An IPC protocol/network allows for intelligent targeting of nodes in order to reduce overhead and provide for improved power management. The IPC server keeps track of the IPC network's node activity and using an operational state table (2000) it can determine which node can handle a service request (e.g., MP3 decode). By keeping track of the current operational condition of the nodes within the network, the processors can have better battery life and application latency can be improved. The IPC server will keep track not only of which nodes can handle which services, but it will also know which node can handle the service request given its knowledge of the operational state of each of the nodes.