Abstract: A system for maintaining a distributed object system using a network. Data objects are maintained at a network controller and are each associated with a data object version sequence number (OVSN), indicating a state, version, or configuration of each data object. When a receiver transmits a message to the network controller, the message includes an OVSN, representing a state, version, or configuration of objects located at the receiver, so the network controller can interpret the message in accordance with the OVSN contained in the message. The network controller may update the receiver's data objects if necessary.