Patent ID: 8670323

Claim:
A method for monitoring a performance level of an access network in a core communication network, comprising: monitoring by a processor of a border element deployed within the core communication network the performance level of the access network connected to the core communication network, wherein the access network is external to the core communication network, and is deployed between the core communication network and an end user device, wherein the core communication network comprises an internet protocol network; raising by the processor of the border element an alarm indication if the performance level falls below a pre-defined threshold set by a network provider of the core communication network; and sending by the processor of the border element the alarm indication to a call control element for activating an additional standby network element that is associated with a network element deployed within the core communication network that is impacted by the performance level falling below the pre-defined threshold, wherein the network element that is impacted and the standby network element perform a same network function, wherein the standby network element is a media server, wherein the call control element upon receiving the alarm indication activates the additional standby network element to handle an increase in processing load.