Patent ID: 8734529

Claim:
A system for protecting electronic devices from distribution channel theft, comprising: a database; and a computer system comprising one or more computers, said computer system configured with executable code capable of causing the computer system to at least: store, in the database, records of a plurality of electronic devices, each of which should have an activated loss protection client installed thereon; and during communication with a suspect one of said electronic devices having had its loss protection client improperly disabled, transmit a replacement loss protection client to the suspect electronic device; wherein each loss protection client comprises executable code capable of causing an electronic device to: during an initial grace period that begins with a first switch on after entering a distribution channel, operate in a first mode in which the user is repeatedly prompted to enter an unlock code and in which the electronic device is substantially fully functional; in response to receiving a valid unlock code, operate in a fully functional, second mode, in which the user is not prompted to enter said unlock code; and after the grace period expires without entry of a valid unlock code, operate in a third mode in which at least one anti-theft action is performed including: (1) transmitting data regarding its location to a remote system to facilitate recover from a possible thief, or (2) impeding use of said electronic device.