JP4680686B2 - Storage medium for computer terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage medium for a computer terminal that can be attached to and detached from a computer terminal such as a personal computer that can be operated by a user, and stores at least data usable in the mounted computer terminal in a readable manner.

  In recent years, along with improvements in non-volatile memory manufacturing technology, hard disk miniaturization technology, etc., a small computer terminal storage medium that can be freely attached to and detached from a computer terminal and can be easily carried by a user, for example, USB memories, ultra-small hard disks, and the like have become widespread. Using these computer terminal storage media, distribution and sale of program data that operates on computer terminals, and various types of document data and image data that can be used on computer terminals Data is delivered (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2002-215254 A JP 2004-158026 A

  However, when using storage media for computer terminals such as USB memory and ultra-small hard disk, programs (applications) and various data that are sold, distributed, or delivered can be easily stored and carried. In order to prevent the unauthorized use of programs (applications) and various types of data provided on these computer terminal storage media from increasing, there is a high risk of such unauthorized use. However, there is a demand for making it impossible to use the provided data after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and a storage medium for a computer terminal that can meet these demands has been desired.

  In order to meet these demands, for example, a date for use expiration is given to each data, and data whose date for use has passed is used based on the date in the system program running on the computer terminal. In this case, the user of the computer terminal can easily use the data stored in the storage medium for the computer terminal by illegally changing the date in the system program. There was also a problem of becoming.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and in order to suppress the expansion of unauthorized use of various data, the data cannot be used after a predetermined period in which the data can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium for a computer terminal that can meet the desire to do so.

In order to solve the above problems, a storage medium for a computer terminal according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
A computer terminal storage medium comprising a storage unit that can be attached to and detached from a computer terminal that can be operated by a user, and that can store at least data usable in the mounted computer terminal in a readable and rewritable manner,
An elapsed period specifying means for specifying an elapsed period after data is stored in the storage unit;
Power supply means for supplying power for operating at least the elapsed time specifying means;
Period elapsed determination means for determining whether or not the elapsed period specified by the elapsed time specifying means has passed a predetermined available period;
Disabling means for disabling the data stored in the storage unit on the condition that it is determined that the available period has passed in the determination by the period elapsed determination means;
A mounting detection means for detecting that the computer terminal is mounted;
Equipped with a,
The elapsed period specifying means specifies the elapsed period as a start time of the elapsed period, the detection time of mounting by the mounting detection means for the first time after data is stored in the storage unit,
The elapsed period specifying means is formed by a real time clock (RTC) capable of outputting date and time information at that time,
The data is program data executable on the computer terminal,
The period elapse determining means determines whether the license data end date of the program data set as the predetermined usable period depends on whether date / time information output from the real-time clock (RTC) has passed. It is characterized by determining whether or not a predetermined usable period of program data has elapsed .
According to this characteristic, when the elapsed period specifying means that operates independently by the power supply means, and the elapsed period specified by the elapsed period specifying means has passed a predetermined available period of time, Since the data stored in the storage unit is not usable, after a predetermined period in which these data can be used, in order to suppress the expansion of unauthorized use of various data stored in the storage unit It can respond to the request to make it unavailable in the Internet. In addition, the recipient who has received the data can use the data from when the computer terminal storage medium storing the data is first installed in the computer terminal until the usable period elapses. For example, in the case of distributing a computer terminal storage medium, the elapsed time is included in the elapsed time, and compared with the recipient who was able to obtain the computer terminal storage medium in a short distribution period. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of inequality such that the recipient who has obtained the storage medium for a computer terminal that has passed a long distribution period can use the data significantly. In addition, the usable period can be easily set based on the date when it cannot be used, which is convenient, and the real-time clock (RTC) requires less power during operation, and the capacity required for the power supply means. Therefore, it is possible to use a small-sized power supply means, and to prevent a decrease in portability due to an increase in the size of the computer terminal storage medium by the power supply means. Furthermore, the program data provider can reliably prevent unauthorized use after the license end date of the program stored in the storage unit.

