Patent ID: 8908534

Claim:
A method of lifebeat monitoring between a first and a second communication device, the method comprising: receiving, by the second communication device, a first monitoring request from the first communication device, the first monitoring request having a first monitoring time; determining, by the second communication device, a first reception time based on the first monitoring time; receiving, by the second communication device, lifebeat signals from the first communication device; and triggering, by the second communication device, an interruption in a communication connection to the first communication device if a new lifebeat signal from the first communication device is not received by the second communication device during the first reception time following receipt by the second communication device of a latest lifebeat signal; wherein, following receipt of the monitoring request, the second communication device states whether it agrees to lifebeat monitoring; and wherein, if the second communication device agrees, the second communication device sends a second monitoring time to the first communication device, the second monitoring time enabling the first communication device to interrupt the communication connection if the first communication device receives no new lifebeat signal from the second communication device within a second reception time, determined based on the second monitoring time, following receipt of the last lifebeat signal by the second communication device.