Abstract:
An electronic device including a controller having a processor that works with a memory or a storage. The memory or storage has an additional partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled with an access logic and a key associated with this partition. A user of the device upgrades it to access the additional partition by running the access logic in the device, being informed that an upgrade is permitted, determining if they wish the upgrade and, if so, then purchasing it, the key being transferred to the device from an external source, and the key being applied with the access logic to enable the partition.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/879,213, filed Jul. 16, 2007, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Technical Field 
         [0006]    The present invention relates generally to electrical computers and digital processing systems, and more particularly to selectively restricting access to memory and/or storage areas. 
         [0007]    2. Background Art 
         [0008]    The variety of consumer electronic devices that is available continues to grow at a very rapid rate. For example, we have many types of personalized general computing devices. One common example here is the personal computer (PC), which includes desktop units (i.e., “traditional” PCs) and portable varieties such as laptops, notebooks, and netbooks. We have recording equipment, including digital still and video cameras as well as audio recording devices. We have personal playback equipment, such as MP3 and other format music players, e-book players, portable digital versatile disc (DVD) players. And we also have general playback equipment, such as digital video recorders (DVRs), multi-player gaming counsels, and digital frames that play images, movies, and audio clips. 
         [0009]    The quantity of electronic devices that consumers use also continues to grow, but at a slower rate. Some examples here are personal communications devices, with cellular telephones having subsumed personal digital assistants (PDAs) and now become the ubiquitous example. 
         [0010]    The example of the cellular telephone further illustrate how the distinctions between consumer electronic devices are blurring, and perhaps even how the number of such devices that a person uses may stabilize or start to decrease. For instance, many modern cellular telephones run application programs like many PCs; capture images, video, and audio like many digital cameras, camcorders, and recorders; and playback commercial content or what they have been used to capture or record. 
         [0011]    While it is probably impossible to exhaustively list modern consumer electronic devices here, and any such list would quickly be obsolete, aspects common to essentially all of these devices are that they have data memory, or data storage, or both (hereinafter simply memory and storage). 
         [0012]    The terms “memory” and “storage” are often loosely and interchangeably used and it is hard to define one term without using the other. For example, one definition of memory is “[a] functional unit to which data can be stored and from which data can be retrieved” (United States Patent Classification (USPC) System, class 711 glossary, United States Patent and Trademark Office). Here, however, it is important to draw and maintain a distinction. For the present discussion the term “memory” is used in a dynamic sense and the term “storage” is used in a static sense. This can be seen easily with an example. Apple Corporation of Cupertino, Calif. presently markets the MacBook™ personal computer. Upon purchase the dynamic memory, the random access memory (RAM) in this particular device, is usually one gigabyte (GB) and the static memory, the hard disc drive storage unit in this particular device, is often 320 GBs. However, both of these can be expanded, say to two GB and to 500 GB. 
         [0013]    Expanding or “upgrading” the memory and/or storage capacity in consumer electronic devices presents a lot of problems. Historically, there have been two ways to do this: replace one or more existing low capacity units with higher capacity units or install additional units. Both approaches burden the end user and even society as a whole. For example, both are expensive, require some degree of technical skill, and inherently expose the device to a of risk of damage. Replacement of units often results in still usable low capacity units simply being discarded as waste and installing additional units is often not a possible option. For instance, continuing with the MacBook™ example, the MacBook has a finite number of slots for memory units and a finite amount of internal space for storage units. Upon purchase these slots are usually all fully occupied. Thus replacement is the only option left if a user wants to expand or upgrade the dynamic memory or the static storage capacities in this consumer electronic device. 
         [0014]    Something not widely known, but becoming increasingly common, is that many consumer electronic devices are now sold with more memory and/or storage capacity than they are represented or advertised as having. Various reasons lead to this. For example, devices and marketing campaigns for them may be designed based on currently available components, only to have the devices actually manufactured using later available components that have greater capacities. Or manufactures may wish to provide different options for a device, say one GB entry level, two GB regular level, and four GB professional level devices but find it inefficient to purchase, stock, and manufacture using different capacity memory and/or storage units. 
