Integrated message display system for a vehicle

The system of claim I wherein the instrumentation control unit is in communication with an input device that enables an operator to acknowledge a prioritized message, and the instrumentation control unit modifies the prioritized message to indicate that the message has been acknowledged.

The system of claim I wherein the instrumentation control unit displays a visual message indicating the importance level of a prioritized message along with descriptive text describing event specific information about the event that triggered the message for each of the prioritized messages.

A method for providing an integrated audio-visual message system for a vehicle comprising:

• receiving messages regarding predetermined events detected in one or more electronic control units;
• displaying a default screen and selectively overriding the default screen with prioritized messages in response to predetermined events detected in the electronic control units;
• wherein the prioritized messages are organized into levels of importance such that messages from a more important level override alerts from a less important level, and each level is associated with a different visual display protocol and a different corresponding auditory message.