MODULAR ROUTING SYSTEM

摘要

A routing device includes a routing application program interface that routi ng programs utilize to route data packets to other devices in a network. To tha t end, the routing device includes a processor for executing a routing program, a plurality of functional modules that control the operation of the routing device and forward data packets to the other network devices as specified by the routing program, and the routing application program interface operatively coupled with the processor. The routing program utilizes a set o f specified commands associated with the routing application program interface for interacting with the plurality of functional modules through the routing application program interface. The routing program specifies a data packet routing protocol, while the function al modules comprise at least one of hardware and software.