Patent ID: 9602412
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A method for transmitting data packets at a first communications device comprising a plurality of network interfaces, comprising: (a) transmitting a plurality of evaluation packets through a plurality of connections respectively at the same time; wherein the evaluation packets belong to the same data session; (b) determining time required to transmit each of the plurality of evaluation packets through the plurality of connections; (c) determining performance of each of a plurality of connections based on the time required to transmit the evaluation packets through the plurality of connections, wherein the step of determining is performed by using evaluation packets, wherein the step of determining is performed periodically and within a predefined period of time, wherein the plurality of connections are aggregated together to form an aggregated connection, wherein the evaluation packets are based on data packets when the data packets have been received by the first communication devices and have not been transmitted through the aggregated connection, wherein the evaluation packets are based on predefined information when there is no data packets to be transmitted through the aggregated connection, wherein the data packets are designated for a host or node reachable through the aggregated connection, and wherein the plurality of connections are logical connections; wherein size of the evaluation packets and size of the data packets is the same; (d) selecting at least one first connection from the plurality of connections based on performance; and (e) transmitting data packets through the at least one first connection; (f) monitoring data transmission through the at least one first connection; (g) performing steps (a)-(f) when at least one of the at least one first connection fails.