Information processing device, information recording device, information processing system, program update method, program, and integrated circuit

A portable information recording device that is attachable and detachable to/from an information processing device, the information recording device comprising:

• an information holding unit holding secret information safely;
• a program storage unit storing an update program for updating an operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the information processing device;
• a receiving unit operable to receive a request for the secret information from the information processing device;
• a judging unit operable to, when the receiving unit has received the request, judge whether or not the operation program is authentic using an amount of characteristics of the operation program, the amount of characteristics being measured by and obtained from the information processing device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the secret information held by the information holding unit to the information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is authentic, and output the update program stored in the program storage unit to the information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is not authentic.

An information processing device to which a portable information recording device is attached, the information processing device comprising:

• a first storage unit storing an operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the information processing device;
• a measuring unit operable to measure an amount of characteristics of the operation program when the operation program is loaded;
• a requesting unit operable to send a request for secret information to the information recording device;
• a receiving unit operable to receive either the secret
• information or an update program, depending on a result of a judgment made by the information recording device to confirm whether or not the operation program is authentic;
• and
• an update unit operable to, when the receiving unit has received the update program, update the operation program stored in the first storage unit in accordance with the received update program.

A program update method for use in a portable information recording device that is attachable and detachable to/from an information processing device, the information recording device comprising:

• an information holding unit holding secret information safely;
• and a program storage unit storing an update program for updating an operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the information processing device,
• the program update method comprising the steps of:
• receiving a request for the secret information from the information processing device;
• judging, when the receiving unit has received the request, whether or not the operation program is authentic using an amount of characteristics of the operation program, the amount of characteristics being measured by and obtained from the information processing device;
• and
• outputting the secret information held by the information holding unit to the information processing device when the judging step judges that the operation program is authentic, and outputting the update program stored in the program storage unit to the information processing device when the judging step judges that the operation program is not authentic.

A computer program for updating a program that is for use in a portable information recording device that is attachable and detachable to/from an information processing device,

• the information recording device comprising:
• an information holding unit holding secret information safely;
• and a program storage unit storing an update program for updating an operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the information processing device,
• the computer program causing a computer to perform the steps of:
• receiving a request for the secret information from the information processing device;
• judging, when the receiving unit has received the request, whether or not the operation program is authentic using an amount of characteristics of the operation program, the amount of characteristics being measured by and obtained from the information processing device;
• and
• outputting the secret information held by the information holding unit to the information processing device when the judging step judges that the operation program is authentic, and outputting the update program stored in the program storage unit to the information processing device when the judging step judges that the operation program is not authentic.

An integrated circuit that constitutes a portable information recording device that, is attachable and detachable to/from an information processing device,

• the information recording device including:
• an information holding unit holding secret information safely;
• and a program storage unit storing an update program for updating an operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the information processing device,
• the integrated circuit comprising:
• a receiving unit operable to receive a request for the secret information from the information processing device;
• a judging unit operable to, when the receiving unit has received the request, judge whether or not the operation program is authentic using an amount of characteristics of the operation program, the amount of characteristics being measured by and obtained from the information processing device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the secret information held by the information holding unit to the information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is authentic, and output the update program stored in the program storage unit to the information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is not authentic.

An information processing system comprising:

• a server device;
• a first information processing device that is connectable with the server device via a network;
• a second information processing device not having a function to connect with the server device via a network;
• and a portable information recording device that is attachable and detachable to/from each information processing device, wherein
• the second information processing device has been revoked,
• the server device stores an update program for updating
• an operation program for operating the second information processing device,
• the information recording device is attached to the first information processing device, the first information processing device obtains the update program from the server device via the network and outputs the obtained update program to the information recording device,
• the information recording device is attached to the second information processing device,
• the information recording device includes:
• an information holding unit holding secret information safely;
• a first storage unit receiving the update program from the first information processing device and storing the received update program;
• a receiving unit operable to receive a request for the secret information from the second information processing device;
• a judging unit operable to, when the receiving unit has received the request, judge whether or not the operation program stored in the second information processing device is authentic, using an amount of characteristics measured by the second information processing device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the secret information held by the information holding unit to the second information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is authentic, and output the update program stored in the first storage unit to the second information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is not authentic, and
• the second information processing device includes:
• a second storage unit storing the operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the second information processing device;
• a measuring unit operable to measure the amount of characteristics of the operation program when the operation program is loaded;
• a requesting unit operable to send a request for the secret information to the information recording device;
• a receiving unit operable to receive either the secret information or an update program, depending on a result of the judgment made, by the information recording device to confirm whether or not the operation program is authentic;
• and
• an update unit operable to, when the receiving unit has received the update program, update the operation program stored in the second storage unit in accordance with the received update program.

An information processing method for use in an information processing system that comprises:

• a server device;
• a first information processing device that is connectable with the server device via a network;
• a second information processing device not having a function to connect with the server device via a network;
• and a portable information recording device that is attachable and detachable to/from each information processing device, wherein
• the second information processing device has been revoked,
• the server device stores an update program for updating an operation program for operating the second information processing device,
• the information recording device includes an information holding unit holding secret information safely,
• the second information processing device includes a storage unit storing the operation program including a plurality of computer instructions for operating the second information processing device, and
• the information processing method comprises the steps of:
• when the information recording device has been attached to the first information processing device, causing the first information processing device to obtain the update program from the server device via the network, and outputting the obtained update program to the information recording device;
• when the information recording device has been attached to the second information processing device, causing the information recording device to obtain the update program from the first information processing device, and storing the obtained update program;
• causing the information recording device to receive a request for the secret information from the second information processing device;
• when the information recording device has received the request, causing the second information processing device to judge whether or not the operation program stored in the second information processing device is authentic, using an amount of characteristics measured by the second information processing device;
• outputting the secret information held by the information holding unit to the second information processing device when the information recording device judges that the operation program is authentic, and outputting the update program stored in the information recording device to the second information processing device when the judging unit judges that the operation program is not authentic;
• causing the second information processing device to measure the amount of characteristics of the operation program when the operation program is loaded;
• causing the second information processing device to send a request for the secret information to the information recording device;
• causing the second information processing device to receive either the secret information or an update program, depending on a result of the judgment made by the information recording device to confirm whether or not the operation program is authentic;
• and
• causing the second information processing device to, when the update program has been received, update the operation program stored in the second storage unit in accordance with the received update program.