Patent ID: 7836490

Claim:
A method comprising: comparing first security level information and second security level information, wherein said first security level information is stored in a security label of a packet received at a network node of a network, said first security level information represents a first security level, said first security level is a security level of a source of said packet, said second security level information is stored at said network node, said second security level information is received from another network node of said network as a result of said second security level information being registered in a context, said second security level information is configured to be updated by virtue of said second security level information being configured to be combined with third security level information, said second security level information represents a second security level, said second security level is a security level of a destination of said packet, said network comprises a plurality of network nodes, said network nodes comprise said network node and said another network node, and said network nodes are configured to convey packets to one another via others of said network nodes; and indicating processing to be performed on said packet based on said comparing, wherein said processing comprises determining whether to forward said packet from said network node to one of said network nodes.