Patent ID: 6169726
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A network access system comprising: a main controller for controlling communications between said network and at least one customer device, said main controller comprising a first controller and a second controller, one of said first and second controllers being an active controller and the other of said controllers being a standby controller, only one of said active controller and said standby controller running at any given time, said active controller stopping operation after a predetermined period of time; and at least one access interface unit connected between said main controller and said at least one customer device, said at least one access interface unit sending messages to and receiving messages from said active controller of said main controller, wherein if said active controller stops operation before or at said predetermined period of time, a control signal is sent from said active controller to said standby controller, said standby controller starting to run in response to said control signal, and said main controller switches control from said active controller to said standby controller without requiring a retransmission of any of said messages sent between said at least one access interface unit and said active controller.