JP3634506B2 - Information processing apparatus, information providing system, information management method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a computer and an information management method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Computers are connected by the Internet and many personal computer communication networks, and information is exchanged through these networks. In addition, information exchange using a recording medium such as a floppy disk or an optical disk is often performed. Furthermore, a portable information terminal (PDA: Personal Digital Assistant) is also used, and a lot of information is loaded on the PDA for processing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Information transmitted from the sender to the receiver via the network or information stored in a computer connected to the network has a higher probability of being eavesdropped by an eavesdropper. In addition, information stored in a recording medium or PDA is likely to be seen by others due to theft or loss. Therefore, it is considered that a password is set to restrict access to information, and that information is encrypted and stored or transmitted.
[0004]
The password information needs to be managed by the information manager. If the information manager forgets the password information, the information manager himself cannot access the information. In addition, in order to decrypt the encrypted information, some kind of decryption key is required, and the information is handed over to the sender, or encryption according to the decryption key held by the sender is necessary. It becomes. Accordingly, if the sender and the receiver do not manage the encryption and decryption key information, the information cannot be accessed, and if the management is neglected, the information is lost or the eavesdropper is allowed to eavesdrop.
[0005]
Therefore, in the present invention, information can be managed from a viewpoint different from conventional password information or key information for managing information, information can be protected more safely, and moreover, the user's load for managing information An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information management method with a small amount of information. It is another object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and an information management method capable of restricting access to information or restricting decoding by a method different from the conventional one.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this reason, in the information processing apparatus and information management method of the present invention, physical information such as the position (current location) where the information processing apparatus or the user exists is used as password information or key information. That is, the information processing apparatus of the present invention includes position acquisition means that can acquire its current location information. The information management device manages information using the current location information as password information, or information using the current location information as key information. And management means for encryption and decryption. The information management method of the present invention includes a step of acquiring own current location information, a step of permitting access by comparing the current location information with previously registered location information, or decoding information using the current location information as a key. And a step of performing a chemical conversion treatment.
[0007]
As a means for acquiring own current position information, there is a means for acquiring own current position information based on data received from a plurality of satellites, and there is a GPS (Global Positioning System) that is widely used in car navigation systems and the like today. . Of course, it is not limited to GPS. It is also possible to obtain a rough current location from the base station position of the mobile communication system, and it is also possible to use the base station location as the current location in an information processing terminal having a PHS function with a relatively narrow service area. . Furthermore, it is also possible to install transmission terminals on roads or buildings and acquire position information from these transmission terminals.
[0008]
The current location is not unique to the information processing terminal and is not unique to the user. However, it is obtained when the user or the information processing terminal physically moves to a specific position, and position information related to the user can be used as password information or key information specifying the user. For example, in the information processing apparatus and the information management method of the present invention, it is possible to restrict access to information using a user's home position, office position, and user desk position as a password or key. is there. For this reason, users can access information by performing processing in a specific place, which is a normal place for the user, without storing password data or key data, and the load for managing information is greatly reduced. it can. In addition, the information sender can also transmit information that can be accessed only at a specific location. On the other hand, an eavesdropper cannot access information without going to a place designated as a password or a key. For this reason, it is necessary to specify a location and to move to and access the specified location. Therefore, the position information is very effective as a means for protecting the information from eavesdropping. Furthermore, as current location information that becomes password information or key information, it is possible to adopt not only the current location at the time of accessing information but also location information including the passage of time such as directions, and the information protection function Can be further increased.
[0009]
Such a function for enhancing the security of information can be applied to an information providing system connected to a computer network such as the Internet. Specific information using the position information as a password, the user's position information via the computer network, and the information An information providing system having means for receiving a request for providing specific information can be provided with means for transmitting the specific information only when the position information of the user matches the position information of the password of the specific information. In addition, in the case of specific information using the position information as a decryption key, it is only necessary to transmit the specific information decrypted using the user's position information as a key. Only when the position information is correct, the specific information decoded correctly is transmitted. Is done. Examples of such specific information include various information such as confidential information, information restricted to a specific user, and confidential letters.
[0010]
The information processing apparatus, information providing system, and information management method of the present invention can be used not only for information protection but also for leisure, sports or games. For example, by using the information processing apparatus and the information management method of the present invention, information on the next route or relay point can be provided only at a specific location in orienteering, stamp rally, rally, and the like. In addition, since information received by access from within a specific area can be limited, it is possible to provide advertisements, store information, etc. related to a region with the same user interface.
