Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method which facilitate a flexible management of data packets in a Time Division Multiplexed System for data communication. The present invention also provides an apparatus which can rapidly be adapted to evolving communication protocols, and as such provide short time-to-markets for new and/or enhanced apparatuses. Consequently, the present invention is capable of rapidly providing comparable e.g. cable modem to the market in response to revisions of existing communication protocols and to development of new communication protocols.