Patent ID: 7016373

Claim:
A packet switching apparatus accommodating a group of first communication lines of different access methods for performing communication with subscriber terminals and a second communication line for connection to the Internet, comprising: a basic module disposed in the packet switching apparatus casing; and an additional module disposed on the outside of the packet switching apparatus casing, and said basic module comprising: a plurality of packet processors each for performing a predetermined protocol process on communication packets; a switch for switching packets among said packet processors; at least one detachable first line interface connected between one of said packet processors and a communication line having a specific access method in said first communication lines; a second line interface connected between one of said packet processors and said second communication line; and a control processor operatively connected to control the basic module and the additional module, wherein said additional module is operatively connected to one of said packet processors instead of a first line interface so as to accommodate at least one communication line having an access method different from said specific access method in said first communication lines and performs a process peculiar to said access method on a transmission and received signal.