JP2010157253A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor wherein security protection related to use of a biometric authentication device is enhanced. <P>SOLUTION: When a device-ID 153 of a fingerprint authentication device 111 does not accord with a BIOS (Basic input/output system)-ID 151 of a password confirmation module 101, the password confirmation module 101 does not admit authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111, and performs the authentication by input of a BIOS password 152. When the authentication is satisfied, the password confirmation module 101 freshly performs the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 (using fingerprint data 154). When the authentication is satisfied, the password confirmation module 101 supplies the device-ID that is a value agreed with the BIOS-ID 151 of the password confirmation module 101 to the fingerprint authentication device 111, and allows the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 from next time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a security protection technique suitable for application to, for example, a personal computer having a function of substituting password input by fingerprint authentication.

  In recent years, various types of personal computers such as notebook type and desktop type are widely used. With the spread of this type of computer, awareness of information leakage and the like has increased, and various proposals have been made regarding computer security protection (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Recently, an authentication technique using biometric information has attracted attention. For example, by making it possible to start a computer without having to input a password that could be stolen by reading a fingerprint that does not have two identical ones, it has been devised to enhance convenience while increasing security strength. ing.

JP 2003-122444 A

  The fingerprint information of the user is registered in the fingerprint authentication device that performs authentication by fingerprint collation as described above. Also, identification information is registered in order to cope with a case where the fingerprint authentication device itself is illegally exchanged. For example, a basic input / output system (BIOS) that requests input of a password to authenticate a user confirms the identification information, and if the confirmation is obtained, authentication of the fingerprint authentication device is performed instead of inputting the password. Allow the computer to start when established. As a result, even if the unauthorized person scans the fingerprint after exchanging the fingerprint information of the unauthorized person with the registered fingerprint authentication device, the BIOS may not be able to confirm the identification information. Since it does not allow the computer to start up, it will prompt for a password.

  By the way, since it is difficult to associate the identification information in both the BIOS and the fingerprint authentication device from the beginning of shipment for each computer, the BIOS is activated when the computer is activated after the regular password is input. Sets identification information, and both the BIOS and the fingerprint authentication device hold the identification information, thereby associating the identification information.

  Based on the basic principle of association of the identification information, a case is assumed where the fingerprint information of the unauthorized person is again exchanged for a registered fingerprint authentication device. In this case, it is assumed that the unauthorized person considers the authorized user to use the computer in this state. Then, although the authorized user reads the fingerprint, the authentication is not established (due to the mismatch of the identification information), so that the password is requested. At this time, I do not think that the fingerprint authentication device has been replaced, just think that the fingerprint reading has failed, and if I enter the regular password and start the computer, the fingerprint authentication device and the BIOS will be replaced. Thus, the identification information is associated. Therefore, if an unauthorized person causes the fingerprint to be read after the authorized user ends the use of the computer, the computer can be started without inputting a password.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that realizes enhanced security protection related to the use of a biometric authentication device.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus, wherein an input unit for inputting a password for authenticating a user who can use the information processing apparatus, and the information A biometric information for authenticating a user who can use the processing device is stored. When biometric information that matches the biometric information stored in the storage is input, the biometric information is input. A biometric authentication device that authenticates a user as a user who can use the information processing apparatus, and substitutes for authentication using a password input via the input means by authentication using biometric information by the biometric authentication device. A biometric authentication device in which identification information for determining whether or not it is possible is stored in the storage unit, and identification information to be stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device. And when the identification information held by itself matches the identification information stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device, the input means is used for authentication using the biometric information by the biometric authentication device. And authentication control means for permitting substitution of authentication using a password input via the password.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus, and includes an input device for inputting a password for authenticating a user who can use the information processing apparatus, and a user who can use the information processing apparatus. The biometric information for authenticating the biometric information, and when the biometric information that matches the biometric information stored in the storage unit is input, the user who has input the biometric information is A biometric authentication device that authenticates as an available user, in order to determine whether authentication using a biometric information by the biometric authentication device can replace authentication using a password input via the input device Biometric authentication device in which the identification information is stored in the storage unit, and setting and holding identification information to be stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device, When the identification information held by itself matches the identification information stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device, it is input via the input device by the biometric authentication by the biometric authentication device. And a module that permits substitution of authentication using a password.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that realizes enhanced security protection related to the use of a biometric authentication device.

