LOCKABLE USB MEMORY DEVICE

• US 20110067460A1
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Hongxing, Kato, Koichi, NIWA, Yasuyuki, Yoshida, Hiroshi, Makino, Toyoaki
• Application Number:
  US12/888,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a USB memory device includes a cylinder lock, a storage unit, and a control unit. The storage unit is capable of storing data. The control unit prohibits at least part of access to the storage unit from an outside when the cylinder lock is locked.

Claims

1. A USB memory device comprising:

a cylinder-lock;

a storage unit which is capable of storing data; and

a control unit which prohibits at least a part of access to the storage unit from an outside when the cylinder-lock is locked.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits at least part of access to the storage unit from the outside when information on a key inserted in the cylinder-lock is matched with a password input from the outside.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the information corresponds to a shape of a key tooth of the key.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the cylinder-lock includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, and

the information is provided based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by the key.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the key inserted includes an opening through which the light is passed, the opening being located in a position corresponding to the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines an encryption method according to a key inserted in the cylinder-lock, encrypts the data according to the determined encryption method, and stores the encrypted data in the storage unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit determines the encryption method according to a shape of a key tooth of the key.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the cylinder-lock includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, and

the control unit determines the encryption method based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by the key.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the key includes an opening through which the light is passed, the opening being located in a position corresponding to the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the cylinder-lock includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, and

the control unit retains first information,

the control unit obtains second information based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by the key, and

the control unit encrypts the data when the second information is matched with the first information, and the control unit does not encrypt the data when the second information is not matched with the first information.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder-lock includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, and

the control unit retains first information,

the control unit obtains second information based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by a key inserted in the cylinder-lock,

the control unit performs authentication processing between the USB memory device and a host device, when the cylinder-lock is unlocked and when the second information is matched with the first information, and

the control unit does not perform the authentication processing when the cylinder-lock is locked or when the second information is not matched with the first information.

12. A USB memory device comprising:

an accepting unit which accepts a locking/unlocking command using a physical mechanism;

a storage unit which is capable of storing data; and

a control unit which permits at least part of access to the storage unit from an outside when the command is matched with a password input from the outside.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the physical mechanism is a locking mechanism which is unlocked by a key inserted from the outside, and

the command is information based on a shape of the key.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, and

the command is provided based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by the key.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the key includes an opening through which the light is passed, the opening being located in a position corresponding to the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the control unit determines an encryption method according to the command, encrypts the data according to the determined encryption method, and stores the encrypted data in the storage unit.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the physical mechanism is a locking mechanism which is unlocked by a key inserted from the outside,

the locking mechanism includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, and

the control unit determines the encryption method based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by the key.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the physical mechanism is a locking mechanism which is unlocked by a key inserted from the outside,

the locking mechanism includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit,

the control unit retains first information,

the control unit obtains second information based on whether the light emitted by the light emitting unit is blocked by the key, and

the control unit encrypts the data when the second information is matched with the first information, and the control unit does not encrypt the data when the second information is not matched with the first information.

19. The device according to claim 12, wherein the physical mechanism is one of a DIP switch, a rotary switch, and a mechanism which unlocks/locks by accepting input of key information from the outside.