Patent ID: 6721889
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A protective device for the protection of an electronic apparatus, an installation, a system or the like against use of functions that is can be performed via lockable programs or program parts, which device is can be connected via an interface with the apparatus, installation, system or the like to be protected, whereas the protective device is assigned a predetermined identification number and the protective device contains a preferably non-erasable memory, for example, an EEPROM for the storing of at least one activation code, which activation code is can be compared to an identification number and a read-protected program memory for the storing of at least one release program is provided, which release program is run upon agreement of the activation code with the identification number of the protective device, the read-protected program memory (7) for the storing of at least one release program is arranged along with the memory for the storing (2) of at least one activation code in the protective device (5) modifying the state of at least one feature in a protected device having a plurality of features, the protective device comprising:a interface adapted to communicate with the protected device, a processor in communication with the interface, a non-erasable memory in communication with the processor for storing a plurality of activation codes, a read-protected memory in communication with the processor for storing a plurality of release programs corresponding to the activation codes, and wherein the processor contains instructions for: receiving a request from the protected device to modify the state of the at least one feature, the request including an identification number of the protected device, identifying a release program from within the plurality of release programs corresponding to the at least one feature, identifying an activation code from within the plurality of activation codes corresponding to the at least one feature, and comparing the activation code to the identification number to determine if there is an agreement between the activation code and the identification number, if there is an agreement, then executing the identified release program to modify the state of the at least one feature.