Programmable customized user interface for transport refrigeration units

摘要

A control device having a graphical user interface for controlling the operation of a transport refrigeration unit is disclosed. The graphical user interface may include a menu structure having multiple levels of menu options, executable functions and data items that may be navigated and viewed by a user. Access to the various menus may be user-specific and controlled so that a subset of the information in the menu structure is available to normal users, and larger subsets of the information are available to advanced users having higher levels of authorization to the menus and information contained in the graphical user interface device. The graphical user interface may also include programmable soft keys that may take users directly to frequently viewed menu options, functions and data items without the necessity of navigating through the levels of the menu structure.

主权项

1. A graphical user interface device for controlling and monitoring the operation of a transport refrigeration unit, comprising:
a display device; a plurality of input devices; a data storage device; an input port for operatively connecting an external device to the graphical user interface device; and a processor operatively connected to the display device, the plurality of input devices, the memory device and the input port, the processor being programmed to store a menu structure in the data storage device of the graphical user interface device, wherein the menu structure includes multiple levels of menu options, the menu options being associated with controlling and monitoring the operation of the transport refrigeration unit, and wherein each menu option has an option security level designation stored therewith, the processor being programmed to cause the display device to display a first subset of the menu options when no authorization code is input by a user at the graphical user interface device, wherein the menu options in the first subset have option security level designations equal to a first security level designation, and the processor being programmed to cause the display device to display a second subset of the menu options in response to entry of an authorization code by a user at the graphical user interface device, the second subset of menu options being customizable and displayed on the display device based on a preference of the user entering the authorization code, wherein the menu options in the second subset include the menu options in the first subset and menu options having option security level designations equal to a second security level designation.