diff --git a/provider.h b/provider.h
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+++ b/provider.h
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+// Copyright (c) 2013 The Chromium OS Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+// found in the LICENSE file.
+
+#ifndef SHILL_PROVIDER_INTERFACE_H_
+#define SHILL_PROVIDER_INTERFACE_H_
+
+#include "shill/refptr_types.h"
+
+namespace shill {
+
+class Error;
+class KeyValueStore;
+
+// This is an object that creates and manages service objects.  It provides
+// default implementations for each provider method so sublcasses do not
+// need to implement boilerplate unimplemented methods.
+class Provider {
+ public:
+  virtual ~Provider() {}
+
+  // Creates services from the entries within |profile|.
+  virtual void CreateServicesFromProfile(const ProfileRefPtr &profile);
+
+  // Find a Service with similar properties to |args|.  The criteria
+  // used are specific to the provider subclass.  Returns a reference
+  // to a matching service if one exists.  Otherwise it returns a NULL
+  // reference and populates |error|.
+  virtual ServiceRefPtr FindSimilarService(
+      const KeyValueStore &args, Error *error) const;
+
+  // Retrieves (see FindSimilarService) or creates a service with the
+  // unique attributes in |args|.  The remaining attributes will be
+  // populated (by Manager) via a later call to Service::Configure().
+  // Returns a NULL reference and populates |error| on failure.
+  virtual ServiceRefPtr GetService(const KeyValueStore &args, Error *error);
+
+  // Create a temporary service with the identifying properties populated
+  // from |args|.  Callers outside of the Provider must never register
+  // this service with the Manager or connect it since it was never added
+  // to the provider's service list.
+  virtual ServiceRefPtr CreateTemporaryService(
+      const KeyValueStore &args, Error *error);
+
+  // Start the provider.
+  virtual void Start();
+
+  // Stop the provider (will de-register all services).
+  virtual void Stop();
+
+ protected:
+  Provider();
+
+ private:
+  friend class ProviderTest;
+
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(Provider);
+};
+
+}  // namespace shill
+
+#endif  // SHILL_PROVIDER_INTERFACE_H_