Remote multiplexer for digital telephone system

A multiplexer unit for installation at or near a telephone system subscriber premise for interfacing between equipment located at the subscriber premise and a central office, said multiplexer unit comprising,

• voice interfacing means for converting between voice encoded digital signals and analog signals for operatively connecting to at least one subscriber analog voice communication equipment,
• data interfacing means for routing data encoded digital signals to at least one subscriber data communication equipment,
• frame processing means connected to each of said voice interfacing means and said data interfacing means for assembling and disassembling digital frames each comprised of voice encoded digital signals, data encoded digital signals, and control and status encoded digital signals,
• transceiver means connected to said frame processing means for transmitting to and receiving from a central office via a single subscriber loop serial full duplex frames of voice encoded, data encoded, and control and status encoded digital signals,
• and utility processing means connected to said voice interfacing means, said data interfacing means, said frame processing means, and said transceiver means for controlling same in accordance with said control and status encoded digital signals received by said transceiver from the central office, and for producing control and status encoded digital signals for transmission by said transceiver to the central office.