US Patent 11146964 Hierarchical network slice selection

Some embodiments provide a method for a first network slice selector that assigns data messages to a first set of network slices that each comprises an ordered set of network services. The method receives a data message originating from an electronic endpoint device. A second network slice selector previously (i) assigned the data message to a first network slice of a second set of network slices and, (ii) based on the assignment of the data message to the first network slice, provided the data message to the first network slice selector. The method assigns the data message to a second network slice from the first et of network slices. The method provides the data message to a first network service of the selected second network slice.