Network service header (NSH) metadata-based end-to-end multimedia session identification and multimedia service optimization

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of network devices and a plurality of service function instances;
• a processor configured to:
• obtain via the network interface, a plurality of media streams associated with a media session between a plurality of endpoints, wherein each respective media stream is encapsulated with a corresponding service header indicating a corresponding service function path of service functions to process the respective media stream and a session identifier associated with the media session;
• determine that the plurality of service function instances perform a particular service function in the corresponding service function path;
• and
• provide the plurality of media streams to a single service function instance of the plurality of service function instances to enable all of the media streams associated with the media session to be processed by the single service function instance.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to cause a processor of a network node to:

• obtain a plurality of media streams associated with a media session between a plurality of endpoints, wherein each respective media stream is encapsulated with a corresponding service header indicating a corresponding service function path of service functions to process the respective media stream and a session identifier associated with the media session;
• determine that a plurality of service function instances connected to the network node perform a particular service function in the corresponding service function path;
• and
• provide the plurality of media streams to a single service function instance of the plurality of service function instances to enable all of the media streams associated with the media session to be processed by the single service function instance.