IoT Service Routing Through Feature-Based Network Slice Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The 5G network architecture defined by 3GPP limits a single terminal device to access multiple network slices using different application identifiers, failing to meet the diverse service requirements of internet of things applications, and lacks a method for an industry application or IoT platform to select appropriate network slices for downlink communication.

Innovation Solution

An IoT platform establishes a mapping relationship between service features and network slices, enabling it to select appropriate network slices based on service features, and optionally configures service routing policies on the platform and terminal devices to ensure multiple network requirements are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal device uses different application identifiers to access multiple network slices, then the terminal can communicate with different services, but a single industry application cannot use multiple network slices simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork slice access capabilityVSAvoidapplication identifier management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an IoT platform as an intermediary between the terminal device and network slices. The platform establishes mapping relationships between service features and network slices, and between application identifiers and network slice identifiers. This mediator enables a single industry application to access multiple network slices through unified management, resolving the contradiction between multi-slice access capability and application identifier management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the 5G network architecture allows multiple network slices, then diverse service requirements can be met, but there is no mechanism for selecting appropriate network slices for downlink communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice requirement fulfillmentVSAvoidnetwork slice selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing mapping relationships between service features and network slices, and between application identifiers and network slice identifiers on the IoT platform. When downlink communication is needed, the platform automatically selects the appropriate network slice based on these pre-configured mappings, eliminating the need for complex real-time selection operations and ensuring diverse service requirements are met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a single industry application manages multiple network slices, then diverse service level agreements can be met, but the system lacks a unified management mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice level agreement complianceVSAvoidmulti-slice management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IoT platform is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple network slices for a single industry application. It establishes and maintains mapping relationships between service features and network slices, handles both uplink and downlink routing, and ensures service level agreement compliance across different slices. This universal platform eliminates the need for separate management mechanisms for each network slice, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3800934B1Method for routing internet of things service
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 HUAWEI CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
  • EP3800934B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3800934B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3800934B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides an internet of things service routing method. A mapping relationship between a service feature and a network slice is established on an internet of things platform, or a routing policy for determining a network slice based on a service feature is established on an internet of things platform, so that the internet of things platform can select, based on a service feature of a service message sent by an industry application, an appropriate network slice to send a service message to a terminal device, to meet a plurality of network requirements of the industry application.