Verb Layer Is an OS-Independent API
Software applications do not interact with the HCA interface directly. Rather, the software application (item B) makes calls to a software entity referred to as the Verb Layer (item D). Think of the Verb Layer as an API loosely defined by the specification and implemented by each OS vendor in a vendor-specific manner. For each verb (think of it as a function call), the specification defines:
Its input parameters.
Its return, or output, parameters.
The actions taken by the verb.
The Verb Layer, in turn, can access the HCA hardware interface (i.e., its register set; item E) to accomplish the desired action within the HCA. In addition, the Verb Layer also:
makes calls to the OS (item A) when required (e.g., it can ...
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