| CPC H04L 69/324 (2013.01) [H04L 69/18 (2013.01); H04W 80/02 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |

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1. A method for implementing layer-2 network communication in a data plane, the method comprising:
determining, among a plurality of data stack solutions that are selectable, which layer-2 data stack solution is selected, wherein each of the plurality of data stack solutions comprises a layer-2 micro controller, a local memory and at least one data plane hardware module, wherein each of the plurality of data stack solutions represents a distinctive intervening configuration of the layer-2 micro controller; and
causing, according to the selected layer-2 data stack solution, the layer-2 micro controller to intervene with the at least one data plane hardware module that is configured to implement a specific layer-2 data stack function,
wherein the layer-2 micro controller is coupled to the at least one data plane hardware module, wherein different data plane hardware modules are configured to implement different layer-2 data stack functions, and
wherein the intervening configuration of the layer-2 micro controller is indicative of a level of control of the layer-2 micro controller over the at least one data plane hardware module, and wherein the at least one data plane hardware comprises at least one of:
a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) hardware module;
a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) hardware module;
a radio link control (RLC) hardware module; or
a media access control (MAC) hardware module.
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