Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for handling dynamic payloads in a heterogeneous network. An example embodiment includes a first node interface to receive a first request for data communication from a first node, the first request being coded in a first protocol and including information identifying a first payload type. The example embodiment includes a second node interface to receive a second request for data communication from a second node, the second request being coded in a second protocol and including information identifying a second payload type. The first node interface of the example embodiment configures a message coded in the first protocol to include the information identifying the second payload type and to send the message to the first node.