A method in one embodiment includes allocating, by a node of a network, a flow label attribute identifying a media flow associated with a Session Description Protocol (SDP) media session. The media flow is between a sender and receiver nodes over a media transmission path of the network. The node further specifying a flow state attribute to generate media flow information and communicating the flow label and the flow state attribute to downstream nodes in the media transmission path. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.