Methods and apparatus for determining and using SDN link and/or path status

A method of operating a Session Border Controller (SBC) in a software defined networking (SDN) system including:

• transmitting from a transmitter in the Session Border Controller to a SDN network controller a request for a path for a data communications session flow between a first Internet Protocol address corresponding to said SBC and a second Internet Protocol address;
• receiving at a receiver of the SBC a data communications session flow path with a data communications session flow identifier in response to said request;
• determining application level metrics at said SBC for said data communications session flow;
• and
• transmitting from said transmitter in the Session Border Controller the application level metrics to the SDN network controller.

A software defined networking (SDN) controller comprising:

• a receiver for receiving via a software defined network application level metrics corresponding to a data communications session flow;
• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor configured to control the SDN controller to determine a status of a communications path between two Internet Protocol addresses based on the received application level metrics;
• and
• wherein said receiver is also for receiving a request for a data flow communications path between said two Internet Protocol addresses via said software defined network subsequent to receiving said application level metrics;
• and
• wherein said processor is further configured to control said SDN controller to determine said data flow communications path between said two Internet Protocol addresses based on said application level metrics and to operate said transmitter in response to said request for a data flow communications path to transmit the determined data flow communications path between said two Internet Protocol addresses;
• wherein said processor is further configured to control said SDN controller to determine which links and devices in the software defined network need to be traversed for optimum network utilization or quality as part of said operation to determine said data flow communications path between said two Internet Protocol addresses based on said application level metrics.

A Session Border Controller (SBC) comprising:

• a transmitter for transmitting from the Session Border Controller to a software defined networking (SDN) network controller a request for a path for a data communications session flow between a first Internet Protocol address corresponding to said SBC and a second Internet Protocol address;
• a receiver for receiving a data communications session flow path with a data communications session flow identifier in response to said request;
• a processor configured to control said SBC to determine application level metrics at said SBC for said data communications session flow;
• and
• said transmitter configured to transmit said application level metrics to the SDN network controller.