An example method of selecting message routing providers based on message delivery data reported by multiple customers includes: identifying a plurality of message routing providers serving a specified destination network; receiving, from a plurality of message originating entities, message delivery data reflecting message delivery by the plurality of message routing providers to the specified destination network; estimating, based on the message delivery data, for each message routing provider of the plurality of message routing providers, a corresponding message conversion rate reflecting a likelihood of successful message delivery by a respective message routing provider to the specified destination network; receiving one or more messages from a message originating entity that has not provided at least part of the message delivery data; and identifying, based on message conversion rates for respective message routing providers, one or more message routing providers for routing the one or more messages to the destination network.

An example method of selecting message routing providers based on message delivery data reported by multiple customers includes: identifying a plurality of message routing providers serving a specified destination network; receiving, from a plurality of message originating entities, message delivery data reflecting message delivery by the plurality of message routing providers to the specified destination network; estimating, based on the message delivery data, for each message routing provider of the plurality of message routing providers, a corresponding message conversion rate reflecting a likelihood of successful message delivery by a respective message routing provider to the specified destination network; receiving one or more messages from a message originating entity that has not provided at least part of the message delivery data; and identifying, based on message conversion rates for respective message routing providers, one or more message routing providers for routing the one or more messages to the destination network.

Embodiments provide techniques for providing return-link routing in a hybrid communications network that includes a number of different networks having different characteristics. User terminal routing systems (UTRSs) provide interfaces between local user networks and the multiple communications networks of the hybrid network. Each UTRS can include a routing table having stored mappings that are populated according to forward-link communications (implicitly or explicitly), each associating a respective one of a plurality of routing table entries with one of the communications networks. When a UTRS receives return-link data from its respective local user network, the received data indicates a destination node. The UTRS can determine which of the stored mappings corresponds to the destination node and can route the received return-link data over a selected one of the communications networks in accordance with the identified one of the mappings.

This application provides a packet processing method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium, and pertains to the field of communication technologies. In this application, a control identifier field is added to a packet, and the control identifier field indicates whether forwarding of the packet is allowed when the first network device does not configure the slice identifier on an outbound interface. The control identifier field and a slice identifier of a network slice are carried in the packet, so that the slice identifier and the control identifier field are transmitted on a network together. When a receive end does not configure the slice identifier on the outbound interface, the receive end can discard the packet based on the control identifier field, instead of forwarding the packet by using routing information.

Embodiments provide techniques for providing return-link routing in a hybrid communications network that includes a number of different networks having different characteristics. User terminal routing systems (UTRSs) provide interfaces between local user networks and the multiple communications networks of the hybrid network. Each UTRS can include a routing table having stored mappings that are populated according to forward-link communications (implicitly or explicitly), each associating a respective one of a plurality of routing table entries with one of the communications networks. When a UTRS receives return-link data from its respective local user network, the received data indicates a destination node. The UTRS can determine which of the stored mappings corresponds to the destination node and can route the received return-link data over a selected one of the communications networks in accordance with the identified one of the mappings.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing effective slice-level load metrics reporting and load balancing are disclosed. In one example aspect, a wireless communication method includes transmitting, by a first network element, a request to a second network element requesting resource status at a slice level of a slice. The slice represents a logical network of a physical network infrastructure. The method also includes receiving, by the first network element, load information at the slice level from the second network element in response to the request.

An example method of selecting message routing providers based on message delivery data reported by multiple customers includes: identifying a plurality of message routing providers serving a specified destination network; receiving message delivery data reflecting message delivery by the plurality of message routing providers to the specified destination network; responsive to determining that a difference between a first number of messages successfully routed by a certain message routing provider in a first period of time and a second number of messages successfully routed by the certain message routing provider in a second period of time exceeds a defined threshold, producing updated message delivery data; identifying, based on the updated message delivery data, one or more message routing providers for routing one or more messages to the destination network; and routing, via the one or more message routing providers, the one or more messages to the specified destination network.

An example method of selecting message routing providers based on message delivery data reported by multiple customers includes: identifying a plurality of message routing providers serving a specified destination network; receiving message delivery data reflecting message delivery by the plurality of message routing providers to the specified destination network; responsive to determining that a difference between a first number of messages successfully routed by a certain message routing provider in a first period of time and a second number of messages successfully routed by the certain message routing provider in a second period of time exceeds a defined threshold, producing updated message delivery data; identifying, based on the updated message delivery data, one or more message routing providers for routing one or more messages to the destination network; and routing, via the one or more message routing providers, the one or more messages to the specified destination network.

A communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a communicator; and a processor configured to: if a network composed of a first topology including a star topology or a line topology is included on a communication path connecting the communication device and the other communication device, configure data to be transmitted to the other communication device through a first interface for accessing a RAPIEnet (Real-time Automation Protocol for Industrial Ethernet)-based upper layer and an Internet Protocol (IP)-based lower layer, and transmit the data to the other communication device through the communicator using the communication path.

A multi-channel message exchange system selects a service provider that is best suited to deliver each individual message for customers of the message exchange system. The message exchange system selects a service provider based on customer criteria provided by the customer, data structures provided by the service providers, quality scores describing performance of the service providers, channels used by the service providers to deliver messages, or any suitable combination thereof. The message exchange system may select the service provider that provides the best combination of quality of service, value, and delivery channel given the customer's specific needs. The data structures may geographic jurisdictions in which the service provider provides message delivery, channels through which the service provider is willing to deliver messages, or any suitable combination thereof.