Application programming interfaces and methods enabling a host to interface with a network processor

In a network environment including a host system coupled to a network processor, the host system executing a host application program, a computer program product for allowing the host application to control the network processor, the computer program product comprising:

• code for providing a first control program, the first control program providing a first plurality of application programming interfaces (APIs);
• code for calling a first API with a first parameter list from the first plurality of APIs, the first API being invoked by the host application for performing a first function on the network processor;
• code for communicating the first API and the associated first parameter list from the host system to the network processor;
• code for performing the first function corresponding to the first API and the first parameter list at the network processor;
• code for asynchronously invoking a callback API in response to the first API call at the network processor, the callback API including a second parameter list;
• code for communicating the callback API and the associated second parameter list from the network processor to the host system;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium that stores the codes.

A network system comprising:

• a host system comprising a host processor and a host memory, the host memory configured to store modules for execution by the host processor, the modules including:
• a host application module executing on the host processor;
• a module for executing a first control program on the host system, the first control program providing a first plurality of application programming interfaces (APIs);
• the host application configured to call a first API with a first parameter list from the first plurality of APIs, the first API being invoked by the host application module for performing a first function on a network processor;
• and
• a module for communicating the first API and the associated first parameter list from the host system to the network processor;
• and
• the network processor coupled with the host system and a communication network, the network processor comprising a processor and a memory, the memory configured to store modules for execution by the processor, the modules including:
• a module for performing the first function corresponding to the first API and the first parameter list;
• a module for asynchronously invoking a callback API in response to the first API call, the callback API including a second parameter list;
• and
• a module for communicating the callback API and the associated second parameter list from the network processor to the host system.