Patent ID: 8064347

Claim:
An apparatus for switching communications from one or more end users in a network, the apparatus comprising: an interface having a first input for receiving an avionic communication from an end user of the one or more end users and having a second input and an output, wherein at least one of the one or more end users comprises a line replaceable unit; a first switch channel having an input coupled to said output of said interface, said first switch channel configured to process said communication, said first switch channel comprising a first Ethernet interface having an output; a second switch channel having an input coupled to said output of said interface, said second switch channel configured to process said communication, said second switch channel comprising a second Ethernet interface having an output; and a single multiplexer coupled to said second input of said interface and to both of said outputs of said first and second Ethernet interfaces, said multiplexer configured to select at least one of said first and second switch channels to transmit said communication; wherein said multiplexer is configured to select said second switch channel to receive said communication when said first switch channel fails.