         [0015]    The manufacturer (or the vendor if the device is a “house branded” one commissioned by a major vendor) then faces the choice of giving end purchasers more than they are paying for. Where, for instance, an entry level device typically is priced essentially at cost, to entice new consumers to a brand or in the hopeful expectation of profiting eventually from tied-in sales. A manufacturer or vendor then clearly does not want consumers to be able to buy the entry level device at the lowest price and still actually get the professional level device. The manufacturer therefore may take the additional step of “under configuring” the device, for example, by setting it to use only one GB of four GB of dynamic memory that is actually present or by setting it to use only 500 GB of static storage when 750 GB is actually present. The vendor then may also have some follow-on issues related to this. For instance, if it becomes widely known by purchasers that devices are under configured, potential purchasers may seek to purchase devices that have under configured capacity, thus skewing the market to such devices. Purchasers attempting to reconfigure device memory and/or storage capacities themselves are also likely create directly related or peripheral technical support issues that the vendor then may have to deal with. 
         [0016]    Conversely, something that is increasingly appreciated is that manufacturing consumer electronic devices with more memory and/or storage capacity is relatively inexpensive. As implied above, the economies of scale can offset the cost of using greater capacity components. For instance, a 750 GB storage component does not cost 1.5 times as much as a 500 GB component. It is typically only 1.2 times as much (i.e., merely 20% more, rather than 50% more). Furthermore, this cost may effectively be reduced to below 15% if the manufacturer purchases, say, 10,000 units of the 750 GB components rather than 5,000 units each of 750 GB and 500 GB components. Availability issues, stocking, production line change over, end device configuration, after sale technical support complexity, etc. may reduce or even eliminate all of even a 15% differential. 
         [0017]    Summarizing, on one hand, manufacturers and vendors already have consumer electronic devices with over represented memory and/or storage capacities, or else it often is a relatively inexpensive matter to provide such devices with such capacities. On the other hand, manufacturers and vendors presently incur actual costs and other disincentives in making these capacities available to the purchasers and end users of these devices. This situation leaves manufacturers, vendors, and consumers all disadvantaged, and solutions are accordingly desirable to address this. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for enabling access to additional memory and storage capacity in an electronic device. 
         [0019]    Briefly, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device including a controller having a processor that works with a memory and a storage. The memory has a primary memory partition that is accessible by the processor and a secondary memory partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled when an access logic is run in the electronic device with a key associated with the secondary memory partition. The storage similarly has a primary storage partition that is accessible by the processor and a secondary storage partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled when said access logic is run in the electronic device with a key associated with the secondary storage partition. 
         [0020]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device including a controller having a processor that works with a memory. The memory has a partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled when an access logic is run in the electronic device with a key associated with the partition. 
         [0021]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device including a controller having a processor that works with a storage. The storage has a partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled when an access logic is run in the electronic device with a key associated with the partition. 
         [0022]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electronic device having additional memory and storage capacities. The electronic device is built to include a controller having a processor that works with a memory and a storage. The memory is configured to have a primary memory partition that is accessible by the processor and to have at least one secondary memory partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by an access logic running in the electronic device with a key associated with the secondary memory partition. The storage is configured to have a primary storage partition that is accessible by the processor and further to have at least one secondary storage partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by the access logic running in the electronic device with a key associated with the secondary storage partition. 
         [0023]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electronic device having additional memory capacity. The electronic device is built to include a controller having a processor that works with a memory. The memory is configured to have a partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by an access logic running in the electronic device with a key associated with the partition. 
         [0024]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electronic device having additional storage capacity. The electronic device is built to include a controller having a processor that works with a storage. The storage is configured to have a partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by an access logic running in the electronic device with a key associated with the partition. 
