The present invention relates to a method for controlling the transfer of data packets in an IP network. A device transmits a plurality of data packets in the IP network that are received by a switch on an input port. The switch analyses the data packets received by the device and extracts information identifying the type of device connected, and on the basis of this information, identifies in an internal memory area the criteria for setting the operating parameters of an application software executed by the device. The switch provides the device with operating parameters that are calculated on the basis of the criteria contained in the memory area such that the device subsequently executes the application software using the values provided by the switch.