Abstract: An apparatus and method of communicating messages between a first application and a second application establishes a path between the first application and the second application. At least one channel is defined within the path, where each of the at least one channels is designated as forwarding a single type of message between the first application and the second application. A handler is assigned to each channel. In preferred embodiments, the handler processes messages in its assigned channel in a uniform manner.

Abstract: In a technique for priority forwarding, an upper layer protocol that requires priority forwarding includes a priority function that is invoked by a lower layer protocol in order to obtain the priority for a message. The upper layer protocol provides the priority function to the lower layer protocol when the upper layer protocol is installed in the protocol stack. The lower layer protocol invokes the priority function before passing a message to the upper layer protocol in order to determine a priority for the message. The lower layer protocol places the message in the appropriate queue based upon the priority indicator obtained from the upper layer protocol's priority function.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of establishing communication between a first application added to a platform, and a second application executing on the platform, controls the first and second applications to establish a path for interapplication communication. To that end, a notify message is forwarded to the second application when the first application is added to the system. Receipt of the notify message by the second application causes the second application to ascertain path data for establishing a path between the two applications. The first application also ascertains path data for establishing a path between the applications. The first and second applications then are controlled to establish a single path between the first application and the second application after the path data is ascertained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of managing communication between a first application that has failed and an executing second application permits the first application to establish a path to the second application. To that end, a fail message (notifying the second application that the first application has failed) is forwarded toward the second application, and the first application is restarted. As noted above, the first application establishes a path to the second application after it is restarted. Once the path is established, the second application is notified that the first application is ready to communicate via the path.

Abstract: A routing device includes a routing application program interface that routing programs utilize to route data packets to other devices in a network. To that 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 of 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 functional modules comprise at least one of hardware and software.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for forwarding multicast data by relaying IGMP group membership. A router is used to build a database of a plurality of interfaces and corresponding multicast groups, and the database is stored on the router. Information from the database is reported upstream to a multicast router. Multicast data is received from the multicast router and distributed to the plurality of interfaces based upon the database.