diff --git a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgds.h b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgds.h
index abe39f363..bfcee886c 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgds.h
+++ b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgds.h
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ class RsGeneralDataService
 
 public:
 
-
     static const std::string MSG_META_SERV_STRING;
     static const std::string MSG_META_STATUS;
 
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.cc b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.cc
index 5712bf4f6..da2153171 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.cc
+++ b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.cc
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@
 #define PRIV_GRP_OFFSET 16
 #define GRP_OPTIONS_OFFSET 24
 
+#define GXS_MASK "GXS_MASK_HACK"
+
 #define GEN_EXCH_DEBUG	1
 
 RsGenExchange::RsGenExchange(RsGeneralDataService *gds, RsNetworkExchangeService *ns,
@@ -986,6 +988,7 @@ void RsGenExchange::setGroupSubscribeFlags(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId&
     GrpLocMetaData g;
     g.grpId = grpId;
     g.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_SUBSCRIBE_FLAG, (int32_t)flag);
+    g.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_SUBSCRIBE_FLAG+GXS_MASK, (int32_t)mask); // HACK, need to perform mask operation in a non-blocking location
     mGrpLocMetaMap.insert(std::make_pair(token, g));
 }
 
@@ -998,6 +1001,7 @@ void RsGenExchange::setGroupStatusFlags(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId& grp
     GrpLocMetaData g;
     g.grpId = grpId;
     g.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_STATUS, (int32_t)status);
+    g.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_STATUS+GXS_MASK, (int32_t)mask); // HACK, need to perform mask operation in a non-blocking location
     mGrpLocMetaMap.insert(std::make_pair(token, g));
 }
 
@@ -1021,6 +1025,7 @@ void RsGenExchange::setMsgStatusFlags(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair&
 
     MsgLocMetaData m;
     m.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::MSG_META_STATUS, (int32_t)status);
+    m.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::MSG_META_STATUS+GXS_MASK, (int32_t)mask); // HACK, need to perform mask operation in a non-blocking location
     m.msgId = msgId;
     mMsgLocMetaMap.insert(std::make_pair(token, m));
 }
@@ -1047,7 +1052,43 @@ void RsGenExchange::processMsgMetaChanges()
     for(; mit != mit_end; mit++)
     {
         MsgLocMetaData& m = mit->second;
-        bool ok = mDataStore->updateMessageMetaData(m) == 1;
+
+        int32_t value, mask;
+        bool ok = true;
+
+        // for meta flag changes get flag to apply mask
+        if(m.val.getAsInt32(RsGeneralDataService::MSG_META_STATUS, value))
+        {
+            ok = false;
+            if(m.val.getAsInt32(RsGeneralDataService::MSG_META_STATUS+GXS_MASK, mask))
+            {
+                GxsMsgReq req;
+                std::vector<RsGxsMessageId> msgIdV;
+                msgIdV.push_back(m.msgId.second);
+                req.insert(std::make_pair(m.msgId.first, msgIdV));
+                GxsMsgMetaResult result;
+                mDataStore->retrieveGxsMsgMetaData(req, result);
+                GxsMsgMetaResult::iterator mit = result.find(m.msgId.first);
+
+                if(mit != result.end())
+                {
+                    std::vector<RsGxsMsgMetaData*>& msgMetaV = mit->second;
+
+                    if(!msgMetaV.empty())
+                    {
+                        RsGxsMsgMetaData* meta = *(msgMetaV.begin());
+                        value = (meta->mMsgStatus & ~mask) | (mask & value);
+                        m.val.put(RsGeneralDataService::MSG_META_STATUS, value);
+                        delete meta;
+                        ok = true;
+                    }
+                }
+                m.val.removeKeyValue(RsGeneralDataService::MSG_META_STATUS+GXS_MASK);
+            }
+        }
+
+
+        ok &= mDataStore->updateMessageMetaData(m) == 1;
         uint32_t token = mit->first;
 
         if(ok)
@@ -1074,7 +1115,11 @@ void RsGenExchange::processGrpMetaChanges()
     {
         GrpLocMetaData& g = mit->second;
         uint32_t token = mit->first;
-        bool ok = mDataStore->updateGroupMetaData(g) == 1;
+
+        // process mask
+        bool ok = processGrpMask(g.grpId, g.val);
+
+        ok &= mDataStore->updateGroupMetaData(g) == 1;
 
         if(ok)
         {
@@ -1089,6 +1134,59 @@ void RsGenExchange::processGrpMetaChanges()
     mGrpLocMetaMap.clear();
 }
 
