The present invention provides a method for maintaining a communication session between telephony devices, which includes establishing a first TCP/IP signaling communication link between a first telephony device and a proxy. The first TCP/IP signaling communication link is operable to communicate first keep alive signals between the proxy and the first telephony device. A second TCP/IP signaling communication link is established between a primary gatekeeper and the proxy. The second TCP/IP signaling communication link is operable to communicate second keep alive signals between the proxy and the primary gatekeeper. The first and second TCP/IP signaling communication links are terminated at the proxy. Therefore, a communication session between the first telephony device and a second telephony device may be maintained even if the second keep alive signals are interrupted.