1 is a perspective view showing an overview of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing the system configuration of the information processing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a flow of processing at the time of user authentication in the information processing apparatus of the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is realized as, for example, a notebook type personal computer 10.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the computer 10 with the display unit opened. The computer 10 includes a computer main body 11 and a display unit 12. The display unit 12 incorporates a display device composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display) 17.

  The display unit 12 is attached to the computer main body 11 so as to be rotatable between an open position where the upper surface of the computer main body 11 is exposed and a closed position covering the upper surface of the computer main body 11. The computer main body 11 has a thin box-shaped housing, and has a keyboard 13 on its upper surface, a power button 14 for powering on / off the computer 10, an input operation panel 15, a touch pad 16, and a speaker 18A. , 18B, fingerprint authentication device 111, and the like are arranged. The input operation panel 15 is an input device for inputting an event corresponding to the pressed button. For example, a television (TV) function for viewing and recording broadcast program data broadcast by a television broadcast signal, A button for immediately starting a DVD function for reproducing video data recorded on a DVD is provided.

  The fingerprint authentication device 111 is a device that reads a user's fingerprint and collates it with the previously registered user's fingerprint information, and determines whether or not the user can use the computer 10. When the fingerprint authentication device 111 is set to be valid, a request for causing the fingerprint authentication device 111 to read a fingerprint is first sent to the LCD 17 instead of a request for inputting a password from the keyboard 13 when the power button 14 is pressed. Is displayed. In response to this display, the user causes the fingerprint authentication device 111 to read the fingerprint and collate it with fingerprint information registered in advance, thereby skipping the password input from the keyboard 13 and starting the computer 10. Can be made.

  Note that when the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 is not successful after exceeding the specified number of times, the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 is no longer permitted and a request for inputting a password from the keyboard 13 is displayed on the LCD 17. If the regular password is input, the computer 10 can be started. However, if the password is erroneously input more than the specified number of times, the computer 10 is forcibly turned off for security protection.

  As described above, the computer 10 is provided with a mechanism for enhancing security related to the fingerprint authentication device 111, which is an important device that can omit the password input, and this point will be described in detail below.

  Next, the system configuration of the computer 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the computer 10 includes a CPU 101, a north bridge 102, a main memory 103, a south bridge 104, a graphics controller 105, a video memory (VRAM) 105A, a sound controller 106, a BIOS-ROM 107, a LAN. A controller 108, a hard disk drive (HDD) 109, a magneto-optical disk drive (ODD) 110, a fingerprint authentication device 111, a wireless LAN controller 112, an embedded controller / keyboard controller (EC / KBC) 113, a power controller 114, a battery 115, and the like. ing.

  The CPU 101 is a processor that controls the operation of the computer 10 and executes an operating system (OS) 201 loaded from the HDD 109 to the main memory 103 and various application programs (including utilities) operating under the OS 201. To do. The CPU 101 also executes the BIOS stored in the BIOS-ROM 107. The BIOS is a program for hardware control. Hereinafter, the BIOS itself stored in the BIOS-ROM 107 may be referred to as the BIOS 107.

  The north bridge 102 is a bridge device that connects the local bus of the CPU 101 and the south bridge 104. The north bridge 102 includes a memory controller that controls access to the main memory 103. The north bridge 102 also has a function of executing communication with the graphics controller 105 via a PCI EXPRESS standard serial bus or the like.

  The graphics controller 105 is a display controller that controls the LCD 17 used as a display monitor of the computer 10, and a display signal generated by the graphics controller 105 is sent to the LCD 17.

  The south bridge 104 controls each device on a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus and each device on a low pin count (LPC) bus. The south bridge 104 incorporates an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller for controlling the HDD 109 and the ODD 110. Further, the south bridge 104 has a function of executing communication with the sound controller 106, the LAN controller 108, and the USB controller 111.

  The sound controller 106 is a sound source device and outputs audio data to be reproduced to the speakers 18A and 18B. The LAN controller 108 is, for example, a wired communication device that executes Ethernet (registered trademark) standard wired communication, and the wireless LAN controller 112 is a wireless communication device that executes, for example, IEEE 802.11 standard wireless communication.

  The EC / KBC 113 is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for performing power management and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard (KB) 13 and the touch pad 16 are integrated. The EC / KBC 113 cooperates with the power supply controller 114 to execute control for supplying power from the battery 115 and the AC adapter to each unit.

  As described above, when the power button 14 is pressed, the computer 10 having the above-described configuration causes (1) a password to be input from the keyboard 13 in order to determine whether or not the user is an authorized person. (2) It has a security protection mechanism that allows the fingerprint authentication device 111 to read a fingerprint. In order to control this security protection mechanism, the BIOS 107 is equipped with a password confirmation module 101.

