Remote feature activation

• US 9,535,676 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Forehand, Monty A, Duran, Anthony R, Wicaksono, Nino, Kaiser, David R, Offenberg, Manuel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaplan, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US14/245,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 726/2, 717/174
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to remote feature activation. In an embodiment, a device may be manufactured having firmware configured to implement multiple unique features on the device. Features may be enabled and disabled on the device later or at a remote location. Enabled features may allow the device to perform corresponding functions, and disabled features may not allow the device to perform corresponding functions. Remote feature activation may include exchanging security information between an activation entity and the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a specific set of features selected from multiple unique features on a device to comprise an enabled firmware configuration on the device, the enabled firmware configuration limiting the device to performing only the specific set of features from the multiple unique features; and

remotely initiating activation of the enabled firmware configuration on the device based on the indication.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

remotely initiating activation of the enabled firmware configuration includes sending an activation package including;

information identifying the enabled firmware configuration;

security information to verify the authenticity of the activation package; and

loading the device with security data configured for verifying the security information of the activation package.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the security information includes encrypted data in the activation package; and

the security data includes a key to decrypt the encrypted data.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the activation package further includes executable program code for implementing the enabled firmware configuration.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

manufacturing the device, including loading the device with firmware configured to implement the multiple unique features.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to activate the enabled firmware configuration on the device; and

authenticating the device based on the request to activate.

7. A device comprising:

a memory configured to store firmware having multiple selectable features that can be activated;

a processor configured to;

receive, from an activation entity external to the device, an indication of a specific set of features selected from the multiple selectable features to comprise an enabled firmware configuration to activate on the device, the enabled firmware configuration limiting the device to performing only the specific set of features from the multiple selectable features; and

limit operation of the device to the enabled firmware configuration based on the indication.

8. The device of claim 7, the processor further configured to:

provide identifying information to authenticate the device to the activation entity.

9. The device of claim 7 further comprising:

the indication is received in an activation package, the activation package further including program code for implementing the enabled firmware configuration;

the processor further configured to;

store the program code to the memory; and

implement the enabled firmware configuration based on the program code.

10. The device of claim 7 further comprising:

the indication is received in an activation package, the activation package further including security information;

the processor further configured to;

authenticate the activation package based on the security information; and

not allow operation of the specific set of features corresponding to the enabled firmware configuration when the activation package is not authenticated.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising the device is a data storage device having a memory, processor, and an interface that can physically connect and disconnect from a host computer, the interface configured to allow data communications between the data storage device and the host computer.

12. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a data storage medium;

an interface to connect to a host device;

the enabled firmware configuration includes a specified data storage block size emulation parameter, block size emulation including performing data communications at the interface with a first data block size and performing data access operations to the data storage medium with a second data block size; and

the processor further configured to implement block size emulation on the device corresponding to the specified data storage block size emulation parameter.

13. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

the enabled firmware configuration includes a specified configuration of security options; and

the processor further configured to operate according to the specified configuration of security options.

14. The device of claim 7, the processor further configured to:

deactivate features from the multiple selectable features of the device based on the indication of the enabled firmware configuration.

15. The device of claim 7, the processor further configured to:

permanently disable future activation of features from the multiple selectable features of the device based on the indication of the enabled firmware configuration.

16. A method comprising:

manufacturing a device, including loading the device with firmware configured to implement a set of multiple unique features, each feature allowing a corresponding function to be performed by the device when the feature is enabled and not allowing the corresponding function to be performed by the device when the feature is not enabled;

after manufacture of the device is complete, receiving an indication of a specific set of features selected from the multiple unique features to comprise an enabled firmware configuration, the enabled firmware configuration limiting the device to performing only the specific set of features when enabled on the device; and

remotely initiating enablement of the enabled firmware configuration on the device based on the indication.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

packaging the device for shipping prior to initiating enablement of the enabled firmware configuration.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

shipping the device to a remote location prior to initiating enablement of the enabled firmware configuration.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

manufacturing the device including storing security data on the device;

remotely initiating enablement of the enabled firmware configuration includes sending an activation package to the device including security information, the security information configured to authenticate the activation package to the device based on the security data.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving the indication of the enabled firmware configuration and remotely initiating enablement of the enabled firmware configuration includes;

providing the security information to a trusted activation authority; and

directing the trusted activation authority to receive the indication of the enabled firmware configuration and send the activation package to the device.