Adjustable Feature Access for a Controlled Environmental System
First Claim
1. A method for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system, comprisingidentifying 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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for controlling an environmental system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification