diff --git a/src/proc/play/timings.cpp b/src/proc/play/timings.cpp
index d5e1dd7b1..956b5f72a 100644
--- a/src/proc/play/timings.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/play/timings.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ namespace play {
   
   
   using lib::time::PQuant;
+  using lib::time::Time;
   
   namespace { // hidden local details of the service implementation....
     
@@ -58,7 +59,47 @@ namespace play {
   Timings::Timings (FrameRate fps)
     : grid_(buildStandardGridForFramerate(fps))
     , playbackUrgency (ASAP)
-    { }
+    { 
+      ENSURE (grid_);
+    }
+  
+  
+  
+  TimeValue
+  Timings::getOrigin()  const
+  {
+    return grid_->timeOf(0);
+  }
+  
+  
+  Offset
+  Timings::getFrameOffsetAt (TimeValue refPoint)  const
+  {
+    return 1 * getFrameDurationAt (refPoint);      /////////////////TODO implement a speed factor here
+  }
+  
+  
+  Duration
+  Timings::getFrameDurationAt (TimeValue refPoint)  const
+  {
+    int64_t frameNr = grid_->gridPoint (refPoint);
+    return Offset (grid_->timeOf(frameNr), grid_->timeOf(frameNr+1));
+  }
+  
+  
+  /** @remarks the purpose of this function is to support scheduling
+   *           and frame handling even in case the frame rate isn't constant.
+   *           To indicate the case the frame rate is changing right now,
+   *           this function might returns Duration::NIL
+   *  @todo implement real support for variable frame rates      
+   */                                  ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////TICKET #236
+  Duration
+  Timings::constantFrameTimingsInterval (TimeValue startPoint)  const
+  {
+    return Duration (Time::ANYTIME);
+  }
+
+
 
   
 
diff --git a/src/proc/play/timings.hpp b/src/proc/play/timings.hpp
index 3ce908826..f0ac12112 100644
--- a/src/proc/play/timings.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/play/timings.hpp
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 namespace lib {
 namespace time{
   class Quantiser;
+  typedef std::tr1::shared_ptr<const Quantiser> PQuant;
 }}
 
 namespace proc {
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ namespace play {
 
   using lib::time::FrameRate;
   using lib::time::TimeValue;
+  using lib::time::Duration;
+  using lib::time::Offset;
 //using std::string;
 
 //using std::vector;
@@ -90,9 +93,7 @@ namespace play {
    */
   class Timings
     {
-      typedef std::tr1::shared_ptr<const lib::time::Quantiser> PQuant;
-      
-      PQuant grid_;
+      lib::time::PQuant grid_;
       
     public:
       PlaybackUrgency playbackUrgency;
@@ -101,9 +102,16 @@ namespace play {
       
       // default copy acceptable
       
-      TimeValue getOrigin();
+      TimeValue getOrigin()  const;
       
-      FrameRate getFrameRate();
+      Offset   getFrameOffsetAt   (TimeValue refPoint)  const;
+      Duration getFrameDurationAt (TimeValue refPoint)  const;
+      
+      /** the frame spacing and duration remains constant for some time...
+       * @param startPoint looking from that time point into future
+       * @return duration after this starting point, where it's safe
+       *         to assume unaltered frame dimensions */
+      Duration constantFrameTimingsInterval (TimeValue startPoint)  const;
       
       
       //////////////TODO further accessor functions here
diff --git a/tests/components/proc/play/timing-constraints-test.cpp b/tests/components/proc/play/timing-constraints-test.cpp
index 16e8fbcc5..f63b0114d 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/play/timing-constraints-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/play/timing-constraints-test.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace play {
 namespace test {
   
   using lib::time::Time;
+  using lib::time::Duration;
   using lib::time::FrameRate;
 
 //using proc::engine::BuffHandle;
@@ -67,10 +68,14 @@ namespace test {
         {
           Timings timings (FrameRate::PAL);
           
-#if false /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////UNIMPLEMENTED :: TICKET #831
-          CHECK (Time::ZERO == timings.getOrigin());
-          CHECK (FrameRate::PAL == timings.getFrameRate());
+          Time t(0,10);
+          Duration lengthPAL (1, FrameRate::PAL);
+          
+          CHECK (timings.getOrigin() == Time::ZERO);
+          CHECK (timings.getFrameDurationAt(t) == lengthPAL);
+          CHECK (timings.getFrameOffsetAt(t)   == lengthPAL);
           CHECK (ASAP == timings.playbackUrgency);
+#if false /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////UNIMPLEMENTED :: TICKET #831
 #endif    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////UNIMPLEMENTED :: TICKET #831
         }
     };