Network Nodes and Methods Therein for Enabling a Switch between Feeder Links for an Airbourne or Orbital Communication Node in a Non-Terrestrial Communications Network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022141891-A1
Application number	US-202017430782-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2020
Priority date	Feb 14, 2019
Publication date	May 5, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method performed by a first network node (101) for enabling a second feeder link (132) to be established between a second network node (102) and an airborne or orbital communication node (110) in non-terrestrial communications network (100) to handle wireless devices (121) being served by the airborne or orbital communication node (110) is provided. The first network node (101) is handling the wireless devices (121) served by the airborne or orbital communication node (110) over a first feeder link (131) between the first network node (101) and the airborne or orbital communication node (110). The method comprises determining (701) that the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node (110) are to be handled by the second network node (102) over the second feeder link (132). Also, the method comprises initiating (702) the second feeder link (132) to be established between the second network node (102) and the airborne or orbital communication node (110). Further, a first network node (101) for enabling a second feeder link (132) to be established between a second network node (102) and an airborne or orbital communication node (110) in non-terrestrial communications network (100) to handle wireless devices (121) being served by the airborne or orbital communication node (110) is also provided. A second network node and a method therein, as well as, computer programs and carriers are further provided.

First claim

1 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . A method performed by a first network node for enabling a second feeder link to be established between a second network node and an airborne or orbital communication node in non-terrestrial communications network to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node, wherein the first network node is handling the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node over a first feeder link between the first network node and the airborne or orbital communication node, the method comprising:
determining that the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node are to be handled by the second network node over the second feeder link; and initiating the second feeder link to be established between the second network node and the airborne or orbital communication node.

30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
transmitting, to the second network node, information indicating that the second network node is to establish the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node in order to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the information is transmitted in a SATELLITE CONNECTION REQUEST message over an Xn interface.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the information comprises one or more of:
an identifier of the airborne or orbital communication node, a position of the airborne or orbital communication node, information indicating the served cell(s) that the first network node is providing through the airborne or orbital communication node, CD-SSB frequency locations, context information relating to the airborne or orbital communication node; and a handover message for each wireless device served by the first network node.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the served cell(s) that the first network node is providing through the airborne or orbital communication node is indicated via their cell IDs/PCIs.

34 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
receiving, from the second network node, information indicating that the second network node has established the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node in order to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node; initiating a handover procedure of the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node from the first network node to the second network node; and terminating the first feeder link between the first network node and the airborne or orbital communication node.

35 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:
obtaining user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer or a wireless device.

36 . A first network node for enabling a second feeder link to be established between a second network node and an airborne or orbital communication node in non-terrestrial communications network to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node, wherein the first network node is handling the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node over a first feeder link between the first network node and the airborne or orbital communication node, the first network node comprising:
interface circuitry configured to communicate with at least the second network node; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the interface circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to determine that the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node are to be handled by the second network node over the second feeder link, and initiate the second feeder link to be established between the second network node and the airborne or orbital communication node.

37 . The first network node of claim 36 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to transmit to the second network node, via the interface circuitry, information indicating that the second network node is to establish the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node in order to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node.

38 . A method performed by a second network node for establishing a second feeder link towards an airborne or orbital communication node in non-terrestrial communications network to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node, wherein a first network node is handling the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node over a first feeder link between the first network node and the airborne or orbital communication node, the method comprising:
determining that the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node are to be handled by the second network node over the second feeder link; and establishing the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node.

39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first network node, information indicating that the second network node is to establish the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node in order to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node.

40 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising:
configuring the second network node for handling wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node; and transmitting, to the first network node, information indicating that the second network node has established the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node in order to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the information is transmitted in a SATELLITE CONNECTION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGMENT message over an Xn interface.

42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the information comprises the served cell(s) that the second network node is providing through the airborne or orbital communication node.

43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the served cell(s) that the first network node is providing through the airborne or orbital communication node is indicated via their cell IDs/PCIs.

44 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising:
obtaining user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer or a wireless device.

45 . A second network node for establishing a second feeder link towards an airborne or orbital communication node in non-terrestrial communications network to handle wireless devices being served by the airborne or orbital communication node, wherein a first network node is handling the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node over a first feeder link between the first network node and the airborne or orbital communication node, the second network node comprising:
interface circuitry configured to communicate with at least the first network node; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the interface circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to being configured to determine that the wireless devices served by the airborne or orbital communication node are to be handled by the second network node over the second feeder link and establish the second feeder link towards the airborne or orbital communication node.

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Masini Gino
• Määttänen Helka-Liina
• Israelsson Martin
• Hofström Björn
• Sedin Jonas
• Euler Sebastian

Classifications

• H04W84/06

  Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) · CPC title

• H04W76/12 Primary

  Setup of transport tunnels · CPC title

• H04B7/18528

  Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system · CPC title

• H04B7/18563 Primary

  Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems (data switching networks H04L12/00) · CPC title

• H04B7/18539

  Arrangements for managing radio, resources, i.e. for establishing or releasing a connection · CPC title