Patent ID: 6614782
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A communication system for switching data packets, which have allocated items of routing information, between communication terminal apparatuses connected with the communication system, the communication system comprising:a coupling field module having a plurality of bidirectional terminals that operate according to a time-division multiplex transmission method; a control unit connected to the coupling field module, the control unit having at least one signaling terminal; at least one network coupling unit formed as a subscriber terminal unit; at least one LAN terminal unit in the network coupling unit, the LAN terminal unit having an LAN interface for connection to a first local network; at least one multiplex unit in the network coupling unit, the multiplex unit having a bidirectional output that operates according to a time-division multiplex transmission method, the multiplex unit connected to at least one of the bidirectional terminals of the coupling field module; a signaling unit having a signaling output, the signaling unit connected to the at least one signaling terminal of the control unit; and a conversion unit connected to each of the multiplex unit, the signaling unit and the LAN terminal unit, the conversion unit having means for evaluating the routing information, means for switching the data packets from and to one of the local network and the coupling field module depending on a result of the evaluation, means for converting, according to a first transmission protocol, items of signaling information into items of signaling information according to at least one additional transmission protocol, and means for adaptation, according to the first or the at least one additional transmission protocol, of the data format of the data packets that are to be switched.