JP2000305852A - Data leakage prevention system for portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perfectly prevent leakage of internal data even when a portable information terminal is stolen. SOLUTION: A metallic reinforcing plate 4 is attached to the inside of a lock part 2 on a portable information terminal 1. A hole 7 is formed on the reinforcing plate 4 and a handle part 9 of a slide switch 5 loaded on a mother board 6 in the terminal 1 is inserted into the hole 7. When the lock part 2 is destructed and a lock device 3 for the terminal 1 is pulled out by strongly pulling the device 3 in the arrow 8 direction, the reinforcing plate 4 is simultaneously pulled in the arrow 8 direction, so that the handle part 9 inserted into the hole 7 formed on the plate 4 is simultaneously pulled in the arrow 8 direction and the switch 5 is driven. The switch 5 interrupts power supply to a RAM.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device which prevents leakage of personal information and the like stored in the portable information terminal when theft occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of electronic mail in recent years, there is an increasing demand for a portable information terminal device which is small, has excellent portability, and can easily use electronic mail even when going out. Due to its small size and excellent portability, it is assumed that the frequency of theft accidents will increase in the future. If the theft occurs, the hard disk (HDD) or RAM of the portable information terminal
It is easy to predict that the leakage of the personal information stored in the pack will invade privacy and the leakage of business secrets will increase the possibility of financial damage.

[0003] As an invention relating to this kind of preventive measures, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Heisei 5-35 discloses a portable computer.
355 ". This invention detects with a sensor when the computer body is taken out of the home position without permission, and shuts off all or part of the system power supply.
It is intended to protect the internal information by preventing the power from being turned on again without knowing the password.

[0004]

The system disclosed in the above publication shuts off all or a part of the system power supply when the computer body is taken out of a home position without permission. However, if the password is known, the power supply is turned on again. However, there is a problem that the contents of the hard disk (HDD) can be read, and it is possible to take out only the hard disk and read it with another device without knowing the password.

[0005] The present invention provides a data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device that can completely prevent internal data leakage even when the portable information terminal device is stolen.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, a theft detecting means for detecting the theft of the portable information terminal device and a method for detecting the theft are predetermined. And information erasing means for erasing the data of the device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, comprising: a sensor for detecting that the portable information terminal device is taken out of a fixed position; And an information erasing means for erasing data of a predetermined portion of the hard disk provided in advance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, comprising: a sensor for detecting that the portable information terminal device has been taken out of a fixed position; And an information erasing means for erasing data in the RAM provided in advance.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the information erasing means erases data in the RAM by cutting off power supply to the RAM.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, a slide switch that is activated when a locking device of the portable information terminal device is removed, and the portable device is activated by operating the slide switch. The information terminal is characterized by including information erasing means for erasing data of a predetermined portion of a hard disk provided in advance in the information terminal.

[0011] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, a slide switch that is activated when a locking device of the portable information terminal device is removed, and the portable device is activated by operating the slide switch. The information terminal is characterized by including information erasing means for erasing data in a RAM provided in advance in the information terminal.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the information erasing means erases data in the RAM by cutting off power supply to the RAM.

[0013]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device according to the present invention includes a theft detecting means A and an information erasing means B.

The theft detecting means A is means for detecting the theft of the portable information terminal device, and various methods are conceivable.
If you consider the case of theft when you are away from use,
The published patent publication “Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
5355 ", a method of detecting with a sensor when the computer body is taken out of the home position without permission is optimal, and the portable information locked when the portable information terminal device is placed in a company or the like to return home. Considering the case where the terminal device is taken away, a means for detecting the destruction of the locked portion is required.

