DIGITAL MULTI-FUNCTION PERIPHERAL AND DATA PROTECTION METHOD OF EXTERNAL MEMORY

• US 20150347767A1
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takemura, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 9,672,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a digital multi-function peripheral comprises an interface, a data storage section, a memory and a processor. The interface connects an external memory device. The processor holds the authentication information of a user who connects the external memory device, generates a hash value from the information containing the authentication information of the user who connects the external memory device in a case where the state of connection of the external memory device with the interface meets a data saving condition, stores the data obtained by encrypting the data in the external memory device using the generated hash value in the data storage section, and erases the data in the external memory device.

Claims

1. A digital multi-function peripheral, comprising:

an interface configured to connect an external memory device;

a data storage section configured to store data;

a memory configured to store a command executed by a processor; and

a processor configured to execute the command stored in the memory;

wherein

the processor holds an authentication information of a user who connects the external memory device,

generates a hash value from the information containing the authentication information of the user who connects the external memory device in a case where the state of connection of the external memory device with the interface meets a data saving condition,

stores the data obtained by encrypting the data in the external memory device using the generated hash value in the data storage section, and

erases the data in the external memory device.

2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein

the processor overwrites and erases the data in the external memory device with any data.

3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation section configured to receive an operation input;

wherein

the processor disenables the input on the operation section in a case where the state of connection of the external memory device with the interface meets the data saving condition, and

enables the input on the operation section after the data encrypted using the hash value is written.

4. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein

the processor generates a hash value from the authentication information input by the user after the encrypted data is stored in the data storage section, and

decrypts the encrypted data stored in the data storage section based on the generated hash value.

5. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein

the processor writes the hash value with which the data is encrypted in the external memory device after the data of the external memory device is erased,

generates a hash value from the authentication information input by the user after the encrypted data is stored in the data storage section, and

decrypts the encrypted data stored in the data storage section based on the hash value in a case where the generated hash value is consistent with the hash value stored in the external memory device.

6. A data protection method of an external memory device, including:

holding the authentication information of a user who connects an external memory device with an interface;

generating a hash value from the information containing the authentication information of the user who connects the external memory device in a case where the state of connection of the external memory device with the interface meets a data saving condition;

storing the data stored in the external memory device in a data storage section in a state of being encrypted using the generated hash value; and

erasing the data of a data area of the external memory device after the encrypted data is stored in the data storage section.

7. The data protection method of an external memory device according to claim 6, wherein

the data area of the external memory device is overwritten with any data.

8. The data protection method of an external memory device according to claim 6, further including:

receiving an operation input of a user;

disenabling the operation input of the user in a case where the state of connection of the external memory device with the interface meets the data saving condition; and

enabling the operation input of the user after the data encrypted using the hash value is written.

9. The data protection method of an external memory device according to claim 6, further including:

generating a hash value from the authentication information input by the user after the encrypted data is stored in the data storage section; and

decrypting the encrypted data stored in the data storage section using the generated hash value.

10. The data protection method of an external memory device according to claim 6, further including:

writing the hash value with which the data is encrypted in the external memory device after the data of the data area of the external memory device is erased;

generating a hash value from the authentication information input by the user after the encrypted data is stored in the data storage section; and

decrypting the encrypted data stored in the data storage section using the hash value in a case where the generated hash value is consistent with the hash value stored in the external memory device.