All The Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery comprising:
a wound electrode group, the wound electrode group being formed by winding a positive electrode having a negative electrode active material layer formed on a surface thereof, a separator that retains an electrolyte, and a negative electrode having a positive electrode active material layer formed on a surface thereof, around an axial core;
an electrode pole arranged between the wound electrode group and a battery terminal, the electrode pole being configured to contribute to an electrical connection between the wound electrode group and the battery terminal;
lead pieces formed in strip form on an active-material-non-applied portion provided on a side of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the lead pieces being electrically connected to the electrode pole;
a gap between the wound electrode group and the electrode pole; and
a spacer, having a hollow columnar shape, that is arranged at a portion connecting the axial core and the electrode pole, wherein the spacer connects to a protruding portion that protrudes from the electrode pole;
wherein the wound electrode group, the electrode pole, and the lead pieces are housed in a battery can,
the electrode pole is cylindrical in shape, and
a value of BA is 1.4 to 2.6, where a distance from an inner wall of the battery can to the electrode pole is A, a distance from the wound electrode group to the electrode pole is B, and the distance B is adjustable in accordance with a height of the spacer.
2. The lithium-ion battery according to claim 1, wherein the value of the BA is 1.6 to 2.0.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A device for aligning the cross-hairs of a reticle of a telescopic sight mounted on a mounting surface of a firearm, the device comprising:
a first card having at least one reference line arrayed across a front surface of the first card and at least one reference line arrayed across a rear surface of the first card;
a second card having at least one reference line arrayed across a front surface of the second card and at least one reference line arrayed across a rear surface of the second card;
a connecting element holding the first card and the second card together in a common plane, the connecting element having at least one flat surface parallel to the reference lines of the reference cards; and
a level mounted to an aperture in the first card and oriented in a direction parallel to the flat surface;
wherein when the device is positioned flush against the mounting surface of the firearm, the level indicates the levelness of the mounting surface, and
the reference lines indicate the position of a properly aligned reticle.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first hook on the first card and a second hook on the second card, wherein when the device is positioned flush against the mounting surface of the firearm, the device may be secured to the firearm by a fastener connecting the first hook to the second hook.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the at least one line arrayed across the front surfaces of the cards is different than the thickness of the one or more lines arrayed across the rear surfaces of the cards.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein more than one line is arrayed across the front surface of the cards and the more than one lines are parallel to one another.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the number of parallel lines of the front surfaces of the cards is different than the number of parallel lines of the rear surfaces of the cards.
6. The device of claim 1, furthering comprising a grid on the front surfaces of the first and second cards.
7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second level mounted to a second aperture in either the first card or the second card, wherein the second level is oriented in a direction then the direction of the first level.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the level is visible from both sides of the first card.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the level comprises a spirit level.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein the fastener is a rubber band.
11. A device for aiding the cross-hair alignment of a reticle of a telescopic sight mounted on a mounting surface of a firearm which comprises:
a first card having a plurality of spaced apart parallel reference lines on a front surface of the first card and a plurality of spaced apart parallel reference lines on a rear surface of the first card; a second card having a plurality of spaced apart parallel reference lines on a front surface of the second card and a plurality of spaced apart parallel reference lines on a rear surface of the second card;
the lines on the front surfaces of the first and second cards being of a different line thickness than the lines on the back surfaces of the first and second cards,
a connecting element holding the first card and the second card together in a common vertical plane, the connecting element having at least one flat surface parallel to the reference lines of the reference cards; and
and a spirit level mounted to an aperture in the first card and oriented in a direction parallel to the flat surface and visible from both sides of the first and second cards.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises a mounting adapter, the mounting adapter comprising at least one prong configured to mount in a slot on the mounting surface of the firearm.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein when the device is positioned flush within the slot of the mounting surface of the firearm, the reference lines indicate the position of the properly aligned reticle.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting adapter is disposed on the connecting element.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the mounting adapter defines a channel between two opposing surfaces of the mounting adapter, wherein a cross-section of the channel corresponds with a cross-section of the connecting element.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the mounting adapter further comprises at least one protrusion disposed above the channel.
17. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting adapter is disposed between the first card and the second card.
18. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting adapter comprises two prongs.
19. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting adapter comprises three prongs.
20. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting adapter is reversibly detachable from the device.
