A method of decoding a hierarchical multi-layer data package, the method comprising: an objective function module, implemented by a processor executing instructions stored in a memory, creating an objective function based on parameters for identifying data in the data package most relevant to information of interest, the objective function providing a representation describing a relevance of identified data to the information of interest and representing a tradeoff between a goodness of fit for information in a subpackage being evaluated and a decompression time of the information in the subpackage being evaluated; parsing, using the processor, a first layer in the hierarchical multi-layer data package to identify any subpackages in the first layer; evaluating, using the processor, the subpackages using the objective function and information from each subpackage; selecting, using the processor, a subpackage based on the evaluation to identify the subpackage most relevant to information of interest; determining, using the processor, whether the selected subpackage satisfies an information need; providing, using the processor, decompressed data for the selected subpackage if the information need is satisfied; identifying, by evaluating, using the processor, one or more subpackages in a next lower layer of the hierarchical multi-layer data package using the objective function and information from the one or more subpackages in a next lower layer of the hierarchical multi-layer data package, using the processor, a subpackage in the next lower layer of the hierarchical multi-layer data package likely to be most relevant to the information of interest if the information need is not satisfied; wherein creating the objective function comprises using device attributes and information associated with the information of interest to create the objective function, and wherein evaluating the subpackages using the objective function comprises using the device attributes and the information associated with the information of interest to evaluate the subpackages and to select a subpackage most relevant to the information of interest. an objective function module, implemented by a processor executing instructions stored in a memory, creating an objective function based on parameters for identifying data in the data package most relevant to information of interest, the objective function providing a representation describing a relevance of identified data to the information of interest and representing a tradeoff between a goodness of fit for information in a subpackage being evaluated and a decompression time of the information in the subpackage being evaluated; parsing, using the processor, a first layer in the hierarchical multi-layer data package to identify any subpackages in the first layer; evaluating, using the processor, the subpackages using the objective function and information from each subpackage; selecting, using the processor, a subpackage based on the evaluation to identify the subpackage most relevant to information of interest; determining, using the processor, whether the selected subpackage satisfies an information need; providing, using the processor, decompressed data for the selected subpackage if the information need is satisfied; identifying, by evaluating, using the processor, one or more subpackages in a next lower layer of the hierarchical multi-layer data package using the objective function and information from the one or more subpackages in a next lower layer of the hierarchical multi-layer data package, using the processor, a subpackage in the next lower layer of the hierarchical multi-layer data package likely to be most relevant to the information of interest if the information need is not satisfied; wherein creating the objective function comprises using device attributes and information associated with the information of interest to create the objective function, and wherein evaluating the subpackages using the objective function comprises using the device attributes and the information associated with the information of interest to evaluate the subpackages and to select a subpackage most relevant to the information of interest.