Patent ID: 8736299

Claim:
A programmable integrated circuit device, comprising: a non-volatile memory for storing a value of at least one bit, the value representing a first set of security feature settings enabled in the programmable integrated circuit device; an input for receiving configuration data for the programmable integrated circuit device, the configuration data including security requirement data representing a second set of security feature settings required by the configuration data on the programmable integrated circuit device; and control circuitry configured to: compare the value stored in the non-volatile memory against the security requirement data, and configure the programmable integrated circuit device with the configuration data in response to a match between the value stored in the non-volatile memory and the security requirement data, wherein the first set of security feature settings comprises one or more security operations selectively enabled on the programmable integrated circuit device, and the first set of security feature settings is enabled in the device prior to the device receiving the configuration data.