Methods and apparatus for transmitting data between elements of a data
acquisition system are provided. The method includes receiving, at a
first element, a self-describing control packet including a first
configuration parameter, the first configuration parameter controls first
data acquisition by the first element, acquiring first data by the first
element in accordance with the first configuration parameter, generating
a self-describing data packet including an identifier for the first
configuration parameter and the acquired first data, and interpreting the
acquired first data using the identifier.