Patent ID: 7430307

Claim:
A data processing apparatus that is capable of performing at least one of recording operation and playback operation of at least one of image data and audio data, the data processing apparatus comprising: storing means for storing identifiers for identification of predetermined operators and fingerprint data of the operators, the identifiers and the fingerprint data being associated with each other; fingerprint detecting means for detecting a fingerprint; selecting means for selecting one of the identifiers stored in the storing means; comparing means for performing comparison to determine whether or not fingerprint data of the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint detecting means is identical to fingerprint data associated with the identifier selected by the selecting means; and controlling means for controlling enabling and disabling of a predetermined operation in accordance with a result of the comparison performed by the comparing means, wherein, when the comparing means determines that the fingerprint data of the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint detecting means is identical to the fingerprint data of the operator associated with the identifier selected by the selecting means, the controlling means enables the predetermined operation and when the comparing means determines that the fingerprint data are not identical, the controlling means disables the predetermined operation, and wherein the storing means further stores operation-environment setting data for each identifier, and the data processing apparatus further comprises operation-environment setting means for setting an operation environment in accordance with the operation-environment setting data for the identifier selected by the selecting means, when the controlling means enables the predetermined operation.