diff --git a/net/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/HostProviderService.java b/net/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/HostProviderService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d5d470
--- /dev/null
+++ b/net/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/HostProviderService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.net.host;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.ProviderService;
+
+/**
+ * Means of conveying host information to the core.
+ */
+public interface HostProviderService extends ProviderService {
+
+    void hostDetected(HostDescription hostDescription);
+
+}