diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp
index f470245..a7792f5 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "FilterTests.h"
 
-void FilterCallback::startFilterEventThread(DemuxFilterEvent event) {
+void FilterCallback::startFilterEventThread(DemuxFilterEvent& event) {
     struct FilterThreadArgs* threadArgs =
             (struct FilterThreadArgs*)malloc(sizeof(struct FilterThreadArgs));
     threadArgs->user = this;
@@ -69,9 +69,8 @@
     // end thread
 }
 
-bool FilterCallback::readFilterEventData() {
+bool FilterCallback::readFilterEventData(const DemuxFilterEvent& filterEvent) {
     bool result = false;
-    DemuxFilterEvent filterEvent = mFilterEvent;
     ALOGW("[vts] reading from filter FMQ or buffer %d", mFilterId);
     // todo separate filter handlers
     for (auto event : filterEvent.events) {
@@ -107,7 +106,7 @@
     return result;
 }
 
-bool FilterCallback::dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent event) {
+bool FilterCallback::dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent& event) {
     uint32_t length = event.dataLength;
     uint64_t dataId = event.avDataId;
     // read data from buffer pointed by a handle
@@ -127,7 +126,7 @@
     return true;
 }
 
-bool FilterCallback::readRecordData(DemuxFilterTsRecordEvent event) {
+bool FilterCallback::readRecordData(DemuxFilterTsRecordEvent& event) {
     ALOGD("[vts] got DemuxFilterTsRecordEvent with pid=%d.", event.pid.tPid());
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.h b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.h
index 7bc4832..d37b9e1 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.h
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FilterTests.h
@@ -77,8 +77,7 @@
         android::Mutex::Autolock autoLock(mMsgLock);
         // Temprarily we treat the first coming back filter data on the matching pid a success
         // once all of the MQ are cleared, means we got all the expected output
-        mFilterEvent = filterEvent;
-        readFilterEventData();
+        readFilterEventData(filterEvent);
         mPidFilterOutputCount++;
         // mFilterIdToMQ.erase(filterEvent.filterId);
 
@@ -96,15 +95,15 @@
 
     void testFilterDataOutput();
 
-    void startFilterEventThread(DemuxFilterEvent event);
+    void startFilterEventThread(DemuxFilterEvent& event);
     static void* __threadLoopFilter(void* threadArgs);
     void filterThreadLoop(DemuxFilterEvent& event);
 
     void updateFilterMQ(MQDesc& filterMQDescriptor);
     void updateGoldenOutputMap(string goldenOutputFile);
-    bool readFilterEventData();
-    bool dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent event);
-    bool readRecordData(DemuxFilterTsRecordEvent event);
+    bool readFilterEventData(const DemuxFilterEvent& filterEvent);
+    bool dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent& event);
+    bool readRecordData(DemuxFilterTsRecordEvent& event);
 
   private:
     struct FilterThreadArgs {
@@ -120,7 +119,6 @@
     sp<IFilter> mFilter;
     std::unique_ptr<FilterMQ> mFilterMQ;
     EventFlag* mFilterMQEventFlag;
-    DemuxFilterEvent mFilterEvent;
 
     android::Mutex mMsgLock;
     android::Mutex mFilterOutputLock;
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp
index b35d112..62ac6f7 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp
@@ -370,11 +370,12 @@
     mIsSoftwareFe = config.isSoftwareFe;
     bool result = true;
     if (mIsSoftwareFe && testWithDemux) {
-        result &= mDvrTests.openDvrInDemux(mDvrConfig.type, mDvrConfig.bufferSize) == success();
-        result &= mDvrTests.configDvrPlayback(mDvrConfig.settings) == success();
-        result &= mDvrTests.getDvrPlaybackMQDescriptor() == success();
-        mDvrTests.startPlaybackInputThread(mDvrConfig.playbackInputFile,
-                                           mDvrConfig.settings.playback());
+        result &=
+                getDvrTests()->openDvrInDemux(mDvrConfig.type, mDvrConfig.bufferSize) == success();
+        result &= getDvrTests()->configDvrPlayback(mDvrConfig.settings) == success();
+        result &= getDvrTests()->getDvrPlaybackMQDescriptor() == success();
+        getDvrTests()->startPlaybackInputThread(mDvrConfig.playbackInputFile,
+                                                mDvrConfig.settings.playback());
         if (!result) {
             ALOGW("[vts] Software frontend dvr configure failed.");
             return failure();
@@ -397,8 +398,8 @@
     Result status;
     status = mFrontend->stopTune();
     if (mIsSoftwareFe && testWithDemux) {
-        mDvrTests.stopPlaybackThread();
-        mDvrTests.closeDvrPlayback();
+        getDvrTests()->stopPlaybackThread();
+        getDvrTests()->closeDvrPlayback();
     }
     return AssertionResult(status == Result::SUCCESS);
 }
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h
index 33ff603..c789d94 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
 
