Patent ID: 7720908

Claim:
A method of sending first data from a first device to a destination device via a network to which a plurality of second devices are also connected, said first device being connected to a data session in a session/transport layer of the network, said data session of the session/transport layer of the network having a first session topology which defines a first set of one or more of said second devices to which data may be directly addressed from said first device in said session/transport layer, said method comprising the acts of: joining an audio session in an audio layer of the network, said audio session having a second session topology which defines a second set of one or more of said second devices to which data may be directly addressed from said first device in said audio layer, the session topology of the audio session in said audio layer being different from the session topology of the data session in said session/transport layer such that said second set of devices to which data may be directly addressed from said first device in said audio session of said audio layer is different from said first set of devices to which data may be directly addressed from said first device in said session of said session/transport layer, said destination device being a member of said audio session, wherein the audio layer exposes an application programming interface (API) to the session/transport layer to establish a link with the session transport layer; creating a first data package which contains: (a) said first data; and (b) a header; addressing said first data package to said destination device in accordance with the session topology of said audio session of said audio layer; and sending said first data package to said destination device via said data session of said session/transport layer.