An apparatus for handling an incoming communication data frame containing a plurality of bits is provided. The apparatus may include a plurality of data matchers, each data matcher configured to compare a subset of the plurality of bits of the communication data frame with a predetermined data pattern of a plurality of data patterns and to provide a data matcher output to indicate the result of the data matcher comparison, a plurality of selectors, each selector configured to compare a subset of the data matcher outputs of the plurality of data matchers with a predetermined selection pattern of a plurality of selection patterns and to provide a selector output to indicate the result of the selector comparison, and a frame filter configured to transfer the incoming frame to application logic only if the selector outputs of the plurality of selectors match a predetermined filter pattern, and to also transfer the selector outputs of the plurality of selectors to the application logic.