Synchronous packet voice/data communication system

For use in a communications network for communicating data and voice in independent information packets, including voice packets and data packets, through a digital communications medium, an apparatus for coupling digital signals to said communications medium comprising:

• a multiplexing bus, said multiplexing bus including a clock line for synchronizing said information packets;
• a multiplexing bus controller coupled to said multiplexing bus and operative to generate at least a clock signal on said clock line to control switching of said information packets, said information packets comprising independently addressable digital data conforming to a standardized time frame of a standardized synchronous communications format;
• and
• means coupled to said multiplexing bus for packetizing signals into digitized information packets, each said digitized information packet having a packet format which is self-contained as to destination and content and which conforms to boundaries of said standardized synchronous time frame;
• and
• first digital communications means coupled to said multiplexing bus for transmitting said information packets to a digital communication medium and for receiving said information packets from said digital communications medium, said first digital communication means being operative to communicate said information packets according to said standardized communication format.