  The password confirmation module 101 has a BIOS-ID 151 and a BIOS password 152. The fingerprint authentication device 111 includes a nonvolatile memory for storing the device-ID 153 and the fingerprint data 154. The password verification module 101 compares the BIOS-ID 151 held by itself with the device-ID 153 stored in the nonvolatile memory of the fingerprint authentication device 111, and if both values match, this fingerprint authentication When the authentication of the device 111 is established, it is permitted to start up the computer 10 (omitting input of the BIOS password 152). Here, the password confirmation module 101 sets the device-ID assigned to the computer 10 as identification information shared with the fingerprint authentication device 111, holds it as the BIOS-ID 151, and maintains it under certain conditions. Then, the data is supplied to the fingerprint authentication device 111. The fingerprint authentication device 111 stores the supplied device-ID as the device-ID 153 in the nonvolatile memory.

  More specifically, when the BIOS-ID 151 and the device-ID 153 do not match, the password verification module 101 does not accept authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 (in order to conceal the fact that the identification information does not match, When the BIOS password 152 is correctly input, the device-ID is supplied to the fingerprint authentication device 111 at that time when the BIOS password 152 is correctly input. Absent. Here, the password confirmation module 101 further requests the fingerprint authentication device 111 to read the fingerprint. When the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 is established, the password verification module 101 supplies the device-ID to the fingerprint authentication device 111 at this time.

  For example, even if a regular password is input after the shipment and the computer is started, the identification information is not correlated by both the BIOS 107 and the fingerprint authentication device 111. After the fingerprint information is registered in the fingerprint authentication device 111, the next time When both of (1) input of a regular password and (2) authentication establishment by the fingerprint authentication device 111 are satisfied when the power button 14 is pressed, identification information is associated by both the BIOS 107 and the fingerprint authentication device 111. Will be done. Note that, for example, zero or a null value is stored as the device-ID 153 in the nonvolatile memory of the fingerprint authentication device 111 at the time of shipment. When these values are stored, the password confirmation module 101 stores the identification information. It is determined that no correspondence has been made.

  Based on this, consider a case where an unauthorized person replaces the fingerprint authentication device 111 with another fingerprint authentication device 111 in which his / her fingerprint information is registered, and makes a regular user use the computer 10 once.

  When the fingerprint authentication device 111 is replaced, since the BIOS-ID 151 and the device-ID 153 do not match, authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 is not permitted. Therefore, even if the fingerprint is read as usual, this authentication is not established. End. Here, it is assumed that the user who is requested to input the password simply inputs the BIOS password 152 because he / she thinks that the fingerprint reading is not successful.

  Although the authentication is established when the correct BIOS password 152 is input, the computer 10 here causes the fingerprint authentication device 111 to read the fingerprint again in order to confirm whether or not the identification information can be associated. Request. Therefore, the user tries to read the fingerprint, but since the fingerprint data 154 of the unauthorized person is stored in the non-volatile memory of the fingerprint authentication device 111, this authentication is still unsuccessful. Therefore, the computer 10 permits activation, but does not associate identification information, that is, does not supply a device-ID to the fingerprint authentication device 111.

  As a result, even if an unauthorized person attempts to authenticate with the fingerprint authentication device 111 after the authorized user has finished using it, this is terminated and the unauthorized use of the computer 10 is prevented. In addition, when the fingerprint authentication device 111 reads the fingerprint again in order to confirm whether or not the identification information can be associated, if the authentication is not successful, the computer 10 can correctly input the BIOS password 152. A message is displayed on the LCD 17 to warn the user that the fingerprint authentication device 111 has been illegally replaced. In response to this warning, the user can start an investigation of a work by an unauthorized person who is not supposed to think that the fingerprint authentication device 111 is replaced.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing at the time of user authentication in the computer 10.

  The password confirmation module 101 of the BIOS 107 reads the device-ID 153 from the fingerprint authentication device 111 (step S1), and checks whether or not it matches the BIOS-ID 151 owned by itself (step S2). If they match (YES in step S2), the password confirmation module 101 recognizes the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 (step S10), and if the authentication is established (YES in step S11), the BIOS password. The authentication by the input of 152 is omitted (step S12), and the BIOS 107 executes a startup process (step S9).

