Automated detection of media port protocols

1. A method comprising:

identifying data traffic on one or more ports of a switch;

determining a protocol specific packet type of a first protocol is identified as being received on one or more first ports of the one or more ports;

determining another protocol specific packet type of a second protocol is identified as being received on one or more second ports of the one or more ports;

assigning, for a temporary period of time, the one or more first ports of the one or more ports with data traffic to the first protocol;

assigning the one or more second ports of the one or more ports with data traffic to the second protocol different from the first protocol; and

releasing the second protocol assignment of the one or more second ports after identifying there is no presence of packets transmitted or received on the one or more second ports for a monitored period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising

storing the port assignments in a switch memory; and

monitoring port data traffic activity of the one or more ports for additional data traffic.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising

when port activity has dropped below a data traffic threshold for one or more of the ports, releasing the port protocol assignment of the one or more ports.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising

when the first protocol or second protocol specific packet type is present on any one of the one or more ports, assigning a default protocol type.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the protocol is multiple stream reservation protocol (MSRP).

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising

enabling port forwarding for ports assigned to the second protocol and for network device addresses which are assigned to the second protocol.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the network device addresses are multicast addresses.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to

identify data traffic on one or more ports;

determine a protocol specific packet type of a first protocol is identified as being received on one or more first ports of the one or more ports;

determine another protocol specific packet type of a second protocol is identified as being received on one or more second ports of the one or more ports;

assign, for a temporary period of time, the one or more first ports of the one or more ports with data traffic to the first protocol

assign the one or more second ports of the one or more ports with data traffic to the second protocol different from the first protocol; and

release the second protocol assignment of the one or more second ports after identifying there is no presence of packets transmitted or received on the one or more second ports for a monitored period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to

store the port assignments in a switch memory; and

monitor port data traffic activity of the one or more ports for additional data traffic.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to

when port activity has dropped below a data traffic threshold for one or more of the ports, release the port protocol assignment of the one or more ports.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to

when the first protocol or second protocol specific packet type is present on any one of the one or more ports, assign a default protocol type.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the protocol is multiple stream reservation protocol (MSRP).

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to

enable port forwarding for ports assigned to the second protocol and for network device addresses which are assigned to the second protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the network device addresses are multicast addresses.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform:

identifying data traffic on one or more ports of a switch;

determining a protocol specific packet type of a first protocol is identified as being received on one or more first ports of the one or more ports;

determining another protocol specific packet type of a second protocol is identified as being received on one or more second ports of the one or more ports;

assigning, for a temporary period of time, the one or more first ports of the one or more ports with data traffic to the first protocol;

assigning the one or more second ports of the one or more ports with data traffic to the second protocol different from the first protocol; and

releasing the second protocol assignment of the one or more second ports after identifying there is no presence of packets transmitted or received on the one or more second ports for a monitored period of time.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

storing the port assignments in a switch memory; and

monitoring port data traffic activity of the one or more ports for additional data traffic.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

when port activity has dropped below a data traffic threshold for one or more of the ports, releasing the port protocol assignment of the one or more ports.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

when the first or second protocol specific packet type is present on any one of the one or more ports, assigning a default protocol type.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the protocol is multiple stream reservation protocol (MSRP).

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

enabling port forwarding for ports assigned to the second protocol and for network device addresses which are assigned to the second protocol.