Internet protocol access controller

An apparatus for processing TCP/IP network protocols for transmitting and receiving data from a data network, comprising:

• a packet data circuit having a plurality of protocol modules which are implemented in gate-level hardware;
• and
• a control and support circuit having an internal controller coupled to said packet data circuit, said internal controller being configured to be operated by software;
• wherein said TCP/IP network protocols include protocol tasks which are partitioned and characterized as critical and non-critical tasks, such that said critical tasks are processed by said packet data circuit and said non-critical tasks are processed by said internal controller, said internal controller being included in said control and support circuit predominantly and exclusively for the processing of said non-critical tasks.

An apparatus for processing TCP/IP network protocols in a communications network, comprising:

• an interface circuit having a serial or a parallel port configured to connect to external media devices and a host interface module configured to connect to a user processor;
• a packet data circuit coupled to said interface circuit, said packet data circuit includes a plurality of protocol modules which are implemented in gate-level hardware, said interface circuit and said packet data circuit constitute a first processing path for processing said network protocols which are characterized as critical and data packets in said communications network, and
• a control and support circuit coupled to said interface circuit, said control and support circuit includes a controller which is configured to be operated by software, said interface circuit and said control and support circuit constitute a second processing path for processing said network protocols which are characterized as non-critical and the management, configuration and maintenance tasks of said communications network;
• wherein said first and second processing paths being configured and dedicated to process said network protocols of said communications network, thereby substantially releasing said host processor of processing of any of said network protocols.