Interface for abstracting control of a cable modem

In a system having a cable modem that is configured to be hosted by customer premises equipment and that represents the physical layer of a cable modem protocol stack, wherein the customer premises equipment includes a media access controller that represents the data link layer of the cable modem protocol stack, a method for transmitting a data packet between the cable modem and the media access controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• for an outgoing data packet:
• preparing, by the media access controller, the outgoing data packet such that the outgoing data packet is compatible with hardware interface layer that is disposed between the data link layer and the physical layer of the cable modem protocol stack the hardware interface layer comprising an application programming interface configured for separating hardware of the cable modem from software of the cable modem protocol stack;
• transmitting the outgoing data packet from the media access controller to an interface of the hardware interface layer;
• and
• placing, by the interface, the outgoing data packet on the cable modem;
• and
• for an incoming data packet:
• transmitting the incoming data packet with the cable modem from the physical layer to the hardware interface layer;
• receiving, at the interface in the hardware interface layer, the incoming data packet from the cable modem;
• and
• transmitting, by the interface, the incoming data packet to the media access controller in the data link layer.

A computer program product for use in a system having a cable modem that is configured to be hosted by customer premises equipment and that represents the physical layer of a cable modem protocol stack, wherein the customer premises equipment includes a media access controller that represents the data link layer of the cable modem protocol stack, the computer program product having computer-executable instructions for implements a method for transmitting a data packet between the cable modem and the media access controller, the method comprising:

• for an outgoing data packet:
• preparing, by the media access controller, the outgoing data packet such that the outgoing data packet is compatible with a hardware interface layer that is disposed between the data link layer and the physical layer of the cable modem protocol stack, the hardware interface layer comprising an application programming interface configured for separating hardware of the cable modem from software of the cable modem protocol sack;
• transmitting the outgoing data packet from the media access controller to an interface of the hardware interface layer;
• and
• placing, by the interface, the outgoing data packet on the cable modem;
• and
• for an incoming data packet:
• transmitting the incoming data packet with the cable modem from the physical layer to the hardware intense layer;
• receiving, at the interface in the hardware interface layer, the incoming data packet from the cable modem;
• and
• transmitting, by the interface, the incoming data packet to the media access controller in the data link layer.