JP2005004466A - Terminal use authentication system and terminal use authentication program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a method which permits the terminal use of a user and controls the function of the use at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: Each terminal 11, 21 authenticates the user using an ID of the user which is recorded in authentication devices 12, 22 connected to the terminals 11, 21, in response to a login operation of a terminal user, and requests the authentication of use to a management server 31 operated by a surrogate agency if the terminal user is confirmed to have authority to use each terminals 11, 21. The management server 31 determines whether the terminal user has the authority to use the terminal or not according to the request of the authentication of use from each terminal 11, 21, then transmits the information of the permission of use which indicates that the terminal user is permitted to use each terminal, to each terminal 11, 21 if it is determined that the user has the authority. Each terminal 11, 21 permits the terminal user to use the terminal within a limit of use according to the information of the permission from the management server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a terminal use authentication system and a terminal use authentication program that permit only an authenticated person to use a terminal such as a personal computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In some cases, confidential information is stored in a terminal such as a personal computer installed in a company or public office. In a system in which a server and a terminal are connected via a LAN, confidential information may be held in the server. In such an environment, various techniques for preventing confidential information from being taken out from a terminal have been devised. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a computer system that authenticates a user ID.
[0003]
In addition, an IC card reader / writer that reads the contents of an IC card as an authentication device, a fingerprint reader as an authentication device, or the like is connected to a terminal, and an IC card with a pre-registered ID or a pre-registered ID card. If the terminal confirms that a fingerprint has been entered, the terminal can allow the user to use the terminal, or allow the user to use the terminal function within a predetermined authority range. .
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-67336 A (Claim 1, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a method of permitting a user's terminal use or restricting a use function using an authentication device is a method with high introduction cost. In addition, adopting such a method requires relatively high expertise, and can only be adopted by large corporations and public offices with system management departments.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal use authentication system and a terminal use authentication program that can realize a method of permitting a user's terminal use or restricting a use function at low cost.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A terminal use authentication system according to the present invention is a terminal use authentication system that performs user authentication of a terminal user who uses each terminal in a service user environment in which one or a plurality of terminals are installed. Provided with a management server installed outside and connected to each terminal via a communication network and operated by an agent other than the service user, each terminal uses the management server in response to the terminal user's login operation Authentication request means for requesting authentication and use permission means for permitting the terminal user to use the terminal within the usage range in accordance with the use permission information from the management server. The management server requests the use authentication from the terminal. In response, the terminal user determines whether he / she has authority to use the terminal, and if he / she determines that he / she has authority, the terminal user is permitted to use the terminal. Characterized by comprising an authentication means for transmitting the make use permission information to the terminal.
[0008]
The authentication requesting means in the terminal may be configured to perform user authentication by itself and request usage authentication from the management server when it is confirmed that the terminal user has authority to use the terminal. According to such a configuration, since double user authentication is performed, security is improved.
[0009]
When the management server has storage means for storing authority information indicating the functional range of the terminal that can be used by each terminal user, and the authentication means in the management server determines that the terminal user has authority to use the terminal In addition, the authority information of the terminal user is read out, usage permission information based on the authority information is transmitted to the terminal, and the usage permission means in the terminal is configured to change the internal settings of the terminal according to the received usage permission information. It may be. According to such a configuration, it is possible to perform detailed usage management for each user.
[0010]
The terminal includes usage log transmission means for transmitting the usage history of the terminal user to the management server, and the management server stores the usage history of the terminal user received from the terminal in a storage means corresponding to the terminal user. Use log collection means for storing in the area may be provided.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a first embodiment of a terminal use authentication system according to the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, one or more terminals 11 installed in a service user 10 (service user environment) such as a company, a public office, or a school are connected to a communication network (hereinafter referred to as a network) 100 such as the Internet. To the management server 31 operated by the operation agent. In addition, one or more terminals 21 installed in the service user 20 are connected via the network 100 to a management server 31 operated by an operation agent.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, two service users 10 and 20 are illustrated, but any number of service users may be present. In addition, the operation agent is an agent that performs authentication when the terminal users of the service users 10 and 20 use the terminal. The terminals 11 and 21 of the service users 10 and 20 are, for example, personal computers. For example, an IC card reader / writer that reads the contents of the IC card as the authentication devices 12 and 22 is connected to each of the terminals 11 and 21. Is done.
