Patent Document ID: 7720948
Application ID: 10706262
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for controlling packet classification behavior of a plurality of heterogeneous network processors in a network including at least one packet classification application being network processor independent and utilized in at least one host processor, the system comprising: a memory; a plurality of definable rules for determining packet classification behavior in a predetermined priority sequence, a plurality of generic application program interfaces (APIs) for: (i) communicating with each of (a) at least one packet classification application in a network processor independent manner and (b) the plurality of heterogeneous network processors in a network processor specific manner, and (ii) managing the packet classification behavior of the plurality of heterogeneous network processors in the network processor specific manner by managing software or firmware associated with the plurality of heterogeneous network processor, wherein the plurality of generic APIs are devoid of a separate set of APIs which are specific to each type of one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous network processor, provide a null behavior as a packet classification behavior for unsupported operations, includes a define API for allowing a rule of the plurality of definable rules to be defined, and are defined using abstraction.