diff --git a/include/binder/Parcel.h b/include/binder/Parcel.h
index ba6c711..66c34b2 100644
--- a/include/binder/Parcel.h
+++ b/include/binder/Parcel.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 class ProcessState;
 class String8;
 class TextOutput;
+class Flattenable;
 
 struct flat_binder_object;  // defined in support_p/binder_module.h
 
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@
     status_t            writeString16(const char16_t* str, size_t len);
     status_t            writeStrongBinder(const sp<IBinder>& val);
     status_t            writeWeakBinder(const wp<IBinder>& val);
+    status_t            write(const Flattenable& val);
 
     // Place a native_handle into the parcel (the native_handle's file-
     // descriptors are dup'ed, so it is safe to delete the native_handle
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@
     const char16_t*     readString16Inplace(size_t* outLen) const;
     sp<IBinder>         readStrongBinder() const;
     wp<IBinder>         readWeakBinder() const;
-
+    status_t            read(Flattenable& val) const;
     
     // Retrieve native_handle from the parcel. This returns a copy of the
     // parcel's native_handle (the caller takes ownership). The caller
diff --git a/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h b/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h
index b9c491be..e72b6b3 100644
--- a/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h
+++ b/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <ui/android_native_buffer.h>
 #include <ui/PixelFormat.h>
 #include <ui/Rect.h>
+#include <utils/Flattenable.h>
 #include <pixelflinger/pixelflinger.h>
 
 struct android_native_buffer_t;
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@
 namespace android {
 
 class GraphicBufferMapper;
-class Parcel;
 
 // ===========================================================================
 // GraphicBuffer
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     : public EGLNativeBase<
         android_native_buffer_t, 
         GraphicBuffer, 
-        LightRefBase<GraphicBuffer> >
+        LightRefBase<GraphicBuffer> >, public Flattenable
 {
 public:
 
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@
     uint32_t getVerticalStride() const;
 
 protected:
-    GraphicBuffer(const Parcel& reply);
     virtual ~GraphicBuffer();
 
     enum {
@@ -122,8 +121,16 @@
     status_t initSize(uint32_t w, uint32_t h, PixelFormat format, 
             uint32_t usage);
 
-    static status_t writeToParcel(Parcel* reply, 
-            android_native_buffer_t const* buffer);
+    void free_handle();
+
+    // Flattenable interface
+    size_t getFlattenedSize() const;
+    size_t getFdCount() const;
+    status_t flatten(void* buffer, size_t size,
+            int fds[], size_t count) const;
+    status_t unflatten(void const* buffer, size_t size,
+            int fds[], size_t count);
+
 
     GraphicBufferMapper& mBufferMapper;
     ssize_t mInitCheck;
diff --git a/include/utils/Flattenable.h b/include/utils/Flattenable.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..852be3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/utils/Flattenable.h
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2010 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#ifndef ANDROID_UTILS_FLATTENABLE_H
+#define ANDROID_UTILS_FLATTENABLE_H
+
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <utils/Errors.h>
+
+namespace android {
+
+class Flattenable
+{
+public:
+    // size in bytes of the flattened object
+    virtual size_t getFlattenedSize() const = 0;
+
+    // number of file descriptors to flatten
+    virtual size_t getFdCount() const = 0;
+
+    // flattens the object into buffer.
+    // size should be at least of getFlattenedSize()
+    // file descriptors are written in the fds[] array but ownership is
+    // not transfered (ie: they must be dupped by the caller of
+    // flatten() if needed).
+    virtual status_t flatten(void* buffer, size_t size,
+            int fds[], size_t count) const = 0;
+
+    // unflattens the object from buffer.
+    // size should be equal to the value of getFlattenedSize() when the
+    // object was flattened.
+    // unflattened file descriptors are found in the fds[] array and
+    // don't need to be dupped(). ie: the caller of unflatten doesn't
+    // keep ownership. If a fd is not retained by unflatten() it must be
+    // explicitly closed.
+    virtual status_t unflatten(void const* buffer, size_t size,
+            int fds[], size_t count) = 0;
+
+protected:
+    virtual ~Flattenable() = 0;
+
+};
+
+}; // namespace android
+
+
+#endif /* ANDROID_UTILS_FLATTENABLE_H */
diff --git a/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp b/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp
index e397bce..00d2210 100644
--- a/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp
+++ b/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <utils/String16.h>
 #include <utils/TextOutput.h>
 #include <utils/misc.h>
+#include <utils/Flattenable.h>
 
