Use parameter service in apex

Switch parameter handling in apex to use
the ONAP PF common parameter service

Change-Id: Id318d19c726b18b1a69c630fa81ca7d695355e9c
Issue-ID: POLICY-954
Signed-off-by: liamfallon <liam.fallon@ericsson.com>

30 files changed, 1184 insertions, 925 deletions

diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/apexprotocolplugin/ApexEventProtocolParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/apexprotocolplugin/ApexEventProtocolParameters.java
index 10cd58eb7..27970f982 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/apexprotocolplugin/ApexEventProtocolParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/apexprotocolplugin/ApexEventProtocolParameters.java
@@ -32,16 +32,15 @@ public class ApexEventProtocolParameters extends EventProtocolParameters {
     public static final String APEX_EVENT_PROTOCOL_LABEL = "APEX";
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create a JSON event protocol parameter instance and register the instance with
-     * the parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create a JSON event protocol parameter instance and register the instance with the parameter
+     * service.
      */
     public ApexEventProtocolParameters() {
         this(ApexEventProtocolParameters.class.getCanonicalName(), APEX_EVENT_PROTOCOL_LABEL);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create an event protocol parameters instance with the name of a sub class of
-     * this class.
+     * Constructor to create an event protocol parameters instance with the name of a sub class of this class.
      *
      * @param parameterClassName the class name of a sub class of this class
      * @param eventProtocolLabel the name of the event protocol for this plugin
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/eventrequestor/EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/eventrequestor/EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters.java
index fb722ea2f..839b4bffe 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/eventrequestor/EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/eventrequestor/EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.eventrequestor;
 
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
 
 /**
  * This class holds the parameters that allows an output event to to be sent back into APEX as one
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ public class EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnology
      * the instance with the parameter service.
      */
     public EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters() {
-        super(EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
+        super();
 
         // Set the carrier technology properties for the EVENT_REQUESTOR carrier technology
         this.setLabel(EVENT_REQUESTOR_CARRIER_TECHNOLOGY_LABEL);
@@ -61,7 +62,15 @@ public class EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnology
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.apps.uservice.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        return "";
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup#getName()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.getLabel();
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/filecarrierplugin/FILECarrierTechnologyParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/filecarrierplugin/FILECarrierTechnologyParameters.java
index 76f9b4bb3..84d19fc62 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/filecarrierplugin/FILECarrierTechnologyParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/filecarrierplugin/FILECarrierTechnologyParameters.java
@@ -23,23 +23,25 @@ package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.filecarrierplugin;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.filecarrierplugin.consumer.ApexFileEventConsumer;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.filecarrierplugin.producer.ApexFileEventProducer;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 import org.onap.policy.common.utils.resources.ResourceUtils;
 
 /**
- * This class holds the parameters that allows transport of events into and out of Apex using files
- * and standard input and output.
+ * This class holds the parameters that allows transport of events into and out of Apex using files and standard input
+ * and output.
  *
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
  * <li>fileName: The full path to the file from which to read events or to which to write events.
- * <li>standardIO: If this flag is set to true, then standard input is used to read events in or
- * standard output is used to write events and the fileName parameter is ignored if present
+ * <li>standardIO: If this flag is set to true, then standard input is used to read events in or standard output is used
+ * to write events and the fileName parameter is ignored if present
  * <li>standardError: If this flag is set to true, then standard error is used to write events
- * <li>streamingMode: If this flag is set to true, then streaming mode is set for reading events and
- * event handling will wait on the input stream for events until the stream is closed. If streaming
- * model is off, then event reading completes when the end of input is detected.
- * <li>startDelay: The amount of milliseconds to wait at startup startup before processing the first
- * event.
+ * <li>streamingMode: If this flag is set to true, then streaming mode is set for reading events and event handling will
+ * wait on the input stream for events until the stream is closed. If streaming model is off, then event reading
+ * completes when the end of input is detected.
+ * <li>startDelay: The amount of milliseconds to wait at startup startup before processing the first event.
  * </ol>
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
@@ -63,11 +65,11 @@ public class FILECarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyParameters
     // @formatter:on
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create a file carrier technology parameters instance and register the instance
-     * with the parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create a file carrier technology parameters instance and register the instance with the parameter
+     * service.
      */
     public FILECarrierTechnologyParameters() {
-        super(FILECarrierTechnologyParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
+        super();
 
         // Set the carrier technology properties for the FILE carrier technology
         this.setLabel(FILE_CARRIER_TECHNOLOGY_LABEL);
@@ -168,14 +170,23 @@ public class FILECarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyParameters
     /*
      * (non-Javadoc)
      *
-     * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters#
-     * toString()
+     * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters# toString()
      */
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return "FILECarrierTechnologyParameters [fileName=" + fileName + ", standardIO=" + standardIO
-                + ", standardError=" + standardError + ", streamingMode=" + streamingMode + ", startDelay=" + startDelay
-                + "]";
+                        + ", standardError=" + standardError + ", streamingMode=" + streamingMode + ", startDelay="
+                        + startDelay + "]";
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * (non-Javadoc)
+     * 
+     * @see org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup#getName()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.getLabel();
     }
 
     /*
@@ -184,14 +195,12 @@ public class FILECarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyParameters
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.apps.uservice.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-
-        errorMessageBuilder.append(super.validate());
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = super.validate();
 
         if (!standardIO && !standardError && (fileName == null || fileName.trim().length() == 0)) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                    "  fileName not specified or is blank or null, it must be specified as a valid file location\n");
+            result.setResult("fileName", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "fileName not specified or is blank or null, it must be specified as a valid file location");
         }
 
         if (standardIO || standardError) {
@@ -199,9 +208,10 @@ public class FILECarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyParameters
         }
 
         if (startDelay < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  startDelay must be zero or a positive number of milliseconds\n");
+            result.setResult("startDelay", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "startDelay must be zero or a positive number of milliseconds");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/jsonprotocolplugin/JSONEventProtocolParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/jsonprotocolplugin/JSONEventProtocolParameters.java
index 56eaa4a1e..6efcceb43 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/jsonprotocolplugin/JSONEventProtocolParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/impl/jsonprotocolplugin/JSONEventProtocolParameters.java
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ public class JSONEventProtocolParameters extends EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedP
         this.setEventProtocolPluginClass(Apex2JSONEventConverter.class.getCanonicalName());
     }
 
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup#getName()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.getLabel();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Gets the name alias.
      *
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/runtime/impl/EngineServiceImpl.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/runtime/impl/EngineServiceImpl.java
index 2124b3118..ee5f9ae72 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/runtime/impl/EngineServiceImpl.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/runtime/impl/EngineServiceImpl.java
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.runtime.ApexEventListener;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.runtime.EngineService;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.runtime.EngineServiceEventInterface;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLogger;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLoggerFactory;
 
@@ -156,9 +157,9 @@ public final class EngineServiceImpl implements EngineService, EngineServiceEven
             LOGGER.warn("Engine service configuration parameters is null");
             throw new ApexException("engine service configuration parameters is null");
         }
-        final String validation = config.validate();
-        if (validation != null && validation.length() > 0) {
-            LOGGER.warn("Invalid engine service configuration parameters: " + validation);
+        final GroupValidationResult validation = config.validate();
+        if (!validation.isValid()) {
+            LOGGER.warn("Invalid engine service configuration parameters: {}" + validation.getResult());
             throw new ApexException("Invalid engine service configuration parameters: " + validation);
         }
         final AxArtifactKey engineServiceKey = config.getEngineKey();
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterValidator.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterConstants.java
index a8cbe3b46..1937fd2bf 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterValidator.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterConstants.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
- *  Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
  * ================================================================================
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -21,16 +21,18 @@
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters;
 
 /**
- * This interface is implemented by Apex parameter classes so that they can be validated.
- *
- * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
+ * This class holds constants used when managing parameter groups in apex.
  */
-public interface ApexParameterValidator {
+public abstract class ApexParameterConstants {
+    public static final String MAIN_GROUP_NAME = "APEX_PARAMETERS";
+    public static final String ENGINE_SERVICE_GROUP_NAME = "ENGINE_SERVICE_PARAMETERS";
+    public static final String EVENT_HANDLER_GROUP_NAME = "EVENT_HANDLER_PARAMETERS";
+
     /**
-     * Validate a parameter java bean, if the parameter bean is valid, an empty string is returned,
-     * otherwise the string gives details of the invalid parameters.
-     *
-     * @return the string with validation errors
+     * Private default constructor to prevent subclassing
      */
-    String validate();
+    private ApexParameterConstants() {
+        // Prevents subclassing
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterException.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterException.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 2bc064593..000000000
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterException.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-/*-
- * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
- *  Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
- * ================================================================================
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- * 
- *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- * 
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
- * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
- */
-
-package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters;
-
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.ApexException;
-
-/**
- * This exception will be called if an error occurs in Apex parameter handling.
- *
- * @author Liam Fallon
- */
-public class ApexParameterException extends ApexException {
-    private static final long serialVersionUID = -8507246953751956974L;
-
-    /**
-     * Instantiates a new apex parameter handling exception with a message.
-     *
-     * @param message the message
-     */
-    public ApexParameterException(final String message) {
-        super(message);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Instantiates a new apex parameter handling exception with a message and a caused by
-     * exception.
-     *
-     * @param message the message
-     * @param ex the exception that caused this exception to be thrown
-     */
-    public ApexParameterException(final String message, final Exception ex) {
-        super(message, ex);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterHandler.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterHandler.java
index 31209bf08..c93e52118 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterHandler.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterHandler.java
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnolo
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterService;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLogger;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLoggerFactory;
 
@@ -48,9 +51,12 @@ public class ApexParameterHandler {
      *
      * @param arguments the arguments passed to Apex
      * @return the parameters read from the configuration file
-     * @throws ApexParameterException on parameter exceptions
+     * @throws ParameterException on parameter exceptions
      */
-    public ApexParameters getParameters(final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments) throws ApexParameterException {
+    public ApexParameters getParameters(final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments) throws ParameterException {
+        // Clear all existing parameters
+        ParameterService.clear();
+        
         ApexParameters parameters = null;
 
         // Read the parameters
@@ -58,27 +64,27 @@ public class ApexParameterHandler {
             // Register the adapters for our carrier technologies and event protocols with GSON
             // @formatter:off
             final Gson gson = new GsonBuilder()
-                    .registerTypeAdapter(EngineParameters           .class, 
-                            new EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter())
-                    .registerTypeAdapter(CarrierTechnologyParameters.class, 
-                            new CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter())
-                    .registerTypeAdapter(EventProtocolParameters    .class, 
-                            new EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter())
-                    .create();
+                            .registerTypeAdapter(EngineParameters           .class, 
+                                            new EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter())
+                            .registerTypeAdapter(CarrierTechnologyParameters.class, 
+                                            new CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter())
+                            .registerTypeAdapter(EventProtocolParameters    .class, 
+                                            new EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter())
+                            .create();
             // @formatter:on
             parameters = gson.fromJson(new FileReader(arguments.getFullConfigurationFilePath()), ApexParameters.class);
         } catch (final Exception e) {
             final String errorMessage = "error reading parameters from \"" + arguments.getConfigurationFilePath()
-                    + "\"\n" + "(" + e.getClass().getSimpleName() + "):" + e.getMessage();
+                            + "\"\n" + "(" + e.getClass().getSimpleName() + "):" + e.getMessage();
             LOGGER.error(errorMessage, e);
-            throw new ApexParameterException(errorMessage, e);
+            throw new ParameterException(errorMessage, e);
         }
 
         // The JSON processing returns null if there is an empty file
         if (parameters == null) {
             final String errorMessage = "no parameters found in \"" + arguments.getConfigurationFilePath() + "\"";
             LOGGER.error(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         // Check if we should override the model file parameter
@@ -87,17 +93,43 @@ public class ApexParameterHandler {
             parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().setPolicyModelFileName(modelFilePath);
         }
 
-        // validate the parameters
-        final String validationResult = parameters.validate();
-        if (!validationResult.isEmpty()) {
-            String returnMessage =
-                    "validation error(s) on parameters from \"" + arguments.getConfigurationFilePath() + "\"\n";
-            returnMessage += validationResult;
+        // Validate the parameters
+        final GroupValidationResult validationResult = parameters.validate();
+        if (!validationResult.isValid()) {
+            String returnMessage = "validation error(s) on parameters from \"" + arguments.getConfigurationFilePath()
+                            + "\"\n";
+            returnMessage += validationResult.getResult();
 
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterException(returnMessage);
+            throw new ParameterException(returnMessage);
         }
 
