METHOD FOR DEFINING AND CONTROLLING THE OVERALL BEHAVIOR OF A NETWORK PROCESSOR

摘要

A system and method for controlling overall behavior of a network processor device implemented in a network processing environment servicing a communications network. The method includes steps of receiving a guided control frame including one or more control functions for configuring variou s functional devices within the network processor with device control paramete r data; a step of forwarding one or more control functions from a received control frame to a functional device within the network processor to be configured; and, executing the control functions as specified in the control frame. A novel control frame data structure and communications infrastructur e is implemented whereby any network processor device operating in a distribut ed network processing environment may be controlled in accordance with executed control functions and device control parameter data.