diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/meter/MeterRequest.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/meter/MeterRequest.java
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+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/meter/MeterRequest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2015 Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.net.meter;
+
+import org.onosproject.core.ApplicationId;
+import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
+
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Optional;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a generalized meter request to be deployed on a device.
+ */
+public interface MeterRequest {
+
+    enum Type {
+        ADD,
+        MODIFY,
+        REMOVE
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The target device for this meter.
+     *
+     * @return a device id
+     */
+    DeviceId deviceId();
+
+    /**
+     * The id of the application which created this meter.
+     *
+     * @return an application id
+     */
+    ApplicationId appId();
+
+    /**
+     * The unit used within this meter.
+     *
+     * @return the unit
+     */
+    Meter.Unit unit();
+
+    /**
+     * Signals whether this meter applies to bursts only.
+     *
+     * @return a boolean
+     */
+    boolean isBurst();
+
+    /**
+     * The collection of bands to apply on the dataplane.
+     *
+     * @return a collection of bands.
+     */
+    Collection<Band> bands();
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the callback context for this meter.
+     *
+     * @return an optional meter context
+     */
+    Optional<MeterContext> context();
+
+    /**
+     * A meter builder.
+     */
+    interface Builder {
+
+        /**
+         * Assigns the target device for this meter.
+         *
+         * @param deviceId a device id
+         * @return this
+         */
+        Builder forDevice(DeviceId deviceId);
+
+        /**
+         * Assigns the application that built this meter.
+         *
+         * @param appId an application id
+         * @return this
+         */
+        Builder fromApp(ApplicationId appId);
+
+        /**
+         * Assigns the @See Unit to use for this meter.
+         * Defaults to kb/s
+         *
+         * @param unit a unit
+         * @return this
+         */
+        Builder withUnit(Meter.Unit unit);
+
+        /**
+         * Sets this meter as applicable to burst traffic only.
+         * Defaults to false.
+         *
+         * @return this
+         */
+        Builder burst();
+
+        /**
+         * Assigns bands to this meter. There must be at least one band.
+         *
+         * @param bands a collection of bands
+         * @return this
+         */
+        Builder withBands(Collection<Band> bands);
+
+        /**
+         * Assigns an execution context for this meter request.
+         *
+         * @param context a meter context
+         * @return this
+         */
+        Builder withContext(MeterContext context);
+
+        /**
+         * Requests the addition of a meter.
+         *
+         * @return a meter request
+         */
+        MeterRequest add();
+
+        /**
+         * Requests the removal of a meter.
+         *
+         * @return a meter request
+         */
+        MeterRequest remove();
+
+    }
+
+}