         [0025]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for a user of an electronic device to upgrade access to an additional memory capacity and to an additional storage capacity when the electronic device includes a processor, a memory, and a storage wherein the memory has a memory partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by an access logic being run in the electronic device with a key associated with the memory partition, and wherein the storage has a storage partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by said access logic being run in the electronic device with a key associated with the storage partition. The access logic is run in the electronic device and the user is informed that an upgrade permitting access to the additional memory capacity and the additional storage capacity is available. It is determined if the user wishes the upgrade. If so, the user is permitted to purchase the upgrade. Then the key associated with the memory partition is transferred to the electronic device from an external source, and the key associated with the storage partition is transferred to the electronic device from the external source. Then the key associated with the memory partition with the access logic is applied to enable the memory partition, and the key associated with the storage partition with the access logic is applied to enable the storage partition. 
         [0026]    Briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for a user of an electronic device to upgrade access to an additional memory capacity when the electronic device includes a processor and a memory having a partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by an access logic being run in the electronic device with a key. The access logic is run in the electronic device and the user is informed that an upgrade permitting access to the additional memory capacity is available. It is determined if the user wishes the upgrade. If so, the user is permitted to purchase the upgrade. Then the key is transferred to the electronic device from an external source, and the key is applied with the access logic to enable the partition. 
         [0027]    And briefly, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for a user of an electronic device to upgrade access to an additional storage capacity when the electronic device includes a processor and a storage having a partition that is prevented from being accessed by the processor until enabled by an access logic being run in the electronic device with a key. The access logic is run in the electronic device and the user is informed that an upgrade permitting access to the additional storage capacity is available. It is determined if the user wishes the upgrade. If so, the user is permitted to purchase the upgrade. Then the key is transferred to the electronic device from an external source, and the key is applied with the access logic to enable the partition. 
         [0028]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and the industrial applicability of the preferred embodiment as described herein and as illustrated in the figures of the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0029]    The purposes and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended figures of drawings in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device that may be used in the inventive system to have additional memory and/or storage capacity enabled; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 2   a - d  are schematic block diagrams stylistically depicting how some exemplary embodiments of the access logic in  FIG. 1  that can be run in alternate manners and at different times; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of some exemplary activation mechanisms that may be used in the inventive system to enable access to additional capacities in the electronic device in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a manufacturing process that may be used in the inventive system for manufacturing the electronic device in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an upgrade process that may be used in the inventive system to enable access to additional memory and/or storage capacity in the electronic device in  FIG. 1  by using one of the activation mechanisms in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0035]    In the various figures of the drawings, like references are used to denote like or similar elements or steps. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    The present invention is a system for enabling access to additional memory and storage capacity. As illustrated in the various drawings herein, embodiments of the invention are depicted by the general reference character  10 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device  100  that may be used in the inventive system  10  and have access to additional memory and/or storage capacity enabled. The electronic device  100  includes a controller  110 , a memory  112 , a storage  114 , and a communications bus  116  connecting all of these. 
         [0038]    The controller  110  includes a central processing unit (CPU  118 ) and a cache  120 . The controller  110  can include more than one CPU and it can also include multiple caches as well (e.g., one per CPU or different level caches for the CPU or CPUs). Alternately, the controller need not include any cache, but most modern microprocessor-based CPUs do and showing a cache in  FIG. 1  facilitates discussion of aspects of some sophisticated embodiments of the electronic device  100 . 
         [0039]    The memory  112  includes a primary partition  122  and a partition block  124  that includes one or more secondary partitions (secondary partitions  124   a - x  in this example). In  FIG. 1  the secondary partitions  124   a - x  are shown as each being the same size (i.e., capacity), but this is not a requirement. For instance, the primary partition  122  might have a one GB capacity and the partition block  124  might have a three GB capacity, wherein each of the secondary partitions  124   a - x  has a 128 megabyte (MB) capacity. The electronic device  100  then has a potentially usable four GB total memory capacity. Alternately, the primary partition and the additional partition block might be the same but with the latter having six secondary partitions wherein two have 128 MB capacities, one has a 256 MB, capacity, one has a 512 MB capacity, and two have one GB capacities. The result is still a potentially usable four GB total capacity that is configurable in similar increments. Using either of these approaches, or yet another, is a largely a matter of design choice. 
