Patent ID: 8369317

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