Patent ID: 8284950

Claim:
A method of controlling both an existing entertainment device and an aftermarket entertainment device in a vehicle with a stereo control user interface originally configured to control the existing entertainment device, the method comprising: adapting the stereo control user interface to selectively send control signals to the aftermarket entertainment device; sending control signals from the stereo control user interface device to the existing entertainment device in response to user manipulation of the stereo control user interface; detecting whether the user has selected the aftermarket entertainment devise; and sending control signals from the stereo control user interface to the aftermarket entertainment device in response to user selection of the aftermarket entertainment device and user manipulation of the stereo control user interface wherein the user interface includes a memory and is programmable to store in the memory output signals corresponding to the aftermarket entertainment device such that subsequent activation of the user interface results in recalling from the memory at least one output signal corresponding to the aftermarket entertainment device and wherein the user interface is programmable so that the user interface can be adapted for use with a plurality of different types of aftermarket entertainment devices.