[0013]
In this embodiment, an IC card is taken as an example of the authentication devices 12 and 22, but any other device can be used as an authentication device as long as it can identify individual terminal users.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the management server 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the management server 31 includes at least a communication control unit 301 that transmits and receives data to and from the terminals 11 and 21 in the service users 10 and 20 via the network 100, and authentications transmitted from the terminals 11 and 21. An authentication unit 302 that authenticates the user of the terminals 11 and 21 based on the data for use, a log collection unit 303 that performs control to collect user logs from the terminals 11 and 21, and a database 304. The database 304 includes an ID registration list 305 in which IDs assigned to the users of the terminals 11 and 21 and their expiration dates are set, and a log storage unit 306 that stores user logs collected from the terminals 11 and 21. .
[0015]
The functions of the authentication unit 302 and the log collection unit 303 are operations that execute processing according to a program for authentication processing and a program for log collection stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the management server 31. This is realized by a control unit (CPU). In response to a request for usage authentication from the terminal, it is determined whether the terminal user is authorized to use the terminal, and if it is determined that the terminal is authorized, the terminal user is permitted to use the terminal. Authentication means for transmitting the usage permission information shown to the terminal is realized by the authentication unit 302. The authentication unit 302 also realizes a function of reading authority information of the terminal user and transmitting use permission information based on the authority information to the terminal. Usage log collection means for storing the usage history of the terminal user received from the terminal in the storage means area corresponding to the terminal user is realized by the log collection unit 303.
[0016]
Next, the operation will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Here, the service user 10 is taken as an example. Further, it is assumed that the service user 10 is a company. The service user 10 first makes a contract with the operation agency 30 regarding the terminal use authentication service for the user of each terminal installed in the company offline (step S1). Specifically, the service user 10 applies to the operation agency 30 for each terminal user in the company and the range of terminal functions that can be used by each terminal user.
[0017]
The operation agent 30 writes the ID of each terminal user and other information in the IC card as the authentication devices 12 and 22 according to the application. That is, an IC card in which information such as the ID of each terminal user in the service user 10 is written is created for each terminal user. Also, a client module is created (step S2). For example, a CD-ROM in which the client module is written is created. The client module includes a program and data installed in each terminal of the service user 10, and realizes a user authentication function based on the authentication devices 12 and 22, a communication control function between the management server, and the like, as will be described later.
[0018]
Then, the operation agent 30 sends the client module and the IC card to the service user 10 (step S3). The service user 10 may purchase the authentication device from the operation agency 30 or may borrow the operation device from the operation agency 30.
[0019]
Further, the operation agency 30 registers information regarding each terminal user in the ID registration list 305 in the database 304 in the management server 31. Information to be registered includes a terminal user ID and an ID expiration date.
[0020]
The service user 10 (specifically, an in-house manager) distributes the IC card to each terminal user. In addition, the client module is distributed to each terminal user and installed in each terminal so that the IC card as the authentication device 12 can be used (step S4). Accordingly, the client module includes an IC card reader / writer device driver and a program for reading the contents of the IC card. If the IC card reader / writer is not attached to the terminal, the service user 10 needs to purchase or borrow an IC card reader / writer.
[0021]
Hereinafter, execution of processing according to the client module which is a program by the CPU of the terminal 11 is expressed as “client module executes processing”. An authentication requesting unit that performs user authentication in response to the login operation of the terminal user and requests the management server 31 to perform usage authentication when it is confirmed that the terminal user has authority to use the terminal; and The usage log transmission means for transmitting the usage history of the terminal user to the management server is realized by a CPU that executes processing according to the client module.
[0022]
When the terminal user uses the terminal, a login operation using an IC card is performed. For example, the terminal user inserts an IC card into an IC card reader / writer connected to the terminal 11, and inputs an ID and a password from the keyboard on a login screen displayed on the terminal 11. The client module installed in the terminal 11 reads the ID and password written in the IC card, and checks whether they match the ID and password entered on the keyboard.
