A first network device receives an association relationship sent by a second network device, where the association relationship includes an association relationship between a first path and a second path. The first network device generates first routing information between the first network device and a target network device based on the association relationship, where the first routing information is used by the first network device to send a packet to the target network device through the first path, and when a cross-slice condition is met, the first routing information is used by the first network device to send a packet to the target network device through the second path.

A solution for route selection includes receiving, by a network repository, from a first network function (NF), a query related to a target NF; querying, by the network repository, a route selection node for a shortest path to the target NF; receiving, by the network repository, from the route selection node, an indication of the shortest path to the target NF; and based on at least receiving the indication of the shortest path to the target NF, transmitting, by the network repository, to the first NF, a route to the target NF. In some examples, the shortest path has at least one of: a minimum number of hops, a minimum latency, a minimum jitter, and a minimum weighted transport score. In some examples, the route selection node is co-located with the network repository, which may be a network repository function (NRF).

Various approaches for allocating resources to an application having multiple application components, with at least one executing one or more functions, in a serverless service architecture include identifying multiple routing paths, each routing path being associated with a same function service provided by one or more containers or serverless execution entities; determining traffic information on each routing path and/or a cost, a response time and/or a capacity associated with the container or serverless execution entity on each routing path; selecting one of the routing paths and its associated container or serverless execution entity; and causing a computational user of the application to access the container or serverless execution entity on the selected routing path and executing the function(s) thereon.

Various approaches for allocating resources to an application having multiple application components, with at least one executing one or more functions, in a serverless service architecture include identifying multiple routing paths, each routing path being associated with a same function service provided by one or more containers or serverless execution entities; determining traffic information on each routing path and/or a cost, a response time and/or a capacity associated with the container or serverless execution entity on each routing path; selecting one of the routing paths and its associated container or serverless execution entity; and causing a computational user of the application to access the container or serverless execution entity on the selected routing path and executing the function(s) thereon.

A method of calculating a new route for a media data traffic flow on a computer network when a device is connected to the network, the network comprising a first and a second network switch connected by a link, the method comprising: determining whether media data traffic already flows between the first and second network switch over the link; applying a weighting to the link whose value is based on whether media data traffic already flows over the link; and determining the new route for media data traffic by using a least cost path generation algorithm using the weighting.

Methods and systems for determining traffic information for devices along one or more routes are described. A content server may send a message to a plurality of devices along a route. The message may comprise an indication requesting each of the devices to send, to the content server, status information regarding the respective device. Intermediary devices may receive the message, respond with the requested information, and forward the message through the route. The message may comprise a stateless messaging protocol message such as an ICMP or UDP packet.

Methods and systems for determining traffic information for devices along one or more routes are described. A content server may send a message to a plurality of devices along a route. The message may comprise an indication requesting each of the devices to send, to the content server, status information regarding the respective device. Intermediary devices may receive the message, respond with the requested information, and forward the message through the route. The message may comprise a stateless messaging protocol message such as an ICMP or UDP packet.

A method for assessing path quality between a source node and a destination node, the method comprising, at a node: determining a first parameter and a first path classification of a first path having at least one link; determining a second parameter and a second path classification of a second path having at least one link; determining the quality of the first path based on the first parameter and the first path classification; determining the quality of the second path based on the second parameter and the second path classification; and comparing the quality of the first path and the quality of the second path thereby to determine the best quality path.

A method for assessing path quality between a source node and a destination node, the method comprising, at a node: determining a first parameter and a first path classification of a first path having at least one link; determining a second parameter and a second path classification of a second path having at least one link; determining the quality of the first path based on the first parameter and the first path classification; determining the quality of the second path based on the second parameter and the second path classification; and comparing the quality of the first path and the quality of the second path thereby to determine the best quality path.

Systems and methods include receiving network topology information of a network including a plurality of routers; receiving link measurements defining bandwidth on links in the network; determining routes in the network based on the network topology information; and utilizing the routes and the link measurements to determine an estimate of an initial traffic matrix that includes the bandwidth between origin routers and destination routers.