Patent ID: 7123128

Claim:
A barrier operator installed as a limited-use appliance, wherein full enablement of the appliance is only implemented upon procurement by either purchase or lease of an activation code, the appliance comprising: at least one input device for generating at least one of an activation code input signal and a use input signal; a controller associated with said at least one input device and receiving said input signals, said controller initiating at least one limited-use function of the appliance upon receipt of said use input signal and initiating a test function of the appliance, and said controller having an activation number associated therewith; a memory device associated with said controller, said memory device storing an activation code, wherein said activation code is derivable from said activation number; and a test device maintained by said controller, said test device having a predetermined criteria which determines whether said use input signal should be sent on to said controller, said input device adapted to input said activation code via said activation code input signal, wherein if said inputted activation code matches said activation code stored in said memory device, said controller prevents said test device from blocking receipt of a subsequent said use input signal so that the appliance becomes fully enabled.