diff --git a/GPy/core/index_operations.py b/GPy/core/index_operations.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6dbe140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/GPy/core/index_operations.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+'''
+Created on Oct 2, 2013
+
+@author: maxzwiessele
+'''
+import numpy
+
+class ParameterIndexOperations(object):
+    '''
+    Index operations for storing parameter index restrictions
+    This class enables indexing with slices retrieved from object.__getitem__ calls.
+    
+    :param shape: shape of parameter, handled by this index restriction class
+    '''
+    
+
+    def __init__(self, shape):
+        self.restrictions = {}
+        self.shape = shape
+    
+    def get_restriction_indices(self, restriction):
+        """
+        get indices for restriction restriction.
+        these indices can be used as X[indices], which will be a flattened array of
+        all restricted elements
+        """
+        return numpy.unravel_index(self.restrictions[restriction], self.shape)
+    
+    def add_restriction(self, restriction, indices):
+        ind = self._create_raveled_indices(indices)
+        if restriction in self.restrictions:
+            self.restrictions[restriction] = numpy.union1d(self.restrictions[restriction], ind)
+        else:
+            self.restrictions[restriction] = ind
+    
+    def remove_restriction(self, restriction, indices):
+        if restriction in self.restrictions:
+            ind = self._create_raveled_indices(indices)
+            diff = numpy.setdiff1d(self.restrictions[restriction], ind, True)
+            if numpy.size(diff):
+                self.restrictions[restriction] = diff
+            else:
+                del self.restrictions[restriction] 
+            
+    def _create_raveled_indices(self, indices):
+        if isinstance(indices, (tuple, list)):
+            i = [slice(None)] + list(indices)
+        else:
+            i = [slice(None), indices]
+        return numpy.array(numpy.ravel_multi_index(numpy.indices(self.shape)[i], self.shape)).flatten()
diff --git a/GPy/core/parameter.py b/GPy/core/parameter.py
index 5c9d2849..e95ce19b 100644
--- a/GPy/core/parameter.py
+++ b/GPy/core/parameter.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import re
 import itertools
 import numpy
 from GPy.core.transformations import Logexp
+from GPy.core.index_operations import ParameterIndexOperations
 _index_re = re.compile('(?:_(\d+))+')  # pattern match for indices
 
 def translate_param_names_to_parameters(param_names):
@@ -73,17 +74,6 @@ class Parameters(object):
         return '\n'.join([x.__str__(format_spec=format_spec) for x in self._params])
     pass
 
-class ParameterIndexing(object):
-    def __init__(self, corresponding_param):
-        self.properties = {}
-        self.param = corresponding_param
-    def add(self, prop, s):
-        if prop in self.properties.keys():
-            self.properties[prop] = self.combine_indices(self.properties[prop], s) 
-        else:
-            self.properties[prop] = [numpy.r_[st] for st in s]
-    def combine_indices(self, s1, s2):
-        return [numpy.union1d(numpy.r_[ar1], numpy.r_[ar2]) for ar1, ar2 in itertools.izip_longest(s1, s2)]
 
 class Parameter(object):
     tied_to = []  # list of parameters this parameter is tied to
@@ -91,7 +81,7 @@ class Parameter(object):
     
     def __init__(self, name, value, constraint=None, *args, **kwargs):
         self.name = name
-        self.constraints = ParameterIndexing(self)
+        self.constraints = ParameterIndexOperations(self)
         self._value = value
         self._current_slice = slice(None)
 
@@ -129,11 +119,8 @@ class Parameter(object):
     
     def _get_params_transformed(self):
         params = self.value.copy()
-        import ipdb;ipdb.set_trace()
-        return  
     
     def constrain_positive(self):
-        import ipdb;ipdb.set_trace()
         self.constraints.add(Logexp(), self._current_slice)
         self._current_slice = slice(None)