JP2012212244A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of prohibiting data writing at a customer for security enhancement.
A USB memory device in a prohibit mode for prohibiting writing for normal use in a customer's home or customer company, etc., wherein a signal modulated by an external radio wave is received by a receiving unit 25 and is being received. The CPU 24 determines whether or not the signal pattern is a pre-registered unique pattern, and the CPU 24 performs control so that the write inhibit mode is set when the signal pattern being received is not the unique pattern, and the signal being received When the pattern is a unique pattern, control is performed so that the write permission mode is set.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage device capable of prohibiting writing for normal use at a customer's home or customer company.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in repair work for business trip repair of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), a diagnostic program and a test module used for diagnosing the state of the PC are stored in a USB memory, for example. The USB memory is easy to handle, and the USB interface is also widely used and widely used. Therefore, data transfer is possible in most PCs.

However, in recent years, security management is severe in companies and the like that are customers, and there is a tendency that data leakage of personal information and the like is concerned. A customer may refuse to use a USB memory during a business trip repair. Also, some customers may not even be able to bring in USB memory. (In some cases, USB memory cannot be brought to the place where there is a PC to be repaired that is checked at the entrance.)
As a workaround, there is a problem that the diagnostic program and the test module are burned on a CD-R medium and then brought to the finalization process, which takes time and labor for the operator. (CD-R is often allowed because it is well known that writing is not possible)

However, since a compact-size PC may not have even a device (ODD) that reads this CD-R medium, it must also bring an external ODD device body for data reading. It is a burden.
Also, in principle, CD-R media cannot be repeatedly written. For example, when a module or the like is written on a CD-R medium for a certain customer, there is a problem that the CD-R medium cannot be reused and must be discarded.

  Patent Document 1 discloses the use of a USB memory as an authentication key for security measures.

  Patent Document 2 is composed of a memory card that is attached to a photographing apparatus and stores image data acquired by photographing, and a gate that is disposed at the entrance and exit of the photographing prohibited area and transmits a write control signal. In the writing control system, the memory card is set to a writing permission mode in which image data can be written at the time of product shipment, and each time the writing control signal is received through the gate, the writing permission mode and the image data are changed. A technique is disclosed in which shooting is disabled in the shooting prohibited area by switching between the write prohibited mode and the writing disabled mode, and shooting can be performed by leaving the shooting prohibited area.

  Patent Document 3 discloses that access is locked using a password or fingerprint authentication technology to communicate with a connected PC to restrict writing.

JP 2006-318435 A JP 2008-41046 A JP 2010-0923301 A

As described above, in the business trip repair of a PC, there is a problem that equipment and devices that can be brought to the customer are restricted for security enhancement, thereby causing troubles in repair work and extra time. In particular, data storage devices are becoming more restrictive because they can easily become data leakage tools.
Accordingly, there is a strong demand for customers to provide a storage device that can prohibit data writing in order to enhance security.
An object of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of prohibiting data writing at a customer for security enhancement.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a storage device in a prohibit mode for prohibiting writing for normal use, a receiving means for receiving a signal from the outside, and a pattern of a signal being received And determining means for determining whether or not the pattern is a pre-registered unique pattern, and controlling so that the write-inhibit mode is set when the pattern of the signal being received is not the unique pattern, and the pattern of the signal being received is And a control unit that controls to be in a write permission mode when the pattern is a unique pattern.

  According to the present invention, data writing can be prohibited at a customer for security enhancement.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the USB memory 1 which can apply the memory | storage device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the computer apparatus 2 which can connect the USB memory 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the environmental condition in the repair shop where the memory | storage device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is used. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a transmitter 40 shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of 01 pattern with the regularity currently transmitted from the transmitter 40 shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the environmental state in the customer premises where the memory | storage device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is used. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the USB memory 1 to which the storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applicable. It is a figure for demonstrating the environmental condition in the repair shop where the memory | storage device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention is used. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the light emission control part 42 shown in FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the storage device is controlled to be in a write-inhibited mode only in a specific environment while being in a write-inhibited mode when used in a normal environment. As an example, an example applied to the USB memory 1 will be described.

