Patent ID: 6240533
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system for use in providing uninterrupted communication between a first network portion and a second network portion, comprising:firewall device which regulates user information between the first network portion and the second network portion, said firewall device receiving an input related to the user information and providing an output related to the user information;a communications line associated with said firewall device that transmits firewall device operations-related information, different from said input and said output, including information related to at least a first type of failure when present associated with said firewall device, said firewall device operations-related information including at least one of the following: output-related information from said firewall device and performance characteristics associated with said firewall device; anda control subsystem, including a multi-port switch, operatively communicating with said communication line that responds to said firewall device operations-related information and uses said firewall device operations-related information to control said multi-port switch to be in at least one of a first state and a second state, wherein said multi-port switch is controlled to be in said first state when user information is communicated to said firewall device and a second state when user information is not communicated to said firewall device.