Adjustable feature access for a controlled environmental system

• US 8,701,210 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• 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 Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Mahfuzur
• Application Number:
  US11/865,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20090089886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 726/34
• 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, by a processor, a selected lock level from a plurality of supported lock levels, wherein each supported lock level determines a corresponding set of features that are available to a user;

configuring, by the processor, the control unit with the selected lock level, wherein only one lock level assigned to the control unit is activated at a time instance to restrict access to the control unit;

when the selected lock level equals a first lock level, enabling a first set of features for the control unit, wherein at least one feature of the first set of features affects at least one of a controlled space temperature, a controlled space humidity, and a controlled space humidity;

when the selected lock level equals a second lock level, enabling a second set of features for the control unit;

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

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

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

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

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

mapping, through a memory device by a processor, a feature to a set of features when the control unit is operating in a locked state that is assigned to the control unit to restrict access to the control unit, the set of features being a subset of all supported features, the set of features being available to a user of the environmental system, wherein at least one feature of the set of features affects at least one of a controlled space temperature, a controlled space humidity, and a controlled space humidity;

accessing, through the memory device, by the processor, one of the set of features without entering a security sequence;

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

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

identifying a different lock level; and

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

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

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

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

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

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

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

10. 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 apparatus 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 assigned to the apparatus to restrict access to the apparatus, wherein the set of features are available to a user of the apparatus, and wherein at least one feature of the set of features affects at least one of a controlled space temperature, a controlled space humidity, and a controlled space humidity;

obtaining at least one keystroke from the input module;

determining a feature associated with the at least one keystroke;

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

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

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

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

identifying a different lock level; and

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

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the processor further configured to perform:

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

12. The apparatus of claim 10, the processor further configured to perform:

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