SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING A LEVEL OF RAN CONGESTION FOR USER PLANE TRAFFIC IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

摘要

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving by a first network element a data packet associated with a subscriber. The method further includes determining a level of radio congestion currently experienced by the subscriber and encapsulating the data packet in accordance with a first protocol, the encapsulating comprising adding a header to the data packet, the header including an extension header that includes a congestion level indicator ("CLI") indicative of the determined level of radio congestion. The encapsulated data packet is forwarded to a second network element. The extension header further includes an indication of whether the radio congestion currently experienced by the subscriber is in an uplink direction or a downlink direction.