# US 2018/0027451 A1 · Service traffic steering method, device and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027451 A1 - Document ID: US20180027451A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/724,656 - Filed: 2017-10-04 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-07 - Assignees: China Mobile Communications Corporation - Applicants: China Mobile Communications Corporation - Inventors: Tao Sun; Wei Chen; Lu Lu; Hui Deng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027451A1 ## CPC - H04W 28/10: Flow control {between communication endpoints} - H04L 43/028: by filtering - H04L 45/38: {Flow based routing} - H04L 45/566: {Routing instructions carried by the data packet, e.g. active networks} - H04L 47/20: Traffic policing - H04L 47/2441: relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ] - H04L 47/2483: involving identification of individual flows - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 28/12: using signalling between network elements - H04L 45/74: Address processing for routing - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A service traffic steering method, device and system are provided. The method includes that: a steering path identifier of a downlink service traffic is identified according to a service traffic steering policy; and the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and description information of the downlink service traffic are sent to a downlink classifier to enable the downlink classifier to mark the downlink service traffic according to the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic, an uplink classifier and the downlink classifier are deployed in different network devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A service traffic steering method, applied to an uplink classifier, the method comprising: identifying a steering path identifier of a downlink service traffic according to a service traffic steering policy; and sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and description information of the downlink service traffic to a downlink classifier to enable the downlink classifier to mark the downlink service traffic according to the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic, wherein the uplink classifier and the downlink classifier are deployed in different network devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic according to the service traffic steering policy comprises: when the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic can be directly identified according to an uplink service traffic, directly identifying the uplink service traffic to obtain the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic according to the service traffic steering policy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic according to the service traffic steering policy comprises: when the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic cannot be directly identified according to the uplink service traffic, receiving the downlink service traffic; and identifying states of the uplink and downlink service traffic to obtain the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic according to the service traffic steering policy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier comprises: sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through signaling interface(s); or sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through a policy controller; or steering a data packet to the downlink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier comprises: sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through signaling interface(s); or sending the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through a policy controller; or steering a data packet to the downlink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic. ### Claim 6 An uplink classifier, comprising: one or more processors and a memory storing computer-readable operation instructions, wherein when the computer-readable operation instructions in the memory are run, the processor is configured to: identify a steering path identifier of a downlink service traffic according to a service traffic steering policy; and send the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and description information of the downlink service traffic to a downlink classifier to enable the downlink classifier to mark the downlink service traffic according to the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic, wherein the uplink classifier and the downlink classifier are deployed in different network devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The uplink classifier according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to: when the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic can be directly identified according to an uplink service traffic, directly identify the uplink service traffic to obtain the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic according to the service traffic steering policy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The uplink classifier according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to: when the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic cannot be directly identified according to the uplink service traffic, receive the downlink service traffic; and identify states of the uplink and downlink service traffic to obtain the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic according to the service traffic steering policy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The uplink classifier according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: send the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through signaling interface(s); or send the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through a policy controller; or steer a data packet to the downlink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The uplink classifier according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to: send the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through signaling interface(s); or send the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic to the downlink classifier through a policy controller; or steer a data packet to the downlink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic. ### Claim 11 A service traffic steering method, applied to a downlink classifier, the method comprising: receiving a steering path identifier of a downlink service traffic and description information of the downlink service traffic from an uplink classifier; and marking the downlink service traffic according to the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic, wherein the uplink classifier and the downlink classifier are deployed in different network devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, before the step of receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier, further comprising: receiving the downlink service traffic; determining that no steering path identifier corresponding to the downlink service traffic is recorded per se; and steering the downlink service traffic to the uplink classifier to enable the uplink classifier to identify the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier comprises: receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through signaling interface(s); or receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through a policy controller; or receiving a data packet steered by the uplink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic; and acquiring the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the data packet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier comprises: receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through signaling interface(s); or receiving the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through a policy controller; or receiving a data packet steered by the uplink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic; and acquiring the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the data packet. ### Claim 15 A downlink classifier, comprising: one or more processors and a memory storing computer-readable operation instructions, wherein when the computer-readable operation instructions in the memory are run, the processor is configured to: receive a steering path identifier of a downlink service traffic and description information of the downlink service traffic from an uplink classifier; and configured to mark the downlink service traffic according to the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic, wherein the uplink classifier and the downlink classifier are deployed in different network devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The downlink classifier according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive the downlink service traffic; determine that no steering path identifier corresponding to the downlink service traffic is recorded per se; and steer the downlink service traffic to the uplink classifier to enable the uplink classifier to identify the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The downlink classifier according to claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through signaling interface(s); or receive the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through a policy controller; or receive a data packet steered by the uplink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic; and acquire the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the data packet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The downlink classifier according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through signaling interface(s); or receive the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the uplink classifier through a policy controller; or receive a data packet steered by the uplink classifier through a network, the data packet containing the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic; and acquire the steering path identifier of the downlink service traffic and the description information of the downlink service traffic from the data packet.