A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN) including receiving a test traffic flow as a copy of a traffic flow in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval, emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flow based on an active traffic flow in the ICN, measuring a first impact of a first candidate path for the test traffic flow in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flow, selecting the first candidate path based on the first impact measurement, and constructing a forwarding rule based on the state and the selection of the first candidate path.