An apparatus and system for encoding out of order data packets in a network are described. At a source unit, an out-of-order parameter is selected as the maximum out of order range value of data packets to be encoded with a minimum header size. A shifting parameter is then calculated using the selected out-of-order parameter. For a new data packet received, having a predetermined header field value, an interpretation interval is further calculated as a function of the shifting parameter and a reference value of a header field within a previously transmitted data packet. An encoding and compression algorithm is then applied to the predetermined header field value using the calculated interpretation interval, and the compressed value is further transmitted to a destination unit.