TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology discussed below relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to managing delays in terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

INTRODUCTION

Next-generation wireless communication systems (e.g., 5GS) may include a 5G core network and a 5G radio access network (RAN), such as a New Radio (NR)-RAN. The NR-RAN may be a terrestrial RAN or a non-terrestrial RAN. Non-terrestrial RANs may include airborne or spaceborne vehicles, such as satellites, to support connections between a user equipment (UE) and the core network. For example, non-terrestrial RANs can support connections over trains, boats, and planes and in rural, remote, unserved and/or underserved areas. In some examples, one or more satellites may provide backhaul services between a terrestrial RAN and the core network. In other examples, a satellite may incorporate the functionality of a base station to directly serve a satellite coverage area.

In the control plane, the Non Access Stratum (NAS) is terminated at an access management function (AMF) or a session management function (SMF) in the core network and performs various functions related to mobility management and session management for user equipment (UEs). For example, the NAS may implement registration, service request, protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment, PDU session modification, and PDU session release procedures between the AMF and a UE or between the SMF and the UE. Each of the mobility management and session management procedures may utilize respective timers in the UE and core network to manage delays in message reception and control initiation of message recovery efforts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

The following presents a summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In one example, a method for managing delays by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method can include attaching to a first base station in a first radio access network within a registration area. The first radio access network can have a network type. The network type can be a terrestrial network type or a non-terrestrial network type. The method can further include selecting a respective duration of each timer of a set of one or more timers for communication with a core network via the first base station based on at least one of the network type or a timer selection instruction received from the core network. The method can further include performing at least one of a mobility management procedure or a session management procedure with the core network using the set of one or more timers.

Another example provides a wireless communication device in a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device can include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The processor and the memory can be configured to attach to a first base station in a first radio access network within a registration area. The first radio access network can have a network type. The network type can be a terrestrial network type or a non-terrestrial network type. The processor and the memory can further be configured to select a respective duration of each timer of a set of one or more timers for communication with a core network via the first base station based on at least one of the network type or a timer selection instruction received from the core network. The processor and the memory can further be configured to perform at least one of a mobility management procedure or a session management procedure with the core network using the set of one or more timers.

In another example, a method for managing delays by a core network serving node in a core network is disclosed. The method can include receiving a registration request from a wireless communication device via a first base station in a first radio access network within a registration area served by the core network serving node. The first radio access network can have a network type. The network type can be a terrestrial network type or a non-terrestrial network type. The method can further include selecting a respective duration of each timer of a set of one or more timers for communication with the wireless communication device via the first base station based on at least one of the network type of the first radio access network or network information associated with the registration area. The method can further include performing one or more mobility management procedures with the wireless communication device using the set of one or more timers.

Another example provides a core network serving node in a core network. The core network serving node can include a network interface, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface and the memory. The processor and the memory can be configured to receive a registration request from a wireless communication device via a first base station in a first radio access network within a registration area served by the core network serving node. The first radio access network can have a network type. The network type can be a terrestrial network type or a non-terrestrial network type. The processor and the memory can further be configured to select a respective duration of each timer of a set of one or more timers for communication with the wireless communication device via the first base station based on at least one of the network type of the first radio access network or network information associated with the registration area. The processor and the memory can further be configured to perform one or more mobility management procedures with the wireless communication device using the set of one or more timers.

These and other aspects of the invention will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features of the present invention may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures below, all embodiments of the present invention can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various embodiments of the invention discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments it should be understood that such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.

