Cable modem interface unit for capturing and processing incoming packets from a cable modem

Claim 2

A cable modem interface unit positioned between a cable modem and a network driver interface layer, wherein the cable modem receives packets from a packet source, said interface unit comprising: a control packet filter having an input coupled to the cable modem to receive a packet from the cable modem, and having a control packet output and a data packet output; a receive unit having an input coupled to said data packet output of said control packet filter and an output coupled to the network driver interface layer, said receive unit receiving a data packet from said control packet filter and sending the data packet to the network driver interface layer; and a protocol handler having an input coupled to said control packet output of said control packet filter, said protocol handler receiving a control packet from said control packet filter; wherein said protocol handler sends a first acknowledgment signal to the cable modem when it receives the control packet and processes the received control packet; and wherein said network driver interface layer sends a second acknowledgment signal when the network driver interface layer receives the data packet from said receive unit.

Claim 3

The cable modem interface unit of claim 1, wherein the cable modem comprises a network controller, and the network driver interface layer complies with the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS).

Claim 4

The cable modem interface unit of claim 2, wherein the network controller is an Ethernet controller.

Claim 5

The cable modem interface unit of claim 1, wherein said network driver interface layer sends the second acknowledgment signal to said receive unit.

Claim 6

The cable modem interface unit of claim 1, wherein said network driver interface layer sends the second acknowledgment signal to the cable modem.

Claim 7

The cable modem interface unit of claim 5, wherein said receive unit sends said second acknowledgment signal received from the network driver interface layer to the cable modem.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: (g) sending the second acknowledgment signal received from the network driver interface layer to the cable modem.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7, wherein the cable modem comprises a network controller, and the network driver interface layer complies with the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS).

Claim 12

The method of claim 9, wherein the network controller is an Ethernet controller.

Claim 13

A computer system for receiving packets from a packet source, said computer system comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a cable modem coupled to said processor and adapted to receive a packet from the packet source; (c) a memory coupled to said processor; (d) a first sequence of instructions stored on said memory which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to function as a network driver interface layer; and (e) a second sequence of instructions stored on said memory which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to function as a cable modem interface unit, said cable modem interface unit comprising: (i) a control packet filter having an input coupled to the cable modem to receive a packet from the cable modem, and having a control packet output and a data packet output; (ii) a receive unit having an input coupled to said data packet output of said control packet filter and an output coupled to the network driver interface layer, said receive unit receiving a data packet from said control packet filter and sending the data packet to the network driver interface layer; and (iii) a protocol handler having an input coupled to said control packet output of said control packet filter, said protocol handler receiving a control packet from said control packet filter.

Claim 14

A computer system for receiving packets from a packet source, said computer system comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a cable modem coupled to said processor and adapted to receive a packet from the packet source; (c) a memory coupled to said processor; (d) a first sequence of instructions stored on said memory which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to function as a network driver interface layer; and (e) a second sequence of instructions stored on said memory which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to function as a cable modem interface unit, said cable modem interface unit comprising: (i) a control packet filter having an input coupled to the cable modem to receive a packet from the cable modem, and having a control packet output and a data packet output; (ii) a receive unit having an input coupled to said data packet output of said control packet filter and an output coupled to the network driver interface layer, said receive unit receiving a data packet from said control packet filter and sending the data packet to the network driver interface layer; and (iii) a protocol handler having an input coupled to said control packet output of said control packet filter, said protocol handler receiving a control packet from said control packet filter.

Claim 15

The computer system of claim 11, wherein said protocol handler sends a first acknowledgment signal to said cable modem when it receives the packet.

Claim 16

The computer system of claim 12, wherein said protocol handler processes the received packet.

Claim 17

The computer system of claim 13, wherein said network driver interface layer sends a second acknowledgment signal to said receive unit when said network driver interface layer receives the packet from said receive unit.

Claim 18

The computer system of claim 14, wherein said receive unit sends said second acknowledgment signal received from said network driver interface layer to said cable modem.

Claim 19

The computer system of claim 11, wherein said cable modem comprises a network controller, and said network driver interface layer complies with the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS).

Claim 20

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps for operating a cable modem interface unit, wherein the cable modem interface unit is coupled to a cable modem and a network driver interface layer, and the cable modem receives packets from a packet source, said steps comprising: (a) receiving a packet from the cable modem; (b) determining whether the packet is a control packet; (c) sending the packet to the network driver interface layer if at step (b) the packet is determined to be a control packet; and (d) processing the packet if at step (b) the packet is determined to be a control packet; (e) sending a first acknowledgment signal to the cable modem if at step (b) the packet is determined to be a control packet; and (f) receiving a second acknowledgment signal from the network driver interface layer if the packet is sent to the network driver interface layer.

Claim 21

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps for operating a cable modem interface unit, wherein the cable modem interface unit is coupled to a cable modem and a network driver interface layer, and the cable modem receives packets from a packet source, said steps comprising: (a) receiving a packet from the cable modem; (b) determining whether the packet is a control packet; (c) sending the packet to the network driver interface layer if at step (b) the packet is determined to be a control packet; and (d) processing the packet if at step (b) the packet is determined to be a control packet; (e) sending a first acknowledgment signal to the cable modem if at step (b) the packet is determined to be a control packet; and (f) receiving a second acknowledgment signal from the network driver interface layer if the packet is sent to the network driver interface layer.

Claim 22

The computer-readable medium of claim 17, said steps further comprising: (g) sending the second acknowledgment signal received from the network driver interface layer to the cable modem.

Claim 23

The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the cable modem comprises a network controller, and the network driver interface layer complies with the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS).