Patent ID: 6456626
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
In a communication system comprising:a network with a plurality of interconnectable interface ports; a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE), each selectively connectable to at least one of said interface ports; a plurality of terminals connected to each of said CPEs; each terminal being selectively operable as a source terminal to issue a setup request through its associated CPE for requesting connection to a terminal connected to a different CPE and operable as a destination terminal; each of said interface ports being responsive to a setup request from a source terminal to connect itself via said network to a second interface port and to direct said second interface port to connect to a CPE associated with a requested destination terminal thus forming a virtual circuit between said source terminal and said requested destination terminal; and wherein each CPE is able to determine whether a virtual circuit is interrupted, a method of reestablishing said virtual circuit after interruption thereof, comprising the following steps: upon formation of said virtual circuit between said source terminal and said destination terminal, providing to said CPE associated with said source terminal information describing said virtual circuit; storing said virtual circuit information in said CPE associated with said source terminal; upon determining that said virtual circuit is interrupted, establishing a connection between said CPE associated with said source terminal and a third interface port; sending a setup request from said CPE associated with said source terminal to said third interface port, said setup request including said stored virtual circuit information; and establishing a connection responsive to said stored virtual circuit information via said network between said third interface port and said second interface port, thereby reestablishing said virtual circuit between said source terminal and said destination terminal.