JP2001014053A - Device and method for authentication, terminal device, and external storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make easily performable authentication without such troublesome operation that a password is inputted by operating operation keys by providing an authenticating means, etc., which performs authentication according to information for authentication read out of an external storage means through a connecting means and a converted password. SOLUTION: A user inserts a memory card 30 into a memory card drive part 10D, and inserts and extracts the memory card 30 corresponding to the password registered in the memory card. Through this inserting/extracting operation, the password registered in the memory card 30 is presented and the password is sent to a personal computer 10 and compared with the password read out of the memory card 30 to perform an authenticating process. Thus, the operation for inserting the memory card 30 into the memory card drive part 10D by the user is regarded as input operation for the password to eliminate the need to use an input means such as a keyboard, thereby facilitating authentication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an authentication device and its method, a terminal device and an external storage device, and more particularly to an authentication device and a method thereof when using a terminal device by using an external storage means connected to the terminal device. It is suitable for application to a terminal device and an external storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 13, a personal computer 1 is a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory).
ory Card International Association) standard PC (Per
sonalComputer) Card slot 2 for connecting card 3
By connecting the PC card 3 to the slot 2, the user can access the IC (Integrated Cipher) in the PC card 3.
(rcuit) Various information stored in the memory is used through the personal computer 1.

As shown in FIG. 14, a mobile phone 5 has a card slot 6 for connecting a memory card 7, and by connecting the memory card 7 to the card slot 6, a user can use the memory card 7. Various information stored in the IC memory is used via the mobile phone 5.

[0004]

By the way, such a PC
When using the card 3 or the memory card 7, the user inserts these cards into the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone 5.
By simply connecting to the card slot 2 or 6, the information inside the card can be read out via the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone 5 and used. Therefore, if a third party who is not the proper owner of the PC card 3 or the memory card 7 connects these cards to the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone 6 without the proper owner, the third party will not There was a problem that information could be stolen.

As one method for solving such a problem, a password is stored in the memory of the PC card 3 or the memory card 7 in advance, and the PC card 3 or the memory card 7 is stored in the personal computer 1 or a portable telephone. 5
When the user inserts a password into the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone 5 when the user inserts the
Or the PC card 3 or the memory card 7 in the mobile phone 5
An authentication method has been considered in which a password using the PC card 3 or the memory card 7 at this time is compared with a password entered by the user to determine whether the user who uses the PC card 3 or the memory card 7 is an authorized user.

However, according to this method, the PC card 3
It is necessary to provide an input means such as a keyboard for a user to input a password in a device (personal computer 1, mobile phone 5 or the like) to which the memory card 7 is connected, and a sufficient input means for inputting a password is required. In an electronic device such as a video camera which does not have a memory card, it is difficult for a user to perform authentication by inputting a password when using the memory card 7, and this is still insufficient as a solution.

Further, every time the user uses the PC card 3 or the memory card 7, it is necessary to input a password to the device into which these cards are inserted. However, there is a problem in that it is inconvenient to use devices such as the mobile phone 1 and the mobile phone 5.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when a user who uses the terminal device or the like performs authentication with a device such as a terminal device, the user operates a password by operating an operation key such as a keyboard. It is an object of the present invention to propose an authentication device and method, and a terminal device and an external storage device, which can easily perform authentication without performing a complicated operation such as inputting and inputting.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided, in the present invention, a connecting means for connecting an external storage means when the authentication means performs authentication based on the authentication information in the external storage means. Detecting the insertion procedure of the external storage means into the slot, converting the detected insertion procedure into a password, and connecting the connection means from the external storage means when the external storage means is connected to the connection means through a predetermined insertion procedure. By performing authentication on the basis of the authentication information read via the authentication unit and the converted password, the password can be input to the authentication unit only by an insertion procedure of inserting and removing the external storage unit into and from the slot.

