Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: establishing a plurality of flows; assigning a context identifier to each flow, wherein a length of each context identifier for a first subset of the flows is a first number of bits and a length of each context identifier for a second subset of the flows is a second number of bits greater than the first number of bits; receiving a packet associated with a new flow, wherein a value of a context identifier assigned to the new flow must fit within the first number of bits; determining that the context identifiers for the plurality of flows have occupied all values within the first number of bits; assigning a context identifier of an existing flow to the new flow; and assigning a new context identifier to the existing flow.