Patent ID: 7307983

Claim:
A method of handling a destructive break for use by a first gateway device, said first gateway device being in communication with a second gateway device over a packet network, wherein said first gateway device is connected to a first modem over a first communication line and said second gateway device is connected to a second modem over a second communication line, said method comprising the steps of: receiving said destructive break from said first modem over said first communication line; requesting said first modem to cease transmitting data, in response to said receiving step; transmitting all data that has been packetized, by said first gateway device for transmission to said second gateway device, approximately when said step of receiving said destructive break occurs; receiving acknowledgment for said data from said second gateway; transmitting a break message to said second gateway device after said step of receiving acknowledgment; discarding all data that has not been transmitted to said first modem approximately when said step of receiving said destructive break occurs; and discarding all data received from said second gateway device until receiving a break acknowledgement message from said second gateway device in response to said break message.