diff --git a/common/utils/json_format.py b/common/utils/json_format.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1672e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/utils/json_format.py
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+"""
+Monkey patched json_format to allow best effort decoding of Any fields.
+Use the additional flag (strict_any_handling=False) to trigger the
+best-effort behavior. Omit the flag, or just use the original json_format
+module fot the strict behavior.
+"""
+
+from google.protobuf import json_format
+
+class _PatchedPrinter(json_format._Printer):
+
+    def __init__(self, including_default_value_fields=False,
+                 preserving_proto_field_name=False,
+                 strict_any_handling=False):
+        super(_PatchedPrinter, self).__init__(including_default_value_fields,
+                                              preserving_proto_field_name)
+        self.strict_any_handling = strict_any_handling
+
+    def _BestEffortAnyMessageToJsonObject(self, msg):
+        try:
+            res = self._AnyMessageToJsonObject(msg)
+        except TypeError:
+            res = self._RegularMessageToJsonObject(msg, {})
+        return res
+
+
+def MessageToDict(message,
+                  including_default_value_fields=False,
+                  preserving_proto_field_name=False,
+                  strict_any_handling=False):
+    """Converts protobuf message to a JSON dictionary.
+
+    Args:
+      message: The protocol buffers message instance to serialize.
+      including_default_value_fields: If True, singular primitive fields,
+          repeated fields, and map fields will always be serialized.  If
+          False, only serialize non-empty fields.  Singular message fields
+          and oneof fields are not affected by this option.
+      preserving_proto_field_name: If True, use the original proto field
+          names as defined in the .proto file. If False, convert the field
+          names to lowerCamelCase.
+      strict_any_handling: If True, converion will error out (like in the
+          original method) if an Any field with value for which the Any type
+          is not loaded is encountered. If False, the conversion will leave
+          the field un-packed, but otherwise will continue.
+
+    Returns:
+      A dict representation of the JSON formatted protocol buffer message.
+    """
+    printer = _PatchedPrinter(including_default_value_fields,
+                              preserving_proto_field_name,
+                              strict_any_handling=strict_any_handling)
+    # pylint: disable=protected-access
+    return printer._MessageToJsonObject(message)
+
+
+def MessageToJson(message,
+                  including_default_value_fields=False,
+                  preserving_proto_field_name=False,
+                  strict_any_handling=False):
+  """Converts protobuf message to JSON format.
+
+  Args:
+    message: The protocol buffers message instance to serialize.
+    including_default_value_fields: If True, singular primitive fields,
+        repeated fields, and map fields will always be serialized.  If
+        False, only serialize non-empty fields.  Singular message fields
+        and oneof fields are not affected by this option.
+    preserving_proto_field_name: If True, use the original proto field
+        names as defined in the .proto file. If False, convert the field
+        names to lowerCamelCase.
+    strict_any_handling: If True, converion will error out (like in the
+        original method) if an Any field with value for which the Any type
+        is not loaded is encountered. If False, the conversion will leave
+        the field un-packed, but otherwise will continue.
+
+  Returns:
+    A string containing the JSON formatted protocol buffer message.
+  """
+  printer = _PatchedPrinter(including_default_value_fields,
+                            preserving_proto_field_name,
+                            strict_any_handling=strict_any_handling)
+  return printer.ToJsonString(message)
+
+
+json_format._WKTJSONMETHODS['google.protobuf.Any'] = [
+    '_BestEffortAnyMessageToJsonObject',
+    '_ConvertAnyMessage'
+]
+
+json_format._Printer._BestEffortAnyMessageToJsonObject = \
+    json_format._Printer._AnyMessageToJsonObject
diff --git a/common/utils/ordered_weakvalue_dict.py b/common/utils/ordered_weakvalue_dict.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c63f67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/utils/ordered_weakvalue_dict.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2016 the original author or authors.
+#
+# 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.
+#
+from _weakref import ref
+from weakref import KeyedRef
+from collections import OrderedDict
+
+
+class OrderedWeakValueDict(OrderedDict):
+    """
+    Modified OrderedDict to use weak references as values. Entries disappear
+    automatically if the referred value has no more strong reference pointing
+    ot it.
+
+    Warning, this is not a complete implementation, only what is needed for
+    now. See test_ordered_wealvalue_dict.py to see what is tested behavior.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kw):
+        def remove(wr, selfref=ref(self)):
+            self = selfref()
+            if self is not None:
+                super(OrderedWeakValueDict, self).__delitem__(wr.key)
+        self._remove = remove
+        super(OrderedWeakValueDict, self).__init__(*args, **kw)
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        super(OrderedWeakValueDict, self).__setitem__(
+            key, KeyedRef(value, self._remove, key))
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        o = super(OrderedWeakValueDict, self).__getitem__(key)()
+        if o is None:
+            raise KeyError, key
+        else:
+            return o
+