diff --git a/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/OpenFlowPacketContext.java b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/OpenFlowPacketContext.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d07c2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/OpenFlowPacketContext.java
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.openflow.controller;
+
+import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
+import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.types.OFPort;
+
+/**
+ * A representation of a packet context which allows any provider
+ * to view the packet in event but may block the response to the
+ * event if blocked has been called.
+ */
+public interface OpenFlowPacketContext {
+
+    //TODO: may want to support sending packet out other switches than
+    // the one it came in on.
+    /**
+     * Blocks further responses (ie. send() calls) on this
+     * packet in event.
+     */
+    public boolean block();
+
+    /**
+     * Checks whether the packet has been handled.
+     * @return true if handled, false otherwise.
+     */
+    public boolean isHandled();
+
+    /**
+     * Provided build has been called send the packet
+     * out the switch it came in on.
+     */
+    public void send();
+
+    /**
+     * Build the packet out in response to this packet in event.
+     * @param outPort the out port to send to packet out of.
+     */
+    public void build(OFPort outPort);
+
+    /**
+     * Build the packet out in response to this packet in event.
+     * @param ethFrame the actual packet to send out.
+     * @param outPort the out port to send to packet out of.
+     */
+    public void build(Ethernet ethFrame, OFPort outPort);
+
+    /**
+     * Provided a handle onto the parsed payload.
+     * @return the parsed form of the payload.
+     */
+    public Ethernet parsed();
+
+    /**
+     * Provide an unparsed copy of the data.
+     * @return the unparsed form of the payload.
+     */
+    public byte[] unparsed();
+
+    /**
+     * Provide the dpid of the switch where the packet in arrived.
+     * @return the dpid of the switch.
+     */
+    public Dpid dpid();
+
+    /**
+     * Provide the port on which the packet arrived.
+     * @return the port
+     */
+    public Integer inPort();
+}