Adjustable Feature Access for a Controlled Environmental System

• US 20090089886A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computime Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Computime Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Cheng, Chung Ming, Chan, Ho Sin
• Granted Patent: US 8,701,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system based on a lock level. The control unit (e.g., a thermostat) is configured with a selected lock level, where each lock level is mapped to an associated set of features. A user is able to access any of the features from the associated set of features without entering a security sequence. Also, a feature parameter may be restricted in accordance with the activated lock level. The control unit may be reconfigured with a different lock level by an administrator only when a security sequence is entered. Also, features may be mapped by an administrator to a set of features when the control unit is operating in the locked state. When the control unit is operating in the unlocked state, all supported features can be accessed by a user.

Claims

1. A method for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system, comprising

identifying a selected lock level from a plurality of supported lock levels;

configuring the control unit with the selected lock level, wherein only one lock level is activated at a time instance;

when the selected lock level equals a first lock level, enabling a first set of features; and

when the selected lock level equals a second lock level, enabling a second set of features.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

when the selected lock level equals the first lock level, restricting a feature parameter within a first value; and

when the selected lock level equals the second lock level, restricting the feature parameter within a second value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reconfiguring the control unit with the different lock level only when a security sequence is entered.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing one of the first set of features when the selected lock level equals the first lock level without entering a security code.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

accessing one of the second set of features when the selected lock level equals the second lock level.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

programming the first set of features to include at least one feature.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting an entered control parameter when the selected lock level equals the first lock level.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring another control unit in the environmental system with a different lock level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one feature of the first set of features affects a controlled space temperature.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one feature of the first set of features affects a controlled space humidity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one feature of the first set of features affects a controlled space air quality.

12. A method for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system, comprising:

mapping a feature to a set of features when the control unit is operating in a locked state, the set of features being a subset of all supported features; and

accessing one of the set of features without entering a security sequence.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

accessing any of all said supported features when the control unit is operating in an unlocked state.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

modifying the set of features only if the security sequence is entered.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reconfiguring an operating state of the control unit only when the security sequence is entered.

16. An apparatus for controlling an environmental system comprising:

a control interface;

an input module;

a processor configured to perform;

identifying a selected lock level from a plurality of supported lock levels;

configuring the control unit with the selected lock level, wherein only one lock level is activated at a time instance and wherein a set of features is mapped to the selected lock level;

obtaining at least one keystroke from the input module;

determining a feature associated with the at least one keystroke; and

instructing the environmental system to operate in accordance with a feature only when the feature is mapped to the feature.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the processor further configured to perform:

when the selected lock level equals the first lock level, restricting a feature parameter within a first value; and

when the selected lock level equals the second lock level, restricting the feature parameter within a second value.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, the processor further configured to perform:

identifying a different lock level; and

reconfiguring the control unit with the different lock level only when a security sequence is entered.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, the processor further configured to perform:

accessing one of the first set of features when the selected lock level equals the first lock level without entering a security code.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, the processor further configured to perform:

programming the set of features to include at least one feature.