Multichannel HDLC framing/deframing machine

A high speed multichannel HDLC framing machine (112) cycles through Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) channels identifying a channel table (188) for each channel. HDLC state, data to be framed, and a mask are loaded into registers (176, 178), and the framer/deframer (112) is activated. The framer/deframer (112) returns an updated HDLC state, status flags, and a framed code word. The framed code word is multiplexed in a FIFO queue (58) for output on the high speed TDM line (28). A high speed multichannel HDLC deframing machine (112) receives a series of code words from a FIFO queue (56). For each code word received, a corresponding channel table (188) is identified. HDLC state, the code word to be deframed and, a mask are loaded into registers (176, 178), and the framer/deframer (112) is activated. The framer/deframer returns an updated HDLC state, status flags, and potentially a deframed data word.