Patent ID: 7099338

Claim:
A method for ensuring a connection to a configuration protocol server on a data network by a customer premises equipment via a network connection, the method comprising the steps of: issuing a request for a customer premises equipment network address from the customer premises equipment to the configuration protocol server via the network connection; the network connection determining whether a connection can be made to the configuration protocol server, and if not, responding to the customer premises equipment by sending a temporary network address and a lease time to the customer premises equipment, whereby the lease time limits the time of validity of the temporary network address; issuing a request to renew the temporary network address when the lease time expires; the network connection determining whether a connection can be made to the configuration protocol server, and if not, responding to the customer premises equipment by sending an acknowledge message; when the network connection determines that the connection can be made to the configuration protocol, the network connection sending a NACK message declining to acknowledge the request to renew the temporary network address; the customer premises equipment receiving the NACK message and sending a request for the customer premises equipment network address; and the network connection communicating the request for the customer premises equipment network address to the configuration protocol server.