[0010] In this case, complicated input means for inputting the password is not required, and the input operation of the password is further facilitated.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a personal computer as a whole.
Display unit 10 composed of T (Cathode Ray Tube Display)
G and an input unit 10H composed of a keyboard are connected. A memory card drive unit 10D having a card slot for connecting the memory card 30 is connected to the computer main body 10K.
The memory card drive unit 10D can read data in the memory card 30 inserted into the card slot.

Referring to FIG. 2, a personal computer 10
Is CPU10A, RAM (RandomAccess Memmory) 1
0B, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 10C, a memory card drive unit 10D for exchanging data with the memory card 30, an interface processing unit 10J for controlling the memory card drive unit 10D, and a network 20 (FIG. 1).
Communication interface 10 for exchanging data with the
E, a VRAM (VideoRAM) 10 storing characters and graphics corresponding to data to be displayed on the display unit 10G
F and a signal input by a user operating the input unit 10H including a keyboard and the like.
Are connected to the data bus BUS.

The CPU 10A executes various operations in accordance with the operation programs stored in the ROM 10C, and controls each circuit in accordance with the operations. Various processing contents of the CPU 10A are displayed on the display unit 10G.

Here, the memory card 30 as an external storage means connected to the personal computer 10 is connected to a memory card connector provided in a memory card drive section 10D of the personal computer 10, as shown in FIG. 32, and a memory 31 connected to the connector 32 via a data bus BUS.

The memory 31 stores various information unique to the user who owns the memory card 30 in an area designated by the memory map shown in FIG. That is, in the storage area of the memory 31, the first area A
R11 is an area for storing network connection information for connecting a terminal device (such as the personal computer 10) connecting the memory card 30 to the network 20;
When the memory card 30 is connected to the personal computer 10, a memory card ID for receiving authentication from the server 21 on the network 20 is registered in advance.

In this registration process, for example, when the user purchases the memory card 30, the memory card ID is written into the memory card 30 by a predetermined registration device, and the memory card ID is stored in the network 20 together with user information such as a user name. To the server 21 via the Internet. When receiving the memory card ID and the user information via the network 20, the server 21 registers the information in a database provided inside the server 20.

Incidentally, when the user purchases the memory card 30 and the memory card ID is already described in the memory 31 of the memory card 30, the user can contact the company that operates the server 21 via the Internet or by mail. By notifying the memory card ID and the user information, the information can also be registered in the database of the server 21.

In FIG. 4, the second area AR12 of the memory 31 of the memory card 30 is
Is an area for storing additional information which is downloaded when various services (information provision, for example) are received from the server 21 using a terminal device such as the personal computer 10 connected to the PC.

The third area AR13 is a user's personal information including information uniquely used by the user who owns the memory card 30, such as an address book or schedule data, and a user-specific password registered in advance. This is an area for storing information.

The fourth area AR14 is an area for storing information usable for each terminal device such as the personal computer 10 to which the memory card 30 is connected. For example, when the terminal device to be connected is a television device ( (Not shown), a list of television programs used, or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information for viewing explanations on a WWW (World Wide Web) for each television program, and a terminal device to which the memory card 30 is connected. Is a personal computer 10, a text being edited or read, a screen or a program under development, and a terminal device to which the memory card 30 is connected is a mobile phone (not shown) or a pager (not shown). Character data of a character mail service transmitted and received in a certain case is stored.

The fifth area AR15 is an area for storing various data such as still images.

As described above, the memory card 30 has a unique memory card ID for identifying the user who owns the memory card 30 and various information (personal information, information for each terminal, etc.) uniquely used by the user. At the same time as the storage, the memory card ID is registered in the database of the server 21 by the server 21.

