Patent ID: 7210063

Claim:
A method of programming a programmable non-volatile device while coupled to a circuit in which said programmable non-volatile device is to be used, said method comprising the steps of: (A) establishing a connection from an external device to a test interface device of said circuit; (B) changing control of a bus of said circuit from (i) a processor of said circuit to (ii) said test interface device, said bus directly connecting said test interface device, said programmable non-volatile device and said processor; (C) communicating a plurality of accesses from said external device to said test interface device; and (D) generating from said test interface device (i) while in control of said bus, (ii) directly to said programmable non-volatile device and (iii) independent of said processor, a plurality of commands on said bus corresponding to said accesses that program said programmable non-volatile device, wherein prior to step (D) and after step (A), said programmable non-volatile device comprises a non-erasable portion containing no pre-programmed information.