+        if (!validationResult.isClean()) {
+            String returnMessage = "validation messages(s) on parameters from \"" + arguments.getConfigurationFilePath()
+                            + "\"\n";
+            returnMessage += validationResult.getResult();
+
+            LOGGER.info(returnMessage);
+        }
+
+        // Register the parameters with the parameter service
+        registerParameters(parameters);
+        
         return parameters;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Register all the incoming parameters with the parameter service
+     * @param parameters The parameters to register
+     */
+    private void registerParameters(ApexParameters parameters) {
+        ParameterService.register(parameters);
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters());
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters());
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters());
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getSchemaParameters());
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getDistributorParameters());
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getLockManagerParameters());
+        ParameterService.register(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getPersistorParameters());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterRuntimeException.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterRuntimeException.java
deleted file mode 100644
index a4917f1b6..000000000
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameterRuntimeException.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-/*-
- * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
- *  Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
- * ================================================================================
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- * 
- *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- * 
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
- * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
- */
-
-package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters;
-
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.ApexRuntimeException;
-
-/**
- * This exception will be called if an error occurs in Apex parameter handling.
- *
- * @author Liam Fallon
- */
-public class ApexParameterRuntimeException extends ApexRuntimeException {
-    private static final long serialVersionUID = -8507246953751956974L;
-
-    /**
-     * Instantiates a new apex parameter handling exception with a message.
-     *
-     * @param message the message
-     */
-    public ApexParameterRuntimeException(final String message) {
-        super(message);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Instantiates a new apex parameter handling exception with a message and a caused by
-     * exception.
-     *
-     * @param message the message
-     * @param ex the exception that caused this exception to be thrown
-     */
-    public ApexParameterRuntimeException(final String message, final Exception ex) {
-        super(message, ex);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameters.java
index 9c65c0b32..069bcc9a8 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/ApexParameters.java
@@ -27,38 +27,47 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
 import java.util.Set;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.AbstractParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.ParameterService;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerPeeredMode;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
  * The main container parameter class for an Apex service.
  * 
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
- * <li>engineServiceParameters: The parameters for the Apex engine service itself, such as the
- * number of engine threads to run and the deployment port number to use.
- * <li>eventOutputParameters: A map of parameters for event outputs that Apex will use to emit
- * events. Apex emits events on all outputs
- * <li>eventInputParameters: A map or parameters for event inputs from which Apex will consume
- * events. Apex reads events from all its event inputs.
- * <li>synchronousEventHandlerParameters: A map of parameters for synchronous event handlers That
- * Apex receives events from and replies immediately to those events.
+ * <li>engineServiceParameters: The parameters for the Apex engine service itself, such as the number of engine threads
+ * to run and the deployment port number to use.
+ * <li>eventOutputParameters: A map of parameters for event outputs that Apex will use to emit events. Apex emits events
+ * on all outputs
+ * <li>eventInputParameters: A map or parameters for event inputs from which Apex will consume events. Apex reads events
+ * from all its event inputs.
  * </ol>
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public class ApexParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public class ApexParameters implements ParameterGroup {
+    // Parameter group name
+    private String name;
+
+    // Constants for recurring strings
+    private static final String PEER_STRING = "peer ";
+    private static final String EVENT_INPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING = "eventInputParameters";
+    private static final String EVENT_OUTPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING = "eventOutputParameters";
+    private static final String FOR_PEERED_MODE_STRING = " for peered mode ";
+    
     /**
-     * Constructor to create an apex parameters instance and register the instance with the
-     * parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create an apex parameters instance and register the instance with the parameter service.
      */
     public ApexParameters() {
-        super(ContextParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(ApexParameters.class, this);
+        super();
+        
+        // Set the name for the parameters
+        this.name = ApexParameterConstants.MAIN_GROUP_NAME;
     }
 
     // Parameters for the engine service and the engine threads in the engine service
@@ -124,92 +133,78 @@ public class ApexParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterV
         this.eventInputParameters = eventInputParameters;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * This method formats a validation result with a header if the result is not empty.
-     *
-     * @param validationResultMessage The incoming message
-     * @param heading The heading to prepend on the message
-     * @return the formatted message
-     */
-    private String validationResultFormatter(final String validationResultMessage, final String heading) {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-
-        if (validationResultMessage.length() > 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(heading);
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(validationResultMessage);
-        }
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+    @Override
+    public void setName(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
     }
 
-    /*
-     * (non-Javadoc)
-     *
-     * @see org.onap.policy.apex.apps.uservice.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
-     */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        GroupValidationResult result = new GroupValidationResult(this);
 
         if (engineServiceParameters == null) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(" engine service parameters are not specified\n");
+            result.setResult("engineServiceParameters", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "engine service parameters are not specified");
         } else {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(validationResultFormatter(engineServiceParameters.validate(),
-                    " engine service parameters invalid\n"));
+            result.setResult("engineServiceParameters", engineServiceParameters.validate());
         }
 
         // Sanity check, we must have an entry in both output and input maps
-        if (eventOutputParameters.isEmpty() || eventInputParameters.isEmpty()) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(" at least one event output and one event input must be specified\n");
+        if (eventInputParameters.isEmpty()) {
+            result.setResult(EVENT_INPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING, ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "at least one event input must be specified");
+        }
+
+        if (eventOutputParameters.isEmpty()) {
+            result.setResult(EVENT_OUTPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING, ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "at least one event output must be specified");
         }
 
         // Validate that the values of all parameters are ok
-        validateEventHandlerMap("event input", errorMessageBuilder, eventInputParameters);
-        validateEventHandlerMap("event output", errorMessageBuilder, eventOutputParameters);
+        validateEventHandlerMap(EVENT_INPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING, result, eventInputParameters);
+        validateEventHandlerMap(EVENT_OUTPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING, result, eventOutputParameters);
 
         // Only do peer mode validate if there are no other errors
-        if (errorMessageBuilder.length() == 0) {
+        if (result.isValid()) {
             for (final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode : EventHandlerPeeredMode.values()) {
-                validatePeeredMode(errorMessageBuilder, peeredMode);
+                validatePeeredMode(result, peeredMode);
             }
         }
 
-        // Check if we have any errors
-        if (errorMessageBuilder.length() > 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.insert(0, "Apex parameters invalid\n");
-        }
-
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString().trim();
+        return result;
     }
 
     /**
      * This method validates the parameters in an event handler map.
      * 
      * @param eventHandlerType the type of the event handler to use on error messages
-     * @param errorMessageBuilder the builder to use to return validation messages
+     * @param result the result object to use to return validation messages
      * @param parsForValidation The event handler parameters to validate (input or output)
      */
-    // CHECKSTYLE:OFF: checkstyle:finalParameter
-    private void validateEventHandlerMap(final String eventHandlerType, final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder,
-            final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> parsForValidation) {
-        // CHECKSTYLE:ON: checkstyle:finalParameter
+    private void validateEventHandlerMap(final String eventHandlerType, final GroupValidationResult result,
+                    final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> parsForValidation) {
         for (final Entry<String, EventHandlerParameters> parameterEntry : parsForValidation.entrySet()) {
             if (parameterEntry.getKey() == null || parameterEntry.getKey().trim().isEmpty()) {
-                errorMessageBuilder
-                        .append(" invalid " + eventHandlerType + " name \"" + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" \n");
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                "invalid " + eventHandlerType + " name \"" + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\"");
             } else if (parameterEntry.getValue() == null) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(" invalid/Null event input prameters specified for " + eventHandlerType
-                        + " name \"" + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" \n");
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                "invalid/Null event input prameters specified for " + eventHandlerType + " name \""
+                                                + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" ");
             } else {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(validationResultFormatter(parameterEntry.getValue().validate(),
-                        " " + eventHandlerType + " (" + parameterEntry.getKey() + ") parameters invalid\n"));
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), parameterEntry.getValue().validate());
             }
 
             parameterEntry.getValue().setName(parameterEntry.getKey());
 
             // Validate parameters for peered mode settings
             for (final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode : EventHandlerPeeredMode.values()) {
-                validatePeeredModeParameters(eventHandlerType, errorMessageBuilder, parameterEntry, peeredMode);
+                validatePeeredModeParameters(eventHandlerType, result, parameterEntry, peeredMode);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -218,34 +213,36 @@ public class ApexParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterV
      * Validate parameter values for event handlers in a peered mode.
      * 
      * @param eventHandlerType The event handler type we are checking
-     * @param errorMessageBuilder The builder to which to append any error messages
+     * @param result The result object to which to append any error messages
      * @param parameterEntry The entry to check the peered mode on
      * @param peeredMode The mode to check
      */
-    private void validatePeeredModeParameters(final String eventHandlerType, final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder,
-            final Entry<String, EventHandlerParameters> parameterEntry, final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode) {
-        final String messagePreamble = " specified peered mode \"" + peeredMode + "\"";
+    private void validatePeeredModeParameters(final String eventHandlerType, final GroupValidationResult result,
+                    final Entry<String, EventHandlerParameters> parameterEntry,
+                    final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode) {
+        final String messagePreamble = "specified peered mode \"" + peeredMode + "\"";
         final String peer = parameterEntry.getValue().getPeer(peeredMode);
 
         if (parameterEntry.getValue().isPeeredMode(peeredMode)) {
             if (peer == null || peer.trim().isEmpty()) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(messagePreamble + " mandatory parameter not specified or is null on "
-                        + eventHandlerType + " \"" + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" \n");
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                messagePreamble + " mandatory parameter not specified or is null");
             }
             if (parameterEntry.getValue().getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) < 0) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                        messagePreamble + " timeout value \"" + parameterEntry.getValue().getPeerTimeout(peeredMode)
-                                + "\" is illegal on " + eventHandlerType + " \"" + parameterEntry.getKey()
-                                + "\", specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n");
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID, messagePreamble
+                                + " timeout value \"" + parameterEntry.getValue().getPeerTimeout(peeredMode)
+                                + "\" is illegal, specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds");
             }
         } else {
             if (peer != null) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(messagePreamble + " peer is illegal on non synchronous " + eventHandlerType
-                        + " \"" + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" \n");
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                messagePreamble + " peer is illegal on " + eventHandlerType + " \""
+                                                + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" ");
             }
             if (parameterEntry.getValue().getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(messagePreamble + " timeout is illegal on non synchronous "
-                        + eventHandlerType + " \"" + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\" \n");
+                result.setResult(eventHandlerType, parameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                messagePreamble + " timeout is illegal on " + eventHandlerType + " \""
+                                                + parameterEntry.getKey() + "\"");
             }
         }
     }
@@ -253,10 +250,10 @@ public class ApexParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterV
     /**
      * This method validates that the settings are valid for the given peered mode.
      * 
-     * @param errorMessageBuilder The builder to which to append any error messages
+     * @param result The result object to which to append any error messages
      * @param peeredMode The peered mode to check
      */
-    private void validatePeeredMode(final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder, final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode) {
+    private void validatePeeredMode(final GroupValidationResult result, final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode) {
         // Find the input and output event handlers that use this peered mode
         final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> inputParametersUsingMode = new HashMap<>();
         final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> outputParametersUsingMode = new HashMap<>();
@@ -274,23 +271,24 @@ public class ApexParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterV
         }
 
         // Validate the parameters for each side of the peered mode parameters
-        validatePeeredModePeers(" event input for peered mode \"" + peeredMode + "\": ", errorMessageBuilder,
-                peeredMode, inputParametersUsingMode, outputParametersUsingMode);
-        validatePeeredModePeers(" event output for peered mode \"" + peeredMode + "\": ", errorMessageBuilder,
-                peeredMode, outputParametersUsingMode, inputParametersUsingMode);
+        validatePeeredModePeers(EVENT_INPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING, result, peeredMode, inputParametersUsingMode,
+                        outputParametersUsingMode);
+        validatePeeredModePeers(EVENT_OUTPUT_PARAMETERS_STRING, result, peeredMode, outputParametersUsingMode,
+                        inputParametersUsingMode);
     }
 
     /**
      * This method validates that the settings are valid for the event handlers on one.
      * 
-     * @param messagePreamble the preamble for messages indicating the peered mode side
-     * @param errorMessageBuilder The builder to which to append any error messages
+     * @param handlerMapVariableName the variable name of the map on which the paired parameters are being checked
+     * @param result The result object to which to append any error messages
      * @param leftModeParameters The mode parameters being checked
      * @param rightModeParameters The mode parameters being referenced by the checked parameters
      */
-    private void validatePeeredModePeers(final String messagePreamble, final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder,
-            final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode, final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> leftModeParameterMap,
-            final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> rightModeParameterMap) {
+    private void validatePeeredModePeers(final String handlerMapVariableName, final GroupValidationResult result,
+                    final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode,
+                    final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> leftModeParameterMap,
+                    final Map<String, EventHandlerParameters> rightModeParameterMap) {
 
         // These sets are used to check for duplicate references on the both sides
         final Set<String> leftCheckDuplicateSet = new HashSet<>();
@@ -306,52 +304,74 @@ public class ApexParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterV
 
             // Check that the peer reference is OK
             if (rightModeParameters == null) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append(messagePreamble + "peer \"" + leftModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode)
-                        + "\" for event handler \"" + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey()
-                        + "\" does not exist or is not defined as being synchronous\n");
+                result.setResult(handlerMapVariableName, leftModeParameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                PEER_STRING + '"' + leftModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode) + FOR_PEERED_MODE_STRING + peeredMode
+                                                + " does not exist or is not defined with the same peered mode");
                 continue;
             }
 
