Patent ID: 7646716

Claim:
A method to process packets in a network, comprising: receiving a packet at one of a plurality of line cards of a radio network controller (RNC) comprising an Ethernet backplane to communicate information between said plurality of line cards, at least one of said line cards comprising a slow path processing module (SPPM) and a fast path processing module (FPPM) and at least one of said line cards to execute an application for the RNC; determining whether said packet includes control information or payload information, said payload information comprising voice information; sending said packet to said SPPM comprising a general processor of said line card if said packet includes control information, and to said FPPM comprising a network processor of said line card if said packet includes payload information; receiving said packet at said FPPM of said line card; determining a packet type and direction for said packet; and processing said packet based on said packet type and direction in accordance with at least one protocol from a protocol stack.