diff --git a/src/ioc/db/Makefile b/src/ioc/db/Makefile
index 8bfec9434..324edecb5 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/Makefile
+++ b/src/ioc/db/Makefile
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ INC += dbAccessDefs.h
 INC += dbCa.h
 INC += dbAddr.h
 INC += dbBkpt.h
+INC += dbChannel.h
 INC += dbConvert.h
 INC += dbConvertFast.h
 INC += dbEvent.h
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ DBDINC += dbCommon
 dbCore_SRCS += dbLock.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbAccess.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbBkpt.c
+dbCore_SRCS += dbChannel.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbConvert.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbFastLinkConv.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbNotify.c
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h b/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
index 73d68c4ef..6c12d3df5 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 *     Operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
 * EPICS BASE Versions 3.13.7
 * and higher are distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
-* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution. 
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
 \*************************************************************************/
 /* dbAccessDefs.h	*/
 /* $Revision-Id$ */
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ epicsShareExtern volatile int interruptAccept;
 #define DBR_CTRL_DOUBLE 0x00000100
 #define DBR_AL_LONG     0x00000200
 #define DBR_AL_DOUBLE   0x00000400
-
+
 /**********************************************************************
  * The next page contains macros for defining requests.
  * As an example the following defines a buffer to accept an array
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ epicsShareExtern volatile int interruptAccept;
  * options = DBR_STATUS|DBR_TIME;
  * number_elements = 10;
  * rtnval=dbGetField(paddr,DBR_FLOAT,&buffer,&options,&number_elements);
- *	
+ *
  * When dbGetField returns:
  *	rtnval is error status (0 means success)
  *	options has a bit set for each option that was accepted
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ epicsShareExtern volatile int interruptAccept;
  * MYBUFFER *pbuf1;
  * MYBUFFER buf;
  *************************************************************************/
-
+
 /* Macros for defining each option */
 #define DBRstatus \
 	epicsUInt16	status;		/* alarm status */\
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ epicsShareExtern volatile int interruptAccept;
         epicsFloat64    upper_warning_limit;\
         epicsFloat64    lower_warning_limit;\
         epicsFloat64    lower_alarm_limit;
-
+
 /*  structures for each option type             */
 struct dbr_status       {DBRstatus};
 struct dbr_units        {DBRunits};
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ struct dbr_alDouble     {DBRalDouble};
 #define S_db_cntSpwn    (M_dbAccess|63) /*Cannot spawn dbContTask*/
 #define S_db_cntCont    (M_dbAccess|65) /*Cannot resume dbContTask*/
 #define S_db_noMemory   (M_dbAccess|66) /*unable to allocate data structure from pool*/
-
+
 /* Global Database Access Routines*/
 #define dbGetLink(PLNK, DBRTYPE, PBUFFER, OPTIONS, NREQUEST) \
     ( ( ( (PLNK)->type == CONSTANT ) && \
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbAddr.h b/src/ioc/db/dbAddr.h
index d7fdd94e9..a91bcf76d 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/dbAddr.h
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbAddr.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 * Copyright (c) 2002 The Regents of the University of California, as
 *     Operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
 * EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
-* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution. 
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
 \*************************************************************************/
 
 #ifndef dbAddrh
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c b/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d58df92a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c
@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* Copyright (c) 2010 UChicago Argonne LLC, as Operator of Argonne
+ *     National Laboratory.
+ * EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ \*************************************************************************/
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "cantProceed.h"
+#include "dbChannel.h"
+#include "dbBase.h"
+#include "link.h"
+#include "dbAccessDefs.h"
+#include "epicsAssert.h"
+#include "errlog.h"
+#include "yajl_parse.h"
+
+
+typedef struct parseContext {
+    dbChannel *chan;
+    chFilter *filter;
+    int depth;
+} parseContext;
+
+
+#define CALLIF(rtn) rtn && rtn
+
+static void chp_value(parseContext *parser, int result)
+{
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+
+    if (!result || parser->depth > 0) return;
+
+    parser->filter = NULL;
+    if (filter->fif->parse_end(filter)) {
+        ellAdd(&parser->chan->filters, &filter->node);
+    }
+}
+
+
+static int chp_null(void * ctx)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    int result;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_null) (filter );
+    chp_value(parser, result);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static int chp_boolean(void * ctx, int boolVal)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    int result;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_boolean) (filter , boolVal);
+    chp_value(parser, result);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static int chp_integer(void * ctx, long integerVal)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    int result;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_integer) (filter , integerVal);
+    chp_value(parser, result);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static int chp_double(void * ctx, double doubleVal)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    int result;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_double) (filter , doubleVal);
+    chp_value(parser, result);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static int chp_string(void * ctx, const unsigned char * stringVal,
+        unsigned int stringLen)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    int result;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_string) (filter , (const char *) stringVal, stringLen);
+    chp_value(parser, result);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static int chp_start_map(void * ctx)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+
+    if (!filter) {
+        assert(parser->depth == 0);
+        return 1; /* Opening '{' */
+    }
+
+    ++parser->depth;
+    return CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_start_map) (filter );
+}
+
+static int chp_map_key(void * ctx, const unsigned char * key,
+        unsigned int stringLen)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    const chFilterIf *fif;
+    int result;
+
+    if (filter) {
+        return CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_map_key) (filter , (const char *) key, stringLen);
+    }
+
+    assert(parser->depth == 0);
+    fif = dbFindFilter((const char *) key, stringLen);
+    if (!fif) {
+        printf("Channel filter '%.*s' not found\n", stringLen, key);
+        return parse_stop;
+    }
+
+    filter = (chFilter *) callocMustSucceed(1, sizeof(*filter), "Creating dbChannel filter");
+    filter->chan = parser->chan;
+    filter->fif = fif;
+    filter->puser = NULL;
+
+    result = fif->parse_start(filter);
+    if (result == parse_continue) {
+        parser->filter = filter;
+    } else {
+        free(filter);
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+static int chp_end_map(void * ctx)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+
+    if (filter) {
+        int result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_end_map) (filter );
+
+        if (--parser->depth == 0) chp_value(parser, result);
+        return result;
+    }
+    assert(parser->depth == 0);
+    return parse_continue; /* Final closing '}' */
+}
+
+static int chp_start_array(void * ctx)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    ++parser->depth;
+    return CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_start_array) (filter );
+}
+
+static int chp_end_array(void * ctx)
+{
+    parseContext *parser = (parseContext *) ctx;
+    chFilter *filter = parser->filter;
+    int result;
+
+    assert(filter);
+    result = CALLIF(filter->fif->parse_end_array) (filter );
+    if (--parser->depth == 0) chp_value(parser, result);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static const yajl_callbacks chp_callbacks =
+    { chp_null, chp_boolean, chp_integer, chp_double, NULL, chp_string,
+      chp_start_map, chp_map_key, chp_end_map, chp_start_array, chp_end_array };
+
+static const yajl_parser_config chp_config =
+    { 0, 1 }; /* allowComments = NO , checkUTF8 = YES */
+
+
+void dbChannelInit(dbChannel *chan)
+{
+    ellInit(&chan->filters);
+}
+// Move ellInit into ChannelFind, rename it again?
+long dbChannelFind(dbChannel *chan, const char *name)
+{
+    parseContext parser =
+        { chan, NULL, 0};
+    yajl_handle yh = yajl_alloc(&chp_callbacks, &chp_config, NULL, &parser);
+    size_t len = strlen(name);
+    yajl_status status;
+
+    status = yajl_parse(yh, (const unsigned char *) name, len);
+    if (status != yajl_status_ok && parser.filter) {
+        parser.filter->fif->parse_abort(parser.filter);
+        free(parser.filter);
+    }
+    yajl_free(yh);
+    return status == yajl_status_ok;
+}
+
+long dbChannelOpen(dbChannel *chan)
+{
+    return S_db_notFound;
+}
+
+long dbChannelClose(dbChannel *chan)
+{
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
+const chFilterIf * filt = NULL;
+const char *fname = NULL;
+
+void dbRegisterFilter(const char *key, const chFilterIf *fif)
+{
+    /* FIXME: Add filter to a list and hash in pdbbase */
+    filt = fif;
+    fname = key;
+    fif->plugin_init();
+}
+
+const chFilterIf * dbFindFilter(const char *key, size_t len)
+{
+    /* FIXME: gpHash lookup */
+    if (strncmp(fname, key, len) == 0)
+        return filt;
+    return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h b/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1508d5c1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* Copyright (c) 2010 UChicago Argonne LLC, as Operator of Argonne
+ *     National Laboratory.
+ * EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ \*************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef INC_dbChannel_H
+#define INC_dbChannel_H
+
+#include "dbDefs.h"
+#include "dbAddr.h"
+#include "ellLib.h"
+#include "shareLib.h"
+
+enum {parse_stop, parse_continue};
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+// extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/* A dbChannel points to a record field, and can have multiple filters */
+typedef struct dbChannel {
+    dbAddr addr;
+    ELLLIST filters;
+} dbChannel;
+
+typedef struct chFilter chFilter;
+
+/* These routines must be implemented by each filter plug-in */
+typedef struct chFilterIf {
+    /* Plug-in management */
+    void (* plugin_init)(void);
+    void (* plugin_exit)(void);
+
+    /* Parsing event handlers */
+    int (* parse_start)(chFilter *filter);
+    void (* parse_abort)(chFilter *filter);
+    int (* parse_end)(chFilter *filter);
+
+    int (* parse_null)(chFilter *filter);
+    int (* parse_boolean)(chFilter *filter, int boolVal);
+    int (* parse_integer)(chFilter *filter, long integerVal);
+    int (* parse_double)(chFilter *filter, double doubleVal);
+    int (* parse_string)(chFilter *filter, const char *stringVal,
+            size_t stringLen); /* NB: stringVal is not zero-terminated: */
+
+    int (* parse_start_map)(chFilter *filter);
+    int (* parse_map_key)(chFilter *filter, const char *key,
+            size_t stringLen);
+    int (* parse_end_map)(chFilter *filter);
+
+    int (* parse_start_array)(chFilter *filter);
+    int (* parse_end_array)(chFilter *filter);
+
+    /* Channel operations */
+    long (* channel_open)(chFilter *filter);
+    void (* channel_report)(chFilter *filter, int level);
+    /* FIXME: More routines here ... */
+    void (* channel_close)(chFilter *filter);
+} chFilterIf;
+
+/* A chFilter holds instance data for a single filter */
+struct chFilter {
+    ELLNODE node;
+    dbChannel *chan;
+    const chFilterIf *fif;
+    void *puser;
+};
+
+epicsShareFunc void dbChannelInit(dbChannel *chan);
+epicsShareFunc long dbChannelFind(dbChannel *chan, const char *name);
+epicsShareFunc long dbChannelOpen(dbChannel *chan);
+epicsShareFunc long dbChannelClose(dbChannel *chan);
+
+epicsShareFunc void dbRegisterFilter(const char *key, const chFilterIf *fif);
+epicsShareFunc const chFilterIf * dbFindFilter(const char *key, size_t len);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* INC_dbChannel_H */
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/test/Makefile b/src/ioc/db/test/Makefile
index 3ee77ca07..a1bc70d5e 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/test/Makefile
+++ b/src/ioc/db/test/Makefile
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ TESTS += callbackTest
 # When we add more test programs here, this must become a vxTestHarness
 TESTSPEC_vxWorks = callbackTest.munch; callbackTest
 
+TESTPROD_HOST += dbChannelTest
+dbChannelTest_SRCS += dbChannelTest.c
+OBJS_IOC_vxWorks += dbChannelTest
+TESTS += dbChannelTest
+
 TESTSCRIPTS_HOST += $(TESTS:%=%.t)
 
 include $(TOP)/configure/RULES
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/test/dbChannelTest.c b/src/ioc/db/test/dbChannelTest.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31ca3180d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ioc/db/test/dbChannelTest.c
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* Copyright (c) 2010 UChicago Argonne LLC, as Operator of Argonne
+ *     National Laboratory.
+ * EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ \*************************************************************************/
+
+#include "dbChannel.h"
+#include "epicsUnitTest.h"
+#include "testMain.h"
+
+/* Expected call bit definitions */
+#define e_init          0x00000001
+#define e_exit          0x00000002
+#define e_start         0x00000004
+#define e_abort         0x00000008
+#define e_end           0x00000010
+#define e_null          0x00000020
+#define e_boolean       0x00000040
+#define e_integer       0x00000080
+#define e_double        0x00000100
+#define e_string        0x00000200
+#define e_start_map     0x00000400
+#define e_map_key       0x00000800
+#define e_end_map       0x00001000
+#define e_start_array   0x00002000
+#define e_end_array     0x00004000
+#define e_open          0x00008000
+#define e_report        0x00010000
+#define e_close         0x00020000
+
+unsigned int e;
+
+
+void f_init(void)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_init, "plugin_init expected");
+}
+void f_exit(void)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_exit, "plugin_exit expected");
+}
+
+int p_start(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_start, "parse_start expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+
+void p_abort(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_abort, "parse_abort expected");
+}
+int p_end(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_end, "parse_end expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+
+int p_null(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_null, "parse_null expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_boolean(chFilter *filter, int boolVal)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_boolean, "parse_boolean expected, val = %d", boolVal);
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_integer(chFilter *filter, long integerVal)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_integer, "parse_integer expected, val = %ld", integerVal);
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_double(chFilter *filter, double doubleVal)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_double, "parse_double expected, val = %g", doubleVal);
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_string(chFilter *filter, const char *stringVal, size_t stringLen)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_string, "parse_string expected, val = '%.*s'", stringLen, stringVal);
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+
+int p_start_map(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_start_map, "parse_start_map expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_map_key(chFilter *filter, const char *key, size_t stringLen)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_map_key, "parse_map_key expected, key = '%.*s'", stringLen, key);
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_end_map(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_end_map, "parse_end_map expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+
+int p_start_array(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_start_array, "parse_start_array expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+int p_end_array(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_end_array, "parse_end_array expected");
+    return parse_continue;
+}
+
+long c_open(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_open, "channel_open expected");
+    return 0;
+}
+void c_report(chFilter *filter, int level)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_report, "channel_report expected, level = %d", level);
+}
+void c_close(chFilter *filter)
+{
+    testOk(e & e_close, "channel_close expected");
+}
+
+chFilterIf testIf =
+    { f_init, f_exit, p_start, p_abort, p_end, p_null, p_boolean,
+      p_integer, p_double, p_string, p_start_map, p_map_key, p_end_map,
+      p_start_array, p_end_array, c_open, c_report, c_close };
+
+chFilterIf scalarIf =
+    { f_init, f_exit, p_start, p_abort, p_end, p_null, p_boolean,
+      p_integer, p_double, p_string, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, c_open,
+      c_report, c_close };
+
+MAIN(dbChannelTest)
+{
+    dbChannel ch;
+
+    testPlan(33);
+    dbChannelInit(&ch);
+
+    e = 0;
+    testOk1(dbChannelFind(&ch, "{}"));
+
+    e = e_init;
+    dbRegisterFilter("test", &testIf);
+
+    e = e_start | e_null | e_end;
+    testOk1(dbChannelFind(&ch, "{\"test\":null}"));
+
+    e = e_start | e_start_array | e_boolean | e_integer | e_end_array | e_end;
+    testOk1(dbChannelFind(&ch, "{\"test\":[true,1]}"));
+
+    e = e_start | e_start_map | e_map_key | e_double | e_string | e_end_map | e_end;
+    testOk1(dbChannelFind(&ch, "{\"test\":{\"a\":2.7183,\"b\":\"c\"}}"));
+
+    e = e_init;
+    dbRegisterFilter("scalar", &scalarIf);
+
+    e = e_start | e_null | e_end;
+    testOk1(dbChannelFind(&ch, "{\"scalar\":null}"));
+
+    e = e_start | e_abort;
+    testOk1(!dbChannelFind(&ch, "{\"scalar\":[null]}"));
+    testOk1(!dbChannelFind(&ch, "{\"scalar\":{}}"));
+
+    return testDone();
+}