Patent ID: 8307055

Claim:
A platform management device, comprising: one or more non-transitory computer readable storage mediums storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed, cause: transmitting operating parameters to a corresponding electronic device configured to read the operating parameters, wherein the operating parameters include a disable command, wherein the corresponding electronic device comprises firmware to initialize and configure underlying hardware subsystems, the firmware causing the corresponding device to enter and maintain a disabled state that prevents the underlying hardware subsystems from running when (a) the disable command instructs the corresponding electronic device to enter the disabled state or (b) the corresponding electronic device does not receive the operating parameters after a predetermined event, wherein the corresponding electronic device, upon being powered on, enters the disabled state, and wherein the corresponding electronic device may only transition from the disabled state to an enabled state upon the corresponding electronic device (a) determining that a user of the corresponding electronic device is authenticated and (b) determining that the platform management device is physically connected to the corresponding electronic device; and upon the platform management device determining that the corresponding electronic device is not provisioned with the platform management device, the platform management device exchanging a set of security keys with the corresponding electronic device to establish the platform management device authority to act as a controller for the corresponding electronic device.