Patent ID: 8811361

Claim:
A system for hybrid broadcast packet replication for virtual local area networks, comprising: a switch disposed within at least one wireless local area network (WLAN), the at least one wireless local area network comprising at least one virtual local area network (VLAN), the switch operable to receive a packet with an associated VLAN identifier, wherein the packet is to be broadcast to at least one target device grouped in the identified VLAN, the switch also operable to replicate the packet, and a VLAN bit mask included in the switch, the VLAN bit mask operable to filter the destinations for the sending of the replicated packets using the mask, wherein; the mask has a first level that provides to the switch an indication of a VLAN group where a radio of an access port (AP) has an associated client device wherein the first level indication is provided per radio, and the mask has a second level where the mask provides to the switch an indication of a WLAN where a radio of an AP has an associated client device; and wherein the switch is further operable to replicate packets based on the mask and send those replicated packets filtered through the mask on to the at least one target device of the identified VLAN.