diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 25875f0..3e4a61b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.0.19
+3.0.20
diff --git a/pkg/adapters/adapterif/core_proxy_if.go b/pkg/adapters/adapterif/core_proxy_if.go
index dbf3418..9636a7d 100644
--- a/pkg/adapters/adapterif/core_proxy_if.go
+++ b/pkg/adapters/adapterif/core_proxy_if.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 
 import (
 	"context"
-
 	"github.com/opencord/voltha-protos/v3/go/voltha"
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/db/kvstore/etcdclient.go b/pkg/db/kvstore/etcdclient.go
index 1014ada..d38f0f6 100644
--- a/pkg/db/kvstore/etcdclient.go
+++ b/pkg/db/kvstore/etcdclient.go
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@
 
 // EtcdClient represents the Etcd KV store client
 type EtcdClient struct {
-	ectdAPI          *v3Client.Client
-	keyReservations  map[string]*v3Client.LeaseID
-	watchedChannels  sync.Map
-	writeLock        sync.Mutex
-	lockToMutexMap   map[string]*v3Concurrency.Mutex
-	lockToSessionMap map[string]*v3Concurrency.Session
-	lockToMutexLock  sync.Mutex
+	ectdAPI             *v3Client.Client
+	keyReservations     map[string]*v3Client.LeaseID
+	watchedChannels     sync.Map
+	keyReservationsLock sync.RWMutex
+	lockToMutexMap      map[string]*v3Concurrency.Mutex
+	lockToSessionMap    map[string]*v3Concurrency.Session
+	lockToMutexLock     sync.Mutex
 }
 
 // NewEtcdClient returns a new client for the Etcd KV store
@@ -114,13 +114,13 @@
 		return fmt.Errorf("unexpected-type-%T", value)
 	}
 
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
-
 	var err error
 	// Check if there is already a lease for this key - if there is then use it, otherwise a PUT will make
 	// that KV key permanent instead of automatically removing it after a lease expiration
-	if leaseID, ok := c.keyReservations[key]; ok {
+	c.keyReservationsLock.RLock()
+	leaseID, ok := c.keyReservations[key]
+	c.keyReservationsLock.RUnlock()
+	if ok {
 		_, err = c.ectdAPI.Put(ctx, key, val, v3Client.WithLease(*leaseID))
 	} else {
 		_, err = c.ectdAPI.Put(ctx, key, val)
@@ -146,9 +146,6 @@
 // wait for a response
 func (c *EtcdClient) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
 
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
-
 	// delete the key
 	if _, err := c.ectdAPI.Delete(ctx, key); err != nil {
 		logger.Errorw("failed-to-delete-key", log.Fields{"key": key, "error": err})
@@ -177,9 +174,9 @@
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	// Register the lease id
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
+	c.keyReservationsLock.Lock()
 	c.keyReservations[key] = &resp.ID
-	c.writeLock.Unlock()
+	c.keyReservationsLock.Unlock()
 
 	// Revoke lease if reservation is not successful
 	reservationSuccessful := false
@@ -235,8 +232,8 @@
 
 // ReleaseAllReservations releases all key reservations previously made (using Reserve API)
 func (c *EtcdClient) ReleaseAllReservations(ctx context.Context) error {
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
+	c.keyReservationsLock.Lock()
+	defer c.keyReservationsLock.Unlock()
 
 	for key, leaseID := range c.keyReservations {
 		_, err := c.ectdAPI.Revoke(ctx, *leaseID)
@@ -255,8 +252,8 @@
 	logger.Debugw("Release-reservation", log.Fields{"key": key})
 	var ok bool
 	var leaseID *v3Client.LeaseID
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
+	c.keyReservationsLock.Lock()
+	defer c.keyReservationsLock.Unlock()
 	if leaseID, ok = c.keyReservations[key]; !ok {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -278,9 +275,11 @@
 	// Get the leaseid using the key
 	var ok bool
 	var leaseID *v3Client.LeaseID
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
-	if leaseID, ok = c.keyReservations[key]; !ok {
+	c.keyReservationsLock.RLock()
+	leaseID, ok = c.keyReservations[key]
+	c.keyReservationsLock.RUnlock()
+
+	if !ok {
 		return errors.New("key-not-reserved")
 	}
 
@@ -372,8 +371,6 @@
 	// Get the array of channels mapping
 	var watchedChannels []map[chan *Event]v3Client.Watcher
 	var ok bool
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
 
 	if watchedChannels, ok = c.getChannelMaps(key); !ok {
 		logger.Warnw("key-has-no-watched-channels", log.Fields{"key": key})
@@ -425,8 +422,6 @@
 
