Method for Transferring Application Specific Packets

A communications device comprising:

• at least one communications control unit;
• and
• a plurality of ports, wherein the at least one communications control unit is configured to:
• classify application-specific packets into at least one of (i) isochronic classes, (ii) real-time classes and (iii) basic classes;
• and
• at least one of (i) send and (ii) receive application-specific packets over a virtual network;
• and
• wherein the device is configured to:
• provide at least one virtual network with a network identifier per class;
• and
• transmit the application-specific packets over a virtual network selected according to a class of the selected virtual network, together with the corresponding network identifier.

A terminal comprising:

• at least one port;
• and
• at least one communications interface;
• wherein the terminal is configured to:
• classify application-specific packets in at least one of (i) isochronic classes, (ii) real-time classes and (iii) basic classes;
• and
• at least one of (i) send application-specific packets and (ii) receive application-specific packets over a virtual network;
• and
• wherein the terminal is configured to:
• provide at least one virtual network with a network identifier per class.