Method and apparatus for data communication

A method and apparatus for communicating information. In particular, a method of communicating data between a plurality of applications, comprising the following steps. A first list is encoded. The first encoded list includes a first set of data objects. Each of the data objects includes data to be communicated. Next, the first encoded list is transmitted to a first of the plurality of applications and decoded for the first application. The first application accesses a first subset of data objects from the first encoded list. The first subset of data objects does not necessarily include all data objects in the first set of data objects. Next, the first application generates a second encoded list, where the second encoded list corresponds to the first encoded list. Then, the first application causes the second encoded list to be transmitted to a second application and decoded for the second application. The second application then accesses a second subset of data objects corresponding to the second encoded list, the second subset of data objects not necessarily including the same data objects in the first subset of data objects. The first application and the second of the plurality of applications exchange data type information for the second subset of data objects corresponding to the second encoded list.