US Patent 10892899 Self describing data packets generated at an issuing instrument

Various surgical hubs are disclosed. A surgical hub comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to: receive a first self-describing data packet from a first data source, the first self-describing data packet comprising a first preamble, a first data payload, a source of the first data payload, 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 data packet; parse the received first preamble; and interpret the first data payload based on the first preamble.