Radio access network mobility in non-geosynchronous satellite systems

1. A method performed by a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network, an indication for the wireless device to prepare for a change from a first ground station to a second ground station, wherein each of the first ground station and the second ground station is configured to communicate with the wireless device via one or more satellites, wherein the indication indicates to start a connected discontinuous reception (DRX) during the change from the first ground station to the second ground station, so that the wireless device saves power and does not declare a Radio Link Failure (RLF) if the change from the first ground station to the second ground station takes more than a predetermined period of time to complete;

preparing to change from the first ground station to the second ground station based on the received indication; and

communicating with the second ground station via the one or more satellites.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is received via the one or more satellites while the wireless device is in a connected mode or an idle mode; and

wherein the indication is received via:

radio resource control (RRC) signaling in the connected mode; or

a broadcast message in the connected mode or in the idle mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises one or more parameters that the wireless device uses to prepare for the change to the second ground station; and

wherein the one or more parameters comprises information indicating one or more of:

whether a physical cell identity (PCI) associated with a cell providing coverage to the wireless device will change in connection with the changing to the second ground station;

a change in system information;

a change of any radio access network (RAN) identification;

a change of a timing advance (TA) assumption;

a change of downlink frequency; and

a change of uplink frequency adjustment assumption.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the indication further indicates a time when the one or more parameters are valid, and wherein the time is indicated based on a timer or based on when a primary or secondary cell is at a configured elevation angle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication further indicates a time when the change from the first ground station to the second ground station will occur.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using a first configuration prior to the change from the first ground station to the second ground station; and

using a second configuration, different from the first configuration, when preparing for the change from the first ground station to the second ground station.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second configuration is based on one or more parameters comprising information indicating one or more of:

whether a physical cell identity (PCI) associated with a cell providing coverage to the wireless device will change in connection with the changing to the second ground station;

a change in system information;

a change of any radio access network (RAN) identification;

a change of a timing advance (TA) assumption;

a change of downlink frequency; and

a change of uplink frequency adjustment assumption.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a response message via the one or more satellites, the response message comprising at least one of:

a confirmation that the wireless device has received the indication to prepare for the change from the first ground station to the second ground station,

a confirmation that the wireless device has applied a configuration associated with the changing to the second ground station; and

a notification that the wireless device has failed to apply the configuration associated with the changing to the second ground station.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparing for the change from the first ground station to the second ground station comprises:

adjusting one or more parameters or assumptions associated with the RLF during the change from the first ground station to the second ground station.

10. A method performed by a network node, the method comprising:

determining that a wireless device should prepare for a change from a first ground station to a second ground station, wherein each of the first ground station and the second ground station is configured to communicate with the wireless device via one or more satellites; and

sending an indication to the wireless device indicating that the wireless device should prepare for the change from the first ground station to the second ground station, wherein the indication indicates to start a connected discontinuous reception (DRX) during the change from the first ground station to the second ground station, so that the wireless device saves power and does not declare a Radio Link Failure (RLF) if the change from the first ground station to the second ground station takes more than a predetermined period of time to complete.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication is sent via the one or more satellites while the wireless device is in a connected mode or an idle mode; and

wherein the indication is sent via:

radio resource control (RRC) signaling in the connected mode; or

a broadcast message in the connected mode or in the idle mode.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the network node is implemented on one of the one or more satellites.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining one or more parameters that the wireless device is to use to prepare for the change to the second ground station,

wherein the indication further indicates the one or more parameters to the wireless device, and

wherein the one or more parameters comprises information indicating one or more of:

whether a physical cell identity (PCI) associated with a cell providing coverage to the wireless device will change in connection with the changing to the second ground station;

a change in system information;

a change of any radio access network (RAN) identification;

a change of a timing advance (TA) assumption;

a change of downlink frequency; and

a change of uplink frequency adjustment assumption.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the indication further indicates a time when the one or more parameters are valid, and where the time is indicated based on a timer or based on when a primary or secondary cell is at a configured elevation angle.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication further indicates a time when the change from the first ground station to the second ground station will occur.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

using a first configuration to communicate with the wireless device prior to the change from the first ground station to the second ground station; and

using a second configuration, different from the first configuration, to communicate with the wireless device in response to the changing from the first ground station to the second ground station,

wherein the second configuration is based on one or more parameters comprising information indicating one or more of:

whether a physical cell identity (PCI) associated with a cell providing coverage to the wireless device will change in connection with the changing to the second ground station;

a change in system information;

a change of any radio access network (RAN) identification;

a change of a timing advance (TA) assumption;

a change of downlink frequency; and

a change of uplink frequency adjustment assumption.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving a response message from the wireless device, the response message comprising at least one of:

a confirmation that the wireless device received the indication to prepare for the change from the first ground station to the second ground station,

a confirmation that the wireless device has applied a configuration associated with the changing to the second ground station; or

a notification that the wireless device has failed to apply the configuration associated with the changing to the second ground station.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication further indicates that the wireless device is to adjust one or more parameters or assumptions associated with the RLF during the change from the first ground station to the second ground station.

19. A wireless device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

processing circuitry configured to execute the instructions, wherein the wireless device is configured to:

receive, from a network, an indication for the wireless device to prepare for a change from a first ground station to a second ground station, wherein each of the first ground station and the second ground station is configured to communicate with the wireless device via one or more satellites, wherein the indication indicates to start a connected discontinuous reception (DRX) during the change from the first ground station to the second ground station, so that the wireless device saves power and does not declare a Radio Link Failure (RLF) if the change from the first ground station to the second ground station takes more than a predetermined period of time to complete;

prepare to change from the first ground station to the second ground station based on the received indication; and

communicate with the second ground station via the one or more satellites.

20. A network node, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

processing circuitry configured to execute the instructions, wherein the network node is configured to:

determine that a wireless device should prepare for a change from a first ground station to a second ground station, wherein each of the first ground station and the second ground station is configured to communicate with the wireless device via one or more satellites; and

send an indication to the wireless device indicating that the wireless device should prepare for the change from the first ground station to the second ground station, wherein the indication indicates to start a connected discontinuous reception (DRX) during the change from the first ground station to the second ground station, so that the wireless device saves power and does not declare a Radio Link Failure (RLF) if the change from the first ground station to the second ground station takes more than a predetermined period of time to complete.