Electronic device and connection control method

• US 20020026586A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A switch is provided on a device main body. When the switch is switched to a permission state, authentication by a specific identification code (PIN code) is permitted. When the switch is switched to an inhibition state, the authentication by the specific identification code is inhibited. When the switch is normally set in the inhibition state, any access from an illicit user using the specific identification code can be prevented. Additionally, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the permission state, the authentication by the specific identification code is inhibited. With this arrangement, even when the user forgets to return the switch that has been set in the permission state to the inhibition state, any illicit access can be prevented, and the security for the device can be ensured.

Claims

1. An electronic device having communication unit executing authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, comprising:

a switch capable of switching between a first state and a second state;

an inhibition unit configured to inhibit the authentication by the specific identification code when the switch is set in the first state; and

a permission unit configured to permit the authentication by the specific identification code when the switch is set in the second state.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a time detection unit configured to detect whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state; and

a control unit configured to inhibit the authentication by the specific identification code when the time detection unit detects that the predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state.

3. An electronic device having radio communication unit executing authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, comprising:

a storage unit storing a management information used for the authentication by the specific identification code;

a switch capable of switching between a first state and a second state;

an inhibition unit configured to inhibit change of the management information stored in the storage unit when the switch is set in the first state; and

a permission unit configured to permit change of the management information stored in the management information storage unit when the switch is set in the second state.

4. A device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a time detection unit configured to detect whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state; and

a control unit configured to inhibit change of the management information stored in the management information storage unit when it is detected that the predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state.

5. An electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, comprising:

a device code storage unit storing a device code of each linked device;

an authentication unit configured to execute, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code when a connection request is received from another device and the device code of the device is not stored in the device code storage unit;

an authentication error storage unit storing the device code of the device and the number of times of error occurrence in correspondence with each other when the authentication unit determines that the authentication fails; and

a control unit configured to reject the connection request from the device having the corresponding device code when the number of times of error occurrence stored in the authentication error storage unit exceeds a predetermined number of times.

6. An electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, comprising:

an authentication unit configured to execute, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code when a connection request is received from another device;

a creation unit configured to create link information to a device for which it is determined that the authentication is successful;

a registration unit configured to register the created link information in correspondence with the device; and

a deletion unit configured to delete link information of a device which is determined as an unnecessary device in accordance with a predetermined rule when the number of registered devices with the link information exceeds an allowable number.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein

the registration unit registers a last connection time of each device in correspondence with the link information of each device, and

the deletion unit deletes, of pieces of link information registered in the registration unit, link information of a device having an oldest connection time.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein

the registration unit registers a registration time in correspondence with the link information of each device, and

the deletion unit deletes, of pieces of link information registered in the registration unit, link information of a device having an oldest registration time.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein

the registration unit registers the number of times of connection of each device in correspondence with the link information of each device, and

the deletion unit deletes, of pieces of link information registered in the registration unit, link information of a device having a smallest number of times of connection.

10. An electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, comprising:

a storage unit storing the specific identification code;

an authentication unit configured to execute, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code stored in the storage unit when a connection request is received from another device;

a creation unit configured to create link information to a device for which it is determined that the authentication is successful;

a registration unit configured to register the created link information in correspondence with the device; and

a deletion unit configured to delete all pieces of registered link information when the specific identification code stored in the storage unit is changed.

11. An electronic device which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, comprising:

an exchangeable radio communication unit to be connected to another device;

a storage unit storing an identification code unique to the radio communication unit;

an authentication unit configured to execute, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code when a connection request is received from another device;

a creation unit configured to create link information to a device for which it is determined that the authentication is successful, on the basis of the identification code of the radio commutation unit, which is stored in the storage unit;

a registration unit configured to register the created link information in correspondence with the device; and

a deletion unit configured to delete all pieces of link information registered in the registration unit when the radio communication unit is exchanged.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state; and

inhibiting the authentication by the specific identification code when the predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state; and

inhibiting change of the management information stored in the memory when the predetermined time has elapsed after the switch is set in the second state.

12. A connection control method used for an electronic device having communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, and a switch capable of switching between a first state and a second state, comprising:

permitting the authentication by the specific identification code when the switch is set in the second state; and

inhibiting the authentication by the specific identification code when the switch is set in the first state.

14. A connection control method used for an electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, a memory storing a management information management information used for connection to another device, and a switch capable of switching between a first state and a second state, comprising:

permitting change of the management information stored in the memory when the switch is set in the second state; and

inhibiting change of the management information stored in the memory when the switch is set in the first state.

16. A connection control method used for an electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, a first memory for storing a device code of each linked device, and a second memory for storing the device code and the number of times of error occurrence of another device in correspondence with each other, comprising:

executing, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code when a connection request is received from another device and the device code of the device is not stored in the first memory;

storing the device code of the device and the number of times of error occurrence in the second memory in correspondence with each other when it is determined by the authentication that the authentication fails; and

rejecting the connection request from the device having the corresponding device code when the number of times of error occurrence stored in the second memory exceeds a predetermined number of times.

17. A connection control method used for an electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, and a memory for storing link information to another device in correspondence with the device, comprising:

executing, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code when a connection request is received from another device;

creating link information to a device for which it is determined by the authentication that the authentication is successful;

registering the link information in correspondence with the device and, when the number of registered devices with the link information exceeds an allowable number, deleting link information of a device which is determined as an unnecessary device in accordance with a predetermined rule.

18. A connection control method used for an electronic device having radio communication unit which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to another device, a first memory for storing the specific identification code, and a second memory for storing link information of another device in correspondence with the device, comprising:

executing, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code stored in the first memory when a connection request is received from another device;

creating link information to a device for which it is determined by the authentication that the authentication is successful;

registering the link information in the second memory in correspondence with the device; and

deleting all pieces of link information registered in the second memory when the specific identification code stored in the first memory is changed.

19. A connection control method used for an electronic device having an exchangeable radio communication unit to be connected to another device which requires authentication by a specific identification code in creating a link to the device, a first memory for storing an identification code unique to the radio communication unit, and a second memory for storing link information of another device in correspondence with the device, comprising:

executing, for the device, the authentication by the specific identification code stored in the first memory when a connection request is received from another device;

creating link information to a device for which it is determined by the authentication that the authentication is successful, on the basis of the identification code of the radio communication unit, which is stored in the first memory;

registering the link information in the second memory in correspondence with the device; and

deleting all pieces of link information registered in the second memory when the radio communication unit is exchanged.