         [0040]    The storage  114  similarly includes a primary partition  126  and a partition block  128  that here includes secondary partitions  128   a - f . For instance, the primary partition  126  here can have a 500 GB capacity and the additional partition block  128  can have a 250 GB capacity wherein each of the secondary partitions  128   a - f  has a 50 GB capacity. 
         [0041]    The communications bus  116  connects the controller  110 , the memory  112 , and the storage  114 , and here in  FIG. 1  it also connects a number of peripheral elements in the electronic device  100 . These include an input device  130  and an input interface  132 ; an output device  134  and an output interface  136 ; a media reader  138  and a media interface  140 ; a wireless transponder  142  and a wireless interface  144 ; a network interface  146 ; and a logic unit  148 . 
         [0042]    The electronic device  100  shown in  FIG. 1  additionally includes one other important element: an access logic  150  comprising instructions that are executable by the CPU  118  or the logic unit  148 . At the point when a user receives the electronic device  100  the access logic  150  may already be present in the controller  110 , e.g., in read only memory (ROM) or flash memory there, or present in the logic unit  148 , e.g., in similar memory there, or it may be stored in the storage  114 . Alternately, the access logic  150  can be received into the electronic device  100  later via the media reader  138  off of a computer readable storage media, or it can be received via the wireless transponder  142  or the network interface  146 . Optionally, if it has newly been received in one of these manners, the access logic  150  can be stored in the storage  114 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 2   a - d  are schematic block diagrams stylistically depicting how some exemplary embodiments of the access logic  150  can be run in alternate manners and at different times. 
         [0044]    In the case in  FIG. 2   a  the access logic  150  is run by the CPU  118  when starting up the electronic device  100 . Here the access logic  150  “tells” the CPU  118  what the enabled capacities of the memory  112  and/or storage  114  are, and the CPU  118  thereafter should proceed as if only these capacities are present. This approach is suitable for many electronic devices  100 , but some that do not perform elaborate start-up configuration it may be unsuitable and for others it may be unduly vulnerable to hacking. 
         [0045]    The case in  FIG. 2   b  takes the case in  FIG. 2   a  to a logical end. The access logic  150  is run continually by the CPU  118 , being logically interposed so that the CPU  118  only “sees” the enabled capacities. This approach is avoids the noted start-up limitation and is less vulnerable to hacking, but at the expense of some added burden on the CPU  118 . 
         [0046]    In the case in  FIG. 2   c  the access logic  150  is run by the logic unit  148  at start up of the electronic device  100 . The access logic  150  here can “tell” the CPU  118  what the enabled capacities are or it can logically interpose itself temporarily so that the CPU  118  only “sees” the enabled capacities during start-up and session configuration routines. This approach is also somewhat harder to hack. Additionally, it can provide design and manufacturing advantages. For instance, while the logic unit  148  is depicted in the figures as a single discrete unit, one or more instances of it can instead be integrated into modules or units of the memory  112  and/or storage  114 . A manufacturer of the electronic device  100  then, for example, can simply buy hard disk drives that already have integral logic units  148  and thus not have to be concerned with most details of the logic unit  148  or access logic  150 . 
         [0047]    The case in  FIG. 2   d  takes the case in  FIG. 2   c  to a logical end. The access logic  150  is run continually by the logic unit  148 , effectively acting as if the logic unit  148  is physically interposed between the CPU  118  and the memory  112  and/or storage  114 . Here the CPU  118  is only effectively able to “see” what the access logic  150  allows it to see. The logic unit  148  used here can be designed to strongly thwart hacking and, as in the case in  FIG. 2   c , it and the access logic  150  can optionally be integrated into modules or units of the memory  112  and/or storage  114 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of some exemplary activation mechanisms  300  that may be used in the inventive system  10  to enable access to additional capacities in the electronic device  100  in  FIG. 1 . Briefly, the activation mechanisms  300  work with an instance of the access logic  150  in the electronic device  100 , optionally providing or updating the access logic  150  if it is not already present or if it is obsolete, to procure keys  310  that the access logic  150  uses to “unlock” and thus enable additional capacity in the memory  112  or the storage  114 . The activation mechanisms  300  shown in  FIG. 3  include a media-based mechanism  300   a , a wireless-based mechanism  300   b , and a physical network-based mechanism  300   c.    
