Electronic storage apparatus, authentication apparatus and authentication method

• US 7,404,081 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Murashita, Kimitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Song; Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US11/036,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 713184-186, 713/193, 713/168, 726 27- 28, 382115-118, 382/124
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards

Abstract

An electronic storage apparatus comprises a biometrics information inputting section, a collation section for comparing and collating collation biometrics characteristic information and reference biometrics characteristic information with each other, an authentication result retention section for retaining, where it is recognized that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of an owner, the result of the authentication, a secret information outputting section capable of outputting secret information of the owner stored in a secret information storage section to the outside, and an authentication result deletion section for deleting, when an unused state detection section detect that the secret information outputting section is in an unused state, the result of authentication retained by the authentication result retention section, whereby the security strength of a card type storage medium is raised and the electronic storage apparatus can be used more easily by a user.

Claims

1. An electronic storage apparatus, comprising:

a secret information storage section for storing secret information regarding an owner;

a biometrics information inputting section for inputting biometrics information of an object person of authentication;

an extraction section for extracting collation biometrics characteristic information from the biometrics information inputted from said biometrics information inputting section;

a collation section for comparing and collating the collation biometrics characteristic information extracted by said extraction section and reference biometrics characteristic information with each other;

an authentication result retention section for retaining, where it is recognized from a result of the collation by said collation section that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, the result of authentication;

a secret information outputting section capable of outputting the secret information stored in said secret information storage section to the outside;

a communication controlling section for causing, where the result of authentication retained by said authentication result retention section indicates that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, said secret information outputting section to output the secret information stored in said secret information storage section;

an unused state detection section capable of detecting that said secret information outputting section is in an unused state; and

an authentication result deletion section for deleting, when said unused state detection section detect that said secret information outputting section is in an unused state, the result of authentication retained by said authentication result retention section.

2. The electronic storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secret information outputting section includes a contact type terminal and can output the secret information to the outside of said electronic storage apparatus through said contact type terminal.

3. The electronic storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secret information outputting section includes a non-contact type communication function, and can output the secret information to the outside of said electronic storage apparatus by means of said non-contact type communication function.

4. The electronic storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least said secret information outputting section is provided on a card section having a shape of a card, and at least said biometrics information inputting section is provided in a main body section connected for communication to said card section.

5. The electronic storage apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein one end portion of said card section and said main body section are connected to each other by a hinge such that said card section can be attached for folding with respect to said main body section, and

said unused state detection section detects that said card section is in an unused state by detecting a state wherein said card section is folded.

6. The electronic storage apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said card section is removably attached to said main body section, and

said unused state detection section detects that said card section is in an unused state by detecting that, after it is detected by said collation section that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, said card section is removed from said main body section once and then attached to said main body section again.

7. The electronic storage apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said card section is configured for insertion into said main body section.

8. An authentication apparatus, on which a card type storage medium including a secret information storage section for storing secret information of an owner, an output authorization retention section capable of retaining an output authorization for authorizing outputting of the secret information, a secret information outputting section capable of outputting the secret information stored in said secret information storage section to the outside, and a communication controlling section for causing, where the output authorization is retained in said output authorization retention section, said secret information outputting section to output the secret information stored in said secret information storage section can be mounted, for authenticating that an object person of authentication is the owner of said card type storage medium, comprising:

a card type storage medium attaching section capable of removably attaching said card type storage medium thereto;

a biometric information inputting section for inputting biometrics information of the object person of authentication;

an extraction section for extracting collation biometrics characteristic information from the biometrics information inputted through said biometrics information inputting section;

a collation section for comparing and collating the collation biometrics characteristic information extracted by said extraction section and reference biometrics characteristic information;

an output authorization setting section for causing, where it is recognized from a result of the collation by said collation section that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, said output permission retention section of said card type storage medium to retain the output authorization;

an unused state detection section capable of detecting that said card type storage medium is in an unused state; and

an authentication result deletion section for deleting, when said unused state detection section detects that said card type storage medium is in an unused state, the output retained by said output authorization retention section.

9. The authentication apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said unused state detection section detects that said card type storage medium is in an unused state by detecting that, after it is recognized by said collation section that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, said card type storage medium is removed from said card type storage medium attaching section once and then attached to said card type storage medium attaching section again.

10. The authentication apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said card type storage medium is configured for insertion into said card type storage medium attaching section.

11. An authentication method for authenticating that an object person of authentication is an owner of a card type storage medium in which secret information is stored, comprising:

a biometrics information inputting step of inputting biometrics information of the object person of authentication;

an extraction step of extracting collation biometrics characteristic information from the biometrics information inputted at the biometrics information inputting step;

a collation step of comparing and collating the collation biometrics characteristic information extracted at the extraction step and reference biometrics characteristic information;

an authentication result retention step of retaining, where it is recognized from a result of the collation at the collation step that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, the result of the authentication;

a secret information outputting step capable of outputting, where the result of the authentication retained at the authentication result retention step indicates that the collation biometrics characteristic information is that of the owner, the secret information to the outside;

an unused state detection step capable of detecting that the card type storage medium is in an unused state; and

an authentication result deletion step of deleting, where it is detected at the unused state detection step that the card type storage medium is in an unused state, the result of the authentication retained at the authentication result retention step.