Abstract: A license management apparatus is taught which includes a storing portion to store licenses for each of a plurality of operation functions of one of a plurality of operating function executing units, a discriminator to discriminate whether the number of licenses currently permitted for the use of one of the operation functions has reached a predetermined number based on contents of the storing portion upon request for a use of one of the operation functions, and a determination unit to determine whether the request for the use of one of the operation functions is to be permitted based on a discrimination result of the discriminator.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes a function to detect its own location. The owner of such terminal registers in advance an area in which he expects to be for a given time slot as conditions for operation. The portable terminal verifies its location with respect to the operation conditions set by the owner, and where it is determined that the operation conditions are not met, the portable terminal disables itself, prohibiting its use. Where a pre-registered password is subsequently input, the portable terminal cancels this prohibition. Consequently, if the owner loses the portable terminal while away from home or the office, for example, a third party cannot operate the portable terminal, and moreover, unless the owner-registered password is input, the prohibition is not cancelled, thereby preventing disclosure of the data and other information stored in the portable terminal.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes a function to detect its own location. The owner of such terminal registers in advance an area in which he expects to be for a given time slot as conditions for operation. The portable terminal verifies its location with respect to the operation conditions set by the owner, and where it is determined that the operation conditions are not met, the portable terminal disables itself, prohibiting its use. Where a pre-registered password is subsequently input, the portable terminal cancels this prohibition. Consequently, if the owner loses the portable terminal while away from home or the office, for example, a third party cannot operate the portable terminal, and moreover, unless the owner-registered password is input, the prohibition is not cancelled, thereby preventing disclosure of the data and other information stored in the portable terminal.

Abstract: A license management apparatus includes a storing portion which stores the number of licenses for a use of each of plural operation functions of one or plural operating function executing units, a discriminator which discriminates upon request for a use of one of the operation functions whether the number of licenses currently permitted for the use of one of the operation functions has reached a predetermined number based on contents of the storing portion, and determination means which determines whether the request for the use of one of the operation functions is to be permitted based on a discrimination result of the discriminator.