Patent ID: 8320348

Claim:
A method for transmitting data packets over a single energy conduit, the method comprising: assigning a first priority to a first data packet to be transmitted over the single energy conduit, the first data packet being formatted in accordance with a first communication protocol; assigning a second priority to a second data packet to be transmitted over the single energy conduit, the second data packet being formatted in accordance with a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol being different than the first communication protocol; and determining which packet of the first data packet and the second data packet has a greater priority based on the first priority assigned to the first data packet and the second priority assigned to the second data packet; in response to the first data packet having the greater priority, transmitting the first data packet over the single energy conduit prior to transmitting the second data packet over the single energy conduit; and in response to the second data packet having the greater priority, transmitting the second data packet over the single energy conduit prior to transmitting the first data packet over the single energy conduit.