         [0049]    Turning first to the media-based mechanism  300   a , this may be embodied in a computer readable storage media that the media reader  138  of the electronic device  100  can read. Accordingly, this media can be a floppy disc, tape, CD, DVD, USB flash memory, external hard drive, etc. This list is not exhaustive and it should be appreciated that the nature of the media is not a limitation, as long as the media is computer readable. The media-based mechanism  300   a  includes one or more keys and it optionally may also include a copy of the access logic  150 . If a copy of the access logic  150  is present and the nature of the media permits this, the access logic  150  may further optionally automatically execute when the media-based mechanism  300   a  is loaded into and read by the electronic device  100 . 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 3  the keys  310  present in the media-based mechanism  300   a  include keys  310   aa - ax , which respectively are associated with the secondary partitions  124   a - x  in the memory  112  of the electronic device  100 , and keys  310   ba - bb , which respectively are associated with the secondary partitions  128   a - b  in the storage  114  of the electronic device  100 . The keys  310   aa - ax ,  310   ba - bb “unlock” the units of memory or storage that they are associated with. In this manner keys  310   aa - ax  may be used to unlock any or all of the secondary partitions  124   a - x  to increase the usable capacity of the memory  112  from one GB to up to four GB. Similarly, keys  310   ba - bb  may be used to unlock either or both of the secondary partitions  128   a - b  to increase the usable capacity to the storage  114  from 500 GB to up to 600 GB (but not all the way to the potential total of 750 GB because keys associated with or corresponding to the secondary partitions  128   c - e  are not present in the media-based mechanism  300   a  in this example). 
         [0051]    Turning now to the wireless-based mechanism  300   b , this is embodied in a server system  320  that includes a controller  322 , a memory  324 , a wireless transponder  326  and a wireless interface  328 , and an optional network interface  330 . The memory  324  here further includes a software module  332 , an optional copy of the access logic  150 , and keys  310   aa - ax  (respectively associated with the secondary partitions  124   a - x  in the memory  112  in the electronic device  100 ), and keys  310   ba - bf  (respectively associated with the secondary partitions  128   a - b  in the storage  114  in the electronic device  100 ). Note, the server system  320  here may have copies of all of the keys  310  for all of the units of memory and storage in all of the electronic devices that the server system  320  may work with. 
         [0052]    Turning next to the physical network-based mechanism  300   c , this is also embodied in a server system  340 . Potentially the server system  340  can be the same as the server system  320 , but this is not a requirement and to emphasize this the server system  340  here is depicted with different components. Continuing, the server system  340  includes a controller  342 , a memory  344 , and a network interface  346 . The memory  344  here further includes a software module  348 , an optional copy of the access logic  150 , and keys  310   aa - ax . The software module  348  may be, but need not necessarily be, the same as the software module  332 , and the remarks above about the keys apply as well here for all of the units of memory and storage in all of the electronic devices that the server system  340  may potentially work with. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  further includes two additional objects that merit discussion. An electronic network  360  is shown for use with the server system  340 , and optionally also with the server system  320 . Furthermore, a set of other servers  370  is shown to generically represent other systems that may be used in the greater context of the applying this invention. For instance, one of the other servers  370  might be that of a financial institution that receives payment from a user of the electronic device  100  and informs the server system  320  or the server system  340  of this, typically so that the server system  320 ,  340  will communicate a copy of one or more keys to the electronic device  100 . Alternately, and potentially additionally, one of the other servers  370  may be a system that has a media writer with which tailored instances of the media-based mechanism  300   a  are created, say, to be mailed or sent by courier to a user of the electronic device  100 . Still alternately, one of the other servers  370  may be a system that provides the keys  310  to the server systems  320 ,  340 , say from a databases  372  that centrally stores the keys  310  or from a logic engine  374  that generates the keys  310 . 
