Patent ID: 7065431

Claim:
A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank, comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the liquid; a temperature control element configured to alter the temperature of the liquid; a clock; and logic configured to track usage of the temperature control element by monitoring an activation state of the temperature control element during a first time period while the temperature control element is being controlled based on a first temperature threshold, the logic further configured to automatically select, based on a time value indicated by the clock and the usage of the temperature control element during the first time period, a second temperature threshold for controlling the temperature control element during a second time period, the logic further configured to perform a comparison between the selected temperature threshold and a value indicative of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor during the second time period and to control the temperature control element during the second time period based on the comparison, wherein the logic is configured to activate the temperature control element during the first time period based on a comparison between a value indicative of a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the first temperature threshold, the logic further configured to automatically make a determination, prior to the second time period, indicating that a high usage of the liquid residing within the tank is expected based on the tracked usage of the temperature control element and to select the second temperature threshold based on the determination, wherein the logic is further configured to activate the temperature control element based on the comparison between the selected temperature threshold and the value indicative of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor during the second time period.