Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for receiving an isochronous stream of data that buffers the isochronous stream of data within a main memory in a computer system. The system operates by receiving the isochronous stream of data within an interface within the computer system. The system demodulates this isochronous stream of data to translate the isochronous stream of data from a modulated analog form into a digital form. Next, the system forwards the isochronous stream of data from the interface into a buffer within the main memory of the computer system without interrupting the processor. Next, the data passes from the buffer through a driver that communicates with an application program on the computer system.