JP2001076118A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect security in exchanging data. SOLUTION: This recorder has a housing, a memory 14 for data in which data is recorded, an interface 15 reading the data from the memory 14 for data, a sensor 11 to which individual information is inputted when the data from the memory 14 for data is transmitted to an external device, a memory 13 for control in which individual information is preliminarily recorded and a CPU 12 which authenticates the individual information inputted to the sensor 11 on the basis of the individual information preliminarily recorded in the memory 13 for control and prohibits the data from being read from the memory 14 for data when the individual information is not authenticated, and each of them is housed integrally in the housing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device on which information is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, portable memory modules which can be detached and carried to exchange data with a main device such as a computer or a digital camera have been provided. A memory module is one in which a semiconductor memory and an electronic circuit are housed in a housing. An example of such a memory module is, for example, a memory stick (trade name of Sony Corporation).

Data exchange between the memory module and the main unit is freely performed without any security restrictions. In simple consumer applications, restrictions on data exchange are usually not required.

[0004]

However, there are applications where the security of data exchange with the main unit is important for removable memory modules. Also,
For example, for electronic commerce such as transactions of pay information, it is difficult to use a memory module that is not protected from the viewpoint of protecting the security of transactions.
Secure security measures, such as the identification of authorized individuals, can be accomplished with removable, portable memory.
Not currently available for modules.

As a result, removable memory
In the module, it is difficult to control data transfer for applications in which security is important other than just storage media. Therefore, a function of controlling the data exchange of these memory modules has been desired.

[0006] The present invention is proposed in view of the above-mentioned situation, and is detachably attached to a main device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device in which the exchange of data with a main device is controlled under restrictions that protect security.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a housing; a recording medium on which information is recorded; a reading means for reading information from the recording medium; When information is read from the recording medium by the reading means and sent to an external device, personal information input means for inputting personal information; personal information recording means in which personal information is recorded in advance; The personal information input to the information input means is authenticated based on the personal information recorded in the personal information recording means, and when the personal information is not authenticated, reading of the information from the recording medium by the reading means is prohibited. Control means for controlling the recording medium, the reading means, the personal information input means, the personal information recording means, and the control means. It is intended to be housed in.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is inserted into a slot of a main device such as a computer or a digital camera, and exchanges data with the main device. The recording device is portable and can be removed from the main device and carried.

As shown in FIG. 1, a recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has a sensor 11 serving as personal information input means for inputting personal information and a control device serving as personal information recording means in which personal information is recorded in advance. It has a memory 13, a data memory 14 as a storage medium in which information is stored, and an interface 15 as reading means for reading information from the data memory 14.

The sensor 11 detects personal information for identifying an individual. The sensor 11 detects a fingerprint, a voiceprint, a fundus pattern, an iris pattern, and the like as personal information. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a fingerprint is used as personal information.

The control memory 13 stores personal information in advance to identify the personal information detected by the sensor 11. The control memory 13 includes a ROM 13 a which is a nonvolatile memory and a RAM 13 which is a volatile memory.
b.

The control memory 13 is used for storing personal information. In the ROM 13a of the control memory 13, for example, a program for controlling the recording device is stored. In the RAM 13b of the control memory 13, data generated in the processing in the recording device, such as identification of personal information, is temporarily stored.

The data memory 14 is a semiconductor memory used as a storage medium for storing information in a recording device. Information sent from the outside via the interface 15 is stored in the data memory 14, and the stored information is read out by the interface 15 and sent to the outside via the interface 15.

The interface 15 adjusts data transmission and reception between the recording device and an external device. When transmitting and receiving data between the data memory 14 and an external main device, the interface 15 converts the data format and adjusts the timing.

The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment authenticates personal information input to the sensor 11 based on the personal information recorded in the control memory 13. CPU 15 which is a control means for controlling so that reading of information by the interface 15 is prohibited.

The CPU 12 performs processing for controlling each unit of the recording apparatus according to, for example, a procedure of a program stored in the ROM of the control memory 13. And CPU1
2 controls the authentication of the personal information and the reading of the information signal from the data memory 14 according to the program.

Next, the structure of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2A and the side view of FIG. 2B, the recording apparatus has a thin plate-shaped casing 10. As the casing 10, for example, a casing obtained by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin material can be used.

On the first main surface 20 of the recording device, there is provided a rectangular flat sensor 11 for detecting a fingerprint. The sensor 11 detects a fingerprint by touching the finger. For example, the sensor 11
Fingerprints are detected by measuring the capacitance and resistivity of each part of the finger that has come into contact.

The sensor 1 is provided on the first main surface 20 of the recording apparatus.
Protection member 2 for protecting sensor 11 adjacent to
1 is provided. The protection member 21 is a thin film-shaped member, and is moved so as to cover the sensor 11 when the sensor 11 is not used. That is, the protection member 21 is moved along the first main surface 20 between a position adjacent to the sensor 11 on the first main surface 20 and a position for covering and protecting the surface of the sensor 11. Protective member 21
Is provided with a depression 31 for moving with a finger.

