ELECTRONIC INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, IC CARD, TERMINAL APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC INFORMATION MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH IS RECORDED AN ELECTRONIC INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

• US 6,718,471 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kashima, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US09/271,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200-202, 713/183, 713/184, 711/163, 711/164, 345/741, 725/25, 725/30, 340/5.2, 340/5.51, 340/5.54, 705/18
• US Class Current: 726/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

An electronic information management system, an IC card, a terminal apparatus and an electronic information management method, and a recording medium on which is recorded an electronic information management program, which displays a plurality of images simultaneously or hierarchically to thereby carry out authorization of access to electronic information based on an image password which is easily remembered and difficult to appropriate.

Claims

1. An electronic information management system comprising:

an IC card including;

means for storing a plurality of images corresponding to code information and coded access information;

means for decoding the coded access information based on a password; and

means for authorizing access to electronic information based on the coded access information decoded by said decoding means; and

a terminal apparatus including;

image display means for severally displaying the images stored in said storing means of said IC card when connected with said IC card;

image specifying means for specifying specific parts of the images displayed by said image display means;

password generating means for generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by said image specifying means; and

password output means for outputting the password generated by said password generating means into said IC card.

2. An electronic information management system according to claim 1, wherein said image display means severally displays simultaneously the images.

3. An electronic information management system according to claim 1, wherein said image display means displays the images in a hierarchical structure one after another, in accordance with the specific parts of the images specified by said image specifying means.

4. An electronic information management system according to claim 1, wherein said image specifying means specifies specific parts of the image displayed by said image display means by way of rectangular regions which are marked out at predetermined spacing.

5. An electronic information management system according to claim 1, wherein said image specifying means specifies the specific parts of the image displayed by said image display means, by way of constituent elements constituting the image.

6. An IC card comprising:

means for storing a plurality of images corresponding to code information and coded access information;

means for decoding the coded access information based on information specifying specific parts of the images; and

means for authorizing access to electronic information based on the access information decoded by said decoding means.

7. A terminal apparatus capable of being coupled to an IC card comprising:

image display means for severally displaying a plurality of images stored in an IC card when coupled to said IC card which stores a plurality of images corresponding to code information and coded access information, decodes the coded access information based on a password, and authorizes access to electronic information based on the decoded access information;

image specifying means for specifying specific parts of the images displayed by said image display means;

password generating means for generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by said image specifying means; and

password output means for outputting the password generated by said password generating means to said IC card.

8. An electronic information management method comprising:

displaying a plurality of images corresponding to code information and coded access information stored in an IC card;

decoding, on the IC card, the coded access information based on a password;

specifying specific parts of the images displayed;

generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified in said specifying; and

authorizing access to electronic information based on the decoded access information.

9. An electronic information management method according to claim 8, wherein said displaying comprises simultaneously severally displaying the images.

10. An electronic information management method according to claim 8, wherein said displaying comprises displaying the images in a hierarchical structure one after another, in accordance with the specific parts of the images specified by said specifying.

11. A recording medium on which is recorded an electronic information management program for controlling a computer and comprising a process of:

authorizing access to electronic information based on a password, said authorizing being executed on an IC card;

displaying a plurality of images corresponding to coded access information stored in the IC card;

decoding, on the IC card, the coded access information based on a password;

specifying specific parts of the images displayed; and

generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by said specifying.

12. A recording medium on which is recorded an electronic information management program according to claim 11, wherein said displaying comprises simultaneously displaying the images.

13. A recording medium on which is recorded an electronic information management program according to claim 11, wherein said displaying comprises displaying the images in a hierarchical structure one after another, in accordance with the specific parts of the images specified.

14. An electronic information management system comprising:

an IC card including;

means for storing a plurality of images corresponding to code information and coded access information;

means for decoding the coded access information based on a password; and

means for authorizing access to electronic information based on the coded access information decoded by said decoding means; and

a terminal apparatus including;

image display means for severally displaying the images of different attributes;

image specifying means for specifying specific parts of the images displayed by said image display means;

password generating means for generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by said image specifying means; and

password output means for outputting the password generated by said password generating means to said IC card.

15. An electronic information management system according to claim 14, wherein the images of different attributes are constituted by an image of a thing and an image of a plurality of characters.

16. An electronic information management system according to claim 14, wherein the images of different attributes are constituted by an image comprising a single image, and an image comprising a plurality of objects.

17. A recording medium on which is recorded an electronic information management program for controlling a computer and comprising a process of:

displaying a plurality of images of different attributes which are stored in an IC card which stores a plurality of images corresponding to code information and coded access information and authorizes access to electronic information based on a password;

decoding, on the IC card, the coded access information based on a password;

specifying specific parts of the images displayed; and

generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by said specifying.

18. An electronic information management system comprising:

an IC card which stores a plurality of images corresponding to coded access information, decodes the coded access information based on a password, and authorizes access to electronic information based on the decoded access information; and

a terminal apparatus including;

a display displaying the images stored in the IC card when the IC card is coupled to said terminal apparatus;

a user input apparatus which allows a user to specify specific parts of the images displayed;

a password generator generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by the user; and

an output device outputting the generated password to the IC card.

19. An electronic information management method comprising:

displaying images corresponding to coded access information and stored in an IC card;

decoding, on the IC card, the coded access information based on a password;

enabling a user to specify specific parts of the images displayed;

generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by the user; and

authorizing access to electronic information based on the decoded access information.

20. An electronic information management method comprising:

displaying images corresponding to coded access information and stored in an IC card;

decoding, on the IC card, the coded access information based on a password;

enabling a user to specify specific parts of the images displayed;

generating a password based on the specific parts of the images specified by the user;

decoding encrypted information corresponding to the password;

providing the decoded information to be encrypted; and

authorizing access to electronic information based on the decoded access information.