+bool RsGenExchange::processGrpMask(const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, ContentValue &grpCv)
+{
+    // first find out which mask is involved
+    int32_t value, mask, currValue;
+    std::string key;
+    RsGxsGrpMetaData* grpMeta = NULL;
+    bool ok = false;
+
+
+    std::map<RsGxsGroupId, RsGxsGrpMetaData* > grpMetaMap;
+    std::map<RsGxsGroupId, RsGxsGrpMetaData* >::iterator mit;
+    grpMetaMap.insert(std::make_pair(grpId, (RsGxsGrpMetaData*)(NULL)));
+
+    mDataStore->retrieveGxsGrpMetaData(grpMetaMap);
+
+    if((mit = grpMetaMap.find(grpId)) != grpMetaMap.end())
+    {
+        grpMeta = mit->second;
+        ok = true;
+    }
+
+    if(grpCv.getAsInt32(RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_STATUS, value))
+    {
+        key = RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_STATUS;
+        currValue = grpMeta->mGroupStatus;
+    }
+    else if(grpCv.getAsInt32(RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_SUBSCRIBE_FLAG, value))
+    {
+        key = RsGeneralDataService::GRP_META_SUBSCRIBE_FLAG;
+        currValue = grpMeta->mSubscribeFlags;
+    }else
+    {
+        if(grpMeta)
+            delete grpMeta;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    ok &= grpCv.getAsInt32(key+GXS_MASK, mask);
+
+    // remove mask entry so it doesn't affect
+    grpCv.removeKeyValue(key+GXS_MASK);
+
+    // apply mask to current value
+    value = (currValue & ~mask) | (value & mask);
+
+    grpCv.put(key, value);
+
+    if(grpMeta)
+        delete grpMeta;
+
+    return ok;
+}
+
 void RsGenExchange::publishMsgs()
 {
 	RsStackMutex stack(mGenMtx);
@@ -1487,6 +1585,7 @@ void RsGenExchange::processRecvdMessages()
 
             if(ok)
             {
+                meta->mMsgStatus = GXS_SERV::GXS_MSG_STATUS_UNPROCESSED | GXS_SERV::GXS_MSG_STATUS_UNREAD;
                 msgs.insert(std::make_pair(msg, meta));
                 msgIds[msg->grpId].push_back(msg->msgId);
             }
@@ -1540,6 +1639,7 @@ void RsGenExchange::processRecvdGroups()
 
         if(ok)
         {
+            meta->mGroupStatus = GXS_SERV::GXS_GRP_STATUS_UNPROCESSED | GXS_SERV::GXS_GRP_STATUS_UNREAD;
             grps.insert(std::make_pair(grp, meta));
             grpIds.push_back(grp->grpId);
         }
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.h b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.h
index 0efd32343..06df6ba9e 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.h
+++ b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgenexchange.h
@@ -430,6 +430,8 @@ protected:
      * as it is called by the backend GXS system to \n
      * update client of changes which should \n
      * instigate client to retrieve new content from the system
+     * Note! For newly received message and groups, bit 0xf00 is set to
+     * GXS_SERV::GXS_MSG_STATUS_UNPROCESSED and GXS_SERV::GXS_MSG_STATUS_UNREAD
      * @param changes the changes that have occured to data held by this service
      */
     virtual void notifyChanges(std::vector<RsGxsNotify*>& changes) = 0;
@@ -459,6 +461,13 @@ private:
      */
     void processGrpMetaChanges();
 
+    /*!
+     * Convenience function for properly applying masks for status and subscribe flag
+     * of a group.
+     * @warning mask entry is removed from grpCv
+     */
+    bool processGrpMask(const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, ContentValue& grpCv);
+
     /*!
      * This completes the creation of an instance on RsNxsGrp
      * by assigning it a groupId and signature via SHA1 and EVP_sign respectively \n
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgxsflags.h b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgxsflags.h
index ba352171b..3b4d22897 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgxsflags.h
+++ b/libretroshare/src/gxs/rsgxsflags.h
@@ -93,6 +93,14 @@ namespace GXS_SERV {
 
     /** END GXS Msg status flags **/
 
+    /** START GXS Grp status flags **/
+
+    static const uint32_t GXS_GRP_STATUS_UNPROCESSED = 0x000000100;
+
+    static const uint32_t GXS_GRP_STATUS_UNREAD = 0x00000200;
+
+    /** END GXS Grp status flags **/
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/serialiser/rsgxsitems.h b/libretroshare/src/serialiser/rsgxsitems.h
index 151219c2c..2726e21b9 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/serialiser/rsgxsitems.h
+++ b/libretroshare/src/serialiser/rsgxsitems.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ public:
             mPop = 0;
             mMsgCount = 0;
             mLastPost = 0;
+
             mGroupStatus = 0;
 
