function UserPreferenceObj(preferenceType, avatarId) {
    this.preferenceType = preferenceType;
    this.avatarId = avatarId;

    this.hasCookies = document.cookie;
}

UserPreferenceObj.prototype.setPreferenceType = function(preferenceType) {
    switch (preferenceType) {
        case 1:
            this.preferenceType = preferenceType;
            this.avatarId = (this.avatarId == null || this.avatarId == '') ? 3 : this.avatarId;
            break;
        case 2: case 3:
            this.preferenceType = preferenceType;
            this.avatarId = 3;
            break;
        default:
            this.preferenceType = 1;
            this.avatarId = 3;
            break;
    }
}

UserPreferenceObj.prototype.setAvatar = function(avatarId) {
    this.avatarId = avatarId;
}

UserPreferenceObj.prototype.setPreferenceToCookie = function() {
    if (this.hasCookies) {
        var name = "WH_USER_PREF";
        var value = "preferenceType=" + this.preferenceType + ":avatarId=" + this.avatarId;
        var expires = 365;
        var path = "/";
        var secure = 0;
        var domain = null;
        // function resides on global_utilities.js
        setCookie(name, value, expires, path, secure, domain);
    }
}