Patent ID: 6680945
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A multiport switch configured for transferring a data frame to a network node, comprising:a plurality of output ports for transmitting the data frame; rules checker logic for determining a type of data frame based upon header information associated with the data frame and for generating a corresponding forwarding descriptor; and port logic for receiving the forwarding descriptor and for generating a modified forwarding descriptor in response to the received forwarding descriptor, the modified forwarding descriptor comprising an operation code indicating a tag operation for modifying the data frame based upon the frame type and untagged set information, the untagged set information specifying on a VLAN by VLAN basis which one or more of the output ports is a member of an untagged set; wherein the tag operation comprises one of: inserting a VLAN tag into the header information, stripping the VLAN tag from the header information, modifying the VLAN tag of the header information, and transmitting the data frame via one or more of the outputs without modifying the VLAN tag of the header information.