A multiple access communication system includes a central station (10) and terminal stations (12, 13). Each terminal station serves a plurality of subscriber stations (14) and exchanges with the central station downstream and upstream time-division multiplexed (TDM) signals over first common path medium. The central station (10) comprises a controller (17) that determines first and second time slots in each of the upstream and downstream TDM signals in response to a call-processing signal to permit a talking connection to be established between the first and second time slots and transmitting a control signal to the terminal station. In the terminal station (12, 13), TDMA interface circuits (36) are associated respectively with the subscriber stations (14), the interface circuits being normally coupled to the first common path medium for exchanging the TDM signals with the central station (10). A controller (50) in the terminal station is associated with the interface circuits for transmitting the call-processing signal to the central station controller (17) when a call is to be established between two of the interface circuits. The two interface circuits are coupled to the first and second time slots when the talking connection is established and switched to a third, common time slot on a second common path medium in response to the control signal.
展开▼
