Patent Document ID: 8155158
Application ID: 12269439
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. An apparatus comprising a network aggregation means operable to: configure a plurality of dissimilar network connections provided by a plurality of diverse network carriers as an aggregated group to create an aggregated network connection that is a logical connection of the plurality of dissimilar network connections provided by the plurality of diverse network carriers, wherein: the logical connection is utilizable for a transfer of communication traffic bidirectionally on any said diverse network carrier without any configuration by the any said diverse network carrier; the logical connection has a transfer rate defined by an aggregate group transfer rate that is associated with each bidirectional transfer rate of the plurality of dissimilar network connections provided by the plurality of diverse network carriers, wherein the plurality of dissimilar network connections provided by the plurality of diverse network carriers have dissimilar network characteristics including variable path bidirectional transfer rates and latencies; the logical connection has a total bandwidth a portion of which is provided by each said dissimilar network connection; the logical connection has a total communication traffic throughput that is a sum of an available communication traffic throughputs of the plurality of dissimilar network connections; and the logical connection is independent of, and unaffected by, the dissimilar network characteristics of the plurality of dissimilar network connections provided by the plurality of diverse network carriers; handle the transfer of communication traffic both to and from the aggregated network connection by segmentation of packets defined by a transfer control protocol/internet protocol; assign a sequence identifier to each of the segmented packets that is transmitted through the aggregated network connection to maintain an ordering of units of the communication traffic over the aggregated network connection; and manage the transfer of communication traffic bidirectionally: between a further network connection and the aggregated network connection; and by adjusting, with a connectivity change in any one said dissimilar network connection, the aggregated group to prevent data loss from the connectivity change.