  When the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 is not established (NO in step S11), the password confirmation module 101 performs authentication by inputting the BIOS password 152 (step S13). If the authentication is established (YES in step S14), the BIOS 107 executes a startup process (step S9). On the other hand, if the authentication is not established (NO in step S14), the BIOS 107 is forcibly turned off (step S14). S15).

  If the device-ID 153 read from the fingerprint authentication device 111 and the BIOS-ID 151 held by the device itself do not match (NO in step S2), the password verification module 101 does not accept the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111, and the BIOS password Authentication is performed by inputting 152 (step S3). If it is not established (NO in step S4), the BIOS 107 forcibly turns off the power (step S15).

  If the authentication by the input of the BIOS password 152 is established (YES in Step S4), the password confirmation module 101 performs the authentication by the fingerprint authentication device 111 (Step S5). If this authentication is established (YES in step S6), the password confirmation module 101 supplies the device-ID of the computer 10 to the fingerprint authentication device 111 (step S7), while the supplied fingerprint is received. The authentication device 111 stores the value in the nonvolatile memory (step S8). As a result, the identification information is associated. When the association of the identification information is completed, the BIOS 107 executes a startup process (step S9).

  As described above, when the BIOS-ID 151 does not match the device-ID 153 (NO in step S2), the computer 10 establishes authentication by inputting the BIOS password 152 (YES in step S4), and the fingerprint authentication device 111. Since the identification information is associated (steps S7 and S8) on the condition that the authentication is established (YES in step S6), security protection related to the use of the biometric authentication device (fingerprint authentication device 111) is strengthened. Can be realized.

Although the fingerprint authentication device 111 has been described as an example here, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present technique can be applied to any other biometric authentication device that performs authentication using biometric information. . In addition, the BIOS password has been described as an example of a substitute for this biometric authentication device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present technique can be applied even when other authentication information is to be substituted. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine a component suitably in different embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information processing apparatus (computer), 11 ... Computer main body, 12 ... Display unit, 13 ... Keyboard, 14 ... Power button, 15 ... Input operation panel, 16 ... Touchpad, 17 ... LCD, 18A, 18B ... Speaker, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... North bridge, 103 ... Main memory, 104 ... South bridge, 105 ... Graphics controller, 105A ... Video memory, 106 ... Sound controller, 107 ... BIOS-ROM, 108 ... LAN controller, 109 ... Hard disk drive ( HDD), 110 ... Magneto-optical disk drive (ODD), 111 ... Fingerprint authentication device, 112 ... Wireless LAN controller, 113 ... Embedded controller / keyboard controller (EC / KBC), 114 ... Power supply controller Roller, 115 ... battery, 101 ... password confirmation module, 151 ... BIOS-ID, 152 ... BIOS passwords, 153 ... device -ID, 154 ... fingerprint data.

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus,
An input means for inputting a password for authenticating a user who can use the information processing apparatus;
A biometric information storage unit configured to store biometric information for authenticating a user who can use the information processing apparatus; A biometric authentication device that authenticates an input user as a user who can use the information processing apparatus, and performs authentication using a password input via the input means by authentication using biometric information by the biometric authentication device. Biometric authentication device in which identification information for determining whether or not it can be substituted is stored in the storage unit;
When the identification information to be stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device is set and held, and the identification information held by itself matches the identification information stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device Authentication control means for permitting substitution of authentication using a password input via the input means in authentication using biometric information by the biometric authentication device;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The authentication control means substitutes for authentication using a password input via the input means in authentication using biometric information by the biometric authentication device, and the biometric information in which the input biometric information is stored in the storage unit The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein authentication is performed using a password input via the input unit when the information does not match.   The authentication control unit authenticates using a password input via the input unit when the identification information held by the authentication control unit does not match the identification information stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The authentication control means, when the identification information held by itself and the identification information stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device do not match and authentication by the biometric authentication device is not established, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for outputting a message for warning that a biometric authentication device has been illegally exchanged. An information processing apparatus,
An input device for inputting a password for authenticating a user who can use the information processing apparatus;
A biometric information storage unit configured to store biometric information for authenticating a user who can use the information processing apparatus; A biometric authentication device that authenticates an input user as a user who can use the information processing apparatus, and performs authentication using a password input via the input device by authentication using biometric information by the biometric authentication device. Biometric authentication device in which identification information for determining whether or not it can be substituted is stored in the storage unit;
When the identification information to be stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device is set and held, and the identification information held by itself matches the identification information stored in the storage unit of the biometric authentication device A module that allows the authentication using the biometric information by the biometric authentication device to substitute authentication using the password input via the input device;
An information processing apparatus comprising:

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