Proprietary component for use in an open-platform device and corresponding method

A proprietary component, comprising:

• a memory having at least one item of information that is substantially unique to a particular open-platform device stored therein;
• a buffer;
• a comparator having inputs operably coupled to the memory and the buffer;
• a denial-of-operability controller having a trigger input that is responsive to the output of the comparator;
• such that the proprietary component will be at least partially inoperable when used in conjunction with an open-platform device other than the particular open-platform device.

A proprietary component comprising:

• means for storing:
• first information that tends to uniquely correspond to a particular open-platform device;
• second information that tends to uniquely correspond to at least one other proprietary component as also interacts with the particular open-platform device;
• means for conditioning subsequent operability of the proprietary component upon receipt of subsequent information from both the particular open-platform device and the at least one other proprietary component, which subsequent information corresponds in an expected way with the first and second information.