Patent ID: 7706253

Claim:
A method for providing routing of calls when connectivity with a central processing device is lost, the method comprising: receiving one or more registration requests from one or more entities at a gateway; sending the one or more registration requests to the central processing device; receiving from the central processing device an authorization message indicating that the one or more entities are registered with the central processing device; storing information for the one or more entities at the gateway in response to the authorization message, the information including identification information for the one or more entities and a duration for which registration of the one or more entities is valid; receiving at the gateway a communication from a first entity for a second entity in the one or more entities; and determining whether the first entity is authorized to initiate the communication based on the identification information and a validity of its registration; routing the communication to the second entity using the identification information stored for the second entity when it is determined that the first entity is authorized to initiate the communication and that connectivity with the central processing device is lost, wherein the communication bypasses the central processing device.