Flexible feature enabling integrated circuit and methods to operate the integrated circuit

Abstract

A method for enabling a circuit feature on an integrated circuit device having inactive circuit features includes a step to receive an encrypted message and a signed digital signature from a server using an input/output (I/O) terminal within the integrated circuit device. The method also includes a step to decrypt the encrypted message using a public key to obtain a decrypted message using a data decryption block within the integrated circuit device. Furthermore, the method also includes a step to enable one of the inactive circuit features on the integrated circuit device that corresponds to the decrypted message after decrypting the encrypted message. The method may be performed by a flexible feature enabling integrated circuit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.