Patent ID: 7185014

Claim:
A method performed by a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the method comprising: polling a server by sending a message to the server periodically, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent; receiving, from the server and in response to the message, one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller; and using one or more of the instructions to affect at least one of: a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus, an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller; wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.