<First Embodiment>
First, a block diagram of the computer device 2 and the USB memory 1 shown in FIG. 1, an explanatory diagram showing a state in the repair shop shown in FIG. 2, a block diagram of the transmitter 40 shown in FIG. 3, a signal pattern shown in FIG. The hardware configuration in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory view showing the state at the customer's home shown in FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a computer device 2 and a USB memory 1.
The computer device 2 includes a storage unit 5 that can store a large amount of data, an operation unit 6 that receives a user operation input using a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and a display unit 7 that displays images and characters. The computer device 2 also includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 8 that controls each unit. In addition, a USB interface 9 serving as an interface for data communicating with the USB memory 1 and a connector 10 whose shape matches the connector 11 provided on the USB memory 1 side are provided.

  The storage unit 5 stores, for example, a Windows (registered trademark) OS or a program of application software. The CPU 8 operates the OS and application software programs read from the storage unit 5 and reads the diagnostic programs and test modules from the connected USB memory 1.

The USB memory 1 includes a connector 11 and a main body board 13 on which internal functional blocks are arranged. A flash memory 14 for storing data is also provided.
The main board 13 includes a crystal oscillator 20 that oscillates at a predetermined frequency, and a PLL (Phase Lock Loop) 21 that generates a clock necessary for the operation of each unit based on the clock supplied from the crystal oscillator 20. The main body substrate 13 also includes a flash memory interface 22 that serves as an interface for writing and reading data with respect to the flash memory 14. The main board 13 includes a USB interface 23 that serves as an interface for data transmitted to and received from the computer apparatus 2 with respect to the connector 11, and a CPU 24 that controls each unit.

  Further, the main board 13 includes a program storage unit 27. The program storage unit 27 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program is stored and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used in the working area. Each unit is connected to the bus 28, and data is transmitted through the bus 28.

  The USB memory 1 includes a receiving unit 25 that receives an external signal, and the CPU 24 determines whether the signal pattern received by the receiving unit 25 is a specific pattern. It has a function of controlling reading or writing.

The CPU 24 reads out and executes the program stored in the program storage unit 27 and controls the entire operation of the USB memory 1. For example, the CPU 24 controls access to the flash memory 14 by the computer apparatus 2.
Then, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the pattern of the signal received by the receiving unit 25 is a specific pattern, and the specific pattern in which the signal pattern received by the receiving unit 25 is registered in the program storage unit 27 in advance. The write permission mode is entered only when the two match, and data writing to the flash memory 14 is permitted.
Further, the main body board 13 has an LED 26 for notifying the user of the state of the USB memory 1, and the CPU 24 controls to emit green light when it is in a write-permitted state, and when it is in a write-inhibited state. Is controlled to emit red light.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in the repair shop, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the transmitter 40.
As shown in FIG. 2, a transmitter 40 for transmitting weak radio waves is installed at a specific location in a PC repair shop.
In FIG. 3, a pattern generator 40a provided in the transmitter 40 generates a regular unique 01 pattern continuously or intermittently. The oscillation circuit 40b oscillates a radio wave having a predetermined frequency f1. The modulation circuit 40c uses, for example, ASK (Amplitude shift keying) modulation or FSK (Frequency shift keying) modulation in a 01 pattern like “110111101” (FIG. 4) having regularity using the radio wave oscillated by the oscillation circuit 40b as a carrier wave. , PSK (Phase
Shift keying) Modulates etc. to generate radio waves. The power amplification circuit 40d amplifies the power of the modulated radio wave input from the modulation circuit 40c until it becomes a weak radio wave that can be used even without a license of, for example, 15 mW or less, and outputs it from the antenna 40e.