     void setService(sp<ITuner> tuner) {
         mService = tuner;
-        mDvrTests.setService(tuner);
+        getDvrTests()->setService(tuner);
         getDefaultSoftwareFrontendPlaybackConfig(mDvrConfig);
     }
 
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@
     void tuneTest(FrontendConfig frontendConf);
     void scanTest(FrontendConfig frontend, FrontendScanType type);
 
-    void setDvrTests(DvrTests dvrTests) { mDvrTests = dvrTests; }
-    void setDemux(sp<IDemux> demux) { mDvrTests.setDemux(demux); }
+    void setDvrTests(DvrTests* dvrTests) { mExternalDvrTests = dvrTests; }
+    void setDemux(sp<IDemux> demux) { getDvrTests()->setDemux(demux); }
     void setSoftwareFrontendDvrConfig(DvrConfig conf) { mDvrConfig = conf; }
 
   protected:
@@ -147,11 +147,16 @@
         dvrConfig.settings.playback(playbackSettings);
     }
 
+    DvrTests* getDvrTests() {
+        return (mExternalDvrTests != nullptr ? mExternalDvrTests : &mDvrTests);
+    }
+
     sp<IFrontend> mFrontend;
     FrontendInfo mFrontendInfo;
     sp<FrontendCallback> mFrontendCallback;
     hidl_vec<FrontendId> mFeIds;
 
+    DvrTests* mExternalDvrTests = nullptr;
     DvrTests mDvrTests;
     bool mIsSoftwareFe = false;
     DvrConfig mDvrConfig;
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.cpp b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.cpp
index b39abe3..3e3a4d4 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.cpp
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.cpp
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
             mFrontendTests.setSoftwareFrontendDvrConfig(dvrMap[record.dvrSoftwareFeId]);
         }
         ASSERT_TRUE(mDemuxTests.setDemuxFrontendDataSource(feId));
-        mFrontendTests.setDvrTests(mDvrTests);
+        mFrontendTests.setDvrTests(&mDvrTests);
     } else {
         dvrSourceConfig = dvrMap[record.dvrSourceId];
         ASSERT_TRUE(mDvrTests.openDvrInDemux(dvrSourceConfig.type, dvrSourceConfig.bufferSize));
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.h b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.h
index 7243a42..0b84b58 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.h
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.0/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_0TargetTest.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
     return true;
 }
 
-AssertionResult filterDataOutputTestBase(FilterTests tests) {
+AssertionResult filterDataOutputTestBase(FilterTests& tests) {
     // Data Verify Module
     std::map<uint32_t, sp<FilterCallback>>::iterator it;
     std::map<uint32_t, sp<FilterCallback>> filterCallbacks = tests.getFilterCallbacks();
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp
index 4dff853..8bdf8f6 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.cpp
@@ -64,11 +64,11 @@
     ALOGW("[vts] pass and stop");
 }
 
