Patent ID: 7243227

Claim:
A method, comprising: using a processor to read a first unique identification code from a separate identification code provider; using the processor to read a second identification code from a memory a first time; comparing the second identification code to a predetermined value that indicates that the memory is not copy protected; storing the first identification code as the second identification code in the memory in response to the second identification code read the first time being equal to the predetermined value; using the processor to read the second identification code from the memory a second time; comparing the second identification code read from the memory the second time to the first identification code; indicating with the processor, failure to protect the memory in response to the second identification code read from the memory the second time being unequal to the first identification code; using the processor to read the second identification code from the memory a third time; comparing the first identification code to the second identification code read from the memory the third time; allowing the processor to perform instructions contained in the memory if the first identification code matches the second identification code read from the memory the third time; and performing a security response if the first identification code does not match the second identification code read from the memory the third time.