the network service is provided to the UAV according to the flight path information on the UAV, thereby realizing transmission of the flight path information on the UAV between the base stations and improving the service quality of the target base station.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method according to some embodiments. The information transmission method may be applied in a target base station and the method is based on the method shown in <FIG>. The source station is connected with the target base station through an X2 interface (refer to the application scenario shown in <FIG>); as shown in <FIG>, upon performing step <NUM>, the following steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be included.

At step <NUM>, a first handover request signaling sent by the source base station is received, where the first handover request signaling includes flight path information on the UAV.

At step <NUM>, the flight path information on the UAV is obtained from the first handover request signaling.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, since the source base station may use different methods to carry the flight path information on the UAV into the first handover request signaling, when the target base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV, the target base station also needs to obtain the flight path information on the UAV using an obtaining method corresponding to the adding method.

In an embodiment, the first handover request signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying flight path information on the UAV; upon performing step <NUM>, the flight path information is obtained from the flight path information element included in the first handover request signaling.

In an embodiment, the first handover request signaling includes a first designated element, and the first designated element is an RRC context information element; the RRC context information element includes a handover preparation signaling, the handover preparation signaling includes a terminal assistance signaling, and the terminal assistance signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information; upon performing step <NUM>, the flight path information may be obtained from the flight path information element included in the terminal assistance signaling.

It can be seen from the above embodiment that the first handover request signaling sent by the source base station is received, where the first handover request signaling includes flight path information on the UAV, and the flight path information on the UAV is obtained from the first handover request signaling, thereby realizing information transmission based on the X2 interface and improving the accuracy and efficiency of information transmission.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating another information transmission method according to some embodiments. The information transmission method may be applied in a target base station. The method is based on the method shown in <FIG>. The source base station is connected with the MME through a first S1 interface and the MME is connected with the target base station through a second S1 interface (refer to the application scenario shown in <FIG>); as shown in <FIG>, upon performing step <NUM>, the following steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be included:
At step <NUM>, a second handover request signaling sent by the MME is received, where the second handover request signaling includes the flight path information on the UAV, and the second handover request signaling is generated after the MME receives the handover required signaling for the flight path information on the UAV sent by the source base station.

At step <NUM>, the flight path information on the UAV is obtained from the second handover request signaling.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, since the MME may use different methods to carry the flight path information on the UAV into the second handover request signaling, when the target base station obtains the flight path information on the UAV, the target base station also needs to obtain the flight path information on the UAV using an obtaining method corresponding to the adding method.

For example, after the MME receives the handover required signaling sent by the source base station, and the handover required signaling includes the flight path information element for carrying the flight path information on the UAV, the MME may obtain the flight path information from the flight path information element included in the handover required signaling, add the flight path information element for carrying the flight path information to the second handover request signaling, and carry the flight path information the flight path information element included in the second handover request signaling correspondingly:
In an embodiment, the second handover request signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information; upon performing step <NUM>, the flight path information may be obtained from the flight path information element included in the second handover request signaling.

For another example, the MME receives the handover required signaling sent by the source base station, and the handover required signaling includes a second designated element, and the second designated element is a source to target base station transparent container information element. The second designated element includes a handover preparation signaling, the handover preparation signaling includes a terminal assistance signaling. The MME may directly add the handover preparation signaling including the flight path information to the source to target base station transparent container information element included in the second handover request signaling. Correspondingly:
In an embodiment, the second handover request signaling includes a second designated element, and the second designated element is a source to target base station transparent container information element. The second designated element includes a handover preparation signaling, the handover preparation signaling includes a terminal assistance signaling. The terminal assistance signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information. Upon performing step <NUM>, the flight path information may be obtained from the flight path information element included in the terminal assistance signaling.

It can be seen from the above embodiments that a second handover request signaling sent by the MME is received, where the second handover request signaling includes the flight path information on the UAV, and the flight path information on the UAV is obtained from the second handover request signaling, hereby realizing information transmission based on the S1 interface and improving the accuracy and efficiency of information transmission.

Corresponding to the embodiments of information transmission methods, the present disclosure also provides embodiments of information transmission apparatuses.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an information transmission apparatus according to some embodiments. The information transmission apparatus may be applied in a source base station that currently provides network service to an UAV and used for executing the information transmission method shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the information transmission apparatus may include:.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the sending module <NUM> may include:.

In one embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the sending module <NUM> may include:.

