Patent ID: 8488627

Claim:
A network device, comprising: a processor executing higher layer processes including layers of a protocol stack higher than a media access layer, a first physical interface (PHY) coupled to a first communications medium; a second PHY coupled to a second communications medium: and a media access controller (MAC) to execute the media access layer of the protocol stack, the MAC coupled to the higher layer processes, the first PHY, and the second PHY: an association table listing a plurality of known destination MAC addresses and an association between each of the known destination MAC addresses and one of the first PHY and the second PHY; and media selection logic to select one of the first PHY and the second PHY for communication with a target device designated by a target MAC address provided by the higher layer processes, wherein the media selection logic is configured to determine, upon receipt of a target MAC address from the higher layer processes, whether or not the target MAC address is a known MAC address listed in the association table, and when the media selection logic determines that the target MAC address is not a known MAC address, the network device is further configured to perform a discovery process to determine if communications with the target MAC address is possible via one of the first PHY and the second PHY, the discovery process comprising: transmitting a first probe frame to the target MAC address via the first PHY; if the first probe frame is acknowledged within a first predetermined time period, adding the target MAC addresses in association with the first PHY to the association table; if the first probe frame is not acknowledged within the first predetermined time period, transmitting a second probe frame to the target MAC address via the second PHY; and if the second probe frame is acknowledged within a second predetermined time period, adding the target MAC addresses in association with the second PHY to the association table.