Patent ID: 6526052
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of selecting a VLAN from among a plurality of VLANs to assign to a packet received at a network device of a communications network, wherein each VLAN has membership criteria based on one or more aspects of the communications network and each VLAN has a VLAN classification based on its membership criteria, the method comprising acts of:(A) determining one or more characteristics associated with the packet received at a first port of the network device, the one or more characteristics including the first port; (B) determining one or more VLANs having membership criteria satisfied by the determined characteristics, a first of the determined VLANs having a first VLAN classification based on membership criteria that includes network device ports; (C) if more than one VLAN is determined, selecting the first determined VLAN based on a precedence order of VLAN classifications, the precedence order specifying that the first VLAN classification has precedence over other VLAN classifications; and (D) assigning the first determined VLAN to the received packet.