Methods and apparatus for selecting a network route for data communications for IoT devices

A network function entity comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• and
• program instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to:
• receive from an application server a message indicating a request for delivery of data to a user equipment (UE) operative for communications in a mobile network;
• obtain one or more first loading or congestion indication values indicative of a first loading or congestion at one or more first network nodes which service a first mobile network route in the mobile network;
• obtain one or more second loading or congestion indication values indicative of a second loading or congestion at one or more second network nodes which service a second mobile network route in the mobile network, the second mobile network route is a different route type than the first mobile network route and is a route for non-IP data delivery (NIDD);
• select one of the first mobile network route or the second mobile network route based on the one or more first loading or congestion indication values and the one or more second loading or congestion indication values;
• and
• cause the data to be delivered to the UE via a selected one of the first mobile network route or the second mobile network route.

A method comprising:

• at a network function entity of a mobile network,
• receiving, from an evaluation function, a first loading or congestion status indicator indicative of a first loading or congestion of one or more first functions that facilitate a delivery of data via a first route of the mobile network and a second loading or congestion status indicator indicative of a second loading or congestion of one or more second functions that facilitate the delivery of the data via a second route of the mobile network;
• selecting one of the first route or the second route based on the first loading or congestion status indicator and the second loading or congestion status indicator;
• and
• causing the data to be delivered to a user equipment (UE) via a selected one of the first route or the second route that is a route for a non IP data delivery.