Communication of information between a plurality of network elements

A method for communicating data that conforms to an evolving data definition, including the steps of:

• providing a first network element operating as a client;
• providing a first communications software module that is configured to identify, receive and transmit a first set of message types, and where each of said message types is selected as a member of said first set and configured to incorporate particular types and structures of data based upon of directives specified in accordance with said first portion of said first version of said evolving data definition, where at least one portion of said evolving data definition is represented as a class residing within a class hierarchy that includes other portions of said evolving data definition, and where said first communications software module is represented by a first set of source code of a programming language and where said evolving data definition is not represented by a programming language and where a software generator program inputs said evolving data definition and generates a portion of said first set of source code in response to said evolving data definition;
• and
• operating, by a communication device, said first communications software module in association with said first network element.

A system for communicating information between network elements in accordance with a set of directives, including:

• a plurality of network elements that each includes a communication device having a processor executing code to create a first communications software module that is configured to execute communications functionality according to a communications interface specification having a core portion and an extensible portion, said extensible portion is configured to incorporate a first set directives that includes one or more modules of directives;
• and
• where said communications functionality performs actions that include receiving and transmitting a first set of message types that are configured to incorporate particular types and structures of data,
• where said particular types and structures of data are expressed by an object oriented programming language and represented as one or more data only object classes residing within a class hierarchy, said class hierarchy having a structure that is expressed in said object oriented programming language,
• where said message types incorporating said particular types and structures of data are defined by directives within said first set of one or more modules of directives;
• and
• where said first communications software module is represented by a first set of source code of a programming language and where said first set of directives is not represented by a programming language and where a software generator program inputs said first set of directives and generates a portion of said first set of source code in response to said directives;
• and
• one or more communications channels that are each configured to provide communication between each of said network elements.