Patent Publication Number: US-2013245882-A1

Title: Removable, configurable vehicle console

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/460,509, filed Nov. 16, 2011, entitled “COMPLETE VEHICLE ECOSYSTEM.” The aforementioned document is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety for all that it teaches and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Whether using private, commercial, or public transport, the movement of people and/or cargo has become a major industry. In today&#39;s interconnected world, daily travel is essential to engaging in commerce. Commuting to and from work can account for a large portion of a traveler&#39;s day. As a result, vehicle manufacturers have begun to focus on making this commute, and other journeys, more enjoyable. 
     Currently, vehicle manufacturers attempt to entice travelers to use a specific conveyance based on any number of features. Most of these features focus on vehicle safety, or efficiency. From the addition of safety-restraints, air-bags, and warning systems to more efficient engines, motors, and designs, the vehicle industry has worked to appease the supposed needs of the traveler. Recently, however, vehicle manufactures have shifted their focus to user and passenger comfort as a primary concern. Making an individual more comfortable while traveling instills confidence and pleasure in using a given vehicle, increasing an individual&#39;s preference for a given manufacturer and/or vehicle type. 
     One way to instill comfort in a vehicle is to create an environment within the vehicle similar to that of an individual&#39;s home or place of comfort. Integrating features in a vehicle that are associated with comfort found in an individual&#39;s home can ease a traveler&#39;s transition from home to vehicle. Several manufacturers have added comfort features in vehicles such as the following: leather seats, adaptive and/or personal climate control systems, music and media players, ergonomic controls, and in some cases Internet connectivity. However, because these manufacturers have added features to a conveyance, they have built comfort around a vehicle and failed to build a vehicle around comfort. 
     SUMMARY 
     There is a need for a vehicle ecosystem that can integrate both physical and mental comforts while seamlessly operating with current electronic devices to result in a totally intuitive and immersive user experience. These and other needs are addressed by the various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the present disclosure. Also, while the disclosure is presented in terms of exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that individual aspects of the disclosure can be separately claimed. 
     In embodiments, a method of configuring a vehicle control system graphical user interface (“GUI”) of a console device, comprising: detecting, by a processor, a first state of the console device, wherein the first state of the console device is one of attached to or removed from a vehicle-mounted position on a vehicle; storing, in memory, the first state of the console device and a first presentation layout associated with the first state; detecting, by a processor, a second state of the console device, wherein the second state of the console device is different from the first state of the console device, and wherein the second state of the console device is the other of attached to or removed from the vehicle-mounted position; and referring, by a processor, to stored rules to determine whether to change the first presentation layout of the console device based on the detected second state of the console device. 
     A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform the method comprising: detecting, by a processor, a first state of the console device, wherein the first state of the console device is one of attached to or removed from a vehicle-mounted position on a vehicle; storing, in memory, the first state of the console device and a first presentation layout associated with the first state; detecting, by a processor, a second state of the console device, wherein the second state of the console device is different from the first state of the console device; and referring, by a processor, to stored rules to determine whether to change the first presentation layout of the console device based on the detected second state of the console device. 
     A removable, configurable console device for displaying and interacting with a plurality of user-controllable vehicle applications, comprising: a first graphical user interface (“GUI”) including a touch sensitive display; an input/output port, wherein the input/output port is configured to send and receive signals between the console device and a plurality of devices associated with a vehicle; at least one engagement feature, wherein the at least one engagement feature is configured to selectively connect the console device to a vehicle-mounted position on the vehicle; and a switch element configured to detect a state of the console device, wherein the state of the console device is one of attached to or removed from the vehicle-mounted position. 
     The present disclosure can provide a number of advantages depending on the particular aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Currently, vehicle consoles are known to include physical and/or electrical controls for the manipulation of certain vehicle features. For example, vehicles may include climate control, audio control, and other preferences available from a main console. The adjustment of these controls may be achieved through physical and/or touch-screen manipulation of dials, knobs, switches, keys, buttons, and the like. However, the custom configurability of these controls is limited on current touch-screen consoles and virtually impossible on physical consoles. Moreover, both touch-screen and physical consoles remain permanently hard-wired to the vehicle. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure a removable console is described. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a console that can be simply and repeatably detached from and reattached to a specific location. In some cases, a console of a vehicle may span across, or be separated into, one or more individual screens. The present disclosure anticipates detaching at least one of these console screens. This detachable console screen may have its own processor, memory, and power source. Furthermore, the detachable console screen may be operated as a tablet or portable computing platform. Alternatively, the device may be tethered to the vehicle for use inside a predefined area. 
     In some embodiments, the removable console may interface with the vehicle, and/or other consoles, via an attachment point. The attachment point may include an electrical interface and a locking feature. This locking feature may allow removal and/or prevent removal of the detachable console based on specific rules. Furthermore, the locking feature may be configured to provide a rest portion where the detachable console may reside during a connected operation with the vehicle. 
     It is one aspect of the present disclosure the removable console may provide its location to the vehicle and/or other associated device. For instance, if the removable console is removed from an area adjacent to the vehicle, an alert may indicate its removal from the predefined area. This alert may be sent to a mobile device (e.g., text message). Additionally, the alert may be an audible and/or visual alert to those adjacent to the vehicle. Moreover, the removable console may provide a signal that can be analyzed to determine location. This signal may be continuously and/or selectively sent according to specific rules. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a configurable console is shown to incorporate various features and controls that may be selectively configured by an application, user, software, hardware, various input, and the like. Configuration may include adjustments to at least one of the size, location, available features, functions, applications, modules, and behavior of the configurable console. It is one aspect of the present disclosure to allow for the integration of custom designed templates of standard console layouts that users may manipulate and/or modify. These modifications may be saved and stored. 
     Further, certain controls and/or features may be selected to display in any given position on the console. For example, if a user wishes to have constant access to the climate-control settings of a vehicle, the user may place a “climate-control” module on the configurable console. The position and/or features of this module may be adjusted according to rules and its position may be arranged as desired by the user. It is anticipated that recommended positions for the module, or modules, could be provided by the vehicle console system. If a user wishes to add a “music control” module to the console the user can similarly select position, size, and/or other features associated with the module to best suit the user&#39;s needs. A user may access a respective or selected console display configuration from among a plurality of different console display configurations by inputting a code or identifier. The result is that different users of a common vehicle or common make, year, and model can have differently configured console displays. 
     In some embodiments, these modules may be programmed to disappear, dim, or exhibit other functions in response to some type of stimulus. For example, the user may want one or more control modules to dim upon driving. Alternatively, the user may want one or more modules to disappear according to a timer or other stimulus. It is anticipated that the stimulus may include user input, timers, sensors, programmed conditions, and the like. 
     For example, in the event of an accident, access to a vehicle&#39;s music, climate control and/or other non-essential modules is of little benefit. In an emergency scenario, the console may use one or more sensors, possibly including vehicle sensor (e.g., air bag sensor, gyroscope, or accelerometer), to detect the accident and provide emergency features to a user via the console. These features may replace the standard modules arranged on the console (e.g., the music and climate modules are minimized or removed, replaced by one or more emergency modules). A large “hazard” light module may be created. Additionally or alternatively, an emergency contact module may be provided to allow the user easy access to an emergency communication channel. Contacting the emergency channel could be left to the discretion of the user. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, these emergency modules may automatically contact an emergency channel and/or use timers and other sensors to determine whether to initiate contact with the emergency channel. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, it is anticipated that the vehicle may use sensors in an individual&#39;s phone or other device to detect a specific user&#39;s heartbeat and/or monitor a user&#39;s other vital signs. These vital signs could be relayed to an emergency contact to aid in possible treatment and/or evaluate a necessary emergency response. Using a phone&#39;s, or other device&#39;s, gyroscope and/or accelerometer to detect a user&#39;s heartbeat could be achieved via storing conditions at a time prior to an accident and comparing the stored conditions to those obtained during the emergency. In the event that a user has associated his or her phone and/or device with the vehicle console, this process of monitoring, sending, and using the vital sign information could be achieved automatically by the console and/or vehicle. These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure. 
     The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
     The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably. 
     The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers to any process or operation done without material human input when the process or operation is performed. However, a process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input, if the input is received before performance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human input that consents to the performance of the process or operation is not deemed to be “material.” 
     The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any tangible storage and/or transmission medium that participate in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, NVRAM, or magnetic or optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, a solid state medium like a memory card, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read. A digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. When the computer-readable media is configured as a database, it is to be understood that the database may be any type of database, such as relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storage medium or distribution medium and prior art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations of the present disclosure are stored. 
     The term “desktop” refers to a metaphor used to portray systems. A desktop is generally considered a “surface” that typically includes pictures, called icons, widgets, folders, etc. that can activate show applications, windows, cabinets, files, folders, documents, and other graphical items. The icons are generally selectable to initiate a task through user interface interaction to allow a user to execute applications or conduct other operations. 
     The term “display” refers to a portion of a screen used to display the output of a computer to a user. 
     The term “displayed image” refers to an image produced on the display. A typical displayed image is a window or desktop. The displayed image may occupy all or a portion of the display. 
     The term “display orientation” refers to the way in which a rectangular display is oriented by a user for viewing. The two most common types of display orientation are portrait and landscape. In landscape mode, the display is oriented such that the width of the display is greater than the height of the display (such as a 4:3 ratio, which is 4 units wide and 3 units tall, or a 16:9 ratio, which is 16 units wide and 9 units tall). Stated differently, the longer dimension of the display is oriented substantially horizontal in landscape mode while the shorter dimension of the display is oriented substantially vertical. In the portrait mode, by contrast, the display is oriented such that the width of the display is less than the height of the display. Stated differently, the shorter dimension of the display is oriented substantially horizontal in the portrait mode while the longer dimension of the display is oriented substantially vertical. The multi-screen display can have one composite display that encompasses all the screens. The composite display can have different display characteristics based on the various orientations of the device. 
     The term “gesture” refers to a user action that expresses an intended idea, action, meaning, result, and/or outcome. The user action can include manipulating a device (e.g., opening or closing a device, changing a device orientation, moving a trackball or wheel, etc.), movement of a body part in relation to the device, movement of an implement or tool in relation to the device, audio inputs, etc. A gesture may be made on a device (such as on the screen) or with the device to interact with the device. 
     The term “module” as used herein refers to any known or later developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, or combination of hardware and software that is capable of performing the functionality associated with that element. 
     The term “gesture capture” refers to a sense or otherwise a detection of an instance and/or type of user gesture. The gesture capture can occur in one or more areas of the screen, A gesture region can be on the display, where it may be referred to as a touch sensitive display or off the display where it may be referred to as a gesture capture area. 
     A “multi-screen application” refers to an application that is capable of producing one or more windows that may simultaneously occupy multiple screens. A multi-screen application commonly can operate in single-screen mode in which one or more windows of the application are displayed only on one screen or in multi-screen mode in which one or more windows are displayed simultaneously on multiple screens. 
     A “single-screen application” refers to an application that is capable of producing one or more windows that may occupy only a single screen at a time. 
     The term “screen,” “touch screen,” or “touchscreen” refers to a physical structure that enables the user to interact with the computer by touching areas on the screen and provides information to a user through a display. The touch screen may sense user contact in a number of different ways, such as by a change in an electrical parameter (e.g., resistance or capacitance), acoustic wave variations, infrared radiation proximity detection, light variation detection, and the like. In a resistive touch screen, for example, normally separated conductive and resistive metallic layers in the screen pass an electrical current. When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact in the contacted location, whereby a change in electrical field is noted and the coordinates of the contacted location calculated. In a capacitive touch screen, a capacitive layer stores electrical charge, which is discharged to the user upon contact with the touch screen, causing a decrease in the charge of the capacitive layer. The decrease is measured, and the contacted location coordinates determined. In a surface acoustic wave touch screen, an acoustic wave is transmitted through the screen, and the acoustic wave is disturbed by user contact. A receiving transducer detects the user contact instance and determines the contacted location coordinates. 
     The term “window” refers to a, typically rectangular, displayed image on at least part of a display that contains or provides content different from the rest of the screen. The window may obscure the desktop. 
     The terms “determine,” “calculate,” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique. 
     It shall be understood that the term “means” as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112, Paragraph 6. Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials or acts and the equivalents thereof shall include all those described in the summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves. 
     The term “vehicle” as used herein includes any conveyance, or model of a conveyance, where the conveyance was originally designed for the purpose of moving one or more tangible objects, such as people, animals, cargo, and the like. The term “vehicle” does not require that a conveyance moves or is capable of movement. Typical vehicles may include but are in no way limited to cars, trucks, motorcycles, busses, automobiles, trains, railed conveyances, boats, ships, marine conveyances, submarine conveyances, airplanes, space craft, flying machines, human-powered conveyances, and the like. 
