# US 11,310,677 B2 · Method for selecting packet processing function and device therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,677 B2 - Document ID: US11310677B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/652,881 - Filed: 2018-10-11 - Published: 2020-08-06 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-18 - Assignees: SK Telecom Co., Ltd. - Applicants: SK Telecom Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Dongjin Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310677B2 ## CPC - H04L 47/822: {Collecting or measuring resource availability data} - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04L 1/20: using signal quality detector - H04L 47/20: Traffic policing - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04W 36/304: {due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The present disclosure in some embodiments relates to a method of selecting a packet processing function and an apparatus therefor, which select a packet processing device that can maximize data transmission efficiency based on state information of a communication interface formed between the packet processing device and a control plane device and thereby providing a constant high-quality network service. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network entity device, comprising: a processor; and memory storing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: collect, in real-time, state information of a communication interface formed between a control plane device and each of one or more packet processing devices in a wireless communication network, the control plane device separate from a user plane device and implementing at least one of an access and mobility function (AMF) associated with mobility management, a session management function (SMF) associated with session management or network functions (NFs) associated with sharing network-related information with an external management plane; determine signal quality of the communication interface for each of the packet processing devices based on the state information, the determined signal quality indicative of transmission efficiency of each of the packet processing devices with respect to the control plane device; select any one of the packet processing devices having a highest transmission efficiency with respect to the control plane device; and output selection information of a selection of the one packet processing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The network entity device of claim 1, wherein the state information indicates at least one of a type, a speed, a latency, or a load of the communication interface for each of the packet processing devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The network entity device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to collect additional state information of other communication networks connected to the packet processing device, and select the one packet processing device by further utilizing the additional state information of the other communication networks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The network entity device of claim 1, wherein the state information is collected when a measurement of the state information of the communication interface is requested by the control plane device implementing the network functions or when a user equipment accessing a base station in the wireless communication network is recognized. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The network entity device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform a filtering procedure on the packet processing device based on requirement from predefined service and user policy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The network entity device of claim 1, wherein the the instructions further cause the processor to make a comparison of the state information of the one packet processing device with the state information of a preset packet processing device, and to determine whether to output the selection information according to a result of the comparison. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The network entity device of claim 1, wherein the instructions to further cause the processor to measure the state information of the communication interface for each of the packet processing devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises: performing a filtering procedure on the packet processing device based on requirement from predefined service and user policy. ### Claim 9 A method performed by a network entity device for selecting one of packet processing devices, the method comprising: collecting, in real-time, state information of a communication interface formed between a control plane device and each of one or more packet processing devices in a wireless communication network, the control plane device separate from a user plane device and implementing at least one of an access and mobility function (AMF) associated with mobility management, a session management function (SMF) associated with session management or network functions (NFs) associated with sharing network-related information with an external management plane; determining signal quality of the communication interface for each of the packet processing devices based on the state information, the determined signal quality indicative of transmission efficiency of each of the packet processing devices with respect to the control plane device; selecting any one of the packet processing devices having a highest transmission efficiency with respect to the control plane device; and outputting selection information of a selection of the one packet processing device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: measuring the state information of the communication interface for each of the packet processing devices.