A communications method for a packet-switched network includes: a) receiving at a routing module operating in a low layer of a layered model defining communications on the network, a packet including an identifier associated to a protocol to be employed at a high layer of the model which is higher than the low layer; b) inspecting the received packet at an inspection module so as to identify the protocol associated to the identifier; c) selecting at a selection module a first device, operating in the high layer associated with the identified protocol; d) sending the packet toward the first device; e) processing the packet by applying at the first device a procedure of the high layer to produce a processed packet; f) sending the processed packet from the first device to the routing module; and g) transmitting the processed packet from the routing module toward the network.