Patent ID: 7577753

Claim:
A system for processing packets in a multi-processor environment, comprising: a line interface operable to receive a set-up request packet; a switch processor operable to perform initial processing on the set-up request packet; a plurality of processors, the switch processor operable to direct the set-up request packet to a selected one of the plurality of processors, the selected one of the plurality of processors operable to establish a communication session in accordance with the set-up request packet, the line interface operable to route subsequent packets associated with the communication session directly to the selected one of the plurality of processors without requiring initial processing of the subsequent packets by the switch processor wherein the selected one of the plurality of processors is operable to generate a set-up reply packet in response to the set-up request packet, the set-up reply packet including a virtual identifier assigned to the selected one of the plurality of processors and associated with the communication session, the selected one of the plurality of processors operable to transport the set-up reply packet through the line interface in order to establish the communication session with the selected one of the plurality of processors; and wherein the switch processor includes a virtual identification manager, the virtual identification manager operable to identify one or more associations of one or more virtual identifiers with one or more of the plurality of processors.