[0023]
If they match, the client module connects to the management server 31 via the network 100 and sends the terminal user ID to the management server 31 to request authentication of the terminal user (step S5). If the ID and password written in the IC card do not match the ID and password entered on the keyboard, the client module displays a screen prompting re-input of the ID and password on the display unit of the terminal 11. indicate. When the terminal user performs an operation of changing his / her password, the client module rewrites the password stored in the IC card via the IC card reader / writer.
[0024]
When the management server 31 requests authentication of the terminal user from the terminal 11, the authentication unit 302 confirms whether or not the ID sent from the terminal 11 is registered in the ID registration list 305. For example, the expiration date is confirmed (step S6). Then, information such as whether the ID is registered or not expired is transmitted as an authentication result to the terminal 11 (step S7). When the client module of the terminal 11 receives a notification from the management server 31 that the ID is registered and the ID is not expired, the terminal user can use the function of the terminal 11 (Step S8). Specifically, for example, the login screen is deleted and a desktop screen (when the operating system (OS) is Windows (registered trademark)) is displayed.
[0025]
Services provided by the management server 31 include unlocking and usage log management in addition to the authentication service. In general, when performing user authentication using a password, if the terminal user cannot enter a valid password up to the allowable number of times due to reasons such as forgetting the password, no more password entry is accepted. Function is adopted. For example, the client module installed in the terminal 11 does not accept the input of the password after the wrong password is repeatedly input and the screen prompting the user to re-enter the password is displayed a predetermined number of times.
[0026]
In order to release such a lock function, the terminal user can apply for the lock release to the management server 31 via the terminal 11 (step S9). For example, the terminal user asks an in-house administrator to provide a code that is a key for unlocking. When such a code is input to the terminal 11, the client module of the terminal 11 transmits the code to the management server 31 via the network 100. The in-house manager is notified in advance from the operation agency 30 of a code serving as a key for unlocking. The key code is preferably changed periodically.
[0027]
In the management server 31, when the authentication unit 302 receives an application for unlocking via the network 100 and the communication control unit 301, the authentication unit 302 determines whether the unlocking may be performed and determines that the unlocking may be performed. If so, a process for unlocking the terminal 11 is executed (step S10). For example, when the code received from the terminal 11 matches the normal code for unlocking, the authentication unit 302 transmits control data for instructing unlocking to the terminal 11. When the client module of the terminal 11 receives the control data via the network 100, the client module performs a lock release process. For example, the terminal user can use the function of the terminal 11.
[0028]
Note that the method of unlocking using the code as a key for unlocking described here is an example, and other methods may be used. For example, the management server 31 confirms by some method that the terminal user who desires unlocking is the registered user himself / herself, and executes the process for unlocking if the confirmation is obtained. It may be.
[0029]
Further, the client module of the terminal 11 transmits history information indicating how the terminal user has used the terminal 11 as a usage log to the management server 31 via the network 100 (step S11). For example, the client module transmits the operation history of the terminal user stored in the OS or the application program of the terminal 11 to the management server 31 together with the user ID when the terminal user performs a logoff operation. The client module may transmit the operation history of the terminal user stored in the OS or the application program to the management server 31 as it is, or periodically copy such operation history to a storage area used by the client module. The contents of the storage area may be transmitted to the management server 31 during a logoff operation. Furthermore, the client module may operate in the background when the terminal user is using an application program or the like, and the client module itself may collect the operation history of the terminal user. The collected history information is not limited to the operation history, and information indicating which application program has been started and a message output by the OS or the application program may be included in the history information.
[0030]
In the management server 31, when receiving the usage log via the network 100 and the communication control unit 301, the log collection unit 303 stores the usage log in the log storage unit 306 of the database 304 (step S12). The log storage unit 306 has a storage area for each user. Therefore, the log collection unit 303 accumulates the usage log in the accumulation area corresponding to the user who has generated the usage log.
[0031]
Based on the usage log stored in the log storage unit 306, the operation agent 30 performs aggregation of usage logs, checks terminal users who are using suspicious terminals, and the like. Then, the summary result and the check result are sent as a security report (step S13).
[0032]
Here, the service user 10 has been described as an example, but the client module and the management server 31 operate similarly for other service users 20.
