# US 2013/0160112 A1 · Controller and method of storage apparatus

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- Number: US 2013/0160112 A1
- Document ID: US20130160112A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/682,882
- Filed: 2012-11-21
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Inventors: Toshiyuki Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130160112A1

## CPC

- G06F 21/31: User authentication
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, a controller for controlling a connected storage apparatus includes a storage unit and a control unit. The control unit acquires a password input by a user, judges whether or not the password is consistent with a password previously registered in the storage unit, cancels authentication data that is stored in the storage unit and enables reading and writing toward the storage apparatus of data and allows the formatting toward the storage apparatus in a condition that the password is consistent with the password previously registered in the storage unit, and disables reading and writing toward the storage apparatus of data and formatting toward the storage apparatus in a condition that the password is not consistent with the password previously registered in the storage unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A controller for controlling a connected storage apparatus, comprising:
a storage unit; and
a control unit configured to acquire a password input by a user, judge whether or not the password is consistent with a password previously registered in the storage unit, cancel authentication data that is stored in the storage unit and enables reading and writing toward the storage apparatus of data and allow the formatting toward the storage apparatus in a condition that the password is consistent with the password previously registered in the storage unit, and disable reading and writing toward the storage apparatus of data and formatting toward the storage apparatus in a condition that the password is not consistent with the password previously registered in the storage unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit specifies a model of the storage apparatus, and carries out the authentication of the storage apparatus by using the authentication data in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is in accordance with a predefined model.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The controller according to claim 2, wherein
the control unit disables writing toward the storage apparatus of data in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is not in accordance with a predefined model.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The controller according to claim 2, wherein
the control unit displays a screen for inputting a password on a display and acquires the password in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is not in accordance with a predefined model.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The controller according to claim 2, wherein
the control unit allows writing toward the storage apparatus of data in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is in accordance with the predefined model and the authentication is consistent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The controller according to claim 2, wherein
the control unit disables reading and writing towards the storage apparatus but allows the formatting in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is in accordance with a predefined model but the authentication is not consistent.

### Claim 7

A method for controlling a storage apparatus connected with an apparatus which includes a processor and a storage unit, comprising:
acquiring a password input by a user;
judging whether or not the password is consistent with a password previously registered in the storage unit;
canceling authentication data that is stored in the storage unit and enables reading and writing toward the storage apparatus of data and allowing the formatting toward the storage apparatus in a condition that the password is consistent with the password previously registered in the storage unit; and
disabling reading and writing toward the storage apparatus of data and formatting toward the storage apparatus in a condition that the password is not consistent with the password previously registered in the storage unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, further comprising:
specifying a model of the storage apparatus; and
carrying out the authentication of the storage apparatus by using the authentication data in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is in accordance with a predefined model.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein
disabling writing toward the storage apparatus of data in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is not in accordance with a predefined model.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein
displaying a screen for inputting a password on a display and acquiring the password in a condition that the model of the storage apparatus is not in accordance with a predefined model.