A data processing system includes a host processor, a co-processor, and a memory that includes multiple buffer descriptor (BD) rings. The host processor includes multiple cores that execute multiple threads to process data packets stored in the memory. The host processor generates a notification command based on multiple context switch events that occur in the cores. The notification command indicates a context switch event type and BD ring IDs associated with BD rings to be polled by the co-processor. The BD rings are referred to as active BD rings. The co-processor polls only the active BD rings based on the notification command and processes the data packets associated with the active BD rings.