[0033]
As described above, since the operation agent 30 performs the management work for the terminals 11 and 21 of the service users 10 and 20, the service users 10 and 20 perform the management work that requires labor and cost. You don't have to do it. As a result, the introduction period of the terminal use authentication system is short, and the operation cost for ensuring security is also reduced. In addition, the operation agent 30 can efficiently use facilities such as the management server 31 and easily accumulate operation know-how by providing the same service to many service users 10 and 20. , Making it easier to make money.
[0034]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the second embodiment of the terminal use authentication system according to the present invention. The configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but in this embodiment, the authentication devices 12 and 22 are not used. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the management server 32 in this embodiment. In the database 304, an area of the authority storage unit 307 that stores information indicating the authority of the terminal user is also secured.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the second embodiment of the terminal usage authentication system according to the present invention. Here, the service user 10 is taken as an example. Further, it is assumed that the service user 10 is a company. The service user 10 first makes a contract with the operation agency 30 regarding the terminal use authentication service for the user of each terminal installed in the company offline (step S21). That is, the service user 10 applies to the operation agency 30 for each terminal user in the company and the range of terminal functions (user authority) that each terminal user can use.
[0036]
The range of terminal functions that can be used means the functions of the terminal that can be used according to the job title or role of the terminal user when the terminal user uses the terminal. In other words, it means that the functions of the terminal that can be used according to the authority are restricted. For example, restrictions such as not allowing a terminal user with low authority to use a flexible disk (FD) drive device or not permitting terminal setting changes are conceivable.
[0037]
The operation agency 30 registers the ID and other information of each terminal user in the ID registration list 305 of the database 304 according to the application. Also, information indicating the user's authority is registered in the authority storage unit 307. Further, a client module is created (step S22). Then, the operation agent 30 sends the client module to the service user 10 (step S23).
[0038]
In the client module, the terminal user ID and password are recorded. Therefore, a client module is created for each terminal user. In the first embodiment described above, since the client module does not have to hold an ID and a password, one client module can be commonly used by one service user. When a service provided for each user (for example, a user authority management service in the present embodiment) is added, a client module is created for each terminal user.
[0039]
The service user 10 (specifically, an in-house administrator) distributes the client module to each terminal user and installs it on each terminal (step S24).
[0040]
When the terminal user uses the terminal, a login operation using the ID and password is performed. The client module installed in the terminal 11 checks whether or not the ID and password entered on the keyboard match the stored ID and password. If they match, the client module connects to the management server 32 via the network 100 and sends the terminal user ID to the management server 32 to request authentication of the terminal user (step S25). If the ID and password input to the keyboard are not valid, the client module displays a screen for prompting re-input of the ID and password on the display unit of the terminal 11.
[0041]
When the management server 32 requests authentication of the terminal user from the terminal 11, the authentication unit 302 confirms whether or not the ID sent from the terminal 11 is registered in the ID registration list 305. For example, the expiration date is confirmed (step S26). Then, information such as whether the ID is registered or not expired is transmitted to the terminal 11 as an authentication result (step S27). Further, the authentication unit 302 reads information indicating the authority of the terminal user from the authority storage unit 307 and transmits the information to the terminal 11 (step S29).
[0042]
When the client module of the terminal 11 receives a notification from the management server 32 that the ID is registered and the ID is not expired, the terminal user can use the function of the terminal 11 (Step S28).
[0043]
Further, when the client module receives the information indicating the authority of the terminal user, the client module sets the terminal 11 so that only the use within the authority is permitted to the terminal user (step S30). For example, for a terminal user who has the authority that the terminal user cannot use the flexible disk drive, the client module cannot use the flexible disk controller that is a device driver for the OS of the terminal 11. Ask to set to. For a terminal user who has the authority not to allow terminal setting changes, the client module requests the OS of the terminal 11 not to display a screen for changing system settings. . Further, for a terminal user who has the authority that a specific application program cannot be used, the client module requests the OS of the terminal 11 to prohibit activation of the application program.
[0044]
When changing the authority of the user, the service user 10 sends a usage function range change application to the operation agency 30 (step S31). The operation agent 30 changes the authority information stored in the management server 32 according to the contents of the application (step S32). That is, the information indicating the authority of the terminal user in the authority storage unit 307 of the database 304 is changed. When the user performs the next login operation, the user can use the terminal 11 within a new authority range.
