Patent ID: 7404208
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of releasing a restricted functionality of an electronic appliance, comprising: (1) a selected host device connected to said electronic appliance executing a functionality restriction release program to release the restricted functionality of said electronic appliance; (2) communicating, between the selected host device and said electronic appliance, information relating to the release of the restricted functionality of said electronic appliance, wherein the selected host device communicates said information to said electronic appliance; (3) as a result of acts (1) and (2), releasing the restricted functionality of said electronic appliance; the selected host device determining the status of said restricted functionality; enabling a driver on said selected host device to control said released functionality on said electronic appliance; and disabling one or more drivers on one or more other host devices from controlling one or more functionalities of said electronic appliance for which a functionality restriction has not been released.