         [0054]    Before wrapping up discussion of the electronic device  100  and the activation mechanisms  300  here, some additional coverage of general aspects of the secondary blocks  124 ,  128  is appropriate. Conceptually, when any part of a secondary block  124 ,  128  is unlocked or enabled it becomes part of the respective primary partition  122 ,  126 . This can be a permanent change or, in sophisticated embodiments of the present invention, this can also be temporary. 
         [0055]    Continuing with the ongoing examples in  FIGS. 1-3 , permanently unlocking a secondary partition  124   a - x ,  128   a - f  is generally straightforward. One potential problem that may arise in some types of media, however, is whether what is being unlocked is contiguous with its respective primary partition  122 ,  126 . There are many simple solutions to this problem. First, some types of media inherently handle this, such as flash memory, which typically has a section-usage balancing mechanism. Physically non-contiguous segments here are automatically (i.e., at a low level essentially internal to the component or module) arranged to appear as if logically contiguous. Second, other types of media are used in paged manners wherein a device operating system maps physically non-contiguous segments so to appear logically contiguous (i.e., maps them from a non-contiguous address space to a contiguous one, wherein the latter is then used by applications). Third, in some devices a capability inherently exists to easily configure non-contiguous segments to be spanned together, e.g., using the disk storage management utility in Windows Vista™. Fourth, the secondary partitions  124   a - x ,  128   a - f  can be defined logically and managed as such by the access logic  150  (e.g., if key  310   bf  is received before any of keys  310   ba - e  the access logic  150  can increase the primary partition  126  from 500 GB to 550 GB by enabling the next physically contiguous segment). Fifth, the access logic  150  can work to insure the order in which keys are received, so that those received should be associated with or correspond to what is currently physically contiguous with the respective primary partition  122 ,  126 . This fifth approach is especially easy when using the activation mechanisms  300   b - c.    
         [0056]    Temporarily unlocking a secondary partition  124   a - x ,  128   a - f  is technically also straightforward, but here many additional sophisticated advantages become possible. In embodiments of the present invention providing this feature, the access logic  150  monitors for and responds to a trigger to re-lock a part of a primary partition  122 ,  126  (i.e., to make it again be a secondary partition  124   a - x ,  128   a - f , either generally be such or even to be the same specific one that it originally was). 
         [0057]    Some examples of triggers for this are the passage of a period of time, an event internal to the electronic device  100 , and/or an event external to the electronic device  100 . The passage of a period of time can, of course, be regarded as an event internal to the electronic device  100 , but it is listed separately and first here to emphasize how it particularly can be used in combination with other triggers. Most electronic devices  100  today have an internal clock (and many also are able to synchronize with an one). Accordingly, the passage of a period of time can easily be used as a Boolean trigger, that is, permitting something to happen or to not happen for a set period of time. For instance, a user of the electronic device  100  may simply purchase the right to enable all of the secondary partitions  124   a - x ,  128   a - f  for one year. These partitions are then unlocked, a clock is monitored, and after one-year the access logic  150  re-locks portions of the primary partitions  122 ,  126  to again create secondary partitions  124   a - x ,  128   a - f . Alternately, a user of the electronic device  100  may subscribe to an online service wherein the secondary partitions  124   a - x  are unlocked for three months as a sign-up incentive and wherein they will remain unlocked as long as user maintains the subscription. Here the access logic  150  unlocks and sets a three month “do not turn off” trigger. Even if the user cancels their subscription the day after obtaining it and the access logic  150  detects that the subscription is no longer active, the access logic  150  here will with wait until at least the three month period has expired before re-locking the secondary partitions  124   a - x . Still alternately, a manufacturer may not want their vendors steering potential purchasers to low-capacity enabled devices over high-capacity enabled ones. Here a six month “do not turn on” trigger can be set (perhaps one that further is initiated by initial user activation of the device), and the access logic  150  here will not enable anything (even with a proper key) until at least six months has passed. 
