Patent ID: 7475161

Claim:
A method for implementing conditional packet alterations based upon a transmit port comprising the steps of: providing a selection mechanism for implementing the packet alterations; providing a hardware multiplexer, and an indirect data array for storing packet alteration data to implement said selection mechanism for implementing packet alterations; sequentially applying one or more select entries of a sequence of frame alteration instructions and a plurality of transmit port numbers associated with a packet being transmitted to said selection mechanism; said sequence of said frame alteration instructions and said port numbers associated with said packet being transmitted applied to said hardware multiplexer of said selection mechanism including applying a fixed sequence of said frame alteration instructions including at least one of an overlay indirect instruction, an insert indirect instruction, a copy indirect instruction, and a branch conditional instruction; and providing said frame alteration instructions having a predefined instruction format including a select field including a select flag, an entry select; and a byte select; performing the alterations on said packet being transmitted responsive to said sequentially applied one or more select entries of said sequence of said frame alteration instructions and said plurality of said transmit port numbers associated with said packet being transmitted; and transmitting said packet from each respective transmit port for said plurality of said transmit port numbers, responsive to performing the alterations.