In the method for operating a multi-port bridge for the routing, differentiated in accordance with traffic classes, of data packets which are subdivided into different priority classes in accordance with the IEEE802.1D standard, an additional traffic class “isochronous channel” is introduced. The multi-port bridge is configured in such a manner that at least one predetermined port in the case of unidirectional transmission and at least one predetermined port pair in the case of bidirectional transmission is operated in the “forwarding” state in which the predetermined port or the predetermined port pair forwards data packets of the additional traffic class IC from a queue. During the forwarding, all ports are deactivated with the exception of the predetermined port or port pair. The isochronous data stream is not restricted to one port or port pair but can be executed several times in dependence on the data rate of the transmission channel.