A method and apparatus is disclosed for a multimedia data communications
system. The data communication system is provided for use in a work
environment to establish a connection between a data communication device
and an access point in connection with a communication system and with a
multimedia system providing a multimedia signal. The data communication
system includes a data port associated with the access point, a multimedia
conversion circuit associated with the access point and in communication
with the data port for converting the multimedia signal from the
multimedia system into a multimedia data signal for transmission to the
data communication device and for converting a multimedia data signal from
the data communication device for transmission to the multimedia device,
and a device port associated with the data communication device so that a
data link can be established between the data port and the device port.
The data communication system also includes a processor associated with
the access point for formatting data communications between both the
communication system and the data communication device and the multimedia
device and the data communication device for transmission over the data
link. A method is disclosed for transmitting a signal having a multimedia
component and a data component across a data link between a data
communication device having a device port and a network access point
having a network port. The method includes the steps of determining
whether the signal includes a multimedia component, queuing the signal for
transmission across the data link so that the multimedia component of the
signal is given a higher priority for transmission than the data component
of the signal, and transmitting the signal across the data link.