Method and system for encoding communications between wireless and other devices

1. A method for encoding a message communicated between devices, the message having at least one field, the method comprising:

if the field is not optional and contains a value, writing the value to one or more data bytes in a byte buffer; and,

if the field is optional and contains a default value, marking a bit in a reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the field contains a default value.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising, if the field is optional and contains a custom value, marking the bit in the reserved byte to indicate that the field contains a custom value and writing the custom value to one or more data bytes in the byte buffer.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising inserting the reserved byte into the byte buffer upon first encountering a field in the message that is optional.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising, if the reserved byte is full, inserting a next reserved byte into the byte buffer.

5. The method of claim 4 and further comprising maintaining a counter for bits in the reserved byte to determine if the reserved byte is full and incrementing the counter when a bit is marked.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising, if the field is an object field, marking a bit in the reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the object field is one of null and non-null.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the devices include at least one of a wireless device and a data processing system.

8. A system for encoding a message communicated between the system and a remote system over a network, the message having at least one field, the system comprising:

a processor coupled to memory and an interface to the network, and adapted to:

if the field is not optional and contains a value, write the value to one or more data bytes in a byte buffer; and,

if the field is optional and contains a default value, mark a bit in a reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the field contains a default value.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further adapted to, if the field is optional and contains a custom value, mark the bit in the reserved byte to indicate that the field contains a custom value and write the custom value to one or more data bytes in the byte buffer.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further adapted to insert the reserved byte into the byte buffer upon first encountering a field in the message that is optional.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further adapted to, if the reserved byte is full, insert a next reserved byte into the byte buffer.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further adapted to maintain a counter for bits in the reserved byte to determine if the reserved byte is full and to increment the counter when a bit is marked.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further adapted to, if the field is an object field, mark a bit in the reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the object field is one of null and non-null.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the system and the remote system include at least one of a wireless device and a data processing system.

15. A computer program product having a computer readable medium tangibly embodying computer executable code for directing a system to encode a message communicated between the system and a remote system over a network, the message having at least one field, the computer program product comprising:

code for, if the field is not optional and contains a value, writing the value to one or more data bytes in a byte buffer; and,

code for, if the field is optional and contains a default value, marking a bit in a reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the field contains a default value.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 and further comprising, code for, if the field is optional and contains a custom value, marking the bit in the reserved byte to indicate that the field contains a custom value and writing the custom value to one or more data bytes in the byte buffer.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 and further comprising code for inserting the reserved byte into the byte buffer upon first encountering a field in the message that is optional.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 and further comprising, code for, if the reserved byte is full, inserting a next reserved byte into the byte buffer.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 and further comprising code for maintaining a counter for bits in the reserved byte to determine if the reserved byte is full and code for incrementing the counter when a bit is marked.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 and further comprising, code for, if the field is an object field, marking a bit in the reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the object field is one of null and non-null.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the system and the remote system include at least one of a wireless device and a data processing system.