Patent ID: 8756380

Claim:
An access control apparatus comprising: a medium communication module implemented in a computer and configured to perform communication with a removable medium; an access module implemented in the computer and configured to perform access to the removable medium using the medium communication module; a wireless communication module implemented in the computer and configured to perform wireless communication with a first external device, and to receive an access request to the removable medium; and a control module implemented in the computer and configured to assign an access right to access the removable medium to one of the access module and the first external device, the control module assigning the access right in response to a request of assignment of the access right, the request being transmitted from the first external device or the access module, wherein the control module is configured to request one of the access module and the first external device to stop or suspend assignment of the access right when the other of the access module and the first external device requests assignment of the access right in a state where said one of the access module and the first external device is accessing the removable medium, and to notify the other of the access module and the first external device that the assignment of the access right is stopped or suspended after said one of the access module and the first external device stops or suspends the assignment of the access right.