Handover coordination for large area coverage
A method for performing a handover operation includes using one or more processors of a non-terrestrial node to initiate communication with a first terrestrial node of a network, the terrestrial node having a first unique node identifier and a cell identifier and store a mapping that associates the first unique node identifier with the cell identifier. The method also includes using the one or more processors to receive an indicator that the mapping is subject to change and update the mapping to associate a second unique node identifier of a second terrestrial node of the network with the cell identifier based on the received indicator.
1. A method for performing a handover operation, the method comprising:
initiating, by one or more processors of a non-terrestrial node, communication with a first terrestrial node of a network and a second terrestrial node of the network, the first terrestrial node having a first unique node identifier and a cell identifier, the second terrestrial node having a second unique node identifier and the cell identifier, wherein the non-terrestrial node and one of the first terrestrial node and the second terrestrial node are configured to connect to client devices;
storing, in memory by the one or more processors, a mapping of the first unique node identifier associated with the cell identifier;
receiving, by the one or more processors, from the first terrestrial node an indicator that content of the mapping is subject to change, wherein the indicator is a flag associated with the first unique node identifier or the cell identifier;
based on the received indicator, the one or more processors updating the content of the mapping stored in the memory with the second unique node identifier of the second terrestrial node; and
the non-terrestrial node handing over communication with the first terrestrial node to the second terrestrial node based on the updating the content of the mapping.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating the content of the mapping occurs after a number of unsuccessful handover attempts by the non-terrestrial node from the first terrestrial node to the second terrestrial node.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second terrestrial node is configured to connect to the client devices.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first unique node identifier is a first E-UTRAN cell global identifier (ECGI); the second unique node identifier is a second ECGI; and
the cell identifier is a physical cell identifier (PCI).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory mapping is stored at a local memory of the non-terrestrial node.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the indicator is based on the non-terrestrial node being in motion relative to the first terrestrial node.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a bit or a flag associated with the first unique node identifier.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a bit or a flag associated with the cell identifier.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating the content of the mapping occurs after the one or more processors initiates communication with the second terrestrial node of the network.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating the content of the mapping includes checking a unique node identifier of a node with which the one or more processors are communicating at regular intervals.
11. A system of a non-terrestrial node, the system comprising:
a memory; and
one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors being configured to:
initiate communication with a first terrestrial node of a network and a second terrestrial node of the network, the first terrestrial node having a first unique node identifier and a cell identifier, the second terrestrial node having a second unique node and the cell identifier, wherein the non-terrestrial node and one of the first terrestrial node and the second terrestrial node are configured to connect to client devices;
store in the memory a mapping of the first unique node identifier associated with the cell identifier;
receive from the first terrestrial node an indicator that content of the mapping is subject to change, wherein the indicator is a flag associated with the first unique node identifier or the cell identifier;
based on the received indicator, update the content of the mapping stored in the memory with the second unique node identifier of the second terrestrial node; and
the non-terrestrial node handing over communication with the first terrestrial node to the second terrestrial node based on the updating the content of the mapping.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the updating the content of the mapping occurs after a number of unsuccessful handover attempts by the non-terrestrial node from the first terrestrial node to the second terrestrial node.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second terrestrial node is configured to connect to the client devices.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first unique node identifier is a first E-UTRAN cell global identifier (ECGI); the second unique node identifier is a second ECGI; and
the cell identifier is a physical cell identifier (PCI).
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory mapping is stored at a local memory of the non-terrestrial node.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the indicator is based on the non-terrestrial node being in motion relative to the first terrestrial node.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the indicator is a bit or a flag associated with the first unique node identifier.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the indicator is a bit or a flag associated with the cell identifier.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the updating the content of the mapping occurs after the one or more processors initiates communication with the second terrestrial node of the network.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the updating the content of the mapping includes checking a unique node identifier of a node with which the one or more processors are communicating at regular intervals.