The first main surface 20 of the recording device has a sensor 1
A display unit 22 for displaying a state in the recording apparatus is provided adjacent to the display unit 1. The display unit 22 is an LED indicator that indicates the status of the recording apparatus to the user. The display unit 22 will be further described later.

The main unit has a slot whose depth is limited in order to expose the sensor 11 of the recording apparatus to the outside of the slot. In addition, even if a slot suitable for a recording apparatus having no sensor 11 is provided with an extender for limiting the depth, the sensor 11 can be provided outside the slot.

That is, the main unit has an appropriate adapter (host adapter) portion serving as a slot. When the recording device is connected to the adapter unit of the main device, a part of the recording device comes out of the slot from the side surface of the adapter unit. That is, on the side surface D of the housing of the main device shown in FIG. 2, a part of the recording device protrudes outside the main device. First main surface 2 outside the side surface D of the main device
0 can be used as a platform when the sensor 11 detects a fingerprint.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the recording device is used by being inserted into a slot of the main device. When inserted into the slot, the second main surface 26
The contact of the connector 23 provided at the left end on the side is electrically connected to the main device. In this connection state, when personal information is recognized by the fingerprint input to the sensor 11 in the recording device, information is transmitted and received between the recording device and the main device.

Next, input of a fingerprint to the recording device inserted into the slot of the main device will be described. The recording device uses the sensor 11 when transmitting and receiving information to and from the main device.
Require that a fingerprint be entered as personal information. The process of inputting the fingerprint is displayed on the LED indicator of the display unit 22 as feedback to the user.

That is, when the recording device is inserted into the slot of the main device, the CPU 12
A procedure for identifying personal information by fingerprint is executed based on the program stored in the ROM of No. 3. The progress of this procedure is displayed on the LED indicator of the display unit 22.

First, the first yellow LED 22a next to the symbol representing the meaning of touching the finger to the sensor 11 is lit, requesting that the finger touch the sensor 11 to input personal information. When a finger contacts the surface of the sensor 11, the first LED 22a starts blinking, indicating that identification is in progress. In this state, the fingerprint is detected by the sensor 11 and the detected fingerprint is identified based on the personal information of the fingerprint stored in the control memory 13.

When the fingerprint detected by the sensor 11 is identified as matching the personal information of the fingerprint stored in the control memory 13, the first LED 22a turns off and the first LED 22a is located next to the symbol "o". Green second LED 22
b lights up. In such a case, the personal information input by the fingerprint is authenticated as matching the personal information stored in the control memory 123. According to the authentication, the information in the data memory 14 can be read by the main device.

When the fingerprint detected by the sensor 11 does not match the personal information of the fingerprint stored in the control memory 13, or when it is determined that an appropriate sample of the fingerprint has not been selected, the first LED 22a is turned on. Disappear,
Red third LED 22 located next to the “x” symbol
c lights up. In such a case, the personal report input by the fingerprint is not authenticated. Therefore, reading of the information in the data memory 14 by the main device is prohibited.

If, for example, a proper sample of the fingerprint is not obtained or the personal information input by the fingerprint is not authenticated, the first yellow LED 22a is turned on again to re-enter the fingerprint. You can ask. Such a re-entry process can be repeated many times.

However, if a specific individual has not been authenticated more than a certain number of times, the red third LED 22c can be turned on without further requesting an input.
This prevents the particular individual from re-entering the fingerprint.

Next, a first modification of the present embodiment, a second modification
The third modification and the third modification will be described with reference to FIG. These modifications are based on the CP stored in the housing 10.
An expansion unit 27 is newly provided in which the thickness of the housing 10 is increased so as to accommodate electronic circuits such as a U, a control memory, and a data memory.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording device is used by being inserted into the slot of the main device. However, even if the recording device is plugged into the main device, the sensor 11 of the recording device is always outside the slot. Therefore, the extension portion 27 can be provided so as to increase the thickness immediately below the sensor 11 of the recording device.

The thickness of the extension 27 is determined by the type of the sensor 11 used and the scale of an electronic circuit such as a CPU for processing personal information detected by the sensor 11. That is, the thickness of the extension portion 27 is determined by the scale of the electronic circuit or the like to be housed.

In the first modification, as shown in FIG. 3A, an extension 27 is provided directly below the sensor 11 so that the thickness of the first main surface 20 increases. The sensor 11 and the extension 27 are portions outside the side surface D of the main device in FIG. 3A, and are outside the slot when the recording device is inserted into the slot of the main device.

The extension unit 27 includes a CPU, a control memory,
An electronic circuit such as a data memory is accommodated. Extension 2
The recording device provided with 7 can accommodate a larger electronic circuit than a recording device without the extension unit 27.