The information erasing means B is a means for erasing necessary internal information of the portable information terminal device. If the portable information terminal device is a notebook-type personal computer having a hard disk (HDD), In response to an instruction from the theft detection means 1 described above, a command for erasing the contents of the hard disk is generated, and a previously targeted portion of the hard disk in which personal information and business secrets are stored is erased. A mechanism is necessary, and a portable information terminal device uses a RAM pack (a POW is supplied from a battery even when the portable information terminal device is not in use) instead of a hard disk which is often seen in a simple type. If it is, it is supplied to the RAM pack to erase the contents of the RAM pack in response to the instruction from the theft detection means 1 described above. How that blocks the POW supply path that is needed.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As an embodiment of the present invention, data leakage prevention of a portable information terminal device when the locked portable information terminal device is taken away when the portable information terminal device is placed at the above-mentioned company or the like and goes home. The method is shown.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a portable information terminal device and a locking portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a configuration diagram of the present embodiment in FIG.
(A), (b) is operation | movement explanatory drawing of this Example in FIG. 3A is a diagram of the configuration of the present embodiment viewed from the side, FIG. 3B is a diagram of the configuration of the present embodiment viewed from above, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing power supply from a backup power supply to a RAM in a normal state.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A and 3B, a portable information terminal device 1, a locking device 3 for preventing theft, and a metal for reinforcing the locked portion 2 of the portable information terminal device 1. And a slide switch 5 mounted on a motherboard 6 of the portable information terminal device 1 and capable of cutting off power supply.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the portable information terminal device 1 is normally stored, the theft is prevented by attaching an existing locking device 3 with a key to the device 1. It is possible to break the lock portion 2 of the portable information terminal device 1 itself and carry it away depending on the material constituting the. When a theft accident occurs in this way, personal information and confidential business matters may be leaked, and damage may be caused.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a metal reinforcing plate 4 is attached to the inside of the locking portion 2 of the portable information terminal device 1. A hole 7 exists in the metal reinforcing plate.
Then, the handle portion 9 of the slide switch 5 mounted on the motherboard 6 of the portable information terminal device 1 is inserted. By strongly pulling the locking device 3 of the portable information terminal device 1 in the direction of arrow 8 to break the locking portion 2 and pull out the locking device 3, the metal reinforcing plate 4 is simultaneously pulled in the direction of arrow 8; As a result, the handle portion 9 of the slide switch 5 inserted into the hole 7 provided in the metal reinforcing plate is simultaneously moved by the arrow 8.
The slide switch 5 is actuated.

The slide switch 5 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, power is supplied to the RAM by the main battery as shown in FIG. 4A during normal operation. However, when the capacity of the main battery is exhausted, FIG. Power is supplied to the RAM by the sub-battery as shown in FIG. As described above, when the metal reinforcing plate 4 is pulled and the slide switch 5 mounted on the motherboard 6 is operated, the power supply to the RAM is cut off. As a result, the data in the RAM is erased, and leakage of the data to the outside is prevented.

Incidentally, in order to cope with the case where the data is erased, it is necessary to always back up the data and store it separately from the portable information terminal device 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the portable information terminal device 1 of the type that prevents theft through the wire 10 without using the existing locking device 3, a metal reinforcing plate is provided inside the portion through which the wire passes. It is needless to say that the same effect can be obtained even if the device is attached and the slide switch on the motherboard is operated.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the structure in which the destruction of the locked portion is detected by the slide switch, the power supply to the RAM is cut off, and the data in the RAM is erased has been described. In a case such as a notebook-type personal computer, the breakage of the locked portion is detected by a slide switch, and as a result, the hard disk (HD)
D) A configuration for erasing the data, or a sensor that detects when the computer body introduced in "Prior Art" is taken out of a fixed position without permission, shuts off power supply to the RAM, and erases the data in the RAM. Needless to say, a configuration and a configuration in which data is detected by the same sensor and the data on the hard disk (HDD) are erased as a result can be similarly realized.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the portable information terminal device is stolen, the means for erasing the necessary internal information of the portable information terminal device is provided, so that the internal data of the portable information terminal device can be erased. There is an effect that leakage can be completely prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a portable information terminal device showing one embodiment of the present invention and a locked portion.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the configuration of the present embodiment,
(B) is the figure which looked at the structure of the present Example from above.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a normal power supply to a RAM, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a power supply from a backup power supply to the RAM;

FIG. 5 is an external view showing a portable information terminal device and a locked portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Theft detection means B Information erasing means 1 Portable information terminal device 2 Locking part 3 Locking device 4 Reinforcement plate 5 Slide switch 6 Motherboard 7 Hole 8 Arrow 9 Handle part 10 Wire

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, comprising a theft detection means for detecting theft of the portable information terminal device and an information erasing means for erasing data of a predetermined device when the theft is detected. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, comprising: 2. A data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, comprising: a sensor for detecting that the portable information terminal device has been taken out of a fixed position; and a hard disk provided in the portable information terminal in advance upon detection of the sensor. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, characterized by including an information erasing means for erasing data of a predetermined portion. 3. A data leakage prevention system for a portable information terminal device, comprising: a sensor for detecting that the portable information terminal device has been taken out of a fixed position; and a RAM previously provided in the portable information terminal in response to the detection of the sensor. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, comprising an information erasing means for erasing data in the information terminal. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said information erasing means erases data in said RAM by shutting off a power supply to said RAM. 5. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, comprising: a slide switch that is activated when a locking device of the portable information terminal device is removed; and a portable information terminal that is provided in advance by the operation of the slide switch. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, comprising an information erasing means for erasing data in a predetermined portion of a hard disk. 6. A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, wherein a slide switch that is activated when a locking device of the portable information terminal device is removed, and the portable information terminal is provided in advance by the operation of the slide switch. R
A data leakage prevention method for a portable information terminal device, comprising an information erasing means for erasing data in an AM. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said information erasing means erases data in said RAM by shutting off a power supply to said RAM.