Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a data reading apparatus, in particular, to a data reading apparatus capable of protecting data information at the time of being used to read a recording medium usable in several apparatus. 
     Recently, there has been used a memory card capable of being inserted in or pulled out from a device such as a computer, an electronic pocketbook, an IC voice recorder and a digital still camera. 
     In a computer in which there is not provided a slot for the above memory card, a data reading apparatus is connected to a serial port of the computer in order to conduct reading or writing for the memory card. 
     From the computer connected with the data reading apparatus, it become possible to read, write or renew freely data stored in the memory card. 
     Owing to the data reading apparatus, with regard to data information and a directory structure of an image acquired by photography with a digital still camera, it becomes also possible for the computer to renew them by freely rewriting them. 
     However, since the data information of the image acquired by the digital still camera has a specific directory structure or a specific file structure, there may happen the problem that after the image was rewritten by the computer, the image could not be used by the digital still camera. 
     Incidentally, the above problem may happen not only between the digital still camera and the computer, but also may happen among various apparatus in which data information is not handled by the same manner. 
     Further, the above problem may happen not only in the memory card, but also may happen in various kinds of removable recording medium such as a hard disk and a mini disk. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been achieved in the view of the above problem. The object of the invention is to provide a data reading apparatus capable of protecting data information at the time of reading a recording medium usable in several apparatus. 
     The above object can be attained by the following structures. 
     (1) A data reading apparatus, comprises 
     an apparatus connecting terminal to which an external apparatus is connected; 
     a reader to read data information or directory information recorded in a recording medium; 
     a first memory to store specific information to confirm whether or not specific data information or specific directory information is recorded in the recording medium; 
     a judging section to compare the specific information with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium, to judge whether or not the specific information conforms with the data information or the directory information, and to indicate a conforming case or a nonconforming case as a judgment result; and 
     a controller to control a working mode such that a first working mode is conducted in the conforming case and a second working mode different from the second working mode is conducted in the nonconforming case when the data information recorded in the recording medium is handled from the external apparatus. 
     In the present invention, the retained specific information is compared with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium. Between the conforming case and the nonconforming case in the comparison result, a working mode at the time that the data information recorded in the recording medium is handled from an external apparatus is changed. Therefore, by structuring the data reading apparatus such that information regarding the data information to be protected is retained as the specific information and the working mode in the nonconforming case is made a mode to limit the external apparatus to handle the data information, the data information can be protected at the time of reading the recording medium usable in several apparatus. 
     (2) In a data reading apparatus provided with recording medium connecting terminals to which a recording medium is connected and apparatus connecting terminals to which an external apparatus is connected, to read data information recorded in the recording medium and to transmit the data information to the external apparatus, it may be preferable to structure the data reading apparatus so as to comprise: 
     reading means for reading the data information or directory information recorded in the recording medium; 
     specific information storing means for storing specific information to confirm whether or not specific data information or specific directory information is recorded in the recording medium; 
     judging means for judging a conforming case or a nonconforming case by comparing the specific information with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium; and 
     control means for changing between the conforming case and the nonconforming case a working mode when the data information is handled from the external apparatus. 
     (3) In the data reading apparatus of (1), when the data information recorded in the recording medium is handled from the external apparatus, the controller applies a limitation to the handling as a limiting mode which is conducted as one of the first working mode and the second working mode and does not apply the limitation to the handling as a non limiting mode which is conducted as the other one of the first working mode and the second working mode. 
     (4) In a data reading apparatus provided with recording medium connecting terminals to which a recording medium is connected and apparatus connecting terminals to which an external apparatus is connected, to read data information recorded in the recording medium and to transmit the data information to the external apparatus, it may be preferable to structure the data reading apparatus so as to comprise: 
     reading means for reading the data information or directory information recorded in the recording medium; 
     specific information storing means for storing specific information to confirm whether or not specific data information or specific directory information is recorded in the recording medium; 
     judging means for judging a conforming case or a nonconforming case by comparing the specific information with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium; and 
     control means for conducting in the conforming case a limiting mode to apply a limitation when the data information is handled from the external apparatus and for conducting in the nonconforming case a non limitation mode not to apply the limitation when the data information is handled from the external apparatus. 
