Patent ID: 7869424

Claim:
A method for operating an integrated communications system providing voice communications to a plurality of users, the integrated system having at least one TDM bus, comprising the steps of: at a first point in time, operating the integrated system using a first TDM switch/MUX controlling a first set of TDM streams operating at a first frequency, wherein the first set of TDM streams are coupled to a first set of cards; and at a second point in time, installing a second TDM switch/MUX in the integrated system; wherein the second TDM switch/MUX controls the first set of TDM streams operating at the first frequency and also controls a second set of TDM streams operating at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher as compared to the first frequency; wherein at least one card of the first set of cards are coupled to the TDM bus, wherein the second TDM switch/MUX couples TDM streams to and from the first cards using the first streams at the first frequency, while concurrently coupling TDM streams to and from the second cards using the second streams at the second frequency; wherein an upgradable switch/MUX capability is provided in the integrated communications system.