Self describing data packets generated at an issuing instrument

1. A surgical hub for use in a surgical procedure that involves energy application to tissue at a surgical site, comprising:

a processing circuit; and

a memory coupled to the processing circuit, the memory storing instructions executable by the processing circuit to:

receive, via using encrypted wired or wireless protocols, a first self-describing data packet from a first data source, wherein the first data source includes patient data generated by a surgical instrument associated with the surgical procedure, the first self-describing data packet comprising a first preamble, a first data payload, a source of the first data payload, procedural variables, and a first encryption certificate, wherein the first preamble defines the first data payload and the first encryption certificate verifies authenticity of the first self-describing data packet;

parse the received first preamble;

recognize a data type contained in the first self-describing data packet based on the procedural variables; and

interpret the first data payload based on the first preamble and identify the first data payload without being notified in advance that the first self-describing data packet was received;

and the first self-described data packet is stored on the surgical hub.

2. The surgical hub of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuit to:

receive a second self-describing data packet from a second data source, the second self-describing data packet comprising a second preamble, a second data payload, a source of the second data payload, and a second encryption certificate, wherein the second preamble defines the second data payload and the second encryption certificate verifies authenticity of the second self-describing data packet;

parse the received second preamble;

interpret the second data payload based on the second preamble;

associate the first and second self-describing data packets; and

generate a third self-describing data packet comprising the first and second data payloads.

3. The surgical hub of claim 2 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuit to anonymize a data payload of the third self-describing data packet.

4. The surgical hub of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuit to:

determine that a data payload was generated by a new data source;

verify the new data source of the data payload; and

alter a data collection process at the surgical hub to receive subsequent data packets from the new data source.

5. The surgical hub of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuit to associate the first and second self-describing data packets based on a key.

6. The surgical hub of claim 5 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuit to:

receive an anonymized third self-describing data packet; and

reintegrate the anonymized third self-describing data packet into the first and second self-describing data packets using the key.

7. A surgical hub for use in a surgical procedure that involves energy application to tissue at a surgical site, comprising:

a control circuit configured to:

receive, via using encrypted wired or wireless protocols, a first self-describing data packet from a first data source, wherein the first data source includes patient data generated by a surgical instrument associated with the surgical procedure, the first self-describing data packet comprising a first preamble, a first data payload, a source of the first data payload, procedural variables, and a first encryption certificate, wherein the first preamble defines the first data payload and the first encryption certificate verifies the authenticity of the first self-describing data packet;

parse the received first preamble;

recognize a data type contained in the first self-describing data packet based on the procedural variables; and

interpret the first data payload based on the first preamble and identify the first data payload without being notified in advance that the first self-describing data packet was received;

and the first self-described data packet is stored on the surgical hub.

8. The surgical hub of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is further configured:

receive a second self-describing data packet from a second data source, the second self-describing data packet comprising a second preamble, a second data payload, a source of the second data payload, and a second encryption certificate, wherein the second preamble defines the second data payload and the second encryption certificate verifies authenticity of the second self-describing data packet;

parse the received second preamble;

interpret the second data payload based on the second preamble;

associate the first and second self-describing data packets; and

generate a third self-describing data packet comprising the first and second data payloads.

9. The surgical hub of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to anonymize a data payload of the third self-describing data packet.

10. The surgical hub of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine that a data payload was generated by a new data source;

verify the new data source of the data payload; and

alter a data collection process at the surgical hub to receive subsequent data packets from the new data source.

11. The surgical hub of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to associate the first and second self-describing data packets based on a key.

12. The surgical hub of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

receive an anonymized third self-describing data packet; and

reintegrate the anonymized third self-describing data packet into the first and second self-describing data packets using the key.

13. A non-transitory computer: readable medium storing computer readable instructions which, when executed, causes a machine to:

receive, via using encrypted wired or wireless protocols, a first self-describing data packet from a first data source, wherein the first data source includes patient data generated by a surgical instrument associated with a surgical procedure, the first self-describing data packet comprising a first preamble, a first data payload, a source of the first data payload, procedural variables, and a first encryption certificate, wherein the first preamble defines the first data payload and the first encryption certificate verifies authenticity of the first self-describing data packet;

parse the received first preamble;

recognize a data type contained in the first self-describing data packet based on the procedural variables; and

interpret the first data payload based on the first preamble and identify the first data payload without being notified in advance that the first self-describing data packet was received;

and the first self-described data packet is stored on a surgical hub.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , storing computer readable instructions which, when executed, causes the machine to:

receive a second self-describing data packet from a second data source, the second self-describing data packet comprising a second preamble, a second data payload, a source of the second data payload, and a second encryption certificate, wherein the second preamble defines the second data payload and the second encryption certificate verifies authenticity of the second self-describing data packet;

parse the received second preamble;

interpret the second data payload based on the second preamble;

associate the first and second self-describing data packets; and

generate a third self-describing data packet comprising the first and second data payloads.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , storing computer readable instructions which, when executed, causes the machine to anonymize a data payload of the third self-describing data packet.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , storing computer readable instructions which, when executed, causes the machine to:

determine that a data payload was generated by a new data source;

verify the new data source of the data payload; and

alter a data collection process at the surgical hub to receive subsequent data packets from the new data source.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , storing computer readable instructions which, when executed, causes the machine to associate the first and second self-describing data packets based on a key.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , storing computer readable instructions which, when executed, causes the machine to:

receive an anonymized third self-describing data packet; and

reintegrate the anonymized third self-describing data packet into the first and second self-describing data packets using the key.