Patent ID: 7657573

Claim:
A method of exchanging at least one data value between a first device and at least one second device, the method comprising: providing a set of data structures at the first device, each data structure including at least one descriptive field and an associated at least one data value field, the at least one data value field including the at least one data value, the at least one descriptive field including a usage type field having usage type data to associate the at least one data value field with a data type, for each data structure in a first plurality of the set of data structures provided, providing a template identification for the at least one data value included therein, and providing that the usage type data included therein associates the at least one data value field included therein with a template data type, whereas, the usage type data included therein associating the at least one data value field included therein with the template data type, indicates that the data structure is to be stored at the second device as a template associated with the template identification provided with the said data structure, sending the first plurality of the set of data structures from the first device to the second device, for each data structure in a second plurality of the set of data structures provided, providing a template identification for the at least one data value included therein, the template identification corresponding to the template identification associated with one of the plurality of templates stored at the second device, and providing that the usage type data included therein associates the at least one data value field included therein with a data-only data type, whereas, the usage type data included therein associating the at least one data value field included therein with the data-only data type indicates that the template identification provided with the said data structure is to be used for retrieving at the second device a stored template associated with the template identification, the stored template being used for extracting data values from the data structure based on the stored template, and when the usage type data associates the at least one data value field with a complete data structure, the usage type data indicating the type of the at least one data value to be extracted from the at least one data value field at the at least one second device.