diff --git a/rtmp_protocol.py b/rtmp_protocol.py
index b681f00..efb665d 100644
--- a/rtmp_protocol.py
+++ b/rtmp_protocol.py
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 """
 
 import pyamf.amf0
-import pyamf.util
+import pyamf.util.pure
 import rtmp_protocol_base
 import socket
 
-class FileDataTypeMixIn(pyamf.util.DataTypeMixIn):
+class FileDataTypeMixIn(pyamf.util.pure.DataTypeMixIn):
     """
     Provides a wrapper for a file object that enables reading and writing of raw
     data types for the file.
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class FileDataTypeMixIn(pyamf.util.DataTypeMixIn):
 
     def __init__(self, fileobject):
         self.fileobject = fileobject
-        pyamf.util.DataTypeMixIn.__init__(self)
+        pyamf.util.pure.DataTypeMixIn.__init__(self)
 
     def read(self, length):
         return self.fileobject.read(length)
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ def at_eof(self):
 
 class DataTypes:
     """ Represents an enumeration of the RTMP message datatypes. """
+    NONE = -1
     USER_CONTROL = 4
     WINDOW_ACK_SIZE = 5
     SET_PEER_BANDWIDTH = 6
@@ -48,6 +49,16 @@ class SOEventTypes:
     DELETE = 9
     USE_SUCCESS = 11
 
+class UserControlTypes:
+    """ Represents an enumeration of the user control event types. """
+    STREAM_BEGIN = 0
+    STREAM_EOF = 1
+    STREAM_DRY = 2
+    SET_BUFFER_LENGTH = 3
+    STREAM_IS_RECORDED = 4
+    PING_REQUEST = 6
+    PING_RESPONSE = 7
+
 class RtmpReader:
     """ This class reads RTMP messages from a stream. """
 
@@ -72,6 +83,10 @@ def next(self):
         message_body = []
         msg_body_len = 0
         header = rtmp_protocol_base.header_decode(self.stream)
+        # FIXME: this should be really implemented inside header_decode
+        if header.datatype == DataTypes.NONE:
+            header = self.prv_header
+        self.prv_header = header
         while True:
             read_bytes = min(header.bodyLength - msg_body_len, self.chunk_size)
             message_body.append(self.stream.read(read_bytes))
@@ -124,6 +139,9 @@ def next(self):
             while not body_stream.at_eof():
                 commands.append(decoder.readElement())
             ret['command'] = commands
+        #elif ret['msg'] == DataTypes.NONE:
+        #    print 'WARNING: message with no datatype received.', header
+        #    return self.next()
         else:
             assert False, header
 
@@ -210,7 +228,7 @@ def write(self, message):
             for command in message['command']:
                 encoder.writeElement(command)
         elif datatype == DataTypes.SHARED_OBJECT:
-            encoder.writeString(message['obj_name'],writeType=False)
+            encoder.serialiseString(message['obj_name'])
             body_stream.write_ulong(message['curr_version'])
             body_stream.write(message['flags'])
 
@@ -236,7 +254,7 @@ def write_shared_object_event(self, event, body_stream):
         elif event_type == SOEventTypes.CHANGE:
             for attrib_name in event['data']:
                 attrib_value = event['data'][attrib_name]
-                encoder.writeString(attrib_name,writeType=False)
+                encoder.serialiseString(attrib_name)
                 encoder.writeElement(attrib_value)
         elif event['type'] == SOEventTypes.CLEAR:
             assert event['data'] == '', event['data']
@@ -444,7 +462,7 @@ def handle_message_pre_connect(self, msg):
             assert msg['window_ack_size'] == 2500000, msg
             assert msg['limit_type'] == 2, msg
         elif msg['msg'] == DataTypes.USER_CONTROL:
-            assert msg['event_type'] == 0, msg
+            assert msg['event_type'] == UserControlTypes.STREAM_BEGIN, msg
             assert msg['event_data'] == '\x00\x00\x00\x00', msg
         else:
             assert False, msg
@@ -476,10 +494,30 @@ def handle_messages(self):
         """ Start the message handling loop. """
         while True:
             msg = self.reader.next()
-            handled = False
+
+            handled = self.handle_simple_message(msg)
+
+            if handled:
+                continue
+
             for so in self.shared_objects:
                 if so.handle_message(msg):
                     handled = True
                     break
             if not handled:
                 assert False, msg
+
+    def handle_simple_message(self, msg):
+        """ Handle simple messages, e.g. ping requests. """
+        if msg['msg'] == DataTypes.USER_CONTROL and msg['event_type'] == \
+                UserControlTypes.PING_REQUEST:
+            resp = {
+                'msg':DataTypes.USER_CONTROL,
+                'event_type':UserControlTypes.PING_RESPONSE,
+                'event_data':msg['event_data'],
+            }
+            self.writer.write(resp)
+            self.writer.flush()
+            return True
+
+        return False