Patent ID: 8356294
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom; a processor; a packet forwarding unit coupled to the processor and network interface and configured to receive one of the packet flows, determine an egress interface for the packet flow, and route the packet flow to the egress interface; one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform: storing a first executable software module in a computer storage; receiving and storing, in association with the first software module, a first human-readable declaration of one or more available extension points within the first software module; receiving and storing an extension software module that implements a particular one or more of the extension points; installing and executing the first software module and the extension software module; and invoking the extension software module when the particular extension point is reached during execution of the first software module.