Methods and apparatus for synchronization of data set representations in a bandwidth-adaptive manner

A bandwidth-adaptive system synchronizing consumer node representations and a source node representation of a changing data set, the system comprising:

• a source node transmitting at least one metadata packet identifying a plurality of data packets that represent the current state of a changing data set and transmitting at least one of the identified data packets;
• and
• a communications service in communication with the source node, the communications service selecting one of the at least one metadata packet and the at least one data packet for transmission to a first consumer node.

A communications service synchronizing consumer node representations and a source node representation of a changing data set, the service comprising:

• a receiving subsystem receiving at least one metadata packet identifying at least one data packet representing the current state of a changing data set and at least one data packet identified by the received at least one metadata packet;
• a synchronization engine selecting one of the at least one metadata packet and the at least one data packet;
• a transmission subsystem transmitting the selected one of the at least one metadata packet and the at least one data packet.