     The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide an understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the disclosure and its various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations. It is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure but to present selected concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a device of a configurable vehicle console removably detached from a mounting location of a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a front perspective view of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a rear perspective view of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the hardware of the device; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device software and/or firmware; 
         FIG. 5A  depicts a first representation of a graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  depicts a second representation of a graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5C  depicts a third representation of a graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5D  depicts a fourth representation of a graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5E  depicts a fifth representation of a graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6A  depicts a sixth representation of a graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6B  depicts a seventh graphical user interface of a configurable vehicle console in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram depicting a removable, configurable vehicle console method in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram depicting a removable, configurable vehicle console method in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Presented herein are embodiments of a device. The device can comprise single devices or a compilation of devices. Furthermore, the device can be a communications device, such as a cellular telephone, or other smart device. This device, or devices, may be capable of communicating with other devices and/or to an individual or group of individuals. Further, this device, or these devices, can receive user input in unique ways. The overall design and functionality of each device provides for an enhanced user experience making the device more useful and more efficient. As described herein, the device(s) may be electrical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, software-based, and/or combinations thereof. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a device of a configurable vehicle console removably detached from a mounting location of a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the configurable vehicle console may comprise at least one device  100  that is capable of being attached to a vehicle in a vehicle-mounted position  124 . Further, the device  100  may engage with the vehicle via one or more of engagement feature  212  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ), vehicle mount  104 , vehicle dock  116 , and combinations thereof. In embodiments, the configurable vehicle console may consist of the device  100  and at least one additional console display  108 . Moreover, the device  100  may be tethered to the vehicle-mount position via an optional tether  120 . As can be appreciated, the tether  120  may carry electrical and/or optical signals for the purposes of power and communication. The tether  120  may be connected between the device  100  and the vehicle interior  112 , and even connect to the dock  116 . In some embodiments, the tether  120  may be used to limit movement of the device  100 , especially acting such that the device  100  may not be removed from the vehicle interior  112 . Further, the tether  120  may be constructed from a material, or combination of materials, that allow the device  100  to be repeatably attached and detached from the vehicle-mounted position  124 . In an alternative embodiment, the tether  120  may be constructed such that no signal, power or otherwise, is passed from the device  100  to the vehicle. 
     It is anticipated that the device  100  may communicate with, and/or be operated independently of, the additional console display  108 . Communication between the device  100  and the additional console display  108  may be achieved through physical and/or wireless methods. It is one aspect of the present disclosure that the device  100  when removed from the vehicle-mounted position  124  may be operated as a stand-alone computing device  128 , such as a tablet computer. This stand-alone computing device  128  may also display and behave as a tablet computer configured as, but in no way limited to, email clients, web browsers, texting applications, games, media players, office suites, etc. In embodiments, applications that have been designated as “essential” may either remain on the display of the stand-alone computing device  128  or upon removal be transferred to the additional console display  108 . This transfer of the essential applications may be initiated by a manually selected option. Alternatively, the transfer of essential applications may be initiated automatically when the device  100  is removed from the vehicle-mounted position  124 . One or more of a number of sensors, the mount  104 , the dock  116 , other features of the device  100 , and combinations thereof may be used to determine removal of the device  100  from the vehicle-mounted position  124 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The configurable vehicle console can include a number of devices that work together with at least one process of a vehicle to provide various input/output functions. One such device  100  includes a touch sensitive front screen  204 . In some embodiments, the entire front surface of the front screen  204  may be touch sensitive and capable of receiving input by a user touching the front surface of the front screen  204 . The front screen  204  includes touch sensitive display  208 , which, in addition to being touch sensitive, also displays information to a user. In other embodiments, the screen  204  may include more than one display area. 
     It is anticipated that the device  100  may comprise a dual-screen phone and/or smartpad as described in respective U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/222,921, filed Aug. 31, 2011, entitled “DESKTOP REVEAL EXPANSION,” and Ser. No. 13/247,581, filed Sep. 28, 2011, entitled “SMARTPAD ORIENTATION.” Each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for all that they teach and for all purposes. 
     In addition to touch sensing, front screen  204  may also include areas that receive input from a user without requiring the user to touch the display area of the screen. For example, the front screen  204  may be configured to display content to the touch sensitive display  208 , while at least one other area may be configured to receive touch input via a gesture capture area  206 . The front screen  204  includes at least one gesture capture area  206 . This at least one gesture capture area  206  is able to receive input by recognizing gestures made by a user touching the gesture capture area surface of the front screen  204 . In comparison to the touch sensitive display  208 , the gesture capture area  206  is commonly not capable of rendering a displayed image. 
     Also shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is at least one engagement feature  212  that is configured to facilitate the removable attachment and detachment of the device  100  from a vehicle-mounted position. The vehicle-mounted position refers to the location of the device  100  when it is attached to the vehicle console, the vehicle, and/or vehicle accessory. Although still capable of operating as a configurable vehicle console when detached, the vehicle-mounted position allows the device  100  to operate in a state that may differ from another state when the device  100  is detached. The engagement feature  212  may employ the use of grooves, catches, hollows, clasps, tab and slot, protrusions, bosses, combinations thereof, and/or other mechanical or electromechanical features to enable attachment to a vehicle-mounted position. It is anticipated that the engagement feature  212  will further provide for the secure mounting to a vehicle and/or accessory while also providing access to the quick removal of the device  100  from its vehicle-mounted position. 
     In some embodiments, the device  100  may include one or more physical and/or electrical features such as switches, buttons, ports, slots, inputs, outputs, and the like. These features may be located on one or more surfaces  230  of the console  100 . In embodiments, several of these features may be accessed when detached from a default vehicle-mounted location. In other words, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to locate one or more of these features on a surface of the device  100  that remains hidden when attached. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a top side  230  of the console  100 . As shown, the top side  230  of the device  100  in one embodiment may include a plurality of control buttons  280 , which can be configured for specific inputs and, in response to receiving an input, may provide one or more electrical signals to a specific input pin of a processor or Integrated Circuit (IC) in the device  100 . For example, control buttons  216 ,  220 , and  224  may be configured to, in combination or alone, control a number of aspects of the device  100 . Some non-limiting examples include overall system power, volume, brightness, vibration, selection of displayed items, a camera, a microphone, and initiation/termination of device functions. In some embodiments, instead of separate buttons two buttons may be combined into a rocker button. This arrangement is useful in situations where the buttons are configured to control features such as volume or brightness. In other embodiments, button  216  is configured to, in addition to or in lieu of controlling system power, control other aspects of the device  100 . In some embodiments, one or more of the buttons  180  are capable of supporting different user commands. By way of example, a normal press has a duration commonly of less than about 1 second and resembles a quick tap. A medium press has a duration commonly of 1 second or more but less than about 12 seconds. A long press has a duration commonly of about 12 seconds or more. The function of the buttons is normally specific to the application that is currently in focus on the respective display  208 . In a communications application for instance and depending on the particular button, a normal, medium, or long press can mean end communication, increase volume of communication, decrease volume of communication, and toggle microphone mute. In a camera or video application for instance and depending on the particular button, a normal, medium, or long press can mean increase zoom, decrease zoom, and take photograph or record video. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the device  100  may also include a card/memory slot  228  and a port  240  on its side  230 . The card/memory slot  228 , in embodiments, accommodates different types of cards including a subscriber identity module (SIM) and/or other card based memory. Port  240  in embodiments is an input/output (I/O port) that allows the device  100  to be connected to other peripheral devices, such as a vehicle, phone, keyboard, other display, and/or printing device. As can be appreciated, these are merely some examples and in other embodiments the device  100  may include other slots and ports such as slots and ports for accommodating additional memory devices, facilitating firmware and/or software updates, and/or for connecting other peripheral devices. Also shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is an audio jack  236  that accommodates a tip, ring, sleeve (TRS) connector for example to allow a user to utilize headphones or a headset. 
