JP2003099144A - Portable electronic equipment, key data processing method, storage medium and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent any password from being acquired by any illegal application in an application operating on the Windows CE. SOLUTION: When a state that a password is inputted is set, an application 14a outputs a password input mode to an input mode receiving means 11. When the input mode receiving means 11 receives the password input mode from the application 14a, a password transmission means 12 directly transmits a password inputted from a keyboard 10 to the application 14a without using any multi-task OS 13 being the Windows CE.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic device equipped with a multitasking operating system, and more particularly to a portable electronic device equipped with a Windows (R) CE for making payment using a password.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, portable electronic devices have high performance and many functions. For example, with one hand-held terminal (hereinafter referred to as HHT),
Performs various processes such as data entry, communication, and payment.
Therefore, HHT software development is difficult, and
It takes longer.

Therefore, as a means for facilitating software development requiring a plurality of functions, a multitask OS (O
There is an HHT equipped with S: Operating System). The multi-task OS advances the processing of a plurality of applications little by little, and it seems to the user that the plurality of applications are running at the same time. Therefore, the multi-task OS not only facilitates development, but also improves usability for the user. As such a multitasking OS, there is Windows CE.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view for explaining the operation of the conventional HHT. The HHT of FIG. 10 is a keyboard 4
0, key driver 41, Windows CE 42, and applications 43a to 43c.

The keyboard 40 sends the key data input by the user to the key driver 41. The key driver 41 is software for absorbing the difference in hardware of the keyboard 40 and providing a common procedure to upper software, and sends the key data sent from the keyboard 40 to the Windows CE 42.

The Windows CE 42 is a multitasking OS that allocates the time for the applications 43a to 43c to perform processing and allows the respective processings to proceed at the same time. To send as a message to.

The applications 43a to 43c are, for example, software for realizing processing intended by the user such as settlement and communication. The operation will be described below.

First, the applications 43a to 43c
Is resident in the memory of the HHT, and multitask processing is performed by the Windows CE 42. In addition, the application 43a is a software that performs payment after the password is input, the application 43
b is software for communication.

The user inputs a password to the application 43a from the keyboard 40. This password is sent from the key driver 41 to Windows CE4.
2 to the application 43a as a message. After receiving the password message, the application 43a performs a payment process.

At this time, the application 43b advances the communication processing when the time for performing the processing is allocated by the Windows CE 42. That is, the user can communicate with the application 43b at the same time while inputting the password with the application 43a.

[0011]

By the way, in the Windows CE, a plurality of applications resident in the memory can freely obtain the message sent from the Windows CE. Therefore, the message sent to one application can be acquired by another application.

In the above HHT, the application 43
When c is an application that illegally acquires a password, the application 43c can easily acquire the password input to the application 43a.

As described above, in Windows CE, when an unauthorized application is resident in the memory, a password is acquired by the unauthorized application.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device which prevents unauthorized acquisition of a password by an unauthorized application resident in a memory.

[0015]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an input mode receiving means for receiving a password input mode from an application in a portable electronic device equipped with a multitasking operating system, and a password at all times. To the multitasking operating system, and in the password input mode, the password transmitting means for interrupting the transmission of the password to the multitasking operating system and transmitting the password to the application. Equipment is provided.

According to such a portable electronic device, when the input mode receiving means receives the password input mode from the application, the password transmitting means sends the input password to the application without passing through the multitasking operating system. Send directly. Therefore, even if the application for illegally acquiring the password is resident in the memory, the password is not acquired.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of a portable electronic device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings by taking a case where it is applied to an HHT as an example.

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram for explaining the operation principle of the HHT of the present invention. The HHT of FIG. 1 has a keyboard 10 and
Input mode receiving means 11 and password transmitting means 12
, Multitasking OS 13, and application 14a
.About.14c.

The keyboard 10 sends the key data input by the user to the password sending means 12. The input mode receiving means 11 includes applications 14a and 14b.
Receive password input mode sent from. Also,
The input mode receiving means 11 includes an application 14a,
Alternatively, when one of the password input modes 14b is received, the other password input mode is not accepted.

The password transmitting means 12 is the keyboard 1
The key data sent from 0 is sent to the multitask OS 13. Further, when the password input mode is received by the input mode receiving means 11, the password transmitting means 12 interrupts the transmission of the key data to the multitask OS 13 and sends it to the application 14a.

The multitasking OS 13 allocates time for the applications 14a to 14c to perform processing, and allows the respective processings to proceed simultaneously. In addition, multi-task OS13
Sends the key data sent from the password sending means 12 to the applications 14a to 14c.

The application 14a is software for making payment after the user inputs a password, and when the password is entered, it sends the password input mode to the input mode receiving means 11.

The application 14b is software that attempts to illegally acquire the password sent from the multitasking OS 13 to the application 14a. The application 14c is software that sends the password input mode to the input mode receiving means 11 and attempts to illegally acquire the password input to the application 14a.

