Your IBM application can get details on the process using the REST OPEN API which allows access into the instance to get the dataset:
Perform Actions on a Process Instance
But I do not see a way to update the dataset with this method, and I am pretty sure that you will need a Form for your external application to interact with the process instance.
You respond to a form through the SOAP API:
executePendingInteraction Method
Or the better yet through the REST OPEN API:
Perform Actions on a Task
So I theorize a point where your process gets to this child process, writes information into a process level dataset, either within this child, or possibly at the parent level prior to launching the child, and the process is paused on a User Interaction Request Form; your IBM application then reads into the process instance using the Perform Actions on a Process Instance API call to gather any relevant details, then uses the Perform Actions on a Task method to update and complete the form with the values required for the process to move forward and accomplish your network configuration.