Abstract: A communication system is formed by an ATM network and a multiplexing device suitable for such a system. The ATM network includes a plurality of nodes and links which connect various access points within the network. The multiplexing device includes a plurality of access terminals which transmit information across the network to output terminals linked to the access points via demultiplexing devices. Information transmitted across the network is routed using cells containing a destination identifier which defines the connection between two of the access points and the multiplexing device.

Abstract: A multiplexer for use in conjunction with a cell-based network, which includes a plurality of access terminals each of which receives respective cells, each of the cells having one of a plurality of different classifications, a plurality of FIFO buffers each of which is coupled to a respective one of the access terminals for queuing the cells received at the respective access terminals, a plurality of decoding elements each of which is coupled to a respective one of the FIFO buffers, and, an allocation circuit which generates a coded selection signal that is applied to each of the decoding elements, wherein the decoding elements each decode the coded selection signal for selectively reading the cells out of the FIFO buffers in a manner whereby the cells are read out of the FIFO buffers in an order which is dependent upon their classification.

Abstract: A communication system comprising an Asynchronous Transmission Mode ("ATM") network and at least one demultiplexing device. The demultiplexing device receives information cells which include a header, containing the destination to which the cells are to be transmitted, and data. The demultiplexing device comprises at least one input access for receiving the cells, a plurality of output accesses, at least one network circuit, a plurality of service circuits and a common data line. The network circuit has an input access, a header analyzing element, a routing table and a combining element. At least one of the output accesses are assigned to each of the service circuits. The routing table produces a routing information signal which determines the destination to which the cells are to be transmitted. The combining element combines the information signal and the data and transmits the same on the common data line.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a network and an information multiplexing device for transmitting information cells from one of its accesses to another access. The multiplexing device includes a plurality of access terminals for transmitting information signals to a destination at a predetermined rate, at least one connecting terminal for one of the access terminals, a plurality of service circuits having queue elements for storing data and a common data line interconnecting the data outputs of the service circuits with the connecting terminal.

Abstract: A communication system including a network and an information multiplexing device connected to the network is provided. The device includes a plurality of access terminals for receiving information to be transmitted, a plurality of connecting terminals coupled to the network, a plurality of service circuits having queue elements for storing the information, a plurality of network circuits which includes output circuits for transmitting information to the connecting terminals and an assigning element for assigning a period of time which information can be transmitted to the output circuits. The period of time being dependent on the rate of which the output circuit can transmit data.