Patent ID: 7394759

Claim:
A method of negotiating an active or a passive role assignment to a first control means and to at least one second control means, both contained in a single network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent in a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, the method comprising the steps of: determining an operability state parameter for each of said first control means and said at least one second control means dependent on the respective ability of said first control means and said at least one second control means to perform a first functionality and a second functionality, respectively; mutually transmitting said operability state parameters between said first control means and said at least one second control means; and determining an active role or a passive role by said first control means and by said at least one second control means dependent on said operability state parameter of the first control means and said operability state parameter of said at least one second control means; wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element.