It can be seen from the above embodiment that the flight path information on the UAV is carried into the first handover request signaling, and the first handover request signaling is sent to the target base station, thereby meeting the information transmission requirements based on the X2 interface, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of information transmission.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>,the first adding submodule <NUM> may include:.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the first adding submodule <NUM> may include:.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>,the seventh adding submodule <NUM> may include:.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the seventh adding submodule <NUM> may include:.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an information transmission apparatus according to some embodiments. The information transmission apparatus may be applied in a target base station and used for executing the information transmission method shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the information transmission apparatus may include:.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the receiving module <NUM> may include:.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the first handover request signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information, the first obtaining submodule <NUM> may include:
a second obtaining submodule <NUM>, configured to obtain the flight path information from the flight path information element included in the first handover request signaling.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the first handover request signaling includes a first designated element, and the first designated element is an RRC context information element; the RRC context information element includes a handover preparation signaling, the handover preparation signaling includes a terminal assistance signaling, and the terminal assistance signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information; the first obtaining submodule <NUM> may include:
a third obtaining submodule <NUM>, configured to obtain the flight path information from the flight path information element included in the terminal assistance signaling.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the second handover request signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information; the second receiving submodule <NUM> may include:
a fifth obtaining submodule <NUM>, configured to obtain the flight path information from the flight path information element included in the second handover request signaling.

In an embodiment, based on the apparatus shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the second handover request signaling includes a second designated element, the second designated element is a source to target base station transparent container information element; the second designated element includes a handover preparation signaling, the handover preparation signaling includes a terminal assistance signaling, and the terminal assistance signaling includes a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information; the second receiving submodule <NUM> may include:
a sixth obtaining submodule <NUM>, configured to obtain the flight path information from the flight path information element included in the terminal assistance signaling.

Since the device examples substantially correspond to the method examples, a reference may be made to part of the descriptions of the method examples for the related part. The device examples described above are merely illustrative, where above units described as separate members may be or not be physically separated, and the members displayed as units may be or not be physical units, i.e., may be located in one place, or may be distributed to a plurality of network units. Part or all of the modules may be selected according to actual requirements to implement the objectives of the solutions in the examples. Those of ordinary skill in the art may understand and carry out them without creative work.

Also described is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, wherein the computer program is used to execute the information transmission method described in any one of <FIG>.

Also described is an information transmission apparatus, which is applied in a source base station that currently provides network service to an UAV, and the apparatus includes:.

As shown in <FIG> is a structural schematic diagram illustrating an information transmission apparatus according to some embodiments. An apparatus <NUM> may be provided as a source base station. Referring to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> includes a processing component <NUM>, a wireless transmitting/receiving component <NUM>, an antenna component <NUM>, and a signal processing portion specific to a wireless interface. The processing component <NUM> may further include one or more processors.

One the processor of the processing component <NUM> may be configured to execute any of the foregoing information transmission methods.

Also described is an information transmission apparatus, which is applied in a target base station, and the apparatus includes:.

As shown in <FIG>, for background explanation purposes, <FIG> is a structural schematic diagram illustrating an information transmission apparatus according to some embodiments. An apparatus <NUM> may be provided as a source base station. Referring to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> includes a processing component <NUM>, a wireless transmitting/receiving component <NUM>, an antenna component <NUM>, and a signal processing portion specific to a wireless interface. The processing component <NUM> may further include one or more processors.

Claim 1:
An information transmission method, being applicable to a source base station that currently provides network service to an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, comprising:
obtaining (<NUM>) flight path information on the UAV;
sending (<NUM>) the flight path information to a target base station for the target base station to provide network service to the UAV according to the flight path information;
wherein sending the flight path information to the target base station comprises:
receiving a measurement report sent by the UAV;
in response to determining to prepare for a handover with the target base station according to the measurement report, sending the flight path information on the UAV to the target base station;
wherein the source base station is connected with the target base station through an X2 interface, and sending the flight path information to the target base station comprises:
carrying (<NUM>) the flight path information into a first handover request signaling; and
sending (<NUM>) the first handover request signaling to the target base station, and
wherein carrying the flight path information into the first handover request signaling comprises:
adding a flight path information element for carrying the flight path information in a terminal assistance signaling;
carrying the flight path information into the flight path information element;
adding the terminal assistance signaling to a handover preparation signaling; and
carrying the handover preparation signaling into a first designated element in the first handover request signaling, wherein the first designated element is a radio resource control, RRC, context information element.