Here, two typical installation environments of the computer apparatus 2 will be described.
The first place is a case where the computer apparatus 2 is installed at a specific place in a PC repair shop, and the transmitter 40 shown in FIG. 2 is provided in the environment. As shown in FIG. 4, the transmitter 40 generates a regular regular 01 pattern continuously or intermittently, and generates a weak radio wave having a predetermined frequency f1 in a limited narrow area in a repair shop. Send. The regular 01 pattern generated by the pattern generator 40a may be, for example, a 9-digit pattern as shown in FIG. 4 in order to give uniqueness, and is more specific as the number of digits increases. preferable.

  On the other hand, the second place is a case where the computer apparatus 2 is installed in a customer's house or a customer company building. As shown in FIG. 5, the second location is different from the first location in that there is no transmitter that transmits a regular 01 pattern. It should be noted that although the radio wave is flying in the second place, the same pattern as the unique 01 pattern transmitted from the transmitter 40 does not exist.

Next, the operation in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Now, it is assumed that the connector 11 provided in the USB memory 1 is inserted into the connector 10 provided in the computer apparatus 2 by the user. When power is applied to the USB memory 1 from the computer device 2 via the connectors 10 and 11, the CPU 24 provided in the USB memory 1 is activated, reads the control program from the program storage unit 27, and the CPU 24 reads the control program. Start execution.

In step S10 shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 24 starts data pattern recognition processing. Here, the data pattern recognition process will be described.
The receiving unit 25 provided on the main body substrate 13 always receives a radio wave having a predetermined frequency f1 flying from the outside, generates a reception signal by demodulating the received radio wave, and outputs a reception pattern. In the demodulation process in the receiving unit 25, any one of ASK demodulation, FSK demodulation, PSK demodulation, and the like corresponding to the modulation process on the transmission side may be performed.

  Next, in step S <b> 15, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the reception pattern matches a unique permission pattern “110111101” registered in advance. If the two match, the process proceeds to step S20, where the current use environment is regarded as a specific location in the PC repair shop, and the write permission, that is, the data write permission mode from the computer device 2 to the USB memory 2 is set. The green LED provided on the LED 26 is caused to emit light.

Next, in step S30, since the CPU 24 has shifted to the write permission mode, data can be written from the computer device 2 to the USB memory 2.
On the other hand, if they do not match in step S15, the process proceeds to step S25, where the current usage environment is considered to be the customer's home or the company company's indoor location, and the light mask, that is, the computer device 2 to the USB memory 2 Then, the mode shifts to a prohibit mode in which data writing is prohibited, and the red LED provided in the LED 26 is caused to emit light.

In the present embodiment, the color emitted from the LED 26 is set to red or green. However, the present invention is not limited to the color emitted from the LED 26 to red or green. Other colors may be used as long as the “permission mode” is visible.
In the present embodiment, the LED is used for the notification. However, the present invention is not limited to the LED 26, and other notifications may be provided if the user can visually recognize the “prohibition mode” and the “permission mode”. Means may be used.

  As described above, in the USB memory device in the prohibit mode for prohibiting writing for normal use in a customer's home or customer company, the signal modulated by the external radio wave is received by the receiving unit 25, The CPU 24 determines whether or not the signal pattern is a pre-registered unique pattern, and the CPU 24 performs control so that the write inhibit mode is set when the signal pattern being received is not the unique pattern, and the signal being received By controlling so that the write permission mode is set when the pattern is a unique pattern, the customer can be prohibited from writing data for security enhancement.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that in the block diagram of the USB memory 1 shown in FIG. 1, the receiving unit 25 is replaced with a light receiving unit 44 (FIG. 7).
The light receiving unit 44 provided on the main body substrate 13 always receives light incident from the outside, converts the received light into an electric signal using a photodiode or a phototransistor, and converts a reception pattern based on the electric signal to Output.

