1. A computer-executable method for forwarding packets with hierarchically structured variable-length identifiers (HSVLIs) in a content-centric network (CCN), the method comprising: receiving a packet with an HSVLI; determining, based on the HSVLI, a plurality of ports to which the packet should be forwarded, wherein the plurality of ports include a set of individual port groups, and wherein a respective port group includes one or more individual physical ports; deriving a forwarding strategy based on the set of individual port groups and the one or more individual physical ports, wherein the forwarding strategy is expressed as a formula in conjunctive normal form that indicates a logical conjunction among the set of individual port groups and a logical disjunction among the one or more individual physical ports; and forwarding the packet using the derived forwarding strategy.