the present invention provides a method and a device for classifying data frames . the method is typically carried out by a communication device in a wireless network with quality of service capability . it comprises the step of comparing data in a frame to data in a plurality of classifier entries , wherein the order of comparison of the classifier entries with a frame is a function of a quality of service priority level , and the step of classifying a frame for which a match is found as a function of a parameter associated with the matching classifier entry .