Abstract: A system for encapsulating data into data packets to be transmitted through a broadband communications system includes a first B channel buffer (112), a second B channel buffer (114), a D channel buffer (116), a controller (118), and a packet buffer (110). The controller (118) receives 2B+D data on an ISDN line and reformats the data through the use of the buffers so that the resulting packet (50) includes a repeating pattern of 4 bytes of B1 data, 4 bytes of B2 data, and 1 byte of D data. Each packet preferably includes 11 sets of the repeating pattern for a total of 99 bytes of ISDN data in a packet.

Abstract: A system for encapsulating ATM cells into larger data packets to be transmitted through a broadband communications system includes an ATM cell receiver (410), a data packet formatter (430), a buffer (434), and a data packet formatter controller (438). The ATM cell receiver (410) receives ATM cells and sends them to the buffer (434) which is included within the data packet formatter (430). Data packet formatter controller (438) controls the insertion of ATM cells into the buffer (434), and also optionally compresses the ATM cells to increase the apparent bandwidth of the system.