# US 2013/0160077 A1 · Information processing apparatus, method for releasing restriction on use of storage device, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0160077 A1 - Document ID: US20130160077A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/713,456 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tomohiro Akiba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130160077A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/78: to assure secure storage of data (address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00) - G06F 21/30: Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals - G06F 21/575: {Secure boot} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An information processing apparatus includes an authentication information storage unit that stores authentication information for releasing restriction on use of a storage device, a release unit that releases the restriction on use of the storage device based on the authentication information, a generation unit that generates new authentication information for releasing the restriction on use of the storage device, and a setting unit that, after the restriction on use of the storage device is released, set the new authentication information in the storage device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information processing apparatus comprising: an authentication information storage unit configured to store authentication information for releasing restriction on use of a storage device; a release unit configured to release the restriction on use of the storage device based on the authentication information; a generation unit configured to generate new authentication information for releasing the restriction on use of the storage device; and a setting unit configured to, after the restriction on use of the storage device is released based on the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit, set the new authentication information in the storage device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after the setting unit sets the new authentication information in the storage device, the authentication information storage unit stores the new authentication information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the new authentication information are identical, wherein the setting unit is configured to set the new authentication information in the storage device when the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the new authentication information are not identical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether an algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and an algorithm used to generate the new authentication information are identical, wherein the setting unit is configured to set the new authentication information in the storage device when the algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the algorithm used to generate the new authentication information are not identical. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an identification information storage unit configured to store identification information corresponding to the algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit, wherein the determination unit is configured to compare the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit with identification information corresponding to the algorithm used to generate the new authentication information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the storage device is configured to store identification information corresponding to the algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit, and wherein the determination unit is configured to compare the identification information stored in the storage device with identification information corresponding to the algorithm used to generate the new authentication information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit is configured to generate the new authentication information based on identification information for identifying the storage device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit is configured to generate the new authentication information using an algorithm that is different from an algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit. ### Claim 9 A method performed by an information processing apparatus for releasing restriction on use of a storage device, the method comprising: storing authentication information for releasing the restriction on use of the storage device in an authentication information storage unit; releasing the restriction on use of the storage device based on the authentication information; generating new authentication information for releasing the restriction on use of the storage device; and setting, after the restriction on use of the storage device is released based on the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit, the new authentication information in the storage device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising, after the new authentication information is set in the storage device, storing the new authentication information in the authentication information storage unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising: determining whether the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the new authentication information are identical, wherein, when the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the new authentication information are not identical, the new authentication information is set in the storage device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising: determining whether an algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and an algorithm used to generate the new authentication information are identical wherein, when the algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the algorithm used to generate the new authentication information are not identical, the new authentication information is set in the storage device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising: storing in an identification information storage unit identification information corresponding to the algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit; and comparing the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit with identification information corresponding to the algorithm used to generate the new authentication information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the new authentication information is generated based on identification information for identifying the storage device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the new authentication information is generated using an algorithm that is different from an algorithm used to generate the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a method, the method comprising: storing authentication information for releasing restriction on use of a storage device in an authentication information storage unit; releasing the restriction on use of the storage device based on the authentication information; generating new authentication information for releasing the restriction on use of the storage device; and setting, after the restriction on use of the storage device is released based on the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit, the new authentication information in the storage device.