Abstract: A method and apparatus for hierarchical circuits with different switching decisions is described. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method provides for receiving a first and second packet on a virtual connection that traverses said network element, the first packet and the second packet being of a first traffic type that corresponds to the virtual connection, the first packet's payload being a third packet of a second traffic type and the second packet's payload being a fourth packet of a third traffic type, processing the first and the second packet with a first traffic type function, separating the third packet and the fourth packet into different traffic flows based on their traffic types, applying a first set of one or more features to the third packet, and applying a second set of one or more features to the fourth packet.