     There are also a number of hardware components with the device  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , device  100  includes a speaker  268  and a microphone  232 . The microphone  232  may be used by the device  100  to receive audio input which may control and/or manipulate applications and/or features of device  100 . In embodiments, device  100  also includes a camera  272  and a light source  276 , which may be used to control and/or manipulate applications and/or features of the device  100 . It is anticipated that the device  100  may include one or more cameras  272  which can be mounted on any of the surfaces shown in the accompanying figures. In the event that the one or more cameras are used to detect user input, via gestures and/or facial expression, the one or more cameras may be located on the front screen  204 . The front screen  204  is shown in  FIG. 2A . Additionally, the device  100  includes one or more magnetic sensing feature  252  that, when located in the vehicle-mounted position, provides indication of the engagement position. As can be appreciated, when the device  100  is removed from a vehicle-mounted position the one or more magnetic sensing feature  252  provide the ability to detect the corresponding detachment of the device  100 . This sensing may be determined at the device  100 , the console, and/or the vehicle itself. An accelerometer and/or gyroscope  256  may also be included as part of the device  100  to determine, among other things, the orientation of the device  100  and/or the orientation of the screen  204 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B  the console rear  210  is shown in perspective view along with several electrical and mechanical features in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Device  100  includes an electrical and communications connection or docking port  244  that is capable of interfacing with one or more other devices, including a vehicle control system. These other devices may include additional displays, consoles, dashboards, associated vehicle processors, and the like. The docking port  244  is capable of transferring power from other devices to the device  100 . Moreover, vehicle and/or functional communications may be made through the docking port  244 . Communication may involve sending and receiving one or more signals between a vehicle and the device  100 . It is anticipated that when the device  100  is in a vehicle-mounted position the device  100  will be docked via the docking port  244 . The connection from the device  100  to at least one other device may be made through the docking port  244  via a physical, inductive, and/or wireless association. It is anticipated that the docking port  244  may incorporate features similar, if not identical, to those described above as engagement feature  212 . These features may further allow physical connection to a vehicle mount and/or vehicle. Furthermore, the docking port may provide a physical connection in addition to or apart from the engagement feature  212  previously described. 
     As can be appreciated, the description of the device  100  is made for illustrative purposes only, and the embodiments are not limited to the specific mechanical features shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B  and described above. In other embodiments, the device  100  may include additional features, including one or more additional buttons, slots, display areas, and/or locking mechanisms. Additionally, in embodiments, the features described above may be located in different parts of the device  100  and still provide similar functionality. Therefore,  FIGS. 2A-2B  and the description provided above are non-limiting. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates components of a device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, the device  100  includes a front screen  204  with a touch sensitive display  208 . The front screen  204  may be disabled and/or enabled by a suitable command. Moreover, the front screen  204  can be touch sensitive and can include different operative areas. For example, a first operative area, within the touch sensitive screen  204 , may comprise a touch sensitive display  208 . In general, the touch sensitive display  208  may comprise a full color, touch sensitive display. A second area within each touch sensitive screen  204  may comprise a gesture capture region  206 . The gesture capture region  206  may comprise one or more area or region that is outside of the touch sensitive display  208  area, and that is capable of receiving input, for example in the form of gestures provided by a user. However, the one or more gesture capture regions  206  do not include pixels that can perform a display function or capability. 
     It is further anticipated that a third region of the touch sensitive screen  204  may comprise one or more configurable areas. The configurable area is capable of receiving input and has display or limited display capabilities. As can be appreciated, the configurable area may occupy any part of the touch sensitive screen  204  not allocated to a gesture capture region  206  or touch sensitive display  208 . In embodiments, the configurable area may present different input options to the user. For example, the configurable area may display buttons or other relatable items. Moreover, the identity of displayed buttons, or whether any buttons are displayed at all within the configurable area of the touch sensitive screen  204  may be determined from the context in which the device  100  is used and/or operated. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch sensitive screen  204  comprises liquid crystal display devices extending across at least the region of the touch sensitive screen  204  that is capable of providing visual output to a user, and a resistive and/or capacitive input matrix over the regions of the touch sensitive screen  204  that are capable of receiving input from the user. 
     One or more display controllers  316  may be provided for controlling the operation of the touch sensitive screen  204 , including input (touch sensing) and output (display) functions. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a touch screen controller  316  is provided for the touch screen  204 . In accordance with some embodiments, the functions of a touch screen controller  316  may be incorporated into other components, such as a processor  304 . 
     The processor  304  may comprise a general purpose programmable processor or controller for executing application programming or instructions. In accordance with at least some embodiments, the processor  304  may include multiple processor cores, and/or implement multiple virtual processors. In accordance with still other embodiments, the processor  304  may include multiple physical processors. As a particular example, the processor  304  may comprise a specially configured application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a controller, a hardwired electronic or logic circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array, a special purpose computer, or the like. The processor  304  generally functions to run programming code or instructions implementing various functions of the device  100 . 
     A device  100  may also include memory  308  for use in connection with the execution of application programming or instructions by the processor  304 , and for the temporary or long term storage of program instructions and/or data. As examples, the memory  308  may comprise RAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or other solid state memory. Alternatively or in addition, data storage  312  may be provided. Like the memory  308 , the data storage  312  may comprise a solid state memory device or devices. Alternatively or in addition, the data storage  312  may comprise a hard disk drive or other random access memory. 
     In support of communications functions or capabilities, the device  100  can include a cellular telephony module  328 . As examples, the cellular telephony module  328  can comprise a GSM, CDMA, FDMA and/or analog cellular telephony transceiver capable of supporting voice, multimedia and/or data transfers over a cellular network. Alternatively or in addition, the device  100  can include an additional or other wireless communications module  332 . As examples, the other wireless communications module  332  can comprise a Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH™, WiMax, infrared, or other wireless communications link. The cellular telephony module  328  and the other wireless communications module  332  can each be associated with a shared or a dedicated antenna  324 . 
     A port interface  352  may be included. The port interface  352  may include proprietary or universal ports to support the interconnection of the device  100  to other devices or components, such as a dock, which may or may not include additional or different capabilities from those integral to the device  100 . In addition to supporting an exchange of communication signals between the device  100  and another device or component, the docking port  244  and/or port interface  352  can support the supply of power to or from the device  100 . The port interface  352  also comprises an intelligent element that comprises a docking module for controlling communications or other interactions between the device  100  and a connected device or component. 
     An input/output module  348  and associated ports may be included to support communications over wired networks or links, for example with other communication devices, server devices, and/or peripheral devices. Examples of an input/output module  248  include an Ethernet port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, or other interface. 
     An audio input/output interface/device(s)  344  can be included to provide analog audio to an interconnected speaker or other device, and to receive analog audio input from a connected microphone or other device. As an example, the audio input/output interface/device(s)  344  may comprise an associated amplifier and analog to digital converter. Alternatively or in addition, the device  100  can include an integrated audio input/output device  356  and/or an audio jack for interconnecting an external speaker or microphone. For example, an integrated speaker and an integrated microphone can be provided, to support near talk or speaker phone operations. 
