External storage device, as well as method, program and information processing apparatus for processing data stored in external storage device

A method for processing data stored in an external storage device, the external storage device including:

• an input/output interface via which data is exchanged with an information processing apparatus;
• and a storage region in which data associated with first and second validity periods is stored, the first validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to one information processing apparatus, the second validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to another information processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
• establishing connection of the external storage device to an information processing apparatus via the input/output interface;
• identifying any one of the first and second validity periods as a validity period to be used for the data, in accordance with the information processing apparatus to which the external storage device is connected;
• and
• executing predetermined security protection processing on the data in accordance with the thus identified validity period.

An information processing apparatus connectable to an external storage device, comprising:

• an input/output interface via which data is exchanged with an external storage device;
• a generation unit which generates first and second validity periods for data to be stored in the external storage device, the first validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to one information processing apparatus, the second validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to another information processing apparatus;
• and
• a saving unit which saves, into the external storage device via the input/output interface, the first and second validity periods associated with the data.

A method for processing data stored in an external storage device, comprising the steps of:

• causing a processor to establish connection of the external storage device to an information processing apparatus via an input/output interface;
• causing the processor to generate first and second validity periods for data to be stored in the external storage device, the first validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to one information processing apparatus, the second validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to another information processing apparatus;
• and
• causing the processor to save, into the external storage device via the input/output interface, the data and the first and second validity periods associated with the data.

A program for processing data stored in an external storage device, the program causing a processor to execute the steps of:

• causing a processor to establish connection of the external storage device to an information processing apparatus via an input/output interface;
• causing the processor to generate first and second validity periods for data to be stored in the external storage device, the first validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to one information processing apparatus, the second validity period being used on condition that the external storage device is connected to another information processing apparatus;
• and
• causing the processor to save, into the external storage device via the input/output interface, the data and the first and second validity periods associated with the data.