Patent ID: 8588076

Claim:
A method of providing user access to a communication network providing communication services, said access being via at least one edge node and a packet network connecting said users to said at least one edge node, comprising: equipping said packet network with operation and maintenance procedures for preserving access connectivity over said packet network, wherein the packet network comprises a physical connectivity layer, a link connectivity layer, and a service connectivity layer, and wherein the operation and maintenance procedures are active on the link connectivity layer; associating with said at least one edge node at least one backup edge node to provide backup access to said communication network providing said services via the at least one backup edge node, wherein the at least one edge node and the at least one backup edge node are distinct, and share common IP and MAC addresses; and in the presence of at least partial failure detected on the physical connectivity layer or the service connectivity layer involving said at least one edge node, selectively connecting, via the link connectivity layer, said users and said at least one backup edge node by applying said operation and maintenance procedures, wherein said operation and maintenance procedures are configured to be selectively enabled or disabled on the basis of at least a single protected entity and include using said common IP and MAC addresses to provide seamless user access to the communication network over said packet network via the at least one backup node.