     Hardware buttons  280  can be included for example for use in connection with certain control operations. Examples include a master power switch, volume control, etc., as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 2A and 2B . One or more image capture interfaces/devices  340 , such as a camera  272 , can be included for capturing still and/or video images. Alternatively or in addition, an image capture interface/device  340  can include a scanner or code reader. An image capture interface/device  340  can include or be associated with additional elements, such as a flash or other light source  276 . 
     The device  100  can also include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver  336 . In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the GPS receiver  336  may further comprise a GPS module that is capable of providing absolute location information to other components of the device  100 . An accelerometer(s)/gyroscope(s)  256  may also be included. For example, in connection with the display of information to a user and/or other functions, a signal from the accelerometer/gyroscope  256  can be used to determine an orientation and/or format in which to display that information to the user. In some embodiments, the accelerometer/gyroscope  256  may comprise at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can also include one or more magnetic sensing feature  252 . The magnetic sensing feature  252  can be configured to provide a signal indicating the position of the device relative to a vehicle-mounted position. This information can be provided as an input, for example to a user interface application, to determine an operating mode, characteristics of the touch sensitive display  208  and/or other device  100  operations. As examples, a magnetic sensing feature  252  can comprise one or more of Hall-effect sensors, a multiple position switch, an optical switch, a Wheatstone bridge, a potentiometer, or other arrangement capable of providing a signal indicating of multiple relative positions the touch screens are in. Alternatively, the magnetic sensing feature  252  may comprise one or more metallic elements used by other sensors associated with the console and/or vehicle to determine whether the device  100  is in a vehicle-mounted position. These metallic elements may include but are not limited to rare-earth magnets, electromagnets, ferrite and/or ferrite alloys, and/or other material capable of being detected by a range of sensors. 
     Communications between various components of the device  100  can be carried by one or more buses  322 . In addition, power can be supplied to the components of the device  100  from a power source and/or power control module  360 . The power control module  360  can, for example, include a battery, an AC to DC converter, power control logic, and/or ports for interconnecting the device  100  to an external source of power. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of the device software and/or firmware. The memory  408  may store and the processor  404  may execute one or more software components. These components can include at least one operating system (OS)  416 , an application manager  462 , a console desktop  466 , and/or one or more applications  464   a  and/or  464   b  from an application store  460 . The OS  416  can include a framework  420 , one or more frame buffers  448 , one or more drivers  412 , and/or a kernel  418 . The OS  416  can be any software, consisting of programs and data, which manages computer hardware resources and provides common services for the execution of various applications  464 . The OS  416  can be any operating system and, at least in some embodiments, dedicated to mobile devices, including, but not limited to, Linux, ANDROID™, iPhone OS (IOS™), WINDOWS PHONE 7™, etc. The OS  416  is operable to provide functionality to the device  100  by executing one or more operations, as described herein. 
     The applications  464  can be any higher level software that executes particular console functionality for the user. Applications  464  can include programs such as vehicle control applications, email clients, web browsers, texting applications, games, media players, office suites, etc. The applications  464  can be stored in an application store  460 , which may represent any memory or data storage, and the management software associated therewith, for storing the applications  464 . Once executed, the applications  464  may be run in a different area of memory  408 . 
     The framework  420  may be any software or data that allows the multiple tasks running on the device to interact. In embodiments, at least portions of the framework  420  and the discrete components described hereinafter may be considered part of the OS  416  or an application  464 . However, these portions will be described as part of the framework  420 , but those components are not so limited. The framework  420  can include, but is not limited to, a Surface Cache module  428 , a Window Management module  432 , an Input Management module  436 , an Application Model Manager  442 , a Display Controller, one or more frame buffers  448 , and/or an event buffer  456 . 
     The Surface Cache module  428  includes any memory or storage and the software associated therewith to store or cache one or more images of applications, windows, and/or console screens. A series of active and/or non-active windows (or other display objects, such as, a desktop display) can be associated with each display. An active window (or other display object) is currently displayed. A non-active window (or other display objects) was opened and, at some time, displayed but are now not displayed. To enhance the user experience, before a window transitions from an active state to an inactive state, a “screen shot” of a last generated image of the window (or other display object) can be stored. The Surface Cache module  428  may be operable to store a bitmap of the last active image of a window (or other display object) not currently displayed. Thus, the Surface Cache module  428  stores the images of non-active windows (or other display objects) in a data store. 
     In embodiments, the Window Management module  432  is operable to manage the windows (or other display objects) that are active or not active on each of the displays. The Window Management module  432 , based on information from the OS  416 , or other components, determines when a window (or other display object) is visible or not active. The Window Management module  432  may then put a non-visible window (or other display object) in a “not active state” and, in conjunction with the Task Management module Task Management  440  suspends the application&#39;s operation. Further, the Window Management module  432  may assign a display identifier to the window (or other display object) or manage one or more other items of data associated with the window (or other display object). The Window Management module  432  may also provide the stored information to the application  464 , or other components interacting with or associated with the window (or other display object). The Window Management module  432  can also associate an input task with a window based on window focus and display coordinates within the motion space. 
     The Input Management module  436  is operable to manage events that occur with the device. An event is any input into the window environment, for example, a user interface interactions with a user. The Input Management module  436  receives the events and logically stores the events in an event buffer  456 . Events can include such user interface interactions as a “down event,” which occurs when the screen  204  receives a touch signal from a user, a “move event,” which occurs when the screen  204  determines that a user&#39;s finger is moving across a screen(s), an “up event, which occurs when the screen  104  determines that the user has stopped touching the screen  204  etc. These events are received, stored, and forwarded to other modules by the Input Management module  436 . The Input Management module  436  may also map screen inputs to a motion space which is the culmination of all physical and virtual display available on the device. 
     The frame buffer  448  is a logical structure(s) used to render the user interface. The frame buffer  448  can be created and destroyed by the OS kernel  418 . However, the Display Controller  444  can write the image data, for the visible windows, into the frame buffer  448 . A frame buffer  448  can be associated with one screen or multiple screens. The association of a frame buffer  448  with a screen can be controlled dynamically by interaction with the OS kernel  418 . A composite display may be created by associating multiple screens with a single frame buffer  448 . Graphical data used to render an application&#39;s window user interface may then be written to the single frame buffer  448 , for the composite display, which is output to the multiple screens  204 . The Display Controller  444  can direct an application&#39;s user interface to a portion of the frame buffer  448  that is mapped to a particular display  208 , thus, displaying the user interface on only one screen  204 . The Display Controller  444  can extend the control over user interfaces to multiple applications, controlling the user interfaces for as many displays as are associated with a frame buffer  448  or a portion thereof. This approach compensates for the physical screen  204  and any other console screens that are in use by the software component above the Display Controller  444 . 
     The Application Manager  462  is an application that provides a presentation layer for the window environment. Thus, the Application Manager  462  provides the graphical model for rendering. Likewise, the Desktop  566  provides the presentation layer for the Application Store  460 . Thus, the desktop provides a graphical model of a surface having selectable application icons for the Applications  464  in the Application Store  460  that can be provided to the Window Management Module  456  for rendering. 
