Patent ID: 7836495

Claim:
A system for enabling a first software object to be configured remotely by an entity, the first software object exposing a first interface through which the first software object is configurable, the first interface exposing a plurality of first functions, each of the first functions having an associated first prototype, the system comprising: a second software object that (i) executes on a machine on which said first software object executes, that (ii) receives one or more instructions and one or more data from said entity through a network, that (iii) performs one or more authentications on said entity and said data, and that (iv) configures said first software object in accordance with said one or more instructions if said entity and said data satisfies said one or more authentications, wherein said second software object exposes a second interface, the second interface exposing a plurality of second functions, each of the second functions having an associated second prototype, wherein each second function exposed by the second interface is associated with a counterpart first function exposed by the first interface having an identical prototype; and one or more stored rules that specify that said second software object is not to engage in outbound communication over said network, and that further specify that said first software object is not to engage in communication over said network, wherein said one or more stored rules govern behavior of said first software object and of said second software object.