 #include <private/binder/binder_module.h>
 
@@ -675,6 +676,42 @@
     return writeObject(obj, true);
 }
 
+status_t Parcel::write(const Flattenable& val)
+{
+    status_t err;
+
+    // size if needed
+    size_t len = val.getFlattenedSize();
+    size_t fd_count = val.getFdCount();
+
+    err = this->writeInt32(len);
+    if (err) return err;
+
+    err = this->writeInt32(fd_count);
+    if (err) return err;
+
+    // payload
+    void* buf = this->writeInplace(PAD_SIZE(len));
+    if (buf == NULL)
+        return BAD_VALUE;
+
+    int* fds = NULL;
+    if (fd_count) {
+        fds = new int[fd_count];
+    }
+
+    err = val.flatten(buf, len, fds, fd_count);
+    for (size_t i=0 ; i<fd_count && err==NO_ERROR ; i++) {
+        err = this->writeDupFileDescriptor( fds[i] );
+    }
+
+    if (fd_count) {
+        delete [] fds;
+    }
+
+    return err;
+}
+
 status_t Parcel::writeObject(const flat_binder_object& val, bool nullMetaData)
 {
     const bool enoughData = (mDataPos+sizeof(val)) <= mDataCapacity;
@@ -713,7 +750,6 @@
     goto restart_write;
 }
 
-
 void Parcel::remove(size_t start, size_t amt)
 {
     LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL("Parcel::remove() not yet implemented!");
@@ -940,6 +976,38 @@
     return BAD_TYPE;
 }
 
+status_t Parcel::read(Flattenable& val) const
+{
+    // size
+    const size_t len = this->readInt32();
+    const size_t fd_count = this->readInt32();
+
+    // payload
+    void const* buf = this->readInplace(PAD_SIZE(len));
+    if (buf == NULL)
+        return BAD_VALUE;
+
+    int* fds = NULL;
+    if (fd_count) {
+        fds = new int[fd_count];
+    }
+
+    status_t err = NO_ERROR;
+    for (size_t i=0 ; i<fd_count && err==NO_ERROR ; i++) {
+        fds[i] = dup(this->readFileDescriptor());
+        if (fds[i] < 0) err = BAD_VALUE;
+    }
+
+    if (err == NO_ERROR) {
+        err = val.unflatten(buf, len, fds, fd_count);
+    }
+
+    if (fd_count) {
+        delete [] fds;
+    }
+
+    return err;
+}
 const flat_binder_object* Parcel::readObject(bool nullMetaData) const
 {
     const size_t DPOS = mDataPos;
diff --git a/libs/surfaceflinger_client/ISurface.cpp b/libs/surfaceflinger_client/ISurface.cpp
index 9125146..bb86199 100644
--- a/libs/surfaceflinger_client/ISurface.cpp
+++ b/libs/surfaceflinger_client/ISurface.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@
         data.writeInt32(bufferIdx);
         data.writeInt32(usage);
         remote()->transact(REQUEST_BUFFER, data, &reply);
-        sp<GraphicBuffer> buffer = new GraphicBuffer(reply);
+        sp<GraphicBuffer> buffer = new GraphicBuffer();
+        reply.read(*buffer);
         return buffer;
     }
 
@@ -141,7 +142,9 @@
             int bufferIdx = data.readInt32();
             int usage = data.readInt32();
             sp<GraphicBuffer> buffer(requestBuffer(bufferIdx, usage));
-            return GraphicBuffer::writeToParcel(reply, buffer.get());
+            if (buffer == NULL)
+                return BAD_VALUE;
+            return reply->write(*buffer);
         }
         case REGISTER_BUFFERS: {
             CHECK_INTERFACE(ISurface, data, reply);
diff --git a/libs/ui/GraphicBuffer.cpp b/libs/ui/GraphicBuffer.cpp
index 6a5c8a9..ba1fd9c 100644
--- a/libs/ui/GraphicBuffer.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/GraphicBuffer.cpp
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
+#define LOG_TAG "GraphicBuffer"
+
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
-#include <binder/Parcel.h>
-
 #include <utils/Errors.h>
 #include <utils/Log.h>
 
@@ -77,34 +77,21 @@
     handle = inHandle;
 }
 
-GraphicBuffer::GraphicBuffer(const Parcel& data) 
-    : BASE(), mOwner(ownHandle), mBufferMapper(GraphicBufferMapper::get()),
-      mInitCheck(NO_ERROR),  mVStride(0), mIndex(-1)
-{
-    // we own the handle in this case
-    width  = data.readInt32();
-    if (width < 0) {
-        width = height = stride = format = usage = 0;
-        handle = 0;
-    } else {
-        height = data.readInt32();
-        stride = data.readInt32();
-        format = data.readInt32();
-        usage  = data.readInt32();
-        handle = data.readNativeHandle();
-    }
-}
-
 GraphicBuffer::~GraphicBuffer()
 {
     if (handle) {
-        if (mOwner == ownHandle) {
-            native_handle_close(handle);
-            native_handle_delete(const_cast<native_handle*>(handle));
-        } else if (mOwner == ownData) {
-            GraphicBufferAllocator& allocator(GraphicBufferAllocator::get());
-            allocator.free(handle);
-        }
+        free_handle();
+    }
+}
+
+void GraphicBuffer::free_handle()
+{
+    if (mOwner == ownHandle) {
+        native_handle_close(handle);
+        native_handle_delete(const_cast<native_handle*>(handle));
+    } else if (mOwner == ownData) {
+        GraphicBufferAllocator& allocator(GraphicBufferAllocator::get());
+        allocator.free(handle);
     }
 }
 