     Further, the framework can include an Application Model Manager (AMM)  442 . The Application Manager  462  may interface with the AMM  442 . In embodiments, the AMM  442  receives state change information from the device  100  regarding the state of applications (which are running or suspended). The AMM  442  can associate bit map images from the Surface Cache Module  428  to the applications that are alive (running or suspended). Further, the AMM  442  may provide a list of executing applications to the Application Manager  462 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5E  depict multiple representations of a graphical user interface (“GUI”) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, icons, applications, and/or the presentation layout may be modified via user input and/or automatically via a processor. 
       FIG. 5A  depicts a first representation of a GUI of a device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the device  100  is adapted to run and/or display one or more applications that are associated with at least one vehicle function. An application may be displayed onto the touch sensitive screen  204 . Additionally or alternatively, the device  100  may run an application that is designed to control the climate functions of a vehicle. In this case, the climate control application  512   a  may display a desired temperature, various control features, and one or more virtual buttons to manipulate the control of the application. A user, via the touch sensitive screen  204 , may increase or decrease the temperature, set different climate modes (such as air recirculation, vent, fan settings, and the like) and set preferences of the application itself. In embodiments, the device  100  may receive input from a number of different sources, including physical, electrical, and/or audible commands. Input may be received at the device  100  through, but not limited to, the touch sensitive screen  204 , microphone  232 , hardware buttons  280 , ports  228 ,  240 ,  236 , and combinations thereof. 
     Other vehicle applications and their corresponding functions may be run by the device  100 , including entertainment applications (music, movies, etc.), trip computer applications (to display mileage traveled, miles per gallon fuel consumption, average speed, etc.), phone controls (especially hands-free phones associated with the vehicle), GPS, road conditions and warnings, and other applications useful to a vehicle operator or passenger. It is anticipated that vehicle applications may be purchased and/or managed via the Application Store  460 . 
     The Application Store  460  may be similar to an application store for smart phones, mobile devices, and computers. It is anticipated that the present disclosure may use a communications channel or multiple channels available to the vehicle to make an application store purchase and/or download. Moreover, this purchase and download could be effected through the use of at least one individual&#39;s phone associated with the vehicle. In some embodiments, the application store may manage one or more applications remotely. This remote management may be achieved on the “cloud,” possibly as part of a cloud-based storage medium. 
     It should be noted that the processing resources required for running, or at least displaying, applications on the device  100  may be split between processors that are associated with the device  100  and processors that are not associated with the device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, applications  512   a ,  512   b ,  512   n  may include features that allow for custom and/or predefined functionality. This functionality may be associated with the behavior, appearance, and/or operating capability of one or more applications. For example, an application may include a position anchor icon  528  that, when selected, fixes the application to a location on the display  208 . Fixing one or more applications in this manner may allow for the custom positioning of other non-fixed applications around the one or more applications that have been anchored. Moreover, applications and/or icons may be moved and positioned in various locations on the front screen  204 . For instance, an application may be resized via control handles  540 ,  536  which may be present on one or more applications. Applications may be relocated and/or positioned in the presentation layout according to various user input  532 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, applications may be associated with an icon that indicates whether an application is considered essential to vehicle operation. This essential application icon  524 , may be selected to designate an application as important to the user and/or vehicle. For example, in the event that an application is configured to display warnings associated with specific states of vehicle operation, the user and/or the device  100  may determine that the application is essential and as such select the essential application icon  524 . Selecting the essential application icon  524  may have one or more effects, depending on the specific implementation. It is anticipated that an essential application may be configured to remain displayed on the device  100  or other associated display device if the device  100  is removed from the vehicle-mounted position. 
     Various features, buttons, icons, controls, and other aspects of applications may be selected by one or more users, or selected by device  100  in response to predetermined conditions. It is an aspect of the present disclosure that these applications may be selected and controlled by device  100 , and/or at least one associated peripheral vehicle device. 
     It is another aspect of the present disclosure that the GUI may include a console application tray  504 . The console application tray  504  may be configured to provide access to available console applications  508   a ,  508   b ,  508   c . In addition, the console application tray  504  may display console applications available from an application store and/or provide a link to an application store via one or more icons  520 . Whether applications have been installed, displayed, purchased, or are available for purchase via the application store icon  520 , the various status of an application may be indicated in the console application tray  504 . For example, if an application is installed and displayed on the device  100 , the application icon in the console application tray  504  may appear differently from other icons that are not installed and displayed. In other words, if the icons are displayed in color to illustrate one or more state, they may appear in black and white, or grayscale, to indicate one or more other states. Therefore, given the previous example, available applications may have full color application icons, whereas installed and displayed icons may have grayscale icons. It is anticipated that various states of at least one application icon may be illustrated using various colors, intensities, transparencies, glows, shadows, and the like. 
     In some embodiments the console application tray  504  may be accessed by dragging a tray handle  516  or other feature to reveal the console application tray  504 . Other embodiments may use gesture recognition features of the touch sensitive display  208 , gesture capture region  206 , and/or hardware buttons  280  to access the console application tray  504 . For instance, the tray  504  may be revealed by a gesture drag on the display  208  using one or more fingers. In addition, the tray  504  may be displayed in response to a predetermined state of the device  100 . Revealing the console application tray  504  may be visually represented in a number of ways. Moreover, the effect that revealing the tray may have on displayed applications may also be represented in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the console application tray  504  may fly-out from a side of the device  100 . In other embodiments the console application tray  504  may appear from a location of the display  208 . The manner in which the console application tray  504  transitions can be configured with regard to speed, color, transparency, audio output, and combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the console application tray  504  may be “pulled” in a direction  530  from a side of the device  100  to appear over displayed applications. In yet another embodiment, the console application tray  504  may be pulled from a side of the device  100  to share the display  208  with any displayed applications  512   a ,  512   b ,  512   n . This embodiment may require the resizing of displayed applications  512   a ,  512   b ,  512   n  to provide adequate display area for the revealed tray  504 . In one embodiment, as the tray  504  increases in size, the displayed applications may decrease in size, and vice versa. 
       FIG. 5B  depicts a second representation of a GUI of a device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, a user  560  may interface with the GUI and/or the touch-sensitive display  208  to “drag-and-drop” new applications  508   a ,  508   b ,  508   c , into an application-expanded position on the GUI, where applications  512   a ,  512   b , . . . ,  512   n  are shown in a functional state. Additionally, or alternatively, a user  560  may drag applications  512   a ,  512   b , . . . ,  512   n  from the application-expanded position of the GUI into the application tray  504 . It is anticipated that moving an application from the application-expanded position of the GUI to the application tray  504  may hide and/or remove the chosen application from the application-expanded position of the GUI. It is further anticipated that once returned to the application tray  504 , the application may be returned to its previous position via user  560  or automatic input. In some embodiments, the applications may be moved and/or positioned on the GUI according to a directional input  544  provided by the user  560 . When a user  560  wishes to initiate a directional input  544  and move of a given application, the user  560  may initiate such a move by a touch, touch and hold, and/or other input gesture. It is an aspect of the present disclosure that moving an application  512   a ,  512   b , . . . ,  512   n  from the application tray  504  to an application-expanded position on the GUI does not necessarily initiate a function of the application. Application icons may be moved, repositioned, deleted, hidden, and/or otherwise shown by received input. Once the applications are positioned in a desired configuration, any functionality associated with the positioned applications may be accessed via further input. 
