Patent ID: 6810412
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network interface comprising:a server, the server communicating at a predetermined high bandwidth via a server physical network interface, the server supporting a server high level application; a client, the client communicating at a predetermined low bandwidth via a plurality of client physical network interfaces, the low bandwidth being less than the high bandwidth, the client supporting a client high level application, the client including a client virtual network interface for transparently providing the client high level application with a virtual interface to said plurality of client physical interfaces, said virtual network interface being located between the high level application and said plurality of client physical interfaces in the operating hierarchy of client components, the virtual network interface being utilized by server and client applications communicating over the network, said virtual network interface providing IP packet transfer between said client high level application and said plurality of client physical interfaces; a virtual network driver (VND) client, the VND client providing an interface between the client virtual network interface and the client physical network interfaces, wherein the VND client distributes IP packet data communicated through the virtual network interface by the client application between the client physical network interfaces and assembles IP packet data communicated through the client physical network interfaces for the client application for the virtual network interface; and a switch, the switch communicating with the server at the high bandwidth and communicating with the client at the low bandwidth, the switch enabling and controlling communications between the server and the client.