21. A method of aligning the cross hairs of a reticle of a telescopic sight mounted on a firearm which comprises:
attaching to the telescopic sight a device comprising:
a first card having at least one reference line arrayed across a front surface and at least one reference line arrayed across a rear surface;
a second card having at least one reference line arrayed across a front surface and at least one reference line arrayed across a rear surface;
a connecting element holding the first card and the second card together in a common plane, the connecting element having at least one flat surface parallel to the reference lines of the reference cards; and
a level mounted to an aperture in the first card and oriented in a direction parallel to the flat surface;

positioning the device against the mounting surface of the firearm such that the connecting element is flat on a mounting surface on the gun and the level indicator indicates the gun is in a level position; and
adjusting the horizontal cross hair of the reticle to be parallel to the at least one reference line on the first and second cards.

1. A method, comprising:
receiving signalling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party;
attempting to establish a first telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a communication network, in response to said receiving;
identifying a registered agent for the destination party;
attempting to establish a second telephony link with the registered agent for the destination party to release said portion of the signalling information to the registered agent for the destination party, wherein receipt of said portion of the signalling information by the registered agent for the destination party causes delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, said indication based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving signalling information comprises receiving an SS7 initial address message (IAM) message.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the second telephony link comprises augmenting said portion of the signalling information with a routing code, the routing code for indicating to the communication network that said portion of the signalling information is to be routed to the registered agent.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the second telephony link comprises invoking a simultaneous ringing function.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting remedial call treatment provided by the registered agent via said second telephony link in response to the registered agent receiving said portion of the signalling information.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said remedial call treatment comprises one of a busy signal and a no answer signal.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving signalling information comprises receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said attempting to establish the second telephony link comprises forwarding a replica of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message to the registered agent.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising provisioning a network address associated with the processing entity as the registered agent for the destination party.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the second telephony link comprises invoking a proxy function.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address; and
wherein said information regarding an identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call further comprises a name associated with the originating party.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering the proccssing entity registered agent to determine a name associated with the origin of the incoming call.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said triggering the proccssmg entity registered agent comprises triggering the registered agent to access a database comprising a plurality of names, each name associated with potential information regarding an origin of an incoming call.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call comprises at least one of a telephone number, an IP address and a name associated with the origin of the incoming call; and wherein said identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication of the origin of the incoming call comprises said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a database to determine said indication of the origin of the incoming call based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call comprises a network identifier associated with the origin of the incoming call; and wherein said indication of the origin of the incoming call comprises at least a name associated with the origin of the incoming call.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish a receipt of said portion of the signalling information over the second telephony link with a processing entity causes the processing entity registered agent to forward an announcement trigger to a set-top box associated with the destination party via the television link, the announcement trigger comprising at least said indication of the origin of the incoming call for conveyance over a display connected to the set-top box.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the announcement trigger is instrumental in causing the conveyance of said indication of the origin of the incoming call over the display.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the first telephony link with a device associated with the destination party and said attempting to establish the second telephony link processing are performed simultaneously.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the first telephony link is performed before said attempting to establish the second telephony link.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the first telephony link is performed after said attempting to establish the second telephony link.
24. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether said destination party subscribes to an announcement service for enabling the information regarding the origin of the incoming call to be announced to the destination party over a television link associated with the destination party.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said attempting to establish the second telephony link with a processing entity is performed only if said determining step is positive.
26. A network element adapted to perform the method of claim 1.
27. A method, comprising:
receiving signalling information from a network element in the course of an attempt by the network element to establish a second telephony link, the signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of an incoming call and information regarding an identity of a destination party; wherein the network element is responsible for attempting to establish a first telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a network in response to receipt of the signalling information associated with the incoming call;
causing distribution of an announcement trigger over a plurality of television links in response to said receiving, the plurality of television links including a particular television link associated with the destination party, the announcement trigger for causing a set-top box associated with the particular television link to announce to the destination party an indication of the origin of the incoming call, said indication being based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call; and
providing remedial call treatment to said network element to indicate that the attempt to establish the second telephony link was unsuccessful.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein said signalling information comprises an SS7 initial address message (IAM) message.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call comprises at least one of a telephone number, an IP address and a name associated with the origin of the incoming call; and wherein said information regarding an identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising determining a network identifier of a set-top box associated with the destination party.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein said determining is performed based on said information regarding an identity of the destination party.
