4 files changed, 91 insertions, 7 deletions
diff --git a/host/include/uhd/CMakeLists.txt b/host/include/uhd/CMakeLists.txt
index 006c54f22..e87f74291 100644
--- a/host/include/uhd/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/host/include/uhd/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ INSTALL(FILES
     device_addr.hpp
     dict.hpp
     gain_handler.hpp
+    metadata.hpp
     props.hpp
     shared_iovec.hpp
     time_spec.hpp
diff --git a/host/include/uhd/device.hpp b/host/include/uhd/device.hpp
index dfbfbd7c0..da58d4f85 100644
--- a/host/include/uhd/device.hpp
+++ b/host/include/uhd/device.hpp
@@ -20,13 +20,12 @@
 
 #include <uhd/device_addr.hpp>
 #include <uhd/props.hpp>
+#include <uhd/metadata.hpp>
 #include <uhd/wax.hpp>
 #include <boost/utility.hpp>
 #include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
 #include <boost/function.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio/buffer.hpp>
-#include <uhd/shared_iovec.hpp>
-#include <vector>
 
 namespace uhd{
 
@@ -72,9 +71,33 @@ public:
      */
     device_addr_t get_device_addr(void);
 
-    //the io interface
-    virtual void send_raw(const std::vector<boost::asio::const_buffer> &) = 0;
-    virtual uhd::shared_iovec recv_raw(void) = 0;
+    /*!
+     * Send a buffer containing IF data with its metadata.
+     *
+     * \param buff a buffer pointing to some read-only memory
+     * \param metadata data describing the buffer's contents
+     * \param the type of data loaded in the buffer (32fc, 16sc)
+     * \return the number of bytes sent
+     */
+    virtual size_t send(
+        const boost::asio::const_buffer &buff,
+        const metadata_t &metadata,
+        const std::string &type = "32fc"
+    ) = 0;
+
+    /*!
+     * Receive a buffer containing IF data and its metadata.
+     *
+     * \param buff the buffer to fill with IF data
+     * \param metadata data to fill describing the buffer
+     * \param the type of data to fill into the buffer (32fc, 16sc)
+     * \return the number of bytes received
+     */
+    virtual size_t recv(
+        const boost::asio::mutable_buffer &buff,
+        metadata_t &metadata,
+        const std::string &type = "32fc"
+    ) = 0;
 };
 
 } //namespace uhd
diff --git a/host/include/uhd/metadata.hpp b/host/include/uhd/metadata.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..43b91d1b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/host/include/uhd/metadata.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+//
+// Copyright 2010 Ettus Research LLC
+//
+// This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+//
+
+#ifndef INCLUDED_UHD_METADATA_HPP
+#define INCLUDED_UHD_METADATA_HPP
+
+#include <uhd/time_spec.hpp>
+
+namespace uhd{
+
+/*!
+ * Metadata structure for describing the IF data.
+ * Includes stream ID, time specification, and burst flags.
+ * The receive routines will convert IF data headers into metadata.
+ * The send routines will convert the metadata to IF data headers.
+ */
+struct metadata_t{
+    uint32_t stream_id;
+    time_spec_t time_spec;
+    bool start_of_burst;
+    bool end_of_burst;
+
+    metadata_t(void){
+        stream_id = 0;
+        time_spec = time_spec_t();
+        start_of_burst = false;
+        end_of_burst = false;
+    }
+};
+
+} //namespace uhd
+
+#endif /* INCLUDED_UHD_METADATA_HPP */
diff --git a/host/include/uhd/transport/udp.hpp b/host/include/uhd/transport/udp.hpp
index 554234b43..07d84e62a 100644
--- a/host/include/uhd/transport/udp.hpp
+++ b/host/include/uhd/transport/udp.hpp
@@ -41,18 +41,31 @@ public:
 
     /*!
      * Send a vector of buffer (like send_msg).
+     * Blocks until the data is sent.
      * \param buffs a vector of asio buffers
+     * \return the number of bytes sent
      */
-    virtual void send(const std::vector<boost::asio::const_buffer> &buffs) = 0;
+    virtual size_t send(const std::vector<boost::asio::const_buffer> &buffs) = 0;
 
     /*!
      * Send a single buffer.
+     * Blocks until the data is sent.
      * \param buff single asio buffer
+     * \return the number of bytes sent
      */
-    virtual void send(const boost::asio::const_buffer &buff) = 0;
+    virtual size_t send(const boost::asio::const_buffer &buff) = 0;
+
+    /*!
+     * Receive a buffer. Write into the memory provided.
+     * Returns empty when data is not available.
+     * \param buff a mutable buffer to receive into
+     * \return the number of bytes received.
+     */
+    virtual size_t recv(const boost::asio::mutable_buffer &buff) = 0;
 
     /*!
      * Receive a buffer. The memory is managed internally.
+     * Returns zero when data is not available.
      * Calling recv will invalidate the buffer of the previous recv.
      * \return a shared iovec with allocated memory
      */