Patent ID: 7865785

Claim:
A method for improving communications for systems comprising a plurality of communications protocol (CP) enabled server devices connectable by either a first gateway node or a second gateway node to a CP client device, comprising the steps of: performing a first diagnostic process with said CP client device connected by said first gateway node to a first of said plurality of CP enabled server devices, said first diagnostic process comprising said CP client device sending a first diagnostic request using said first gateway node wherein if a first response message is received responsive to said first diagnostic request, (i) if said first diagnostic message indicates proper first CP server operation, determining said first CP enabled server to be an operational device and establishing said first CP server and said first gateway node for communications to said CP client device, and (ii) if said first response message is an exception message that indicates said first CP enabled server device is unresponsive, performing a second diagnostic process with said CP client device connected by said first gateway node to respective others of said plurality of said CP enabled server devices besides said first CP enabled server device, and if a second response message is received responsive to said second diagnostic indicating proper operation of at least one of said respective others of said plurality of CP enabled server devices determining said one of said respective other of said plurality of CP enabled server devices said operational device and establishing said one of said respective other of said plurality of CP enabled server devices and said first gateway node for communications to said CP client device, and wherein if no first response message is received by said CP client device, and none of said respective others of said plurality of CP enabled server devices are determined to be said operational device, establishing said first CP server and said second gateway node for communications to said CP client device.