Patent ID: 8849510

Claim:
A controller for an in-vehicle display system including a touch panel display device and a steering switch coupled to the controller, and a plurality of in-vehicle control devices operatively controlled by the controller, the controller being configured to: generate a top level touch panel menu to be displayed on the touch panel display device, the top level touch panel menu including a plurality of icons associated with the plurality of in-vehicle control devices; generate a second level touch panel menu to be displayed on the touch panel display device in response to a selection of one of the plurality of icons via the touch panel display device; generate a top level steering switch menu to be displayed on the touch panel display device, the top level steering switch menu display including a plurality of icons associated with the plurality of in-vehicle control devices, the plurality of icons arranged differently from those of the top level touch panel menu; generate a second level steering switch menu to be displayed on the touch panel display device in response to a selection of one of the plurality of icons via the steering switch; switch from the top level touch panel menu to the top level steering switch menu when the steering switch is operated to make a selection during display of the top level touch panel menu; switch from the second level touch panel menu to the second level steering switch menu when the steering switch is operated to make a selection during display of the second level touch panel menu; switch from the top level steering switch menu to the top level touch panel menu when the touch panel display device is operated to make a selection during the display of the top level steering switch menu; and switch from the second level steering switch menu to the second level touch panel menu when the touch panel display device is operated to make a selection during the display of the second level steering switch menu.