diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/include/DeviceDescriptor.h b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/include/DeviceDescriptor.h
index 6c1035c..eb1bfa7 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/include/DeviceDescriptor.h
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/include/DeviceDescriptor.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "PolicyAudioPort.h"
+#include <media/DeviceDescriptorBase.h>
 #include <utils/Errors.h>
 #include <utils/String8.h>
 #include <utils/SortedVector.h>
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@
 
 namespace android {
 
-class DeviceDescriptor : public AudioPort, public AudioPortConfig,
+class DeviceDescriptor : public DeviceDescriptorBase,
                          public PolicyAudioPort, public PolicyAudioPortConfig
 {
 public:
@@ -43,10 +44,6 @@
 
     virtual const std::string getTagName() const { return mTagName; }
 
-    audio_devices_t type() const { return mDeviceType; }
-    String8 address() const { return mAddress; }
-    void setAddress(const String8 &address) { mAddress = address; }
-
     const FormatVector& encodedFormats() const { return mEncodedFormats; }
 
     audio_format_t getEncodedFormat() { return mCurrentEncodedFormat; }
@@ -67,9 +64,6 @@
     }
 
     // AudioPortConfig
-    virtual sp<AudioPort> getAudioPort() const {
-        return static_cast<AudioPort*>(const_cast<DeviceDescriptor*>(this));
-    }
     virtual status_t applyAudioPortConfig(const struct audio_port_config *config,
                                           struct audio_port_config *backupConfig = NULL);
     virtual void toAudioPortConfig(struct audio_port_config *dstConfig,
@@ -89,13 +83,9 @@
                                             bool force = false);
 
     void dump(String8 *dst, int spaces, int index, bool verbose = true) const;
-    void log() const;
-    std::string toString() const;
 
 private:
-    String8 mAddress{""};
     std::string mTagName; // Unique human readable identifier for a device port found in conf file.
-    audio_devices_t     mDeviceType;
     FormatVector        mEncodedFormats;
     audio_format_t      mCurrentEncodedFormat;
 };
@@ -221,7 +211,7 @@
     {
         for (const auto &device : *this) {
             if (device->address() != "") {
-                return device->address();
+                return String8(device->address().c_str());
             }
         }
         return String8("");
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/AudioInputDescriptor.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/AudioInputDescriptor.cpp
index aa1cd5d..b963121 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/AudioInputDescriptor.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/AudioInputDescriptor.cpp
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
                                                   input,
                                                   &lConfig,
                                                   &deviceType,
-                                                  mDevice->address(),
+                                                  String8(mDevice->address().c_str()),
                                                   source,
                                                   flags);
     LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(mDevice->type() != deviceType,
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/DeviceDescriptor.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/DeviceDescriptor.cpp
index 51ac5f5..3d3eb9c 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/DeviceDescriptor.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/DeviceDescriptor.cpp
@@ -33,15 +33,9 @@
 
 DeviceDescriptor::DeviceDescriptor(audio_devices_t type, const FormatVector &encodedFormats,
         const std::string &tagName) :
-    AudioPort("", AUDIO_PORT_TYPE_DEVICE,
-              audio_is_output_device(type) ? AUDIO_PORT_ROLE_SINK :
-                                             AUDIO_PORT_ROLE_SOURCE),
-    mTagName(tagName), mDeviceType(type), mEncodedFormats(encodedFormats)
+    DeviceDescriptorBase(type), mTagName(tagName), mEncodedFormats(encodedFormats)
 {
     mCurrentEncodedFormat = AUDIO_FORMAT_DEFAULT;
-    if (audio_is_remote_submix_device(type)) {
-        mAddress = String8("0");
-    }
     /* If framework runs against a pre 5.0 Audio HAL, encoded formats are absent from the config.
      * FIXME: APM should know the version of the HAL and don't add the formats for V5.0.
      * For now, the workaround to remove AC3 and IEC61937 support on HDMI is to declare
@@ -112,6 +106,62 @@
     return false;
 }
 
