A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules is provided. The design comprises providing a media connection between software modules, wherein the software modules employ a communications protocol and participate in a bi-directional master-slave relationship between a master module and a slave module. The design further comprises sending arbitrary data between the master and slave modules, wherein the arbitrary data is used by the master module to control and obtain status from the slave module, and sending arbitrary data further enables the slave module to return data and status information to the master module. The design also employs a communications watchdog between the master and slave modules, wherein the communications watchdog monitors communications quality between the master and slave modules and impairs functionality in the master and slave modules when communications quality degrades. The bandwidth efficient communications protocol comprises bytes transmitted using a packet consisting of a start indication, a message identifier, an optional service identifier, a class identifier, an optional length of data pertinent to the medical device, a checksum, and a checksum complement.