One embodiment provides a system that facilitates efficient packet forwarding. During operation, the system stores, in a storage device in a first node, a static dictionary comprising a mapping between a type and length (TL) string and a compressed replacement string. In response to identifying the TL string in a packet, the system replaces the TL string with the compressed replacement string and transmits the packet to a second node, which stores the static dictionary in a local storage device, thereby facilitating compression of a TL string.