The present invention relates to a method for managing packets in a network of Information Centric Networking (ICN) nodes (1, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e), the method comprising: —at a first node (1), performing steps of: ∘ Receiving a request (i) for a data packet (C), and if the data packet (C) is stored, responding to the request (i) by forwarding the data packet (C); otherwise ∘ sending to at least one neighboring node (2a, 2b) of the network a request (i′) for meta-data packets (@), a meta-data packet (@) indicating availability of said data packet (C) at a target node; ∘ receiving in response at least one meta-data packet (@), so as to identify at least one target node (2c, 2e) wherein said data packet (C) is available; ∘ forwarding the request (i) for said data packet (C) toward one selected target node (2c); —at a second node (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e), performing steps of: ∘ Receiving a request (i′) for meta-data packets (@), and if the data packet (C) is stored, responding to the request (i′) by forwarding a meta-data packet (@) indicating availability of said data packet (C) at the second node (2c, 2e); otherwise ∘ forwarding to at least one neighboring node (2c, 2d, 2e) of the network the request (i′) for meta-data packets (@).