java - Return Map from CXF JAX-RS with name/value formatting -

we want write api looks this:

@xmlrootelement(name = "mydata") @xmlaccessortype(xmlaccesstype.field) public static class mydata {     public string name;     public map<string,string> data; }  @get @path("/mydata") public mydata getmydata() {     mydata ret = new mydata();     ret.name = "map data";     ret.data = new hashmap<>();     ret.data.put("a1", "b1");     ret.data.put("a2", "b2");     return ret; } 

but here's sticking point cannot seem around: want return json structure this:

{    "mydata":{       "name":"map data",       "data":{          "a1": "b1",          "a2": "b2"       }    } } 

and can't figure out how beyond like

{    "mydata":{       "name":"map data",       "data":{          "entry":[             {                "key":"a1",                "value":"b1"             },             {                "key":"a2",                "value":"b2"             }          ]       }    } } 

any idea how might this? i'm pretty sure can done, because once saw demo of it. we're using tomcat, java 7, cxf 2.7.3, , jackson 2.1.2. 2 points:

• note doesn't have contain map necessarily: need marsall bunch of key/values keys not known in advance.
• we have go both directions - need implement put/post syntax in representation.

if want return json (do not support xml), remove jaxb annotations mydata , pretty structure, without wrapping "mydata" element (which seems redundant me). e.g use core jackson annotations, @jsonignore (instead of jaxb's). if want add root wrapping element, set wrap_root_value true.