The computer terminal storage medium according to claim 2 of the present invention is the computer terminal storage medium according to claim 1,
The disabling means makes the data unusable by deleting the data.
According to this feature, compared to the case where it is impossible to rewrite a part of the data, the data does not remain, so that the risk of the remaining data being analyzed or illegally used is further increased. Can be less.

A computer terminal storage medium according to claim 3 of the present invention is the computer terminal storage medium according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A notification destination information storage unit for storing notification destination identification information capable of specifying an IP address of a notification destination for notifying that the data cannot be used by the disabling unit;
Sending the disabling information that can specify that the data has been disabled by the disabling means to the IP address specified from the notification destination specifying information stored in the notification destination information storage unit Disabling information transmission request output means for outputting the disabling information transmission request to the computer terminal,
It is characterized by having.
According to this feature, for example, the storage unit can be configured as notification destination specifying information that can specify an IP address of a management server managed by a provider of data stored in the storage unit as the notification destination specifying information. The provider can accurately grasp whether or not the data stored in the table is unavailable.

A storage medium for a computer terminal according to claim 4 of the present invention is the storage medium for a computer terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The power supply means includes a secondary battery or a capacitor and a charging circuit for the secondary battery or the capacitor.
According to this feature, for example, when reusing a storage medium for a computer terminal that has been disabled by the disabling unit, the secondary battery or capacitor is charged without replacing the primary battery, for example. The computer terminal storage medium can be reused repeatedly.

A storage medium for a computer terminal according to claim 5 of the present invention is the storage medium for a computer terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A USB data communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the computer terminal through the USB interface unit of the computer terminal;
The storage unit is formed of a nonvolatile memory.
According to this feature, almost all of these USB interface units are provided in almost all personal computers and notebook computers, which are computer terminals in recent years, and the present invention is very versatile and can be used without connecting special equipment. The computer terminal storage medium can be used in many computer terminals.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a USB memory 2 that is a storage medium for a computer terminal according to the present embodiment and a notebook personal computer 1 that is a computer terminal to which the USB memory 2 is attached.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the notebook computer 1 used in the present embodiment has an operating system program (OS) stored in a storage device 15 (described later) on a data bus 11 for transmitting and receiving data inside the computer. A CPU 12 for executing a virus removal program as an application program stored in a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory 2, a RAM 13 used as a work memory, etc., and an operation input unit 14 to which a keyboard 7 and a mouse 8 are connected. , A storage device 15 comprising a hard disk drive (HDD), a display processing unit 16 comprising a graphic board or the like to which a display 6 is connected and generating a display screen displayed on the display 6, a connector to which the USB memory 2 is attached, Communication for sending / receiving data to / from the USB memory 2 USB interface section 3 comprising a part is connected a normal computer.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the USB memory 2 connected to the USB interface unit 3 of the notebook personal computer 1 is a storage medium having a square bar shape in cross section, and a flash memory that is a nonvolatile memory is included therein. A real-time clock (RTC) 25 that constitutes an elapsed period specifying means according to the present invention capable of outputting date / time, minute, and second date / time data at that time together with the memory 22, and a power supply means according to the present invention capable of storing charged power. An electric double layer capacitor 24; a power supply circuit 23 that supplies power supplied from the USB interface unit 3 to each device and has a charging circuit for the electric double layer capacitor 24; and the flash memory 22 and a real-time clock (RTC). 25 and a small control microcomputer 21 connected to the power supply circuit 23. That.

  In the control microcomputer 21, the operation of the USB memory 2 based on the control program stored in the built-in internal EEPROM, specifically, the read / write control from the flash memory 22, and the storage time update described later USB which becomes the USB data communication unit in the present invention which performs data transmission / reception between the CPU core unit for performing various processes such as processing and startup processing at the time of mounting and the USB interface unit 3 of the notebook personal computer 1 to be mounted And a controller unit.