When the user operates each terminal device such as the personal computer 10, the user operates the memory card 30.
Is connected to the memory card drive of the terminal device (such as the personal computer 10), the user operates the network connection information (memory card ID), which is unique information for identifying the user, by operating the personal computer 10 or the like. The server 21 can be notified via the terminal device. At this time, the correspondence between the terminal device such as the personal computer 10 operated by the user and the user is notified to the database of the server 21 and registered, so that the user can communicate via the terminal device such as the personal computer 10 into which the memory card 30 is inserted. Thus, various information can be received from the server 21.

Here, when the user inserts the memory card 30 owned by the user into the memory card drive unit 10D of the terminal device such as the personal computer 10, the CPU 10A of the personal computer 10
The user reads the password unique to the user stored in the memory card 31 of the memory card 31 at this time.
Is compared with a password specified by an insertion procedure for inserting the password into the memory card drive unit 10D.
At this time, a user authentication process is performed to determine whether or not the user who operates the personal computer 10 is an authorized user who owns the memory card 30.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a rack 33 having teeth formed along the side edge of the memory card 30 is provided at the side edge of the memory card 30. Is inserted into the memory card drive section 10D to be inserted, and is engaged with the pinion 11 provided in the memory card drive section 10D.

The pinion 11 provided in the memory card drive unit 10D rotates in the opposite direction when the memory card 30 is inserted into and removed from the memory card drive unit 10D.

As shown in FIG. 6 (A), the pinion 11 is provided with a stopper 1 in each tooth space formed in the pinion 11.
The pinion 11 is in a neutral state where it is difficult to rotate in any direction at the rotational position where the pinion 11 is engaged with the stopper 15. Therefore, a user who wants to insert or remove the memory card 30 into or from the memory card drive unit 10 </ b> D can use the pinion 11 that rotates in response to the insertion or removal operation of the memory card 30.
Memory card 3 each time it moves between
The user's hand trying to insert or extract 0 will feel a step-like resistance.

The pinion 11 includes the pinion 11
When the pinion 11 rotates around the rotation shaft 11A,
And a plurality of protrusions 11B that rotate around a rotation shaft 11A integrally with the rotation detector 11B.
Is urged in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the pinion 11. The protrusions 11B are provided in a number corresponding to the number of teeth of the pinion 11, for example.

For example, when the memory card 30 is inserted in the direction of the arrow i shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6B, the memory card 30 is turned in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow a corresponding to the insertion direction of the memory card 30. The pinion 11 rotates. Then, the terminal plate 16 of the rotation detecting unit 12 is urged by the protrusion 11B that moves in the direction of arrow a with the rotation of the pinion 11, and the terminal plate 1
6 contacts the contact 17A.

On the other hand, when the memory card 30 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow o shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. The pinion 11 rotates in the direction. The projection 1 moves in the direction of arrow b with the rotation of the pinion 11.
The terminal plate 16 of the rotation detecting unit 12 is urged by 1B, and the terminal plate 16 contacts the contact 17B.

As described above, the terminal plate 16 of the rotation detecting section 12 is connected to the contact point 17A or 17B according to the rotation direction of the pinion 11, that is, the insertion or removal direction of the memory card 30.
, The rotation detecting unit 12 detects the conduction state of the signal between the terminal plate 16 and the contact 17A or 17B, thereby detecting the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the pinion 11 (the terminal plate 16). (Depending on the number of times of contact with the contact 17A or 17B).

The signal indicating the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the pinion 11 obtained by the rotation detection unit 12 in this manner is, as shown in FIG.
The rotation direction and the rotation amount (count value) are supplied to the measurement unit 18 inside the measurement unit 18. Then, the measuring unit 18 sends the detected rotation direction and the detected rotation amount (count value) to the subsequent memory 19.

In this case, the user performs a series of authentication procedures consisting of a combination of an operation of inserting the memory card 30 into the memory card drive unit 10D by a predetermined amount and removing the memory card 30 by a predetermined amount. Authentication processing is performed with the computer 10.

