Abstract

The present invention discloses a data partitioning technique wherein the PCM speech transmission data field is utilized to contain both digitized speech (for example, from a telephone) and other data (for example, from a data terminal) in the same channel within a frame having a plurality of channels e.g. 32 channels, of information. This enables the speech and data to be combined in a common information field and simultaneously transmitted in the same channel, frame by frame, through a digital switching network to other system users. Also, in accordance with the present invention, system users can individually selectively access a data base system through the switching network, such that the same information can be broadcast from the database system to a plurality of system users, or such that different information can be accessed in the database system by a plurality of system users and simultaneously transmitted to different users in different channels. A novel technique for transmitting information from the database system via a telecommunication systems tone bus interconnecting the system is described.