A METHOD OF PROVIDING FIRMWARE TO A PROCESSOR-BASED ELECTRONIC DEVICE

摘要

A method of providing new functionality to an electronic product is provided. The new functionality for the electronic product being installed via a new firmware load from a memory card. The new firmware load being released to the electronic product upon the provision of an authentication by the user of the electronic product that matches the authentification credentials stored within the memory card. In a further embodiment of the invention the authentication further supports the transfer of additional content relating to the authenticated user thereby providing the electronic device with a "personality" determined by the user. In another embodiment of the invention the new firmware load is "personalized" to the memory card such that it cannot be illegally duplicated or copied thereby allowing vendors to provide via the Internet new functionalities for electronic products on a procurement basis.