That is, the user inserts the memory card 30 into the memory card drive unit 10.
As a procedure for inserting the memory card 30 into the memory card 30, a rotation direction and a rotation amount when performing a series of authentication procedures including a combination of an operation of inserting the memory card 30 by a predetermined amount and extracting the memory card 30 by a predetermined amount ( The combination of (count value) is registered.

In this case, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, a password is registered in advance in the third area AR13 of the memory 30 provided in the memory card 30 as personal information. This password is recognized by the user at the time of registration, and when connecting the memory card 30 to the terminal device, the user executes a method of inserting the memory card 30 based on the password recognized by the user.

For example, as a password, a three-digit number "3
In the case where "54" is registered in the memory card 30, the user first inserts the memory card 30 into the slot of the memory card drive unit 10D by an arbitrary predetermined amount, and in response, the pinion 11 is moved in the direction of arrow a (FIG. 7). ), The measurement unit 18 performs the measurement processing procedure RT as shown in FIG.
In step 10, the result of the user performing the operation of inserting and removing the memory card 30 according to the password “354” is measured.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when the measuring section 18 enters this measuring processing procedure RT10, it proceeds to step SP1.
1 to determine whether or not the pinion 11 has stopped (or turned over) by turning a predetermined amount or more in a turning direction (arrow a) corresponding to the direction of inserting the memory card (arrow i). to decide.

If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the user has not inserted the memory card 30 enough to execute the authentication procedure.
Repeats the processing of step SP11.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP11, this means that the user has inserted the memory card 30 into the slot of the memory card drive 10D to the extent that the user executes the authentication process. The measuring unit 18 proceeds to step SP12 and executes the pinion 1
The rotation amount and the rotation direction after stopping (or reversing) 1 are measured, and the measurement is continued until the pinion 11 is reversed in the subsequent step SP13.

When the pinion 11 is inverted according to the user's operation of inserting and removing the memory card 30, the measuring unit 18 proceeds to step SP14, stores the measurement result up to the time of the inversion in the memory 19, and proceeds to step SP15. .

In step SP15, the measuring unit 18
It is determined whether the connector 32 (FIG. 3) of the memory card 30 and the connector 13 (FIG. 7) of the memory card drive unit 10D are connected. Incidentally, in the memory card drive unit 10D, when the connector 32 of the memory card 30 and the connector 13 of the memory card drive unit 10D are connected, a signal that changes to, for example, a logical “H” level from the connector 13 of the memory card drive unit 10D. (Connection signal S
13) is supplied to the measuring unit 18 so that the measuring unit 1
8, the connection state can be detected.

Therefore, if a negative result is obtained in step SP15, this indicates that the user has not yet completed the operation of removing and inserting the memory card 30, and at this time, the measuring unit 18 performs the same operation from step SP12 described above. Is repeated.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP15, this means that the user has completed the operation of removing and inserting the memory card 30 and connecting the memory card 30 to the memory card drive unit 10D. At this time, the measuring unit 18 proceeds to the subsequent step SP16 and transmits all combinations of the rotation amount and the rotation direction stored in the memory 19 to the personal computer 10 as the terminal device as the rotation amount / rotation direction data D11. Then, in step SP17, the measurement processing procedure ends.

As described above, the result of the user's operation of inserting and removing the memory card 30 from the memory card drive unit 10D (rotation amount / rotation direction data D11) indicates that the user has inserted the connector 32 of the memory card 30 into the memory card drive. When connected to the connector 13 of the unit 10D, it is transmitted to the personal computer 10 as shown in FIG.
AM10B (FIG. 2).

Subsequently, the memory card drive unit 1
0D is a password registered in the memory 31 of the connected memory card 30 (for example, a three-digit number “35”).
4)), reads out the password data D12 in the memory card, transmits it to the personal computer 10, and stores it in the RAM 10B (FIG. 2).

