diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6fdc993
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRuleStore.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.net.flow;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+
+/**
+ * Manages inventory of flow rules.
+ */
+public interface FlowRuleStore {
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the flow entries associated with a device.
+     *
+     * @param deviceId the device ID
+     * @return the flow entries
+     */
+    Iterable<FlowRule> getFlowEntries(DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Stores a new flow rule, and generates a FlowRule for it.
+     *
+     * @param rule the flow rule to add
+     * @return a flow entry
+     */
+    FlowRule storeFlowRule(FlowRule rule);
+
+    /**
+     * Stores a new flow rule, or updates an existing entry.
+     *
+     * @param rule the flow rule to add or update
+     * @return flow_added event, or null if just an update
+     */
+    FlowRuleEvent addOrUpdateFlowRule(FlowRule rule);
+
+    /**
+     * @param rule the flow rule to remove
+     * @return flow_removed event, or null if nothing removed
+     */
+    FlowRuleEvent removeFlowRule(FlowRule rule);
+
+}