Abstract: A multiple-buffer time-division-multiplexing ring is provided for enabling different computers using various communication protocols with different delay constraints to use the ring simultaneously for communication with a plurality of peripheral devices while at the same time maximizing the number of connections to peripheral devices which may be supported by the multiplexer ring. The multiple-buffer time-division-multiplexing ring utilizes two or more parallel or serial buffers in the ring which may be located in a permanently or temporarily assigned master node. Digital data a re carried around the ring in a plurality of time-slots wherein one or more time-slots are allocated for each user of the ring. The time-division-multiplexing ring uses the multiple buffers to advance time-slots for delay-sensitive protocols ahead of time-slots for non-delay-sensitive protocols.