Patent ID: 7860952

Claim:
A method of communicating with a communication module being removably connected to a node in a communications network, the module being adapted to perform a primary function and a secondary function, the method comprising: receiving an access request signal in the module from a portable software carrier unit; receiving an authorization signal from an authorization unit, the authorization signal identifying the module and instructing the module to grant access to the portable software carrier unit; exchanging data between the module and the portable software carrier unit via a bi-directional optical interface of the module while the module performs the primary function over the network via a network interface of the module, the data including information pertaining to accomplishment of the primary function and being exchanged independently of the primary function; receiving at least one piece of information pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function via the bi-directional optical interface; storing temporarily the at least one piece of information in a second digital storage unit in the communication module; resetting the communication module; and altering the contents of the first digital storage on basis of the at least one piece of information, wherein the primary function includes receiving incoming network traffic via the network interface and performing switching and/or routing operations on the received network traffic.