Patent ID: 7801056

Claim:
A method of configuring a network access device having a first network address allocated to a subscriber by a first service provider operating a first service network, with a second network address allocated to the subscriber by a second service provider operating a second service network, wherein the network access device is connected to an access network providing access to at least the first and second service networks, the method comprising: sending a request from the network access device to the access network with user credentials for the subscriber requesting access to the second service provider; initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol; assigning the second network address allocated to the subscriber to the network access device, the second network address being utilized by the network access device to communicate data packets to the second service network; and in response to the sending of the request from the network access device to the access network, receiving a response from the access network; wherein said request to said access network includes an authentication request from the network access device to authenticate the subscriber; and wherein said response received from said access network includes an authentication status for the subscriber from the second service provider and, if authenticated, initiating a network address change.