-void FilterCallback::readFilterEventData() {
+void FilterCallback::readFilterEventData(const DemuxFilterEvent& filterEvent) {
     ALOGW("[vts] reading filter event");
     // todo separate filter handlers
-    for (int i = 0; i < mFilterEvent.events.size(); i++) {
-        auto event = mFilterEvent.events[i];
+    for (int i = 0; i < filterEvent.events.size(); i++) {
+        auto event = filterEvent.events[i];
         switch (event.getDiscriminator()) {
             case DemuxFilterEvent::Event::hidl_discriminator::media:
                 ALOGD("[vts] Media filter event, avMemHandle numFds=%d.",
@@ -79,8 +79,13 @@
                 break;
         }
     }
-    for (int i = 0; i < mFilterEventExt.events.size(); i++) {
-        auto eventExt = mFilterEventExt.events[i];
+}
+
+void FilterCallback::readFilterEventExtData(const DemuxFilterEventExt& filterEventExt) {
+    ALOGW("[vts] reading filter event ext");
+    // todo separate filter handlers
+    for (int i = 0; i < filterEventExt.events.size(); i++) {
+        auto eventExt = filterEventExt.events[i];
         switch (eventExt.getDiscriminator()) {
             case DemuxFilterEventExt::Event::hidl_discriminator::tsRecord:
                 ALOGD("[vts] Extended TS record filter event, pts=%" PRIu64 ", firstMbInSlice=%d",
@@ -114,7 +119,7 @@
     }
 }
 
-bool FilterCallback::dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent event) {
+bool FilterCallback::dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent& event) {
     uint32_t length = event.dataLength;
     uint32_t offset = event.offset;
     // read data from buffer pointed by a handle
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.h b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.h
index 72c8129..1a1273e 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.h
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FilterTests.h
@@ -88,9 +88,8 @@
         android::Mutex::Autolock autoLock(mMsgLock);
         // Temprarily we treat the first coming back filter data on the matching pid a success
         // once all of the MQ are cleared, means we got all the expected output
-        mFilterEvent = filterEvent;
-        mFilterEventExt = filterEventExt;
-        readFilterEventData();
+        readFilterEventData(filterEvent);
+        readFilterEventExtData(filterEventExt);
         mPidFilterOutputCount++;
         mMsgCondition.signal();
         return Void();
@@ -101,8 +100,7 @@
         android::Mutex::Autolock autoLock(mMsgLock);
         // Temprarily we treat the first coming back filter data on the matching pid a success
         // once all of the MQ are cleared, means we got all the expected output
-        mFilterEvent = filterEvent;
-        readFilterEventData();
+        readFilterEventData(filterEvent);
         mPidFilterOutputCount++;
         mMsgCondition.signal();
         return Void();
@@ -115,7 +113,7 @@
     void setFilterId(uint32_t filterId) { mFilterId = filterId; }
     void setFilterInterface(sp<IFilter> filter) { mFilter = filter; }
     void setFilterEventType(FilterEventType type) { mFilterEventType = type; }
-    void setSharedHandle(hidl_handle sharedHandle) { mAvSharedHandle = sharedHandle; }
+    void setSharedHandle(hidl_handle& sharedHandle) { mAvSharedHandle = sharedHandle; }
     void setMemSize(uint64_t size) { mAvSharedMemSize = size; }
 
     void testFilterDataOutput();
@@ -123,15 +121,14 @@
     void testFilterIpCidEvent();
     void testStartIdAfterReconfigure();
 
-    void readFilterEventData();
-    bool dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent event);
+    void readFilterEventData(const DemuxFilterEvent& filterEvent);
+    void readFilterEventExtData(const DemuxFilterEventExt& filterEventExt);
+    bool dumpAvData(DemuxFilterMediaEvent& event);
 
   private:
     uint32_t mFilterId;
     sp<IFilter> mFilter;
     FilterEventType mFilterEventType;
-    DemuxFilterEvent mFilterEvent;
-    DemuxFilterEventExt mFilterEventExt;
 
