A disclosed method for a virtual transponder comprises generating a configuration for a portion of a payload on a vehicle utilized by a host user by using an option for each variable(s) for a portion of the payload utilized by the host user. The method further comprises generating a configuration for a portion of the payload utilized by a hosted user by using an option for each variable(s) for a portion of the payload utilized by the hosted user. Also, the method comprises generating host commands for reconfiguring the portion of the payload utilized by the host user by using the configuration for the portion of the payload utilized by the host user. Further, the method comprises generating hosted commands for reconfiguring the portion of the payload utilized by the hosted user by using the configuration for the portion of the payload utilized by the hosted user.