  In the internal EEPROM of the control microcomputer 21 used in this embodiment, in addition to the control program described above, as shown in FIG. 2, data stored in the flash memory 22 (in this embodiment, virus removal is described later). Based on the input of an interrupt signal from the RTC 25 every predetermined time (every 12 hours in this embodiment) When the latest time data updated and stored at that time and the data stored in the flash memory 22 are deleted, the global IP address 2 of the server computer 10 that is the notification destination for notifying that the deletion has been performed is set. Including the notification destination address data, and the time of the RTC 25 is incorrect due to the power out of the electric double layer capacitor 24 The notification destination address data including the global IP address 1 of the acquisition destination server computer 10 that acquires the calibration data for calibrating the time of the RTC 25, the adapter ID uniquely assigned to the USB memory 2, and Various flag data are stored, and the notification destination information storage unit in the present invention is formed by the internal EEPROM.

  The usage period data used in the present embodiment can store one type of three different types of data. Specifically, the data in which 1 is stored as the type data is If the type data is 1, the date data corresponding to the type data is stored as the last date on which the data stored in the flash memory 22 can be used. The control microcomputer 21 can identify the date. Furthermore, the data in which 2 or 3 is stored as the type data is stored together with the data of the number of days, for example, the number of days such as 120 days. When the type data is 2, the USB memory 2 is attached for the first time. After that, the date of the last date that the virus removal program can be used is calculated based on the number of days data, the usage period data is updated with the date of the last date as the data of the type data 1, and the type data of 3 In this case, since the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 is started for the first time, the date of the last available date is calculated based on the number of days data, and the date of the last date is the data of the type data 1 The usage period data is updated as follows.

  Further, in this embodiment, the flash memory 22 has a virus removal program for detecting the virus program when various data stored in the storage device 15 of the notebook personal computer 1 is included. The program is stored. In this embodiment, a virus program is exemplified as data stored in the flash memory 22 which is a nonvolatile memory serving as a storage unit of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these The data stored in the flash memory 22 may be data that can be used by the notebook computer 1 to which the USB memory 2 is attached.

  The power supply circuit 23 used in this embodiment is connected to the power supply line of the USB interface unit 3 of the notebook computer 1 and is supplied from the USB interface unit 3 through the power supply line during the operation of the notebook computer 1. And a circuit for charging the electric double layer capacitor 24 with the DC power. Further, when the USB memory 2 is removed from the notebook personal computer 1, the power charged in the electric double layer capacitor 24 is used to supply the microampere level power necessary for the operation of the RTC 25, as described above. As described above, in the storage time update process of FIG. 3 performed at predetermined time intervals, the control microcomputer 21 supplies power for operating in the low power mode although it is a short time.

  Hereinafter, the usage status of the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, as described above, the case where the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 is distributed for a fee by the provider of the program will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 5, a management server to which a global IP address (fixed IP address) is assigned on the Internet network is owned and operated.

  When this provider provides (sells) a virus removal program, first, the USB memory 2 is attached to a computer (not shown) for provision, and the provided virus removal program is copied to the flash memory 22.

  Then, after the copying, using a dedicated firmware update program for updating the data in the internal EEPROM of the control microcomputer 21, the usage period data, notification destination address data (global IP address 2), calibration destination address data (Global IP address 1), the adapter ID is written and updated. At this time, the electric double layer capacitor 24 is charged with electric power, the RTC time is calibrated to an accurate time, and information on these adapter IDs is stored (registered) in the server computer 10.

  In addition, as the usage period data, when it is desired to designate a usable period by date, the usage period data including the type data 1 and the date is stored, and a predetermined period after the USB memory 2 is mounted can be used. If you want to set a certain period of time, store usage period data consisting of type data 2 and the number of days that can be used, and if you want to set a predetermined period after the virus removal program is started for the first time as an available period Stores the usage period data including the type data 3 and the number of days that can be used. In the following description, as a specific example, a case where usage period data having 120 days as the number of days that can be used in the type data 2 is stored will be described.