32. The method of claim 30, the destination party being a particular destination party, the method further comprising:
accessing a database, said database comprising at least one record, each of the at least one record maintaining a relationship between information regarding an identity of a respective destination party and a corresponding network identifier of a set-top box associated with the respective destination party;
retrieving from the database the network identifier of the set-top box associated with the particular destination party based on the information regarding an identity of the particular destination party.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein said respective information regarding an identity of the particular destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
34. The method of claim 27, wherein said causing distribution of an announcement trigger comprises forwarding the announcement trigger via the television link.
35. The method of claim 27, wherein causing distribution of the announcement trigger comprises forwarding the announcement trigger to a video control portion, the video control portion having control over the particular television link.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein said forwarding the announcement trigger comprises creating one of a SOAP message, an HTML message and an XML message.
37. The method of claim 27, further comprising
exclusively authorizing the set-top box associated with the particular television link to be responsive to the announcement trigger.
38. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a network identifier associated with the set-top box associated with the particular television link.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein said distributing the announcement trigger comprises distributing said network identifier associated with the set-top box, wherein said exclusively authorizing is triggered by said network identifier associated with the set-top box.
40. The method of claim 27, wherein said causing distribution comprises addressing said announcement trigger to the set-top box associated with the particular television link.
41. The method of claim 27, wherein said causing distribution of an announcement trigger comprises forwarding additional information associated with the origin of the incoming call.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein said additional information comprises at least one of an image associated with a potential origin of the incoming call, an indication of a group to which a potential origin of the incoming call belongs and a photo associated with a potential origin of the incoming call.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein said forwarding additional information associated with the origin of the incoming call comprises accessing a database to retrieve said additional information associated with the origin of the incoming call based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
44. The method of claim 27, wherein said indication of the origin of the incoming call includes at least said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
45. The method of claim 27, further comprising determining a name associated with the origin of the incoming call.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein said determining a name associated with the origin of the incoming call comprises:
accessing a database; said database maintaining a relationship between each of a plurality of information regarding an origin of the incoming call and a corresponding name;
retrieving a name associated with the origin of the incoming call based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
47. The method of claim 27, wherein said causing distribution of an announcement trigger comprises causing determination of an indication of the identity of the destination party; said indication of the destination party being based on the information regarding the identity of the destination party.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein said indication of the identity of the destination party comprises at least one of a telephone number associated with the destination party, an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the destination party, a name associated with the destination party, an alias associated with the destination party, an image associated with the destination party and a color-coded indication associated with the destination party.
49. The method of claim 47, wherein said causing determination of an indication of the identity of the destination party comprises accessing a database to retrieve said indication of the identity of the destination party based on the information regarding an identity of the destination party.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein said causing determination of an indication of the identity of the destination party comprises triggering the set-top box associated with the destination party to access a database to retrieve said indication of the identity of the destination party based on the information regarding an identity of the destination party.
51. The method of claim 27, wherein said providing a remedial call treatment comprises generating one of a busy signal and a no answer signal over said second telephony link.
52. The method of claim 27, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call comprises a telephone number associated with the origin of the incoming call.
53. The method of claim 52, further comprising determining a name associated with the origin of the incoming call based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein said determining a name associated with the origin of the incoming call comprises accessing a database; said database maintaining a relationship between each of a plurality of information regarding an origin of the incoming call and a corresponding name.
55. A system, comprising:
at least one network element associated with a communication network; and
a processing entity;
wherein the at least one network element is operable to receive signalling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party;
wherein the at least one network element is operable to respond to receipt of the signalling information to attempt establishing a first telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a portion of the communication network;
wherein the at least one network element is operable to identify the processing entity as a registered agent for the destination party;
wherein the at least one network is operable to attempt establishing a second telephony link with the processing entity to release said portion of the signalling information to the processing entity;
wherein the processing entity is operable to receive said portion of the signalling information to cause delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, said indication based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
56. The system of claim 55, wherein said communication network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); and wherein said signalling information comprises an SS7 initial address message (IAM) message.
57. The system of claim 53, wherein to release said portion of the signalling information, the at least one network element is further operable to augment said portion of the signalling information with a routing code, the routing code being operable to indicate to said communication network that said portion of the signalling information is to be routed to the processing entity.
