Patent ID: 8554204

Claim:
An avionic communication unit, the communication unit comprising: at least one first type port configured to couple a wired ARINC 429 communication link using a first communication format to the communication unit; at least one second type port configured to couple a wired Ethernet communication link using a second communication format to the communication unit; and a communication function configured to interface communications between devices in at least one of the following manners: from a flight management computer (FMC), an Aircraft Condition Monitoring system (ACMS), a Cabin Terminal, or a printer, each having a wired ARINC 429 connection to the at least one first type port, to an avionics device located on an aircraft having a wired Ethernet connection to the at least one second type port; and from the avionics device located on the aircraft to a flight management computer (FMC), an Aircraft Condition Monitoring system (ACMS), a Cabin Terminal, or a printer, each having a wired ARINC 429 connection to the at least one first type port; wherein the communication function is also configured to provide communications to and from the aircraft; wherein avionic devices located on the aircraft and using different communication formats coupled to the respective ports can communicate.