  In this way, after updating the data in the internal EEPROM with the firmware update program, the USB memory 2 is removed from a computer (not shown), and a predetermined packaging or the like is carried out and sold through a distribution channel.

  Also in this distribution route, the control microcomputer 21 of the USB memory 2 performs the storage time update process shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the RTC 25 mounted on the USB memory 2 continues to operate with the power supplied from the power supply circuit 23 by the power charged in the electric double layer capacitor 24 even in these distribution paths, An interrupt signal is output to the control microcomputer 21 every time (12 hours in this embodiment).

  Based on the input of this interrupt signal, the control microcomputer 21 proceeds to W2 with an interrupt from the RTC 25 as shown at W1 in FIG. In W2, if it is already in operation instead of sleeping, the process proceeds to W3.

  In W3, date / time data (year / month / day, hour / minute / second) at that time is acquired from the RTC 25, and the latest time data in the internal EEPROM is updated to the acquired date / time data (W4), and the process returns to W1.

  In this way, the latest time data in the internal EEPROM is stored with the latest date and time data until the control microcomputer 21 becomes inoperable with the power supplied from the power supply circuit 23 as a time stamp. After that, even if the RTC 25 becomes inoperable due to power reduction, the time of the RTC 25 can be corrected to at least date / time data stored in the latest time data.

  Then, when the USB memory 2 is purchased and attached to the user's notebook computer 1, the installation start process shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

  Specifically, when the USB memory 2 is attached to the USB interface unit 3 of the notebook personal computer 1 during operation and the DC power is supplied from the USB interface unit 3, the power supply circuit 23 of the present embodiment is The activation interrupt signal is output to the connected control microcomputer 21. That is, the power supply circuit 23 of the present embodiment corresponds to the attachment detection means in the present invention for detecting that the USB memory 2 is attached to the notebook personal computer 1 that is a computer terminal.

  The input of this interrupt signal is detected in S1 and proceeds to S2, and after starting from the sleep state, date / time data at that time is acquired from the RTC 25 (S3).

  Then, the acquired date / time data is compared with the date / time specified from the data stored in the latest time data of the internal EEPROM. If the date acquired from the RTC 25 is older than the date of the latest time data, the RTC 25 Processing for calibrating the time of RTC 25 in S20 to S23 (S22) is determined by determining that RTC 25 is in an initialized state after power for operation has been cut off (consumed). Execute.

  Specifically, the process proceeds to S20, and calibration data acquisition request output processing is performed. In this calibration data acquisition request output process, the control microcomputer 21 includes the global IP address 1 stored in the calibration destination address data stored in the internal EEPROM and the adapter ID stored in the internal EEPROM. A calibration data acquisition request for requesting the global IP address 1 to transmit a calibration data request including the adapter ID is output to the notebook personal computer 1 that is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the system (OS) operating in the notebook personal computer 1 in response to the output of the calibration data acquisition request calibrates data including the global IP address 1 and the adapter ID included in the calibration data acquisition request. The request is transmitted to the global IP address 1 through the Internet network.

  The calibration data request is received by the server computer 10 corresponding to the global IP address 1, and the server computer 10 determines whether or not the adapter ID included in the calibration data request is stored correctly, and If it is determined that it is legitimate in the determination, calibration data including accurate date and time data at that time is returned.

  This calibration data is output to the USB memory 2 by the system (OS) operating in the notebook computer 1.

  The input of the calibration data is detected in S21 and proceeds to S22. After correcting the current time of the RTC 25 which is inaccurate based on the accurate date and time data included in the input calibration data, the process proceeds to S5.

  If the notebook personal computer 1 is not connected to the Internet network or is not connectable, calibration data is not input. Therefore, the control microcomputer 21 does not input calibration data for a predetermined time or longer. Proceeding from S21 to S23, the current time of the inaccurate RTC 25 is calibrated at the date and time specified from the data stored in the latest time data of the internal EEPROM, and then proceeding to S5. At this time, by updating the flag indicating that the calibration data has not been acquired, the calibration data acquisition request output process shown in S20 is sequentially executed while the control microcomputer 21 is running, and the acquisition of calibration data is attempted. .

  Then, after the processing of S20 to S23 (S22), or when the date acquired from the RTC 25 in S4 is newer than the date of the latest time data, it is determined that the RTC 25 has been continuously operated, and the processing proceeds to S5. Then, it is determined whether or not the mounted flag included in the various flag data of the internal EEPROM has already been updated.

  If the mounted flag has already been updated, the process proceeds to S6. If not updated, it is determined that this is the first mounting, and the processes shown in S30 to S32 are executed.

  Specifically, it is determined whether or not the type of usage period data stored in the internal EEPROM corresponds to the type data 2 that is the start type at the time of mounting (S30). If it is period data, the process proceeds to S31, the date data at that time after calibration is acquired from the RTC 25, and the number of days (120 days in this embodiment) stored in the usage period data together with the type data. From this point, the end date of use for calculating the start point of the elapsed period is calculated, that is, the date after 120 days is calculated and specified, and the specified use end date is updated and stored in the use period data together with the type data 1. By this update storage, the type data 2 and the date data are deleted. In other words, in the present embodiment, after the virus removal program is stored in the flash memory 22, the USB memory 2 is attached for the first time, the attachment is detected by the power supply circuit 23, and an interrupt signal is output. The end date of use is specified as the elapsed period as the start time of the period.

  If the usage period data is updated or the type of usage period data does not correspond to the type data 2 that is the start type at the time of mounting, the process proceeds to S32 to update the mounted flag and then proceeds to S6. .

  In this S6, it is determined whether or not the type of the usage period data is the type data 1 corresponding to the usage end date, and whether or not the usage end date is included. , And when the usage period data includes the usage end date, the process proceeds to S7, and after the calibration, the USB memory 2 is mounted on the notebook computer 1 as a drive. Date data at that time is acquired from the RTC 25.

  Then, a use end date excess determination process for comparing the current date and time specified from the acquired date data with the use end date included in the use period data and determining whether or not the current date and time has passed the use end date is performed. Implement (S8).

  In other words, in the use end date excess determination process, whether or not the current end date acquired from the RTC 25 that is the elapsed time specifying means in the present invention has passed the use end date that is a predetermined usable period set in advance. The control microcomputer 21 that performs the use end date excess determination process forms the period elapsed determination means in the present invention.

  If it is determined in the use end date excess determination process in S8 that the current date and time has not passed the use end date, the installation start process is terminated and the USB memory 2 is used as a drive in the notebook computer 1. If it is determined that the current date and time has passed the usage end date, the process proceeds to S9, and the virus removal stored in the flash memory 22 serving as the storage unit is performed. An erasing process is executed to erase the program by executing an erasing process program stored in the internal EEPROM. It should be noted that the erasure by the erasure processing program of the present embodiment is temporarily performed on all the areas where the virus removal program is stored so that the virus removal program, which is the data stored in the flash memory 22, cannot be restored. After writing “1”, complete erasure is performed by repeating the process of writing “0” a plurality of times.

  That is, in the erasing process of the present embodiment, the flash memory is provided on the condition that it has been determined that the use end date that is a predetermined available period set in advance has been determined in the determination in the use end date excess determination process. The virus removal program stored in the memory 22 is made unusable by erasing, and the disabling means in the present invention is formed by the control microcomputer 21 that performs the erasing process.

  In this way, completely erasing the data stored in the flash memory 22 serving as the storage unit means that the virus removal program is restored from the remaining data as compared to the case where these data remain. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data stored in the flash memory 22 serving as the storage unit is not limited to this. The virus removal program that is the data cannot be used by, for example, overwriting and changing a part of the data or making it invisible from the notebook computer 1. good.

  Then, after erasing is completed, the process proceeds to S10, and the current date and time information (data) acquired at S7 is stored in the flash memory 22 after erasure, and then the disabling information transmission request output process of S11 is performed. As shown in FIG. 5, after notifying the server computer 10 that the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 has been erased, the USB memory 2 is used as a drive to the notebook computer 1. Transition to normal mount processing for mounting.

  Specifically, in the disabling information transmission request output process of this embodiment, the control microcomputer 21 stores the global IP address 2 stored in the aforementioned notification destination address data stored in the internal EEPROM and the internal EEPROM. To the attached notebook personal computer 1 to send a request for disabling information transmission to the global IP address 2 to request transmission of the disabling information including the adapter ID. Output.

  That is, in the disabling information transmission request output process of this embodiment, the global IP address 2 specified from the notification destination address data serving as the notification destination specifying information stored in the internal EEPROM serving as the notification destination information storage unit in the present invention. On the other hand, note the disabling information transmission request for requesting transmission of disabling information that can specify that the virus removal program has been disabled by erasing in the erasing process as disabling means in the present invention. The disabling information transmission request output means in the present invention is formed by the control microcomputer 21 that outputs to the personal computer 1 and executes the disabling information transmission request output processing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the system (OS) operating on the notebook personal computer 1 in response to the output of the disable information transmission request outputs the global IP address 2 and adapter ID included in the disable information transmission request. Is sent to the global IP address 2 through the Internet.

  This disabling information is received by the server computer 10 corresponding to the global IP address 2, and the server computer 10 adds the disabling information to the deletion completion data corresponding to the adapter ID included in the disabling information. By storing the date on which the virus removal program is received, the provider of the virus removal program confirms that the virus removal program stored in the USB memory 2 identified from the adapter ID has been securely deleted depending on whether the date is registered. Can be confirmed.

  The case where the type of usage period data stored in the internal EEPROM is the data of the type data 3 that is the start type at the time of starting the program will be briefly described below. The virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 is described below. When activated, the activated virus removal program identifies the drive of the USB memory 2 in which its own program data is stored, and is a predetermined value indicating that it has been activated to the control microcomputer 21 of the USB memory 2 Is output, the control microcomputer 21 of the USB memory 2 performs update processing of usage period data.

  Specifically, the update process of the usage period data is the same as the process of S31 described above, the date data at that time is acquired from the RTC 25, and the number of days stored in the usage period data together with the type data 3, For example, from 120 days, the end date of use is calculated as the start point of the elapsed period, that is, the date after 120 days is calculated and specified, and the specified use end date is updated to the use period data together with the type data 1 Remember. By this update storage, the type data 2 and the date data are deleted.

  Then, based on the usage period data including the type data 1 and the usage end date updated in this manner, the current date and time specified from the date data acquired from the RTC 25 is used in S8 in the above-described start-up process at the time of mounting. When the use end date included in the period data has passed, the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 is deleted, and the deletion is notified.

  As described above, according to the USB memory 2 that is a storage medium for a computer terminal of the present embodiment, the electric double layer capacitor 24 serving as a power supply means and the RTC 25 that constitutes an elapsed period specifying means that operates independently by the power supply circuit 23 are provided. When the elapsed period specified by the date / time data from the RTC 25 has passed the last use date that is a predetermined usable period set in advance, the virus removal stored in the flash memory 22 serving as a storage unit Since the program (data) cannot be used, a predetermined period in which these data can be used has passed in order to prevent the unauthorized use of the virus removal program (data) stored in the flash memory 22 from being expanded. It is possible to respond to a request to make it unavailable afterwards.

  Further, according to the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment, the virus removal program (data) stored in the flash memory 22 serving as a storage unit is completely erased, so that it is impossible to rewrite part of the data. Compared to the above, since no data remains, the risk of the remaining data being analyzed or illegally used can be reduced.

