Uplink Packet Rule Prioritization for Network Slice Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile terminals in 4G/LTE networks are limited to connecting to a single MME and S-GW gateway, lacking the ability to access multiple network slice instantiations with diverse resources, which is a barrier for future networks requiring flexible and scalable architectures.

Innovation Solution

A method for a user terminal to select a network slice instantiation by verifying packet rules and transmitting data to the appropriate user plane entity based on prioritized rules, allowing flexible access to tailored network conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal checks correspondence between an uplink packet and multiple rules to select a network slice instantiation, then the reliability of packet transmission is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of packet transmissionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal pre-stores multiple rules with different priorities that define correspondence between uplink packets and network slice instantiations. When a packet arrives, the terminal immediately checks against these pre-established rules without needing to perform complex real-time analysis, thus achieving reliable packet routing while minimizing processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the terminal verifies correspondence between uplink packets and prioritized rules, then the accuracy of network slice selection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of network slice selectionVSAvoidterminal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rule set is segmented into multiple prioritized rules, each with a specific priority level. The terminal processes rules in order of priority, checking packet correspondence against each rule sequentially. This segmentation transforms a complex single-step selection problem into a series of simpler sequential checks, improving selection accuracy while managing terminal processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple rules are maintained for different uplink packets with priority levels, then the adaptability of network slice selection is improved, but the information management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability of network slice selectionVSAvoidinformation management overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Each rule is assigned a priority parameter that determines its evaluation order. The terminal uses this parameter to systematically manage multiple rules, changing the evaluation sequence based on priority levels rather than treating all rules equally. This parameter-based management enhances adaptability for different packet types while reducing information management overhead through structured prioritization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4604488B1Selecting a network slice instantiation for uplink packet transmission
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 ORANGE SA
  • EP4604488B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4604488B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4604488B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for selecting a network slice instantiation (S0, S1, S2) in a communication network for the transmission of uplink data from a user terminal (UE). This method comprises verifying (E30), by means of a communication module (COM) of the user terminal, the correspondence between an uplink packet received by said communication module (COM) and at least one rule from among a plurality of rules (R1, R2), prioritized with respect to each other, designating a network slice instantiation capable of transmitting the uplink packet in the communication network.When the uplink packet corresponds to several of said rules designating a network slice instantiation capable of transmitting the packet, the uplink packet is sent (E54), by means of the communication module (COM), to a user plane access entity (ANUP1) of the network slice instantiation designated by the highest priority rule among said rules corresponding to the uplink packet.