System and method for interfacing network station subsystems

Abstract

A network station subsystem architecture that uses a simplified interface reference discovery method and system is provided. In one embodiment a method for managing client-server communications is disclosed that includes providing a server with functions and interface methods; providing a client with references to the interface methods; and processing client requests by invoking the interface methods on the server via the references. Ideally, the interface methods are implemented by providing the server with a table of pointers to the functions, and providing the client with references to the table of pointers, ideally at the time of design. In another embodiment, a system for managing communications in a network station for a data-over-cable network having a plurality of network stations is provided. The system includes a plurality of components in the network station, each of the plurality of components having a functionality set and a table of pointers for the functionality set; a station manager having references to the tables of pointers in the plurality of components; and an interface manager for communication with the plurality of components and the station manager, the interface manager configured to process station manager requests for functionality from the components through the interface manager via the references to the tables of pointers.