Patent ID: 8527603
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for personalizing a plurality of parts, all of said parts having an identical part number and one or more programmable functions, the method comprising the steps of: a manufacturer manufacturing first and second products, the first product employing a first of said parts, and a second of the products employing a second of the parts, each of the first and second products including an in-system personalization function; sending the first product to a first customer and sending the second product to a second customer; prior to the step of sending the first product to the first customer, said manufacturer using the first product to determine if personalization of the first part is required for the first customer, and based on said personalization being required, using the personalization function of the first product to personalize the first part for the first customer by setting a first code in the first part, said first code causing said first part to provide a first programmable function, and said manufacturer disabling the personalization function of the first product, without disabling said first programmable function of the first part, wherein the first customer is enabled to use the first programmable function of the first part without being able to use the personalization function of the first product to re-personalize said first part; and prior to the step of sending the second product to the second customer, said manufacturer using the second product to determine if personalization of the second part is required for the second customer, and based on said personalization being required, using the personalization function of the second product to personalize the second part for the second customer by setting a second code in the second part, said second code causing the second part to provide a second programmable function, and said manufacturer disabling the personalization function of the second product, without disabling said second programmable function of the second part, wherein the second customer is enabled to use the second programmable function of the second part without being able to use the personalization function of the second product to re-personalized said second part; and wherein said second programmable function is different from the first programmable function and wherein: each of said parts includes Vital Product Data (VPD) for identifying a system for which said each part is personalizable; the first product is a computer server system; and the manufacturer using the personalization function of the first product to personalize the first part includes: installing the first part on the computer server system, said computer server system including asset protection code, disabling the asset protection code, using said VPD to identify a type of server for which said first part is personalizable, determining if the first part is personalized for said type of server, based on the first part not being personalized for said type of server, retrieving microcode and VPD images and installing the microcode and VPD images on the first part to personalize said first part for said type of server, enabling the asset protection code, and disabling the personalization function on said computer server system.