Patent ID: 7725731

Claim:
A method for managing access to a plurality of different functions supported by a multi-function port of a processor-based device, the method comprising: according to configuration information stored in the processor-based device, selecting on a per user basis to limit access to at least one function of the plurality of different functions supported by the multi-function port, wherein the multi-function port is configured to connect to any one of a plurality of different external devices, and wherein the processor-based device is responsive to requests to initiate performance of corresponding ones of the plurality of different functions; detecting an attempt by a specific user to access the at least one function via the multi-function port; determining whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function, wherein determining whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function comprises determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user, and wherein determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user comprises accessing a registry key for a class driver associated with the at least one function; and enabling access by the specific user to the at least one function supported by the multi-function port if said user is authorized.