diff --git a/rib/propagated-entry.hpp b/rib/propagated-entry.hpp
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+++ b/rib/propagated-entry.hpp
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+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2015,  Regents of the University of California,
+ *                           Arizona Board of Regents,
+ *                           Colorado State University,
+ *                           University Pierre & Marie Curie, Sorbonne University,
+ *                           Washington University in St. Louis,
+ *                           Beijing Institute of Technology,
+ *                           The University of Memphis.
+ *
+ * This file is part of NFD (Named Data Networking Forwarding Daemon).
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of NFD authors and contributors.
+ *
+ * NFD 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.
+ *
+ * NFD 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
+ * NFD, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NFD_RIB_PROPAGATED_ENTRY_HPP
+#define NFD_RIB_PROPAGATED_ENTRY_HPP
+
+#include "core/scheduler.hpp"
+
+namespace nfd {
+namespace rib {
+
+enum class PropagationStatus {
+  /// initial status
+  NEW,
+  /// is being propagated
+  PROPAGATING,
+  /// has been propagated successfully
+  PROPAGATED,
+  /// has failed in propagation
+  PROPAGATE_FAIL
+};
+
+void
+operator<<(std::ostream& out, PropagationStatus status);
+
+/**
+ * @brief represents an entry for prefix propagation.
+ * @sa http://redmine.named-data.net/issues/3211
+ *
+ * it consists of a PropagationStatus indicates current state of the state machine, as
+ * well as an event scheduled for refresh or retry (i.e., the RefreshTimer and the RetryTimer of
+ * the state machine respectively). Besides, it stores a copy of signing identity for this entry.
+ */
+class PropagatedEntry
+{
+public:
+  PropagatedEntry();
+
+  /**
+   * @pre other is not in PROPAGATED or PROPAGATE_FAIL state
+   */
+  PropagatedEntry(const PropagatedEntry& other);
+
+  PropagatedEntry&
+  operator=(const PropagatedEntry& other) = delete;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief set the signing identity
+   */
+  PropagatedEntry&
+  setSigningIdentity(const Name& identity);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief get the signing identity
+   *
+   * @return the signing identity
+   */
+  const Name&
+  getSigningIdentity() const;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief switch the propagation status to PROPAGATING.
+   *
+   * this is called before start the propagation process of this entry.
+   */
+  void
+  startPropagation();
+
+  /**
+   * @brief switch the propagation status to PROPAGATED, and set the
+   *        rePropagateEvent to @p event for refresh.
+   *
+   * this is called just after this entry is successfully propagated.
+   */
+  void
+  succeed(const scheduler::EventId& event);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief switch the propagation status to PROPAGATE_FAIL, and then set the
+   *        rePropagateEvent to @p event for retry.
+   *
+   * this is called just after propagation for this entry fails.
+   */
+  void
+  fail(const scheduler::EventId& event);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief cancel the events of re-sending propagation commands.
+   *
+   * switch the propagation status to NEW.
+   */
+  void
+  initialize();
+
+  /**
+   * @brief check whether this entry is a new entry.
+   *
+   * @return true if current status is NEW.
+   */
+  bool
+  isNew() const;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief check whether this entry is being propagated.
+   *
+   * @return true if current status is PROPAGATING.
+   */
+  bool
+  isPropagating() const;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief check whether this entry has been successfully propagated.
+   *
+   * @return true if current status is PROPAGATED.
+   */
+  bool
+  isPropagated() const;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief check whether this entry has failed in propagating.
+   *
+   * @return true if current status is PROPAGATE_FAIL.
+   */
+  bool
+  isPropagateFail() const;
+
+PUBLIC_WITH_TESTS_ELSE_PRIVATE:
+  Name m_signingIdentity;
+  scheduler::ScopedEventId m_rePropagateEvent;
+  PropagationStatus m_propagationStatus;
+};
+
+} // namespace rib
+} // namespace nfd
+
+#endif // NFD_RIB_PROPAGATED_ENTRY_HPP