Sampling node and a method performed thereby for handling flows through a SDN between client(s) and origin server(s) of a communication network

A sampling node in a Software Defined Network (SDN) for handling traffic flows, the sampling node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• identify from among the traffic flows at least a first traffic flow that may benefit from being routed via a service optimizing node (SON) that is capable of providing a value added service (VAS) to the first traffic flow;
• determine a capacity demand of the identified first traffic flow,
• determine a capacity of the SON,
• perform a comparison based on the capacity demand of the first traffic flow and the capacity of the SON;
• based on the comparison, determine whether the SON can accommodate the determined capacity demand of the first traffic flow;
• and
• inform a flow switch of the SDN that the first traffic flow should bypass the SON as a result of determining that the SON cannot accommodate the determined capacity demand of the first traffic flow, wherein
• the sampling node is separate from the SON.

A method for handling traffic flows, the traffic flows comprising a set of sample flows and a set of regular flows, the method comprising:

• identifying from among the set of sample flows a subset of sample flows that are to be routed via a service optimizing node (SON) that is capable of providing a value added service (VAS);
• routing the subset of sample flows via the SON;
• identifying from among the set of regular flows a subset of regular flows that are to be routed via the SON;
• and
• routing the subset of regular flows via the SON, wherein
• a ratio of the set of sample flows to the regular flows is 1/F,
• a throughput of the subset of sample flows is R,
• a throughput of the subset of regular flows is C,
• a throughput of the set of sample flows is M, and
• R
• M
• =
• C
• M
• F
• =
• C
• ×
• F
• M
• .