diff --git a/include/ndn-cpp-dev/c/common.h b/include/ndn-cpp-dev/c/common.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42edcef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/ndn-cpp-dev/c/common.h
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Regents of the University of California.
+ * @author: Jeff Thompson <jefft0@remap.ucla.edu>
+ * See COPYING for copyright and distribution information.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NDN_COMMON_H
+#define NDN_COMMON_H
+
+#include <ndn-cpp-dev/ndn-cpp-config.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+// TODO: Is stddef.h portable?
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * A time interval represented as the number of milliseconds.
+ */
+typedef int64_t ndn_Milliseconds;
+   
+/**
+ * The calendar time represented as the number of milliseconds since 1/1/1970.
+ */
+typedef int64_t ndn_MillisecondsSince1970;
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif