Function selection in industrial networks

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Networking (H04L)

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected March 31st, 2026

Summary

USPTO granted patent US12591222B2 to Cisco Technology, Inc. covering methods for selecting 5G user plane functions in industrial networks based on hierarchical security model layers. The patent, filed April 24, 2023, includes 20 claims related to associating 5G functions with contextual security information and directing endpoint communications accordingly.

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What changed

USPTO granted Patent No. US12591222B2 to Cisco Technology, Inc. for methods of function selection in industrial networks using 5G technology. The patent covers a system where a device associates available 5G functions stored in a network repository with contextual information mapped to layers of a hierarchical security model. When a user equipment endpoint requests communication via an industrial network, the device selects an appropriate user plane function based on the security layer classification. Inventors include Flemming Stig Andreasen, Timothy P. Stammers, and Robert E. Barton.

This patent grant is informational and does not impose compliance obligations on third parties. No action is required by other entities. The patent establishes intellectual property rights that may be relevant to companies developing industrial 5G networking equipment or security systems, as it describes proprietary methods for security-based function selection that could be relevant to potential infringement analysis or licensing discussions.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Function selection in industrial networks

Grant US12591222B2 Kind: B2 Mar 31, 2026

Assignee

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Inventors

Flemming Stig Andreasen, Timothy P. Stammers, Robert E. Barton

Abstract

In one embodiment, a device associates available 5G functions stored by a network repository function with contextual information, wherein the contextual information maps each of the available 5G functions with a layer of a hierarchical security model for an industrial network. The device receives a request from a user equipment endpoint to communicate via the industrial network. The device selects a particular user plane function from among the available 5G functions for use by the user equipment endpoint based in part on the layer of the hierarchical security model associated with the particular user plane function. The device causes the user equipment endpoint to communicate via the industrial network using the particular user plane function.