Aeronautical Radio Incorporated Data Network Service
The backbone of the ARINC communication services is the ARINC Data Network Service (ADNS). Currently this packet switch network has 13 nodes located in major U.S. cities and in London. In addition there are connections to these network nodes from terminals and processors in many other countries. The network provides a communication interface between airlines, AFTN, Area Control Facility (ACF) and weather services. ADNS is also used to transport air-ground data link messages and Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS). In 1993 the network handled over 6 million messages per day related to air transportation.
Aeronautical Station
A land station in the aeronautical mobile service. In certain instances, an aeronautical station may be located, for example, on board ship or on a platform at sea.
Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Host Computer
An ATN host computer is a civil aeronautical computer system that contains one or more end user applications and which communicates using the ATN internet. In OSI terms, it denotes an End System. An ATN Host Computer may also implement the upper layers necessary to support the Systems Management Agent and System Management Manager and upper layer protocols as specified for the supported end-user applications.
Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Internet
An implementation of the ISO OSI network layer services and protocols for support of interprocess data communication between aeronautical host computers. It is defined to be the collection of the connected internetwork routers and sub networks that conform to ATN internetwork requirements.
Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Internet Island Backbone RDC
An ATN backbone is an Routing Domain Confederation (RDC) comprising a subset of Transit Routing Domains within an ATN Island that provide general connectivity.

Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Internet Island Bridge
A bridge between two ATN Islands is a communications link between backbones over a suitable sub network.
Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Internet Island RDC