Patent ID: 8001593

Claim:
A user authentication method for an electronic apparatus, comprising: authenticating a user based on received first user identification information and registered user identification information, and setting the electronic apparatus in an authenticated state if the received first user identification information matches the registered user identification information; controlling the authenticated state after the user authentication based on received second user identification information, by continuing the authenticated state ff the received second user identification information matches the registered user identification information, receiving the first user identification information from a non-contact type medium located within a first area relative to the electronic apparatus when carrying out the authenticating operation; and receiving the second user identification information from the non-contact type medium located within a second area relative to the electronic apparatus when carrying out the controlling operation, wherein the second area is larger than the first area and includes the first area, and wherein a reception sensitivity for receiving the first user identification information is set to a first sensitivity level during the authentication operation, a reception sensitivity for receiving the second user identification information is set to a second sensitivity level during the controlling operation, and the second sensitivity level is higher than the first sensitivity level; and wherein the controlling operation includes canceling the authenticated state in response to an external cancel instruction.