In addition, the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the transmitter 40 shown in FIG. 2 is replaced with a light emission control unit 42 and an LED bulb 43 as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the light emission control unit 42.
In FIG. 8, a pattern generator 42a provided in the light emission control unit 42 continuously generates a unique pattern signal composed of a regular 01 pattern. The drive circuit 42b inputs a DC power supply (not shown) to the drain terminal of the field effect transistor FET, and controls the ON / OFF of the gate terminal of the FET in accordance with a unique pattern signal input from the pattern generator 42a. Then, by connecting the source terminal of the FET to the LED bulb 43, the light emission of the LED bulb 43 is ON / OFF controlled, and light having a unique 01 pattern can be emitted.

Also in the second embodiment, in step S10 shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 24 starts a data pattern recognition process. Here, the data pattern recognition process will be described.
The light receiving unit 44 provided on the main body substrate 13 always receives light incident from the outside, photoelectrically converts the received light into an electric signal using a photodiode or a phototransistor, and outputs the electric light after the photoelectric conversion. The signal is amplified, and this electric signal is compared with a predetermined threshold voltage by a comparator to extract a reception pattern.
Each process in steps S15 to S30 is the same as the process in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in the USB memory device in the prohibit mode for prohibiting writing for normal use at a customer's home or customer company, the signal modulated by the light from the outside is received by the receiving unit 25 and is being received. The CPU 24 determines whether or not the signal pattern is a pre-registered unique pattern, and the CPU 24 performs control so that the write inhibit mode is set when the signal pattern being received is not the unique pattern, and the signal being received By controlling so that the write permission mode is set when the pattern is a unique pattern, the customer can be prohibited from writing data for security enhancement.

As described above, by providing a USB memory in which the “write processing” that is a standard function of the USB memory is limited, a structure in which writing can be performed only in a special environment can be achieved.
For example, if this environment can only be constructed at a PC repair shop, the customer will not satisfy this condition, so the writing process will be limited and the customer's PC will use a USB memory. Data takeout will be eliminated. Thereby, data leakage of personal information etc. can be avoided.

In addition, since only the writing process is restricted and the reading process is not affected, the usability and the general-purpose interface inherent in the USB memory can be maintained in terms of usage, and convenience can be ensured.
In addition, the presentation of “light mask LED red” or “LED red in write-protect mode” on the outer surface of the storage case of the USB memory can indicate to the customer that there is no risk of data leakage. As a tool, a USB memory can be used.

Also, if a logo or mark indicating that it has a function that can restrict writing is attached to the outer surface of the housing case of the USB memory, and if such a function becomes a standard function, The USB memory can be used for repairing the PC without being particularly conscious.
Since the customer can be informed that there is no risk of data leakage, the USB memory can be used as a tool for repair work.

  The present invention can be used for a personal computer or PDA having a USB port.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 USB memory 2 Computer apparatus 5 Memory | storage part 6 Operation part 7 Display part 8 CPU
9 USB interface 10, 11 Connector 13 Main board 14 Flash memory 20 Crystal oscillator 21 PLL
22 Flash memory interface 23 USB interface 24 CPU
25 Receiver 26 LED
27 Program storage unit 28 Bus 40 Transmitter 42 Light emission control unit 44 Light receiving unit

Claims (3)

A storage device in a prohibit mode that prohibits writing for normal use,
Receiving means for receiving an external signal;
Determining means for determining whether a pattern of a signal being received is a pre-registered unique pattern;
Control means for controlling to be in a write inhibit mode when a pattern of a signal being received is not the unique pattern, and to control to be in a write enable mode when the pattern of a signal being received is the unique pattern; A storage device comprising: A notification means for emitting different display colors in the prohibit mode and the permission mode;
The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so that the notification unit is notified using different display colors in the prohibit mode and the permission mode.   The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives radio waves or light and converts them into a reception pattern of an electric signal.

Images