INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PROGRAM

• US 20080172556A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Tomohiro, ISHIKAWA, Tetsuya, Yago, Hiroaki, Ogawa, Tomoya, Eguchi, Munetoshi, Uchida, Fumikage
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot

Abstract

An information processing apparatus including: a first recording medium which stores a first program; a connection section which is capable of connecting with a second recording medium from outside; and a controller which determines, during BIOS boot-up operation, whether or not the connection section is connected with the second recording medium which stores predetermined authentication information, and if connected, boots a second program stored in the second recording medium, while if not connected, boots the first program stored in the first recording medium.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first recording medium which stores a first program;

a connection section which is capable of connecting with a second recording medium from outside; and

a controller which determines, during BIOS boot-up operation, whether or not the connection section is connected with the second recording medium which stores predetermined authentication information, and if connected, boots a second program stored in the second recording medium, while if not connected, boots the first program stored in the first recording medium.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first recording medium is an internal device, provided in the information processing apparatus, comprising a storage device and a ROM;

and the second recording medium is an external device comprising a USB memory.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second program comprises at least one of a diagnostic tool, a log collection program, and a program for automatically updating the first program.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of a password and an authentication code.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first recording medium which stores a first program;

a connection section which is capable of connecting with a second recording medium from outside; and

a controller which determines, during BIOS boot-up operation, whether or not (1) an authentication information file containing predetermined authentication information is stored in the second recording medium connected to the connection section, and whether or not (2) a difference between a created date and an updated date, in a file attribute of the authentication information file, is within a predetermined range, and if the above (1) and (2) are verified, boots a second program stored in the second recording medium whereas, if (1) and (2) are not verified, boots the first program.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first recording medium is an internal device, provided in the information processing apparatus, comprising a storage device and a ROM;

and the second recording medium is an external device comprising a USB memory.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second program comprises at least one of a diagnostic tool, a log collection program, and a program for automatically updating the first program.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of a password and an authentication code.

9. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first recording medium which stores a first program;

a connection section which is capable of connecting with a second recording medium from outside; and

a controller which determines, during BIOS boot-up operation, whether or not (1) an authentication information file containing predetermined authentication information is stored in the second recording medium connected to the connection section, and whether or not (2) a created date described in the authentication information file agrees with a created date in the file attribute of the authentication information file, and if the above (1) and (2) are verified, boots a second program stored in the second recording medium whereas, if (1) and (2) are not verified, boots the first program.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first recording medium is an internal device, provided in the information processing apparatus, comprising a storage device and a ROM;

and the second recording medium is an external device comprising a USB memory.

11. The information processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second program comprises at least one of a diagnostic tool, a log collection program, and a program for automatically updating the first program.

12. The information processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the authentication information comprises at least one of a password and an authentication code.

13. A computer readable recording medium recorded thereon a program for allowing an information processing apparatus to operate in such a way that, during BIOS boot-up operation, the information apparatus determines whether or not the connection section which is capable of connecting with a second recording medium from outside, is connected with the second recording medium which stores predetermined authentication information, and if connected, boots a second program stored in the second recording medium, while if not connected, boots the first program stored in the first recording medium.

14. A computer readable recording medium recorded thereon a program for allowing an information processing apparatus to operate in:

such a way that, during BIOS boot-up operation, the information apparatus determines whether or not (1) an authentication information file containing predetermined authentication information is stored in a second recording medium connected to the connection section from outside, and whether or not (2) a difference between a created date and an updated date, in a file attribute of the authentication information file, is within a predetermined range, and if the above (1) and (2) are verified, boots a second program stored in the second recording medium whereas, if (1) and (2) are not verified, boots the first program.