Patent ID: 7936670
Filing Date: 2011-05-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling access to a VLAN via a port of a VLAN switch system, said method comprising: responsive to receipt of a message packet at said port, determining by the switch system an existence of a non-matching condition, said non-matching condition being that a Media Access Control (MAC) address of said message packet does not match a MAC address for which said port has been programmed to recognize as a MAC address of a device authorized to communicate with said port; after said determining the existence of the non-matching condition, determining a number of ill-formed packets received per unit time, each ill-formed packet having a format not conforming to an applicable industry standard; after said determining the existence of the non-matching condition, determining a number of received misaddressed packets per unit time, each received misaddressed packet bearing a source MAC address that is not programmed into the port that received each misaddressed packet; determining a rate of incorrect packets, said determined rate of incorrect packets comprising a sum of said determined number of ill-formed packets received per unit time and said determined number of received misaddressed packets per unit time; ascertaining that said determined rate of incorrect packets exceeds a pass threshold rate; and responsive to said ascertaining, discarding the message packet.