Patent ID: 7555364

Claim:
A method, comprising regulating user access to at least one menu of an interactive user interface of a programmable digital thermostat, including: reversibly defining at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu including: reading and storing a hierarchical personal identification number associated with a hierarchical user level; permitting hierarchical user access to a user level menu when the hierarchical personal identification number is both valid and associated with a hierarchical user level greater than or equal to a minimum hierarchical user level predefined to be required for access to the user level menu; and reading and storing the at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu; and then permitting user access to the at least one menu when a personal identification number entered by another user is both valid and associated with a user level greater than or equal to the minimum user level reversibly defined by the hierarchical user to be required for access to the at least one menu; and synchronizing a clock of the programmable digital thermostat using a power line frequency.