+status_t DeviceDescriptor::applyAudioPortConfig(const struct audio_port_config *config,
+                                                audio_port_config *backupConfig)
+{
+    struct audio_port_config localBackupConfig = { .config_mask = config->config_mask };
+    status_t status = NO_ERROR;
+
+    toAudioPortConfig(&localBackupConfig);
+    if ((status = validationBeforeApplyConfig(config)) == NO_ERROR) {
+        AudioPortConfig::applyAudioPortConfig(config, backupConfig);
+        applyPolicyAudioPortConfig(config);
+    }
+
+    if (backupConfig != NULL) {
+        *backupConfig = localBackupConfig;
+    }
+    return status;
+}
+
+void DeviceDescriptor::toAudioPortConfig(struct audio_port_config *dstConfig,
+                                         const struct audio_port_config *srcConfig) const
+{
+    DeviceDescriptorBase::toAudioPortConfig(dstConfig, srcConfig);
+    toPolicyAudioPortConfig(dstConfig, srcConfig);
+
+    dstConfig->ext.device.hw_module = getModuleHandle();
+}
+
+void DeviceDescriptor::toAudioPort(struct audio_port *port) const
+{
+    ALOGV("DeviceDescriptor::toAudioPort() handle %d type %08x", mId, mDeviceType);
+    DeviceDescriptorBase::toAudioPort(port);
+    port->ext.device.hw_module = getModuleHandle();
+}
+
+void DeviceDescriptor::importAudioPortAndPickAudioProfile(
+        const sp<PolicyAudioPort>& policyPort, bool force) {
+    if (!force && !policyPort->asAudioPort()->hasDynamicAudioProfile()) {
+        return;
+    }
+    AudioPort::importAudioPort(policyPort->asAudioPort());
+    policyPort->pickAudioProfile(mSamplingRate, mChannelMask, mFormat);
+}
+
+void DeviceDescriptor::dump(String8 *dst, int spaces, int index, bool verbose) const
+{
+    String8 extraInfo;
+    if (!mTagName.empty()) {
+        extraInfo.appendFormat("%*s- tag name: %s\n", spaces, "", mTagName.c_str());
+    }
+
+    std::string descBaseDumpStr;
+    DeviceDescriptorBase::dump(&descBaseDumpStr, spaces, index, extraInfo.string(), verbose);
+    dst->append(descBaseDumpStr.c_str());
+}
+
+
 void DeviceVector::refreshTypes()
 {
     mDeviceTypes = AUDIO_DEVICE_NONE;
@@ -213,11 +263,11 @@
             // If format is specified, match it and ignore address
             // Otherwise if address is specified match it
             // Otherwise always match
-            if (((address == "" || itemAt(i)->address() == address) &&
+            if (((address == "" || (itemAt(i)->address().compare(address.c_str()) == 0)) &&
                  format == AUDIO_FORMAT_DEFAULT) ||
                 (itemAt(i)->supportsFormat(format) && format != AUDIO_FORMAT_DEFAULT)) {
                 device = itemAt(i);
-                if (itemAt(i)->address() == address) {
+                if (itemAt(i)->address().compare(address.c_str()) == 0) {
                     break;
                 }
             }
@@ -310,105 +360,6 @@
     }
 }
 
