Communication system comprising an ATM network and a demultiplexing device

A communication system comprising an Asynchronous Transmission Mode ("ATM") network operatively connected to at least one demultiplexing device, said at least one demultiplexing device for transmitting, from a first access point of a plurality of access points to a plurality of second access points of said plurality of access points, cells, said cells including a header portion comprising an identification of a destination service circuit to which said cells are to be transmitted and a data portion, said at least one demultiplexing device comprising:

• a plurality of input accesses operatively connected to said ATM network for receiving said cells;
• a plurality of output accesses operatively connected to said plurality of second access points;
• a plurality of network circuits, operatively connected to respective ones of said plurality of input accesses, each comprising a header analyzing element;
• a common data line operatively connected to said plurality of network circuits;
• and
• a plurality of service circuits each operatively connected to said common data line and at least one of said plurality of output accesses,
• wherein each of said plurality of network circuits further comprises a routing table, operatively connected directly to said header analyzing element for producing a routing information signal upon a receipt of a cell by said header analyzing element, wherein each routing information signal includes the identification of said destination service circuit, and
• each of said plurality of network circuits further comprising a combining element for transmitting, over the common data line, both the routing information signal and a respective cell, and
• means for controlling access to the common data line so that each of the plurality of network circuits is connected to said common data link at distinct time intervals, wherein a respective cell is stored only once by said demultiplexing device at the destination service circuit.

A demultiplexing device comprising:

• at least one network circuit;
• at least one input operatively connected to said at least one network circuit for receiving a cell, the cell including a header portion having an identification of a destination service circuit to which the cell is to be transmitted and a data payload portion;
• a plurality of service circuits operatively connected to said at least one network circuit;
• a plurality of outputs operatively connected to said plurality of service circuits,
• said at least one network circuit including:
• a header analyzing element operatively connected to said at least one input;
• a routing table operatively connected directly to said header analyzing element for producing a routine information signal upon a receipt of a cell by said header analyzing element, the routing information signal including at least the identification of a destination service circuit corresponding to a destination of the respective cell;
• and
• means, operatively connected to said header analyzing element and said routing table, for combining an output of said header analyzing element combined with an output of said routing table to create a combined output,
• said means for combining being operatively connected to said plurality of service circuits and outputting said combined output to said plurality of service circuits,
• said routing table outputting the routing information signal for directing said combined output to the destination service circuit of said plurality of service circuits based on the routine information signal, wherein a respective cell is stored only once by said demultiplexing device at the destination service circuit.