Patent ID: 7958553

Claim:
An information storage device comprising: a predetermined interface configured to removably connect to an external equipment having a display device; a storage area configured to restrict access from the external equipment, the storage area having a password stored therein, the password being comprised of a string of characters; an input device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the interface, the storage area and the input device to: (a) enable a user to input the characters of the string of characters of the password using the input device, the characters and the password being notified to the information storage device without communicating the characters and the password to the external equipment; (b) in response to a first operation of the input device, select a character from a plurality of characters; (c) cause the display device of the external apparatus to display the selected character; (d) in response to a second operation of the input device, finalize the displayed character as one of the characters in the string of characters of the password, the second operation of the input device which finalizes the displayed character as one of the characters in the string of characters of the password being unknown to the external equipment; (e) in response to an operation of the input device which indicates a finalization of the input of the characters in the string of characters of the password, determine whether the characters input in association with the operation of the input device correspond to the characters in the string of characters of the password stored in the storage area of the storage device, the operation of the input device which indicates a finalization of the input of the characters in the string of characters of the password being distinct from the first operation of the input device and the second operation of the input device; and (f) in response to the characters that were input in association with the operation of the input device corresponding to the characters in the string of characters of the password stored in the storage area of the storage device, permit the external equipment an access to the storage area by way of the predetermined interface.