[0045]
Here, the service user 10 has been described as an example, but the client module and the management server 32 operate similarly for other service users 20.
[0046]
As described above, in this embodiment, terminal usage management according to the authority of the terminal user can be performed. In this embodiment as well, as in the case of the first embodiment, an unlock function and a usage log collection function can be realized.
[0047]
In each of the above embodiments, it is assumed that the terminal user and the terminal have a one-to-one correspondence, but there is a possibility that one terminal may be used by a plurality of terminal users. The present invention can also be applied. In that case, for example, IDs and passwords of a plurality of terminal users are stored in the client module. Also, if the operation agent 30 creates a client module that stores the IDs and passwords of all terminal users in the service user, one client module can be used in common for all terminals of the service user. it can.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the management server operated by the agent other than the service user determines whether the terminal user has the authority to use the terminal in response to a request for usage authentication from the terminal, When it is determined that the terminal is authorized, it is configured with an authentication means for transmitting usage permission information indicating that the terminal user is permitted to use the terminal to the terminal. A method of permitting use or restricting the use function can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a first embodiment of a terminal use authentication system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a management server in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the terminal usage authentication system.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a second embodiment of a terminal use authentication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a management server according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the terminal usage authentication system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 20 Service user 11, 21 Terminal 12, 22 Authentication device 30 Operation agent 31, 32 Management server

Claims (7)

A terminal usage authentication system that performs user authentication of a terminal user who uses each terminal in a service user environment in which one or a plurality of terminals are installed,
A management server installed outside the service user environment, connected to each terminal via a communication network, and operated by an agent other than the service user;
Each terminal is
An authentication requesting means for requesting use authentication to the management server in response to a login operation of the terminal user;
Usage permission means for permitting the terminal user to use the terminal within a usage range according to the usage permission information from the management server,
The management server
In response to a request for usage authentication from the terminal, the terminal user determines whether or not the terminal user has authority to use the terminal, and if the terminal user determines that the terminal has authority, the terminal user is permitted to use the terminal. A terminal use authentication system comprising authentication means for transmitting use permission information indicating that to a terminal. The terminal use authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication request means in the terminal performs user authentication by itself and requests the management server for use authentication when it is confirmed that the terminal user has authority to use the terminal. . The terminal use authentication system according to claim 2, wherein the authentication request means performs user authentication using information for identifying a user from an authentication device connected to the terminal. The management server includes storage means for storing authority information indicating a function range of the terminal that can be used by each terminal user,
If the authentication means in the management server determines that the terminal user has the authority to use the terminal, the authority information of the terminal user is read out, and usage permission information based on the authority information is transmitted to the terminal,
The terminal use authentication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the use permission means in the terminal changes the internal setting of the terminal according to the received use permission information. The terminal includes usage log transmission means for transmitting the usage history of the terminal user to the management server,
5. The management server according to claim 1, further comprising usage log collection means for storing a usage history of the terminal user received from the terminal in an area of a storage means corresponding to the terminal user. The terminal use authentication system according to item 1. User authentication of a terminal user who uses each terminal computer in a service user environment where one or a plurality of terminal computers are installed is connected outside the service user environment and connected to each terminal computer via a communication network A terminal use authentication program in a terminal use authentication system performed by a management server operated by an agent other than the service user,
In the terminal computer,
In response to the login operation of the terminal user, user authentication is performed, and when the terminal user confirms that he / she has the authority to use the terminal, a process of requesting the management server for use authentication;
A process of receiving authority information indicating a function range of the terminal that can be used by the terminal user from the management server;
A terminal use authentication program that executes processing for changing internal settings of a terminal according to received authority information. User authentication of a terminal user who uses each terminal in a service user environment in which one or a plurality of terminals are installed is installed outside the service user environment and connected to each terminal via a communication network to use the service. A terminal use authentication program in a terminal use authentication system performed by a management server operated by an agent other than the operator,
In the management server,
In response to a request for usage authentication from the terminal, a process for determining whether the terminal user has authority to use the terminal,
When it is determined that there is an authority, a process of reading authority information indicating a function range of the terminal that can be used by the terminal user from a storage unit;
A terminal use authentication program for executing a process of transmitting read authority information to a terminal.

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