Network Slice Routing Using Application Priority Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Access network devices cannot determine the appropriate network slice for messages based on the usage requirements of applications, leading to mismatched network characteristics and unsatisfactory user experience.

Innovation Solution

A network slicing-based communication method that involves a user terminal device acquiring priority information for applications, encapsulating data packets with this information, and sending them to a router, which routes the messages to target network slices based on preset matching rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the access network device determines network slice based on QoS flow priority information only, then the network slice routing is simple, but the user experience is unsatisfactory due to mismatched network characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice routing simplicityVSAvoiduser experience satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network slice determination process into two parts: the user terminal device performs application-level priority mapping to data packets, while the access network device performs QoS flow-based network slice selection. This segmentation allows each device to operate at its appropriate level, with the terminal providing detailed application priority information and the network device performing the actual slice routing, thereby resolving the contradiction between routing simplicity and experience satisfaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the user terminal device acts as a mediator between the application layer and the network slice layer. The terminal maps application priority information to data packet priorities and performs preliminary routing decisions, serving as an intermediary that bridges the gap between simple network device operations and complex application requirements, thus improving user experience without overcomplicating network device operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the access network device cannot determine network slice based on application usage requirements, then the network device operation is simple, but the network characteristics do not match application requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork device operation complexityVSAvoidapplication requirement matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by having the user terminal device (rather than the network device) perform the complex task of mapping application requirements to network slice characteristics. The terminal device maps application priority information to data packet priorities and determines routing decisions, while the network device maintains its simple forwarding function. This inversion resolves the contradiction by placing the adaptability requirement at the terminal side while keeping network device complexity low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the user terminal device to self-serve by autonomously mapping its own application priority information to appropriate network slices without requiring the network device to understand or process application-level details. The terminal device independently performs the complex matching operation, making the system adaptable to diverse application requirements while keeping the network device operationally simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If messages are routed without application priority information, then the routing process is simple, but the network resource optimization is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource efficiencyVSAvoidrouting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the user terminal device map application priority information to data packet priorities before transmission. This pre-processing of priority information at the terminal side enables the network to optimize resource allocation without requiring complex routing processes at the network device level. The preliminary mapping action at the terminal resolves the contradiction by preparing the necessary information in advance, allowing simple network routing to achieve optimized resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250365754A1Network slice-based communication method, electronic device, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Disclosed are a network slicing-based communication method, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The network slicing-based communication method may include: acquiring priority information of a target application; acquiring to-be-sent data of the target application and encapsulating the to-be-sent data to obtain a data packet; mapping the priority information to a priority field of the data packet, and obtaining a target message according to the data packet obtained after the mapping; and sending the target message to the router, such that the router routes the target message to a target network slice, the target network slice is determined by the router according to the priority information and a preset matching rule.