1. A method of processing data in a stateful protocol processing system configured to process multiple flows of messages, said method comprising: receiving a first plurality of messages of a first of said flows over a first logical channel, said first of said flows comporting with a first stateful protocol; establishing a first communication buffer associated with said first of said flows, said first communication buffer being of a first buffer size based upon information within said first plurality of messages; deriving events of at least a first type and a second type from said first plurality of messages; assigning a first protocol processing core to process said events of said first type in accordance with said first stateful protocol, said first protocol processing core being selected from among a plurality of protocol processing cores identified in a memory structure as being compatible with said events of said first type; assigning a second protocol processing core to process said events of said second type in accordance with said first stateful protocol; receiving a second plurality of messages of a second of said flows over a second logical channel, said second of said flows comporting with a second stateful protocol; establishing a second communication buffer associated with said second of said flows, said second communication buffer being of a second buffer size based upon information with said second plurality of messages; deriving events of at least a third type and a fourth type from said second plurality of messages; defining a first class of events corresponding to at least said events of said first type and said events of said second type; executing a first event-handling routine applicable to said first class of events; defining a second class of events corresponding to at least said events of said third type and said events of said fourth type; executing a second event-handling routine applicable to said second class of events.