Electronic device, control method thereof, security program and others

• US 20070172064A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation, Power Systems Technologies Limited, Tech Experts Incorporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation, Power Systems Technologies Limited, Tech Experts Incorporation
• Inventors: Tarui, Nobuo, Iwaji, Hirobumi, Aoyama, Masashi, Nonaka, Yoshiya, Sekine, Yoshio, Sugino, Ryoji, Nii, Noritaka, Mutoh, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,680,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/258
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

An electronic device, a control method thereof and a security program are provided which are capable of preventing or suppressing the theft of the electronic device. The electronic device comprises mounting means for loading a portable recording medium and encrypted information write means for encrypting predetermined information using an encryption key unique to the electronic device and writing the encrypted information in the recording medium. The electronic device further comprises encrypted information read means for reading the encrypted information recorded in the recording medium in the case where the recording medium is loaded in the mounting means, decryption execution means for executing the decryption of the encrypted information using the encryption key, and control means for setting the electronic device in usable mode in the case where the encrypted information is decrypted by the decryption execution means.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a mounting device which loads a portable recording medium; and

an encrypted information write device which writes encrypted information obtained by encrypting predetermined information using an electronic device unique key unique to the electronic device, and an electronic device unique key encrypted using a recording medium unique key unique to the recording medium, in the recording medium;

the electronic device further comprising;

an authentication device with authenticates medium identification information for identifying the recording medium, and device identification information for identifying the electronic device, in the case where the recording medium is mounted on the mounting device;

a key generating device which generates a common encryption key for encrypting or decrypting the electronic device unique key in accordance with the authentication result of the authentication device;

an encrypted information read device which reads the encrypted information recorded in the recording medium, and the encrypted electronic device unique key;

an acquiring device which forwards the read electronic device unique key to a control portion for the recording medium, and acquiring the electronic device unique key encrypted by the common encryption key from the control portion, after the electronic device unique key is decrypted by the recording medium unique key in the control portion;

a decryption execution device which decrypts the acquired electronic device unique key by the common encryption key, and executing the decryption of the encrypted information using the decrypted electronic device unique key; and

a control device which sets the electronic device in usable mode in the case where the encrypted information is decrypted by the decryption execution device.

2. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising a volatile memory for holding the information, and

a load request device which determines whether the memory is in the information holding mode in the case where power is supplied to the electronic device with the recording medium not loaded in the mounting device, and in the case where the memory is not in the information holding mode, prompting the user to load the recording medium.

3. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the control device determines whether the information obtained by decrypting the encrypted information and the preset information coincide with each other, and in the case where they coincide with each other, sets the electronic device in usable mode.

4. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising an alarm device which outputs an alarm in the case where the encrypted information is not decrypted by the decryption execution device.

5. A method of controlling an electronic device comprising:

a mounting device which loads a portable recording medium; and

an encrypted information write device which writes encrypted information obtained by encrypting predetermined information using an electronic device unique key unique to the electronic device, and an electronic device unique key encrypted using a recording medium unique key unique to the recording medium, in the recording medium;

the method comprising the processes of;

authenticating medium identification information for identifying the recording medium, and device identification information for identifying the electronic device, in the case where the recording medium is mounted on the mounting device;

generating a common encryption key for encrypting or decrypting the electronic device unique key in accordance with the authentication result;

reading the encrypted information recorded in the recording medium, and the encrypted electronic device unique key;

forwarding the read electronic device unique key to a control portion for the recording medium, and acquiring the electronic device unique key encrypted by the common encryption key from the control portion, after the electronic device unique key is decrypted by the recording medium unique key in the control portion;

decrypting the acquired electronic device unique key by the common encryption key, and executing the decryption of the encrypted information using the decrypted electronic device unique key; and

setting the electronic device in usable mode in the case where the encrypted information is decrypted.

6. A security program characterized in that a computer included in an electronic device comprising:

a mounting device which loads a portable recording medium; and

an encrypted information write device which writes encrypted information obtained by encrypting predetermined information using an electronic device unique key unique to the electronic device, and an electronic device unique key encrypted using a recording medium unique key unique to the recording medium, in the recording medium;

is caused to function as;

authenticating medium identification information for identifying the recording medium, and device identification information for identifying the electronic device, in the case where the recording medium is mounted on the mounting device;

generating a common encryption key for encrypting or decrypting the electronic device unique key in accordance with the authentication result;

reading the encrypted information recorded in the recording medium, and the encrypted electronic device unique key;

forwarding the read electronic device unique key to a control portion for the recording medium, and acquiring the electronic device unique key encrypted by the common encryption key from the control portion, after the electronic device unique key is decrypted by the recording medium unique key in the control portion;

decrypting the acquired electronic device unique key by the common encryption key, and executing the decryption of the encrypted information using the decrypted electronic device unique key; and

setting the electronic device in usable mode in the case where the encrypted information is decrypted.

7. A recording medium in which the security program described in claim 6 is recorded in a computer readable form.