Information processing device and operation control method

• US 9,507,966 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakano, Toshiya, Matsuoka, Yoshio, Kaneko, Yoshihiro, Uzawa, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JOSEPH B
• Application Number:
  US14/559,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20150379308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 involving long-term monitoring or reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/03 Indexing scheme relating to G06F21/50, monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a firmware stored in a ROM in an information processing device connects the information processing device to a first server through a network, and downloads a client program into a volatile memory in the information processing device from the first server. Also, the firmware launches the client program to connect the information processing device and a second server through the network, and turns off the power of the information processing device to erase content in the volatile memory, when the information processing device is disconnected from the network after connection between the information processing device and the second server is established.

Claims

1. An operation control method of controlling an operation of an information processing device executed by firmware stored in a ROM in the information processing device, the operation control method comprising:

connecting the information processing device to a first server through a network;

downloading a client program and connection target information from the first server into a volatile memory in the information processing device, the connection target information including an address of a second server which provides a virtual desktop environment, the client program configured to communicate with the second server by using the connection target information, to receive a virtual desktop image from the second server, and to transmit data inputted from an input device to the second server;

launching the client program in order to connect the information processing device to the second server through the network and execute a communication for desktop virtualization, the communication for the desktop virtualization comprising receiving the virtual desktop image from the second server and transmitting data inputted from the input device to the second server; and

turning off the power of the information processing device to erase the client program and the connection target information in the volatile memory, when the information processing device is disconnected from the network during a time period in which the communication for the desktop virtualization is executed.

2. The operation control method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading an additional program from the first server into the volatile memory, the additional program configured to determine whether the information processing device is disconnected from the network.

3. The operation control method of claim 2, wherein the additional program is configured to detect whether the connection between the information processing device and the second server is released to determine whether the information processing device is disconnected from the network.

4. The operation control method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically communicating with the first server during the time period in which the communication for the desktop virtualization is executed; and

determining that the information processing device is disconnected from the network during the time period, on condition that the communication between the first server and the information processing device is unable to perform for a first time period or more.

5. An information processing device comprising:

a processor;

a volatile memory; and

a ROM storing firmware including a basic input output system (BIOS),

wherein the processor is configured to execute firmware instructions of;

connecting the information processing device to a first server through a network;

downloading a client program and connection target information from the first server into the volatile memory, the connection target information including an address of a second server which provides a virtual desktop environment, the client program configured to communicate with the second server by using the connection target information, to receive a virtual desktop image from the second server, and to transmit data inputted from an input device to the second server;

launching the client program in order to connect the information processing device to the second server through the network and execute a communication for desktop virtualization, the communication for the desktop virtualization comprising receiving the virtual desktop image from the second server and transmitting data inputted from the input device to the second server; and

turning off the power of the information processing device to erase the client program and the connection target information in the volatile memory, when the information processing device is disconnected from the network during a time period in which the communication for the desktop virtualization is executed.

6. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions of downloading an additional program from the first server into the volatile memory, the additional program configured to determine whether the information processing device is disconnected from the network.

7. The information processing device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions to detect whether the connection between the information processing device and the second server is released to determine whether the information processing device is disconnected from the network.

8. The information processing device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions to detect whether the reception of the virtual desktop image from the second server is discontinued for more than or equal to a threshold time to determine whether the information processing device is disconnected from the network.

9. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions to detect whether the information processing device is disconnected from the network.

10. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions of transmitting the device identification information of the information processing device to the first server, in order for the first server to execute authentication processing for determining whether the information processing device is registered in the first server.

11. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions of acquiring credential information from the first server, for logging in the second server, and

the client program logs in the second server, using the credential information.

12. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the firmware includes an embedded operating system and the BIOS both of which are stored in the ROM.

13. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware instructions of:

periodically communicating with the first server during the time period in which the communication for the desktop virtualization is executed; and

determining that the information processing device is disconnected from the network during the time period, on condition that the communication between the first server and the information processing device is unable to perform for a first time period or more.