Patent ID: 7440443

Claim:
An integrated network adapter (INA) comprising: a Media Access Control (“MAC”) module coupled to a Physical Layer Interface (“PHY”) module, wherein at least one of the MAC and PHY is coupled to a network configuration module, wherein the configuration module is coupled to a plurality of communications media couplers, wherein the communications media couplers include at least a power line communications media coupler and a telephone line media coupler, and wherein the configuration module establishes a communications interface using at least one of the power line communications media coupler and the telephone line media coupler, wherein the configuration module dynamically selects one of the communications media couplers for establishing a network interface, wherein the dynamic selection is based on information available concerning the communications media to which an interface can be established, wherein the information includes a network parameter including at least one of connection status, signal strength, presence of traffic, noise levels, historical and real-time error rates and congestion indications, wherein the information further includes a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement associated with a specific data type, and wherein the MAC module uses the information to select a communications medium to which a network interface is to be established.