Patent ID: 7197049

Claim:
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored therein for causing a computer system programmed thereby to perform a method of switching communication protocols for a multi-user application, the method comprising: establishing a connection between a client computer and a remote computer according to a first communication protocol for setting up the multi-user application, wherein the first communication protocol comprises a first set of one or more protocol layers; receiving by the client computer connectivity information from the remote computer via the connection, wherein the connectivity information includes protocol-identifying information that identifies a second communication protocol for engaging in the multi-user application, wherein the second communication protocol comprises a second set of one or more protocol layers, and wherein the second communication protocol is different than the first communication protocol in at least one of the one or more protocol layers of the second set; and using the connectivity information to switch from the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol automatically and without prompting a user for the protocol-identifying information.