Patent ID: 8010994

Claim:
A method for enabling a client device access to a selected virtual local area network, said method comprising the operations of: detecting connection of the client device to an authentication enabled port; determining whether the client device is enabled to be authenticated pursuant to an authentication protocol used by the authentication enabled port; precluding the authentication protocol of the authentication enabled port from being invoked for the client device when determination is made that the client device is not enabled for being authenticated pursuant to the authentication protocol used by the authentication enabled port for authenticating client devices connected thereto; and assigning the client device to a selected non-secured virtual local area network while the client device remains connected to the authentication enabled port after said determination is made that the client device is not enabled for being authenticated pursuant to the authentication protocol used by the authentication enabled port for authenticating client devices connected thereto thereby allowing the client device to be connected to and communicate through the authentication enabled port concurrently with a client device that is enabled for being authenticated pursuant to the authentication protocol used by the authentication enabled port for authenticating client devices connected thereto.