 // Close closes the KV store client
 func (c *EtcdClient) Close() {
-	c.writeLock.Lock()
-	defer c.writeLock.Unlock()
 	if err := c.ectdAPI.Close(); err != nil {
 		logger.Errorw("error-closing-client", log.Fields{"error": err})
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kafka/kafka_inter_container_library.go b/pkg/kafka/kafka_inter_container_library.go
index c7dc5af..5dbde9c 100644
--- a/pkg/kafka/kafka_inter_container_library.go
+++ b/pkg/kafka/kafka_inter_container_library.go
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@
 
 const (
 	DefaultMaxRetries     = 3
-	DefaultRequestTimeout = 10000 // 10000 milliseconds - to handle a wider latency range
+	DefaultRequestTimeout = 60000 // 60000 milliseconds - to handle a wider latency range
 )
 
 const (
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@
 	GetDefaultTopic() *Topic
 	DeviceDiscovered(deviceId string, deviceType string, parentId string, publisher string) error
 	InvokeRPC(ctx context.Context, rpc string, toTopic *Topic, replyToTopic *Topic, waitForResponse bool, key string, kvArgs ...*KVArg) (bool, *any.Any)
+	InvokeAsyncRPC(ctx context.Context, rpc string, toTopic *Topic, replyToTopic *Topic, waitForResponse bool, key string, kvArgs ...*KVArg) chan *RpcResponse
 	SubscribeWithRequestHandlerInterface(topic Topic, handler interface{}) error
 	SubscribeWithDefaultRequestHandler(topic Topic, initialOffset int64) error
 	UnSubscribeFromRequestHandler(topic Topic) error
@@ -246,6 +249,104 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+// InvokeAsyncRPC is used to make an RPC request asynchronously
+func (kp *interContainerProxy) InvokeAsyncRPC(ctx context.Context, rpc string, toTopic *Topic, replyToTopic *Topic,
+	waitForResponse bool, key string, kvArgs ...*KVArg) chan *RpcResponse {
+
+	logger.Debugw("InvokeAsyncRPC", log.Fields{"rpc": rpc, "key": key})
+	//	If a replyToTopic is provided then we use it, otherwise just use the  default toTopic.  The replyToTopic is
+	// typically the device ID.
+	responseTopic := replyToTopic
+	if responseTopic == nil {
+		responseTopic = kp.GetDefaultTopic()
+	}
+
+	chnl := make(chan *RpcResponse)
+
+	go func() {
+
+		// once we're done,
+		// close the response channel
+		defer close(chnl)
+
+		var err error
+		var protoRequest *ic.InterContainerMessage
+
+		// Encode the request
+		protoRequest, err = encodeRequest(rpc, toTopic, responseTopic, key, kvArgs...)
+		if err != nil {
+			logger.Warnw("cannot-format-request", log.Fields{"rpc": rpc, "error": err})
+			chnl <- NewResponse(RpcFormattingError, err, nil)
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Subscribe for response, if needed, before sending request
+		var ch <-chan *ic.InterContainerMessage
+		if ch, err = kp.subscribeForResponse(*responseTopic, protoRequest.Header.Id); err != nil {
+			logger.Errorw("failed-to-subscribe-for-response", log.Fields{"error": err, "toTopic": toTopic.Name})
+			chnl <- NewResponse(RpcTransportError, err, nil)
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Send request - if the topic is formatted with a device Id then we will send the request using a
+		// specific key, hence ensuring a single partition is used to publish the request.  This ensures that the
+		// subscriber on that topic will receive the request in the order it was sent.  The key used is the deviceId.
+		logger.Debugw("sending-msg", log.Fields{"rpc": rpc, "toTopic": toTopic, "replyTopic": responseTopic, "key": key, "xId": protoRequest.Header.Id})
+
+		// if the message is not sent on kafka publish an event an close the channel
+		if err = kp.kafkaClient.Send(protoRequest, toTopic, key); err != nil {
+			chnl <- NewResponse(RpcTransportError, err, nil)
+			return
+		}
+
+		// if the client is not waiting for a response send the ack and close the channel
+		chnl <- NewResponse(RpcSent, nil, nil)
+		if !waitForResponse {
+			return
+		}
+
+		defer func() {
+			// Remove the subscription for a response on return
+			if err := kp.unSubscribeForResponse(protoRequest.Header.Id); err != nil {
+				logger.Warnw("invoke-async-rpc-unsubscriber-for-response-failed", log.Fields{"err": err})
+			}
+		}()
+
+		// Wait for response as well as timeout or cancellation
+		select {
+		case msg, ok := <-ch:
+			if !ok {
+				logger.Warnw("channel-closed", log.Fields{"rpc": rpc, "replyTopic": replyToTopic.Name})
+				chnl <- NewResponse(RpcTransportError, status.Error(codes.Aborted, "channel closed"), nil)
+			}
+			logger.Debugw("received-response", log.Fields{"rpc": rpc, "msgHeader": msg.Header})
+			if responseBody, err := decodeResponse(msg); err != nil {
+				chnl <- NewResponse(RpcReply, err, nil)
+			} else {
+				if responseBody.Success {
+					chnl <- NewResponse(RpcReply, nil, responseBody.Result)
+				} else {
+					// response body contains an error
+					unpackErr := &ic.Error{}
+					if err := ptypes.UnmarshalAny(responseBody.Result, unpackErr); err != nil {
+						chnl <- NewResponse(RpcReply, err, nil)
+					} else {
+						chnl <- NewResponse(RpcReply, status.Error(codes.Internal, unpackErr.Reason), nil)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			logger.Errorw("context-cancelled", log.Fields{"rpc": rpc, "ctx": ctx.Err()})
+			err := status.Error(codes.DeadlineExceeded, ctx.Err().Error())
+			chnl <- NewResponse(RpcTimeout, err, nil)
+		case <-kp.doneCh:
+			chnl <- NewResponse(RpcSystemClosing, nil, nil)
+			logger.Warnw("received-exit-signal", log.Fields{"toTopic": toTopic.Name, "rpc": rpc})
+		}
+	}()
+	return chnl
+}
+
 // InvokeRPC is used to send a request to a given topic
 func (kp *interContainerProxy) InvokeRPC(ctx context.Context, rpc string, toTopic *Topic, replyToTopic *Topic,
 	waitForResponse bool, key string, kvArgs ...*KVArg) (bool, *any.Any) {
diff --git a/pkg/kafka/utils.go b/pkg/kafka/utils.go
index 0cb9535..bdc615f 100644
--- a/pkg/kafka/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/kafka/utils.go
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@
  */
 package kafka
 
