Communication network

A communication network for an aircraft, comprising:

• a computing unit;
• a switch connected to the computing unit;
• a user terminal connected to the switch in such a way that the computing unit, the switch and the user terminal form a communication system with a central architecture,
• at least one communication system with a distributed architecture that is connected to the switch,
• with the switch being so designed to be used as an intermediate system for the communication system with the central architecture as well as for the communication system with the distributed architecture, with a portion of the input ports thereof and a portion of the output ports thereof being dedicated to an exchange of data with the communication system with the distributed architecture and a portion of the input ports thereof and a portion of the output ports thereof being dedicated to an exchange of data with the communication system with the central architecture, with the switch comprising a memory area in which all the data frames received on the input ports thereof prior to being retransmitted on the output ports of the switch are stored, with the switch being so configured as to operate in store and forward mode,
• with the switch thus providing an exchange of data within the communication system with the central architecture, within the communication system with the distributed architecture and between the communication system with the central architecture and the communication system with the distributed architecture,
• wherein the input and output ports of the switch are distributed among the two communication systems and are used individually by one of the two communications systems only,
• wherein the ports of the switch can equally be connected either to the communication system with the central architecture or to the communication system with the distributed architecture,
• wherein the switch is flexible and reconfigurable,
• wherein the switch comprises means for managing data frames via the switch, with the managing means comprising:
• means for controlling the occurrence of the incoming frames which are arranged between the input ports of the switch associated with the communication system with the distributed architecture and the memory area,
• means for controlling the occurrence of the incoming frames which are arranged between the input ports of the switch related to the communication system with the central architecture and the memory area,
• means for controlling the occurrence of outgoing frames which are arranged between the memory area and the output ports related to the communication system with the distributed architecture,
• means for controlling the occurrence of outgoing frames which are arranged between the memory area and the output ports related to the communication system with the central architecture,
• wherein the managing means comprise:
• first regulating means for regulating the emission of frames on the output ports of the switch related to the communication system with the distributed architecture, with said first regulating means being arranged following the means for controlling the occurrence of outgoing frames related to the communication system with the distributed architecture,
• second regulating means for regulating the emission of frames on the output ports of the switch related to the communication system with the central architecture, with said second regulating means being arranged following the means for controlling the occurrence of outgoing frames related to the communication system with the central architecture,
• at least one of the first regulating means and the second regulating means being parameterizable,
• wherein first regulating means and/or second regulating means being parameterizable on a port per port basis.