Zeitteilungssysteme

Zeitteilungssysteme, also known as time-division multiplexing (TDM), are a method of transmitting and receiving multiple data signals over a single communication channel. In a TDM system, the total available transmission time on the channel is divided into discrete time slots. Each individual data signal is assigned one or more of these time slots, and its data is transmitted only during its allocated slot. Other signals must wait for their turn. This sequential transmission allows multiple users or data streams to share the same physical medium without interfering with each other.

The process involves a multiplexer at the transmitting end and a demultiplexer at the receiving end. The multiplexer combines the data streams by interleaving their time slots, creating a composite signal. The demultiplexer then separates this composite signal back into its original individual streams by extracting the data from the designated time slots. Different types of TDM exist, including synchronous TDM, where time slots are pre-assigned and fixed, and asynchronous TDM (also known as statistical TDM), where time slots are allocated dynamically based on demand. TDM is a fundamental technique in telecommunications, used in technologies like digital telephony and early forms of digital data transmission. Its primary advantage is efficient utilization of channel bandwidth by ensuring no time is wasted if a particular signal has no data to transmit.