Method and system for efficient message validation

A system for efficiently performing bus message validation, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• an interface module having an interface suitable for communicating on an external broadcast bus, wherein the interface module may receive a plurality of bus messages communicated over the external broadcast bus, each of the plurality of bus messages containing a message identifier designating an intended receiving system for that bus message, and further wherein the interface module generates an interrupt when a bus message is received;
• a memory storing multiple mask values;
• a comparator coupled to the memory and the interface module, wherein the interface module transfers the message identifier to the comparator;
• and
• a controller coupled to the interface module, the comparator and the memory, the controller being programmed to transfer in succession a first plurality of mask values of the multiple mask values to the comparator when the interrupt is generated;
• wherein the comparator compares one or more transferred mask values of a plurality of mask values with the message identifier contained in a received bus message and provides an indication to the central processing unit when a comparison indicates a match, wherein a match validates the received bus message for the system.