Techniques for handover in non-terrestrial networks

A method for wireless communications at a network entity associated with a first cell, a second cell, or both, comprising:

• transmitting a request to report one or more parameters associated with cell handover of a user equipment (UE) to be performed during a time period from the first cell to the second cell, the one or more parameters indicating an estimated propagation delay between the UE and the second cell during the time period, an estimated rate of change in propagation delay between the UE and the second cell during the time period, or both;
• receiving a message indicating the one or more parameters in response to the transmitted request;
• and
• transmitting an indication of an uplink grant occasion associated with the cell handover from the first cell to the second cell to be performed during the time period based at least in part on the one or more parameters.

An apparatus for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• receive, from a first cell, a request to report one or more parameters associated with cell handover of the UE to be performed during a time period from the first cell to a second cell, the one or more parameters indicating an estimated propagation delay between the UE and the second cell during the time period, an estimated rate of change in propagation delay between the UE and the second cell during the time period, or both;
• transmit, to the first cell, a message indicating the one or more parameters in response to receiving the request;
• and
• receive, from the first cell, an indication of an uplink grant occasion associated with the cell handover from the first cell to the second cell to be performed during the time period based at least in part on the one or more parameters.

An apparatus for wireless communications at a network entity associated with a first cell, a second cell, or both, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• transmit a request to report one or more parameters associated with cell handover of a user equipment (UE) to be performed during a time period from the first cell to the second cell, the one or more parameters indicating an estimated propagation delay between the UE and the second cell during the time period, an estimated rate of change in propagation delay between the UE and the second cell during the time period, or both;
• receive a message indicating the one or more parameters in response to the transmitted request;
• and
• transmit an indication of an uplink grant occasion associated with the cell handover from the first cell to the second cell to be performed during the time period based at least in part on the one or more parameters.