       FIG. 5C  depicts a third representation of a GUI of a device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As described above, a user  560  may position one or more applications  508   a ,  508   b ,  508   c  from the application tray  504  to an application-expanded position via an input gesture. Although, the applications may be automatically moved to and/or from various positions on the GUI via a processor and rules, a user  560  may arrange the applications on the GUI as desired. For example,  FIG. 5C  shows a user  560  moving an application  508   c  from the application tray  504  between two applications  512   a ,  512   b  that already occupy an application-expanded position of the GUI. The user  560  may drag and/or drop the application to various positions according to directional input  544 . For instance, the user  560  has dragged the application  508   c  along a line  548  to hold between two applications on the GUI  512   a ,  512   b.    
       FIG. 5D  depicts a fourth representation of a GUI of a device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Continuing the example described immediately above, the dragged application  508   c  may be positioned between and/or adjacent to at least one application. Alternatively or additionally, the dragged application  508   c  may be placed into a position as a first application, where no other applications are shown in the application-expanded position of the GUI. In some embodiments, a dragged application  508   c,  when positioned between or adjacent to other applications in the application-expanded position of the GUI may automatically move and/or resize one or more of the other applications along a directional line  556 . Although shown in a linear vertical direction, the directional line along which applications are moved may be linear or non-linear, and may be in any direction vertical, horizontal, angled, and/or combinations thereof. For example,  FIG. 5D  shows application  512   b  moving below the dragged application  508   c  to accommodate room for the dragged application  508   c  when it is dropped, or placed, and expands into an expanded-state. Once a desired position is found for the dragged application  508   c,  the user  560  may drop the dragged application  508   c  in place. 
       FIG. 5E  depicts a fifth representation of a GUI of a device  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As described above, in some embodiments, a dragged application  508   c  may resize, or expand, into a position on an application-expanded position on the GUI.  FIG. 5E  shows a dragged application  508   c  that has been moved into an application-expanded position along with functional features associated with the expanded application  508   d . The expanded application  508   d  may be resized and/or repositioned as described above. Different layouts and/or configurations may be found in a common position in a menu structure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6A , a sixth representation of a GUI of a configurable vehicle console is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some instances, the GUI may show a warning, message, and/or application output that utilizes all, or a substantial portion, of the display  208 . Although applications may utilize a portion of the display  208  and even be configured for functionality and aesthetics, it is anticipated that certain features are more important than others, especially in the event of an emergency. Therefore, it may be desired to display important information to the display  208  over, or in place of, other applications. For example, in the event of an accident, the vehicle may associate a number of warnings and/or messages to the event. In some cases, these warnings and/or messages may be important for the at least one vehicle operator and/or passenger to review and even respond to. As shown in  FIG. 6A , a warning message, indicator, and/or cue image  604  may be presented to the display  208  by the device  100 . This information may be presented in response to input detected by the device  100 , through GPS, gyroscopic, and/or accelerometer data. Additionally or alternatively, the information may be presented in response to the device  100  detecting input received from the vehicle and/or at least one peripheral device associated with the vehicle. 
     The information (warnings, messages, cues, and the like) may be displayed permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily depending on predetermined settings and/or legal requirements. Permanently displayed information may be shown if an individual has attempted to modify the device  100  or alter specific vehicle systems without authorization. Information of this type may also be displayed permanently if the vehicle and/or the device  100  detects a condition that warrants the permanent display of information, such as a catastrophic engine failure, a dangerous operating condition, and/or other similar conditions. Semi-permanent displayed information may be shown on display  208  until reset via an authorized method. For instance, if the vehicle requires maintenance, a semi-permanent image may be displayed until the maintenance has been received and the semi-permanent image is removed. It is anticipated that the removal of semi-permanent images may be made by authorized personnel. Authorized personnel may make use of special input, and/or devices to remove/reset the image from the display  208 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more images  604  (associated with warnings, messages, cues, and the like) may appear on the display  208 , which are then followed by directions, recommendations, and/or controls. Continuing the previous example, if a vehicle is involved in an emergency event (such as an accident), a warning image may be displayed followed by directions and access to specific vehicle controls. The displayed image  604  may be shown above other applications  608  that are displayed on the device  100 . Additionally or alternatively, the displayed image  604  may replace other applications and/or displayed information previously shown on the display  208 . 
       FIG. 6B  depicts a seventh representation of a GUI of a configurable vehicle console shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Following the emergency example illustrated above, a warning indicator  612 , a message  628 , and several controls  616 ,  620 ,  624  may be shown on the display  208  in the event of an accident or the like. As can be appreciated, in the event of an accident or emergency state, certain applications and displayed information may not be necessary to or even desired by a vehicle operator and/or passenger. In fact, such data may be considered overwhelming to an individual in the event of an emergency. During these stressful times, only key information and controls may be solicited by a vehicle operator and/or passenger. Accordingly, it is one aspect of the present disclosure to provide a warning indicator  612  that may be text, an image, or combinations thereof. This warning indicator  612  alerts at least one individual that an emergency has been detected by the device  100 , the vehicle, and/or associated peripheral device. Audible alerts may also accompany any function, display, and/or warning as described herein. Audible alerts may be played through the device  100 , via a speaker  268  or other output. Additionally or alternatively, the audible alerts may be played through an associated peripheral device, and/or a speaker system associated with the vehicle. 
     Accompanying the warning indicator  612  may be directions, recommendations, or other information in the form of a message  628  that may be interpreted by at least one vehicle operator and/or passenger. This message  628  may include a brief description of the event that caused the alert. 
