Patent ID: 7219255

Claim:
A method of transparently establishing connection between first and second devices, in case of failure of an intermediate device, the method including: connecting the first and second devices to first and second network interfaces of an intermediate device, the first and second network interfaces having data link layer identifiers that are distinct from those associated with the first or second devices; in a normal operating mode, handling the intermediate device messages addressed between the first and second devices, wherein the messages handled appear to an other of the devices to have come from a one of the devices, such that switching to a failsafe mode allows a network session between the one device and the other device to continue without needing to be restarted, while the intermediate device repeatedly signals to a failsafe switch its continuing healthy operation; and at the failsafe switch, upon interruption of the repeated signals of healthy operation from the intermediate device, switching to the failsafe mode by directly connecting the first and second devices with a data connection that bypasses the intermediate device.