Abstract: A console (203), in communication with a zone controller (201) via a communication link (208), sends a communication request that includes an inbound time slot identification, an inbound audio switch identification, and an inbound multiplexer identification to the zone controller. In a first embodiment, it is assumed that the inbound time slot identification not only identifies an inbound time slot, but also a similarly identified outbound time slot as well. In a second embodiment, an outbound time slot identification is explicitly provided as part of the communication request. An outbound audio switch identification and an outbound multiplexer identification may also be provided as part of the communication request. In this manner, the need for the console to have access to all time slots is eliminated, and the complexity of the zone controller and the console can be reduced.