Patent ID: 8526465

Claim:
A method of transmitting a media item from a media source to a media player, the method comprising: determining communication channels available for transmitting the media item from the media source to the media player, the available communication channels including at least a first communication channel provided over a first type of physical medium and a second communication channel provided over a second type of physical medium, the second type of physical medium different from the first type of physical medium; converting the media item into a plurality of packets of a format adapted for transmitting over combined bandwidth of the available communication channels, each of the plurality of packets including a header indicating a type of communication channel over which each of the plurality of packets should travel; resolving a conflict over use of the first communication channel with another media source using a predetermined scheme; and transmitting each of the plurality of packets to the media player over the type of communication channel available and indicated in the header of each of the plurality of packets.