Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Control technique
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-08
2003-04-15
Ellis, Kevin L. (Department: 2186)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Control technique
Reexamination Certificate
active
06549993
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a processing apparatus having a memory for storing contents, for example, a processing apparatus having an internal memory for storing internal contents consisting of programs and the like, to which an external memory for storing external contents such as programs and data is detachably mounted, said processing apparatus being for performing a processing according to the internal contents stored in the internal memory and the external contents stored in the external memory, a contents check method of determining validity of the external contents stored in the external memory in the processing apparatus, and a contents renewal method of renewing a module which is a part of the external contents stored in the external memory in the processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, in an apparatus for performing a processing using LSI chips including CPU, there is known an arrangement in which an internal memory such as ROM and the like is loaded in an LSI chip so that a program, which is universal or less in possibility of renewal, is stored in the internal memory, and an external memory (for example, ROM and flash ROM) is detachable mounted on the LSI chip so that after forwarding of the apparatus, an application program and various sorts of data can be rewritten, and the application program and various sorts of data are stored in the external memory so as to be processed.
However, the apparatus as mentioned above is associated with such a problem that when contents such as programs and data stored in the external memory are unfairly rewritten, or when the external memory is replaced by another memory storing unfair contents, a malicious program is executed, or alternatively even if the program is proper per se, an erroneous processing is performed in accordance with a malicious data.
For example, in the event that the external memory (ROM) of the above-mentioned apparatus loaded on a financial terminal apparatus is unfairly obtained to read a program stored in the external memory through the reverse engineering, and a program code unfairly outputting or storing an entered personal identification number is added in a personal identification number input module in the program so as to be stored in the same type of ROM, and then the ROM is returned to the financial terminal apparatus, it is possible to steal the personal identification number without being noticed by a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a processing apparatus capable of avoiding an execution of an unfair program and an execution of an unfair processing due to an unfair data, a contents check method of checking validity of contents stored in a memory, and a contents renewal method capable of preventing an unfair renewal of contents stored in a memory.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a contents check method in a processing apparatus having a memory storing contents for performing a processing according to the contents stored in said memory, the contents check method deciding validity of the contents stored in said memory,
wherein the contents stored in said memory involve original check result information representative of a check result associated with validity of the contents and original check result position information representative of a storage position of the original check result information, said contents check method comprising:
a check step of checking the contents stored in said memory in accordance with a predetermined check algorithm to obtain a check result; and
a comparison step of comparing the check result obtained by said check step with a check result represented by the original check result information stored in a storage position indicated by the original check result position information to decide validity of the contents stored in said memory.
According to the contents check method of the present invention as mentioned above, the contents stored in the memory involve not only the original check result information, but also the original check result position information. This feature makes it possible to reduce a possibility that the original check result information is unfairly known by a third person, as compared with a case where the original check result information is stored in a fixed address. Further, according to the contents check method of the present invention as mentioned above, it is possible to properly decide validity of the contents stored in the memory and thereby effectively preventing unfair program and data from being entered forcibly.
Here, the contents check method of the present invention has typically the following aspects.
That is, to achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a contents check method in a processing apparatus having an internal memory storing internal contents wherein an external memory for storing external contents is detachably mounted on said processing apparatus, for performing a processing according to the internal contents stored in said internal memory and the external contents stored in said external memory, the contents check method deciding validity of the external contents stored in said external memory,
wherein the external contents stored in said external memory involve original check result information representative of a check result associated with validity of the external contents and original check result position information representative of a storage position of the original check result information, said contents check method comprising:
a check step of checking the external contents stored in said external memory in accordance with a predetermined check algorithm to obtain a check result; and
a comparison step of comparing the check result obtained by said check step with a check result represented by the original check result information stored in a storage position indicated by the original check result position information to decide validity of the external contents stored in said external memory.
According to the contents check method of the present invention as mentioned above, as mentioned above, the contents stored in the memory involve not only the original check result information, but also the original check result position information. This feature makes it possible to reduce a possibility that the original check result information is unfairly known by a third person, as compared with a case where the original check result information is stored in a fixed address. Further, according to the contents check method of the present invention as mentioned above, it is possible to properly decide validity of the contents stored in the memory and thereby effectively preventing unfair program and data from being entered forcibly.
In the contents check method according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the external contents stored in said external memory involve the original check result information and the original check result position information at least one of which is encoded, said contents check method further comprising:
a decoding step of decoding one encoded of the original check result information and the original check result position information.
This feature makes it possible to further reduce a possibility that the original check result information and the storage place are unfairly known by a third person.
In the contents check method according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the external contents stored in said external memory involve check area designation information, and
said check step checks an check area designated by the check area designation information of the external contents stored in said external memory.
This feature makes it possible to properly decide validity of contents stored in the external memory upon ensuring an rewritable area on the e
Hashimoto Shigeru
Kawasaki Yusuke
Sakurai Hiroshi
Ellis Kevin L.
Fujitsu Limited
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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