Detection of neighboring satellites in wireless communication systems

1. A method performed by a wireless device for communication in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, comprising at least a first non-terrestrial network node and a second non-terrestrial network node, the method comprising:

determining an estimated location of the wireless device;

obtaining first location information associated with the first non-terrestrial network node and second location information associated with the second non-terrestrial network node;

calculating an estimated signal time arrival difference based on the location of the wireless device, the first location information, and the second location information;

using the estimated signal time arrival difference to provision an NTN-specific synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel, SS/PBCH, block measurement timing configuration, NTN-SMTC and

using the NTN-SMTC to detect one of the first non-terrestrial network node and second non-terrestrial network node.

2. A method performed by a first non-terrestrial network node for communication in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, comprising at least the first non-terrestrial network node and a second non-terrestrial network node, the method comprising:

obtaining location information associated with a wireless device;

obtaining first location information associated with the first non-terrestrial network node and second location information associated with the second non-terrestrial network node;

calculating an estimated signal time arrival difference based on the location information associated with the wireless device, the first location information, and the second location information;

signaling the estimated signal time arrival difference to the wireless device; and

providing, to the wireless device, an NTN-specific synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel, SS/PBCH, block measurement timing configuration, NTN-SMTC;

wherein the NTN-SMTC is provided in response to receiving a request from the wireless device after the signaling of the estimated signal time arrival difference to the wireless device; and

wherein the NTN-SMTC is used to detect one of the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node.

3. A wireless device in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, comprising at least a first non-terrestrial network node and a second non-terrestrial network node, the wireless device comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

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

determine an estimated location of the wireless device;

obtain first location information associated with the first non-terrestrial network node and second location information associated with the second non-terrestrial network node;

calculate an estimated signal time arrival difference based on the location of the wireless device, the first location information, and the second location information;

use the estimated signal time arrival difference to provision an NTN-specific synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel, SS/PBCH, block measurement timing configuration, NTN-SMTC; and

use the NTN-SMTC to detect one of the first non-terrestrial network node and second non-terrestrial network node.

4. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein to calculate the estimated signal time arrival difference, the wireless device is further configured to:

determine a first propagation time between the first non-terrestrial network node and the wireless device using the location of the wireless device and the first location information;

determine a second propagation time between the second non-terrestrial network node and the wireless device using the location of the wireless device and the second location; and

use the first propagation time and the second propagation time to calculate the estimated signal time arrival difference.

5. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein to calculate the estimated signal time arrival difference, the wireless device is further configured to:

obtain a third propagation time between the first non-terrestrial network node and a first gateway through which the first non-terrestrial network node communicates with a core network;

obtain a fourth propagation time between the second non-terrestrial network node and a second gateway through which the second non-terrestrial network node communicates with the core network; and

use the third propagation time and the fourth propagation time to calculate the estimated signal time arrival difference.

6. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node is operated in a bent-pipe mode.

7. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to receive one or more satellite reference signals using the NTN-SMTC.

8. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to participate in a handover procedure from the first non-terrestrial network node to the second non-terrestrial network node using the NTN-SMTC.

9. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node is a low-earth orbiting satellite, a medium-earth orbiting satellite, or a geostationary satellite.

10. The wireless device of claim 3 wherein to obtain the first location information and the second location information, the wireless device is further configured to obtain trajectory information associated with the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node.

11. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein to determine the location of the wireless device, the wireless device is further configured to use a global navigation satellite system.

12. The wireless device of claim 3 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to indicate to the NTN that the wireless device is capable of calculating the estimated signal time arrival difference.

13. A first non-terrestrial network node for communication in a non-terrestrial network, NTN, comprising at least the first non-terrestrial network node and a second non-terrestrial network node, first non-terrestrial network node comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

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

obtain location information associated with a wireless device;

obtain first location information associated with the first non-terrestrial network node and second location information associated with the second non-terrestrial network node;

calculate an estimated signal time arrival difference based on the location information associated with the wireless device, the first location information, and the second location information;

signal the estimated signal time arrival difference to the wireless device and provide, to the wireless device, an NTN-specific synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel, SS/PBCH, block measurement timing configuration, NTN-SMTC;

wherein the NTN-SMTC is provided in response to receiving a request from the wireless device after the signaling of the estimated signal time arrival difference to the wireless device; and

wherein the NTN-SMTC is used to detect one of the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node.

14. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein first non-terrestrial network node is further configured to:

determine a first propagation time between the non-terrestrial first network node and the wireless device using the location of the wireless device and the first location information;

determine a second propagation time between the second non-terrestrial network node and the wireless device using the location of the wireless device and the second location information; and

use the first propagation time and the second propagation time to calculate the estimated signal time arrival difference.

15. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein first non-terrestrial network node is further configured to:

obtain a third propagation time between the first non-terrestrial network node and a first gateway through which the first non-terrestrial network node communicates with a core network;

obtain a fourth propagation time between the second non-terrestrial network node and a second gateway through which the second non-terrestrial network node communicates with the core network; and

use the third propagation time and the fourth propagation time to calculate the estimated signal time arrival difference.

16. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node is operated in a bent-pipe mode.

17. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein the NTN-SMTC enables the wireless device to receive one or more satellite reference signals.

18. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein the first non-terrestrial network node is further configured to participate in a procedure to handover the wireless device from the first non-terrestrial network node to the second non-terrestrial network node using the NTN-SMTC.

19. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node is a low-earth orbiting satellite, a medium-earth orbiting satellite, or a geostationary satellite.

20. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein to obtain the first location information and the second location information, the first non-terrestrial network node is further configured to obtain trajectory information associated with the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node.

21. The first non-terrestrial network node of claim 13 , wherein:

the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node are operated in a regenerative mode; and

the estimated signal time arrival difference is further based on the synchronization between the first non-terrestrial network node and the second non-terrestrial network node.