Patent ID: 7647403

Claim:
A method of processing requests at an access server arrangement for a data terminal operated by an end user to access a data network, said method comprising: receiving requests from data terminals at the access server arrangement for access to the data network; comparing each request with a table comprising a plurality of different rules and identifying a matching rule comprising a primary choice procedure and a default procedure, the primary choice procedure specifying a remote authentication server; in the event that a predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is not satisfied: (i) attempting to forward the access request to the authentication server specified in the matched rule; (ii) if a response is received from the authentication server, dealing with the access request in accordance with the response; and (iii) if a response is not received from the authentication server, dealing with the access request in accordance with the default procedure specified in the matched rule; and in the event that the predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is satisfied, dealing with each access request matching the matched rule in accordance with said default procedure, as specified in the matched rule, for a predetermined number of times and then attempting to forward a subsequently received access request, matching the same rule, to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule.