Patent ID: 7467270

Claim:
An information processing apparatus having embedded therein a non-contact type, integrated circuit (IC), the information processing apparatus comprising: a communicating unit configured to communicate data with said non-contact type IC via data lines of the information processing apparatus that are external to, but connect to, the non-contact type IC, said non-contact type IC including a memory, a memory control unit, and an antenna; detecting means for detecting any access to said non-contact type IC, said detecting means being external to said non-contact type IC; determining means for determining whether a result of detection by said detecting means indicates (1) internal access by said communicating unit of the information processing apparatus via said data lines, or (2) external access from an external apparatus via said antenna, the external access resulting from a change of electromagnetic field strength detected by said antenna; and access controlling means for controlling the external access to the non-contact type IC from said external apparatus via said antenna when said determining means determines that the result of detection by said detecting means indicates the external access from said external apparatus via said antenna, and for enabling the internal access to the non-contact IC by said communicating unit of the information processing apparatus via said data lines, when said determining means determines that the result of detection by the detecting means indicates internal access by the communicating unit, wherein the memory, memory control unit, and antenna of the non-contact type IC are separate and distinct elements from the communicating unit, the detecting means, the determining means, and the access controlling means of the information processing apparatus.