Patent ID: 7126581

Claim:
An interface, comprising: a zone control for selecting one of a plurality of zones as an active zone; a plurality of mode controls for selecting one of a plurality of modes as an active mode for the active zone, wherein each mode control corresponds to a different mode source; a display for providing information related to the active mode of the active zone; and a plurality of soft controls, wherein a function associated with a soft control is dependant upon the active mode and wherein the soft controls are adjacent to the display so that for each active soft control the function associated with the soft control is displayed on the display, wherein the interface supports a first active mode associated with a first zone and a second active mode associated with a second zone, wherein the first active mode and the second active mode are active simultaneously and are distinct, and wherein the display displays information related to the first active mode and upon activation of the zone control, displays information related to the second active mode.