Patent ID: 8621108

Claim:
A method for synchronizing a user interface with a network service device in a packet switched network, the network service device being configured for unidirectionally triggered communication in relation to requests submitted to the network service device, the method comprising: sending a request from the user interface to the network service device to prompt a synchronization indicator maintained by the network service device to be updated in a trend, the synchronization indicator modified in response to receiving the request to provide a first synchronization value that indicates an operating state of the network service device; receiving a response at the user interface that is responsive to the request provided to the network service device, the response including the first synchronization value, the first synchronization value generated based on a state of the synchronization indicator; storing the first synchronization value at the user interface; receiving another response at the user interface that is responsive to another request provided to the network service device that prompts another update to the synchronization indicator maintained by the network service device in the trend to provide a second synchronization value, the another response including the second synchronization value, the state of the synchronization indicator modified in response to receiving the another request from the user interface to provide the second synchronization value, the second synchronization value generated based on the state of the synchronization indicator; comparing at the user interface the second synchronization value with the first synchronization value stored by the user interface to determine whether a synchronization criteria is satisfied; and performing a recovery action for the user interface when the synchronization criteria is not satisfied.