-status_t DeviceDescriptor::applyAudioPortConfig(const struct audio_port_config *config,
-                                                audio_port_config *backupConfig)
-{
-    struct audio_port_config localBackupConfig = { .config_mask = config->config_mask };
-    status_t status = NO_ERROR;
-
-    toAudioPortConfig(&localBackupConfig);
-    if ((status = validationBeforeApplyConfig(config)) == NO_ERROR) {
-        AudioPortConfig::applyAudioPortConfig(config, backupConfig);
-        applyPolicyAudioPortConfig(config);
-    }
-
-    if (backupConfig != NULL) {
-        *backupConfig = localBackupConfig;
-    }
-    return status;
-}
-
-void DeviceDescriptor::toAudioPortConfig(struct audio_port_config *dstConfig,
-                                         const struct audio_port_config *srcConfig) const
-{
-    dstConfig->config_mask = AUDIO_PORT_CONFIG_GAIN;
-    if (mSamplingRate != 0) {
-        dstConfig->config_mask |= AUDIO_PORT_CONFIG_SAMPLE_RATE;
-    }
-    if (mChannelMask != AUDIO_CHANNEL_NONE) {
-        dstConfig->config_mask |= AUDIO_PORT_CONFIG_CHANNEL_MASK;
-    }
-    if (mFormat != AUDIO_FORMAT_INVALID) {
-        dstConfig->config_mask |= AUDIO_PORT_CONFIG_FORMAT;
-    }
-
-    if (srcConfig != NULL) {
-        dstConfig->config_mask |= srcConfig->config_mask;
-    }
-
-    AudioPortConfig::toAudioPortConfig(dstConfig, srcConfig);
-    toPolicyAudioPortConfig(dstConfig, srcConfig);
-
-    dstConfig->role = audio_is_output_device(mDeviceType) ?
-                        AUDIO_PORT_ROLE_SINK : AUDIO_PORT_ROLE_SOURCE;
-    dstConfig->type = AUDIO_PORT_TYPE_DEVICE;
-    dstConfig->ext.device.type = mDeviceType;
-
-    //TODO Understand why this test is necessary. i.e. why at boot time does it crash
-    // without the test?
-    // This has been demonstrated to NOT be true (at start up)
-    // ALOG_ASSERT(mModule != NULL);
-    dstConfig->ext.device.hw_module = getModuleHandle();
-    (void)audio_utils_strlcpy_zerofill(dstConfig->ext.device.address, mAddress.string());
-}
-
-void DeviceDescriptor::toAudioPort(struct audio_port *port) const
-{
-    ALOGV("DeviceDescriptor::toAudioPort() handle %d type %08x", mId, mDeviceType);
-    AudioPort::toAudioPort(port);
-    port->id = mId;
-    toAudioPortConfig(&port->active_config);
-    port->ext.device.type = mDeviceType;
-    port->ext.device.hw_module = getModuleHandle();
-    (void)audio_utils_strlcpy_zerofill(port->ext.device.address, mAddress.string());
-}
-
-void DeviceDescriptor::importAudioPortAndPickAudioProfile(
-        const sp<PolicyAudioPort>& policyPort, bool force) {
-    if (!force && !policyPort->asAudioPort()->hasDynamicAudioProfile()) {
-        return;
-    }
-    AudioPort::importAudioPort(policyPort->asAudioPort());
-    policyPort->pickAudioProfile(mSamplingRate, mChannelMask, mFormat);
-}
-
-void DeviceDescriptor::dump(String8 *dst, int spaces, int index, bool verbose) const
-{
-    dst->appendFormat("%*sDevice %d:\n", spaces, "", index + 1);
-    if (mId != 0) {
-        dst->appendFormat("%*s- id: %2d\n", spaces, "", mId);
-    }
-    if (!mTagName.empty()) {
-        dst->appendFormat("%*s- tag name: %s\n", spaces, "", mTagName.c_str());
-    }
-
-    dst->appendFormat("%*s- type: %-48s\n", spaces, "", ::android::toString(mDeviceType).c_str());
-
-    if (mAddress.size() != 0) {
-        dst->appendFormat("%*s- address: %-32s\n", spaces, "", mAddress.string());
-    }
-    std::string portStr;
-    AudioPort::dump(&portStr, spaces, verbose);
-    dst->append(portStr.c_str());
-}
-
-std::string DeviceDescriptor::toString() const
-{
-    std::stringstream sstream;
-    sstream << "type:0x" << std::hex << type() << ",@:" << mAddress;
-    return sstream.str();
-}
-
 std::string DeviceVector::toString() const
 {
     if (isEmpty()) {
@@ -457,13 +408,4 @@
     return filteredDevices;
 }
 