     As a result of comparison that the retained specific information is compared with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium, in the conforming case, a limitation is applied when the data information is handled from the external apparatus, on the other hand, in the nonconforming case, no limitation is applied when the data information is handled from the external apparatus. Therefore, by retaining information regarding the data information to be protected as the specific information, the data information can be protected at the time of reading the recording medium usable in several apparatus. 
     (5) In the data reading apparatus of (3) or (4), it may be preferable to provide limiting information storing means for storing limiting information regarding the application of the limitation when the data information is handled from the external apparatus and to transmit the limiting information to the external apparatus in the limiting mode. 
     With above structure, the limiting information indicating an existence of the limitation for the handling for the data information is transmitted to the external apparatus, the reading out or the renewing from the external apparatus is limited. Therefore, the data information can be protected at the time of reading the recording medium usable in several apparatus. 
     As one embodiment in the case that the limiting information is transmitted to the external apparatus, it may be possible to protect the data information by transmitting only the directory information of the recording medium to the external apparatus. 
     (6) In the data reading apparatus of (3), (4) or (5), in the limiting mode, at least one of renewing the data information in a region of the recording medium indicated by the specific information and writing in new data information in the region is prohibited. 
     Since at least one of renewing the data information and writing in new data information in a region of the recording medium indicated by the specific information is prohibited in the limiting mode, the recording medium usable in several apparatus can not change from the external apparatus, whereby the data information can be surely protected. For a region other than the region indicated by the specific information, since the limitation is softened or cancelled, it becomes possible to use the recording medium effectively in plural apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure and a connecting condition of a data reading apparatus in an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration explaining a connecting condition among the data reading apparatus in the embodiment of the invention, an electronic camera and a computer as an external apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a structure of a primary section of the data reading apparatus in the embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a situation in which an area on a recording medium used in the embodiment of the invention is limited. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention, as a data reading apparatus used to read a recording medium usable in several apparatus, there is explained a concrete embodiment of a data reading apparatus used at the time that the computer reads a memory card as a recording medium in which image information is recorded by a digital still camera. 
     Firstly, with reference to FIG. 2, the connecting situation of the data reading apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention will now be explained. 
     In FIG. 2, digital still camera  100  conducts recording image information in a recording medium  200  such as a memory card. Incidentally, instead of the digital still camera  100 , various kinds of handy type electronic appliances to which a digital still camera is attached or in which a digital still camera is incorporated or a video camera capable of recording image information in a memory card may be used. 
     A data reading apparatus  300  is structured such that the recording medium can be inserted into or pulled out from the data reading apparatus  300 . The data reading apparatus  300  is adapted to be electrically connected to a computer  400 . In this case, the data reading apparatus  300  may be connected to the computer  400  through one of various data transmitting methods such as serial or parallel ways. 
     Next, with reference to FIG. 1, an inner structure of the data reading apparatus  300  is explained in detail. FIG. 1 shows a situation that data information recorded in the recording medium  200  is read through the data reading apparatus  300  by the computer  400  employed as an external apparatus. The computer  400  and the data reading apparatus  300  are connected with a connecting cable  500 . 
     Recording medium connecting terminals  310  are used as terminals to which a recording medium such as a memory card usable for several apparatus is connected. A specific information storing section  320  stores specific data information recorded in the recording medium  200  such as specific information used to confirm whether or not specific data information or directory information is recorded in a recording medium. A judging section  330  compares the specific information with data information or directory information read from the recording medium  200  and judges whether or not the specific information conforms with them. This judging section  330  constitutes reading means and judging means cited in SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION. 
     A limiting information storing section  340  stores information (hereinafter, referred to as limiting information) instructing to add a limitation when the data information recorded in the recoding medium  200  is used by an external apparatus. It may be preferable that the limiting information storing section  340  stores information indicating the kind of information such as the kind of the directory information and the kind of the data information in addition to the limiting information. A switching control section  350  switches the working mode of the data reading apparatus  300  in accordance with the comparison result by the judging section  330  as follows. In the case that the specific information conforms with the data information or the directory information, the data reading apparatus  300  works in a limiting mode (a second working mode) to provide a limitation when the external apparatus handles the data information recorded in the recording medium  200 , for example, limited information is transmitted to the external apparatus. On the other hand, in the case that the specific information does not conform with them, the data reading apparatus  300  works in a non-limiting mode (a first working mode) to provide no limitation when the external apparatus handles the data information recorded in the recording medium  200 . Apparatus connecting terminals  360  are terminals to which the external apparatus is connected. In FIG. 1, the computer is connected to the apparatus connecting terminals  360  through a connecting cable  500 . 