Next, the operation of the above principle diagram will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart showing the flow of HHT processing shown in FIG. First, the applications 14a-14c
Is resident in the HHT memory.

When a user makes a payment for a product using the application 14a, the application 14a
A password input mode is sent to the input mode receiving means 11 while prompting the user to input a password on the display screen (S1).

When the password input mode is received by the input mode receiving means 11, the password transmitting means 12 interrupts the transmission of the key data to the multitask OS 13 and sends it to the application 14a (S2). That is, the password of the user input from the keyboard 10 is directly transmitted to the application 14a without passing through the multitask OS 13.

When the user finishes inputting the predetermined password, the application 14a sends a password input end mode indicating that the password input is completed to the input mode receiving means 11 (S3).

When the password input end mode is received by the input mode receiving means 11, the password transmitting means 12 stops sending the key data to the application 14a and sends it to the multitask OS 13 (S).
4).

As described above, since the password input from the keyboard 10 is sent to the application 14a without passing through the multitasking OS 13, the application 14b that illegally acquires the password cannot illegally acquire the password. Also, the input mode receiving means 1
1 accepts the password input mode of the application 14a, but cannot accept the password input mode of the application 14c. Therefore, the application 14c does not receive the password from the password transmitting means 12, and the application 14c cannot illegally acquire the password.

Next, an example of an embodiment of HHT will be described. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the HHT hardware, FIGS. 4 to 9 show the screen display of the display unit and the flow of key data, (a) the screen display, and (b) the key data flow. Show.

The HHT shown in FIG. 3 includes a key input unit 20 and
CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, and display unit 2
4, a card reading unit 25, and a communication unit 26.

The key input unit 20 inputs the data input by the user and sends it to the CPU 21. CPU21
Program stored in ROM22 or RAM2
Operates according to the program expanded in 3, and HHT
Control the whole thing.

The ROM 22 absorbs the differences in hardware shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 and provides a common procedure to upper software, and a key driver 30 and a multitasking O.
Windows CE31 which is S, application 32 for payment of goods, and when the password input mode is received from application 32, Windows CE3
The DLL 33, which is a dynamic link library that sends the key data to the application 32, is stored by interrupting the transmission of the key data to the application 1.

The RAM 23 is a work area used when the CPU 21 executes a program. Also, H
When the power of the HT is turned on, the Windows CE 31 stored in the ROM 22 is transferred to the RAM 2 by the CPU 21.
3 is expanded and the CPU 21 executes the Windows CE expanded in the RAM 23. The CPU 21 also executes the application 32 and the DLL 33 after expanding the application 32 and the DLL 33 in the RAM 23.

The display unit 24 displays the data sent from the CPU 21 on the screen. The card reading unit 25
The CPU 21 is notified that the debit card has been inserted, and the password written in the debit card is read.

The communication unit 26 wirelessly communicates with a center that manages payment information of products. The operation of the HHT of FIG. 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. It is assumed that the delivery person who delivers the product to the customer uses the HHT on the spot to settle the product with a debit card. In addition, RAM23
Contains Windows CE3 that was stored in ROM22
1. Application 32 for settlement of goods, DLL3
Assume that 3 is resident. Furthermore, it is assumed that the display 24a shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the screen of the display unit 24 by the application 32.

The display 24a shows that the collection key is pressed. The delivery person has a "collection" in the key input section 20.
Press the key. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4B, the data of the “collection” key input from the key input unit 20 is input to the key driver 30 and sent to the Windows CE 31. Further, the data sent to the Windows CE 31 is sent to the application 32.

The application 32 changes the screen of the display unit 24 shown in FIG. 3 to the display 24b shown in FIG. 5A in accordance with the data of the sent "collection" key. The display 24b indicates that a debit card should be inserted. Here, the delivery person hands the HHT to the customer, and the customer inserts the debit card into the card reading unit 25 shown in FIG. The application 32 detects the insertion of the debit card, and as shown in FIG.
Call. Further, the application 32 changes the screen of the display unit 24 to the display 24c shown in FIG.

The customer inputs the password of the debit card from the key input unit 20 according to the instruction to input the password displayed on the display 24c. At this time, the DLL 33 interrupts the transmission of the password from the key driver 30 to the Windows CE 31 and sends it to the application 32, as shown in FIG. Further, the DLL 33 does not accept calls from other applications until the input of the current password is completed.

Therefore, for example, even if an application for illegally acquiring the password sent from the Windows CE 31 to the application 32 is resident in the RAM 23 of FIG. 3, it is possible to prevent the illegal acquisition of the password. Moreover, even if an attempt is made to illegally acquire the password input to the application 32 from the DLL 33, the DLL
Since 33 does not accept calls from other applications, it is possible to prevent unauthorized acquisition of a password.

