Patent ID: 7185207

Claim:
A portable terminal comprising: a storage device which stores secret data; a system unit which receives said secret data from said storage device carry out a predetermined process associated with said secret data; a signal transfer line set which is provided between said storage device and said system unit and on which a control signal and said secret data are transferred, said control signal relating to the transfer of said secret data; and a control section which is connected to said signal transfer line set and validates transfer of said control signal from said storage device to said system unit or from said system unit to said storage device on said signal transfer line set to permit the transfer of said secret data, wherein said control section comprises: a switch section which generates a valid signal in response to operation of said switch section by a user; and a control circuit which operates to permit transfer of said control signal in response to said valid signal such that the transfer of said secret data is permitted, and wherein said switch section generates an invalid signal when said switch section is not operated, and said control circuit operates to inhibit the transfer of said control signal in response to said invalid signal such that the transfer of said secret data is inhibited.