[0011]
The information management method of the present invention can be realized as a logic circuit or software, and the software can be provided by being stored in a recording medium such as a ROM, a hard disk, or an IC card. Further, the position information serving as password information may be stored in the information processing apparatus, or may be stored in a portable recording medium such as a floppy disk or an optical disk.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a terminal 10 capable of receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite and measuring its own location as an example of the embodiment of the present invention. The accuracy of position information by GPS single positioning is about 100 m for the currently open band and code, and is corrected using error information obtained via a network from a fixed reference station with clear coordinates. By using a method called differential GPS (DGPS), an accurate coordinate of the location of the terminal 10 can be obtained with an error of several meters or less.
[0013]
The information processing terminal 10 of this example is a portable terminal that also has a function that can be connected to the Internet, which is one of computer networks, and is configured around a CPU 11 that is a control unit. An internal bus 16 connected to the CPU 11 includes a memory 12 which is an internal storage device including a ROM and a RAM, a display device 13 such as an LCD, an input device 14 capable of keyboard or pen input, a flash ROM, An external storage device 15 such as a hard disk or a floppy disk and an expansion bus interface 17 are connected. A data communication device 18 is connected to the internal bus 16. The data communication terminal 18 connects the information processing terminal 10 to a nearby Internet access point via a public telephone line or a PHS line network. Data can be exchanged with a service server connected to the Internet according to the / IP protocol. Further, a GPS surveying unit 19 is connected to the internal bus 16, and this GPS surveying unit 19 is connected to a GPS satellite via an external antenna (not shown) connected to the GPS receiving antenna 2 or the external antenna terminal 3. A receiver 19a that receives data, and a calculator 19b that analyzes the received data to obtain position information such as coordinate position and time information, and further, DGPS calculation using error information acquired via the Internet This makes it possible to obtain the current location with high accuracy.
[0014]
[Diary processing]
2 and 3 show an example in which a diary processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured by the information processing terminal 10 of the present example. The diary processing system 20 of this example controls the position acquisition unit 21 that acquires current location information by the GPS surveying unit 19, the information management unit 22 that manages information (diary data in this example), and the information management unit 22. An input / output unit 23 capable of displaying and updating diary data is provided. The diary data 24 is stored in a diary file 25 formed in the external storage device 15, and the diary file 25 also stores information 26 indicating the coordinate position of the user's home.
[0015]
The processing in the diary processing system 20 of this example is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step 31, the information processing terminal 10 is turned on to be ready, and in step 32, the input / output unit 23 instructs the start of diary processing. When the process is started, an input request for position information is issued from the information management unit 22 in step 33, and the position acquisition unit 21 acquires current location information using the GPS surveying unit 19 in step 34. If the GPS survey cannot be performed directly because the terminal 10 is indoors, the terminal 10 may be connected to an outdoor GPS antenna. Alternatively, the current location information immediately before entering the building can be acquired using the GPS surveying unit 19 and the current location information can be used. The current location information acquired by the information management unit 22 in step 35 is compared with the home information 26 of the diary file. If the current location matches the home location, the diary file 25 is opened in step 36 and the user passes the input / output unit 23. The diary data 24 can be accessed. On the other hand, if the acquired current location does not match the location of the home, it is displayed in step 37 that the locations do not match, and the flow returns to step 31 to wait for the next process.
[0016]
As described above, in the diary processing system 20 of this example, the location of the user's home is adopted as the password information, and the location indicating the location of the home registered in advance as the password information using the current location information acquired by the location acquisition unit 21 The access to the diary file 26 is permitted by collating with the information 26. Therefore, in the diary processing system 20 of this example, the contents of the diary file 26 are protected as specific information, and the diary file 26 cannot be opened at the user's home. Even if the diary file 26 is mounted on a PDA or the like carried by the user, it cannot be accessed anywhere other than at home, so there is no worry of being read by others and privacy can be protected. Even if the diary file 26 is formed on a recording medium such as a floppy disk or an optical disk, the diary file 26 can only be opened at the user's home. Therefore, even if it is stolen or the PDA or the recording medium is lost, the contents described in the diary file 26 cannot be read outside the user's home, so that his / her secret can be secured. On the other hand, since the position information is used as password information, the diary file 26 can be accessed anytime at home. Therefore, the user does not need to memorize or enter the password, and there is no worry that the user forgets the password, cannot access the diary file due to an input error, or the contents of the diary file are destroyed. In this way, by managing information using the current location information as password information, it is possible to reliably protect the information. Furthermore, by using the position information as password information, the trouble of inputting the password can be saved, and troubles such as forgetting the password can be prevented, and the user can access the information at a normal place. Therefore, the load on the user for managing information is greatly reduced. The software for realizing the diary processing system of this example can be stored in the same recording medium as the diary file, or can be stored in the external recording device 15 or the memory 12 of the information terminal 10. is there. It is also possible to store password information on the same recording medium as the software, but it is possible to include specific information such as a diary from a third party by enclosing the password information in the diary file. It is desirable in terms of so-called confidentiality protection.
