diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/consistent/impl/StateMachineUpdate.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/consistent/impl/StateMachineUpdate.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a17f317
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/consistent/impl/StateMachineUpdate.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package org.onosproject.store.consistent.impl;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a state machine update.
+ */
+public class StateMachineUpdate {
+
+    /**
+     * Target data structure type this update is for.
+     */
+    enum Target {
+        /**
+         * Update is for a map.
+         */
+        MAP,
+
+        /**
+         * Update is for a non-map data structure.
+         */
+        OTHER
+    }
+
+    private final String operationName;
+    private final Object input;
+    private final Object output;
+
+    public StateMachineUpdate(String operationName, Object input, Object output) {
+        this.operationName = operationName;
+        this.input = input;
+        this.output = output;
+    }
+
+    public Target target() {
+        // FIXME: This check is brittle
+        if (operationName.contains("mapUpdate")) {
+            return Target.MAP;
+        } else {
+            return Target.OTHER;
+        }
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public <T> T input() {
+        return (T) input;
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public <T> T output() {
+        return (T) output;
+    }
+}
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