Abstract
Non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology can provide ubiquitous coverage in fifth generation (5G) advanced and sixth generation (6G) networks. Proposed herein is an enhanced regenerative NTN architecture in which radio access network (RAN) and Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs) are hosted in satellite instances, while selected 5G core (5GC) functions remain on the ground. The proposed architecture supports seamless mobility as user equipment (UE) transitions from an outgoing satellite coverage area to an incoming satellite coverage area. To reduce interruption during satellite switchover, inter-satellite links (ISLs) interconnect satellite-hosted AMFs and enable a virtual Xn handover path between satellite-hosted gNodeBs (gNBs) that lack direct gNB-to-gNB connectivity. Pre-emptive bulk handover can be triggered for UEs in the outgoing NTN footprint using measurement reports and, in some implementations, predictive logic based on historical satellite coverage and movement data. The approach minimizes changes to existing packet-core network functions while supporting low-disruption mobility across NTN instances.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Parikh, Dishant; Shekhar, Ravi; and Singh, Amit Kumar, "PRE-EMPTIVE BULK INTER-SATELLITE HANDOVER USING VIRTUAL Xn, SOURCE-ANCHOR RETENTION, LEASE DERIVED CONTEXT, AND DEFERRED AMF RELOCATION", Technical Disclosure Commons, ()
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/10508