Location-based tracking area codes for non-terrestrial networks

A system comprising:

• at least one hardware processor;
• and
• at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, cause the system to:
• receive, at a wireless device, a first tracking area code (TAC) transmitted from a satellite in a non-terrestrial network of a telecommunication network,
• wherein the wireless device is located in a first tracking area corresponding to a first geographic location on Earth;
• receive, at the wireless device, a second TAC transmitted from the satellite,
• wherein the wireless device receives the second TAC when the wireless device is located in a second tracking area corresponding to a second geographic location on Earth;
• and
• transmit a tracking area update to the telecommunication network when the wireless device receives the second TAC,
• wherein the tracking area update indicates a change in tracking area of the wireless device to the telecommunication network.

A method comprising:

• calculating a coverage area of a satellite in a non-terrestrial network of a telecommunication network relative to Earth;
• determining that the coverage area of the satellite covers a first tracking area corresponding to a first tracking area code (TAC),
• wherein the first tracking area corresponds to a first geographic location on the Earth;
• and
• wherein the TAC indicates to the telecommunications network a location of a wireless device within a group of network nodes of the telecommunication network;
• causing the satellite to transmit the first TAC to the first tracking area,
• wherein at least one wireless device is located in the first tracking area;
• calculating a change to the coverage area of the satellite relative to the Earth;
• determining that the coverage area of the satellite covers a second tracking area corresponding to a second TAC,
• wherein the second tracking area corresponds to a second geographic location on the Earth;
• and
• causing the satellite to transmit the second TAC to the second tracking area.