local function encode_dict(data)
	local dict = "d"	
	for k,v in pairs(data) do
		v = tonumber(v) or v -- is this required; can a string be a number?
		if(type(v) == "number") then
			dict = dict..#k..':'..k..'i'..v..'e'
		elseif(type(v) == "string") then
			dict = dict..#k..':'..k..#v..':'..v
		end
	end
	dict = dict .. 'e'
	return dict
end