Return-to-owner security lockout for a portable electronic device

摘要

A security lockout method for an electronic device and a portable electronic device having security lockout facilitate returning a lost or stolen device to an owner. The method comprises displaying owner information on an interface of the device when a security lockout disables the device. The security lockout disables the device if a security lockout bypass input either is invalid when received or is expected but is not received. Owner information can be direct contact information for the owner or can be contact information for a lost and found service or other contact. The electronic device having return-to-owner security lockout comprises a controller, a user interface, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory. The computer program preferably implements the method of the present invention.