Secure programming of one-time-programmable (OTP) memory

A system comprising:

• an electronic device having a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory, the OTP memory including a plurality of life cycle OTP bits;
• a life cycle bit map associated with a plurality of defined life cycle stages of the electronic device, the life cycle bit map specifying a plurality of life cycle OTP bit patterns, respective life cycle OTP bit patterns corresponding with respective life cycle stages of the electronic device;
• a life cycle function data specifying a set of available functions for respective life cycle stages, wherein:
• the specified set of available functions for respective life cycle stages defining functions performable during the respective life cycle stage of the electronic device;
• and
• the specified set of available functions for a respective first life cycle stage differs from the specified set of available functions for a respective second life cycle stage;
• and
• a boot code stored in read only memory and executable by a processor to manage the provisioning of the electronic device through a series of life cycle stages, including:
• to receive a plurality of requests to advance the electronic device through the series of life cycle stages;
• in response to respective received requests of the plurality of requests, to selectively program, during a subsequent reset of the electronic device, the plurality of life cycle OTP bits to advance the electronic device to a respective next stage of the series of life cycle stages;
• and
• while the electronic device is operating in the respective first life cycle stage, to allow access to only the set of available functions for the respective first life cycle stage as specified by the life cycle function data.

A method comprising:

• for an electronic device having a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory, a plurality of defined life cycle stages, and a plurality of defined functions, providing access to a first set of the plurality of defined functions while the electronic device is in a first life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages;
• receiving a request to transition the electronic device from the first life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages to a second life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages;
• in response to the received request to transition the electronic device from the first life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages to the second life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages, transitioning the electronic device to the second life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages by programming the OTP memory, during a first subsequent reset of the electronic device, with information corresponding to the second life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages;
• and
• providing access to a second set of the plurality of defined functions while the electronic device is in the second life cycle stage of the plurality of defined life cycle stages.