time-division multiplexing
Quick Summary
In time-division multiplexing (TDM), 24 digitized voice signals, each at 64 kilobits per second, are assigned successive time slots in a 1.544-megabits-per-second signal. Combined signals are further combined to form data streams of increasing bit-rate and voice-carrying capacity.
Time-division multiplexing (TDM) is a method used in telecommunications to share a single communication channel among multiple users. It works by interleaving segments of time from different signals onto one transmission path. This is possible when the channel's data capacity is greater than what a single user needs.
In a TDM system, a multiplexer takes data from various users. A scanning switch then sequentially selects data from each user, creating a composite signal with interleaved data. Each user is assigned a specific time slot. This technique is primarily used for digital signals and is common in modern long-distance telecommunications, such as in T1 systems where 24 voiceband signals are combined.1
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