Service Contact Point Selection Using Dynamic Utility Weighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems, such as those utilizing the CATS technology, may not optimally select IP addresses for service contact points due to fixed prioritization of network and compute metrics, leading to suboptimal service delivery.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that generate a re-ordered list of IP addresses based on dynamic weighting of network and compute metrics, allowing for selective fine-tuning of priorities to identify the most optimal edge server and egress edge router for service access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If fixed prioritization of network metrics over compute metrics is used in IP address selection, then network performance is improved, but adaptability to different service requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork performanceVSAvoidadaptability to service requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic prioritization by allowing the weights for network metrics and compute metrics to be adjusted based on service type and requirements. The system transitions from a fixed prioritization scheme to a dynamic one where the importance of network versus compute metrics can be tuned according to the specific service being accessed, thereby resolving the contradiction between network performance and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the selection algorithm by introducing adjustable weight factors that determine the relative importance of network metrics versus compute metrics. By allowing these parameters to be modified based on service requirements, the system can optimize for network performance when needed while also adapting to services that require different metric prioritization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If simple fixed prioritization algorithm is used, then device complexity is reduced, but service optimization precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection algorithm complexityVSAvoidservice optimization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances the precision of service optimization by introducing adjustable weight parameters that allow fine-tuning of the selection criteria. This parameter-based approach enables precise control over how network and compute metrics are balanced, achieving better optimization precision without requiring complex algorithmic structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic selection mechanism that adapts the prioritization based on service requirements. This dynamic approach improves optimization precision by considering the specific characteristics of different services, while maintaining relative algorithmic simplicity through the use of weighted metric comparison rather than complex multi-stage decision processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12574305B2Network- and compute-aware service contact point selection based on global-utility values
Publication Date: 2026.03.10 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • US12574305B2 patent drawing
  • US12574305B2 patent drawing
  • US12574305B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An off-path or in-path connection-ordering update (COU) function enables the relative priorities of network and compute metrics to be fine-tuned when generating global utility values used to generate a re-ordered list from an initial list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses corresponding to a domain name identified by an application client. The initial list may contain IP addresses of edge servers corresponding to the domain name. The re-ordered list may contain either (i) the (re-ordered) edge-server IP addresses or (ii) IP address pairs identifying the (re-ordered) edge-server IP addresses and IP addresses of corresponding egress edge routers of an intervening routing network also having an ingress edge router connected to the application client.