             // Now check that the right side peer is the left side event handler
             final String rightSidePeer = rightModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode);
             if (!rightSidePeer.equals(leftModeParameterEntry.getKey())) {
-                errorMessageBuilder
-                        .append(messagePreamble + "peer value \"" + rightSidePeer + "\" on peer \"" + leftSidePeer
-                                + "\" does not equal event handler \"" + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey() + "\"\n");
+                result.setResult(handlerMapVariableName, leftModeParameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                PEER_STRING + '"' + leftModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode) + FOR_PEERED_MODE_STRING + peeredMode
+                                                + ", value \"" + rightSidePeer + "\" on peer \"" + leftSidePeer
+                                                + "\" does not equal event handler \"" + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey()
+                                                + "\"");
             } else {
                 // Check for duplicates
                 if (!leftCheckDuplicateSet.add(leftSidePeer)) {
-                    errorMessageBuilder
-                            .append(messagePreamble + "peer value \"" + leftSidePeer + "\" on event handler \""
-                                    + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey() + "\" is used more than once\n");
+                    result.setResult(handlerMapVariableName, leftModeParameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                    PEER_STRING + '"' + leftModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode) + FOR_PEERED_MODE_STRING
+                                                    + peeredMode + ", peer value \"" + leftSidePeer
+                                                    + "\" on event handler \"" + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey()
+                                                    + "\" is used more than once");
                 }
                 if (!rightCheckDuplicateSet.add(rightSidePeer)) {
-                    errorMessageBuilder.append(messagePreamble + "peer value \"" + rightSidePeer + "\" on peer \""
-                            + leftSidePeer + "\" on event handler \"" + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey()
-                            + "\" is used more than once\n");
+                    result.setResult(handlerMapVariableName, leftModeParameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                    PEER_STRING + '"' + leftModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode) + FOR_PEERED_MODE_STRING
+                                                    + peeredMode + ", peer value \"" + rightSidePeer + "\" on peer \""
+                                                    + leftSidePeer + "\" on event handler \""
+                                                    + leftModeParameterEntry.getKey() + "\" is used more than once");
                 }
             }
 
-            // Cross-set the timeouts if they are not specified
-            if (leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
-                if (rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
-                    if (leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != rightModeParameters
-                            .getPeerTimeout(peeredMode)) {
-                        errorMessageBuilder.append(messagePreamble + "timeout "
-                                + leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) + "on event handler \""
-                                + leftModeParameters.getName() + "\" does not equal timeout value "
-                                + rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) + "on event handler \""
-                                + rightModeParameters.getName() + "\"\n");
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    rightModeParameters.setPeerTimeout(peeredMode, leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode));
+            if (!crossCheckPeeredTimeoutValues(leftModeParameters, rightModeParameters, peeredMode)) {
+                result.setResult(handlerMapVariableName, leftModeParameterEntry.getKey(), ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                PEER_STRING + '"' + leftModeParameters.getPeer(peeredMode) + FOR_PEERED_MODE_STRING + peeredMode
+                                                + " timeout " + leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode)
+                                                + " on event handler \"" + leftModeParameters.getName()
+                                                + "\" does not equal timeout "
+                                                + rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) + " on event handler \""
+                                                + rightModeParameters.getName() + "\"");
+
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Validate the timeout values on two peers.
+     * 
+     * @param leftModeParameters The parameters of the left hand peer
+     * @param peeredMode The peered mode being checked
+     * @return true if the timeout values are cross checked as being OK
+     */
+    private boolean crossCheckPeeredTimeoutValues(final EventHandlerParameters leftModeParameters,
+                    final EventHandlerParameters rightModeParameters, final EventHandlerPeeredMode peeredMode) {
+        // Cross-set the timeouts if they are not specified
+        if (leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
+            if (rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
+                if (leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode)) {
+                    return false;
                 }
             } else {
-                if (rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
-                    leftModeParameters.setPeerTimeout(peeredMode, rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode));
-                }
+                rightModeParameters.setPeerTimeout(peeredMode, leftModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode));
+            }
+        } else {
+            if (rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode) != 0) {
+                leftModeParameters.setPeerTimeout(peeredMode, rightModeParameters.getPeerTimeout(peeredMode));
             }
         }
-
+        return true;
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParameters.java
index 025183328..0c10df706 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParameters.java
@@ -20,25 +20,28 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.AbstractParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterRuntimeException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
- * The default carrier technology parameter class that may be specialized by carrier technology
- * plugins that require plugin specific parameters.
+ * The default carrier technology parameter class that may be specialized by carrier technology plugins that require
+ * plugin specific parameters.
  * 
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
  * <li>label: The label of the carrier technology.
- * <li>eventProducerPluginClass: The name of the plugin class that will be used by Apex to produce
- * and emit output events for this carrier technology
- * <li>eventConsumerPluginClass: The name of the plugin class that will be used by Apex to receive
- * and process input events from this carrier technology carrier technology
+ * <li>eventProducerPluginClass: The name of the plugin class that will be used by Apex to produce and emit output
+ * events for this carrier technology
+ * <li>eventConsumerPluginClass: The name of the plugin class that will be used by Apex to receive and process input
+ * events from this carrier technology carrier technology
  * </ol>
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public abstract class CarrierTechnologyParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public abstract class CarrierTechnologyParameters implements ParameterGroup {
 
     // The carrier technology label
     private String label = null;
@@ -49,13 +52,13 @@ public abstract class CarrierTechnologyParameters extends AbstractParameters imp
     private String eventConsumerPluginClass = null;
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create a carrier technology parameters instance with the name of a sub class
-     * of this class and register the instance with the parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create a carrier technology parameters instance with the name of a sub class of this class and
+     * register the instance with the parameter service.
      *
      * @param parameterClassName the class name of a sub class of this class
      */
-    public CarrierTechnologyParameters(final String parameterClassName) {
-        super(parameterClassName);
+    public CarrierTechnologyParameters() {
+        super();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ public abstract class CarrierTechnologyParameters extends AbstractParameters imp
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return "CarrierTechnologyParameters [label=" + label + ", eventProducerPluginClass=" + eventProducerPluginClass
-                + ", eventConsumerPluginClass=" + eventConsumerPluginClass + "]";
+                        + ", eventConsumerPluginClass=" + eventConsumerPluginClass + "]";
     }
 
     /*
@@ -141,21 +144,34 @@ public abstract class CarrierTechnologyParameters extends AbstractParameters imp
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = new GroupValidationResult(this);
 
         if (label == null || label.length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  carrier technology label not specified or is blank\n");
+            result.setResult("label", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "carrier technology label not specified or is blank");
         }
 
         if (eventProducerPluginClass == null || eventProducerPluginClass.length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  carrier technology eventProducerPluginClass not specified or is blank\n");
+            result.setResult("eventProducerPluginClass", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "carrier technology eventProducerPluginClass not specified or is blank");
         }
 
         if (eventConsumerPluginClass == null || eventConsumerPluginClass.length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  carrier technology eventConsumerPluginClass not specified or is blank\n");
+            result.setResult("eventConsumerPluginClass", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "carrier technology eventConsumerPluginClass not specified or is blank");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
     }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.getLabel();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setName(final String name) {
+        throw new ParameterRuntimeException("the name/label of this carrier technology is always \"" + getLabel() + "\"");
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter.java
index 38abd3c6c..e443c1eb0 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/carriertechnology/CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter.java
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.eventrequestor.EventRequestorCarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterRuntimeException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterRuntimeException;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLogger;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLoggerFactory;
 
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonDeserializationContext;
 import com.google.gson.JsonDeserializer;
 import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
 import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
-import com.google.gson.JsonParseException;
 import com.google.gson.JsonPrimitive;
 import com.google.gson.JsonSerializationContext;
 import com.google.gson.JsonSerializer;
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
             final JsonSerializationContext context) {
         final String returnMessage = "serialization of Apex carrier technology parameters to Json is not supported";
         LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-        throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+        throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
     }
 
     /*
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
      */
     @Override
     public CarrierTechnologyParameters deserialize(final JsonElement json, final Type typeOfT,
-            final JsonDeserializationContext context) throws JsonParseException {
+            final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         final JsonObject jsonObject = json.getAsJsonObject();
 
         // Get the carrier technology label primitive
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
             final String errorMessage = "carrier technology parameter \"" + CARRIER_TECHNOLOGY_TOKEN + "\" value \""
                     + labelJsonPrimitive.getAsString() + "\" invalid in JSON file";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         // We now get the technology carrier parameter class
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
                     + (classNameJsonPrimitive != null ? classNameJsonPrimitive.getAsString() : "null")
                     + "\" invalid in JSON file";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         // Get the class for the carrier technology
@@ -142,7 +141,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
                     "carrier technology \"" + carrierTechnologyLabel + "\" parameter \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME
                             + "\" value \"" + carrierTechnologyParameterClassName + "\", could not find class";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage, e);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
         }
 
         // Deserialise the class
@@ -158,7 +157,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
                 final String errorMessage = "could not create default parameters for carrier technology \""
                         + carrierTechnologyLabel + "\"\n" + e.getMessage();
                 LOGGER.warn(errorMessage, e);
-                throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
+                throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
             }
         }
 
@@ -170,7 +169,7 @@ public class CarrierTechnologyParametersJSONAdapter
                     + "\", specify correct carrier technology parameter plugin in parameter \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME
                     + "\"";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         return carrierTechnologyParameters;
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParameters.java
index 3a53b59cb..70badae93 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParameters.java
@@ -24,42 +24,42 @@ import java.io.File;
 import java.net.URL;
 
 import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.AxArtifactKey;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.AbstractParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.ParameterService;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
+import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.AxKey;
+import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterConstants;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 import org.onap.policy.common.utils.resources.ResourceUtils;
 
 import org.onap.policy.apex.core.engine.EngineParameters;
 
 /**
- * This class holds the parameters for an Apex Engine Service with multiple engine threads running
- * multiple engines.
+ * This class holds the parameters for an Apex Engine Service with multiple engine threads running multiple engines.
  *
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
- * <li>name: The name of the Apex engine service, which can be set to any value that matches the
- * regular expression {@link org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.AxKey#NAME_REGEXP}.
- * <li>version: The name of the Apex engine service, which can be set to any value that matches the
- * regular expression {@link org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.AxKey#VERSION_REGEXP}.
+ * <li>name: The name of the Apex engine service, which can be set to any value that matches the regular expression
+ * {@link org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.AxKey#NAME_REGEXP}.
+ * <li>version: The name of the Apex engine service, which can be set to any value that matches the regular expression
+ * {@link org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.AxKey#VERSION_REGEXP}.
  * <li>id: The ID of the Apex engine service, which can be set to any integer value by a user.
- * <li>instanceCount: The number of Apex engines to spawn in this engine service. Each engine
- * executes in its own thread.
- * <li>deploymentPort: The port that the Apex Engine Service will open so that it can be managed
- * using the EngDep protocol. The EngDep protocol allows the engine service to be monitored, to
- * start and stop engines in the engine service, and to update the policy model of the engine
- * service.
- * <li>engineParameters: Parameters (a {@link EngineParameters} instance) that all of the engines in
- * the engine service will use. All engine threads use the same parameters and act as a pool of
- * engines. Engine parameters specify the executors and context management for the engines.
- * <li>policyModelFileName: The full path to the policy model file name to deploy on the engine
- * service.
- * <li>periodicEventPeriod: The period in milliseconds at which the periodic event PERIOIC_EVENT
- * will be generated by APEX, 0 means no periodic event generation, negative values are illegal.
+ * <li>instanceCount: The number of Apex engines to spawn in this engine service. Each engine executes in its own
+ * thread.
+ * <li>deploymentPort: The port that the Apex Engine Service will open so that it can be managed using the EngDep
+ * protocol. The EngDep protocol allows the engine service to be monitored, to start and stop engines in the engine
+ * service, and to update the policy model of the engine service.
+ * <li>engineParameters: Parameters (a {@link EngineParameters} instance) that all of the engines in the engine service
+ * will use. All engine threads use the same parameters and act as a pool of engines. Engine parameters specify the
+ * executors and context management for the engines.
+ * <li>policyModelFileName: The full path to the policy model file name to deploy on the engine service.
+ * <li>periodicEventPeriod: The period in milliseconds at which the periodic event PERIOIC_EVENT will be generated by
+ * APEX, 0 means no periodic event generation, negative values are illegal.
  * </ol>
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public class EngineServiceParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public class EngineServiceParameters implements ParameterGroup {
     private static final int MAX_PORT = 65535;
 
     // @formatter:off
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ public class EngineServiceParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexP
     /** The default EngDep deployment port of the Apex engine service. */
     public static final int DEFAULT_DEPLOYMENT_PORT = 34421;
 