-import "strings"
+import (
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/ptypes/any"
+	"strings"
+)
 
 const (
 	TopicSeparator = "_"
@@ -36,6 +39,31 @@
 	Value interface{}
 }
 
+type RpcMType int
+
+const (
+	RpcFormattingError RpcMType = iota
+	RpcSent
+	RpcReply
+	RpcTimeout
+	RpcTransportError
+	RpcSystemClosing
+)
+
+type RpcResponse struct {
+	MType RpcMType
+	Err   error
+	Reply *any.Any
+}
+
+func NewResponse(messageType RpcMType, err error, body *any.Any) *RpcResponse {
+	return &RpcResponse{
+		MType: messageType,
+		Err:   err,
+		Reply: body,
+	}
+}
+
 // TODO:  Remove and provide better may to get the device id
 // GetDeviceIdFromTopic extract the deviceId from the topic name.  The topic name is formatted either as:
 //			<any string> or <any string>_<deviceId>.  The device Id is 24 characters long.
diff --git a/pkg/mocks/kafka_inter_container_proxy.go b/pkg/mocks/kafka_inter_container_proxy.go
index 405fbe7..9879830 100644
--- a/pkg/mocks/kafka_inter_container_proxy.go
+++ b/pkg/mocks/kafka_inter_container_proxy.go
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@
 	Response  proto.Message
 }
 
+type InvokeAsyncRpcSpy struct {
+	CallCount int
+	Calls     map[int]InvokeRpcArgs
+	Timeout   bool
+	Response  proto.Message
+}
+
 type MockKafkaICProxy struct {
 	InvokeRpcSpy InvokeRpcSpy
 }
@@ -58,6 +65,29 @@
 	return nil
 }
 func (s *MockKafkaICProxy) Stop() {}
+
+func (s *MockKafkaICProxy) InvokeAsyncRPC(ctx context.Context, rpc string, toTopic *kafka.Topic, replyToTopic *kafka.Topic,
+	waitForResponse bool, key string, kvArgs ...*kafka.KVArg) chan *kafka.RpcResponse {
+
+	args := make(map[int]interface{}, 4)
+	for k, v := range kvArgs {
+		args[k] = v
+	}
+
+	s.InvokeRpcSpy.Calls[s.InvokeRpcSpy.CallCount] = InvokeRpcArgs{
+		Rpc:             rpc,
+		ToTopic:         toTopic,
+		ReplyToTopic:    replyToTopic,
+		WaitForResponse: waitForResponse,
+		Key:             key,
+		KvArgs:          args,
+	}
+
+	chnl := make(chan *kafka.RpcResponse)
+
+	return chnl
+}
+
 func (s *MockKafkaICProxy) InvokeRPC(ctx context.Context, rpc string, toTopic *kafka.Topic, replyToTopic *kafka.Topic, waitForResponse bool, key string, kvArgs ...*kafka.KVArg) (bool, *any.Any) {
 	s.InvokeRpcSpy.CallCount++