JP2011053889A - Portable storage device, data transfer system and data transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable storage device, a data transfer system and a data transfer method wherein when transferring data with high secrecy from a certain information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus, a risk of data leakage can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The portable storage device including a switch is constituted so that during the operation of the switch, data outputted from the first information processing apparatus is stored so as to be outputted to the second information processing apparatus, and if switch operation is interrupted when the portable storage device is not connected to the first or second information processing apparatus, data are erased. The portable storage device includes: a volatile memory capable of storing data during the supply of power; a power supply for supplying power to the volatile memory; and the switch for switching power supply so that power supply from the power supply to the volatile memory is performed when the switch is operated by a user and power supply is not performed when the switch is not operated by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable storage device, a data delivery system and a data delivery method for delivering data from one information processing device to another information processing device using the portable storage device, and in particular, delivers highly confidential data. In particular, the present invention relates to a portable storage device, a data delivery system, and a data delivery method with a low risk of data leakage.

  When data recorded in one information processing device is transferred to another information processing device that is not directly connected, the data is temporarily stored in a portable storage device accessible by any information processing device. Is generally done. That is, first, a portable storage device is attached to the information processing apparatus on the delivery side, and desired data is stored in the medium. Subsequently, the portable storage device in which the data is recorded is attached to the information processing device on the receiving side, and the data is read. The portable storage device may be a medium such as a CD-R disk or a DVD-R disk that can be read and written by the drive device, or may be a flash memory or a hard disk connected to an external interface of the information processing apparatus. .

  On the other hand, there is an opportunity to handle highly confidential data in the information processing apparatus. The highly confidential data is, for example, product development information, accounting information, personal information, and the like. When such highly confidential data is handled by the information processing apparatus, various measures are taken to prevent information leakage due to unauthorized access. Specifically, the information processing apparatus is configured by encrypting a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk built in the information processing apparatus that restricts users by requesting a password or performing biometric authentication when using the information processing apparatus. There are cases where measures are taken such that the data cannot be read if it is taken out.

  When such highly confidential data is exchanged between information processing devices, the data is stored in the portable storage device and goes out of the information processing device for which a predetermined countermeasure against unauthorized access is taken. The risk of information leakage increases.

  In Patent Document 1, an encryption program is stored in a portable storage medium, and the encryption program is executed by a connected computer to encrypt the data and then stored in the portable storage medium. Describes techniques for carrying data.

JP 2008-059286 A

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, even if a portable storage medium is lost, it is not easy for a person who finds the portable storage medium to read the data because the data is encrypted. However, since there is a technique for decrypting the encrypted data, there is a risk that the data will be decrypted when the encrypted data itself is delivered to a third party.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a portable storage device, a data delivery system, and a data delivery method that can reduce the risk of data leakage when delivering highly confidential data from one information processing device to another information processing device. The purpose is to do.

  The first portable storage device of the present invention has a switch, and stores the data output from the first information processing device to be output to the second information processing device while the switch is operated, Data is erased when the operation of the switch is interrupted when not connected to the first or second information processing apparatus.

  The second portable storage device of the present invention includes a volatile memory capable of storing data while power is supplied, a power source that supplies power to the volatile memory, and power supply from the power source to the volatile memory. And a switch for switching so as not to be performed when not operated by the user.

  The data delivery system according to the present invention is connected to the first information processing apparatus capable of outputting data, the second information processing apparatus capable of receiving the output data, and the first information processing apparatus, and the first information processing apparatus. In a data delivery system having a portable storage device connected to output data to the second information processing device after storing the data output by the information processing device, the portable storage device has a switch. The data output from the first information processing apparatus is held while the switch is operated, and the data is stored when the switch operation is interrupted when the switch is not connected to the first or second information processing apparatus. It is configured to be erased.

  The data transfer method according to the present invention includes a first step of connecting a first information processing device capable of outputting data and a portable storage device, and data output from the first information processing device to the portable storage device. A second step of storing, and a third step of detecting that the switch of the portable storage device is operated by the user and erasing the data stored in the second step when the operation is interrupted. A fourth step of connecting the second information processing device capable of receiving the output data and the portable storage device, and a fifth step of outputting data from the portable storage device to the second information processing device It is characterized by having.

  The present invention provides a portable storage device, a data delivery system, and a data delivery method that can reduce the risk of data leakage when delivering highly confidential data from one information processing device to another information processing device. it can.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the usage pattern of the portable storage device of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the portable storage device of this embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a portable storage device used when data is transferred from one information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a usage pattern of the portable storage device of the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the flow for passing the data 13 stored in the information processing apparatus 10 to the information processing apparatus 30 using the portable storage device 20 in four states (1) to (4). Yes.

  The information processing apparatus 10 includes a storage unit 11 and an input / output interface 12. The information processing apparatus 10 may be configured to include a processing unit that processes data stored in the storage unit 11 and a user interface for a user to instruct a process to be executed. Specifically, the information processing apparatus 10 corresponds to a personal computer, a server apparatus, a mobile phone, a game machine, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

  The storage unit 11 stores data. The storage unit 11 may be a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk device or a flash memory, or may be a volatile memory such as a DRAM. The input / output interface 12 connects a device outside the information processing apparatus 10 and exchanges data to be read / written to / from the storage unit 11. Specifically, the input / output interface 12 can be configured by USB, IEEE 1394, a wired LAN, or the like. Data 13 is data to be delivered, and is stored in the storage unit 11.