  Further, according to the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment, since the elapsed period from the time when the USB memory 2 is attached to the USB interface unit 3 of the notebook personal computer 1 is the usable period, Since the provider can use the virus removal program (data) from the time when the USB memory 2 is mounted until the usable period elapses, it is in circulation when the USB memory 2 is distributed as described above. The recipient who has acquired the USB memory 2 that has passed through a long period of distribution compared to the recipient who has been able to obtain the USB memory 2 in a short period of distribution period However, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of inequality such as the period when the virus removal program (data) can be used remarkably.

  Further, according to the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment, since the real time clock (RTC) 25 is used as the elapsed period specifying means, the usable period can be simply set to the date when the usable period becomes unavailable (last use date). In addition to being convenient to set, the real-time clock (RTC) 25 requires less power during operation and can reduce the capacity required for the electric double layer capacitor 24 constituting the power supply means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the portability from being reduced as much as possible by increasing the size of the USB memory 2 by the electric double layer capacitor 24.

  Further, according to the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment, the provider of the virus removal program (data) reliably suppresses unauthorized use after the license end date of the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22. be able to.

  Further, according to the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment, the server computer 10 is notified that the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 has been erased, and is stored in the flash memory 22. The provider of the virus removal program can accurately grasp whether or not the virus removal program has been made unavailable by deletion.

  Further, according to the USB memory 2 of the present embodiment, since the electric double layer capacitor 24 that can be charged is used and the power supply circuit 23 is charged to charge the electric double layer capacitor 24, for example, the virus removal program is deleted. When the erased USB memory 2 is reused, for example, the USB memory 2 can be easily reused repeatedly without replacing the primary battery or the like.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the storage medium for the computer terminal is the USB memory 2, the notebook computer 1 and the ordinary desktop personal computer which are recent computer terminals are provided with almost all of the USB interface units 3. Therefore, the computer terminal storage medium of the present invention can be used in many notebook personal computers 1 and ordinary desktop personal computers without connecting special equipment.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the electric double layer capacitor 24 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the electric double layer capacitor 24, the secondary battery is a high energy density, A small button-like lithium ion battery that can obtain a relatively high voltage may be used, or a primary battery may be used if the usable period is relatively short. good.

  In the above embodiment, the virus removal program (data) stored in the flash memory 22 is erased when the USB memory 2 is attached to the USB interface unit 3 of the notebook computer 1 and sufficient power is supplied. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the flash is mounted even when the lithium ion battery is mounted in place of the electric double layer capacitor 24 and is not mounted on the notebook computer 1. If the memory 22 has an operating power that can be erased, these data erasures can be disabled even when the USB memory 2 is not attached to the notebook computer 1 as shown in FIG. In the above-described storage time update process to be performed, the same as the processes of S8 to S10 in the above-described startup process at the time of mounting By carrying out W5 to W7, if the current date and time has passed the end of use date, the USB memory 2 is attached to the notebook computer 1 and the virus removal program stored in the flash memory 22 serving as the storage unit is installed. It may be deleted regardless of whether or not it is present.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the flash memory 22 which is a non-volatile memory is used as a memory | storage part, and doing in this way is compared with the ultra-small hard disk etc. which include rotation drive parts, such as a motor, for example. In addition, the power consumption during reading, writing, standby, etc. of the storage unit can be reduced, and the power consumption during reading, writing, standby, for example, can be applied to, for example, a primary battery or a secondary battery serving as a power means. However, even when the computer terminal storage medium is not attached to the notebook personal computer 1 as a computer terminal, it can be disabled by erasing or overwriting data, but the present invention is not limited to this. These storage units should not be able to read various data and store them in a rewritable manner. Well, of course, it may be a super-small hard disk mentioned above.

  In the embodiment, the elapsed time specifying means uses the real time clock (RTC) 25 to specify the elapsed time based on the date / time data output from the real time clock (RTC) 25. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and without using the real-time clock (RTC) 25, for example, a predetermined clock counter is provided in the control microcomputer 21, and the clock counter performs a predetermined count. An operation time counter for accumulating the number of count-ups every time it is executed is stored in the internal EEPROM so that it can be updated and stored, and when this operation time counter reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed. You may do it.