         [0058]    And before wrapping up discussion of the electronic device  100  and the activation mechanisms  300  here, some additional remarks about the keys  310  is also appropriate. A very wide variety of types of keys may be used. 
         [0059]    In simple embodiments of the present invention the keys  310  may be simple passwords. For example, although not shown in the figures, and not expected to be used frequently, a simple key, such as password, could be recited to or left as a voice mail message for an end user of an electronic device. The end used could then manually enter the key into the electronic device in response to a dialog provided by the access logic. Note, this or one where a key is e-mailed to a user and then cut and pasted into an access logic dialog may especially be useful in technical support scenarios. 
         [0060]    In most embodiments, however, it is expected that the keys  310  will be more sophisticated. For instance they may be complex bit or character strings. They may be values generated with a formula, random values, hash values, symmetric encryption keys, asymmetric encryption keys, etc. They may or may not be unique. What is used as a key and how robust and secure the manner of its generation and use are matters of design choice, and the present invention is accordingly can be embodied to accommodate a very wide range of application scenarios. 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a manufacturing process  400  that may be used in the inventive system  10  for manufacturing the electronic device  100  in  FIG. 1 . For the sake of example the electronic device  100  here has both memory  112  and storage  114  and both are upgradable. 
         [0062]    The manufacturing process  400  begins in step  410 . Initialization and set-up typically occur here. For example, design of the electronic device  100  occurs here and components with specific capacities are chosen (e.g., components for the memory  112  and or the storage  114 ). 
         [0063]    In a step  412  the electronic device  100  is built, generally. The components actually used here for the memory  112  and the storage  114  may be those chosen in design or they may be others with equal or greater capacities). 
         [0064]    In an optional step  414  the logic unit  148  is included in the electronic device  100 . This is optional because the logic unit  148  is provided and used in some embodiments of the electronic device  100  and not required or used in others. 
         [0065]    In a step  416  the memory  112  in the electronic device  100  is configured with the capacity of the memory  112  that the electronic device  100  will initially be able to employ. A key point here, however, is that the memory  112  is configured to have a capacity less than what is actually installed in the electronic device  100 . 
         [0066]    In a step  418  the storage  114  in the electronic device  100  is configured with the capacity of the storage  114  that the electronic device  100  will initially be able to employ. A key point here (in this example where the memory  112  and storage  114  are both upgradable) is that the storage  114  is also configured to have a capacity less than what is actually installed in the electronic device  100 . 
         [0067]    In an optional step  420  a copy of the access logic  150  may be provided in the electronic device  100 . This copy may be placed in the controller  110  or the logic unit  148 , say, in read only memory (ROM) in one of these, or this copy may be stored in the storage  114 . This step is optional because having a copy of the access logic  150  “built in” in this manner during manufacturing is not a requirement. A copy of the access logic  150  can alternately be obtained later, say, by an end user of the electronic device  100 , for instance, via the media-based mechanism  300   a , the wireless-based mechanism  300   b , or the network-based mechanism  300   c.    
         [0068]    Finally, in a step  422  the manufacturing process  400  ends. The electronic device  100  is now complete and ready to be provided to a vendor or directly to an end user. 
         [0069]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an upgrade process  500  that may be used in the inventive system  10  to enable access to additional memory and/or storage capacity in the electronic device  100  in  FIG. 1  by using one of the activation mechanisms  300  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0070]    The upgrade process  500  begins in step  510 . Initialization and set-up typically occur here. For instance, the electronic device  100  reaches an end user by some means, e.g., by their purchasing it themselves, receiving it as a gift, or being given it by their employer. Typically, the electronic device  100  is also activated here in some manner by or for the end user. This is optional, however, and can vary and be very device specific based on the nature of the electronic device  100 . For example, activation of a MP3 player is typically not needed. In contrast, activation of a personal computer (PC) is typically performed by a new user upon first powering up the device. And in further contrast, activation of a cellular telephone for a new user is typically performed by a service provider. 
