Port expansion device for an aircraft

A method performed by control circuitry of a port expansion device connected to a user interface terminal in an aircraft, the user interface terminal being configured to connect a first set of peripheral systems directly to it and to display, on a screen of the user interface terminal, a first selection page allowing a user to select a peripheral system from said first set of peripheral systems so as to transfer graphical interface control to the selected peripheral system,

• a second set of peripheral systems being connected to the user interface terminal via the control circuitry, the method comprising:
• receiving a name request from the user interface terminal,
• responding to the name request from the user interface terminal with a name representative of a menu navigation action on the user interface terminal;
• upon receipt of graphical interface control transferred from the user interface terminal, emulating a second selection page in a same style as the first selection page generated by the user interface terminal, the second selection page allowing the user to select a peripheral system from among said second set of peripheral systems;
• and
• upon detecting a selection of a peripheral system from said second set of peripheral systems, transferring graphical interface control from the control circuitry to said selected peripheral system, thereby acting as a relay between said selected peripheral system and the user interface terminal.

A port expansion device connectable to a user interface terminal, the user interface terminal being configured to connect a fist set of peripheral systems and generate a first user interface allowing a user to select a peripheral system from the first set of peripheral systems for transferring user interface control, the port expansion device comprising:

• a connector configured to connect the port extension device to the user interface terminal, and
• control circuitry configured to connect a second set of peripheral systems to the user interface terminal, the control circuitry being configured to:
• receive a name request from the user interface terminal;
• upon receipt of the name request, respond to the name request with a name representative of an element on the first user interface generated by the user interface terminal, the element enabling transferring user interface control from the user interface terminal to the control circuitry;
• upon receipt of user interface control transferred from the user interface terminal, generate a second selection page in a same style as the first selection page, the second selection page allowing the user to select a peripheral system from the second set of peripheral systems;
• and
• upon detecting a selection of a peripheral system from the second set of peripheral systems, transfer user interface control from the control circuitry to the selected peripheral system.