     In some embodiments, one or more control icons  616 ,  620 ,  624 , may be displayed onto the device  100  to provide assistance during the emergency event. For instance, by selecting the “Direct 911” icon  616  from the display  208  a call may be initiated to emergency services at 911 (112, 119, 999, 000, and/or other emergency service contacts). In the event of a less serious accident, phone functions may be controlled with the phone icon  620 . It is anticipated that selecting the icon will allow standard phone functions to appear on the display  208 , including but not limited to, speed dial, dial keypad, on-hook, off-hook, phone book, and the like. In both of these communication embodiments, the device  100  may make use of an internal communication antenna and communications service. Alternatively, the device  100  may be associated with one or more communication devices, such as a mobile phone, smart-phone, WiFi communication device, SMS, texting device, and the like, where the associated one or more devices may be controlled through the device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, an icon may be included to access vehicle statistics that could prove useful in communicating with emergency personnel. When selected, the vehicle statistics icon  624  may list conditions of the vehicle, orientation, location, forces recorded, and other information that may be used in post-accident analysis. For example, an individual may have been involved in a roll-over collision that renders the vehicle inoperable, and upside-down. While communicating to emergency services via the communication method described above, the individual may be prompted to access (select) the vehicle statistics icon  624  to determine if the vehicle fuel system has been compromised and/or if any fire is detected. If so, the individual may be encouraged to move away from the vehicle and/or take a different course of action than if no vehicle statistics were checked. Any number of statistics may be displayed by selecting this icon  624 , but it should be appreciated that the statistics may be ordered in levels of critical importance. Although described with respect to an emergency scenario, it should be appreciated that these warnings, messages, associated content, and behavior may be introduced by the device  100  as a response to predetermined input. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a flow diagram depicting a removable, configurable vehicle console method  700  is shown in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The method  700  begins by detecting a first state of the device  100  (step  704 ). The first state of the device  100  may be detected by input received from one or more of sensors, sensing elements, and/or electrical signals. In some embodiments, the state of the device  100  may be detected when the device  100  is in a removably attached and/or detached state. Further, the device  100  may detect one or more states of the device  100 , which may be in between a removably attached state and a detached state. 
     When detected, the device  100  may be displaying a first presentation layout on the GUI (step  708 ). This first presentation layout may display a plurality of applications simultaneously on the GUI. The display of these applications may have been previously configured by automatically and/or by a user. The first state of the device  100  and the first presentation layout are stored in memory (step  712 ). Storing these conditions in memory may include associating the first state of the device  100  with the first presentation layout. This association may be made to facilitate switching from one state to another. For example, when a device  100  state is altered, a presentation layout may be displayed on the device  100  that refers to the association stored in memory. Alternatively, the conditions may be stored separately without association. 
     The method continues when a second state of the device is detected (step  716 ). As described above, the second state of the device  100  may be detected by input received from one or more of sensors, sensing elements, and/or electrical signals. Similarly, the second state of the device  100  may be detected when the device  100  is in a removably attached and/or detached state. 
     The presentation layout of the device  100  may be changed or maintained in response to a state change and/or user input (step  720 ). In some embodiments, stored rules may be referred to by the processor in determining whether a presentation layout change will be effected. Stored rules may determine a presentation layout change. In the event that the presentation layout will be changed, the device may be directed to display a second presentation layout (step  724 ). The method  700  may continue by detecting further input that may change the presentation layout to the first presentation layout and/or a third presentation layout. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram depicting a removable, configurable vehicle console method  800  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically,  FIG. 8  depicts a flow diagram for determining presentation layout changes (step  720 ). The method  800  begins by referring to stored rules (step  804 ). Referring to stored rules may be part of, or associated with, the previously described determinative step  720  in  FIG. 7 . The method  800  continues at step  808 , where a determination is made by the processor as to whether a user query is required. In the event that a query is required, the processor may query a user with an option to change the presentation layout (step  812 ). The method  800  continues by detecting input at the device  100  (step  816 ). The option to change the presentation layout may be displayed to the GUI in the form of a selectable option. Additionally or alternatively, the option may output as an audible alarm, tone, and/or phrase. The user may select an option by interfacing with the GUI and/or the device. It is anticipated that the user selection input from one or more users may be received via a microphone and/or camera. User selection input may include gestures, facial expressions, oral/verbal commands, and/or combinations thereof. If no query is set forth in the stored rules, the method may continue by following rules regarding the presentation layout display ( 814 ). 
     A processor may determine whether the input received at the device  100  is directed to maintaining the current presentation layout display or altering the current presentation layout display (step  820 ). If the user desires a change to the presentation layout, the method  800  may continue at step  824 . Step  824  describes where a modified presentation layout is displayed in response to a user input. In the event that the presentation layout is determined to be maintained, the method may continue at step  828 , where the first presentation layout is displayed on the device  100 . 
     The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure have been described in relation to configurable vehicle consoles and associated devices. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the preceding description omits a number of known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scopes of the claims. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. It should however be appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein. 
     Furthermore, while the exemplary aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations illustrated herein show the various components of the system collocated, certain components of the system can be located remotely, at distant portions of a distributed network, such as a LAN and/or the Internet, or within a dedicated system. Thus, it should be appreciated, that the components of the system can be combined in to one or more devices, such as a Personal Computer (PC), laptop, netbook, smart phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), tablet, etc., or collocated on a particular node of a distributed network, such as an analog and/or digital telecommunications network, a packet-switch network, or a circuit-switched network. It will be appreciated from the preceding description, and for reasons of computational efficiency, that the components of the system can be arranged at any location within a distributed network of components without affecting the operation of the system. For example, the various components can be located in a switch such as a PBX and media server, gateway, in one or more communications devices, at one or more users&#39; premises, or some combination thereof. Similarly, one or more functional portions of the system could be distributed between a telecommunications device(s) and an associated computing device. 
     Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links connecting the elements can be wired or wireless links, or any combination thereof, or any other known or later developed element(s) that is capable of supplying and/or communicating data to and from the connected elements. These wired or wireless links can also be secure links and may be capable of communicating encrypted information. Transmission media used as links, for example, can be any suitable carrier for electrical signals, including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, and may take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications. 
     Also, while the flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated in relation to a particular sequence of events, it should be appreciated that changes, additions, and omissions to this sequence can occur without materially affecting the operation of the disclosed embodiments, configuration, and aspects. 
     A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure can be used. It would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosure without providing others. 
     In some embodiments, the systems and methods of this disclosure can be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit such as discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array such as PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, special purpose computer, any comparable means, or the like. In general, any device(s) or means capable of implementing the methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the various aspects of this disclosure. Exemplary hardware that can be used for the disclosed embodiments, configurations and aspects includes computers, handheld devices, telephones (e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital, analog, hybrids, and others), and other hardware known in the art. Some of these devices include processors (e.g., a single or multiple microprocessors), memory, nonvolatile storage, input devices, and output devices. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be readily implemented in conjunction with software using object or object-oriented software development environments that provide portable source code that can be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms. Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially or fully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whether software or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance with this disclosure is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirements of the system, the particular function, and the particular software or hardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems being utilized. 
     In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be partially implemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executed on programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of a controller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, or the like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this disclosure can be implemented as program embedded on personal computer such as an applet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server or computer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated measurement system, system component, or the like. The system can also be implemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into a software and/or hardware system. 
     Although the present disclosure describes components and functions implemented in the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations with reference to particular standards and protocols, the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations are not limited to such standards and protocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein are in existence and are considered to be included in the present disclosure. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein and other similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein are periodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents having essentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents included in the present disclosure. 
     The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various aspects, embodiments, configurations embodiments, subcombinations, and/or subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the disclosed aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations after understanding the present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation. 
     The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure may be combined in alternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Moreover, though the description has included description of one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.