+    // Constants for repeated strings
+    private static final String POLICY_MODEL_FILE_NAME = "policyModelFileName";
+
     // Apex engine service parameters
     private String name                = DEFAULT_NAME;
     private String version             = DEFAULT_VERSION;
@@ -92,12 +95,14 @@ public class EngineServiceParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexP
     private EngineParameters engineParameters = new EngineParameters();
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create an apex engine service parameters instance and register the instance
-     * with the parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create an apex engine service parameters instance and register the instance with the parameter
+     * service.
      */
     public EngineServiceParameters() {
-        super(EngineServiceParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(EngineServiceParameters.class, this);
+        super();
+        
+        // Set the name for the parameters
+        this.name = ApexParameterConstants.ENGINE_SERVICE_GROUP_NAME;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -221,16 +226,14 @@ public class EngineServiceParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexP
     /**
      * Sets the file name of the policy engine for deployment on the engine service.
      *
-     * @param policyModelFileName the file name of the policy engine for deployment on the engine
-     *        service
+     * @param policyModelFileName the file name of the policy engine for deployment on the engine service
      */
     public void setPolicyModelFileName(final String policyModelFileName) {
         this.policyModelFileName = policyModelFileName;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get the period in milliseconds at which periodic events are sent, zero means no periodic
-     * events are being sent.
+     * Get the period in milliseconds at which periodic events are sent, zero means no periodic events are being sent.
      * 
      * @return the periodic period
      */
@@ -239,8 +242,8 @@ public class EngineServiceParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexP
     }
 
     /**
-     * Set the period in milliseconds at which periodic events are sent, zero means no periodic
-     * events are to be sent, negative values are illegal.
+     * Set the period in milliseconds at which periodic events are sent, zero means no periodic events are to be sent,
+     * negative values are illegal.
      * 
      * @param periodicEventPeriod the periodic period
      */
@@ -272,57 +275,67 @@ public class EngineServiceParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexP
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.apps.uservice.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-
-        try {
-            new AxArtifactKey(name, version);
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  name [" + name + "] and/or version [" + version + "] invalid\n");
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("   " + e.getMessage() + "\n");
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = new GroupValidationResult(this);
+
+        if (name == null || !name.matches(AxKey.NAME_REGEXP)) {
+            result.setResult("name", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "name is invalid, it must match regular expression" + AxKey.NAME_REGEXP);
+        }
+
+        if (version == null || !version.matches(AxKey.VERSION_REGEXP)) {
+            result.setResult("version", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "version is invalid, it must match regular expression" + AxKey.VERSION_REGEXP);
         }
 
         if (id < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                    "  id not specified or specified value [" + id + "] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("id", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "id not specified or specified value [" + id + "] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0");
         }
 
         if (instanceCount < 1) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                    "  instanceCount [" + instanceCount + "] invalid, must be specified as instanceCount >= 1\n");
+            result.setResult("instanceCount", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "instanceCount [" + instanceCount + "] invalid, must be specified as instanceCount >= 1");
         }
 
         if (deploymentPort < 1 || deploymentPort > MAX_PORT) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                    "  deploymentPort [" + deploymentPort + "] invalid, must be specified as 1024 <= port <= 65535\n");
+            result.setResult("deploymentPort", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "deploymentPort [" + deploymentPort
+                            + "] invalid, must be specified as 1024 <= port <= 65535");
         }
 
         if (policyModelFileName != null) {
-            if (policyModelFileName.trim().length() == 0) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append("  policyModelFileName [" + policyModelFileName
-                        + "] invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n");
-            } else {
-                // The file name can refer to a resource on the local file system or on the class
-                // path
-                final URL fileURL = ResourceUtils.getUrl4Resource(policyModelFileName);
-                if (fileURL == null) {
-                    errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                            "  policyModelFileName [" + policyModelFileName + "] not found or is not a plain file\n");
-                } else {
-                    final File policyModelFile = new File(fileURL.getPath());
-                    if (!policyModelFile.isFile()) {
-                        errorMessageBuilder.append("  policyModelFileName [" + policyModelFileName
-                                + "] not found or is not a plain file\n");
-                    }
-                }
-            }
+            validatePolicyModelFileName(result);
         }
 
         if (periodicEventPeriod < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  periodicEventPeriod [" + periodicEventPeriod
-                    + "] invalid, must be specified in milliseconds as >=0\n");
+            result.setResult("periodicEventPeriod", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "periodicEventPeriod ["
+                            + periodicEventPeriod + "] invalid, must be specified in milliseconds as >=0");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Validate the policy model file name parameter
+     * @param result the variable in which to store the result of the validation
+     */
+    private void validatePolicyModelFileName(final GroupValidationResult result) {
+        if (policyModelFileName.trim().length() == 0) {
+            result.setResult(POLICY_MODEL_FILE_NAME, ValidationStatus.INVALID, "\""
+                            + policyModelFileName + "\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string");
+            return;
+        }
+        
+        // The file name can refer to a resource on the local file system or on the class
+        // path
+        final URL fileURL = ResourceUtils.getUrl4Resource(policyModelFileName);
+        if (fileURL == null) {
+            result.setResult(POLICY_MODEL_FILE_NAME, ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not found or is not a plain file");
+        } else {
+            final File policyModelFile = new File(fileURL.getPath());
+            if (!policyModelFile.isFile()) {
+                result.setResult(POLICY_MODEL_FILE_NAME, ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not found or is not a plain file");
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter.java
index 9fca2fd19..98e41f6af 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/engineservice/EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter.java
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.SchemaHelperParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.SchemaParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.core.engine.EngineParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.core.engine.ExecutorParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.AbstractParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterRuntimeException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterRuntimeException;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLogger;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLoggerFactory;
 
@@ -47,13 +47,12 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonSerializer;
 
 /**
  * This class deserializes engine service parameters from JSON format. The class produces an
- * {@link EngineServiceParameters} instance from incoming JSON read from a configuration file in
- * JSON format.
+ * {@link EngineServiceParameters} instance from incoming JSON read from a configuration file in JSON format.
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
 public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
-        implements JsonSerializer<EngineParameters>, JsonDeserializer<EngineParameters> {
+                implements JsonSerializer<EngineParameters>, JsonDeserializer<EngineParameters> {
     private static final XLogger LOGGER = XLoggerFactory.getXLogger(EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter.class);
 
     private static final String PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME = "parameterClassName";
@@ -75,28 +74,28 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
      */
     @Override
     public JsonElement serialize(final EngineParameters src, final Type typeOfSrc,
-            final JsonSerializationContext context) {
+                    final JsonSerializationContext context) {
         final String returnMessage = "serialization of Apex parameters to Json is not supported";
         LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-        throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+        throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
     }
 
     /*
      * (non-Javadoc)
      *
-     * @see com.google.gson.JsonDeserializer#deserialize(com.google.gson.JsonElement,
-     * java.lang.reflect.Type, com.google.gson.JsonDeserializationContext)
+     * @see com.google.gson.JsonDeserializer#deserialize(com.google.gson.JsonElement, java.lang.reflect.Type,
+     * com.google.gson.JsonDeserializationContext)
      */
     @Override
     public EngineParameters deserialize(final JsonElement json, final Type typeOfT,
-            final JsonDeserializationContext context) throws JsonParseException {
+                    final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         final JsonObject engineParametersJsonObject = json.getAsJsonObject();
 
         final EngineParameters engineParameters = new EngineParameters();
 
         // Deserialise context parameters, they may be a subclass of the ContextParameters class
         engineParameters.setContextParameters(
-                (ContextParameters) context.deserialize(engineParametersJsonObject, ContextParameters.class));
+                        (ContextParameters) context.deserialize(engineParametersJsonObject, ContextParameters.class));
 
         // Context parameter wrangling
         getContextParameters(engineParametersJsonObject, engineParameters, context);
@@ -115,7 +114,7 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
      * @param context the JSON context
      */
     private void getContextParameters(final JsonObject engineParametersJsonObject,
-            final EngineParameters engineParameters, final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
+                    final EngineParameters engineParameters, final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         final JsonElement contextParametersElement = engineParametersJsonObject.get(CONTEXT_PARAMETERS);
 
         // Context parameters are optional so if the element does not exist, just return
@@ -124,8 +123,8 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
         }
 
         // We do this because the JSON parameters may be for a subclass of ContextParameters
-        final ContextParameters contextParameters =
-                (ContextParameters) deserializeParameters(CONTEXT_PARAMETERS, contextParametersElement, context);
+        final ContextParameters contextParameters = (ContextParameters) deserializeParameters(CONTEXT_PARAMETERS,
+                        contextParametersElement, context);
 
         // We know this will work because if the context parameters was not a Json object, the
         // previous deserializeParameters() call would not have worked
@@ -134,22 +133,20 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
         // Now get the distributor, lock manager, and persistence parameters
         final JsonElement distributorParametersElement = contextParametersObject.get(DISTRIBUTOR_PARAMETERS);
         if (distributorParametersElement != null) {
-            contextParameters
-                    .setDistributorParameters((DistributorParameters) deserializeParameters(DISTRIBUTOR_PARAMETERS,
-                            distributorParametersElement, context));
+            contextParameters.setDistributorParameters((DistributorParameters) deserializeParameters(
+                            DISTRIBUTOR_PARAMETERS, distributorParametersElement, context));
         }
 
         final JsonElement lockManagerParametersElement = contextParametersObject.get(LOCK_MANAGER_PARAMETERS);
         if (lockManagerParametersElement != null) {
-            contextParameters
-                    .setLockManagerParameters((LockManagerParameters) deserializeParameters(LOCK_MANAGER_PARAMETERS,
-                            lockManagerParametersElement, context));
+            contextParameters.setLockManagerParameters((LockManagerParameters) deserializeParameters(
+                            LOCK_MANAGER_PARAMETERS, lockManagerParametersElement, context));
         }
 
         final JsonElement persistorParametersElement = contextParametersObject.get(PERSISTOR_PARAMETERS);
         if (persistorParametersElement != null) {
             contextParameters.setPersistorParameters((PersistorParameters) deserializeParameters(PERSISTOR_PARAMETERS,
-                    persistorParametersElement, context));
+                            persistorParametersElement, context));
         }
 
         // Schema Handler parameter wrangling
@@ -167,25 +164,24 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
      * @param context the JSON context
      */
     private void getExecutorParameters(final JsonObject engineParametersJsonObject,
-            final EngineParameters engineParameters, final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
+                    final EngineParameters engineParameters, final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         final JsonElement executorParametersElement = engineParametersJsonObject.get(EXECUTOR_PARAMETERS);
 
         // Executor parameters are mandatory so if the element does not exist throw an exception
         if (executorParametersElement == null) {
             final String returnMessage = "no \"" + EXECUTOR_PARAMETERS
-                    + "\" entry found in parameters, at least one executor parameter entry must be specified";
+                            + "\" entry found in parameters, at least one executor parameter entry must be specified";
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
         }
 
         // Deserialize the executor parameters
-        final JsonObject executorParametersJsonObject =
-                engineParametersJsonObject.get(EXECUTOR_PARAMETERS).getAsJsonObject();
+        final JsonObject executorParametersJsonObject = engineParametersJsonObject.get(EXECUTOR_PARAMETERS)
+                        .getAsJsonObject();
 
         for (final Entry<String, JsonElement> executorEntries : executorParametersJsonObject.entrySet()) {
-            final ExecutorParameters executorParameters =
-                    (ExecutorParameters) deserializeParameters(EXECUTOR_PARAMETERS + ':' + executorEntries.getKey(),
-                            executorEntries.getValue(), context);
+            final ExecutorParameters executorParameters = (ExecutorParameters) deserializeParameters(
+                            EXECUTOR_PARAMETERS + ':' + executorEntries.getKey(), executorEntries.getValue(), context);
             engineParameters.getExecutorParameterMap().put(executorEntries.getKey(), executorParameters);
         }
     }
@@ -198,12 +194,12 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
      * @param context the JSON context
      */
     private void getSchemaHandlerParameters(final JsonObject contextParametersJsonObject,
-            final ContextParameters contextParameters, final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
+                    final ContextParameters contextParameters, final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         final JsonElement schemaParametersElement = contextParametersJsonObject.get(SCHEMA_PARAMETERS);
 
         // Insert the default Java schema helper
         contextParameters.getSchemaParameters().getSchemaHelperParameterMap()
-                .put(SchemaParameters.DEFAULT_SCHEMA_FLAVOUR, new JavaSchemaHelperParameters());
+                        .put(SchemaParameters.DEFAULT_SCHEMA_FLAVOUR, new JavaSchemaHelperParameters());
 
         // Context parameters are optional so if the element does not exist, just return
         if (schemaParametersElement == null) {
@@ -211,14 +207,14 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
         }
 
         // Deserialize the executor parameters
-        final JsonObject schemaHelperParametersJsonObject =
-                contextParametersJsonObject.get(SCHEMA_PARAMETERS).getAsJsonObject();
+        final JsonObject schemaHelperParametersJsonObject = contextParametersJsonObject.get(SCHEMA_PARAMETERS)
+                        .getAsJsonObject();
 
         for (final Entry<String, JsonElement> schemaHelperEntries : schemaHelperParametersJsonObject.entrySet()) {
             contextParameters.getSchemaParameters().getSchemaHelperParameterMap().put(schemaHelperEntries.getKey(),
-                    (SchemaHelperParameters) deserializeParameters(
-                            SCHEMA_PARAMETERS + ':' + schemaHelperEntries.getKey(), schemaHelperEntries.getValue(),
-                            context));
+                            (SchemaHelperParameters) deserializeParameters(
+                                            SCHEMA_PARAMETERS + ':' + schemaHelperEntries.getKey(),
+                                            schemaHelperEntries.getValue(), context));
         }
     }
 
