Patent ID: 8775571
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for dynamic network access device port configuration, the method comprising: (a) storing, at a network switch, at least one mapping between a user device type and at least one port configuration command corresponding to the user device type and at least one user device configuration parameter corresponding to the user device type, wherein the port configuration command includes a dynamic attribute; (b) determining, by the network switch, a device type of a user device plugged into a port of the network switch, wherein determining a user device type includes determining the user device type in response to the user device being connected to the port and exchanging messages with the user device over the port, and wherein exchanging messages with the user device includes exchanging discovery protocol messages with the user device; (c) extracting, from storage of the network switch, the port configuration command corresponding to the user device type; (d) dynamically configuring, by the network switch, the port using the configuration command, wherein dynamically configuring the port includes substituting a parameter of the user device for the dynamic attribute so that the port configuration command becomes specific to the user device and executing the user-device-specific port configuration command, wherein dynamically configuring the port includes configuring the port to implement a quality of service parameter and at least one of an access control list and a VLAN corresponding to the user device type; and (e) extracting, from the at least one stored mapping at the network switch, a user device configuration parameter corresponding to the user device type and communicating the user device configuration parameter to the user device, wherein communicating the user device configuration parameter to the user device includes downloading the parameter to the user device using a link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) message and using the parameter in configuring the user device.