-void DeviceDescriptor::log() const
-{
-    ALOGI("Device id:%d type:0x%08X:%s, addr:%s", mId,  mDeviceType,
-          ::android::toString(mDeviceType).c_str(),
-          mAddress.string());
-
-    AudioPort::log("  ");
-}
-
 } // namespace android
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/HwModule.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/HwModule.cpp
index 7e65b20..453006a 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/HwModule.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/HwModule.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
                                               config->sample_rate));
 
     sp<DeviceDescriptor> devDesc = new DeviceDescriptor(device);
-    devDesc->setAddress(address);
+    devDesc->setAddress(address.string());
     addDynamicDevice(devDesc);
     // Reciprocally attach the device to the module
     devDesc->attach(this);
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
                                               config->sample_rate));
 
     sp<DeviceDescriptor> devDesc = new DeviceDescriptor(device);
-    devDesc->setAddress(address);
+    devDesc->setAddress(address.string());
     addDynamicDevice(devDesc);
     // Reciprocally attach the device to the module
     devDesc->attach(this);
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
             }
             if (allowToCreate) {
                 moduleDevice->attach(hwModule);
-                moduleDevice->setAddress(devAddress);
+                moduleDevice->setAddress(devAddress.string());
                 moduleDevice->setName(name);
             }
             return moduleDevice;
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@
     }
     sp<DeviceDescriptor> device = new DeviceDescriptor(type, name);
     device->setName(name);
-    device->setAddress(String8(address));
+    device->setAddress(address);
     device->setEncodedFormat(encodedFormat);
 
   // Add the device to the list of dynamic devices
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/Serializer.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/Serializer.cpp
index ef1ddf7..3b27cf6 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/Serializer.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/common/managerdefinitions/src/Serializer.cpp
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@
     std::string address = getXmlAttribute(cur, Attributes::address);
     if (!address.empty()) {
         ALOGV("%s: address=%s for %s", __func__, address.c_str(), name.c_str());
-        deviceDesc->setAddress(String8(address.c_str()));
+        deviceDesc->setAddress(address);
     }
 
     AudioProfileTraits::Collection profiles;
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@
         return Status::fromStatusT(status);
     }
     ALOGV("%s: adding device tag %s type %08x address %s", __func__,
-          deviceDesc->getName().c_str(), type, deviceDesc->address().string());
+          deviceDesc->getName().c_str(), type, deviceDesc->address().c_str());
     return deviceDesc;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/engineconfigurable/wrapper/ParameterManagerWrapper.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/engineconfigurable/wrapper/ParameterManagerWrapper.cpp
index 4b57444..465a6f9 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/engineconfigurable/wrapper/ParameterManagerWrapper.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/engineconfigurable/wrapper/ParameterManagerWrapper.cpp
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
     std::string criterionName = audio_is_output_device(devDesc->type()) ?
                 gOutputDeviceAddressCriterionName : gInputDeviceAddressCriterionName;
 
-    ALOGV("%s: device with address %s %s", __FUNCTION__, devDesc->address().string(),
+    ALOGV("%s: device with address %s %s", __FUNCTION__, devDesc->address().c_str(),
           state != AUDIO_POLICY_DEVICE_STATE_AVAILABLE? "disconnected" : "connected");
     ISelectionCriterionInterface *criterion =
             getElement<ISelectionCriterionInterface>(criterionName, mPolicyCriteria);
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
 