A protection member 21 for protecting the sensor 11 is stored immediately below the sensor 11. Protection member 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible thin film-shaped member that covers and protects the sensor 11 when the sensor 11 is not used. The protection member 21 is moved via the bent portion 28 shown in FIG. 4 between a position stored immediately below the sensor 11 and a position for covering and protecting the sensor 11.

When the protection member 21 moves, the bending portion 28 in FIG. 4 folds the protection member 21 to change the direction in which the protection member 21 moves along the bending member 32. As the bending member 32, a pin or a rotatable roller can be used.

That is, the bent portion 28 is connected to the sensor 11
When the protection member 21 stored immediately below the protection member 21 is moved so as to cover the sensor 11, the direction is changed so that the protection member 21 that moves to the left in FIG. 3 moves to the right. Also,
When the protection member 21 that covers the sensor 11 is stored immediately below the sensor 11, the direction is changed so that the protection member 21 that moves to the right in FIG. 3 moves to the left.

As described above, by storing the protection member 21 immediately below the sensor 11, as shown in FIG.
There is no need to provide a place for the protection member 21 on the main surface 20 of the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a case where a place for the protection member 21 cannot be provided on the first main surface 20 as in the first modification.

In the second modification, as shown in FIG. 3B, an extension 27 is provided immediately below the sensor 11 so that the thickness of the second main surface 26 increases. The sensor 11 and the extension 27 are portions outside the side surface D of the main device in FIG. 3B, and are outside the slot when the recording device is inserted into the slot of the main device.

Also in the second modification, a protection member 21 for protecting the sensor 11 is stored immediately below the sensor 11. However, in this second modification, the first
Since the thickness of the main surface 20 is not increased by the expansion portion 27, the protection member 21 can be moved to a location adjacent to the sensor 11 as shown in FIG.

In the third modification, as shown in FIG. 3C, the first main surface 20 and the second main surface 20
The extension part 27 is provided so that the thickness of both the main surfaces 26 is increased. The sensor 11 and the extension portion 27 are portions outside the side surface D of the main device in FIG. 3C, and are outside the slot even when the recording device is inserted into the slot of the main device.

In the third embodiment, the extension unit 27
Are provided on both sides of the first main surface 20 and the second main surface 26, so that a circuit having a larger scale than the first and second modifications can be accommodated in the extension unit 27. it can.

The recording apparatus of the present embodiment described above
Based on the personal information based on the fingerprint input to the sensor 11,
This authenticates whether the user of the recording device is the intended individual. That is, the recording device includes the sensor 1
The security of the information stored in the recording device is protected by identifying the personal information by the fingerprint input in 1 and reading out the information stored in the data memory 14 based on the personal information.

For example, with respect to a recording device on which private information is recorded, it is possible to store and read information only for authorized individuals. In addition, the identification of personal information by the recording device can be used for a key for electronic money or a money storage card, a key for content access or other services, or an electronic signature.

The recording apparatus of the present embodiment can be used for authentication in a security system for protecting security. The recording device is a data memory 1
4 is combined with authentication processing of personal information based on a fingerprint input to the sensor 11. Therefore, the security of the security system can be improved by the authentication using the recording device having the authentication process for activating the slot of the main device.

In the above-described embodiment, identification is performed by inputting a fingerprint as personal information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, voiceprint,
Authentication can also be performed using a fundus pattern or an iris pattern.

In the above-described embodiment, the protection member 27 for protecting the sensor 11 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when there is no need to protect the sensor 11, there is no need to provide the protection member 21.

Although the recording apparatus having the thin plate-shaped casing 10 has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. If the housing 10 is detachable from the main device and can be carried around, the housing 10 can be applied to a desired shape.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the personal information input means is incorporated in the removable recording device, and when the personal information input by the personal information input means is not authenticated, the reading of the information is prohibited. ing. Therefore, according to the present invention, information recorded on a removable recording device can be reliably protected based on personal information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a modification of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a bent portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 sensors, 12 CPU, 13 control memory, 1
4 data memory, 15 interfaces

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B017 AA01 AA07 BA06 BB03 CA14 5B035 AA14 BB09 BC01 CA38 5B047 AA23 AA25 BB04 CA23 5B065 BA09 PA04 PA11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing, a recording medium on which information is recorded, reading means for reading information from the recording medium, and information read by the reading means from the recording medium and sent to an external device Personal information input means for inputting personal information, personal information recording means in which personal information is recorded in advance, and personal information input in the personal information input means in the personal information recording means Authenticate based on
Control means for controlling reading of the information from the recording medium by the reading means when the personal information is not authenticated, the control means comprising: the recording medium; the reading means; the personal information input means; A recording apparatus wherein the information recording means and the control means are housed integrally in the housing. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal information is at least one of a fingerprint, a voiceprint, a fundus pattern, and an iris pattern. 3. The personal information input means for detecting a fingerprint and having a protection means for covering and protecting the personal information detection means when no personal information is detected. Recording device.