A system and method for determining a network path through a network that is managed by a software defined network (Ts SDN) controller incorporating time management are disclosed. In some embodiments, the SDN controller can determine that a data packet originating from a transmitting device and directed to a receiving device is associated with one of: time-sensitive, time-aware or best effort characteristic. The controller can then determine a network path for transport of the data packet from the transmitting device to the receiving device with a guaranteed end to end delay to satisfy the characteristic. The end to end delay considers latency through each layer the data packet transitions through after being conjured at an application layer of the transmitting device. The data packet is then transmitted from the transmitting device via the network path to the receiving device.