Patent ID: 7929455

Claim:
A method for reducing a number of static entries within a database of a bridge, said method comprising the steps of: forming one or more Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) sets in the bridge where each VLAN set contains one or more VLAN(s) that are configured at a same level; creating a list of supported levels in the bridge; configuring said database of the bridge with a static entry corresponding to a reserved multicast address for a lowest supported level and all lesser levels through zero which correspond with the VLAN(s) in the VLAN set at the lowest supported level; removing a current lowest supported level from the list of supported levels; configuring said database of the bridge with a static entry corresponding to a reserved multicast address for the current lowest supported level through a highest level so far configured plus one which correspond with the VLAN(s) in the VLAN set at the current lowest supported level; and repeating said removing step and said second configuring step until the list of supported levels is empty.