Patent ID: 8442433

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a radio frequency identification module physically coupled to a portable device through a direct hardwire interface and being in proximity to the portable device, wherein the radio frequency identification module is programmed to: transmit to a wireless source provisioning information of the portable device responsive to a received request from the wireless source; receive provisioning instructions from the wireless source when the portable device is disabled, the wireless source being remote from the portable device; store the provisioning instructions in a memory of the radio frequency identification module while the portable device is disabled; and transfer to the portable device the provisioning instructions upon detecting that the portable device is enabled, wherein the provisioning instructions comprise provisioning data for configuring operation of an electronic component of the portable device; and a portable device, wherein the portable device is programmed to: receive from a provisioning source by way of a port of the portable device an update of software responsive to receiving from the radio frequency identification module the provisioning instructions; and replace at least a portion of previous software stored in the portable device with the update of software.