     hidl_handle mAvSharedHandle = NULL;
     uint64_t mAvSharedMemSize = -1;
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp
index 9c575ff..9c0933e 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.cpp
@@ -437,11 +437,12 @@
     mIsSoftwareFe = config.config1_0.isSoftwareFe;
     bool result = true;
     if (mIsSoftwareFe && testWithDemux) {
-        result &= mDvrTests.openDvrInDemux(mDvrConfig.type, mDvrConfig.bufferSize) == success();
-        result &= mDvrTests.configDvrPlayback(mDvrConfig.settings) == success();
-        result &= mDvrTests.getDvrPlaybackMQDescriptor() == success();
-        mDvrTests.startPlaybackInputThread(mDvrConfig.playbackInputFile,
-                                           mDvrConfig.settings.playback());
+        result &=
+                getDvrTests()->openDvrInDemux(mDvrConfig.type, mDvrConfig.bufferSize) == success();
+        result &= getDvrTests()->configDvrPlayback(mDvrConfig.settings) == success();
+        result &= getDvrTests()->getDvrPlaybackMQDescriptor() == success();
+        getDvrTests()->startPlaybackInputThread(mDvrConfig.playbackInputFile,
+                                                mDvrConfig.settings.playback());
         if (!result) {
             ALOGW("[vts] Software frontend dvr configure failed.");
             return failure();
@@ -456,8 +457,8 @@
     Result status;
     status = mFrontend->stopTune();
     if (mIsSoftwareFe && testWithDemux) {
-        mDvrTests.stopPlaybackThread();
-        mDvrTests.closeDvrPlayback();
+        getDvrTests()->stopPlaybackThread();
+        getDvrTests()->closeDvrPlayback();
     }
     return AssertionResult(status == Result::SUCCESS);
 }
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h
index 3687389..03e5417 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/FrontendTests.h
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
 
     void setService(sp<ITuner> tuner) {
         mService = tuner;
-        mDvrTests.setService(tuner);
+        getDvrTests()->setService(tuner);
         getDefaultSoftwareFrontendPlaybackConfig(mDvrConfig);
     }
 
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@
     void scanTest(FrontendConfig1_1 frontend, FrontendScanType type);
     void getFrontendDtmbCapsTest();
 
-    void setDvrTests(DvrTests dvrTests) { mDvrTests = dvrTests; }
-    void setDemux(sp<IDemux> demux) { mDvrTests.setDemux(demux); }
+    void setDvrTests(DvrTests* dvrTests) { mExternalDvrTests = dvrTests; }
+    void setDemux(sp<IDemux> demux) { getDvrTests()->setDemux(demux); }
     void setSoftwareFrontendDvrConfig(DvrConfig conf) { mDvrConfig = conf; }
 
   protected:
@@ -153,11 +153,16 @@
         dvrConfig.settings.playback(playbackSettings);
     }
 
+    DvrTests* getDvrTests() {
+        return (mExternalDvrTests != nullptr ? mExternalDvrTests : &mDvrTests);
+    }
+
     sp<IFrontend> mFrontend;
     FrontendInfo mFrontendInfo;
     sp<FrontendCallback> mFrontendCallback;
     hidl_vec<FrontendId> mFeIds;
 
+    DvrTests* mExternalDvrTests = nullptr;
     DvrTests mDvrTests;
     bool mIsSoftwareFe = false;
     DvrConfig mDvrConfig;
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.cpp b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.cpp
index 1a9def8..41acaa1 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.cpp
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.cpp
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
             mFrontendTests.setSoftwareFrontendDvrConfig(dvrMap[record.dvrSoftwareFeId]);
         }
         ASSERT_TRUE(mDemuxTests.setDemuxFrontendDataSource(feId));
-        mFrontendTests.setDvrTests(mDvrTests);
+        mFrontendTests.setDvrTests(&mDvrTests);
     } else {
         dvrSourceConfig = dvrMap[record.dvrSourceId];
         ASSERT_TRUE(mDvrTests.openDvrInDemux(dvrSourceConfig.type, dvrSourceConfig.bufferSize));
diff --git a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.h b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.h
index 13b9640..d1a9bea 100644
--- a/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.h
+++ b/tv/tuner/1.1/vts/functional/VtsHalTvTunerV1_1TargetTest.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     return ::testing::AssertionSuccess();
 }
 
-AssertionResult filterDataOutputTestBase(FilterTests tests) {
+AssertionResult filterDataOutputTestBase(FilterTests& tests) {
     // Data Verify Module
     std::map<uint64_t, sp<FilterCallback>>::iterator it;
     std::map<uint64_t, sp<FilterCallback>> filterCallbacks = tests.getFilterCallbacks();