Efficient application recognition in network traffic

A communication processor for performing application recognition on at incoming packet of data traffic, comprising

• a plurality of separate data paths for performing application recognition, each path utilizing a different process to perform application recognition;
• a modular packet processor module for receiving the incoming packets of data traffic, analyzing a portion of an incoming packet, and routing, based upon the analyzed portion, to a selected one of the plurality of separate data paths for performing application recognition;
• a fixed attribute table coupled to the modular packet processor for storing a plurality of application identification and their associated source internet protocol addresses, destination internet protocol addresses, source ports, destination ports and protocols;
• a central processing unit coupled to the modulator packet processor for performing stateful processing based upon dynamically exchanged port information to determine application recognition;
• and
• a deep packet inspection processor coupled to the modular packet processor for searching a packet payload for signature information used to provide application recognition.