diff --git a/src/abstractreader.h b/src/abstractreader.h
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--- /dev/null
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+/*
+  Copyright © 2016 Hasan Yavuz Özderya
+
+  This file is part of serialplot.
+
+  serialplot 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.
+
+  serialplot 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 serialplot.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+#ifndef ABSTRACTREADER_H
+#define ABSTRACTREADER_H
+
+#include <QObject>
+#include <QIODevice>
+#include <QWidget>
+#include <QTimer>
+
+#include "channelmanager.h"
+
+/**
+ * All reader classes must inherit this class.
+ */
+class AbstractReader : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit AbstractReader(QIODevice* device, ChannelManager* channelMan, QObject *parent = 0);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns a widget to be shown in data format panel when reader
+     * is selected.
+     */
+    virtual QWidget* settingsWidget() = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * Number of channels being read.
+     *
+     * This number may be user selected or automatically determined
+     * from incoming stream.
+     */
+    virtual unsigned numOfChannels() = 0;
+
+    /// Reader should only read when enabled. Default state should be
+    /// 'disabled'.
+    virtual void enable(bool enabled = true) = 0;
+
+signals:
+    void numOfChannelsChanged(unsigned);
+    // TODO: this must be signaled by 'channel man' for better abstraction
+    void dataAdded(); ///< emitted when data added to channel man.
+    // TODO: this should be a part of 'channel man'
+    void samplesPerSecondChanged(unsigned);
+
+public slots:
+    /**
+     * Pauses the reading.
+     *
+     * Reader should actually continue reading to keep the
+     * synchronization but shouldn't commit data.
+     */
+    virtual void pause(bool) = 0;
+
+protected:
+    QIODevice* _device;
+    ChannelManager* _channelMan;
+
+    /// Implementing class should simply increase this count as samples are read
+    unsigned sampleCount;
+
+private:
+    const int SPS_UPDATE_TIMEOUT = 1;  // second
+    unsigned samplesPerSecond;
+    QTimer spsTimer;
+
+private slots:
+    void spsTimerTimeout();
+};
+
+#endif // ABSTRACTREADER_H