Patent ID: 7570583

Claim:
A method for communicatively coupling a first network to a second network by using a first device and a second device, the method comprising the steps of: causing first data to be transmitted and second data to be received over a first bidirectional data path but not over a second bidirectional data path, wherein: said first bidirectional data path communicatively couples said first device to said second network; said first device is communicatively coupled to said first network; said second bidirectional data path communicatively couples said second device to said second network; said second device is communicatively coupled to said first network; said first network is associated with a first network type, said second network is associated with a second network type, and said first network type is different than said second network type; based on transmitting said first data and receiving said second data over said first bidirectional data path, determining that one or more criteria are satisfied; in response to determining that said one or more criteria are satisfied: causing said first data to no longer be transmitted and said second data to no longer be received over said first bidirectional data path; and causing said first data to be transmitted and said second data to be received over said second bidirectional data path but not over said first bidirectional data path; based on transmitting said first data and receiving said second data over said second bidirectional data path, determining that said one or more criteria are satisfied; in response to determining that said one or more criteria are satisfied: causing said first data to no longer be transmitted and said second data to no longer be received over said second bidirectional data path; and causing said first data to be transmitted and said second data to be received over said first bidirectional data path but not over said second bidirectional data path.