IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,192,350
Granted Patent B2
US 12,192,350 · App. 17/963,909 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Information processing apparatus and control method

Inventor: Kanji Nakagawa (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04L9/088
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,192,350
App. No.
17/963,909
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a first storage memory that stores data; a second storage memory that stores an encryption key; a controller that encrypts the first storage memory with the encryption key; and a communicator that communicates with a server device that stores the encryption key, wherein when the encryption key is acquirable from the server device via the communicator, the controller uses the encryption key acquired from the server device to decrypt the first storage memory, and when the encryption key is not acquirable from the server device via the communicator, the controller requests authentication and, after the authentication is performed, acquires the encryption key from the second storage memory and decrypts the first storage memory.

Claims (27)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first storage memory that stores data;

a second storage memory that stores an encryption key;

a controller that encrypts the first storage memory with the encryption key; and

a communicator that communicates with a server device that stores the encryption key, wherein when the encryption key is acquirable from the server device via the communicator, the controller uses the encryption key acquired from the server device to decrypt the first storage memory, and

when the encryption key is not acquirable from the server device via the communicator, the controller requests authentication and,

after the authentication is performed, acquires the encryption key from the second storage memory and decrypts the first storage memory;

wherein the second storage memory is protected by a Trusted Platform Module (TPM);

wherein the controller receives, from the server device, the encryption key encrypted with a public key embedded in the TPM, and decrypts the encrypted encryption key with a private key embedded in the TPM;

wherein the controller acquires a counter value together with the encryption key from the server device, and when the counter value acquired from the server device is not appropriate, determines that the encryption key is not acquirable from the server device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication is a password set in the second storage memory.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second storage memory does not store the encryption key, the controller acquires the encryption key from another device connected.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller acquires the encryption key from the server device after power is turned on and before an operating system is started up.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller

operates by using the first storage memory when the first storage memory was decrypted, and

operates without using the first storage memory when the authentication was not performed.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising an image inputter that inputs an image of a document, wherein

the controller limits images input by the image inputter when operating without using the first storage memory.

7. A control method for an apparatus including a first storage memory that stores data and a second storage memory that stores an encryption key, the control method comprising:

encrypting the first storage memory with the encryption key via a controller;

communicating with a server device that stores the encryption key; and

when the encryption key is acquirable from the server device, using the encryption key acquired from the server device to decrypt the first storage memory and,

when the encryption key is not acquirable from the server device, requesting authentication and,

after the authentication is performed, acquiring the encryption key from the second storage memory and decrypting the first storage memory;

wherein the second storage memory is protected by a Trusted Platform Module (TPM);

wherein the controller receives, from the server device, the encryption key encrypted with a public key embedded in the TPM, and decrypts the encrypted encryption key with a private key embedded in the TPM;

wherein the controller acquires a counter value together with the encryption key from the server device, and when the counter value acquired from the server device is not appropriate, determines that the encryption key is not acquirable from the server device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2022
From: NAKAGAWA, KANJI
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 061383/0576 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-169103 · Oct 14, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230122687A1 · Apr 20, 2023
References Cited (6)
US 20080226081A1 · Terao · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20140289537A1 · Parsons · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20160259941A1 · Vasudevan · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20210374265A1 · Gigov · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220405354A1 · Sethi · 2022 [cited by examiner]
JP 2008236091A · 2008 [cited by applicant]