Method and apparatus for processing bandwidth intensive data streams using virtual media access control and physical layers

A wireless networking device, comprising:

• a processing interface configured to, during use of the wireless networking device, interact with an application providing a data stream and having a wireless bandwidth requirement;
• first and second actual MAC interfaces connected to the processing interface;
• first and second actual PHY interfaces respectively connected to the first and second actual MAC interfaces;
• first and second wireless transceivers respectively associated with the first and second actual PHY interfaces, wherein the first and second wireless transceivers (i) are suitable for use in a wireless local area network, (ii) respectively have first and second bandwidth availabilities up to first and second actual bandwidths, and (iii) are adapted to respectively emit radio waves in first and second different bands of frequencies;
• and
• wherein the processing interface comprises,
• at least one virtual MAC interface,
• at least one resource monitoring interface that, during operation of the wireless networking device, provides information regarding the first and second bandwidth availabilities to the virtual MAC interface, and
• the virtual MAC interface being configured to, during use of the wireless networking device and in a manner transparent to any layer of the wireless networking device above the processing interface,
• (i) request or create a first association between a recipient and the first actual MAC and PHY interfaces and a second association between the recipient and the second actual MAC and PHY interfaces, and
• (ii) use the information provided to it by the resource monitoring interface to make allocation decisions with respect to first and second bandwidth availabilities to at least partially satisfy the bandwidth requirement of the data stream.