@@ -229,10 +225,10 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
      * @param parametersElement The JSON object holding the parameters
      * @param context The GSON context
      * @return the parameters
-     * @throws ApexParameterRuntimeException on errors reading the parameters
+     * @throws ParameterRuntimeException on errors reading the parameters
      */
-    private AbstractParameters deserializeParameters(final String parametersLabel, final JsonElement parametersElement,
-            final JsonDeserializationContext context) throws ApexParameterRuntimeException {
+    private ParameterGroup deserializeParameters(final String parametersLabel, final JsonElement parametersElement,
+                    final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         JsonObject parametersObject = null;
 
         // Check that the JSON element is a JSON object
@@ -241,45 +237,45 @@ public class EngineServiceParametersJSONAdapter
         } else {
             final String returnMessage = "value of \"" + parametersLabel + "\" entry is not a parameter JSON object";
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
         }
 
         // Get the parameter class name for instantiation in deserialization
         final JsonElement parameterClassNameElement = parametersObject.get(PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME);
         if (parameterClassNameElement == null) {
-            final String returnMessage =
-                    "could not find field \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME + "\" in \"" + parametersLabel + "\" entry";
+            final String returnMessage = "could not find field \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME + "\" in \"" + parametersLabel
+                            + "\" entry";
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
         }
 
         // Check the parameter is a JSON primitive
         if (!parameterClassNameElement.isJsonPrimitive()) {
-            final String returnMessage = "value for field \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME + "\" in \"" + parametersLabel
-                    + "\" entry is not a plain string";
+            final String returnMessage = "value for field \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME + "\" of \"" + parametersLabel
+                            + "\" entry is not a plain string";
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
         }
 
         // Check the parameter has a value
         final String parameterClassName = parameterClassNameElement.getAsString();
         if (parameterClassName == null || parameterClassName.trim().length() == 0) {
             final String returnMessage = "value for field \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME + "\" in \"" + parametersLabel
-                    + "\" entry is not specified or is blank";
+                            + "\" entry is not specified or is blank";
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
         }
 
         // Deserialize the parameters using GSON
-        AbstractParameters parameters = null;
+        ParameterGroup parameters = null;
         try {
             parameters = context.deserialize(parametersObject, Class.forName(parameterClassName));
         } catch (JsonParseException | ClassNotFoundException e) {
-            final String returnMessage =
-                    "failed to deserialize the parameters for \"" + parametersLabel + "\" " + "to parameter class \""
-                            + parameterClassName + "\"\n" + e.getClass().getCanonicalName() + ": " + e.getMessage();
+            final String returnMessage = "failed to deserialize the parameters for \"" + parametersLabel + "\" "
+                            + "to parameter class \"" + parameterClassName + "\"\n" + e.getClass().getCanonicalName()
+                            + ": " + e.getMessage();
             LOGGER.error(returnMessage, e);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage, e);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage, e);
         }
 
         return parameters;
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventhandler/EventHandlerParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventhandler/EventHandlerParameters.java
index 164544b4e..76ccd683c 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventhandler/EventHandlerParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventhandler/EventHandlerParameters.java
@@ -23,42 +23,42 @@ package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 import java.util.regex.PatternSyntaxException;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.AbstractParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
+import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterConstants;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
  * The parameters for a single event producer, event consumer or synchronous event handler.
  * 
- * <p>Event producers, consumers, and synchronous event handlers all use a carrier technology and an
- * event protocol so the actual parameters for each one are the same. Therefore, we use the same
- * class for the parameters of each one.
+ * <p>
+ * Event producers, consumers, and synchronous event handlers all use a carrier technology and an event protocol so the
+ * actual parameters for each one are the same. Therefore, we use the same class for the parameters of each one.
  * 
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
- * <li>carrierTechnologyParameters: The carrier technology is the type of messaging infrastructure
- * used to carry events. Examples are File, Kafka or REST.
- * <li>eventProtocolParameters: The format that the events are in when being carried. Examples are
- * JSON, XML, or Java Beans. carrier technology
+ * <li>carrierTechnologyParameters: The carrier technology is the type of messaging infrastructure used to carry events.
+ * Examples are File, Kafka or REST.
+ * <li>eventProtocolParameters: The format that the events are in when being carried. Examples are JSON, XML, or Java
+ * Beans. carrier technology
  * <li>synchronousMode: true if the event handler is working in synchronous mode, defaults to false
- * <li>synchronousPeer: the peer event handler (consumer for producer or producer for consumer) of
- * this event handler in synchronous mode
- * <li>synchronousTimeout: the amount of time to wait for the reply to synchronous events before
- * they are timed out
+ * <li>synchronousPeer: the peer event handler (consumer for producer or producer for consumer) of this event handler in
+ * synchronous mode
+ * <li>synchronousTimeout: the amount of time to wait for the reply to synchronous events before they are timed out
  * <li>requestorMode: true if the event handler is working in requestor mode, defaults to false
- * <li>requestorPeer: the peer event handler (consumer for producer or producer for consumer) of
- * this event handler in requestor mode
- * <li>requestorTimeout: the amount of time to wait for the reply to synchronous events before they
- * are timed out
- * <li>eventNameFilter: a regular expression to apply to events on this event handler. If specified,
- * events not matching the given regular expression are ignored. If it is null, all events are
- * handledDefaults to null.
+ * <li>requestorPeer: the peer event handler (consumer for producer or producer for consumer) of this event handler in
+ * requestor mode
+ * <li>requestorTimeout: the amount of time to wait for the reply to synchronous events before they are timed out
+ * <li>eventNameFilter: a regular expression to apply to events on this event handler. If specified, events not matching
+ * the given regular expression are ignored. If it is null, all events are handledDefaults to null.
  * </ol>
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public class EventHandlerParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public class EventHandlerParameters implements ParameterGroup {
     private String name = null;
     private CarrierTechnologyParameters carrierTechnologyParameters = null;
     private EventProtocolParameters eventProtocolParameters = null;
@@ -75,17 +75,10 @@ public class EventHandlerParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexPa
      * Constructor to create an event handler parameters instance.
      */
     public EventHandlerParameters() {
-        super(EventHandlerParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-    }
+        super();
 
-    /**
-     * Constructor to create an event handler parameters instance with the name of a sub class of
-     * this class.
-     *
-     * @param parameterClassName the class name of a sub class of this class
-     */
-    public EventHandlerParameters(final String parameterClassName) {
-        super(parameterClassName);
+        // Set the name for the parameters
+        this.name = ApexParameterConstants.EVENT_HANDLER_GROUP_NAME;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -151,7 +144,6 @@ public class EventHandlerParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexPa
         this.eventProtocolParameters = eventProtocolParameters;
     }
 
-
     /**
      * Checks if the event handler is in the given peered mode.
      *
@@ -320,30 +312,33 @@ public class EventHandlerParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexPa
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = new GroupValidationResult(this);
 
         if (eventProtocolParameters == null) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  event handler eventProtocolParameters not specified or blank\n");
+            result.setResult("eventProtocolParameters", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "event handler eventProtocolParameters not specified or blank");
         } else {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(eventProtocolParameters.validate());
+            result.setResult("eventProtocolParameters", eventProtocolParameters.validate());
         }
 
         if (carrierTechnologyParameters == null) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  event handler carrierTechnologyParameters not specified or blank\n");
+            result.setResult("carrierTechnologyParameters", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "event handler carrierTechnologyParameters not specified or blank");
         } else {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(carrierTechnologyParameters.validate());
+            result.setResult("carrierTechnologyParameters", carrierTechnologyParameters.validate());
         }
 
         if (eventNameFilter != null) {
             try {
                 Pattern.compile(eventNameFilter);
             } catch (final PatternSyntaxException pse) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append("  event handler eventNameFilter is not a valid regular expression: "
-                        + pse.getMessage() + "\n");
+                result.setResult("eventNameFilter", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                                "event handler eventNameFilter is not a valid regular expression: " + pse.getMessage());
             }
         }
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+
+        return result;
     }
 
     /*
@@ -354,9 +349,10 @@ public class EventHandlerParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexPa
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return "EventHandlerParameters [name=" + name + ", carrierTechnologyParameters=" + carrierTechnologyParameters
-                + ", eventProtocolParameters=" + eventProtocolParameters + ", synchronousMode=" + synchronousMode
-                + ", synchronousPeer=" + synchronousPeer + ", synchronousTimeout=" + synchronousTimeout
-                + ", requestorMode=" + requestorMode + ", requestorPeer=" + requestorPeer + ", requestorTimeout="
-                + requestorTimeout + ", eventName=" + eventName + ", eventNameFilter=" + eventNameFilter + "]";
+                        + ", eventProtocolParameters=" + eventProtocolParameters + ", synchronousMode="
+                        + synchronousMode + ", synchronousPeer=" + synchronousPeer + ", synchronousTimeout="
+                        + synchronousTimeout + ", requestorMode=" + requestorMode + ", requestorPeer=" + requestorPeer
+                        + ", requestorTimeout=" + requestorTimeout + ", eventName=" + eventName + ", eventNameFilter="
+                        + eventNameFilter + "]";
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParameters.java
index 66b5c0aae..06b5e41f5 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParameters.java
@@ -20,23 +20,26 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.AbstractParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterRuntimeException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
- * A default event protocol parameter class that may be specialized by event protocol plugins that
- * require plugin specific parameters.
+ * A default event protocol parameter class that may be specialized by event protocol plugins that require plugin
+ * specific parameters.
  *
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
  * <li>label: The label of the event protocol technology.
- * <li>eventProducerPluginClass: The name of the plugin class that will be used by Apex to produce
- * and emit output events for this carrier technology
+ * <li>eventProducerPluginClass: The name of the plugin class that will be used by Apex to produce and emit output
+ * events for this carrier technology
  * </ol>
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public abstract class EventProtocolParameters extends AbstractParameters implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public abstract class EventProtocolParameters implements ParameterGroup {
     // The event protocol label
     private String label = null;
 
@@ -44,13 +47,13 @@ public abstract class EventProtocolParameters extends AbstractParameters impleme
     private String eventProtocolPluginClass;
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create an event protocol parameters instance with the name of a sub class of
-     * this class and register the instance with the parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create an event protocol parameters instance with the name of a sub class of this class and
+     * register the instance with the parameter service.
      *
      * @param parameterClassName the class name of a sub class of this class
      */
     public EventProtocolParameters(final String parameterClassName) {
-        super(parameterClassName);
+        super();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -97,7 +100,7 @@ public abstract class EventProtocolParameters extends AbstractParameters impleme
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return "CarrierTechnologyParameters [label=" + label + ", EventProtocolPluginClass=" + eventProtocolPluginClass
-                + "]";
+                        + "]";
     }
 
     /*
@@ -106,17 +109,28 @@ public abstract class EventProtocolParameters extends AbstractParameters impleme
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = new GroupValidationResult(this);
 
         if (label == null || label.length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  event protocol label not specified or is blank\n");
+            result.setResult("label", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "event protocol label not specified or is blank");
         }
 
         if (eventProtocolPluginClass == null || eventProtocolPluginClass.length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  event protocol eventProtocolPluginClass not specified or is blank\n");
+            result.setResult("eventProtocolPluginClass", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "event protocol eventProtocolPluginClass not specified or is blank");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.getLabel();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setName(final String name) {
+        throw new ParameterRuntimeException("the name/label of this event protocol is always \"" + getLabel() + "\"");
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter.java
index 9d087bf31..2f09e0a65 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter.java
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.apexprotocolplugin.ApexEventProtocolParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.JSONEventProtocolParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterRuntimeException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterRuntimeException;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLogger;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLoggerFactory;
 
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonDeserializationContext;
 import com.google.gson.JsonDeserializer;
 import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
 import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
-import com.google.gson.JsonParseException;
 import com.google.gson.JsonPrimitive;
 import com.google.gson.JsonSerializationContext;
 import com.google.gson.JsonSerializer;
@@ -55,11 +54,11 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
     private static final String EVENT_PROTOCOL_PARAMETERS = "parameters";
 
     // Built in event protocol parameters
-    private static final Map<String, String> BUILT_IN_EVENT_RPOTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP = new HashMap<>();
+    private static final Map<String, String> BUILT_IN_EVENT_PROTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP = new HashMap<>();
     
     static {
-        BUILT_IN_EVENT_RPOTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP.put("JSON", JSONEventProtocolParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-        BUILT_IN_EVENT_RPOTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP.put("APEX", ApexEventProtocolParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
+        BUILT_IN_EVENT_PROTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP.put("JSON", JSONEventProtocolParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
+        BUILT_IN_EVENT_PROTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP.put("APEX", ApexEventProtocolParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
     }
 
     /*
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
             final JsonSerializationContext context) {
         final String returnMessage = "serialization of Apex event protocol parameters to Json is not supported";
         LOGGER.error(returnMessage);
-        throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
+        throw new ParameterRuntimeException(returnMessage);
     }
 
