Patent ID: 6644557
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: F23N,F24F

Abstract:
A system for a user to control a thermostat temperature setting, comprising:a housing component enclosing the thermostat, the housing and thermostat being positioned on a hand-accessible wall; at least one display component for displaying temperature information and control information, the temperature information including at least the actual temperature, the control information including at least prompts and messages; an access controller component having: a plurality of user-operated keys, the keys including at least a plurality of numeric keys; a memory for storing and accessing information entered by the user, the information including at least a master code and a password; the access controller component being operative to: accept a password, the password being keyed in by the user, the display then prompting the user to key in a new thermostat temperature setting if the password matches a password stored in the memory; reject a keyed in password if said password does not match a stored password, the display communicating the rejection; communicate the keyed in new thermostat temperature setting to the thermostat, the thermostat being adapted to adjust the temperature setting in response to the communication; and accept a keyed in master code if the keyed in master code matches the master code stored in the memory, the display then prompting the master code user to key in the user's choice of the access controller component functions the user desires to modify, and further prompting for keyed in entries to make those modifications, the available modifications at least including: modifying the acceptable passwords by adding new passwords or eliminating then stored passwords; and reject a keyed in master code if the keyed in master code does not match the master code stored in the memory.