Multi-functional control unit for an ionic foot bath system

An ionic foot bath system comprising:

• an ionizer unit configured to ionize water molecules of a water basin;
• and
• a control unit coupled to the ionizer unit, the control unit comprising:
• an I/O port associated with a network connection and configured to communicate with a network to receive a first indication of an operational time corresponding to an operating time of the ionic foot bath system;
• a display device configured to display information to a user of the ionic foot bath system;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the input device and the display device;
• and
• a storage device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store a computer-executable code that, when executed by the processor, causes the control unit to perform the operations of:
• generating by the processor a first key in response to the first indication of the operational time;
• transmitting identification information, purchase information and the first key through the I/O port to an authorization source, the authorization source also connected to the network;
• receiving a second key encrypted using the first key from the authorization source through the I/O port;
• decrypting by the processor the second key using the first key;
• and
• operating the ionic foot bath system for the operating time corresponding to the first indication of the operational time indicated by the decrypted second key.

A method for operating an ionic foot bath system, the method comprising:

• receiving by an input device an indication from a user of an operational time of the ionic foot bath system;
• generating, by a processor, a first key in response to the indication, the first key corresponding to the operational time;
• transmitting by an input/output port providing purchase information and the first key to an authorization source;
• receiving, by the input/output port, a second key from the authorization source corresponding to the first key, the second key encrypted using the first key and including the operational time of the ionic foot bath system;
• decrypting, by the processor, the second key using the first key;
• and
• operating by the processor the ionic foot bath system for the operational time indicated by the decrypted second key.

A method for operating an ionic foot bath system having an ionizer unit comprising:

• receiving by an input device an operational time input corresponding to an operating time of the ionizer unit;
• displaying on a display device a first key corresponding to the operational time input;
• receiving from the input device a second key encrypted using the first key;
• decrypting by a processor the second key using the first key;
• determining by the processor if the second key is valid;
• and
• if the second key is valid, activating by the processor the ionizer unit for an operating time corresponding to the operational time input.