Patent ID: 8209351

Claim:
A method for displaying data in an avionics communications system, the method comprising: generating an Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) 661 definition file and a user database from one or more user-defined inputs for a communications management function of an aircraft, the user database comprising a widget reference table of display objects for the one or more user-defined inputs and a display object file; accessing the widget reference table of the user database to link one or more display attribute objects with the ARINC 661 definition file to convey information relating the one or more user-defined inputs with at least one display of the aircraft; and based on user interactions with the at least one display, updating display data of the at least one display using the contents of the ARINC 661 definition file and the user database; wherein generating the ARINC 661 definition file and the user database further comprises creating the ARINC 661 definition file and the user database in a ground-based software tool in operative communications with the communications management function; wherein creating the ARINC 661 definition file and the user database in the ground-based software tool further comprises: allocating the ARINC 661 definition file to a common display system in the aircraft; and allocating the user database to the communications management function.