Patent ID: 6879710

Claim:
An information processing apparatus comprising: fingerprint verification means for verifying a fingerprint read from a fingerprint reading surface against previously stored fingerprints of authorized users, the information processing apparatus further comprising: display means having a display surface with orthogonal coordinates set thereon; coordinate designating means for designating coordinates related to fingerprint reading on the display surface; secret number acquiring means for acquiring a secret number based on said designated coordinates, said acquiring occurs concurrently with said fingerprint reading on the display surface; secret number identifying means for verifying the acquired secret number against a previously stored secret number; control means for controlling an operation based on designated coordinates and a result of the secret number verification; menu execution level area setting means for setting an area associated with an execution level of a menu; and menu execution level area designation judging means for judging based on designated coordinates whether a set menu execution level area is designated or not, wherein when a menu execution level area is designated and there is a match in fingerprint, the control means executes a menu at an execution level associated with an authorized user having the matching fingerprint among execution levels previously set for the respective users, as well as an execution level of the designated menu execution level area.