US Patent 7519014 Multi-network aircraft communication systems and methods

Systems and methods for multi-network aircraft communications are disclosed. In one embodiment, a communication system includes a communications module executing in an onboard computer in an aircraft. Applications executing on the onboard computer generate messages, which the communications module transmits over one of a plurality of broadcast networks including ACARS and IP based systems. The communications module selects which of the broadcast networks will carry a message according to a configuration file associated with the generating application. Messages may have a priority associated therewith, with low priority messages being stored and transmitted upon availability if a preferred broadcast network is unavailable.