Aircraft avionics management and control system

1. A system for universal management, control and operation of a plurality of different avionics devices, comprising:

(a) a plurality of communications links, each coupled to a different one of the plurality of different avionics devices so as to communicate therewith according to a communications protocol associated with the one of the plurality of different avionics devices to which it is coupled;

(b) a front panel including a display device and a plurality of user input components; and

(c) a processor that is coupled to each of the plurality of communications links, the processor configured to display data from each of the different avionics devices on the display device so that the data from each of the different avionics devices is shown in a different graphical user interface on the display device and so that each graphical user interface conforms to a common display format, the processor further configured to receive user input for a selected one of the avionics devices through at least one of the plurality of user input components and to transmit the user input to the selected one of the avionics devices through one of the plurality of communication links that is coupled to the selected one of the avionics devices.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the common display format comprises a plurality of display zones in which each of the plurality of display zones corresponds to a different one of the avionics devices, wherein each display zone comprises:

(a) an active device section configured to display operational data for a selected device in a first color;

(b) a standby device section configured to display operational data for the selected device in a second color that is different from the first color; and

(c) a device status section configured to display at least one of the following parameters associated with the selected device: logical radio number, encryption mode, radio type and operational status.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the common display format further comprises a preset list portion that includes a list of presets and a preset description next to each preset in the list of presets, in which each preset description includes a description of a frequency associated with each preset and a function associated with each preset.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user data input port, coupled to the processor, that is configured to receive operating data from a user data storage device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the operating data includes a plurality of presets for at least one of the avionics devices.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the data port comprises as selected one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and a Secure Digital (SD) card interface.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of communications links comprises:

(a) a communications connector physically coupled to a bus from a selected one of the avionics devices; and

(b) a circuit configured to interface communications between the bus and the processor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user input components comprise:

(a) a plurality of line select keys, in which each line select key is disposed adjacent to a different graphical user interface; and

(b) a plurality of soft keys, wherein the processor is responsive to both the line select keys and the soft keys, the processor further programmed to: receive an input indicating that a selected one of the line select keys has been actuated and, in response to the input, associating at least a set of the soft keys with the avionics device corresponding to the activated line select key.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to display a plurality of labels, each label adjacent to a different one of the soft keys and each label indicating an action operation with a soft key that is specific to the selected avionics device and that will occur upon actuation of the soft key.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute an operation, upon receiving input that a selected one of the set of soft keys has been actuated, that is specific to the selected avionics device and that is associated with the selected one of the set of soft keys.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user input components comprise at least one spin-push concentric knob that is configurable by the processor for receiving user input regarding frequency selection and data entry.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the avionics devices include at least two separate radio systems.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed by software, stored on a non-transitory computer-readable memory, comprising a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including:

(a) a hardware protocol layer that implements hardware protocols for each data communications standard or protocol supported by the system and that includes a plurality of software modules that each correspond in a one-to-one relationship with a selected one of the avionics devices;

(b) a data protocol software layer that implements the data protocols for each data communications standard or protocol supported by the system and that includes a plurality of software modules that each correspond in a one-to-one relationship with a particular data protocol associated with a selected one of the avionics devices;

(c) a device interface software layer that implements an interface between the system and each type of avionics device and that includes a plurality of software modules that each generate commands and instructions for communication to a corresponding avionics system and that interpret data received from corresponding avionics system; and

(d) a user interface software layer that implements a system-wide user interface including, each of the graphical user interfaces displayed on display device and interaction with the user input components and that includes a module that generates the graphical user interfaces and that communicates inputs made by the user to the avionics devices.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a luminance mode button disposed on the front panel and in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause each graphical user interface to be in a night luminance mode when the luminance mode button is actuated.

15. A universal management, control and operation avionics system for use by a user in an aircraft, comprising:

(a) a plurality of different avionics devices disposed in the aircraft, including at least two separate radio systems;

(b) a single housing disposed within the aircraft;

(c) a plurality of communications links, disposed within the housing, each coupled to a different one of the plurality of different avionics devices so as to communicate therewith according to a communications protocol associated with the one of the plurality of different avionics devices to which it is coupled;

(d) a front panel, affixed to a front portion of the housing, including a display device and a plurality of user input components; and

(e) a processor, disposed within the housing, that is coupled to each of the plurality of communications links, the processor configured to display data from each of the different avionics devices on the display device so that the data from each of the different avionics devices is shown in a different graphical user interface shown on the display device and so that each graphical user interface conforms to a common display format, the processor further configured to receive user input for a selected one of the avionics devices through at least one of the plurality of user input components and to transmit the user input to the selected one of the avionics devices through one of the plurality of communication links that is coupled to the selected one of the avionics devices.

16. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 15 , further comprising a user data input port, coupled to the processor, that is configured to receive operating data from a user data storage device.

17. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 15 , wherein the operating data includes a plurality of presets for at least one of the avionics devices.

18. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 15 , wherein the data port comprises as selected one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and a Secure Digital (SD) card interface.

19. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of communications links comprises:

(a) a communications connector physically coupled to a bus from a selected one of the avionics devices; and

(b) a circuit configured to interface communications between the bus and the processor.

20. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 15 , wherein the user input components comprise:

(a) a plurality of line select keys, in which each line select key is disposed adjacent to a different graphical user interface; and

(b) a plurality of soft keys, wherein the processor is responsive to both the line select keys and the soft keys, the processor further programmed to: receive an input indicating that a selected one of the line select keys has been actuated and, in response to the input, associating at least a set of the soft keys with the avionics device corresponding to the activated line select key.

21. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further programmed to display a plurality of labels, each label adjacent to a different one of the soft keys and each label indicating an action operation with a soft key that is specific to the selected avionics device and that will occur upon actuation of the soft key.

22. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute an operation, upon receiving input that a selected one of the set of soft keys has been actuated, that is specific to the selected avionics device and that is associated with the selected one of the set of soft keys.

23. The universal management, control and operation avionics system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is programmed by software, stored on a non-transitory computer-readable memory, comprising a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including:

(a) a hardware protocol layer that implements hardware protocols for each data communications standard or protocol supported by the system and that includes a plurality of software modules that each correspond in a one-to-one relationship with a selected one of the avionics devices;

(b) a data protocol software layer that implements the data protocols for each data communications standard or protocol supported by the system and that includes a plurality of software modules that each correspond in a one-to-one relationship with a particular data protocol associated with a selected one of the avionics devices;

(c) a device interface software layer that implements an interface between the system and each type of avionics device and that includes a plurality of software modules that each generate commands and instructions for communication to a corresponding avionics system and that interpret data received from corresponding avionics system; and

(d) a user interface software layer that implements a system-wide user interface including, each of the graphical user interfaces displayed on display device and interaction with the user input components and that includes a module that generates the graphical user interfaces and that communicates inputs made by the user to the avionics devices.