Method and system for operator interface with a diesel particulate filter regeneration system

1. A method of controlling a vehicle diesel particulate filter regeneration system, comprising the steps of:

receiving information regarding a load status of a diesel particulate filter;

displaying a message on a display for an operator indicative of said received information, said message requesting an action by the operator;

displaying selectable actions on the display responsive to screen selection inputs from the operator, a selectable action being selectable by highlighting said action on the display and activating a selecting device;

receiving a selected action input from the operator; and,

transmitting said selected action to a control device that will carry out the selected action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selectable actions include initiating a regeneration and inhibiting a regeneration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying a message indicative of the received information includes displaying a message prompting the operator to initiate a regeneration.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an input from the operator requesting vehicle systems status, and responsive thereto, displaying status information on selected vehicle systems.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an input from the operator to initiate a regeneration, checking a status of predetermined vehicle system requisites, and one of initiating the regeneration and indicating to the operator that initiating the regeneration failed.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an input from the operator of one of inhibit regeneration and permit regeneration, and controlling a regeneration system responsive thereto.

7. A vehicle operator interface system for a diesel particulate filter regeneration system, comprising:

means for receiving information on regeneration status of a vehicle diesel particulate filter and receiving information on operational status of selected vehicle systems and components;

a visual display for displaying messages to an operator indicative of said regeneration status and said operational status;

a device for highlighting a portion of the displayed messages and for providing an input selection of a highlighted portion; and,

means for receiving the input selection and for communicating the input selection to a control device to carry out the input selection.

8. The vehicle operator interface system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the device for highlighting a portion of the displayed messages and for providing an input selection of a highlighted portion comprises a stalk switch positionable on a steering column.

9. The vehicle operator interface system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the visual display is an instrument cluster display.

10. A method of interfacing with a vehicle diesel particulate filter regeneration system, comprising the steps of;

displaying a message on an interactive instrument cluster display indicative of a load status of a diesel particulate filter, said message prompting an input by an operator using an input device acting through the interactive display to obtain selectable actions relating to the load status;

displaying selectable actions on the interactive display responsive to the input from the operator, the selectable actions including an action initiating a regeneration and an action inhibiting a regeneration, each selectable action being selectable by highlighting said action on the display and being selected by the operator activating the action using the input device;

receiving a selected action input from the operator; and,

transmitting said selected action to a control device that will carry out the selected action.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving an input from the operator requesting vehicle systems status, and responsive thereto, displaying status information on selected vehicle systems.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein, upon receiving a selected action input from the operator to initiate a regeneration, the method further comprising determining a status of predetermined vehicle system requisites, and, responsive to the determined status, one of initiating the regeneration and indicating to the operator that initiating the regeneration failed.