MONITORING PATH CHARACTERISATION INFORMATION

Methods and an associated traffic management module and system are disclosed for monitoring, at a traffic management module (26) within a data network, path characterisation information indicative of at least one measure of a dynamic network characteristic at a remote node (23) outside said data network. The method involves a traffic management module (26) receiving at least one data unit from a remote node (23) outside said data network, and in the event that said at least one data unit is encapsulated in an outer header and that an inner header of said data unit includes path characterisation information, performing the following in respect of said data unit: (a) monitoring said path characterisation information in said inner header; and (b) forwarding said data unit according to a first treatment category. In the event that these conditions are not met, the data unit is instead subjected to an alternative treatment.