Patent ID: 7423975

Claim:
A method for classifying a data packet in a network interface, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of classification parameters; (b) generating a plurality of program modules, each of said plurality of program modules for testing for adherence to at least one corresponding classification parameter, wherein the program modules contain an operation code field and one or more operand fields; (c) receiving the data packet; (d) generating a header, said header indicating whether one or more predefined fields are present in the data packet and identifying a location of said one or more predefined fields in the data packet when present, wherein the location is identified by an address value that defines the position of the one or more predefined fields within the data packet in terms of an exact position or in terms of a position plus an offset; (e) executing each of said plurality of program modules based on said operation code field, wherein each of said plurality of program modules receives said header and generates a test result based on contents of said header and contents of the data packet; and (f) processing the data packet based on said test results from said plurality of program modules.