Enhanced service classification for service function chaining in next generation cellular networks

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause processing circuitry of a communications network system, upon execution of the instructions by the processing circuitry, to:

• receive, at a first device of the communications network system, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) data from a user equipment (UE) device, the SDAP data comprising a SDAP header;
• identify, at the first device, a service chaining function (SFC) service identifier of the SDAP header;
• determine, by the first device, that the SFC service identifier is indicative of a SFC service profile, the SFC service profile indicative of quality of service (QOS) traffic characteristics;
• identify, at the first device, a SFC traffic flow associated with the SFC service identifier;
• and
• transmit, by the first device, the SDAP data to a second device of the communications network system;
• receive, at the second device, the SDAP data from the first device;
• and
• transmit, by the second device, the SDAP data to a service function of the communications network system.