     In the recording medium  200 , the data information and the directory information regarding the image information photographed by the digital still camera  100  are recorded. Here, the data information represents image data photographed by the digital still camera  100 . 
     The directory information represents the name of a predetermined directory indicating a record in which the data information of a predetermined format is recorded in the recording medium  200  by the digital still camera  100 . Namely, in this embodiment, this directory information corresponds to the specific information. 
     In the specific information storing section  320 , several pieces of existing specific information are stored in advance. When new specific information is determined, it may be desirable that the several pieces of specific information in the specific information storing section  320  are renewed. 
     Needless to say, the specific information is not limited to the example in this embodiment, it may be permissible that there merely exists a certain kind of specific information indicating the fact that the data information of image in a specific format is recorded in the recording medium  200 . For example, the data information in compliance with an agreement under DCF (Design Rule For Camera File System) may be used as the specific information. 
     Hereinafter, a reading action of the data reading apparatus for the recording medium  200  in the present embodiment will explained. 
     When photography is conducted with the digital sill camera, the data information and the directory information corresponding to the specific information are recorded in the recording medium  200 . Incidentally, the directory information is recorded when the recording medium  200  is handled firstly by the digital still camera  100 . Thereafter, only data information is newly written into the recording medium  200 . 
     Then, the recording medium  200  in which the data information and the directory information are recorded is inserted into the recording medium connecting terminals of the data reading apparatus  300 . 
     In the data reading apparatus  300 , the judging section  330  reads out the directory information or the data information from the recording medium and conducts comparison judgment between the directory information or the data information and the specific information stored in the specific information storing section  320 . 
     As a result of the comparison judgment, in the case that the specific information does not conform with the directory information or the data information, since image information photographed by the digital still camera  100  is not recorded, no limitation is provided when the data information recorded in the recording medium  200  are handled from the computer  400 . This mode is defined as the first working mode. 
     In the case of the first working mode, since no limitation is provided for the access from the computer  400 , an internal switch in the switching control section  350  is switched to “a” side in accordance with the instruction from the judging section  330  and information in the recording medium  200  is transmitted to the computer  400 . Also, an internal switch “c” in the switching control section  350  is turned to ON condition in accordance with the instruction from the judging section  330 . 
     On the other hand, in the case that the specific information retained in the specific information storing section  320  conforms with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium  200 , since image information photographed by the digital still camera  100  is recorded, a limitation is provided when the data information recorded in the recording medium  200  are handled from the computer  400 . This mode is defined as the second working mode. 
     The limitation for the handling from the computer in this case is applied for confirming the existence of image information or the name of file, reading image information, rewriting (or renewing, updating) image information and writing in new data. 
     As a result, when image information recorded by the digital still camera  100  exists in the recording medium  200 , the handling conducted freely from the computer such as reading, rewriting (renewing) and writing-in is limited. In other word, in the invention, the working mode is changed in accordance with the result of judgment for the content recorded in the recording medium  200 , and then the limitation is applied to the handling from the external apparatus if necessary. Whereby it becomes possible to protect data information when a recording medium usable in several apparatus is read out. 
     As described above, in order to realize the limitation for the handling from the computer  400 , in the present embodiment, the limiting information to limit the external apparatus to handle the data information is stored in the limiting information storing section  340 . By switching the internal switch in the switching control section  350  to “b” side, the limiting information stored in the limiting information storing section  340  is transmitted to the computer  400 . Also, the internal switch in the switching control section  350  “c” is turned to OFF in accordance with the instruction from the judging section  330 . 
     In this case, the directory information and the data information in the recording medium can not be looked from the computer  400  and only the limiting information is looked from the computer  400 . That is, there becomes the condition that the computer  400  understands that the access to the recording medium  200  is limited. The above second working mode is defined as the limiting mode in the present embodiment. 
     Further, as an embodiment in the case that the limiting information is transmitted to the computer  400 , it is possible to protect the data information by transmitting only the directory information recorded in the recording medium  200  to the external apparatus. In this case, the computer  400  can look the directory information in the recording medium, however, can not look more than that. 