  The portable storage device 20 includes a switch 21, an input / output interface 22, a volatile memory 23, and a power source 24. Details of the configuration of the portable storage device 20 will be described later. Since the configuration of the information processing apparatus 30 is the same as that of the information processing apparatus 10, description thereof is omitted.

  (1) shows a state in which the data 13 is stored only in the storage unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 10. (2) shows a state in which the portable storage device 20 is connected to the information processing apparatus 10 and the data 13 is copied to the volatile memory 23 of the portable storage device 20. (3) shows a state in which the portable storage device 20 to which the data 13 is copied is moved from the information processing device 10 to the information processing device 30 while the switch 21 is operated. In order to keep holding the data 13 stored in the portable storage device 20, the user is required to continue operating the switch 21 in this state. (4) shows a state where the portable storage device 20 is connected to the information processing device 30 and copied from the portable storage device 20 to the storage means 31 of the information processing device 30.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the portable storage device 20 of the present embodiment. As described above, the portable storage device 20 includes the switch 21, the input / output interface 22, the volatile memory 23, and the power supply 24. The switch 21 is configured such that power is supplied from the power source 24 to each block only while the user is operating. Specifically, the switch 21 can be configured by a push button switch or a touch sensor.

  The input / output interface 22 is connected to a device outside the portable storage device 20, and exchanges data to be read / written with respect to the volatile memory 23. Specifically, the input / output interface 22 is configured to be compatible with the input / output interfaces 12 and 32 of the information processing apparatuses 10 and 30 to be connected, such as USB, IEEE 1394, and wired LAN.

  The volatile memory 23 stores data only while power is supplied from the power supply 24, and the storage is lost when the power supply is interrupted. The volatile memory 23 can be configured by, for example, a DRAM.

  The power supply 24 supplies power to each part of the portable storage device 20. The power source 24 can be constituted by a primary battery such as a manganese dry battery, an alkaline dry battery, or a silver oxide battery, or a secondary battery such as a nickel metal hydride battery or a lithium ion battery.

  When data is transferred from the information processing apparatus 10 to the information processing apparatus 30 using the portable storage device 20 configured as described above, data is only transmitted while the user operates the switch 21 of the portable storage device 20. 13 is not stored in the portable storage device 20, even if the portable storage device 20 is lost, the data 13 is lost and cannot be read out when the third party picks up, and the confidentiality of the data 13 Can be secured.

  Note that when the portable storage device 20 is connected to the information processing apparatus 10 or 30 via the input / output interface 22, power is supplied from the information processing apparatus 10 or 30 by a power supply terminal integrated with the input / output interface 22. The volatile memory 23 may be operated by power supplied from the information processing apparatus 10 or 30 regardless of the state of the switch 21. With this configuration, the user does not need to operate the switch 21 while performing data copy processing with the portable storage device 20 in the information processing device 10 or 30, so that the risk of data leakage is not increased. The operability can be improved.

  At this time, when the power supply 24 is further configured by a secondary battery, the secondary battery may be charged by receiving power supply from the information processing apparatus 10 or 30. By configuring in this way, the portable storage device 20 is charged each time it is connected to the information processing device 10 or 30, so that the user does not need to be aware of the amount of power of the power supply 24, which is preferable.

  Further, in this embodiment, the data 13 is erased by switching the power supply by the switch 21. However, when the volatile memory 23 is constituted by a DRAM, the data 13 is not used unless memory refresh is performed. Is lost. Therefore, even if the switch 21 is configured to switch the presence or absence of the memory refresh operation for the volatile memory 23 that is a DRAM, the effect of the present invention can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing apparatus 11 Memory | storage means 12 Input / output interface 13 Data 20 Portable storage device 21 Switch 22 Input / output interface 23 Volatile memory 24 Power supply 30 Information processing apparatus

Claims (8)

  A switch for storing data to be output from the first information processing apparatus for output to the second information processing apparatus while the switch is operated; and the first or second information processing apparatus; A portable storage device, wherein the data is erased when the operation of the switch is interrupted when not connected. Volatile memory capable of storing data while power is being supplied;
A power supply for supplying power to the volatile memory;
A portable storage device, comprising: a switch that switches power supply from the power source to the volatile memory when operated by a user and not when not operated by the user.   3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an input / output interface for inputting / outputting data stored in the volatile memory in connection with an information processing apparatus having storage means for storing data. Portable storage device.   4. The portable storage device according to claim 3, wherein the input / output interface has a power supply terminal for receiving power supply from the information processing apparatus.   The power supply to the volatile memory is received from the information processing device via the power supply terminal regardless of the state of the switch when connected to the information processing device. The portable storage device described.   6. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a push button switch, and the operation of the switch is a push of the push button switch. A first information processing apparatus capable of outputting data;
A second information processing apparatus capable of receiving the output data;
A portable storage device connected to the first information processing device and connected to output the data to the second information processing device after storing the data output from the first information processing device; In a data passing system having
The portable storage device is:
The switch has a switch, stores data output from the first information processing apparatus while the switch is operated, and operates the switch when not connected to the first or second information processing apparatus A data delivery system, wherein the data is erased when the operation is interrupted. A first step of connecting a first information processing device capable of outputting data and a portable storage device;
A second step of storing the data output from the first information processing device in the portable storage device;
A third step of detecting that a switch of the portable storage device is operated by a user and erasing the data stored in the second step when the operation is interrupted;
A fourth step of connecting the second information processing device capable of receiving the output data and the portable storage device;
And a fifth step of outputting the data from the portable storage device to the second information processing device.

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