PORTABLE AUTHORIZATION DEVICE FOR AUTHORIZING USE OF PROTECTED INFORMATION AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

摘要

An authorization system (100) and associated method for selectively authorizing a host system (110) to use one of more items of protected information (115) associated with the host system (110). The authorization system (100) includes a portable authorization device (140) that is removably couplable to the host system (110). The portable authorization device (140) is capable of receiving and storing multiple items of authorization information (171) associated with a plurality of respective items of protected information (115) from one or more information authorities (160, 180, 185). Preferably, the portable authorization device (140) is capable of communicating with multiple types of information authorities (160, 180, 185). The portable authorization device (140) selectively authorizes the host system (110) to use the one or more respective items of protected information (115) based upon the respective authorization information (171) stored therein.