     With the above structure, by limiting reading-out or rewriting from the computer  400 , it can be possible to surely protect the data information when the recording medium usable in several apparatus is handled from an external apparatus such as the computer  400 . 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to store a program (a recording medium accessing program  342 ) to access the recording medium in the limiting information storing section  340 . In this case, there becomes the condition that the directory information or the data information in the recording medium  200  can not be looked directly from the computer  400  and the existence of the limiting information  341  and the recording medium accessing program  342  can be looked from the computer  400 . On the above condition, by driving the recording medium accessing program  342  in the limiting information storing section  340  from the computer  400 , it becomes possible to access the recording medium indirectly. 
     In this case, by the action of the recording medium accessing program  342 , it becomes possible for the computer  400  to look indirectly the directory information and the data information of the recording medium. However, the computer can not look a portion limited by the limiting information and can look only an allowed portion. Furthermore, in this case, in accordance with the limiting information, it becomes possible to provide a limitation or a permission stepwise for reading out the data information, rewriting the data information and writing new data information respectively. 
     By limiting the reading or the rewriting from the computer  400 , it can be possible to surely protect the data information when the recording medium usable in several apparatus is handled from an external apparatus such as the computer  400 . 
     Further, in the limiting mode in this embodiment, it is possible to prohibit at least one of rewriting data information within a range indicated by the specific information and writing new data information. 
     In FIG.  4 ( a ), the entire recording region  201  in the recording medium is illustrated. For a region  202  indicated with hatching, at least one of the reading-out, the rewriting and the writing-in from the computer  400  are prohibited. For a region other than the hatched regions  202 , there is no limitation for the reading-out, the rewriting and the writing-in from the computer  400 . In this case, in accordance with the limiting situations, the content of the limitation and the limited region are stored as the limiting information in the limiting information storing section  340 . 
     Further, in FIG.  4 ( b ), the entire recording region  201  in the recording medium is illustrated. For a region  202  indicated with hatching, only reading out from the computer  400  is permitted and rewriting the data information and writing in new data information are prohibited. For a region  203  indicted with double hatching, all of the reading-out, the rewriting and the writing-in from the computer  400  are prohibited. For a region other than the hatched regions  202  and  203 , there is no limitation for the reading-out, the rewriting and the writing-in from the computer  400 . In the case that the limitations are applied separately stepwise, the content of the limitation and the limited region of each of the limitations are stored as the limiting information in the limiting information storing section  340 . 
     Incidentally, in FIGS.  4 ( a ) and  4 ( b ), the recording regions are illustrated. However, the limitation for the access from the computer  400  as an external apparatus to the recording medium  200  may be administrated on the basis of the address of the recording region or on the basis of the directory structure. In the case that the limitation is provided on the basis of the directory structure, a permission or a prohibition with regard to the reading-out, the rewriting and the writing-in may be determined for image information belonging the predetermined directory. 
     In the above embodiment, since at least one of the reading-out, the rewriting and the writing-in is prohibited for the data information in a region indicated by the specific information in the limiting mode, a predetermined region in the recording medium usable several apparatus can be changed from the external apparatus, whereby the data information can be surely protected. 
     Further, for a region other than the region indicated by the specific information, since the limitation is softened or removed, the recording medium can be used effectively from a plurality of external apparatus while keeping the data information to be protected. 
     Incidentally, in the above embodiment, if the recording medium connecting terminals  310  are not needed, a reading apparatus for CD-RW as one example may be used as the data reading apparatus  300 . 
     Further, in the above embodiment, information regarding the data information to be protected is stored as the specific information in the specific information storing section  320 , and in the case that the specific information conforms the directory information or the data information recorded in the recording medium  200 , the limitation is applied. With this structure, information to be protected specifically can be surely protected. In the case that data information permitted to be not protected is inserted in the data reading apparatus  300 , it is possible to avoid the problem that data in the recording medium cannot be handled. Further, it is also possible to structure as follows. Information regarding the data information permitted to be not protected is stored as specific information in the specific information storing section  320 , and then in the case that the specific information conforms with the directory information or the data information recorded in the recording medium  200 , no limitation is applied. On the other hand, in the case that the specific information does not conform with them, a limitation is applied. In the case, when a recording medium including information to be protected is inserted into the data reading apparatus before the specific information in the specific information storing section  320  is renewed, it can be possible to avoid the problem that the data in the recording medium are rewritten unexpectedly.

Technology Category: 5