             //mPublishTs = 0;
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@ public:
     {
             mPublishTs = 0;
             mMsgFlags = 0;
+
             mMsgStatus = 0;
             mChildTs = 0;
     }
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetester.cpp b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetester.cpp
index d02bab577..3a2e14e53 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetester.cpp
+++ b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetester.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 #include "gxs/rsdataservice.h"
 #include "gxs/rsgxsflags.h"
 
+#define TEST_FLAG 0x00004;
+#define TEST_MASK 0x0000f;
+
 GenExchangeTester::GenExchangeTester()
     : mGenTestMutex("genTest")
 {
@@ -277,7 +280,6 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testGrpMetaRetrieval()
 
    opts.mReqType = GXS_REQUEST_TYPE_GROUP_META;
 
-   std::list<RsGxsGroupId> grpIds;
    mTokenService->requestGroupInfo(token, 0, opts);
 
    pollForToken(token, opts);
@@ -372,6 +374,8 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testGrpMetaModRequest()
    init(dgrp1);
    init(dgrp2);
    init(dgrp3);
+   dgrp1->meta.mSubscribeFlags = 0;
+   dgrp1->meta.mGroupStatus = 0;
 
    uint32_t token;
    RsTokReqOptions opts;
@@ -397,8 +401,9 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testGrpMetaModRequest()
    bool ok = true;
 
    std::string newServiceString;
-   uint32_t newGrpStatus = randNum();
-   uint32_t newSubscribeGrpFlag = randNum();
+   uint32_t newGrpStatus = TEST_FLAG;
+   uint32_t newSubscribeGrpFlag = TEST_FLAG;
+   uint32_t testMask = TEST_MASK;
    randString(SHORT_STR, newServiceString);
 
    // mod service flag for first grp
@@ -406,11 +411,11 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testGrpMetaModRequest()
     pollForToken(token, opts);
     ok = mTestService->acknowledgeTokenGrp(token, grpId);
 
-    mTestService->setGroupStatusFlagTS(token, grpIds[0], newGrpStatus);
+    mTestService->setGroupStatusFlagTS(token, grpIds[0], newGrpStatus, testMask);
     pollForToken(token, opts);
     ok = mTestService->acknowledgeTokenGrp(token, grpId);
 
-    mTestService->setGroupSubscribeFlagTS(token, grpIds[0], newSubscribeGrpFlag);
+    mTestService->setGroupSubscribeFlagTS(token, grpIds[0], newSubscribeGrpFlag, testMask);
     pollForToken(token, opts);
     ok = mTestService->acknowledgeTokenGrp(token, grpId);
 
@@ -432,10 +437,10 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testGrpMetaModRequest()
        if(meta.mServiceString != newServiceString)
            ok = false;
 
-       if(meta.mSubscribeFlags != newSubscribeGrpFlag)
+       if(!(meta.mSubscribeFlags & newSubscribeGrpFlag))
            ok = false;
 
-       if(meta.mGroupStatus != newGrpStatus)
+       if(!(meta.mGroupStatus & newGrpStatus))
            ok = false;
 
 
@@ -475,6 +480,7 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testMsgMetaModRequest()
     uint32_t token;
     RsDummyMsg* msgOut = new RsDummyMsg();
     *msgOut = *msg;
+    msg->meta.mMsgStatus = 0;
     mTestService->publishDummyMsg(token, msg);
 
     // poll will block until found
@@ -499,9 +505,10 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testMsgMetaModRequest()
 
     mTestService->acknowledgeTokenMsg(token, msgId);
 
-    uint32_t newStatus = 2;
+    uint32_t newStatus = TEST_FLAG;
+    uint32_t testMask =  TEST_MASK;
     // first modify service string
-    mTestService->setMsgStatusFlagTS(token, msgId, newStatus);
+    mTestService->setMsgStatusFlagTS(token, msgId, newStatus, testMask);
     pollForToken(token, opts);
 
     mTestService->acknowledgeTokenMsg(token, msgId);
@@ -539,7 +546,7 @@ bool GenExchangeTester::testMsgMetaModRequest()
         if(meta.mServiceString != newServiceString)
             ok &= false;
 
-        if(meta.mMsgStatus != newStatus)
+        if(!(meta.mMsgStatus & newStatus))
             ok &= false;
 
 
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.cpp b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.cpp
index f8858bb64..7e8b69957 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.cpp
+++ b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.cpp
@@ -67,14 +67,14 @@ void GenExchangeTestService::setGroupServiceStringTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGx
         RsGenExchange::setGroupServiceString(token, grpId, servString);
 }
 
