Network Embedded Real Time Service Level Objective Validation

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a receiver of a network device, a first data packet as part of a data flow, the first data packet including a service level objective (SLO) indicating a network service threshold, the SLO including a key performance indicator (KPI) indicating a network service metric to be compared to the network service threshold;
• and
• measuring, by a processor of the network device, a service provided by the network device according to the network service metric indicated by the KPI to obtain a measured service result;
• comparing, by the processor, the measured service result to the network service threshold indicated by the SLO to determine when the service provided by the network device has violated the SLO;
• and
• based on the determination that the service has violated the SLO, performing, by the processor, a defined action.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program product for use by a network device, the computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause the network device to:

• receive a first data packet as part of a data flow, the first data packet including a service level objective (SLO) indicating a network service threshold, the SLO including and a key performance indicator (KPI) indicating a network service metric to be compared to the network service threshold;
• measure a service provided by the network device according to the network service metric indicated by the KPI to obtain a measured service result;
• compare the measured service result to the network service threshold indicated by the SLO to determine when the service provided by the network device has violated the SLO;
• and
• based on the determination that the service has violated the SLO, perform a defined action.