Method and apparatus for accelerated packet forwarding

A protocol data unit forwarding device for use in a communication network to transfer protocol data units within the communication network, comprising:

• (a) protocol data unit processor, comprising:
• (i) identification means for determining media header information of a protocol data unit which is received from over the communication network;
• (ii) validation means, operatively coupled to the identification means, for validating the media header information;
• and
• (iii) modification means, operatively coupled to the identification means, for adding next operation information to the media header information based upon the determined media header information;
• and
• (b) forwarding processor, operatively coupled to the protocol data unit preprocessor, for forwarding the protocol data unit in the communication network based upon the next operation information.

A method of operating a forwarding device within a communication network to forward a protocol data unit received by the forwarding device, the method comprising the device-implemented steps of:

• (a) in a first processor, performing the steps of:
• (a)(i) determining media header information of a protocol data unit based upon a portion of the protocol data unit which is received from over a communication network;
• (a)(ii) validating the media header information;
• and
• (a)(iii) adding next operation information to the media header information based upon the determined media header information;
• and
• (b) in a second processor, forwarding the protocol data unit in the communication network based upon the next operation information.