Integrated voice/data/control switching system

A communications system for enabling transmission of data and control information between a station device (290) and a node (21) using a shared time multiplexed signal path, the system comprising:

• a digital communication device (614) operative to generate and receive data information, device (614) further being operative to selectively request access to the facilities of a packet channel circuit;
• a controller (612) connected to the device (614) and operative to enable a path to the packet channel circuit in response to the request for access to the facilities of a packet channel circuit;
• station ports (284,286) connected to the station device (290) and to the node (21);
• a microtelephone controller (611) connected to the station ports (284,286), device (614) and controller (612), the microtelephone controller (611) being operative to communicate data between the device (614) and the station ports (284,286) and to communicate control information between controller (612) and the station ports (284,286), the controller (611) being further operative to formulate the control information and the data information in a time multiplexed signal stream;
• and
• wherein the node (21) is adapted to receive the time multiplexed signal stream and to direct the control information to a packet channel circuit (385,390) and to direct the data information to a data network (382,384, 386,388).