Apple patents faster satellite handovers for mobile devices
Apple describes a method for mobile devices to switch between satellite or ground-based network towers without a standard connection check. The device uses timing information provided in the switch command to immediately start sending data to the new tower. This skips a usual step that can cause delays when moving between network coverage areas.
In the filing’s own words
Some aspects of this disclosure relate to apparatuses and methods for implementing mechanisms for Random Access Channel (RACH)-less handover for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). For example, a user equipment (UE) is configured to receive, using a transceiver and from a source base station, a handover command to perform a Random Access Channel (RACH)-less handover operation to a target base station. The handover command includes a timing advance (TA) configuration. The UE is further configured to determine, based on the TA configuration of the handover command, a TA value for uplink (UL) transmission to the target base station. The processor is further configured to transmit, using the transceiver and to the target base station, an initial UL transmission based on the determined TA value.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a transceiver configured to enable wireless communication with a source base station; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to: receive, using the transceiver and from the source base station, a handover command to perform a Random Access Channel (RACH)-less handover operation to a target base station, wherein the handover command comprises a timing advance (TA) configuration; determine, based on the TA configuration of the handover command, a TA value for uplink (UL) transmission to the target base station; and transmit, using the transceiver and to the target base station, an initial UL transmission based on the determined TA value.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (APPLE INC.)
- Official title
- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL (RACH)-LESS HANDOVER (HO) FOR NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (NTN)
- Publication number
- US20260292620A1
- Application number
- 19471989
- Filed
- Apr 4, 2023
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 36/00725 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/38 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.