Abstract: A method of processing frames received at a sending port of a switching device for communication to a destination port includes storing in the switching device an offset value, a comparator value, and an expectant value; comparing information located at a position in a frame determined by the offset value with the comparator value to obtain an outcome; and processing the frame with the outcome. Processing the frame may include communicating the frame to a destination port or setting the priority of the frame. The offset and comparator values may be part of a filter that also includes an anchor value from which the offset value is measured and a mask value that masks the frame information before comparison with the comparator value. Where there are a multiple of filters in the switching device, the method may include combining the filter outcomes to obtain a filter group outcome; and processing the frame with the group outcome. Combining the filter outcomes may include logically combining their outcomes.