An integrated processor-controlled router and switch fabric architecture
provides connectivity between local area network (LAN) ports of an
Ethernet switch serving a plurality of local area network users and a
wide area network (WAN) interface that provides connectivity with the
internet. Packets received from user ports of the Ethernet switch contain
priority-representative information. Packets delivered by the
processor-controlled router to the WAN interface are prioritized in
accordance with the priority-representative information.