template <typename... InputPortTypes>
class PipelineReceiver
{

protected:

    // This tuple is used for storing types only
    // Hence, I would like to get rid of it, but I am not sure how.
    std::tuple<
    std::function<std::unique_ptr<InputPortTypes> (int)>...
    > InputPortsTuple;

    // This vector is used for storing the actual objects
    // This is needed to be able to access/change its elements
    // during run time later on.
    // The vector is used for storage of function pointers that represent
    // methods of another object upstream the pipeline.
    std::vector<boost::any> InputPortsVector;

public:

    PipelineReceiver()
        {
            // create an empty vector of the required size
            InputPortsVector.resize(sizeof...(InputPortTypes));
        }

    void connectPorts(int InputPortIndex, boost::any c_OutputPort)
        {
            // connect ports
            InputPortsVector[InputPortIndex] = c_OutputPort;
        }

    template<int N>
    void getInputPortValue(void)
        {
            std::cout <<
                *boost::any_cast<decltype(std::get<N>(this -> InputPortsTuple))>(
                    InputPortsVector[N]
                    )(0) <<
                std::endl;
        }

};