Distributed Gateways

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out operations including:

• accommodating an auxiliary virtual gateway application in at least one user device that is connected to a first network,
• wherein the first network is also connected to a gateway device,
• wherein the gateway device is further connected to a second network and is configured to cooperate with a virtual gateway application accommodated in the second network,
• and wherein the auxiliary virtual gateway application is configured for providing at least some functionalities of the virtual gateway application when communication between the gateway device and the virtual gateway application is lost.

A gateway device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory that when executed by the one or more processors cause the gateway device to carry out operations including:
• cooperating with a remote virtual gateway application by way of a communicative connection with the remote virtual gateway;
• and
• accommodating an activation application,
• wherein the activation application is configured for activating an auxiliary virtual gateway application in response to loosing communication with the remote virtual gateway application.

A network system comprising:

• a first network to which at least one user device is connected;
• a gateway device connected to the first network and to a second network, the gateway device being configured to cooperate with a virtual gateway application accommodated in the second network;
• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out operations including:
• accommodating an auxiliary virtual gateway application in the at least one user device, which auxiliary virtual gateway application is configured for providing at least some functionalities of the virtual gateway application when communication between the gateway device and the virtual gateway application is lost.

A user device configured for use in a network provided with a gateway device, the user device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory that when executed by the one or more processors cause the user device to carry out operations including:
• accommodating an auxiliary virtual gateway application configured for providing at least some functionalities of a virtual gateway application when communication between the gateway device and the virtual gateway application is lost.