Abstract: A menu interface including a bounded region divided into menu panels, each panel having a menu option. Selection of the menu option replaces the menu panel corresponding to a particular option with an expanded menu panel having tools, options, features and controls corresponding to the selected option. The menu interface is customizable to allow a user to expand, or contract, one or more panels to provide efficient access to the tools, options, features and controls of the expanded menu panels. Expanded menu panels maintain their relative order, and do not contract after a user makes a selection. Expansion and contraction of menu panels is expressly controlled by the user.

Abstract: A hardware cartridge performs the function of a verifiable, use-once authorization. The hardware cartridge is provided with physical security so that its contents are not accessible except via a specific protocol. The cartridge stores data in two or more segments. The cartridge responds to a query or challenge by outputting that portion of the data it stores selected by the query or challenge. Assuming the authorizing device has access to the complete contents of the hardware cartridge, it can verify the authenticity by receiving only that portion of the contents selected by its query. In one embodiment, the two segments comprise a pair of shift registers which feed data to a multiplexer; the multiplexer is controlled by the query to output the selected portion of the stored data. In another embodiment, a plurality of segments are stored in a random access memory which is addressed by the query.