Control that enables/disables a user interface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple master control unit that is capable of overriding and enabling or disabling a user interface on electrically controlled devices whereby users of the interface electrically controlled device may not alter the operation or function of that device which has been disabled by the master control unit.
For example, the master control unit may be a wireless remote control for a television receiver.
Each of the master unit and the electrically controlled device will have a user interface.
However, the user interface on the electrically controlled device may be overridden in whole or in part by the user interface on the master control unit in response to signals sent by the master unit.
In this way, an adult could prevent a curious child who may be able to reach and press buttons on the television console from interfering with what the adult is watching or listening to.
This overcomes one of the problems of the prior art where the locks either totally disabled the television set or had to be made directly on the user interface of the television console or, if made on the remote, also blocked out the remote.
By contrast, with this invention, the parent with the master remote may still retain full access to the television receiver while the user of the user interface on the television console or a slave remote control will be barred from accessing the locked functions or features.
This allows persons with knowledge of an access to the master control to prevent persons without knowledge of or access to the master control from altering the state of the device.
The master control may include a suitable security means for precluding unauthorized persons with access to the master control from changing the features without authorization.