Patent ID: 8244916

Claim:
A first apparatus capable of communicating data with a second apparatus using one of multiple networks comprising first and second networks, the first apparatus comprising: a host specifying a preferred one of the multiple networks; a first physical layer device arranged to communicate the data over the first network, wherein the first physical layer device determines a first status of the first network; a second physical layer device arranged to communicate the data over the second network, wherein the second physical layer device determines a second status of the second network; a first media access controller to facilitate communication of the data from the host over the first network using a single media access controller address via the first physical layer device; a second media access controller to facilitate communication of the data from the host over the second network using the single media access controller address via the second physical layer device; and a controller in communication with the first and second physical layer devices and the host to provide the first and second status to the host, wherein the host controls the controller to communicate the data using the first media access controller if the first network is the preferred one and the first status is available.