58. The system of claim 55, wherein to attempt establishing the second telephony link, the at least one network element is operable to invoke a simultaneous ringing function.
59. The system of claim 58, wherein said processing entity is operable to provide remedial call treatment to said at least one network element via said second telephony link in response to receipt of said portion of the signalling information.
60. The system of claim 59, wherein said remedial call treatment comprises one of a busy signal and a no answer signal.
61. The system of claim 55, wherein said communication network comprises a data network adapted for handling Voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls; and wherein said signalling information traverses the data network and comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message.
62. The system of claim 61, wherein to attempt establishing the second telephony link, the at least one network element is operable to invoke a proxy function.
63. The system of claim 61, wherein to release said portion of the signalling information, the at least one network element is operable to create a replica of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message and to forward the created replica of said Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message to the processing entity over the data network.
64. The system of claim 61, wherein a network address associated with the processing entity is provisioned as the registered agent for the destination party.
65. The system of claim 55, wherein the processing entity comprises a video control portion, the video control portion having control over the television link associated with the destination party; and wherein the processing entity is further operable to transmit the announcement trigger to the video control portion for distribution over the television link associated with the destination party.
66. The system of claim 55, the destination party being a particular destination party, wherein the system further comprises, said database operable to maintain at least one record, each of the at least one record maintaining a relationship between information regarding an identity of a respective destination party and a corresponding network identifier of a set-top box associated with the respective destination party.
67. The system of claim 66, wherein said information regarding the origin of the incoming call is one of a telephone number and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
68. The system of claim 66, wherein said database is further operable to maintain additional information provisioned by the destination party.
69. The system of claim 68, wherein said additional information comprises at least one of an image associated with a potential origin of the incoming call, an indication of a group to which a potential origin of the incoming call belongs and a photo associated with a potential origin of the incoming call.
70. The system of claim 69, wherein said additional information can be used to generate an additional indication of the identity of the origin of the incoming call based on the information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
71. The system of claim 55, further comprising a distribution network, wherein said television link traverses said distribution network.
72. The system of claim 71, wherein said distribution network comprises one of a direct-to home broadcasting network, a cable distribution network and a video-over-IP distribution network.
73. The system of claim 55, further comprising a set-top box associated with the destination party, wherein to cause delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call, the processing entity is operable to transmit an announcement trigger to the set-top box, the announcement trigger comprising at least said indication of the origin of the incoming call.
74. The system of claim 73, wherein pursuant to receipt of the announcement trigger, said set-top box is operable to extract said indication of the origin of the incoming call.
75. The system of claim 74, wherein said set-top box is further operable to cause displaying of said indication of the origin of the incoming call to the destination party.
76. A network element, comprising:
means for receiving signalling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party;
means for attempting to establish a first telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a communication network in response to said receiving;
means for identifying a registered agent for the destination party;
means for attempting to establish a second telephony link with the registered agent for the destination party to release said portion of the signalling information to the registered agent for the destination party, wherein receipt of said portion of the signalling information by the registered agent for the destination party causes delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, said indication based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call.
77. A processing entity, comprising:
means for receiving signalling information from a network element in the course of an attempt by the network element to establish a second telephony link, the signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of an incoming call and information regarding an identity of a destination party; wherein the network element is responsible for attempting to establish a first telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a network in response to receipt of the signalling information associated with the incoming call;
means for causing distribution of an announcement trigger over a plurality of television links in response to said receiving, the plurality of television links including a particular television link associated with the destination party, the announcement trigger for causing a set-top box associated with the particular television link to announce to the destination party an indication of the origin of the incoming call, said indication being based on said information regarding the origin of the incoming call; and
means for providing remedial call treatment to said network element to indicate that the attempt to establish the second telephony link was unsuccessful.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A demultiplexing method for supplying input data received from an input channel to a plurality of output channels,
wherein said plurality of output channels are connected to a plurality of physical protocol layer devices having the same interface address allocated,
comprising the steps of:
a) providing an input buffer (301) connected to said input channel and a plurality of output buffers (311 to 314) respectively connected to said plurality of output channels;
b) storing said input data in said input buffer;
c) determining whether all of the output buffers (311 to 314) are capable of receiving data, and
d) releasing transmission of said input data from said input buffer to said plurality of output buffers, when all of said plurality of output buffers are capable of receiving data.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said input and output buffers are FIFO buffers.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of physical protocol layer devices are UTOPIA level 1 compliant.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of output channels are connected to a plurality of ATM devices having the same interface address allocated.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said input channel is connected to an ATM device (200).