-void GenExchangeTestService::setGroupStatusFlagTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGroupId &grpId, const uint32_t &status)
+void GenExchangeTestService::setGroupStatusFlagTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGroupId &grpId, const uint32_t &status, const uint32_t& mask)
 {
-    RsGenExchange::setGroupStatusFlags(token, grpId, status, 0xff);
+    RsGenExchange::setGroupStatusFlags(token, grpId, status, mask);
 }
 
-void GenExchangeTestService::setGroupSubscribeFlagTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGroupId &grpId, const uint32_t &status)
+void GenExchangeTestService::setGroupSubscribeFlagTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGroupId &grpId, const uint32_t &status, const uint32_t& mask)
 {
-    RsGenExchange::setGroupSubscribeFlags(token, grpId, status, 0xff);
+    RsGenExchange::setGroupSubscribeFlags(token, grpId, status, mask);
 }
 
 void GenExchangeTestService::setMsgServiceStringTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair &msgId, const std::string &servString)
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ void GenExchangeTestService::setMsgServiceStringTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsG
     RsGenExchange::setMsgServiceString(token, msgId, servString);
 }
 
-void GenExchangeTestService::setMsgStatusFlagTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair &msgId, const uint32_t &status)
+void GenExchangeTestService::setMsgStatusFlagTS(uint32_t &token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair &msgId, const uint32_t &status, const uint32_t& mask)
 {
-    RsGenExchange::setMsgStatusFlags(token, msgId, status, 0xff);
+    RsGenExchange::setMsgStatusFlags(token, msgId, status, mask);
 }
 
 void GenExchangeTestService::service_tick()
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.h b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.h
index 6cdb2e041..60fa0488b 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.h
+++ b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/genexchangetestservice.h
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ public:
     bool getMsgRelatedDataTS(const uint32_t &token, GxsMsgRelatedDataMap& msgItems);
 
 
-    void setGroupSubscribeFlagTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, const uint32_t& status);
+    void setGroupSubscribeFlagTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, const uint32_t& status, const uint32_t& mask);
 
-    void setGroupStatusFlagTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, const uint32_t& status);
+    void setGroupStatusFlagTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, const uint32_t& status, const uint32_t& mask);
 
     void setGroupServiceStringTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGroupId& grpId, const std::string& servString);
 
-    void setMsgStatusFlagTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair& msgId, const uint32_t& status);
+    void setMsgStatusFlagTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair& msgId, const uint32_t& status, const uint32_t& mask);
 
     void setMsgServiceStringTS(uint32_t& token, const RsGxsGrpMsgIdPair& msgId, const std::string& servString );
 
diff --git a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/rsgenexchange_test.cc b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/rsgenexchange_test.cc
index 3f572d291..b275df062 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/rsgenexchange_test.cc
+++ b/libretroshare/src/tests/gxs/rsgenexchange_test.cc
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ int main()
 //    CHECK(tester.testMsgIdRetrieval_OptOrigMsgId()); REPORT("tester.testRelatedMsgIdRetrieval_OrigMsgId()");
 //    CHECK(tester.testMsgIdRetrieval_OptLatest()); REPORT("tester.testRelatedMsgIdRetrieval_Latest()");
 //    CHECK(tester.testMsgMetaModRequest()); REPORT("tester.testMsgMetaModRequest()");
-        CHECK(tester.testMsgRelatedChildDataRetrieval()); REPORT("tester.testMsgRelatedChildDataRetrieval()");
+        //CHECK(tester.testMsgRelatedChildDataRetrieval()); REPORT("tester.testMsgRelatedChildDataRetrieval()");
 //    CHECK(tester.testMsgAllVersions()); REPORT("tester.testMsgAllVersions()");
 
 //    CHECK(tester.testGrpSubmissionRetrieval()); REPORT("tester.testGrpSubmissionRetrieval()");
-//    CHECK(tester.testGrpMetaRetrieval()); REPORT("tester.testGrpMetaRetrieval()");
+ //   CHECK(tester.testGrpMetaRetrieval()); REPORT("tester.testGrpMetaRetrieval()");
 //    CHECK(tester.testGrpIdRetrieval()); REPORT("tester.testGrpIdRetrieval()");
-//    CHECK(tester.testGrpMetaModRequest()); REPORT("tester.testGrpMetaModRequest()");
+    CHECK(tester.testGrpMetaModRequest()); REPORT("tester.testGrpMetaModRequest()");
 
     FINALREPORT("RsGenExchangeTest");