When the customer finishes inputting the password, he / she presses the "confirm" key in the key input section 20 according to the instruction to press the confirm key on the display 24c. This key data is sent to the application 32, and the application 32 notifies the DLL 33 that the password input is completed. The key data will be sent to the application 32 via the key driver 30 and the Windows CE 31. The application 32 changes the screen of the display unit 24 to the display 24d shown in FIG.

The customer hands the HHT to the delivery person in accordance with the instruction to hand the terminal of the display 24d to the person in charge.
Further, the delivery person presses the "confirm" key in the key input section 20 according to the instruction to press the confirm key on the display 24d. At this time, the key data input from the key input unit 20 is the key driver 3 as shown in FIG.
0, sent to application 32 via Windows CE 31. By pressing the "confirm" key, the application 32 changes the screen of the display unit 24 to the display 24e shown in FIG. 8A and starts communication.

Communication is performed by the communication unit 26 shown in FIG.
Send to the center that manages payment information. If you want to terminate the communication halfway, press the "Cancel" key in the key input section. As shown in FIG. 8B, the data of the “stop” key is sent to the application 32 via the key driver 30 and the Windows CE 31 to stop the communication.

When the communication is successfully completed, the application 32 for paying for the product displays the screen of the display unit 24 as shown in FIG.
The display is changed to the display 24f shown in (a). Display 24
According to the instruction to press the confirmation key of f, the confirmation key of the key input unit 20 is pressed to complete the settlement. At this time, the data of the enter key pressed from the key input device is sent to the application 32 via the key driver 30 and the Windows CE 31 as shown in FIG. 9B.

As described above, when the password is input, the DLL
By 33, the transmission of the key data to the Windows CE 31 is interrupted, and when one password input mode is accepted, the other password input modes are not accepted, so that the illegal acquisition of the password can be prevented.

The processing functions described above can be realized by a computer. In that case, the processing contents of the functions that the HHT should have are described in a program recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by executing this program on a computer, the above processing is realized on the computer. Computer-readable recording media include magnetic recording devices and semiconductor memories. When distributing to the market,
The program is stored in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) or a flexible disk for distribution, or stored in a storage device of a computer connected via a network, and then stored in another storage device via the network. It can also be transferred to a computer. When the program is executed by a computer, the program is stored in a ROM or a hard disk device in the computer, loaded into a main memory and executed.

[0047]

As described above, in the present invention, when the password input mode is received from the application, the password is sent to the application without going through the multitasking operating system.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the illegal acquisition of the password from the application that illegally acquires the password.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram illustrating an operation principle of an HHT of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of HHT.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of HHT hardware.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display of a display unit and a flow (1) of key data, (a) is a screen display, and (b) is a diagram showing a key data flow.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing a screen display of a display unit and a flow of key data (No. 2), (a) showing a screen display and (b) showing a flow of key data.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing a screen display of a display unit and a flow of key data (part 3), (a) showing a screen display and (b) showing a flow of key data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display of the display unit and a flow of key data (No. 4), FIG. 7A is a screen display, and FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen display of the display unit and a flow of key data (No. 5), (a) is a screen display, and (b) is a diagram showing a key data flow.

9A and 9B show a screen display and a key data flow (No. 6) of the display unit, FIG. 9A is a screen display, and FIG. 9B is a key data flow.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a conventional HHT.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 keyboard 11 Input mode receiving means 12 Password transmission method 13 Multitask OS 14a-14c applications 20 key input section 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 24 Display 25 Card reader 26 Communications Department 30 key driver 31 Windows CE 32 applications 33 DLL

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In a portable electronic device equipped with a multitasking operating system, an input mode receiving means for receiving a password input mode from an application, and a password which is normally transmitted to the multitasking operating system, and which is in the password input mode. A password transmitting means for interrupting the transmission of the password to the multi-task operating system and transmitting the password to the application, the portable electronic device. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the input mode receiving unit does not receive the password input mode of another application until the password input mode of the application ends. 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the password transmitting means returns to the normal state when the password input end mode is received by the input mode receiving means. 4. A key data processing method for a portable electronic device equipped with a multitasking operating system, wherein a password input mode is received from an application, a password is always transmitted to the multitasking operating system, and in the password input mode. A method for processing key data, characterized in that the transmission of the password to the multitasking operating system is interrupted and the password is transmitted to the application. 5. The input mode receiving means for receiving a password input mode from an application in a computer, the password being transmitted to the multitasking operating system at all times, and the password being sent to the multitasking operating system during the password input mode. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing the function to function as a password transmitting means for interrupting the transmission and transmitting to the application is recorded. 6. A computer, the input mode receiving means for receiving a password input mode from an application, the password is always transmitted to the multitasking operating system, and the password is sent to the multitasking operating system in the password input mode. A program for functioning as a password transmitting means for interrupting transmission and transmitting to the application.