System and method of multiple-level control of electronic devices

A method for managing multiple-level control of an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving controlled information associated with a predetermined authorization level;
• authenticating the received controlled information based upon authorization information associated with the predetermined authorization level or a higher authorization level stored in an authorization information store;
• and
• storing the received controlled information in a controlled information store if the received controlled information was authenticated with respect to the predetermined authorization level.

A system of multiple-level control of an electronic device, the system comprising:

• an authorization information store capable of storing authorization information for each of a plurality of authorization levels;
• a controlled information store capable of storing controlled information affecting operation of an electronic device, wherein each stored controlled information is associated with an authorization level;
• and
• a processor in communication with the authorization information and controlled information store, wherein the processor comprises one or more processing elements that are programmed or adapted at least to:
• receive an operation request;
• determine if authorization information associated with the operation for which the operation request was received exists;
• determine controlled information corresponding to the operation for which the operation request was received if authorization information was determined to exist;
• and
• if no authorization information was determined to exist or if the determined controlled information comprises permission for the operation for which the operation request was received, perform the operation for which the operation request was received.

A system for managing multiple-level control of an electronic device, the system comprising:

• storing means for storing data associated with multiple-level control of an electronic device, the storing means comprising:
• authorization storing means for storing authorization information associated with a plurality of authorization levels;
• and
• controlled storing means for storing information affecting operation of the electronic device in association with a selected authorization level from the plurality;
• authorization insertions means for:
• receiving authorization information for a selected authorization level;
• authenticating the received authorization information based upon authorization information associated with the selected authorization level or a higher authorization level if extant in the authorization storing means;
• verifying integrity of the received authorization information;
• and
• storing the received authorization information in the authorization storing means associated with the selected authorization level.
• controlled insertion means for:
• receiving controlled information associated with a predetermined authorization level;
• authenticating the received controlled information based upon authorization information associated with the predetermined authorization level or a higher authorization level in the authorization storing means;
• verifying data integrity of the received controlled information;
• and
• storing the received controlled information in the controlled storing means if the received controlled information was authenticated and verified.