COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING DATA PACKETS BETWEEN AFFILIATED COMMUNICATION TERMINALS AND/OR COMMUNICATION TERMINALS OF AFFILIATED LOCAL NETWORKS

摘要

A communication system for switching data packets, with allocated items of routing information, between connected communication terminal apparatuses and/or communication terminal apparatuses of connected local networks wherein the system includes at least one network coupling unit in which means are arranged for the evaluation of the routing information, for the switching of the data packets dependent on the result of the evaluation, and for the adaptation, in accordance with format, of the data packets. Through the advantageous arrangement of router functions in the network coupling unit, an economical switching-oriented connected can be made between a local network and a public network.