CPU 10 of personal computer 10
A compares the rotation amount / rotation direction data D11 stored in the RAM 10B with the password data D12 in the memory card in a comparison processing step RT20. Then, the user inserts the memory card 30 into the memory card drive unit 10.
If the rotation amount / rotation direction data D11 obtained as a count result of the operation of inserting / removing into / from D represents a number similar to, for example, a three-digit number “354” registered in the memory card 30, the CPU 10A Determines that the user's insertion / removal operation matches the password registered in the memory card 30, determines in authentication step RT30 that the user who inserted the memory card 30 into the memory card drive unit 10D at this time is an authorized user, and The computer 10 is started to be in a usable state.

On the other hand, the comparison processing step RT20
If a mismatched comparison is obtained at, this means that
The user inserts the memory card 30 into the memory card drive unit 1
The rotation amount / rotation direction data D11 obtained as a count result of the operation of inserting / removing to / from 0D is different from the three-digit number “354” registered in the memory card 30, for example. The CPU 10A determines that the removal / insertion operation by the user does not match the password registered in the memory card 30, and in the authentication step RT30, the memory card drive unit 10
It is determined that the user who has inserted the memory card 30 into D is not a legitimate user, and the personal computer 10 is put into a suspended state.

As described above, the memory card 30 is inserted into and removed from the memory card drive unit 10D in accordance with the password (number) recognized by the user.
The user can enter the password into the personal computer 1 without using input means such as a keyboard (input unit 10H).
0 can be entered.

FIG. 10 shows each functional unit for performing an authentication process by inserting the memory card 30 into the personal computer 10. The memory card 30 includes a state creating function unit comprising the rack 33 and a password. A memory function unit including a memory 31 to be registered; a memory card drive unit 10D includes a pinion 11;
8 and a memory 19, and a drive function unit for reading data such as a password from the memory card 30. The computer main body 10K of the personal computer 10 allows the user to read the data from the state extraction function unit of the memory card drive unit 10D. Rotation amount / rotation direction data D1 obtained by inserting and removing the memory card 30
And a memory card browsing function for reading data such as a password stored in the memory 31 from the memory card 30 connected to the memory card drive 10D, and a rotation amount and rotation direction. An authentication function unit for performing authentication based on the data D11 and the password data D12 in the memory card read from the memory card 30.

In the above configuration, when the user uses the personal computer 10, the user inserts the memory card 30 uniquely owned by the user into the memory card drive unit 10D.
To the memory card 30 corresponding to the password registered inside the memory card which only the authorized user can know.
The insertion / removal operation of is performed.

The user expresses the password registered in the memory card 30 by the insertion / removal operation.
Then, the expressed password is transmitted to the personal computer 10 and compared with the password read from the memory card 30 to perform an authentication process.

As described above, since the operation of inserting the memory card 30 into the memory card drive unit 10D by the user is a password input operation, the user can input the password at the time of authentication without using an input unit such as a keyboard. Can be.

According to the above configuration, the password is input by inserting and removing the memory card 30 with respect to the memory card drive section 10D, so that the user can use the personal computer 10 and other devices at the time of authentication. The user can more easily input the password.

Further, since the password can be input by the operation of inserting and removing the memory card 30, the password can be input even in a device having no input means such as a keyboard, and authentication processing between the device and the user can be performed. .

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the terminal device such as the personal computer 11 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. The present invention can also be applied to a camera-integrated video tape recorder 60 having a memory card drive unit 61 into which the formed memory card 30 can be inserted.

In this case, the memory card drive section 61 of the camera-integrated video tape recorder 60 has the structure shown in FIGS.
In the same manner as in the case of the memory card drive section 10D of the personal computer 10 described above, the pinion provided inside the memory card drive section 61 meshes with the rack 33 of the memory card 30. By detecting the rotation of the memory card, the operation of inserting and removing the memory card 30 by the user can be accepted as the input of the password.