[0017]
[Rally System]
4 and 5 show an example in which a rally system according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured by the information processing terminal 10 of the present example. The rally terminal system 40 in this example controls a position acquisition unit 41 that acquires current location information by the GPS surveying unit 19, an information management unit 42 that manages information (relay point data in this example), and an information management unit 42 In addition, an input / output unit 43 capable of displaying relay point data is provided. Furthermore, the terminal system 40 of the present example includes a network management unit 44 having a function of allowing access to a server 46 storing relay point data via the Internet 45 using the data communication unit 18 of the information terminal 10. . Further, the server 46 of this example is an information providing system, and a relay point file 47 is prepared. The file 47 is opened only for the information 49 indicating the location of the relay point as password information and the information that has reached the relay point. Stored is map data 48 indicating the next relay point, which is specific information.
[0018]
The processing in the rally system 40 of this example is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. After the information processing terminal 10 is turned on and ready in step 51, the user requests the next relay point data from the input / output unit 43 in step 52 when the user reaches a position that seems to be a relay point. To do. In response to this request, the position acquisition unit 41 acquires current location information using the GPS surveying unit 19 in step 53, and transmits the information from the network management unit 44 to the server 46 via the Internet 45 in step 54.
[0019]
The server 46 collates the current location information of the sent user with the location information of the location of the relay point file 47, which is password information, and specifies information only when the current location of the terminal system 40 matches the location information that is the password. The relay point map data 48 next to the relay point file 47 is transmitted to the terminal system 40 via the Internet 45. On the other hand, if the current location of the terminal system 40 transmitted from the terminal system 40 does not match the relay point location 49, the server does not transmit the map data 48.
[0020]
The terminal system 40 receives the data transmitted from the server 46 in step 55, and determines in step 56 whether or not the current location is a relay point. If it is a relay point, map data 48 of the next relay point is transmitted from the server 46 and is displayed on the input / output unit 43. Based on this map data 48, the user goes to the next relay point and the rally is continued. On the other hand, if the current location of the user is not a relay point, a message to that effect is displayed in step 58 and the process returns to the ready state 51. The user can further search for a relay point and obtain information on the next relay point when the correct relay point is reached.
[0021]
Thus, also in the rally system of this example, the current location information is used as password information for obtaining information on the next relay point, and information on the next relay point cannot be obtained unless the relay point is reached. It is like that. Therefore, the user (competitor) cannot bypass the relay point, and can only obtain information on the next relay point as long as the relay point is reached. Therefore, it is possible to realize a rally that anyone can enjoy under fair conditions. Furthermore, in the system of this example, since it is automatically determined whether or not it is a relay point using GPS, there is no need for equipment or a supervisor as a relay point, and the relay point can be set freely. Yes. Furthermore, since information on the next relay point can be provided using the Internet, the degree of freedom in setting the route is high, and the route can be easily changed depending on conditions such as weather and seasons.
[0022]
Further, as the location information 49 of the relay point for verification prepared in the server 46, it is also possible to employ position information regarding all or a part of the relay points that have passed until reaching the relay point. As described above, it is possible to set the time information including not only the current location but also the route as the position information and the position information as the password information. In the rally system, by preparing password information including directions, it is possible to bypass competitors on the way and eliminate competitors who accidentally reach the relay point. In addition, by including past position information in the password information, the amount of data to be verified as a password increases, which increases the safety. Furthermore, in the system of the present invention, there is no need to input a password, so even if data increases, there is no burden on the user.
[0023]
[Decryption system]
6 and 7 show an example in which an e-mail processing system 60 is configured as a decryption system according to an embodiment of the present invention by the information processing terminal 10 of this example. The e-mail system 40 of this example controls the position acquisition unit 61 that acquires current location information by the GPS surveying unit 19, the information management unit 62 that manages information (e-mail in this example), and the information management unit 62. An input / output unit 63 capable of displaying electronic mail is provided. Further, the terminal system 60 of this example controls the data communication unit 18 to acquire e-mail data 65 via the Internet, and e-mail using the current location information obtained by the position acquisition unit 61 as key information. A decrypting unit 64 that decrypts the data 65 is provided.
