A new approach to aggregating a plurality of information exchange requirements (IERs) into a common schema is disclosed. A device has a digital storage medium that includes a data structure for implementing a plurality of information exchange requirements each having a plurality of attributes. The data structure includes a data portion configured for storing digital data, and an attribute portion distinct from the data portion comprising a plurality of attribute fields, wherein each of the plurality of attribute fields describes an aspect of the digital data corresponding to one of the plurality of attributes associated with at least one of the plurality of information exchange requirements, to thereby implement the common schema.