As described above, by applying the present invention to a device such as a camera-integrated video tape recorder having no complicated input means such as a keyboard, an authentication process based on the input of a password can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the pinion 11 are detected has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the rotation amount may be detected. In this case, the measuring unit 18 (FIG. 7) may count only the amount of rotation each time the rotation direction of the pinion 11 is reversed, and store the count result in the memory 19 every time the pinion 11 is reversed.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a password is input by inserting and removing the memory card 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the memory card 30 may be inserted in the insertion direction (arrow i (FIG. 7)). )) Or the insertion amount may be detected only when it is moved in the extraction direction (arrow o (FIG. 7)).

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the rack 33 is formed on one side edge of the memory card 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. And the like, and a predetermined password may be expressed while the front and back of the memory card 30 are reversed.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the memory card drive unit 10D is provided with means for detecting the amount and direction of rotation of the pinion 11.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the memory card drive unit 10D
A rack 33 may be formed in the memory card 30, the pinion 11 may be provided on the memory card 30 side, and the insertion / removal operation of the memory card 30 may be detected.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the insertion / removal operation of the memory card 30 is detected based on the engagement between the rack 33 and the pinion 11 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. In addition, by detecting the insertion amount of the memory card 130 into the memory card drive unit 110D by the plurality of sensors SEN1, SEN2, SEN3, and SEN3, the memory card 1
30 may be detected.

In this case, a plurality of sensors SEN1 to SEN
For example, the return light reflected on the side surface of the memory card 130 may be detected using an element that irradiates and receives light, or a magnet embedded at a predetermined interval on the side surface of the memory card 130 using a magnetic sensor may be used as the reference numeral 4. The detection may detect a memory card insertion / removal operation.

That is, in FIG.
The scale SC30 has the same interval as the sensors SEN1 to SEN4 provided in the memory card drive unit 110D.
A1 to SCA4 are provided, and the user inserts the memory card 130 into the memory card drive unit 110D using the scales SCA1 to SCA4 as a guide. At this time, the detection signals of the memory card 130 are supplied from the number of sensors corresponding to the insertion amount of the inserted memory card 130 to the measurement unit 118, so that the measurement unit 118 reduces the number of sensors from which the detection signal is supplied. The corresponding number is stored in the memory 119 as a password.

After the memory card 130 is inserted and removed, the connector 11 of the memory card drive unit 110D
3 when connected to the memory card drive unit 110D.
Transmits a series of password data D11 stored in the memory 119 to, for example, the personal computer 10, and transmits a password registered in the internal memory from the memory card 130 to the personal computer 10 via the connector 113. Thereby, the personal computer 10 allows the user to
Authentication processing can be performed by comparing the password obtained by inserting and removing 0 with the password read from the memory card 130.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the card-shaped memory card 30 is used as the external storage means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
A (Personal Computer Memory Card International Ass
ociation) standard PC (Personal Computer) card 3
For example, various other external storage means can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a password is registered in the memory card 30 and authentication is performed by comparing the password with a password expressed by the insertion / removal operation of the memory card 30.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a terminal device of a network system, a memory card ID (Identification) is registered in advance in a memory card connectable to the terminal device, and a user inserts the memory card into the terminal device. At this time, a user-specific password (different from the memory card ID) is input by the insertion / removal operation described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9, and the terminal device inputs the input password and the memory card ID read from the connected memory card. By transmitting the combination to the server of the network system, authentication may be performed from the server, and various services may be enjoyed according to the authentication result.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the authentication means performs authentication based on the authentication information of the external storage means, the external storage means for the slot provided in the connection means for connecting the external storage means. Detecting the insertion procedure of the means, converting the detected insertion procedure into a password, and reading the external storage means from the external storage means via the connection means when the external storage means is connected to the connection means through a predetermined insertion procedure. By performing authentication based on the authentication information and the converted password, the password can be input to the authentication means only by the insertion procedure of inserting and removing the external storage means from the slot.

