A method is provided for dramatically improving communications data throughput on embedded systems and reducing the load on the operating system and central processing unit by moving the network protocol logic nearer to the underlying communication hardware, and utilizing the communication processor hardware abstraction layer (CPHAL) concepts. This movement of the network protocol logic allows leveraging the CPHAL data structures, which are tightly bound to the communication packets being processed. The decision making is made just above the CPHAL layer; and the CPHAL data structure is preserved. Copying data is avoided by manipulating of pointers within the CPHAL buffer.