Configurable light timer and method of receiving data to control the operation of a configurable light timer

1. A configurable light timer adapted to receive data to control the operation of the configurable light timer, the configurable light timer comprising:

a control circuit;

an input portion coupled to receive a portable memory device by way of a connector on the configurable light timer, wherein the portable memory device stores data having an on time and an off time to be used by the configurable light timer and is configured to be removed after the data is downloaded; and

a memory coupled to receive the data stored on the portable memory device;

wherein the control circuit accesses the data from the memory after the data is downloaded and the portable memory device is removed; and

wherein the control circuit applies the on time and the off time of the data based upon a current time maintained by the configurable light timer.

2. The configurable light timer of claim 1 further comprising a feedback portion providing an indication that the configurable light timer is receiving the data from the portable memory device.

3. The configurable light timer of claim 1 wherein the data is downloaded in response to a configuration actuator, wherein the configuration actuator comprises a button on a user interface of the configurable light timer.

4. The configurable light timer of claim 1 wherein the configurable light timer further comprises a wireless module coupled to receive second data.

5. The configurable light timer of claim 1 further comprising a feedback portion providing an indication that the data has been successfully downloaded.

6. The configurable light timer of claim 1 further comprising a feedback portion providing an indication that the portable memory device can be removed.

7. The configurable light timer of claim 1 further comprising a user interface enabling the entry of the current time.

8. A configurable light timer adapted to receive data to control the operation of the configurable light timer, the configurable light timer comprising:

a control circuit;

an input portion coupled to receive a portable memory device by way of a connector on the configurable light timer, wherein the portable memory device stores data having an on time and an off time to be used by the configurable light timer and is configured to be removed after the data is downloaded; and

a memory coupled to receive the data stored on the portable memory device; and

an actuator coupled to the control circuit, wherein the actuator enables the downloading of the data from the portable memory device;

wherein the control circuit accesses the data from the memory after the data is downloaded and the portable memory device is removed; and

wherein the control circuit applies the on time and the off time of the data based upon a current time maintained by the configurable light timer.

9. The configurable light timer of claim 8 further comprising a feedback portion providing an indication that the configurable light timer is receiving the data from the portable memory device.

10. The configurable light timer of claim 8 wherein the data is downloaded in response to a configuration actuator, and the configuration actuator comprises a button on a user interface of the configurable light timer.

11. The configurable light timer of claim 8 wherein the configurable light timer further comprises a wireless module coupled to receive second data.

12. The configurable light timer of claim 8 further comprising a feedback portion providing an indication that the data has been successfully downloaded.

13. The configurable light timer of claim 8 further comprising a feedback portion providing an indication that the portable memory device can be removed.

14. The configurable light timer of claim 8 further comprising a user interface enabling the entry of the current time.

15. A method of receiving data to control the operation of a configurable light timer, the method comprising:

providing a control circuit;

receiving a portable memory device at an input portion of the configurable light timer by way of a connector on the configurable light timer, wherein the portable memory device stores data having an on time and an off time to be used by the configurable light timer and is configured to be removed after the data is downloaded;

downloading the data stored on the portable memory device to a memory of the configurable light timer; and

accessing, by the control circuit, the data from the memory after the data is downloaded to the memory of the configurable light timer and the portable memory device is removed;

wherein the control circuit applies the on time and the off time of the data based upon a current time maintained by the configurable light timer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein downloading the data is in response to the actuation of a configuration actuator comprising a button on a user interface of the configurable light timer.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving second data at a wireless module of the configurable light timer.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an indication that the configurable light timer is receiving the data from the configurable light timer.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an indication that the data has been successfully downloaded.

20. The method of claim 15 further enabling the entry of the current time by way of a user interface.