Access control mode for an oven appliance

Abstract

A method of operating an oven appliance includes determining that an access control mode is enabled, determining that a period of inactivity has occurred while the access control mode is enabled, activating the access control mode, the access control mode comprising providing a limited user interface input selection, detecting a user interaction with the oven appliance, determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode, and implementing a responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an oven appliance, the oven appliance comprising a user interface panel, the method comprising:
 determining that an access control mode is activated;   detecting a user interaction with the oven appliance;   determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode; and   implementing a responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control mode is activated by a user of oven appliance using the user interface panel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disabling operations of the oven appliance other than quick access cycle options in response to determining that the access control mode is activated.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the access control mode is enabled;   determining that a period of inactivity has occurred while the access control mode is enabled; and   activating the access control mode, the access control mode comprising providing a limited user interface input selection.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the period of inactivity is between about 3 minutes and 10 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to disable or modify the access control mode; and   requesting a passcode prior to disabling or modifying the access control mode.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode comprises:
 limiting at least one of a cooktop power level or an oven cooking temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode comprises:
 limiting at least one of a cooktop or oven operating duration.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disabling an oven preheat notification in response to determining that the access control mode is activated.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode comprises:
 determining that cookware was removed during operation of the oven appliance, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises providing a user notification that the cookware was removed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode comprises:
 determining that a door of the oven appliance was opened during operation of the oven appliance, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises providing a user notification that the door was opened.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to disable or deactivate the access control mode; and   commencing normal, unrestricted operation of the oven appliance.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the command to disable or deactivate the access control mode comprises receiving a passcode or determining that a button was pressed and held for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode comprises:
 providing a user notification regarding the user interaction or seeking user confirmation to proceed in accordance with the user interaction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user notification is provided through a user interface panel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a controller of the oven appliance is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein the user notification is provided through the remote device. 
     
     
         17 . An oven appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the oven appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a cooking chamber;   a cooktop positioned at a top of the cabinet and comprising one or more heating elements;   a user interface panel mounted to the cabinet for facilitating user interaction with the oven appliance; and   a controller in operative communication with the user interface panel, the controller being configured to:
 determine that an access control mode is activated; 
 detect a user interaction with the oven appliance; 
 determine that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode; and 
 implement a responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The oven appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the access control mode is enabled;   determine that a period of inactivity has occurred while the access control mode is enabled; and   activate the access control mode, the access control mode comprising providing a limited user interface input selection.   
     
     
         19 . The oven appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a request to disable or modify the access control mode; and   request a passcode prior to disabling or modifying the access control mode.   
     
     
         20 . The oven appliance of  claim 17 , wherein implementing the responsive action in response to determining that the user interaction is not in compliance with the access control mode comprises:
 providing a user notification regarding the user interaction or seeking user confirmation to proceed in accordance with the user interaction.