Patent ID: 8867345

Claim:
A method of operating within an intelligent electronic device for optimizing the handling of network data for the intelligent electronic device, the intelligent electric device including an external network interface, a switching device, a filter, and a microcontroller comprising a first internal network port, and a second internal network port separate from the first internal network port, the method comprising the steps of: i) receiving a plurality of network data frames at the external network interface; ii) examining the contents of a particular network data frame to determine network data type indicia of the particular network data frame; iii) directing the particular network data frame to the first internal network port when the underlying protocol of the network data frame indicates that the network data frame is of an urgent nature for handling by the microcontroller on an expedited basis, and to the second internal network port when no urgent nature is indicated; and, iv) filtering network data frames directed to the first internal network port and discarding any network data frames not intended for the intelligent electronic device; wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive signals from an electric power system and monitor current and voltage channels of the electric power system and to control circuit breakers that protect the electric power system.