Methods and apparatus for emerging use case support in user space networking

A method for enabling an intermediary packet processing stage, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from an intermediary application for intermediary access to a data flow between a first non-kernel application and a second non-kernel application;
• allocating a data structure;
• exposing the data structure to the intermediary application;
• and
• copying the data flow from the first non-kernel application into the data structure.

An intermediary packet processing device, comprising:

• a communication interface configured to exchange digital communications with an external device;
• a memory that stores allocation information;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• receive a request from an intermediary application for intermediary access to a data flow between a first non-kernel application and a second non-kernel application;
• allocate a data structure in response to the request;
• expose the data structure to the intermediary application;
• and
• copy the data flow from the first non-kernel application into the data structure.

A method for intermediary packet processing, comprising:

• receiving a request for intermediary access to a data flow from a user space application;
• determining whether intermediary access should be limited based on a plurality of limiting factors;
• allocating resources for the intermediary access in response to the determining;
• and
• exposing the allocated intermediary resources to the user space application.