In this way, complicated input means for inputting a password is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a personal computer including an authentication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal computer including an authentication device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory card.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a memory map of a memory card.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a memory card is inserted into a memory card drive unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining a rotation operation of a pinion of the memory card drive unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory card drive unit.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an authentication processing procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a password measurement processing procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing each functional unit of the authentication device.

FIG. 11 is a side view for explanation when the authentication device according to the present invention is applied to a camera-integrated video tape recorder.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining an authentication device for detecting a memory card insertion / removal operation using a plurality of sensors.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a portable personal computer.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a mobile phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 personal computer, 10A CPU,
10D, 61, 110D: Memory card drive unit,
11: Pinion, 12: Rotation detector, 13, 32 ...
... connector, 18 ... measuring unit, 20 ... network,
21: server, 30, 130: memory card, 31
...... Memory, 33 ... Rack, 60 ... Camera-integrated video tape recorder, SEN1 to SEN4 ... Sensor.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Tomohiro Tsunoda 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Akira Kurihara 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F term (reference) 5B085 AE03 AE12 AE15 AE23 5J104 AA07 KA01 KA04 NA05 NA33 NA38 NA43 PA07

Claims (9)

[Claims] An authentication device for performing authentication based on the authentication information when an external storage means storing authentication information in advance is connected, wherein a slot provided in the connection means for connecting the external storage means is provided. An insertion procedure detecting means for detecting an insertion procedure of the external storage means with respect to a password; a conversion means for converting the detected insertion procedure into a password; and the external storage means being connected to the connection means via the insertion procedure. An authentication unit for performing the authentication based on the authentication information read from the external storage unit via the connection unit and the password converted by the conversion unit. Authentication device. 2. The authentication information pre-stored in the external storage means is a registration password, and the authentication means includes the registration password read from the external storage means and the password converted by the conversion means. The authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the authentication is performed by comparing 3. The insertion procedure detecting means has at least a rack provided in the external storage means and a pinion on the slot side meshed with the rack, and based on the rotation of the pinion. 2. The authentication device according to claim 1, wherein an insertion procedure of the external storage unit is detected. 4. An authentication method for performing authentication based on the authentication information when an external storage means storing authentication information in advance is connected, wherein a slot provided in the connection means for connecting the external storage means is provided. An insertion procedure detecting step of detecting an insertion procedure of the external storage means with respect to a password; a conversion step of converting the detected insertion procedure into a password; and An authentication step of performing the authentication based on the authentication information read from the external storage means via the connection means and the password converted by the conversion means. Authentication method. 5. The authentication information stored in the external storage means in advance is a registration password, and the authentication step includes the registration password read from the external storage means and the password converted by the conversion step. The authentication method according to claim 4, wherein the authentication is performed by comparing 6. An external storage device which stores authentication information in advance and receives an authentication process using said authentication information and a password input to said authentication means when connected to a predetermined authentication means. A rack meshed with the pinion on the slot side when inserted into the slot of the authentication means; rotating the pinion meshed with the rack in accordance with the insertion procedure for the slot; An external storage device wherein a dynamic operation is input to the authentication means as the password based on the insertion procedure. 7. A terminal device for performing authentication based on the authentication information when the external storage device in which the authentication information is stored in advance is connected, wherein a slot provided in the connection device for connecting the external storage device is provided. An insertion procedure detecting means for detecting an insertion procedure of the external storage means with respect to a password; a conversion means for converting the detected insertion procedure into a password; and An authentication unit for performing the authentication based on the authentication information read from the external storage unit via the connection unit and the password converted by the conversion unit. Terminal device. 8. The authentication information stored in the external storage means in advance is a registration password, and the terminal means stores the registration password read from the external storage means and the password converted by the conversion means. The terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the authentication is performed by comparing the terminal device with the terminal device. 9. The insertion procedure detection means has at least a pinion meshed with a rack provided in the external storage means, and detects the insertion procedure of the external storage means based on the rotation of the pinion. The terminal device according to claim 7, wherein: