JP2009129413A - Shared management method of portable storage device, and portable storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shared management method of a portable storage device which prevents authentication information such as a password from being leaked when one portable storage device is shared and used among a plurality of users. <P>SOLUTION: When a USB memory which is the portable storage device is connected to a computer, the USB memory performs a detecting operation of an IC card to branch processing according to the number of detected IC cards. When the number of detected IC card is one, the USB memory authenticates one piece of authentication information (a card number here) read from the IC card, when authentication is successful, permits use of the USB memory. In addition, when the number of detected IC cards is two, two pieces of authentication information (the card number here) read from the IC card are authenticated, and when the authentication of one piece of authentication information is successful, the other piece of authentication information is registered in the USB memory. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for managing shared use of a portable storage device represented by a USB memory, and a portable storage device used in this method.

  Portable storage devices typified by USB memory have become widespread due to the increase in capacity and price of flash memory and the development of infrastructure (spread of USB interface and OS standard).

  By using a portable storage device, users can easily carry large amounts of data. However, if a portable storage device is lost, there is a possibility that large amounts of data will be leaked. There is a social problem.

  Conventionally, passwords are generally used to protect data stored in a portable storage device. In Patent Document 1, security data stored in a portable storage device is successfully verified with an input password. Only in some cases, an invention is disclosed in which the portable storage device can be used by transmitting the data in the management area of the portable storage device to the computer.

  Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, password verification is required when accessing a portable storage device, and when password verification is successful, all data in the volatile folder of the portable storage device is overwritten with “0”. The invention is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 3, when a request for removing the portable storage device from the computer is received, an input of a passphrase used for encryption / decryption of the data file stored in the portable storage device is accepted, and An invention for automatically encrypting data files stored in type storage devices is disclosed.
JP 2001-35092 A JP 2006-195629 A JP 2004-295358 A

  However, as in the above-described invention, assuming that a password is used to protect data stored in a portable storage device and the portable storage device is used by a plurality of users, the same password is used among a plurality of users. For sharing, there is a problem that even if it is intentional or not, once the password is leaked, it can be used by unintended users.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the same portable storage device is shared among a plurality of users, authentication information such as a password used for protecting data stored in the portable storage device is leaked. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable storage device sharing management method and a portable storage device.

  A first invention for solving the above-described problem is a method for managing shared use of the portable storage device by using a token distributed to each user who shares and uses the portable storage device. When the portable storage device is attached to the computer, the portable storage device performs the token detection operation (a), and when the number of tokens detected in the step (a) is one, When the portable storage device reads authentication information from the token detected in the step (a), authenticates the read authentication information, and succeeds in authenticating the authentication information, the portable storage device is stored in the storage device. And (b) executing a process for causing the computer to recognize Storage is a shared management method of the device.

  According to the first invention described above, the authentication information to be authenticated when using the portable storage device is stored secretly in the token possessed by the user, so that the problem of leakage of the authentication information is solved. Here, the portable storage device means a device such as a USB memory or a portable hard disk that can be easily carried by the user and operates as a large-capacity storage device when connected to a computer. The token means a portable medium such as an IC card.

  Furthermore, the second invention is a sharing management method for a portable storage device according to the first invention, wherein the portable storage device is a token possessed by a user permitted to use the portable storage device. In the step (b), the portable storage device stores the authentication information read from the token from the authentication information stored in the portable storage device. This is a sharing management method for portable storage devices, wherein the authentication information is authenticated by searching for.

  According to the second invention described above, the portable storage device stores the authentication information stored in the token possessed by the user who is permitted to use the portable storage, and the portable storage device reads from the token. If the authentication information is authenticated by searching whether the authentication information is stored in the portable storage, the user who can use the portable storage device can be easily changed by changing the authentication information stored in the portable storage device. You can change it.

  Further, a third invention is a method for sharing management of a portable storage device according to the second invention, wherein the method is executed when the number of tokens detected in the step (a) is two ( c), wherein the portable storage device reads the authentication information from the two tokens detected in the step (a) and stores the authentication stored in the portable storage device. Each of the authentication information read from the token is searched from among the information to authenticate the two pieces of the read authentication information. When the number of the authentication information that can be searched is one, the authentication information that could not be searched A sharing management method for a portable storage device, which is a step of registering in a portable storage device.

  According to the third invention described above, it is possible to easily register a user who uses a portable storage device. However, searching for one piece of authentication information means that a user who has already been authorized to use the portable storage device is using the portable storage device. Only authorized users by authorized users.

  Furthermore, a fourth invention is a sharing management method for portable storage devices according to the third invention, wherein, in the step (c), the portable storage device is subordinate to the authentication information that can be searched. And managing the generation of the authentication information in a hierarchical manner starting from the authentication information set as a default by registering the authentication information that could not be searched. It is.

  Furthermore, a fifth invention is the portable storage device sharing management method according to the fourth invention, wherein when the authentication information that could not be searched in the step (c) is newly registered, The portable storage device confirms the generation of the authentication information to be registered, and cancels registration of the authentication information when it exceeds a predetermined generation, and a sharing management method for the portable storage device It is.

  According to the fourth aspect described above, it is possible to grasp which user is an authorized user by managing the generations of authentication information hierarchically. Further, according to the fifth invention, when the generation exceeds a predetermined generation, the authentication information cannot be registered indefinitely by stopping the registration of the authentication information, and only the authentication information of the reliable user can be registered. Can be registered in a portable storage device.

  Furthermore, a sixth invention is the sharing management method for portable storage devices according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the token is a non-contact having an anti-collision function. It is a type of IC card.

  By using a token as a non-contact type IC card as in the sixth invention described above, a non-contact type IC card that is widely used for transportation and employee ID cards can be used in the present invention.

  Further, the seventh invention is a portable storage device that operates as a storage device when connected to a computer, wherein interface means for communicating with a token possessed by a user, and the portable storage device is the computer. And a control unit that controls the behavior of the portable storage device according to the detected number of tokens when the token is attached to the portable storage device. At one time, the authentication information is read from the detected token, the read authentication information is authenticated, and when the authentication information is successfully authenticated, the portable storage device is recognized as a storage device by a computer. Portable type characterized by having an authentication unit for executing A storage devices.

  Furthermore, an eighth invention is the portable storage device according to the seventh invention, wherein the portable storage device is stored in a token possessed by a user authorized to use the portable storage. Authentication information storage means for storing authentication information, wherein the authentication section of the control means authenticates the authentication information by searching whether the authentication information read from the token is stored in the authentication information storage means It is a portable storage device characterized by the above.

  Further, a ninth invention is the portable storage device according to the eighth invention, wherein the control means has a registration unit that is activated when the number of detected tokens is two, and the control means The registration unit searches whether each of the authentication information read from the two detected tokens is stored in the authentication information storage means, and when the authentication information that can be searched is one, the authentication information that could not be searched Is registered in the authentication information storage means.

  Further, a tenth invention is the portable storage device according to the ninth invention, wherein the registration unit of the control means places the authentication information that could not be searched under the authentication information that could be searched. The portable storage device is characterized in that by registering, the authentication information set by default is used as a starting point, and generations of the authentication information are managed hierarchically.

  Furthermore, an eleventh invention is the portable storage device according to the tenth invention, wherein the registration unit of the control means registers the authentication information that could not be searched in the authentication information storage means. The portable storage device is characterized in that the generation of the authentication information to be registered is confirmed, and the registration of the authentication information is stopped when a predetermined generation is exceeded.

  According to the present invention described above, when sharing the same portable storage device among a plurality of users, authentication information such as a password used to protect data stored in the portable storage device is leaked. A portable storage device sharing management method and a portable storage device can be provided.

  From here, the sharing management method and portable storage device of the portable storage device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, with respect to an embodiment in which the portable storage device is a USB memory.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining how to use a USB memory 1 that is a portable storage device. FIG. 1A is a diagram when the USB memory 1 is used, and FIG. It is a figure when registering a user.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the USB memory 1 which is a portable storage device shared and used among a plurality of users operates as a large-capacity storage device when connected to a computer 3 in order to implement the present invention. In addition, a non-contact IC card reader / writer (hereinafter referred to as “R / W”) that wirelessly communicates with the non-contact type IC card 2 that is a token possessed by the user is provided.

  The non-contact type IC card 2 possessed by the user is a non-contact type IC card having an anti-collision function, such as Type A and Type B standardized by the ISO / 14443 standard. The R / W is also compatible with anti-collision.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1A, when the user connects the USB memory 1 to the computer 3 in order to use the USB memory 1 as a storage device, the USB memory 1 performs an operation of detecting the IC card 2. When the user holds the IC card 2 over the USB memory 1, the USB memory 1 reads the authentication information from the IC card 2 possessed by the user, and only when the authentication information is successfully authenticated, the USB memory 1 is used as a computer as a storage device. Execute the process to be recognized.

  By storing authentication information to be authenticated for using the USB memory 1 in the IC card 2, it is possible to prevent the authentication information from being known to a user who is not permitted.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, when a user who shares and uses the USB memory 1 is registered in the USB memory 1, the USB memory 1 is connected to the computer 3 and the use of the USB memory 1 is permitted. When the two IC cards 2 of the IC card 2 possessed by the user and the IC card 2 possessed by the user registered in the USB memory 1 are held over the USB memory 1, the USB memory 1 becomes a non-contact type By using the anti-collision function of the IC card 2, two IC cards 2 are detected simultaneously, and the authentication information is read from each IC card 2. When the USB memory 1 successfully authenticates the authentication information read from one of the IC cards 2, the authentication information stored in the other IC card 2 is registered in the USB memory 1.

  Using the function of registering authentication information in the USB memory 1 makes it possible to easily share the USB memory 1 among a plurality of users. However, unintended user authentication information may be registered in the USB memory 1. Therefore, when registering authentication information, the USB memory 1 also registers generation information together with authentication information to prevent registration of a set generation or more.

  In this embodiment, the hardware token for storing the authentication information is the non-contact type IC card 2, but a token other than the IC card 2 may be used. For example, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-118771. It is also possible to use a SIM phone holder, and a cellular phone that supports Bluetooth can also be used as a token.

  From here, the content described above will be described in more detail. First, the USB memory 1 that is a portable storage device will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the USB memory 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a USB connector 18, a controller chip 10, an R / W circuit 15, and an antenna coil 16 are mounted on the USB memory 1 as electrical components. A flash memory chip 17 is mounted on the controller chip 10. The R / W circuit 15 is connected to the antenna coil 16, and the controller chip 10 and the R / W circuit 15 operate with bus power supplied from the USB connector 18.

  The USB connector 18 is provided in the USB memory 1 to connect to the USB terminal of the computer 3, and the controller chip 10 has a function of a communication controller that controls serial communication in conformity with USB, and a USB mass storage class (USB mass storage class). The controller chip 10 is mounted on the USB memory 1 to provide at least an interface of a class), and includes a central processing unit 11 (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a ROM 12 (Read-Only Memory) that is a read-only memory, A RAM 13 which is a volatile memory and an electrically rewritable secure memory 14 (for example, a flash memory) are provided, and these memories can be accessed only from the controller chip 10.

  A function for authenticating authentication information stored in the IC card 2 and managing use of the USB memory 1 and a function for registering authentication information stored in the IC card 2 are provided in the controller chip 10. 10 ROM 12 stores programs for realizing these functions, and the controller chip secure memory 14 has authentication information stored in the IC card 2 possessed by the user who is permitted to use the USB memory 1. Is registered.

  In this embodiment, the authentication information stored in the IC card 2 is registered in the secure memory 14 of the controller chip 10, but the authentication information stored in the IC card 2 is a flash that can be accessed only from the controller chip 10. It can also be registered in the area of the memory chip 17.

  The flash memory chip 17 is mounted on the USB memory 1 for storing data used by the user, and data can be read / written and erased in units of blocks via the controller chip 10.

  The R / W circuit 15 and the antenna coil 16 are provided in the USB memory 1 for wirelessly communicating with the IC card 2 possessed by the user and reading the authentication information stored in the IC card 2.

  The R / W circuit 15 corresponds to anti-collision, has the same function as a circuit of a general non-contact IC card reader / writer, and uses the antenna coil 16 to decode an electric signal obtained from the antenna coil 16. , A function of transmitting an electric signal encoded with a command or the like to the IC card 2, a function of controlling a transmission control protocol corresponding to the IC card 2, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the USB memory 1 shown in FIG. 1, and shows only functional blocks necessary for realizing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the IC card 2 possessed by the user stores a different card number for each IC card 2 as authentication information to be authenticated when the USB memory 1 is used.

  The USB memory 1 which is a portable storage device includes an interface unit 110 (hereinafter referred to as “I / F unit 110”) that performs non-contact communication with the IC card 2 and a card stored in the IC card 2 possessed by the user. Control means for operating the data file 120 serving as means for storing the number and the I / F means 110 to detect the IC card 2 and to control the behavior of the USB memory 1 in accordance with the number of detected IC cards 2 The control unit 100 includes an authentication unit 101 that operates when the number of detected IC cards 2 is one, and a registration unit 102 that operates when the number of detected IC cards 2 is two. Have.

  The control means 100 provided in the USB memory 1 is a computer program for causing the CPU 11 provided in the controller chip 10 of the USB memory 1 to function as the control means 100, and this computer program is stored in the ROM 12 of the controller chip 10. ing.

  The data file 120 is a file provided in a memory that stores a card number that is authentication information. In the present embodiment, the data file 120 is provided in the secure memory 14 of the controller chip 10. The I / F means 110 provided in the USB memory 1 is realized by the R / W circuit 15 and the antenna coil 16 provided in the USB memory 1.

  The control means 100 of the USB memory 1 is activated when the USB memory 1 is connected to the computer 3. When the control means 100 is activated, the I / F means 110 is operated to detect the IC card 2, and the I / F means 110 is activated. When the number of IC cards 2 detected by the / F means 110 is one, the authentication unit 101 is operated, and when the number is two, the registration unit 102 is operated.

  The authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 authenticates the card number read from the detected IC card 2 and executes a process for causing the computer to recognize the USB memory 1 as a storage device only when the authentication is successful.

  Specifically, the authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 searches the data file 120 for the card number read from the detected IC card 2, and the card number read from the detected IC card 2 is registered in the data file 120. If the USB descriptor 1 is set to a predetermined value, the USB memory 1 is recognized by the computer 3 as a storage device, and the user operates the computer 3 so that the flash memory chip 17 of the USB memory 1 is initialized. The flash memory chip 17 can be read and written in units of blocks.

  The registration unit 102 of the control means 100 reads the card number from each of the two detected IC cards 2, searches each data card 120 for each read card number, and finds the card number read from one IC card 2. If it is registered in the data file 120, it is determined that the user who is permitted to use the USB memory 1 introduces another user, and the card number read from the other IC card 2 is registered in the data file 120. Thus, the user who has the other IC card 2 can use the USB memory 1.

  However, if the user introduction is repeatedly executed, the use of the USB memory 1 may be permitted even to an unexpected user. Therefore, the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 according to the present embodiment may When a number is registered in the data file 120, a generation information is registered in association with the card number, and the card number is managed hierarchically, thereby providing a function for preventing registration of a predetermined generation or more.

  From here, the content which the registration part 102 of the control means 100 of this embodiment manages hierarchically a card number is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical model of card numbers, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating data stored in the data file 120 of the USB memory 1.

  FIG. 4 shows a hierarchical model of up to two generations. As shown in FIG. 4, in the hierarchical model of card numbers, one user is the starting point and the generation of the starting user is the 0th generation. Preferably, the starting user is the owner of the USB memory 1. For example, when the USB memory 1 is used in a corporate department, the starting user may be an administrator who manages the USB memory 1.

  The first generation user introduced from the starting user is registered below the starting user, and FIG. 4 shows three users, Nihon Taro, Nihon Ichiro, and Japan A child, as the first generation user. ing.

 Below the 1st generation user, the 2nd generation user introduced by the 1st generation user is registered. In FIG. 4, Jiro Jiro is registered as a second generation user introduced by Nihon Taro, the first generation user, and Jiro Nihon and Saburo Nihon are the second generation users introduced by Nihon Ichiro, the first generation user. Japan B child and Japan C child are registered as second generation users who are registered and introduced from Japan A child who is the first generation user.

  When a new user is introduced by a user who has already obtained the authority to use the USB memory 1, the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 of the USB memory 1 confirms the generation information of the introduced user and is determined in advance. If the value exceeds a certain value, the operation of registering the introduced user, that is, the operation of registering the card number stored in the IC card 2 in the data file 120 is not performed.

  In this embodiment, the card number registration is permitted up to two generations, the administrator who is the starting user, or the first generation user introduced by the administrator, Nihon Taro, Nihon Ichiro, and Users introduced from Japan A child are registered in the USB memory 1, but users introduced from 2nd generation users, Jiro Nihon, Jiro Nihon, Japan Saburo, Japan B child and Japan C child, are USB memory devices. Not registered in 1.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining information stored in the data file 120 when the hierarchical model of the card number shown in FIG. 4 is registered in the USB memory 1. In the present embodiment, the data file 120 is provided with a record for storing information related to the user for each user. In this record, the user's card number, the user's name, The parent record number and the generation information of the user are stored.

  The user record number is a serial number assigned by the registration unit 102 of the control means 100 when a card number is newly registered in the data record. Of course, the record number is different for each record in the data file 120. .

  The user's card number is a card number stored in an IC card possessed by a user who is permitted to use the USB memory 1, and the registration unit 102 of the control means 100 operates and a new record is stored in the data file 120. Is generated, a card number not registered in the data file 120 is described in the new record. The user's name is information representing the user's name. In the present embodiment, the user's name is stored in the IC card 2.

  The parent record number is the record number of the record in which the card number already stored in the data file 120 when the control means 100 detects two IC cards 2 at the same time, that is, the data file. The user who has the IC card 1 in which the card number to be registered in 120 is stored is introduced, and the card number stored in the IC card owned by the user who is already permitted to use the USB memory 1 is described. This is the record number of the record.

  The generation information is information indicating the generation of the card number. The generation information is calculated by incrementing the generation information stored in the record specified by the parent record number and stored in the parent record number. When the value obtained by incrementing one generation information exceeds a predetermined value, the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 stops the process of registering the card number in the data file 120.

  In FIG. 5, the record number assigned to the starting user record is always “00”, the starting user card number is “00000000”, and the user name is “administrator”. Since the starting user is not introduced, the parent record number is not stored, and the generation information is “0”.

  The record number assigned to the record of the first generation user is automatically assigned by the registration unit 102 of the control means 100 when the record is generated. In FIG. 5, for example, Taro Nihon, who is the first generation user. The record number is “01” and the card number is “00000001”. Since the 1st generation user is the 0th generation user, that is, the user introduced by the root user, the parent record number is “00”, and the generation described in the record specified by the parent record number is Generation information becomes “1” by adding “1” to information (here, “0”).

  The record number assigned to the record of the second generation user is automatically assigned by the registration unit 102 of the control means 100 when the record is generated. In FIG. The record number is “04” and the card number is “00000004”. The 2nd generation user, Jiro Jiro, is a user introduced by the 1st generation user, Nihon Taro, and the record number of the record in which the card number “00000001” of the 1st generation user, Nihon Taro, is described. It becomes the parent record number, and its value is “01”. By incrementing generation information (here, “1”) described in the record specified by the parent record number, the generation information is It becomes “2”.

  From here, the method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the operation of the USB memory 1 sharing system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the USB memory 1, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process for authenticating the card number as authentication information and permitting the use of the USB memory 1. FIG. These are the flowcharts which showed the process which registers the card number which is authentication information in the USB memory 1. FIG.

  First, a series of operations of the USB memory 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When the USB memory 1 is electrically connected to the USB port of the computer 3, power is supplied to the USB memory 1 by the USB bus power, and the USB memory 1 is activated (S1).

  When the USB memory 1 is activated, a control unit 100 provided in the USB memory 1 is activated by starting a computer program that is mounted on the controller chip 10 of the USB memory 1 and causes the CPU 11 of the controller chip 10 to function as the control unit 100. When the control means 100 is activated, the I / F means 110 is operated without setting the value of the USB descriptor to a value meaning a storage device, and the detection operation of the IC card 2 corresponding to anti-collision is performed. (S2).

  In this embodiment, the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 is realized by the R / W circuit 15 and the antenna coil 16, and the R / W circuit 15 of the USB memory 1 uses the antenna coil 16 to perform the initial operation. A radio wave encoding a response command is transmitted, and an initial response response including a card identifier (for example, a part of the card number) is received from the IC card 2 within a predetermined time after the initial response command is transmitted. By executing anti-collision processing according to a protocol corresponding to the above, one or a plurality of IC cards 2 existing in the vicinity of the USB memory 1 are detected.

  If the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 detects the IC card 2, the process proceeds to the next step. If the IC card 2 cannot be detected, the process returns to step S2 to detect the IC card 2, ie, Then, an operation of transmitting an initial response command is performed (S3).

  When the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 detects the IC card 2, it passes all the card identifiers obtained when the IC card 2 is detected to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 receives the delivered card identifier. The process is branched according to the detected number of IC cards 2 (S4).

  When the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 detects one IC card 2, that is, when the number of delivered card identifiers is one, the control unit 100 calls the authentication unit 101, and the card which is the authentication information When the number authentication process is executed (S5) and the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 detects two IC cards 2, that is, when two card identifiers are delivered, the control unit 100 Calls the registration unit 102 and executes a process of registering the card number as the authentication information (S6), and when there are three or more cards, this procedure is terminated.

  After the authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 executes the process of authenticating the card number that is the authentication information, or after the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 executes the process of registering the card number that is the authentication information, This procedure ends.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the process executed in S5 of FIG. 6 for authenticating the card number as authentication information will be described in detail. When the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 detects one IC card 2 in S4 of FIG. 6, the card identifier obtained when the IC card 2 is detected is delivered to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 calls the authentication unit 101 and starts a process of authenticating a card number as authentication information.

  When the authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 authenticates the card number that is the authentication information, the authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 stores the IC card 2 specified by the delivered identifier in the IC card 2. The I / F unit 110 is instructed to transmit a command message for reading a card number to be read, and this command message is transmitted to the IC card 2. The I / F unit 110 uses the card number received from the IC card 2 as the control unit 100. Delivered to the authentication unit 101 (S10).

  When the card number that is the authentication information is delivered, the authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 authenticates the delivered card number (S11). In the present embodiment, the authentication unit 101 of the control unit 100 authenticates the card number read from the IC card 2 by searching the data file 120 for the read card number.

  When authenticating the card number that is the authentication information, the authentication unit 101 of the control means 100 branches the process based on the authentication result (S12). When the authentication of the card number, which is the authentication information, is successful, that is, when the delivered card number is stored in the data file 120, the value of the USB descriptor is set to a value meaning the storage device. Thus, the use of the USB memory 1 is permitted (S13), and this procedure is terminated. If authentication of the card number that is the authentication information fails, that is, if the delivered card number is not stored in the data file 120, the value of the USB descriptor is set to a value that means the storage device. This procedure is terminated without permitting the use of the USB memory 1.

  Next, an operation in which the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 registers a card number that is authentication information will be described with reference to FIG. When the I / F unit 110 of the USB memory 1 detects two IC cards 2 in S4 of FIG. 6, the control unit 100 gives the control unit 100 two identifiers obtained when the IC card 2 is detected. Then, the control unit 100 calls the registration unit 102 and starts an operation of registering the card number.

  When the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 registers the card number, which is authentication information, in the data file 120, the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 applies to each IC card 2 specified by the delivered card identifier. The I / F unit 110 is instructed to transmit a command message for reading the card number stored in the IC card 2, and the I / F unit 110 transmits the command message to each IC card 2. 2 is delivered to the registration unit 102 of the control means 100 (S20).

  When the two card numbers are delivered from the I / F unit 110, the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 authenticates each of the two card numbers. Since the card number authentication has already been described, the description is omitted here.

  The registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 branches the process according to the number of card numbers successfully authenticated (S22). If there are two card numbers that have been successfully authenticated, the data file 120 has already been registered for the two card numbers, so this procedure ends. If the authentication of the two card numbers fails, it is determined that there is no user who can be introduced, and this procedure ends.

  When there is one card number that has been successfully authenticated, the process proceeds to the next step, where the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 starts a process of registering a card number that has not been successfully authenticated, and the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 Performs generation information when registering a card number that has not been successfully authenticated (S23).

  In the present embodiment, when the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 calculates generation information when registering a card number, a record in which a card number that has been successfully authenticated is described from among records included in the data file 120. Is generated, and generation information for registering a card number that has not been successfully authenticated is calculated by incrementing generation information described in the searched record by one.

  When the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 calculates generation information for registering a card number that has not been successfully authenticated, the registration unit 102 compares the calculated generation information with a predetermined value, and branches the process according to the comparison result ( S24). If the calculated generation information exceeds the predetermined value, this procedure is terminated without registering the card number that is not successfully authenticated. If the calculated generation information is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the authentication is successful. A process of registering a non-existing card number is executed (S25).

  When executing a process of registering a card number that has not been successfully authenticated, the registration unit 102 of the control unit 100 generates a new record in the data file 120 for registering a card number that has not been successfully authenticated. The record number is assigned to the record, the name data read from the IC card 2 in which the card number that has not been successfully authenticated is stored, the card number that has not been successfully authenticated, the calculated generation information, and the card that has been successfully authenticated. The record number in which the number is described is written in the newly generated record as the parent record number, and this procedure is terminated.

The figure explaining the utilization form of USB memory. The circuit block diagram of USB memory. The functional block diagram of USB memory. The figure explaining the hierarchical model of a card number. The figure explaining the information memorize | stored in a data file. The flowchart which showed a series of operation | movement of USB memory. The flowchart which showed the process which permits utilization of USB memory. The flowchart which showed the process which registers a card number in USB memory.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 USB memory 10 Controller chip 15 R / W circuit 16 Antenna coil 100 Control means 101 Authentication part, 102 Registration part 110 Interface means 120 Data file 2 IC card 3 Computer

Claims (11)

  A method of managing shared use of the portable storage device using a token distributed to each user who shares and uses the portable storage device when the portable storage device is attached to a computer. When the portable storage device performs the token detection operation (a) and the number of tokens detected in the step (a) is one, the portable storage device performs the step (a). When the authentication information is read from the token detected in step S4, the read authentication information is authenticated, and the authentication information is successfully authenticated, the portable storage device is recognized as a storage device by the computer. A sharing management method for portable storage devices, comprising the step (b).   The sharing management method for a portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage device stores the authentication information stored in a token possessed by a user authorized to use the portable storage device. In the step (b), the portable storage device searches the authentication information read from the token from the authentication information stored in the portable storage device. A shared management method for portable storage devices, characterized by authenticating   The sharing management method for a portable storage device according to claim 2, comprising a step (c) executed when the number of the tokens detected in the step (a) is two, wherein the step (c ) Reads out the authentication information from the two tokens detected in the step (a) by the portable storage device, and reads from the token from the authentication information stored in the portable storage device In the step of authenticating the two pieces of read authentication information by searching each of the authentication information, and registering the authentication information that could not be searched in the portable storage device when the number of the searched authentication information is one. A sharing management method for a portable storage device, comprising:   The sharing management method for a portable storage device according to claim 3, wherein in the step (c), the portable storage device places the authentication information that could not be searched under the authentication information that could be searched. A sharing management method for portable storage devices, characterized in that, by registering, the authentication information set by default is used as a starting point, and generations of the authentication information are managed hierarchically.   5. The sharing management method for a portable storage device according to claim 4, wherein when the authentication information that could not be searched is newly registered in the step (c), the portable storage device registers the authentication information. A method for sharing management of portable storage devices, wherein the generation of authentication information is confirmed, and registration of the authentication information is stopped when a predetermined generation is exceeded.   6. The sharing management method for portable storage devices according to claim 1, wherein the token is a contactless IC card having an anti-collision function. To manage sharing of portable storage devices.   A portable storage device that operates as a storage device when connected to a computer, the interface means for communicating with a token possessed by a user, and the token when the portable storage device is attached to the computer Control means for controlling the behavior of the portable storage device according to the number of detected tokens, and the control means detects the detected number of tokens when the number of detected tokens is one. An authentication unit that reads authentication information from a token, authenticates the read authentication information, and, when authentication of the authentication information is successful, includes an authentication unit that executes processing for causing the computer to recognize the portable storage device as a storage device; A portable storage device featuring:   8. The portable storage device according to claim 7, wherein the portable storage device stores the authentication information stored in a token possessed by a user who is permitted to use the portable storage. The authentication unit of the control means is a means for authenticating the authentication information by searching whether the authentication information read from the token is stored in the authentication information storage means. Portable storage device.   The portable storage device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit includes a registration unit that is activated when the number of detected tokens is two, and the registration unit of the control unit includes two detected two It searches whether each said authentication information read from the said token is memorize | stored in the said authentication information storage means, and when the said authentication information which can be searched is one, the said authentication information which could not be searched is registered into the said authentication information storage means A portable storage device characterized by that.   The portable storage device according to claim 9, wherein the registration unit of the control unit is set by default by registering the authentication information that could not be searched at a lower level of the authentication information that could be searched. A portable storage device characterized by hierarchically managing the generations of the authentication information starting from the authentication information. The portable storage device according to claim 10, wherein the registration unit of the control unit selects a generation of the authentication information to be registered when registering the authentication information that could not be searched in the authentication information storage unit. The portable storage device is characterized in that the registration of the authentication information is stopped when it is confirmed that a predetermined generation has been exceeded.