@@ -192,29 +179,83 @@
     return res;
 }
 
+size_t GraphicBuffer::getFlattenedSize() const {
+    return (8 + (handle ? handle->numInts : 0))*sizeof(int);
+}
 
-status_t GraphicBuffer::writeToParcel(Parcel* reply, 
-        android_native_buffer_t const* buffer)
+size_t GraphicBuffer::getFdCount() const {
+    return handle ? handle->numFds : 0;
+}
+
+status_t GraphicBuffer::flatten(void* buffer, size_t size,
+        int fds[], size_t count) const
 {
-    if (buffer == NULL)
-        return BAD_VALUE;
+    size_t sizeNeeded = GraphicBuffer::getFlattenedSize();
+    if (size < sizeNeeded) return NO_MEMORY;
 
-    if (buffer->width < 0 || buffer->height < 0)
-        return BAD_VALUE;
+    size_t fdCountNeeded = GraphicBuffer::getFdCount();
+    if (count < fdCountNeeded) return NO_MEMORY;
 
-    status_t err = NO_ERROR;
-    if (buffer->handle == NULL) {
-        // this buffer doesn't have a handle
-        reply->writeInt32(NO_MEMORY);
-    } else {
-        reply->writeInt32(buffer->width);
-        reply->writeInt32(buffer->height);
-        reply->writeInt32(buffer->stride);
-        reply->writeInt32(buffer->format);
-        reply->writeInt32(buffer->usage);
-        err = reply->writeNativeHandle(buffer->handle);
+    int* buf = static_cast<int*>(buffer);
+    buf[0] = 'GBFR';
+    buf[1] = width;
+    buf[2] = height;
+    buf[3] = stride;
+    buf[4] = format;
+    buf[5] = usage;
+    buf[6] = 0;
+    buf[7] = 0;
+
+    if (handle) {
+        buf[6] = handle->numFds;
+        buf[7] = handle->numInts;
+        native_handle_t const* const h = handle;
+        memcpy(fds,     h->data,             h->numFds*sizeof(int));
+        memcpy(&buf[8], h->data + h->numFds, h->numInts*sizeof(int));
     }
-    return err;
+
+    return NO_ERROR;
+}
+
+status_t GraphicBuffer::unflatten(void const* buffer, size_t size,
+        int fds[], size_t count)
+{
+    if (size < 8*sizeof(int)) return NO_MEMORY;
+
+    int const* buf = static_cast<int const*>(buffer);
+    if (buf[0] != 'GBFR') return BAD_TYPE;
+
+    const size_t numFds  = buf[6];
+    const size_t numInts = buf[7];
+
+    const size_t sizeNeeded = (8 + numInts) * sizeof(int);
+    if (size < sizeNeeded) return NO_MEMORY;
+
+    size_t fdCountNeeded = 0;
+    if (count < fdCountNeeded) return NO_MEMORY;
+
+    if (handle) {
+        // free previous handle if any
+        free_handle();
+    }
+
+    if (numFds || numInts) {
+        width  = buf[1];
+        height = buf[2];
+        stride = buf[3];
+        format = buf[4];
+        usage  = buf[5];
+        native_handle* h = native_handle_create(numFds, numInts);
+        memcpy(h->data,          fds,     numFds*sizeof(int));
+        memcpy(h->data + numFds, &buf[8], numInts*sizeof(int));
+        handle = h;
+    } else {
+        width = height = stride = format = usage = 0;
+        handle = NULL;
+    }
+
+    mOwner = ownHandle;
+    return NO_ERROR;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/libs/utils/Android.mk b/libs/utils/Android.mk
index d2cfd3b..d0eedb4 100644
--- a/libs/utils/Android.mk
+++ b/libs/utils/Android.mk
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 	CallStack.cpp \
 	Debug.cpp \
 	FileMap.cpp \
+	Flattenable.cpp \
 	RefBase.cpp \
 	ResourceTypes.cpp \
 	SharedBuffer.cpp \
diff --git a/libs/utils/Flattenable.cpp b/libs/utils/Flattenable.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f2ffaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/utils/Flattenable.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2006 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#include <utils/Flattenable.h>
+
+namespace android {
+
+Flattenable::~Flattenable() {
+}
+
+}; // namespace android