     /*
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
      */
     @Override
     public EventProtocolParameters deserialize(final JsonElement json, final Type typeOfT,
-            final JsonDeserializationContext context) throws JsonParseException {
+            final JsonDeserializationContext context) {
         final JsonObject jsonObject = json.getAsJsonObject();
 
         // Get the event protocol label primitive
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
             final String errorMessage = "event protocol parameter \"" + EVENT_PROTOCOL_TOKEN + "\" value \""
                     + labelJsonPrimitive.getAsString() + "\" invalid in JSON file";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         // We now get the event protocol parameter class
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
 
         // If no event protocol parameter class was specified, we use the default
         if (classNameJsonPrimitive == null) {
-            eventProtocolParameterClassName = BUILT_IN_EVENT_RPOTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP.get(eventProtocolLabel);
+            eventProtocolParameterClassName = BUILT_IN_EVENT_PROTOCOL_PARMETER_CLASS_MAP.get(eventProtocolLabel);
         } else {
             // We use the specified one
             eventProtocolParameterClassName = classNameJsonPrimitive.getAsString().replaceAll("\\s+", "");
@@ -127,7 +126,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
                             + (classNameJsonPrimitive != null ? classNameJsonPrimitive.getAsString() : "null")
                             + "\" invalid in JSON file";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         // Get the class for the event protocol
@@ -139,7 +138,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
                     "event protocol \"" + eventProtocolLabel + "\" parameter \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME + "\" value \""
                             + eventProtocolParameterClassName + "\", could not find class";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage, e);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
         }
 
         // Deserialise the class
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
                 final String errorMessage = "could not create default parameters for event protocol \""
                         + eventProtocolLabel + "\"\n" + e.getMessage();
                 LOGGER.warn(errorMessage, e);
-                throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
+                throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage, e);
             }
         }
 
@@ -166,7 +165,7 @@ public class EventProtocolParametersJSONAdapter
                     + "\", specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"" + PARAMETER_CLASS_NAME
                     + "\"";
             LOGGER.warn(errorMessage);
-            throw new ApexParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
         return eventProtocolParameters;
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters.java
index 7094a3d3f..d10d81ce2 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters.java
@@ -20,13 +20,15 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
- * An event protocol parameter class for character delimited textual event protocols that may be
- * specialized by event protocol plugins that require plugin specific parameters.
+ * An event protocol parameter class for character delimited textual event protocols that may be specialized by event
+ * protocol plugins that require plugin specific parameters.
  *
- * <p>The following parameters are defined:
+ * <p>
+ * The following parameters are defined:
  * <ol>
  * <li>startChar: starting character delimiter for text blocks containing an event.
  * <li>endChar: ending character delimiter for text blocks containing an event.
@@ -34,15 +36,13 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public abstract class EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters extends EventProtocolParameters
-        implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public abstract class EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters extends EventProtocolParameters {
     // The starting and ending character delimiter
     private char startChar = '\0';
     private char endChar = '\0';
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create an event protocol parameters instance with the name of a sub class of
-     * this class.
+     * Constructor to create an event protocol parameters instance with the name of a sub class of this class.
      *
      * @param parameterClassName the class name of a sub class of this class
      */
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public abstract class EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters extends EventProt
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         return "EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters {" + super.toString() + "} [startChar=" + startChar
-                + ", endChar=" + endChar + "]";
+                        + ", endChar=" + endChar + "]";
     }
 
     /*
@@ -103,19 +103,19 @@ public abstract class EventProtocolTextCharDelimitedParameters extends EventProt
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-
-        errorMessageBuilder.append(super.validate());
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = super.validate();
 
         if (startChar == '\0') {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  text character delimited start character has not been specified\n");
+            result.setResult("startChar", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "text character delimited start character has not been specified");
         }
 
         if (endChar == '\0') {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  text character delimited end character has not been specified\n");
+            result.setResult("endChar", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "text character delimited end character has not been specified\n");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters.java
index f71ebc6d8..dce2ee2c3 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/parameters/eventprotocol/EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters.java
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
  * An event protocol parameter class for token delimited textual event protocols that may be specialized by event
@@ -38,8 +39,7 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator;
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public abstract class EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters extends EventProtocolParameters
-                implements ApexParameterValidator {
+public abstract class EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters extends EventProtocolParameters {
     // The delimiter token for text blocks
     private String startDelimiterToken = null;
     private String endDelimiterToken = null;
@@ -124,15 +124,14 @@ public abstract class EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters extends EventPro
      * @see org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-
-        errorMessageBuilder.append(super.validate());
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = super.validate();
 
         if (startDelimiterToken == null || startDelimiterToken.length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  text start delimiter token not specified or is blank\n");
+            result.setResult("startDelimiterToken", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "text start delimiter token not specified or is blank\n");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestJSONEventHandler.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestJSONEventHandler.java
index decec767f..4f1089229 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestJSONEventHandler.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestJSONEventHandler.java
@@ -32,9 +32,10 @@ import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 
-import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameterConstants;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.SchemaParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.ApexException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.handling.ApexModelException;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.model.policymodel.concepts.AxPolicyModel;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.model.utilities.TextFileUtils;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.Apex2JSONEventConverter;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.JSONEventProtocolParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterService;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLogger;
 import org.slf4j.ext.XLoggerFactory;
 
@@ -67,9 +69,17 @@ public class TestJSONEventHandler {
         apexPolicyModel.register();
     }
 
-    @Before
-    public void initializeDefaultSchemaParameters() {
-        new SchemaParameters();
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void initializeDefaultSchemaParameters() {
+        ParameterService.clear();
+        final SchemaParameters schemaParameters = new SchemaParameters();
+        schemaParameters.setName(ContextParameterConstants.SCHEMA_GROUP_NAME);
+        ParameterService.register(schemaParameters);
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownDefaultSchemaParameters() {
+        ParameterService.deregister(ContextParameterConstants.SCHEMA_GROUP_NAME);
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestPluginFactories.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestPluginFactories.java
index 8ecf9b745..db60b229d 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestPluginFactories.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/TestPluginFactories.java
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.EventConsumerFactory;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.EventProducerFactory;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexCommandLineArguments;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterHandler;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
 
 /**
  * Test Plugin Factories.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParamete
 public class TestPluginFactories {
 
     @Test
-    public void testEventConsumerFactory() throws ApexEventException, ApexParameterException {
+    public void testEventConsumerFactory() throws ApexEventException, ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/factoryGoodParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java
index d22d528c8..37f15777b 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexCommandLineArguments;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperDistributorParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterHandler;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
 
 /**
  * Test for an empty parameter file.
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextNoParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
                     + "\"contextParameters\" entry", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadParams.json\""
-                    + "\n(ApexParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters for "
+                    + "\n(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters for "
                     + "\"contextParameters\" to parameter class \"hello\"\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: hello",
                     e.getMessage());
         }
@@ -76,10 +76,10 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginNameParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
                     + "\"contextParameters\" entry", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -92,10 +92,10 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals(
                     "error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassParams.json\""
-                    + "\n(ApexParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters for \"contextParameters\""
+                    + "\n(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters for \"contextParameters\""
                     + " to parameter class \"java.lang.Integer\"\ncom.google.gson.JsonSyntaxException: "
                     + "java.lang.IllegalStateException: Expected NUMBER but was BEGIN_OBJECT at path $",
                     e.getMessage());
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginClassParams.json\""
                     + "\n(ClassCastException):org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals(123456, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
                     .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -143,10 +143,10 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals(300000, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
                     .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -159,11 +159,11 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters",
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getDistributorParameters().getParameterClassName());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+                            .getDistributorParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -176,19 +176,19 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters",
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getDistributorParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                            .getDistributorParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters",
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getLockManagerParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                            .getLockManagerParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters",
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getPersistorParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                            .getPersistorParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals(300000, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
                     .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -201,13 +201,13 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters",
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getLockManagerParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                            .getLockManagerParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters",
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getPersistorParameters().getParameterClassName());
+                            .getPersistorParameters().getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals(123456, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
                     .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
 
@@ -215,13 +215,13 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
                     (SuperDooperDistributorParameters) parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters()
                             .getContextParameters().getDistributorParameters();
             assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperDistributorParameters",
-                    infinispanParameters.getParameterClassName());
+                    infinispanParameters.getClass().getCanonicalName());
             assertEquals("my/lovely/configFile.xml", infinispanParameters.getConfigFile());
             assertEquals("holy/stone.xml", infinispanParameters.getJgroupsFile());
             assertEquals(false, infinispanParameters.preferIPv4Stack());
             assertEquals("fatherted", infinispanParameters.getjGroupsBindAddress());
 
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassDistParams.json\"\n"
                     + "(ClassCastException):org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to"
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassLockParams.json\"\n"
                     + "(ClassCastException):org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to"
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassPersistParams.json\"\n"
                     + "(ClassCastException):org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to"
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java
index aa106a695..5e42ede1a 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexCommandLineArguments;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterHandler;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
 
 /**
  * Test for an empty parameter file.
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals(0,
                     parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getExecutorParameterMap().size());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals(
                     "error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadParams.json\"\n"
-                            + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):value of \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry is not "
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value of \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry is not "
                             + "a parameter JSON object",
                     e.getMessage());
         }
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorNoExecutorParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):no \"executorParameters\" entry found in parameters,"
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):no \"executorParameters\" entry found in parameters,"
                     + " at least one executor parameter entry must be specified", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorEmptyParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
                     + "in \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -107,10 +107,10 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginNameParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
                     + "in \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -123,11 +123,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueObjectParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
-                    + "in \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not a plain string", e.getMessage());
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                    + "of \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not a plain string", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueBlankParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
                     + "in \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not specified or is blank", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from"
                     + " \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters "
+                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters "
                     + "for \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" to parameter class \"helloworld\"\n"
                     + "java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: helloworld", e.getMessage());
         }
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
             assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
             assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
             assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java
index 6d3d7ee20..31ccd913f 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexCommandLineArguments;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperEventProducer;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperEventSubscriber;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterHandler;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
 
 /**
  * Test for an empty parameter file.
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParame
  */
 public class ParameterTests {
     @Test
-    public void invalidParametersNoFileTest() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/invalidNoFile.json"};
+    public void invalidParametersNoFileTest() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/invalidNoFile.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("error reading parameters from \"src"));
             assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("FileNotFoundException"));
         }
@@ -62,79 +62,116 @@ public class ParameterTests {
 
     @Test
     public void invalidParametersEmptyTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/empty.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/empty.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage()
-                    .startsWith("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/empty.json\""));
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
+            assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith(
+                            "validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/empty.json\""));
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void invalidParametersNoParamsTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/noParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/noParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/noParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n" + " engine service parameters are not specified\n"
-                    + " at least one event output and one event input must be specified", e.getMessage());
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
+                            + "engine service parameters are not specified\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "at least one event output must be specified\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "at least one event input must be specified\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void invalidParametersBlankParamsTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/blankParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/blankParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
 
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/blankParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n" + " engine service parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  id not specified or specified value [-1] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
-                    + " at least one event output and one event input must be specified", e.getMessage());
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group \"ENGINE_SERVICE_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "    field \"id\" type \"int\" value \"-1\" INVALID, "
+                            + "id not specified or specified value [-1] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "at least one event output must be specified\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "at least one event input must be specified\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void invalidParametersTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/badParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/badParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/badParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n" + " engine service parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  name [hello there] and/or version [PA1] invalid\n"
-                    + "   parameter \"name\": value \"hello there\","
-                    + " does not match regular expression \"[A-Za-z0-9\\-_\\.]+\"\n"
-                    + "  id not specified or specified value [-45] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
-                    + "  instanceCount [-345] invalid, must be specified as instanceCount >= 1\n"
-                    + "  deploymentPort [65536] invalid, must be specified as 1024 <= port <= 65535\n"
-                    + "  policyModelFileName [/some/file/name.xml] not found or is not a plain file\n"
-                    + " event input (TheFileConsumer1) parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  fileName not specified or is blank or null, it must be specified as a valid file location\n"
-                    + " event output (FirstProducer) parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  fileName not specified or is blank or null, it must be specified as a valid file location",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"hello there\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "    field \"name\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"hello there\" INVALID, "
+                            + "name is invalid, it must match regular expression[A-Za-z0-9\\-_\\.]+\n"
+                            + "    field \"id\" type \"int\" value \"-45\" INVALID, id not specified or "
+                            + "specified value [-45] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
+                            + "    field \"instanceCount\" type \"int\" value \"-345\" INVALID, "
+                            + "instanceCount [-345] invalid, must be specified as instanceCount >= 1\n"
+                            + "    field \"deploymentPort\" type \"int\" value \"65536\" INVALID, "
+                            + "deploymentPort [65536] invalid, must be specified as 1024 <= port <= 65535\n"
+                            + "    field \"policyModelFileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" "
+                            + "value \"/some/file/name.xml\" INVALID, not found or is not a plain file\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"FirstProducer\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                            + "filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                            + "fileName not specified or is blank or null, "
+                            + "it must be specified as a valid file location\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"TheFileConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                            + "filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                            + "fileName not specified or is blank or null, "
+                            + "it must be specified as a valid file location\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void goodParametersTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
@@ -146,44 +183,46 @@ public class ParameterTests {
             assertTrue(parameters.getEventOutputParameters().containsKey("FirstProducer"));
             assertTrue(parameters.getEventOutputParameters().containsKey("MyOtherProducer"));
             assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals(ApexFileEventProducer.class.getCanonicalName(), parameters.getEventOutputParameters()
-                    .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
+                            .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
             assertEquals(ApexFileEventConsumer.class.getCanonicalName(), parameters.getEventOutputParameters()
-                    .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals("JSON",
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
+            assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters()
+                            .getLabel());
             assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
 
             assertTrue(parameters.getEventInputParameters().containsKey("TheFileConsumer1"));
             assertTrue(parameters.getEventInputParameters().containsKey("MySuperDooperConsumer1"));
             assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals(ApexFileEventProducer.class.getCanonicalName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
+                            .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
             assertEquals(ApexFileEventConsumer.class.getCanonicalName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals(SuperDooperEventProducer.class.getCanonicalName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals(SuperDooperEventSubscriber.class.getCanonicalName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+                            .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
+            assertEquals(SuperDooperEventProducer.class.getCanonicalName(),
+                            parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
+            assertEquals(SuperDooperEventSubscriber.class.getCanonicalName(),
+                            parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void superDooperParametersTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/superDooperParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/superDooperParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
@@ -195,14 +234,14 @@ public class ParameterTests {
             assertEquals(345, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
             assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
 
