diff --git a/IPython/core/payload.py b/IPython/core/payload.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c66f45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/IPython/core/payload.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""Payload system for IPython.
+
+Authors:
+
+* Fernando Perez
+* Brian Granger
+"""
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#       Copyright (C) 2008-2010 The IPython Development Team
+#
+#  Distributed under the terms of the BSD License.  The full license is in
+#  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Imports
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+from IPython.config.configurable import Configurable
+from IPython.utils.traitlets import Dict
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Main payload class
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class PayloadManager(Configurable):
+
+    _payload = Dict({})
+
+    def write_payload(self, key, value):
+        self.payload[key] = value
+
+    def reset_payload(self):
+        self.payload = {}
+
+    def read_payload(self):
+        return self._payload