Portable user control device and method for vehicle information systems

A system, comprising:

• a passenger entertainment system disposed aboard a passenger vehicle;
• and
• a portable control device disposed at a passenger seat and having a controller interface system including a touchscreen display system being disposed within a handheld housing for cooperating with first and second detachable overlay systems each forming a channel for receiving said handheld housing and with respective first and second button regions, the touchscreen display system for generating the user interface system based upon an application available from said passenger entertainment system and associating respective functions of the application with the button regions and predetermined locations of said touchscreen display system,
• wherein activation of a selected button region or a selected location of said touchscreen display system initiates the associated application function, and
• wherein the first and second button regions are separate from said touch screen display system and disposed on opposite end regions of said handheld housing, said touchscreen display system being disposed between the first and second button regions and presenting indicia associated with the application.

A method for communicating with an external computer system via a controller interface system including a touchscreen display system for presenting a customizable user interface system and being disposed within a handheld housing for cooperating with first and second detachable overlay systems each forming a channel for receiving said handheld housing and with respective first and second button regions, comprising:

• generating the user interface system based upon an application available from the computer system;
• and
• associating respective functions of the application with the button regions and predetermined locations of the touchscreen display system,
• wherein activation of a selected button region or a selected location of the touchscreen display system initiates the associated application function, and
• wherein the first and second button regions are separate from said touch screen display system and disposed on opposite end regions of said handheld housing, said touchscreen display system being disposed between the first and second button regions and presenting indicia associated with the application.