Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the amount of control plane processing and flow detection required in a Multiprotocol Over ATM (MPOA) system are provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, flow detection processing may be altered based upon a packet's content. A first MPOA client (MPC) may include a plurality of flow detection mechanisms including standard MPOA processing and modified flow detection processing. For example, a flow may be determined to exist when the number of packets to a particular destination within a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value. Alternatively, a flow may be determined to exist immediately for certain types of traffic and detection of a flow may be suppressed for other types of traffic. Upon receipt at a first MPC, traffic may be classified based upon any information contained within a packet, including the header, the payload, or portions and/or combinations thereof.