Tiered developer unlock of network hub with software defined radio protection

A computer-implemented method implemented by a network hub, the method comprising:

• sending, over a computer network to a server computer, a request for a certificate that is usable to unlock the network hub into a development environment, the request including (i) a requested level of access, and (ii) a device identifier (ID) associated with the network hub;
• receiving the certificate from the server computer over the computer network;
• rebooting the network hub;
• determining whether the certificate is associated with a trusted entity;
• and
• in response to determining that the certificate is associated with the trusted entity, unlocking the network hub into the development environment at the requested level of access as an unlocked network hub, wherein the unlocked network hub:
• allows a user to change settings of a configurable software defined radio (SDR) of the network hub when the requested level of access is a first level of access, or
• allows the user to load custom software on the network hub, yet prevents the user from changing the settings of the configurable SDR when the requested level of access is a second level of access.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a network hub to perform acts comprising:

• sending, over a computer network to a server computer, a request for a certificate that is usable to unlock the network hub into a development environment, the request including (i) a requested level of access, and (ii) a device identifier (ID) associated with the network hub;
• receiving the certificate from the server computer over the computer network;
• rebooting the network hub;
• determining whether the requested level of access associated with the certificate is a first level of access, or a second level of access;
• determining whether the certificate is associated with a trusted entity;
• and
• in response to determining that the certificate is associated with the trusted entity, unlocking the network hub into the development environment at the requested level of access as an unlocked network hub, wherein the unlocked network hub:
• allows a user to change settings of a configurable software defined radio (SDR) of the network hub when the requested level of access is the first level of access, or
• allows the user to load custom software on the network hub, yet prevents the user from changing the settings of the configurable SDR when the requested level of access is the second level of access.