Electronic device enabling hardware and methods

1. A method for facilitating selective enablement of an optical transceiver that is configured for communication with a remote computer, comprising:

determining, at the remote computer, whether identification data has been received from the optical transceiver including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver;

determining whether the received identification data is valid; and

when the received identification data is valid:

generating encrypted data based upon the valid identification data; and

transmitting the encrypted data from the remote computer to the optical transceiver,

wherein the encrypted data and the identification data facilitate a determination as to whether operation of the optical transceiver will be enabled, a scope of the enablement being defined by a predetermined functionality profile, the predetermined functionality profile including a selected data rate enabled for the optical transceiver.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein generation of the encrypted data is performed at least in part with a private key.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, at the computer, false data if the identification data is determined to be invalid; and

transmitting the false data to the optical transceiver.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising performing at least one of the following if the identification data is determined to be invalid:

sending an error message to the optical transceiver; and

requesting the optical transceiver to retransmit the identification data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising notifying an administrator if the identification data indicates the electronic device is stolen.

6. An optical transceiver, comprising:

an optical transmitter;

an optical receiver;

a printed circuit board that includes circuitry configured to perform functions of the optical transceiver;

a memory containing identification information unique to the optical transceiver;

a communications port by way of which the identification data is transmitted to an external device; and

a processor configured to receive data by way of the communications port and programmed to:

decrypt encrypted data received at the optical transceiver from an external device; and

use the decrypted data and the identification data to determine whether operation of the optical transceiver will be enabled, a scope of enablement being defined by a predetermined functionality profile that is associated with the operation of the optical transmitter and/or optical receiver.

7. The optical transceiver as recited in claim 6 , wherein the memory and the processor collectively comprise an enablement microchip.

8. The optical transceiver as recited in claim 6 , wherein the optical transceiver comprises an optoelectronic transceiver that includes a transmitter optical subassembly (“TOSA”) and a receiver optical subassembly (“ROSA”), both of which are in communication with the circuitry of the printed circuit board.

9. The optical transceiver as recited in claim 6 , wherein the identification data includes a serial number.

10. The optical transceiver as recited in claim 9 , wherein the identification data further includes a complement to the serial number.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the optical transceiver is enabled if the identification data corresponds with the encrypted data.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the functionality profile provides that the optical transceiver can be operated for a set period of time if the electronic device is enabled.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined functionality profile is further defined such that one or more optical transceiver alarms are turned on or off.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined functionality profile is further defined such that the enabled functionality is limited so that only the transmitter, or only the receiver, is operable.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the functionality profile provides that the optical transceiver can receive only a selected data rate or a group of data rates.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the functionality profile provides engagement or disengagement of an alarm on the optical transceiver.

17. A method performed by a remote computer for selectively enabling a plurality of electronic devices that are configured for communication with the remote computer, comprising:

receiving one set of identification data from each of the plurality of electronic devices at the remote computer;

determining, at the remote computer, whether each set of identification data from each of the plurality of electronic devices is valid; and when the identification data sets are determined to be valid:

generating, at the remote computer, multiple sets of encrypted data, wherein each set of encrypted data corresponds to a set of identification data from one of the plurality of electronic devices;

transmitting, each set of the multiple sets of encrypted data to its corresponding electronic device; and

wherein the encrypted data and the identification data are designed to determine, when processed, whether operation of each of the plurality of electronic devices will be enabled, a scope of the enablement being defined by a predetermined functionality profile, wherein the functionality profile provides engagement or disengagement of an alarm on the electronic device.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the functionality profile further provides that the electronic device can receive only a selected data rate or a group of data rates.