         [0071]    In a step  512 , at some later time (emphasized with a dashed line in  FIG. 5 ), the user is informed that they may upgrade the memory  112 , the storage  114 , or both in the electronic device  100 . Typically this is done by a running instance of the access logic  150  that uses the output interface  136  and the output device  134  of the electronic device  100  to deliver a message to the user. The access logic  150  can employ a variety of triggers for this, e.g., initial user activation, the passage of a set period of time, a set amount of usage, use of a substantial amount of the available capacity, etc. Alternately, the user may be aware about the option of upgrading and they themselves can trigger the access logic  150  to start an upgrade dialog. 
         [0072]    In a step  514  the access logic  150  determines whether the user of the electronic device  100  has elected to upgrade the memory  112  and/or the storage  114 . Typically this is done by a running instance of the access logic  150  monitoring the input interface  132  and the input device  130  for a user reply. Alternately, if the electronic device  100  detects that an instance of the media-based mechanism  300   a  has been loaded into the media reader  138 , an instance of the access logic  150  present there may be run, e.g., with an autorun dialog as common in PCs. 
         [0073]    If the user does not want to upgrade, in straightforward manner a step  516  follows where the upgrade process  500  ends. An optional part of step  516 , however, can be a dialog informing the user that they can configure future occurrences of step  512 . For instance, the user can be informed that they can set or change triggers for step  512 , or even to turn off all triggers so that it will not automatically occur again. 
         [0074]    Alternately, if the user does want to upgrade, a step  518  follows wherein the right to an upgrade is purchased. The term “purchase” apples very broadly here to mean that something of value is given in exchange for the right to an upgrade. For example, in many embodiments it is expected that the user or their employer can simply pay money for an upgrade, say, with a credit card. But users of some embodiments might instead “purchase” the right to an upgrade by registering for a service that provides a utility (e.g., telephone or Internet access), or a user may take an online survey or provide information about themselves such as an e-mail address. 
         [0075]    After successful completion of step  518 , a step  520  follows wherein one or more of the keys  310  are transferred to the electronic device  100 . Optionally, a copy of the access logic  150  can also be transferred here. If the electronic device  100  does already not have a copy, one will be need before the keys  310  can be used and this is a good time to procure it. Alternately, if the electronic device  100  has an older version of the access logic  150 , this may be a suitable time to provide a newer version. 
         [0076]    In a step  522 , at some later time (emphasized with a dashed line in  FIG. 5 ), one or more or all of the keys that were received in step  520  are applied by the access logic  150 . Typically the received keys are applied as soon as they are received by the electronic device  100 , but this is not a requirement. Also typical, all of the received keys are usually applied together, but this also is not a requirement. The access logic  150  now enables the portions of the secondary blocks  124 ,  128  that are associated with the received keys  310  that are being applied. 
         [0077]    In a step  524  a decision is made whether to stop the upgrade process  500 . This decision can be made by the access logic  150  or by the user. If all of the available capacities have now been enabled, the access logic can detect this and have step  516  automatically follow so the upgrade process  500  ends. Alternately, the user can be asked here if they want to stop (proceed to step  516 ) or return to step  512 . For instance, the user may feel that this upgrade was so inexpensive and went so smoothly that they want to go ahead and upgrade further. Or the user may have procured more keys  310  than were applied in step  522 , and here they can continue to apply some or all of those as well. 
         [0078]    With reference again briefly to  FIG. 3 , the stylized depiction of the electronic device  100  there includes a few representative examples. Without limitation to the specific examples shown, which are merely those that conveniently fit in the available space in  FIG. 3 , these represent the variety of consumer electronic devices wherein the inventive system  10  may provide immediate substantial benefit. While various embodiments of the electronic device  100 , the activation mechanisms  300 , manufacturing process  400 , and upgrade process  500  have all been described above with the inventive system  10 , it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and that the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.