Patent ID: 7966229

Claim:
A method for the time-based accounting of access by users of services provided by a data network, wherein said access by users is provided via at least one primary access node by establishing via said at least one primary access node a steady connectivity between the users and the data network, comprising the steps of: associating with said at least one primary access node at least one secondary access node configured for acting as a backup node to maintain said connectivity in the case of failure involving said at least one primary access node; providing an authentication node cooperative with said at least one primary access node and said at least one secondary access node; issuing a request for credentials for a user among said users requesting access to said data network; as a result of receiving valid credentials from said user, starting time-based accounting for said user, said authentication node storing in said at least one secondary access node, information items concerning said time-based accounting started for said user, whereby said time-based accounting for said user is maintained in the case of failure involving said at least one primary access node as said connectivity is maintained by said at least one secondary access node; and once said failure involving said at least one primary access node is cleared, re-establishing both said connectivity and said time-based accounting for said user via said at least one primary access node.