     auto criterionType = criterion->getCriterionType();
     int deviceAddressId;
-    if (not criterionType->getNumericalValue(devDesc->address().string(), deviceAddressId)) {
+    if (not criterionType->getNumericalValue(devDesc->address().c_str(), deviceAddressId)) {
         ALOGW("%s: unknown device address reported (%s)", __FUNCTION__, devDesc->address().c_str());
         return BAD_TYPE;
     }
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
index 3637edd..75ce9f2 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
 void AudioPolicyManager::broadcastDeviceConnectionState(const sp<DeviceDescriptor> &device,
                                                         audio_policy_dev_state_t state)
 {
-    AudioParameter param(device->address());
+    AudioParameter param(String8(device->address().c_str()));
     const String8 key(state == AUDIO_POLICY_DEVICE_STATE_AVAILABLE ?
                 AudioParameter::keyDeviceConnect : AudioParameter::keyDeviceDisconnect);
     param.addInt(key, device->type());
@@ -4137,7 +4137,7 @@
             AUDIO_DEVICE_OUT_HDMI);
     for (size_t i = 0; i < hdmiOutputDevices.size(); i++) {
         // Simulate reconnection to update enabled surround sound formats.
-        String8 address = hdmiOutputDevices[i]->address();
+        String8 address = String8(hdmiOutputDevices[i]->address().c_str());
         std::string name = hdmiOutputDevices[i]->getName();
         status_t status = setDeviceConnectionStateInt(AUDIO_DEVICE_OUT_HDMI,
                                                       AUDIO_POLICY_DEVICE_STATE_UNAVAILABLE,
@@ -4159,7 +4159,7 @@
                 AUDIO_DEVICE_IN_HDMI);
     for (size_t i = 0; i < hdmiInputDevices.size(); i++) {
         // Simulate reconnection to update enabled surround sound formats.
-        String8 address = hdmiInputDevices[i]->address();
+        String8 address = String8(hdmiInputDevices[i]->address().c_str());
         std::string name = hdmiInputDevices[i]->getName();
         status_t status = setDeviceConnectionStateInt(AUDIO_DEVICE_IN_HDMI,
                                                       AUDIO_POLICY_DEVICE_STATE_UNAVAILABLE,
@@ -4502,11 +4502,11 @@
     }
     // If microphones address is empty, set it according to device type
     for (size_t i = 0; i < mAvailableInputDevices.size(); i++) {
-        if (mAvailableInputDevices[i]->address().isEmpty()) {
+        if (mAvailableInputDevices[i]->address().empty()) {
             if (mAvailableInputDevices[i]->type() == AUDIO_DEVICE_IN_BUILTIN_MIC) {
-                mAvailableInputDevices[i]->setAddress(String8(AUDIO_BOTTOM_MICROPHONE_ADDRESS));
+                mAvailableInputDevices[i]->setAddress(AUDIO_BOTTOM_MICROPHONE_ADDRESS);
             } else if (mAvailableInputDevices[i]->type() == AUDIO_DEVICE_IN_BACK_MIC) {
-                mAvailableInputDevices[i]->setAddress(String8(AUDIO_BACK_MICROPHONE_ADDRESS));
+                mAvailableInputDevices[i]->setAddress(AUDIO_BACK_MICROPHONE_ADDRESS);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -4575,7 +4575,7 @@
                                                    SortedVector<audio_io_handle_t>& outputs)
 {
     audio_devices_t deviceType = device->type();
-    const String8 &address = device->address();
+    const String8 &address = String8(device->address().c_str());
     sp<SwAudioOutputDescriptor> desc;
 
     if (audio_device_is_digital(deviceType)) {
@@ -4847,7 +4847,7 @@
                                          &input);
 
             if (status == NO_ERROR) {
-                const String8& address = device->address();
+                const String8& address = String8(device->address().c_str());
                 if (!address.isEmpty()) {
                     char *param = audio_device_address_to_parameter(device->type(), address);
                     mpClientInterface->setParameters(input, String8(param));
diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.h b/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.h
index f2b021a..93d67ea 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.h
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.h
@@ -646,7 +646,8 @@
         }
         String8 getFirstDeviceAddress(const DeviceVector &devices) const
         {
-            return (devices.size() > 0) ? devices.itemAt(0)->address() : String8("");
+            return (devices.size() > 0) ?
+                    String8(devices.itemAt(0)->address().c_str()) : String8("");
         }
 
         uint32_t updateCallRouting(const DeviceVector &rxDevices, uint32_t delayMs = 0);