Segment Routing Network Slice Identifier Update

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing segment routing technology faces inflexibility when using network slicing in 5G networks, as the network slice identifier is not updated in real time, leading to inefficient data transmission across multiple network slices.

Innovation Solution

A segment routing-based data transmission method that allows network devices to obtain and encapsulate network slice identifiers into packets using specialized segment identifiers (SIDs), enabling real-time updates of network slice identifiers during packet forwarding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a network slice identifier is encapsulated into a packet at the head node and used throughout the SR path, then the packet can be forwarded along a fixed path, but the use of network slicing becomes inflexible and cannot adapt to different network devices along the path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket forwarding reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork slicing flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the network slice identifier updateable at each network device along the SR path. Instead of using a static network slice identifier from the head node throughout the entire path, each network device can determine and encapsulate its own local network slice identifier into the packet. This dynamic update mechanism allows the packet to adapt to different network devices and their specific slicing requirements while maintaining reliable forwarding through the SR path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If network slice identifiers are statically configured at the head node, then the configuration is simple, but the data transmission efficiency across multiple network slices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the network slice identifier determination into segments corresponding to each network device along the SR path. Instead of a single static configuration at the head node, each network device independently determines its own network slice identifier segment. This segmentation allows each device to optimize for its local conditions, improving overall data transmission efficiency across multiple network slices while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through automated determination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4009608B1Segment routing-based data transmission method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4009608B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4009608B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4009608B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a segment routing-based data transmission method and apparatus, and relates to the field of communications technologies, to resolve a problem of inflexible use of network slicing. The method includes: A first network device receives a first packet from a second network device, where the first packet includes a first segment identifier; the first network device obtains, based on the first SID, a first network slice identifier corresponding to the first network device; the first network device generates a second packet based on the first packet, where the second packet includes the first network slice identifier; and the first network device sends the second packet.