Flexible runtime configurable application program interface (api) that is command independent and reusable

Abstract

An application program interface capable of routing commands received from external devices to the appropriate system application that is runtime configurable is disclosed. At runtime, the application program interface receives enrollment signals from external interface packages used to provide communications to the external devices and dynamically updates a first routing table. Additionally, at runtime, the application program interface receives enrollment signals from system application packages used to perform system commands and dynamically updates a second routing table. The routing tables are used to route command request and responses between the external interface and system application packages and thus, provides a communication interface between external devices and system application software. Since the routing tables are configured at runtime, the application program interface can be re-configured without re-compiling the software used to implement it. In addition, since the routing is performed without specific knowledge of the number and content of the command requests and responses, the application program interface provides communications between the external devices and system application software that is command independent.