Electronics Antitheft Authorizing Unit

Abstract

Locked electronic device, e.g., a device which produces a video output, such as a game console or TV. The device is shipped in a locked state, and cannot be used as a game console or a TV until it is unlocked. The unlocking is carried out by a code. The code is provided separately from the device, and only once authorized sale is detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
 operating an electronic unit by preventing the electronic unit from accepting commands on a user interface to carry out a first kind of interaction with the unit, until an unlock code is received in the electronic unit;   
       determining a location of the electronic unit; 
       receiving the unlock code in the electronic unit; 
       verifying the unlock code by comparing the unlock code to the location and determining if the unlock code is authorized for the location, and responsive to the verifying succeeding, automatically allowing the electronic unit to accept commands to carry out the first kind of interaction in the electronic unit. 
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising subsequently detecting additional locations of the electronic unit, recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to a different location, other than the location of the electronic unit at when the authorized code was entered, and preventing carrying out said first kind of interaction with the unit after said authorized code has been entered, responsive to said recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to the different location. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , further comprising accepting a new code at the different location, verifying a new code for the different location, and allowing a user to carry out said first kind of interaction with the unit, after receiving and verifying the new code. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said interacting comprises playing a game on the electronic unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said code is entered on the user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said code is received electronically in the electronic unit. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
 receiving operations on an electronic unit allowing a user to interact with the electronic unit by entering commands on a user interface, that is used in interacting with the unit, and presenting output on the user interface;   initially preventing said user from interacting with the electronic unit until authorized;   determining a location of the electronic unit;   receiving a code into the electronic unit;   verifying the code according to the location of the electronic unit;   once said code is entered and verified, allowing said user to interact with the electronic unit, by executing functions on the electronic unit;   recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to a different location, other than the location of the electronic unit when the code was entered,   preventing said user from said interact after said code has been entered, responsive to said recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to the different location, until carrying out a new verifying; and   not requiring any code to be entered after said code is entered, until said recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to said different location.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein said interacting comprises playing a game on the electronic unit. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein said code is entered on the user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein said code is received electronically in the electronic unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein said initially preventing comprises halting operations in said electronic unit that prevents the user from interacting with the electronic unit, but allows the code to be entered. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
 operating an electronic unit by preventing the electronic unit from accepting commands on a user interface to carry out a first kind of interaction with the unit, until a code is received in the electronic unit;   receiving the code electronically into in the electronic unit without receiving the code having been entered manually on the user interface;   where the code is usable to unlock the electronic unit for operation in a first location, and using the code to unlock the electronic unit for operation in said first location.   
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 12 , further comprising determining a location of the electronic unit and using said location of the electronic unit as part of unlocking the electronic unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , further comprising verifying the code by comparing the code to the location and determining if the code is authorized for the location, and responsive to the verifying succeeding, automatically allowing the electronic unit to accept commands to carry out a first kind of interaction in the electronic unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the receiving the code comprises receiving the code in a cellular phone, and transferring the code from the cellular phone wirelessly to the electronic unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the receiving the code comprises receiving the code using a camera. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the receiving the code comprises receiving the code from an external electronic memory. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 12 , further comprising subsequently detecting additional locations of the electronic unit, recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to a different location, other than the location of the electronic unit at when the code was entered, and preventing carrying out said first kind of interaction with the unit after said code has been entered, responsive to said recognizing that the electronic unit has been moved to the different location. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18 , further comprising accepting a new code at the different location, verifying a new code for the different location, and allowing a user to carry out said first kind of interaction with the unit, after receiving and verifying the new code.