Flexible interrupt handling methods for optical networking apparatuses with multiple multi-protocol optical networking modules

The method of claim1, wherein the method further comprises:

• receiving a second interrupt from the first MPONM;
• accessing the first MPONM to determine which of the function blocks of the first MPONM triggered the second interrupt, and a cause for the second interrupt;
• determining, based at least in part on the results of said function block and causation determination, whether any interrupt handler provided by networking application(s) is to be notified of the second interrupt;
• and
• notifying one or more provided interrupt handlers accordingly, based at least in part of the result of the interrupt handler determination for the second interrupt.

The method of claim1, wherein the method further comprises:

• receiving a second interrupt from a second MPONM;
• accessing the second MPONM to determine which of the function blocks of the second MPONM triggered the second interrupt, and a cause for the second interrupt;
• determining, based at least in part on the results of said function block and causation determination, whether any interrupt handler provided by networking application(s) is to be notified of the second interrupt;
• and
• notifying one or more provided interrupt handlers accordingly, based at least in part of the result of the interrupt handler determination for the second interrupt.

In an optical networking apparatus having a plurality of multi-protocol optical networking modules (MPONM), each having a plurality of function blocks, a method of operation comprising:

• a networking application registering one or more interrupt handlers to handle interrupts triggered by one or more function blocks of any of the MPONM;
• the one or more registered interrupt handlers receiving one or more interrupts triggered by the function blocks of the MPONM;
• and
• the one or more registered interrupt handlers handling the one or more interrupts.

A networking apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of multi-protocol optical networking modules (MPONM), each having a plurality of function blocks;
• memory coupled to the plurality of MPONM, having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions implementing one or more interrupt dispatchers, collectively equipped to
• receive interrupts from said function blocks of the MPONM, and
• for each received interrupt,
• access an MPONM to determine which of the function blocks of the MPONM triggered the interrupt, and cause(s) for the interrupt,
• determine, based at least in part on the results of said function block and causation determinations, whether any interrupt handler provided by networking application(s) is to be notified of the interrupt, and
• notifying one or more provided interrupt handlers accordingly, based at least in part of the result of the interrupt handler determination for the interrupt;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and the plurality of MPONM to execute the programming instructions.