Patent ID: 7716468

Claim:
A method for providing a service in a network, the method comprising: receiving a request for the service from a first modem at a first address, wherein the first address is identical to a second address of a second modem, and wherein the network is configured to operate according to a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS); checking whether the first modem is a clone of the second modem by determining that the second modem is online, and if the second modem has completed one or more security negotiation processes, sending a ranging opportunity to the second modem and identifying the first modem to be the clone of the second modem if the second modem generates a ranging opportunity response, and if the second modem has not completed one or more of the security negotiation processes, configuring the first modem in the network, wherein the checking whether the second modem has completed the security negotiation processes comprises checking whether the second modem has completed a baseline privacy interface plus (BPI+) security negotiation process and a dynamic shared secret (DMIC) security process; and if the first modem is the clone of the second modem: restricting the first modem from obtaining the requested service; and providing services to the second modem, wherein the services are provided continuously to the second modem; and if the first modem is not the clone of the second modem, providing the requested service to the first modem.