Recording medium, storage unit, information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program and computer readable medium

• US 20050071660A1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Akiyoshi, Kunihiro, Shimizu, Kohji
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs

Abstract

A recording medium is provided. The recording medium is used for inputting, into an information processing apparatus, a program for causing the information processing apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the recording medium includes an ID file used for storing an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A recording medium used for inputting, into an information processing apparatus, a program for causing the information processing apparatus to perform information processing,

wherein the recording medium includes an ID file used for storing an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus.

2. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ID file includes the ID that is encrypted by the key.

3. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, the recording medium further including a program file storing the program.

4. The recording medium as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ID file includes the ID that is encrypted by the key.

5. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording medium further includes a checking file used for the information processing apparatus to check whether the recording medium is valid as a medium used for inputting the program into the information processing apparatus.

6. The recording medium as claimed in claim 3, wherein the program file stores an identification code used for the information processing apparatus to identify the program file.

7. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ID file includes an upper limit number of IDs that can be stored in the ID file, and a number of IDs stored in the ID file.

8. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the ID is stored in the ID file, information that is originally stored in an area used for storing the ID is replaced by the ID.

9. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key specific to the recording medium is generated by using a serial ID of the recording medium or by using data based on the serial ID.

10. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key specific to the information processing apparatus is generated by using a machine number of the information processing apparatus, a MAC address of the information processing apparatus, or an IP address of the information processing apparatus.

11. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a memory card.

12. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

13. The recording medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus includes:

an adding part for adding data specific to the recording medium or specific to the image forming apparatus to image data that is obtained by reading a document or by receiving via a network; and

an comparing part for comparing the data specific to the recording medium or specific to the image forming apparatus with data added to the image data to be printed on a paper or to be sent via a network.

14. The recording medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus includes:

an encryption part for encrypting image data that is obtained by reading a document or by receiving the image data via a network with a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the image forming apparatus; and

an decoding part for decoding the image data to be printed on a paper or to be sent via a network with the key.

15. A storage unit used for storing a program for causing an information processing apparatus that is equipped with the storage unit to perform information processing,

wherein the storage unit includes an ID file used for storing an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus.

16. The storage unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ID file includes the ID that is encrypted by the key.

17. The storage unit as claimed in claim 15, the storage unit further including a program file storing the program.

18. The storage unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the ID file includes the ID that is encrypted by the key.

19. The storage unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the storage unit is a hard disk drive.

20. The storage unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

21. An information processing apparatus, comprising an information processing part for executing a program to perform information processing, wherein the program is loaded into the information processing apparatus by using a recording medium that includes an ID file that stores an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus.

22. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the recording medium stores the program, and the program is loaded into the information processing apparatus from the recording medium, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

an ID storing part for encrypting the ID with the key and storing the encrypted ID.

23. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, the information processing apparatus further including a determination part for determining validity of the program stored in the recording medium by determining whether the ID of the program is stored in the ID file.

24. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the recording medium further includes a checking file used for the information processing apparatus to check whether the recording medium is valid as a medium used for loading the program into the information processing apparatus;

and

the information processing apparatus further includes a checking part for checking validity of the recording medium on the basis of the checking file.

25. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the checking part checks the validity of the recording medium by checking whether a checking program stored in the checking file is successfully launched.

26. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the information processing apparatus performs a launch process or a launch right setting process for the program on condition that the program is determined to be valid by the determination part.

27. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

28. An information processing method performed in an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a part for loading the program from a recording medium that includes the program and an ID file that stores an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

encrypting the ID of the program by using the key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus; and

storing the encrypted ID in the ID file in the recording medium.

33. The information processing method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

29. An information processing method performed in an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a part for loading a program from a recording medium that includes the program and an ID file that stores an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:

a determination step of determining validity of the program stored in the recording medium by determining whether the ID of the program is stored in the ID file.

30. The information processing method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the recording medium further includes a checking file used for the information processing apparatus to check whether the recording medium is valid as a medium used for loading the program into the information processing apparatus, the information processing method further comprising:

a checking step of checking validity of the recording medium on the basis of the checking file.

31. The information processing method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the information processing apparatus checks the validity of the recording medium by checking whether a checking program stored in the checking file is successfully launched.

32. The information processing method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the information processing apparatus performs a launch process or a launch right setting process for the program on condition that the program is determined to be valid by the determination step.

34. An information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit, the information processing apparatus comprising an information processing part for executing a program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus.

35. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprising an ID storing part for encrypting the ID by using the key and storing the encrypted ID in the ID file in the storage unit.

36. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 34, the information processing apparatus further including a determination part for determining validity of the program stored in the storage unit by determining whether the ID of the program is stored in the ID file.

37. An information processing method performed in an information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an information processing part for executing a program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:

an ID storing step of encrypting the ID by using the key and storing the encrypted ID in the ID file.

38. An information processing method performed in an information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an information processing part for executing a program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:

a determination step of determining validity of the program stored in the storage unit by determining whether the ID of the program is stored in the ID file.

39. An information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a part for loading an application program from a recording medium that includes the application program and an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for encrypting the ID of the application program by using the key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus; and

program code means for storing the encrypted ID in the ID file in the recording medium.

40. An information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a part for loading an application program from a recording medium that includes the application program and an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for determining validity of the application program stored in the recording medium by determining whether the ID of the application program is stored in the ID file.

41. The information processing program as claimed in claim 40, wherein the recording medium further includes a checking file used for the information processing apparatus to check whether the recording medium is valid as a medium used for loading the program into the information processing apparatus, the information processing program further comprising:

checking program code means for checking validity of the recording medium on the basis of the checking file.

42. The information processing program as claimed in claim 41, wherein the checking program code means checks the validity of the recording medium by checking whether a checking program stored in the checking file is successfully launched.

43. An information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an information processing part for executing an application program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for encrypting the ID by using the key and storing the encrypted ID in the ID file.

44. An information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an information processing part for executing an application program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for determining validity of the application program stored in the storage unit by determining whether the ID of the application program is stored in the ID file.

45. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a part for loading an application program from a recording medium that includes the application program and an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for encrypting the ID of the application program by using the key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus; and

program code means for storing the encrypted ID in the ID file in the recording medium.

46. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a part for loading an application program from a recording medium that includes the application program and an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the recording medium or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for determining validity of the application program stored in the recording medium by determining whether the ID of the application program is stored in the ID file.

47. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 46, wherein the recording medium further includes a checking file used for the information processing apparatus to check whether the recording medium is valid as a medium used for loading the program into the information processing apparatus, the information processing program further comprising:

checking program code means for checking validity of the recording medium on the basis of the checking file.

48. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 47, wherein the checking program code means checks the validity of the recording medium by checking whether a checking program stored in the checking file is successfully launched.

49. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an information processing part for executing an application program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for encrypting the ID by using the key and storing the encrypted ID in the ID file.

50. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program that causes an information processing apparatus equipped with a storage unit to perform information processing, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an information processing part for executing an application program that is stored in the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes an ID file that stores an ID of the application program in which the ID is encrypted by a key specific to the storage unit or specific to the information processing apparatus, the information processing program comprising:

program code means for determining validity of the application program stored in the storage unit by determining whether the ID of the application program is stored in the ID file.