Patent ID: 7512992
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An electric apparatus comprising: a function limiting module for setting a function limit to the electric apparatus so that at least part of functions of the electric apparatus become unavailable; a plurality of interfaces for connecting external devices to the electric apparatus; a module for obtaining device identification information from an external device connected via one of the plurality of interfaces to the electric apparatus to identify the external device; a module for generating connection route information indicating which interface of the plurality of interfaces is used to connect the external device that has provided the device identification information; a module for associating the function limit with a combination of the device identification information and connection route information to obtain a cryptographic key; a memory for storing at least one cryptographic key; a determining module for determining whether a second combination of device identification information obtained from each external device of one or more external devices connected via one of the interfaces to the electric apparatus and connection route information for each external device of the one or more external devices matches the cryptographic key stored in the memory; and a limit canceling module for canceling the function limit set by the function limiting module if the determining module determines that the second combination of the obtained device information and connection route information matches the cryptographic key stored in memory.