Patent ID: 7647139

Claim:
A system for transferring control over an aircraft, comprising: a receiver component configured to receive at least a new air traffic control center designation message from an original air traffic control center through an active connection, wherein the active connection is based on a first data link standard; an identifier component configured to determine a second data link standard of the new air traffic control center from at least the new air traffic control center designation message; a logon component configured to log the aircraft into the new air traffic control center; a connection component configured to establish an inactive connection between the new air traffic control center and the aircraft upon a connection request, wherein the inactive connection is based on a second data link standard; a confirmation component configured to provide a confirmation of an inactive connection to the new air traffic control center; and a switch component configured to terminate the active connection between the original air traffic control center and the aircraft upon a request from the original air traffic control center, wherein the first data link standard is one of a Future Air Navigation System (FANS) standard and an Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard, and wherein the second data link standard is one of a FANS standard and an ATN standard.