Method, device, and system for cell access in wireless networks

1 . A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network element in the wireless network, a system information message comprising cell coverage information associated with a search limitation of the UE, wherein the cell coverage information comprises one or more of an end time of the search limitation or a service start time of a next serving cell or a next serving satellite of the UE, and wherein the search limitation comprises at least one of:

pausing or relaxing a cell search or a PLMN search;

stopping or relaxing a predetermined operation;

pausing or relaxing a signal measurement; or

limiting access to the wireless network; and

determining the cell coverage information based on the system information message.

2 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the cell coverage information further comprises at least one of:

a duration of the search limitation;

a start time of the search limitation;

whether a search limitation is present;

a service end time of a current serving cell or a current serving satellite of the UE; or

a search limitation periodicity.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the network element comprises one of a base station or a core network element.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the cell coverage information comprises:

determining the cell coverage information according to a signal reception quality of the UE.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the signal reception quality comprises at least one of:

a signal reception quality from a serving cell of the UE; or

a signal reception quality from a neighboring cell of the UE.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the cell coverage information according to the signal reception quality comprises:

determining whether the signal reception quality being below a first quality threshold for a predetermined duration; and

in response to the signal reception quality being below the first quality threshold for the predetermined duration, determining the search limitation is present.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein before determining whether the signal reception quality being below the first quality threshold for the predetermined duration, the method further comprises:

receiving, from a base station of the wireless network, a message comprising at least one of the first quality threshold or the predetermined duration.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a base station of the wireless network, a message instructing the UE to transition to one of the following state: a suspend state, an inactive state, or an idle state.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

starting a sleep timer with a duration equal to a duration of the search limitation.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein before starting the sleep timer, the method further comprises:

transitioning to one of the following state: the suspend state, the inactive state, or the idle state.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

storing a context of the UE and suspending at least one of a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) or a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) of the UE;

pausing at least one timer other than the sleep timer;

pausing or relaxing a cell search or a PLMN search; and

pausing or relaxing a signal measurement.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

in response to the sleep timer expiring, resuming at least one timer other than the sleep timer and starting a cell search or a PLMN search.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein after in response to the sleep timer expiring, resuming the at least one timer other than the sleep timer and starting the cell search or the PLMN search, the method further comprises:

transitioning to one of the following state: the suspend state, the inactive state, or the idle state.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a radio link failure;

determining whether the search limitation is presenting according to the cell coverage information; and

in response to the search limitation being presenting, performing a search limitation handling operation.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein performing the search limitation handling operation comprises at least one of:

starting a timer with a duration being equal to a duration of the search limitation;

pausing or relaxing a cell search or a PLMN search;

pausing or relaxing a signal measurement; or

extending a cell reselection timer according to the duration of the search limitation.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein after performing the search limitation handling operation, the method further comprises:

in response to the timer expiring, triggering an RRC reestablishment procedure.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:

before determining whether the search limitation is presenting according to the cell coverage information, the method further comprising:

initiating an RRC reestablishment procedure; and

after performing the search limitation handling operation, the method further comprises:

in response to the timer expiring, resuming the RRC reestablishment procedure.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the search limitation is not presenting based on the cell coverage information;

performing a cell search or a PLMN search; and

receiving, from a base station in the wireless network, a message comprising cell selection assistance information.

19 . A User Equipment (UE) comprising a memory for storing computer instructions and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the processor executes the computer instructions, the processor is configured to cause the UE to:

receive, from a network element in a wireless network, a system information message comprising cell coverage information associated with a search limitation of a wireless network of the UE, wherein the cell coverage information comprises one or more of an end time of the search limitation or a service start time of a next serving cell or a next serving satellite of the UE, and wherein the search limitation comprises at least one of:

pausing or relaxing a cell search or a PLMN search;

stopping or relaxing a predetermined operation;

pausing or relaxing a signal measurement; or

limiting access to the wireless network; and

determining the cell coverage information based on the system information message.

20 . A non-transitory storage medium for storing computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions, when executed by a processor in a User Equipment (UE), causing the processor to:

receive, from a network element in a wireless network, a system information message comprising cell coverage information associated with a search limitation of the wireless network of the UE, wherein the cell coverage information comprises one or more of an end time of the search limitation or a service start time of a next serving cell or a next serving satellite of the UE, and wherein the search limitation comprises at least one of:

pausing or relaxing a cell search or a PLMN search;

stopping or relaxing a predetermined operation;

pausing or relaxing a signal measurement; or

limiting access to the wireless network; and

determining the cell coverage information based on the system information message.