Method and apparatus for managing user endpoint devices in a communication network

A domain name system server, comprising:

• a memory storing computer instructions;
• and
• a controller coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions, the controller is operable to:
• record a plurality of logical fully qualified domain names associated with at least one of a plurality of local access transport areas or a plurality of subdivisions of at least one of the plurality of local access transport areas, wherein each of the logical fully qualified domain names comprises descriptors of a primary session border controller and a secondary session border controller, wherein the primary and secondary descriptors are stored in primary and secondary records, wherein the primary record is assigned a first priority and the secondary record is assigned a second priority, and wherein the first and second priorities differ;
• receive a query from a user endpoint device for information associated with a select one of the plurality of logical fully qualified domain names;
• and
• transmit to the user endpoint device the requested information.

A user endpoint device, comprising:

• a memory storing computer instructions;
• and
• a controller coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions, the controller is operable to:
• submit a query to a domain name system server for information associated with a logical fully qualified domain name assigned to a local access transport area of the user endpoint device;
• receive from the domain name system server a first descriptor of a primary session border controller and a second descriptor of a secondary session border controller, wherein the first and second descriptors are associated with the logical fully qualified domain name assigned to the local access transport area, and wherein the first descriptor has a first priority and the second descriptor has a second priority;
• register with the primary session border controller responsive to the first priority being higher than the second priority;
• and
• register with the secondary session border controller responsive to an inability to establish stable communications with the primary session border controller.