System and method for converting multichannel time division multiplexed data into packets

A data communication system for converting multichannel serial data streams into packets, the system comprising:

• a data packer hardware module with channel segment queues, having an input to accept a plurality of serial data streams in a corresponding plurality of channels, the data packer module packing groups with an undetermined number of data bits in a time domain multiplexed (TDM) fashion from each data stream into an associated channel segment queue, and supplying segments from each channel segment queue at an output, where each segment includes a predetermined number of bits;
• a multichannel first-in first-out (FIFO) with channel payload queues, having an input to accept segments from the data packer module in a TDM fashion and loading segments into associated channel payload queues, and having an output to supply payloads from each channel payload queue, where each payload includes a predetermined number of segments;
• a pointer queue having an input to accept pointers with payload information in response to filling an associated payload in the multichannel FIFO, and having an output to supply pointers;
• a pointer selector having an output to select a pointer from the pointer queue;
• and,
• a packet interface module having an input to accept the payload from the multichannel FIFO associated with the selected pointer, creating a packet from the accepted payload, and transmitting the packet via a packet interface.