Data processor, data processing method, and computer readable medium storing program therefor

• US 7,886,107 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyoshi, Nobukazu
• Primary Examiner(s): BATAILLE, PIERRE MICHE
• Application Number:
  US11/648,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 711/163, 711/164, 711/159, 711/103, 711/156, 711/E12.008, 711/E12.006, 365/189
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

A data processor that erases data stored in a storage device includes an erase information storage unit that stores an erase information indicating a description of an erasing process having been performed, corresponding to an erase-specified area, after the erasing process for the erase-specified area, being an area specified to be subjected to the erasing process, is performed.

Claims

1. A data processor that erases data stored in a storage device, comprising an erase information storage unit that stores an erase information indicating a description of whether an erasing process has been performed on a corresponding erase-specified area, after the erasing process for the erase-specified area is performed, wherein

the erase-specified area is an area specified to be subjected to the erasing process,

the erase information is information indicating whether or not the erasing process has been performed, and a count of already-performed overwriting that indicates how many times an overwrite-erasing process has been performed, and

the erase information includes a description of dummy data used in each line of the overwrite-erasing process.

2. The data processor according to claim 1, further comprising an erase unit that performs, in response to a directive to erase a memory area of the storage device, an erasing process for the erase-specified area to erase a difference between the directed erasing process and an already-performed erasing process that is indicated by the erase information.

3. A data processor that erases data stored in a storage device, comprising:

a partition unit that partitions an erase-specified area being an area specified to be subjected to an erasing process, into multiple segments, in response to a directive to erase data, and

an erase information storing unit that stores erase information each indicating a description of the performed erasing process, corresponding to the segments, respectively, after the erasing process for the each of the segments is performed, wherein

the erase information is information indicating whether or not the erasing process has been performed, and a count of already-performed overwriting that indicates how many times an overwrite-erasing process has been performed, and

the erase information includes a description of dummy data used in each line of the overwrite-erasing process.

4. The data processor according to claim 3, further comprising an erase unit that performs, in response to a directive to erase a memory area of the storage device, an erasing process with respect to each of the segments, to erase a difference between the directed erasing process and an already-performed erasing process that is indicated by each of the erase information.

5. The data processor according to claim 3, wherein the erase information storing unit stores the erase information respectively in the segments.

6. The data processor according to claim 3, wherein, in partitioning the erase-specified area into multiple segments, the partition unit decides a size of each of the segments according to an amount of data to be stored, and each of the erase information includes area information indicating the size of each of the segments.

7. A data processing method for erasing data stored in a storage device, comprising storing an erase information indicating a description of an erasing process having been performed, corresponding to an erase-specified area, after the erasing process for the erase-specified area, being an area specified to be subjected to the erasing process, is performed, wherein

the erase information is information indicating whether or not the erasing process has been performed, and a count of already-performed overwriting that indicates how many times an overwrite-erasing process has been performed, and

the erase information includes a description of dummy data used in each line of the overwrite-erasing process.

8. The data processing method according to claim 7, wherein, in response to a directive to erase a memory area of the storage device, an erasing process is performed for the erase-specified area to erase a difference between the directed erasing process and an already-performed erasing process that is indicated by the erase information.

9. A data processing method for erasing data stored in a storage device, comprising:

partitioning an erase-specified area being an area specified to be subjected to an erasing process, into multiple segments, in response to a directive to erase data, and storing erase information each indicating a description of the performed erasing process, corresponding to the segments, respectively, after the erasing process for the each of the segments is performed, wherein

the erase information is information indicating whether or not the erasing process has been performed, and a count of already-performed overwriting that indicates how many times an overwrite-erasing process has been performed, and

the erase information includes a description of dummy data used in each line of the overwrite-erasing process.

10. The data processing method according to claim 9, wherein, in response to a directive to erase a memory area of the storage device, an erasing process is performed with respect to each of the segments to erase a difference between the directed erasing process and an already-performed erasing process that is indicated by each of the erase information.

11. The data processing method according to claim 9, wherein the erase information are stored respectively in the segments.

12. The data processing method according to claim 9, wherein, in partitioning the erase-specified area into multiple segments, a size of each of the segments is decided according to an amount of data to be stored, and each of the erase information includes area information indicating the size of each of the segments.

13. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a data processing method for erasing data stored in a storage device, comprising storing an erase information indicating a description of an erasing process having been performed, corresponding to an erase-specified area, after the erasing process for the erase-specified area, being an area specified to be subjected to the erasing process, is performed, wherein

the erase information is information indicating whether or not the erasing process has been performed, and a count of already-performed overwriting that indicates how many times an overwrite-erasing process has been performed, and

the erase information includes a description of dummy data used in each line of the overwrite-erasing process.

14. The computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a data processing method according to claim 13, wherein, in response to a directive to erase a memory area of the storage device, an erasing process is performed for the erase-specified area to erase a difference between the directed erasing process and an already-performed erasing process that is indicated by the erase information.

15. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a data processing method for erasing data stored in a storage device, comprising:

partitioning an erase-specified area being an area specified to be subjected to an erasing process, into multiple segments, in response to a directive to erase data, and storing erase information each indicating a description of the performed erasing process, corresponding to the segments, respectively, after the erasing process for the each of the segments is performed, wherein

the erase information is information indicating whether or not the erasing process has been performed, and a count of already-performed overwriting that indicates how many times an overwrite-erasing process has been performed, and

the erase information includes a description of dummy data used in each line of the overwrite-erasing process.

16. The computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a data processing method according to claim 15, wherein, in response to a directive to erase a memory area of the storage device, an erasing process is performed with respect to each of the segments, to erase a difference between the directed erasing process and an already-performed erasing process that is indicated by each of the erase information.

17. The computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a data processing method according to claim 15, wherein, the erase information are stored respectively in the segments.

18. The computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a data processing method according to claim 15, wherein, in partitioning the erase-specified area into multiple segments, a size of each of the segments is decided according to an amount of data to be stored, and each of the erase information includes area information indicating the size of each of the segments.