THE IEEE P1520 STANDARDS INITIATIVE FOR PROGRAMMABLE NETWORK INTERFACES

This article discusses the need for standard software interfaces for p rogramming of networks, specifically for service and signaling control , through programming interfaces. The objective is to enable the devel opment of open signaling, control, and management applications as well as higher-level multimedia services on networks. The scope of this ef fort includes ATM switches, circuit switches, IP routers, and hybrid s witches such as those that provide for fast switching of IP packets ov er an ATM backbone. The basic ideas represented herein are in the proc ess of develop ment as a standard for application programming interfac es for networks under IEEE Standards Project IEEE P1520.