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said ATM device is UTOPIA level 1 or level 2 compliant.
7. A method according to claim 6, including a multiplexing method for supplying input data received from one of a plurality of the output channels now functioning as input channels, to the input channel now functioning as an output channel,
comprising the steps of:
a) using said output buffers (311 to 314) as a plurality of input buffers respectively connected to said plurality of input channels, and using the input buffer (301) as an output buffer connected to said output channel;
b) storing said received input data in a respective one of said plurality of input buffers; and,
c) releasing transmission of said input data from said respective one of said plurality of input buffers to said output buffer, when said output buffer is capable of receiving data.
8. A demultiplexing apparatus for supplying input data received from an input channel of said demultiplexing apparatus to a plurality of output channels thereof, wherein said plurality of output channels are connected to a plurality of physical protocol layer devices having the same interface address allocated,
comprising:
a) input buffer means (301) for storing said input data;
b) a plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314) respectively connected to said plurality of output channels; and
c) control means (320) for determining whether all of the output buffers (311 to 314) are capable of receiving data, and for releasing a transmission from said input buffer means (301) to said plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314), when all of said plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314) are capable of receiving data.
9. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said input (301) and output (311 to 314) buffer means are FIFO buffers.
10. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means (320) is arranged to receive a control signal indicating the receiving capability from anyone of said plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314), and to supply a release signal to said input buffer means (301), when said control signal has been received from all of said plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314).
11. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said input channel is connected to an ATM device (200).
12. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said ATM device (200) is UTOPIA level 1 or level 2 compliant.
13. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of physical protocol layer devices (101 to 104) are UTOPIA level 1 compliant.
14. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said output channels are connected to a plurality of ATM devices having the same interface address allocated.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, forming a multiplexing apparatus for supplying input data received from one of the plurality of the output channels now serving as input channels of said multiplexing apparatus to the input channel now serving as an output channel thereof, comprising:
the plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314) serving as a plurality of input buffer means respectively connected to said plurality of input channels, wherein said input data is stored in a respective one of said plurality of input buffer means; the input buffer means (301) serving as output buffer means connected to said output channel;
the control means (320) being adapted for releasing a transmission from said respective one of said plurality of input buffer means to said output buffer means, when said output buffer means is capable of receiving data.
16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of physical protocol layer devices are UTOPIA level 1 compliant.
17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of output channels are connected to a plurality of ATM devices having the same interface address allocated.
18. A method according to claim 1, wherein said input channel is connected to an ATM device (200).
19. A method according to claim 4, wherein said ATM device is UTOPIA level 1 or level 2 compliant.
20. A method according to claim 1, including a multiplexing method for supplying input data received from one of a plurality of the output channels now functioning as input channels, to the input channel now functioning as an output channel,
comprising the steps of:
a) using said output buffers (311 to 314) as a plurality of input buffers respectively connected to said plurality of input channels, and using the input buffer (301) as an output buffer connected to said output channel;
b) storing said received input data in a respective one of said plurality of input buffers; and,
c) releasing transmission of said input data from said respective one of said plurality of input buffers to said output buffer, when said output buffer is capable of receiving data.
21. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means (320) is arranged to receive a control signal indicating the receiving capability from anyone of said plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314), and to supply a release signal to said input buffer means (301), when said control signal has been received from all of said plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314).
22. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said input channel is connected to an ATM device (200).
23. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of physical protocol layer devices (101 to 104) are UTOPIA level 1 compliant.
24. A demultiplexing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output channels are connected to a plurality of ATM devices having the same interface address allocated.
25. An apparatus according to claim 8, forming a multiplexing apparatus for supplying input data received from one of the plurality of the output channels now serving as input channels of said multiplexing apparatus to the input channel now serving as an output channel thereof, comprising:
the plurality of output buffer means (311 to 314) serving as a plurality of input buffer means respectively connected to said plurality of input channels, wherein said input data is stored in a respective one of said plurality of input buffer means; the input buffer means (301) serving as output buffer means connected to said output channel;
the control means (320) being adapted for releasing a transmission from said respective one of said plurality of input buffer means to said output buffer means, when said output buffer means is capable of receiving data.