Patent ID: 7626994
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A computing device in a packet switched network having a plurality of access points, the computing device comprising: a plurality of communication interfaces, each of the plurality of communication interfaces having at least one unique network address delivered through a corresponding one of the plurality of access points; a first lower layer module that is operable to communicatively couple with a first communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, in which the first communication interface operates with a first access point for a data exchange between the computing device and an upstream device via a first path; a second lower layer module that is operable to communicatively couple with a second communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, in which the second communication interface operates with a second access point for the data exchange between the computing device and the upstream device via a second path, wherein the first and second paths are alternative paths for the same data exchange; an upper layer protocol manager that selects the first communication interface and the first lower layer module for the data exchange based on a selected communication factor; and the upper layer protocol manager to respond to a change in a characteristic of the first path associated with the communication factor by seamlessly switching from the first path having the first communication interface and the first lower layer module to the second path having the second communication interface and the second lower layer module to perform the data exchange.