Serializing objects through sockets. How to?

[pamelafluente]

I need some advice on the best way to exchange serialized objects via
socket between
a client application and a server application.

Assume I have the object

Class MyObject
public SomeField as SomeType
....
end class

I have an instance of the above class running on the client and I want
to send it through a socket to the server application or viceversa. The
server application will do some processing and respond sending back
some other serialized object.

My questions:
-What's the best kind of serialization in order not to have any problem
with any object?
-What is the best mechanism to notify when a new object arrives on a
port?
-Which is the best port choice?

Any simple sample would be really great.

-pam