diff --git a/src/util.hpp b/src/util.hpp
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+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2019, Arizona Board of Regents.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ * Author: Jerald Paul Abraham <jeraldabraham@email.arizona.edu>
+ */
+
+#ifndef NTG_UTIL_HPP
+#define NTG_UTIL_HPP
+
+#include <cctype>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace ndn {
+
+static inline bool
+parseParameterAndValue(const std::string& input, std::string& parameter, std::string& value)
+{
+  static const std::string allowedCharacters = ":/+._-%";
+  parameter = "";
+  value = "";
+
+  std::size_t i = 0;
+  // parse the parameter name
+  while (i < input.length() && input[i] != '=') {
+    parameter += input[i];
+    i++;
+  }
+  if (i == input.length()) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  // skip the equal sign
+  i++;
+
+  // parse the value
+  while (i < input.length() &&
+         (std::isalnum(input[i]) || allowedCharacters.find(input[i]) != std::string::npos)) {
+    value += input[i];
+    i++;
+  }
+
+  return !parameter.empty() && !value.empty() && i == input.length();
+}
+
+} // namespace ndn
+
+#endif // NTG_UTIL_HPP