Patent ID: 7953883

Claim:
A method comprising: at a first device that is configured to interface with a plurality of streaming servers for real-time protocol packet streams, configuring communications with a client device and a first of the plurality of streaming servers associated with a streaming session from the first streaming server to the client device so that the first device receives client session control and session feedback messages associated with the streaming session and so that a packet stream associated with the streaming session transmitted by the first streaming server to the client device does not pass through the first device; storing at the first device session state information comprising an address of the client device, streaming session identification information and data representing a current state of the streaming session at the client device derived from the client session control and session feedback messages; upon detecting a failure of the first streaming server, selecting a second of the plurality of streaming servers for serving the streaming session previously served by the first streaming server; and initiating a streaming session from the second streaming server to the client device in order to continue from a state of the streaming session previously served by the first streaming server prior to the failure without any indication at the client device of the switching from the first streaming server to the second streaming server.