  In the above embodiment, the server computer 10 is notified that the virus removal program has been deleted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the notification is not implemented. Also good.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the interface with the notebook personal computer 1 which is a computer terminal is made into the USB interface part 3, this invention is not limited to this, Interfaces with these notebook personal computers 1 other than a USB interface are used. For example, the computer terminal storage medium may be a card type, and a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) standard interface, which is a PC card standard, may be used.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the virus removal program is illustrated as data memorize | stored in the flash memory 22 used as a memory | storage part, this invention is not limited to this, These data are mounted | worn Any computer terminal can be used. In particular, from the viewpoint of preventing unauthorized use of personal information under the Personal Information Protection Law as in recent years, customer data and public organizations such as local governments, police, and society It may be personal data handled in an insurance facility.

1 is a perspective view showing a USB memory 2 and a notebook computer 1 to which the USB memory 2 is mounted in the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a USB memory 2 and a notebook personal computer 1 to which the USB memory 2 is attached in the present embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the storage time update process implemented in the control microcomputer 21 of the USB memory 2 in a present Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the starting process at the time of mounting implemented by the control microcomputer 21 of the USB memory 2 in a present Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of transmission / reception of the information between the notebook personal computer 1 with which USB memory 2 was mounted | worn in this Example of this invention, and the server computer 10. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the storage time update process of another form.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Notebook personal computer 2 USB memory 3 USB interface part 6 Display 7 Keyboard 8 Mouse 10 Server computer 11 Data bus 12 CPU
13 RAM
14 Operation Input Unit 15 Storage Device 16 Display Processing Unit 21 Control Microcomputer 22 Flash Memory 23 Power Supply Circuit 24 Electric Double Layer Capacitor 25 Real Time Clock (RTC)

Claims (5)

A computer terminal storage medium comprising a storage unit that can be attached to and detached from a computer terminal that can be operated by a user and at least stores data that can be read and rewritten in the mounted computer terminal,
An elapsed period specifying means for specifying an elapsed period after data is stored in the storage unit;
Power supply means for supplying power for operating at least the elapsed time specifying means;
Period elapsed determination means for determining whether or not the elapsed period specified by the elapsed time specifying means has passed a predetermined available period;
Disabling means for disabling the data stored in the storage unit on the condition that it is determined that the available period has passed in the determination by the period elapsed determination means;
A mounting detection means for detecting that the computer terminal is mounted;
Equipped with a,
The elapsed period specifying means specifies the elapsed period as a start time of the elapsed period, the detection time of mounting by the mounting detection means for the first time after data is stored in the storage unit,
The elapsed period specifying means is formed by a real time clock (RTC) capable of outputting date and time information at that time,
The data is program data executable on the computer terminal,
The period elapse determining means determines whether the license data end date of the program data set as the predetermined usable period depends on whether date / time information output from the real-time clock (RTC) has passed. A computer terminal storage medium for determining whether or not a predetermined usable period of program data has elapsed .   2. The computer terminal storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the disabling unit makes the data unusable by deleting the data. A notification destination information storage unit for storing notification destination identification information capable of specifying an IP address of a notification destination for notifying that the data cannot be used by the disabling unit;
Sending the disabling information that can specify that the data has been disabled by the disabling means to the IP address specified from the notification destination specifying information stored in the notification destination information storage unit Disabling information transmission request output means for outputting the disabling information transmission request to the computer terminal,
Computer terminal storage medium according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a. The storage medium for a computer terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the power supply means includes a secondary battery or a capacitor and a charging circuit for the secondary battery or the capacitor. A USB data communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the computer terminal through the USB interface unit of the computer terminal;
Computer terminal storage medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage unit is characterized in that it is formed by a non-volatile memory.

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