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters consEP =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
+            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT = parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP = parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters();
+            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT = parameters.getEventInputParameters()
+                            .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+            final EventProtocolParameters consEP = parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters();
 
             assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", prodCT.getLabel());
             assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", prodEP.getLabel());
@@ -211,8 +250,7 @@ public class ParameterTests {
 
             assertTrue(prodCT instanceof SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters);
 
-            final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters =
-                    (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) prodCT;
+            final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters = (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) prodCT;
             assertEquals("somehost:12345", superDooperParameters.getBootstrapServers());
             assertEquals("0", superDooperParameters.getAcks());
             assertEquals(25, superDooperParameters.getRetries());
@@ -230,9 +268,9 @@ public class ParameterTests {
             assertEquals("some.key.deserailizer", superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
             assertEquals("some.value.deserailizer", superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
 
-            final String[] consumerTopics = {"consumer-out-0", "consumer-out-1", "consumer-out-2"};
+            final String[] consumerTopics = { "consumer-out-0", "consumer-out-1", "consumer-out-2" };
             assertEquals(Arrays.asList(consumerTopics), superDooperParameters.getConsumerTopicList());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java
index a476b84ca..8bcc1bd37 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexCommandLineArguments;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterHandler;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
 
 /**
  * Test for an empty parameter file.
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
 public class ProducerConsumerTests {
     @Test
     public void goodParametersTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
@@ -50,220 +50,241 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
             assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
             assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
             assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON",
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+            assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters()
+                            .getLabel());
             assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
             assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void noCarrierTechnology() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCT.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCT.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCT.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n" + " event input (aConsumer) parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  event handler carrierTechnologyParameters not specified or blank", e.getMessage());
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aConsumer\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                            + " parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
+                            + "event handler carrierTechnologyParameters not specified or blank\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void noEventProcol() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEP.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEP.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEP.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n" + " event input (aConsumer) parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  fileName not specified or is blank or null, it must be specified as a valid file location\n"
-                    + " event output (aProducer) parameters invalid\n"
-                    + "  event handler eventProtocolParameters not specified or blank", e.getMessage());
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aProducer\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
+                            + "event handler eventProtocolParameters not specified or blank\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aConsumer\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                            + "filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                            + "fileName not specified or is blank or null, "
+                            + "it must be specified as a valid file location\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void noCarrierTechnologyParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCTParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCTParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCTParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_DOOPER\" "
-                    + "does not match plugin \"FILE\" in "
-                    + "\"com.ericsson.apex.service.engine.event.impl.filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters"
-                    + "\", specify correct carrier technology parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_DOOPER\" "
+                            + "parameter \"parameterClassName\" value \"null\" invalid in JSON file", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void mismatchCarrierTechnologyParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_LOOPER\" "
-                    + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_DOOPER\" in \""
-                    + "com.ericsson.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters"
-                    + "\", specify correct carrier technology parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json\"\n"
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_LOOPER\" "
+                            + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_DOOPER\" in \"" + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine."
+                            + "parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters"
+                            + "\", specify correct carrier technology parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
+                            e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void wrongTypeCarrierTechnologyParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for carrier technology "
-                    + "\"SUPER_DOOPER\"\ncom.ericsson.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
-                    + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters cannot be cast to "
-                    + "com.ericsson.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json\"\n"
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for carrier technology "
+                            + "\"SUPER_DOOPER\"\n" + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
+                            + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters cannot be cast to "
+                            + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters",
+                            e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void okFileNameCarrierTechnology() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsOKFileName.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsOKFileName.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             final FILECarrierTechnologyParameters fileParams = (FILECarrierTechnologyParameters) parameters
-                    .getEventOutputParameters().get("aProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+                            .getEventOutputParameters().get("aProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
             assertEquals("/tmp/aaa.json", fileParams.getFileName());
             assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStandardError());
             assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStandardIO());
             assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStreamingMode());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void badFileNameCarrierTechnology() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json\""
-                    + "\nApex parameters invalid\n" + " event output (aProducer) parameters invalid"
-                    + "\n fileName not specified or is blank or null, it must be specified as a valid file location",
-                    e.getMessage());
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
+            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"aProducer\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                            + "filecarrierplugin.FILECarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "        field \"fileName\" type "
+                            + "\"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, fileName not specified or is blank or null, "
+                            + "it must be specified as a valid file location\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
-
     @Test
     public void badEventProtocolParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadEPParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadEPParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" does not match plugin \"JSON\" "
-                    + "in \"com.ericsson.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.JSONEventProtocolParameters"
-                    + "\", specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" does not match plugin \"JSON\" in "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.JSONEventProtocolParameters"
+                            + "\", specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
+                            e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void noEventProtocolParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEPParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEPParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" does not match plugin \"JSON\" "
-                    + "in \"com.ericsson.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.JSONEventProtocolParameters"
-                    + "\", specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" parameter "
+                            + "\"parameterClassName\" value \"null\" invalid in JSON file", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void mismatchEventProtocolParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                            + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_BEL\" "
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
+            assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json\"\n"
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_BEL\" "
                             + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" in "
-                            + "\"com.ericsson.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
                             + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters\", "
                             + "specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void wrongTypeEventProtocolParClass() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ApexParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for event protocol "
-                    + "\"SUPER_TOK_DEL\"\n"
-                    + "com.ericsson.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters "
-                    + "cannot be cast to com.ericsson.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json\"\n"
+                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for event protocol "
+                            + "\"SUPER_TOK_DEL\"\n" + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine."
+                            + "parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters "
+                            + "cannot be cast to org.onap.policy.apex.service."
+                            + "parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java
index cc1d6d3dc..1c291786f 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ import org.junit.Test;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexCommandLineArguments;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterException;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameterHandler;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerPeeredMode;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
 
 /**
  * Test for an empty parameter file.
@@ -44,257 +44,362 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParame
  */
 public class SyncParameterTests {
     @Test
-    public void syncBadNoSyncWithPeer() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json"};
+    public void syncBadNoSyncWithPeer() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousPeer\\\" is illegal on non synchronous event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer0\"", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" "
+                            + "peer is illegal on eventOutputParameters \"SyncProducer0\" \n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncBadNotSyncWithPeer() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json"};
+    public void syncBadNotSyncWithPeer() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousPeer\\\" is illegal on non synchronous event output \"SyncProducer0\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" peer is illegal "
+                            + "on eventOutputParameters \"SyncProducer0\" \n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncBadSyncBadPeers() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json"};
+    public void syncBadSyncBadPeers() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json\"" + "\nApex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " specified \"synchronousPeer\" parameter value \"SyncConsumer1\" on event input "
-                    + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not exist or is an invalid peer for this event handler\n"
-                    + " specified \"synchronousPeer\" parameter value \"SyncConsumer0\" on event input "
-                    + "\"SyncConsumer1\" does not exist or is an invalid peer for this event handler\n"
-                    + " specified \"synchronousPeer\" parameter value \"SyncProducer1\" on event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer0\" does not exist or is an invalid peer for this event handler\n"
-                    + " specified \"synchronousPeer\" parameter value \"SyncProducer0\" on event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not exist or is an invalid peer for this event handler", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                            + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                            + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                            + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                            + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncBadSyncInvalidTimeout() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json"};
+    public void syncBadSyncInvalidTimeout() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousTimeout\\\" value \"-1\" is illegal on synchronous event input "
-                    + "\"SyncConsumer0\", specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousTimeout\\\" value \"-99999999\" is illegal on synchronous event input "
-                    + "\"SyncConsumer1\", specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousTimeout\\\" value \"-10\" is illegal on synchronous event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer0\", specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousTimeout\\\" value \"-3\" is illegal on synchronous event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1\", specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + " synchronous timeout of event input \"SyncConsumer0\" and event output \"SyncProducer0\" "
-                    + "[-1/-10] do not match\n"
-                    + " synchronous timeout of event input \"SyncConsumer1\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1\" [-99999999/-3] do not match", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                            + " specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-10\" is illegal, "
+                            + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-3\" is illegal, "
+                            + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-1\" is illegal, "
+                            + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                            + " specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-99999999\" is illegal, "
+                            + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncBadSyncBadTimeout() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json"};
+    public void syncBadSyncBadTimeout() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json\"\n" + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " parameter \\\"synchronousTimeout\\\" is illegal on non synchronous event output "
-                    + "\"MyOtherProducer\"", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"MyOtherProducer\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" "
+                            + "timeout is illegal on eventOutputParameters \"MyOtherProducer\"\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncBadSyncUnpairedTimeout() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json"};
+    public void syncBadSyncUnpairedTimeout() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json\"\n"
-                    + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " synchronous timeout of event input \"SyncConsumer0\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer0\" [1/10] do not match\n"
-                    + " synchronous timeout of event input \"SyncConsumer1\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1\" [99999999/3] do not match", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 10 on event handler "
+                            + "\"SyncProducer0\" does not equal timeout 1 on event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 3 on event handler "
+                            + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not equal timeout 99999999 on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 1 on event handler "
+                            + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal timeout 10 on event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 99999999 on event handler "
+                            + "\"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal timeout 3 on event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n" + "",
+                            e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncGoodSyncGoodTimeoutProducer() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsProducerTimeout.json"};
+    public void syncGoodSyncGoodTimeoutProducer() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsProducerTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
         } catch (final Exception e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncGoodSyncGoodTimeoutConsumer() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsConsumerTimeout.json"};
+    public void syncGoodSyncGoodTimeoutConsumer() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsConsumerTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
         } catch (final Exception e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncGoodSyncGoodTimeoutBoth() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsBothTimeout.json"};
+    public void syncGoodSyncGoodTimeoutBoth() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsBothTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
             assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+                            .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
         } catch (final Exception e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncUnusedConsumerPeers() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json"};
+    public void syncUnusedConsumerPeers() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json\"\n" + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " value of parameter \"synchronousPeer\" on event output \"SyncProducer1\" must be unique, "
-                    + "it s used on another event output\n"
-                    + " synchronous peers of event input \"SyncConsumer1\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1/SyncConsumer0\" do not match", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, "
+                            + "value \"SyncProducer0\" on peer \"SyncConsumer0\" "
+                            + "does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, "
+                            + "value \"SyncConsumer0\" on peer \"SyncProducer1\" "
+                            + "does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncMismatchedPeers() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json"};
+    public void syncMismatchedPeers() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json\"\nApex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " synchronous peers of event input \"SyncConsumer0\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer0/SyncConsumer1\" do not match\n"
-                    + " synchronous peers of event input \"SyncConsumer1\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1/SyncConsumer0\" do not match", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer1\" "
+                            + "on peer \"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer0\" "
+                            + "on peer \"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer1\" "
+                            + "on peer \"SyncProducer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer0\" "
+                            + "on peer \"SyncProducer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n",
+                            e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncUnusedProducerPeers() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json"};
+    public void syncUnusedProducerPeers() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json\"\nApex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " value of parameter \"synchronousPeer\" on event input \"SyncConsumer1\" must be unique, "
-                    + "it is used on another event input\nsynchronous peers of event input \"SyncConsumer0\" and event"
-                    + " output \"SyncProducer1/SyncConsumer1\" do not match", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer1\" on peer "
+                            + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer1\" on peer "
+                            + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void syncMismatchedTimeout() throws ApexParameterException {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json"};
+    public void syncMismatchedTimeout() throws ParameterException {
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
             new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
             fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json\"\n" + "Apex parameters invalid\n"
-                    + " value of parameter \"synchronousPeer\" on event input \"SyncConsumer1\" "
-                    + "must be unique, it s used on another event input\n"
-                    + " synchronous peers of event input \"SyncConsumer0\" and event output "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1/SyncConsumer1\" do not match", e.getMessage());
+                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json\"\n"
+                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" "
+                            + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                            + " peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 456 "
+                            + "on event handler \"SyncProducer1\" does not equal timeout 123 "
+                            + "on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n"
+                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                            + " peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 123 "
+                            + "on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal timeout 456 "
+                            + "on event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
     @Test
     public void syncGoodParametersTest() {
-        final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/SyncGoodParams.json"};
+        final String[] args = { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParams.json" };
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
         try {
@@ -306,22 +411,22 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
             assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
             assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
 
