1. A method of synchronizing side information for use in interactive compression between a mobile communication device and a server, the method comprising: receiving information stored in a side information database of one of the mobile communication device or the server, the information including nodes which index, point to, or contain compression state information that provides parameters of previously completed compressions; and identifying common nodes that are common to both the side information database of the one of the mobile communication device or the server and a side information database of the other of the mobile communication device or the server.