[0024]
Processing in the electronic mail system 60 of this example is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step 71, after the information processing terminal 10 is turned on and put into a ready state, a mail decryption request is input from the input / output unit 63 in step 72 when the user is at home or in his office. In response to this request, the position acquisition unit 61 acquires the current location information using the GPS surveying unit 19 in step 73. When GPS surveying cannot be performed directly due to being in a building, as described above, processing such as connection to an external antenna or using position information immediately before entering a building can be taken. If the current location information can be acquired, then in step 74, decryption processing is performed using the current location information as key information. In step 75, it is determined whether or not the mail data 65 can be decrypted. If decrypted, the mail data 65 is displayed on the input / output unit 63 in step 76. If decryption has failed, a decryption error is displayed in step 77 and the process returns to the ready state.
[0025]
In this way, by encrypting data using position information as key information, an e-mail that cannot be decrypted unless it is at a specific position, for example, the user's home, office, or desk, is transmitted as specific information, for example, confidential. be able to. Accordingly, an eavesdropper on the network cannot keep access to the contents even if the encrypted e-mail is accessed, so that the secret can be maintained and the e-mail can be transmitted with peace of mind. It is also safe if you lose your email. Furthermore, since the e-mail can be reliably decrypted if it is located at the key information position, there is no fear of losing the key information, so that the user can save the trouble and know the contents of the e-mail without fail.
[0026]
As shown in these examples, in the present invention, current location information obtained by a user or an information processing terminal physically moving to a specific position is used as password information or key information. Therefore, the user can access the information by performing processing at a specific place where the user is usually present without storing the password or the key. In addition, the information sender can also transmit information that can be accessed only at a specific location. On the other hand, an eavesdropper cannot access information without going to a place designated as a password or a key. Therefore, it is possible to construct an information management system that has a high secret retention capability against wiretapping, theft, and loss, and can be easily managed by some users. In addition, as described above, the present invention can be applied to sports and games using a function that information can be accessed only at a specific position. These systems can be provided as software that can be stored in a ROM, an external storage medium, or the like, and can be added to the information processing terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1 as an add-on or plug-in function.
[0027]
In addition, said example is an example of this invention and is not limited to this. For example, as a diary processing system, it is possible to encrypt and decrypt diary data using current location information as key information. It is also possible to add the location information to the e-mail as password information and send it. Further, instead of verifying the password, it is also possible to store information encrypted using the location information as a key in the server and transmit the decrypted information using the transmitted user's current location information as a key. .
[0028]
Further, the means for acquiring the current location information is not limited to the GPS of this example, and as described above, it is also possible to acquire the current location information from the location of the PHS base station. It is also possible to provide a transmission facility for providing position information.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the information processing apparatus, information management method, and storage medium of the present invention, position information is adopted as password information for access or key information for decryption. Therefore, access to the information is permitted only at a specific position. For this reason, the ability to counter eavesdropping or falsification of information can be improved. On the other hand, since the user can access the information by going to a normal place, the load for protecting the specific information is small. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, an information management method, and a recording medium that can be easily accessed with a small load for management of the user and can safely protect information against an eavesdropper or theft.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing terminal capable of managing information using position information according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a diary processing system that is an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing in the diary processing system shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a rally system that is an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the rally system shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the electronic mail system shown in FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
2. GPS antenna 10 Information processing terminal 11 CPU
12. Memory 13 Display device 14 Input device 15 External storage device 16 Internal bus 18 Data communication device (Internet access unit)
19 .... GPS surveying unit 20 .... Diary processing system 21, 41, 61..Position acquisition unit 22, 42, 62..Information management unit 23, 42, 63..Input / output unit 24..Diary data 25 .. Diary file 26 ·· Home information 44 and 66 · Network management unit 45 · Internet 46 · Server 47 connected to the Internet · Relay point file 48 · Map data 49 of the next relay point · · Relay point Location information 64 .. Decoding section

Claims (3)

Position acquisition means capable of acquiring own current location information;
Means for pre-registering specific information that is a combination of location information for specifying self and accessible information;
Having at least one of management means for managing information as powered information and decryption means for decrypting information as key information;
The portable information processing apparatus can access the specific information that matches the position information only when the password information and the key information are position information that identifies the self . An information providing system connected to a computer network,
Means for pre-registering specific information that is a combination of location information for specifying a user and accessible information;
Means for receiving a request for providing current location information and the specific information of the user,
Means for transmitting the specific information,
Upon receiving a request for providing the specific information, current position information of the user who received only when a location information identifying the user, and transmits the specific information that matches with the position information Information provision system. In Claim 2 , the location information related to the user is used as a decryption key,
When the request for providing the specific information is received, the specific information decrypted using the current location information of the user as a key is transmitted.

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