Selective packet sequence acceleration in a network environment

A system, comprising:

• at least one memory element for storing data;
• a general processor configured to:
• perform a set of deep packet inspection operations on at least a first frame in a particular data flow;
• generate an acceleration request for the particular data flow based on results of the deep packet inspection operations, the acceleration request including instructions to accelerate at least a portion of the particular data flow by bypassing the general processor;
• and
• cause the acceleration request to be sent to a network processor;
• and
• the network processor configured to:
• receive frames in the particular flow;
• pass frames in the particular flow received prior to the acceleration request to the general processor for processing;
• and
• forward at least one other frame in the particular data flow to at least one remote network element according to the acceleration request received from the general processor.

Logic encoded in non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:

• receiving frames in a first data flow;
• sending at least one first frame in a first data flow, from a network processor to a general processor for processing, wherein the processing comprises performing at least one deep packet inspection (DPI) operation on the at least one first frame;
• receiving, at the network processor, a flow acceleration request from the general processor, wherein the flow acceleration request is generated by the general processor based, at least in part, on the DPI operation, the flow acceleration request including a set of conditions for accelerated processing, by the network processor, of a set of frames in the first data flow subsequent to the at least one first frame, wherein other frames in the first data flow received after the first frame and before the flow acceleration request are also forwarded to the general processor for processing;
• receiving, at the network processor, a particular frame in the first data flow subsequent to the flow acceleration request;
• and
• processing the particular frame, using the network processor, in connection with forwarding of the particular frame to at least one remote network node, wherein processing of the particular frame by the network processor is accelerated relative to processing of the at least one first frame by the general processor, processing of the particular frame bypasses the general processor, and the processing of the particular frame by the network processor is based, at least in part, on the set of conditions.