Abstract
In non-terrestrial networks, a user equipment (UE), such as a smartphone, smart watch, or other wearable device, moving between large satellite beam coverage areas can generate signaling overhead from frequent tracking area update (TAU) procedures. Suppressing these updates can result in the UE becoming less reachable for incoming, mobile-terminated services. A UE-centric method is described wherein a logic engine on the UE can evaluate a combination of contextual triggers, for example, user activity, modem state, and a change in tracking area. If certain conditions are met, the UE can transmit a lightweight, payload-free packet to initiate a control plane service request. This procedure can transition the UE to a connected state, potentially reducing signaling overhead compared to a standard TAU and improving UE reachability for two-way communication services.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Wang, Yanming; Wang, Andy (Jibing); and Maheshwari, Shailesh, "Conditional User Equipment Keepalive for Efficient Location Updates in Non-Terrestrial Networks", Technical Disclosure Commons, (November 17, 2025)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/8879