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT0 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP0 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT0 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters consEP0 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT1 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP1 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT1 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters consEP1 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
+            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT0 = parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP0 = parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters();
+            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT0 = parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+            final EventProtocolParameters consEP0 = parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters();
+            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT1 = parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP1 = parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters();
+            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT1 = parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
+                            .getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+            final EventProtocolParameters consEP1 = parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
+                            .getEventProtocolParameters();
 
             assertEquals("FILE", prodCT0.getLabel());
             assertEquals("JSON", prodEP0.getLabel());
@@ -335,8 +440,7 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
             assertTrue(consCT1 instanceof SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters);
             assertTrue(consEP1 instanceof SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters);
 
-            final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters =
-                    (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) consCT1;
+            final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters = (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) consCT1;
             assertEquals("localhost:9092", superDooperParameters.getBootstrapServers());
             assertEquals("all", superDooperParameters.getAcks());
             assertEquals(0, superDooperParameters.getRetries());
@@ -350,17 +454,17 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
             assertEquals("apex-out", superDooperParameters.getProducerTopic());
             assertEquals(100, superDooperParameters.getConsumerPollTime());
             assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getKeySerializer());
+                            superDooperParameters.getKeySerializer());
             assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getValueSerializer());
+                            superDooperParameters.getValueSerializer());
             assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
+                            superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
             assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
+                            superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
 
-            final String[] consumerTopics = {"apex-in"};
+            final String[] consumerTopics = { "apex-in" };
             assertEquals(Arrays.asList(consumerTopics), superDooperParameters.getConsumerTopicList());
-        } catch (final ApexParameterException e) {
+        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
             fail("This test should not throw an exception");
         }
     }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters.java
index 604849f31..3ec84b150 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters.java
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.ParameterService;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
 
 /**
  * Apex parameters for SuperDooper as an event carrier technology.
@@ -46,14 +47,11 @@ public class SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyPar
     private static final int DEFAULT_SESSION_TIMEOUT = 30000;
     private static final String DEFAULT_PRODUCER_TOPIC = "apex-out";
     private static final int DEFAULT_CONSUMER_POLL_TIME = 100;
-    private static final String[] DEFAULT_CONSUMER_TOPIC_LIST = {"apex-in"};
+    private static final String[] DEFAULT_CONSUMER_TOPIC_LIST = { "apex-in" };
     private static final String DEFAULT_KEY_SERIALIZER = "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer";
-    private static final String DEFAULT_VALUE_SERIALIZER =
-            "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer";
-    private static final String DEFAULT_KEY_DESERIALIZER =
-            "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer";
-    private static final String DEFAULT_VALUE_DESERIALIZER =
-            "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer";
+    private static final String DEFAULT_VALUE_SERIALIZER = "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer";
+    private static final String DEFAULT_KEY_DESERIALIZER = "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer";
+    private static final String DEFAULT_VALUE_DESERIALIZER = "org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer";
 
     // Parameter property map tokens
     private static final String PROPERTY_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS = "bootstrap.servers";
@@ -91,19 +89,18 @@ public class SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyPar
     private String valueDeserializer = DEFAULT_VALUE_DESERIALIZER;
 
     /**
-     * Constructor to create a file carrier technology parameters instance and register the instance
-     * with the parameter service.
+     * Constructor to create a file carrier technology parameters instance and register the instance with the parameter
+     * service.
      */
     public SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters() {
-        super(SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters.class, this);
+        super();
 
         // Set the carrier technology properties for the FILE carrier technology
         this.setLabel("SUPER_DOOPER");
         this.setEventProducerPluginClass(
-                "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperEventProducer");
+                        "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperEventProducer");
         this.setEventConsumerPluginClass(
-                "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperEventSubscriber");
+                        "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperEventSubscriber");
     }
 
     /**
@@ -454,92 +451,103 @@ public class SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters extends CarrierTechnologyPar
     /*
      * (non-Javadoc)
      * 
-     * @see org.onap.policy.apex.apps.uservice.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
+     * @see org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup#getName()
      */
     @Override
-    public String validate() {
-        final StringBuilder errorMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.getLabel();
+    }
 
-        errorMessageBuilder.append(super.validate());
+    /*
+     * (non-Javadoc)
+     * 
+     * @see org.onap.policy.apex.apps.uservice.parameters.ApexParameterValidator#validate()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        final GroupValidationResult result = super.validate();
 
         if (bootstrapServers == null || bootstrapServers.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder
-                    .append("  bootstrapServers not specified, must be specified as a string of form host:port\n");
+            result.setResult("bootstrapServers", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "bootstrapServers not specified, must be specified as a string of form host:port");
         }
 
         if (acks == null || acks.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  acks not specified, must be specified as a string with values [0|1|all]\n");
+            result.setResult("acks", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "acks not specified, must be specified as a string with values [0|1|all]");
         }
 
         if (retries < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  retries [" + retries + "] invalid, must be specified as retries >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("retries", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "[" + retries + "] invalid, must be specified as retries >= 0");
         }
 
         if (batchSize < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder
-                    .append("  batchSize [" + batchSize + "] invalid, must be specified as batchSize >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("batchSize", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "[" + batchSize + "] invalid, must be specified as batchSize >= 0");
         }
 
         if (lingerTime < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder
-                    .append("  lingerTime [" + lingerTime + "] invalid, must be specified as lingerTime >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("lingerTime", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "[" + lingerTime + "] invalid, must be specified as lingerTime >= 0");
         }
 
         if (bufferMemory < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder
-                    .append("  bufferMemory [" + bufferMemory + "] invalid, must be specified as bufferMemory >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("bufferMemory", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "[" + bufferMemory + "] invalid, must be specified as bufferMemory >= 0");
         }
 
         if (groupId == null || groupId.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  groupId not specified, must be specified as a string\n");
+            result.setResult("groupId", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not specified, must be specified as a string");
         }
 
         if (autoCommitTime < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                    "  autoCommitTime [" + autoCommitTime + "] invalid, must be specified as autoCommitTime >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("autoCommitTime", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "[" + autoCommitTime
+                            + "] invalid, must be specified as autoCommitTime >= 0");
         }
 
         if (sessionTimeout < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append(
-                    "  sessionTimeout [" + sessionTimeout + "] invalid, must be specified as sessionTimeout >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("sessionTimeout", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "sessionTimeout [" + sessionTimeout
+                            + "] invalid, must be specified as sessionTimeout >= 0");
         }
 
         if (producerTopic == null || producerTopic.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  producerTopic not specified, must be specified as a string\n");
+            result.setResult("producerTopic", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "producerTopic not specified, must be specified as a string");
         }
 
         if (consumerPollTime < 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  consumerPollTime [" + consumerPollTime
-                    + "] invalid, must be specified as consumerPollTime >= 0\n");
+            result.setResult("consumerPollTime", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "[" + consumerPollTime
+                            + "] invalid, must be specified as consumerPollTime >= 0");
         }
 
         if (consumerTopicList == null || consumerTopicList.length == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  consumerTopicList not specified, must be specified as a list of strings\n");
+            result.setResult("consumerTopicList", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not specified, must be specified as a list of strings");
         }
 
+        StringBuilder consumerTopicMessageBuilder = new StringBuilder();
         for (final String consumerTopic : consumerTopicList) {
             if (consumerTopic == null || consumerTopic.trim().length() == 0) {
-                errorMessageBuilder.append("  invalid consumer topic \"" + consumerTopic
-                        + "\" specified on consumerTopicList, consumer topics must be specified as strings\n");
+                consumerTopicMessageBuilder.append("  invalid consumer topic \"" + consumerTopic
+                                + "\" specified on consumerTopicList, consumer topics must be specified as strings");
             }
         }
+        
+        if (consumerTopicMessageBuilder.length() > 0) {
+            result.setResult("consumerTopicList", ValidationStatus.INVALID, consumerTopicMessageBuilder.toString());
+        }
 
         if (keySerializer == null || keySerializer.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  keySerializer not specified, must be specified as a string\n");
+            result.setResult("keySerializer", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not specified, must be specified as a string");
         }
 
         if (valueSerializer == null || valueSerializer.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  valueSerializer not specified, must be specified as a string\n");
+            result.setResult("valueSerializer", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not specified, must be specified as a string");
         }
 
         if (keyDeserializer == null || keyDeserializer.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  keyDeserializer not specified, must be specified as a string\n");
+            result.setResult("keyDeserializer", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not specified, must be specified as a string");
         }
 
         if (valueDeserializer == null || valueDeserializer.trim().length() == 0) {
-            errorMessageBuilder.append("  valueDeserializer not specified, must be specified as a string\n");
+            result.setResult("valueDeserializer", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "not specified, must be specified as a string");
         }
 
-        return errorMessageBuilder.toString();
+        return result;
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperDistributorParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperDistributorParameters.java
index 8d7d65977..72dbc57a6 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperDistributorParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperDooperDistributorParameters.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses;
 
 import org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters;
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.ParameterService;
 
 /**
  * Distributor parameters for the Super Dooper Distributor.
@@ -44,9 +43,7 @@ public class SuperDooperDistributorParameters extends DistributorParameters {
     private String jGroupsBindAddress = DEFAULT_INFINSPAN_JGROUPS_BIND_ADDRESS;
 
     public SuperDooperDistributorParameters() {
-        super(SuperDooperDistributorParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(SuperDooperDistributorParameters.class, this);
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(DistributorParameters.class, this);
+        super();
     }
 
     public String getConfigFile() {
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters.java
index bac271319..02d986186 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/dummyclasses/SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses;
 
-import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.service.ParameterService;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.JSONEventProtocolParameters;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolTextTokenDelimitedParameters;
 
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@ public class SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters extends EventProtocolTex
      */
     public SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters() {
         super(JSONEventProtocolParameters.class.getCanonicalName());
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters.class, this);
 
         // Set the event protocol properties for the JSON carrier technology
         this.setLabel(SUPER_TOKEN_EVENT_PROTOCOL_LABEL);
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json b/services/services-engine/src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..378106825
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+{
+    "engineServiceParameters": {
+        "name": "MyApexEngine",
+        "version": "0.0.1",
+        "id": 45,
+        "instanceCount": 19,
+        "deploymentPort": 65522,
+        "policyModelFileName": "src/test/resources/policymodels/SamplePolicyModelMVEL.json",
+        "engineParameters": {
+            "executorParameters": {
+                "MVEL": {
+                    "parameterClassName": "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperExecutorParameters"
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    },
+    "eventOutputParameters": {
+        "SyncProducer0": {
+            "carrierTechnologyParameters": {
+                "carrierTechnology": "FILE",
+                "parameters": {
+                    "fileName": "/tmp/aaa.json"
+                }
+            },
+            "eventProtocolParameters": {
+                "eventProtocol": "JSON"
+            },
+            "synchronousMode": true,
+            "synchronousPeer": "SyncConsumer0"
+        },
+        "SyncProducer1": {
+            "synchronousMode": true,
+            "carrierTechnologyParameters": {
+                "carrierTechnology": "FILE",
+                "parameters": {
+                    "fileName": "/tmp/aaa.json"
+                }
+            },
+            "eventProtocolParameters": {
+                "eventProtocol": "JSON"
+            },
+            "synchronousPeer": "SyncConsumer1",
+            "synchronousTimeout" : 456
+        }
+    },
+    "eventInputParameters": {
+        "SyncConsumer0": {
+            "eventProtocolParameters": {
+                "eventProtocol": "JSON"
+            },
+            "synchronousMode": true,
+            "synchronousPeer": "SyncProducer0",
+            "carrierTechnologyParameters": {
+                "carrierTechnology": "FILE",
+                "parameters": {
+                    "fileName": "/tmp/bbb.json"
+                }
+            }
+        },
+        "SyncConsumer1": {
+            "synchronousPeer": "SyncProducer1",
+            "carrierTechnologyParameters": {
+                "carrierTechnology": "SUPER_DOOPER",
+                "parameterClassName": "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters"
+            },
+            "eventProtocolParameters": {
+                "eventProtocol": "SUPER_TOK_DEL",
+                "parameterClassName": "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters"
+            },
+            "synchronousMode": true,
+            "synchronousTimeout" : 123
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file