Data protection device, portable electronic equipment and data protection method

Abstract

A data protection device is suitable for a memory for storing target data, and comprises a bolt slot, a bolt, a detection element and an operation element. The bolt is coupled with the bolt groove in a pluggable mode and is provided with an identification element. The detection element is arranged to correspond to the bolt groove and is used for detecting the bolt groove. And the operation element is connected to the detection element and is used for deleting the target data when the existence of the identification element cannot be judged according to the detection result of the detection element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a data protection device, a portable electronic device and a data protection method. Background Art

[0002] In the field of data security of personal devices, multi-factor authentication may be relied upon to control data access rights. For example, illegal data access operations can be restricted by passwords, one-time verification codes (OTP), biometric verification codes, etc. However, when the hardware itself is in a high-risk environment and the data stored in the hardware is highly confidential, additional measures may be required to ensure data security. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of the above, the present invention provides a data protection device and a portable electronic device.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data protection device is used for a memory for storing a target data, comprising a latch slot, a latch, a detection element, and an operation element. The latch is pluggably coupled to the latch slot and has an identification element. The detection element is arranged to correspond to the latch slot and is used to detect the latch slot. The operation element is connected to the detection element and is used to delete the target data when it is impossible to determine the existence of the identification element based on the detection result of the detection element.

[0005] A portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the data protection device and the memory as described above.

[0006] By means of the above structure, the data protection device and the portable electronic device disclosed in the present invention are provided with a plug and a plug slot that are pluggably coupled to each other on the data protection device, wherein the plug has an identification element, and the plug slot has a detection element, so that when the plug is withdrawn from the plug slot, the data protection device can be triggered to automatically perform a data deletion operation. Accordingly, when the user holding the data protection device faces an emergency, the plug can be easily withdrawn from the plug slot to quickly destroy or format the target data in the memory, ensuring that the target data is not stolen by someone with ulterior motives.

[0007] The above description of the disclosed contents and the following description of the implementation modes are used to demonstrate and explain the spirit and principle of the present invention, and to provide further explanation for the protection scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 It is a block diagram of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data protection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a plug of a data protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 The flowchart is an operation flowchart of a data protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 6 The flowchart is an operation flowchart of a data protection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] [Description of Reference Numerals]

[0015] 1,1': Data protection device

[0016] 11: Latch

[0017] 111: Identification Components

[0018] 1111: Near Field Communication Chip

[0019] 1112: Read line

[0020] 1113: Antenna

[0021] 112: Ministry of Fragility

[0022] 113: Grip

[0023] 12: Latch slot

[0024] 121: Power on trigger switch

[0025] 122: Controller

[0026] 13: Detection element

[0027] 14: Computing elements

[0028] 15: Prompt component

[0029] 2: Memory

[0030] 3: Portable electronic devices

[0031] S11-S14, S21-S25: ​​Steps DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following embodiments, and the contents are sufficient to enable ordinary technicians in the field to understand the technical content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. According to the contents, protection scope and drawings disclosed in this specification, ordinary technicians in the field can easily understand the relevant purposes and advantages of the present invention. The following examples are to further illustrate the viewpoints of the present invention in detail, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, a data protection device 1 is suitable for a memory 2 storing a target data, and comprises a latch 11, a latch slot 12, a detection element 13 and an operation element 14. The latch 11 is pluggably coupled to the latch slot 12 and has an identification element 111. The detection element 13 is arranged to correspond to the latch slot 12 and is used to detect the latch slot 12. The operation element 14 is connected to the detection element 13 and is used to delete the target data when it is impossible to determine the existence of the identification element 111 according to the detection result of the detection element 13.

[0034] In this example, the data protection device 1 can be used to protect the data of the memory 2 in an electronic device. Specifically, the memory 2 can be set in a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a portable hard disk or other personal devices, and the present invention is not limited thereto. That is to say, based on the data protection device 1 described in this article, it can be appropriately modified to adapt to the memory 2 installed in various devices under the understanding of those with ordinary knowledge in the field, so as to protect the target data stored in the memory 2. In addition, the type of memory 2 includes but is not limited to various non-volatile memories, such as read-only memory (ROM), etc.

[0035] The data protection device 1 may include two parts, a main body and a plug-in part, wherein the two parts can be disassembled or coupled to each other in a plug-in form. The plug-in part of the data protection device 1 includes a plug 11, and the plug 11 includes an identification element 111. The main body of the data protection device 1 includes a plug slot 12, a detection element 13 and an operation element 14, and the plug slot 12, the detection element 13 and the operation element 14 can be arranged in a shell having a accommodating space. The plug 11 may structurally have a gripping portion and an extension portion, wherein the gripping portion is used to facilitate the user to apply force for plugging and unplugging operations, the extension portion is used to be pluggably coupled to the plug slot 12, and the identification element 111 is arranged on the extension portion. Specifically, the identification element 111 may be an element based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, for example, it may include a near-field communication (NFC) unit.

[0036] When the latch 11 is coupled to the latch slot 12, the detection element 13 configured to correspond to the latch slot 12 can detect the latch 11 located in the accommodation space of the latch slot 12. Specifically, the detection element 13 can detect the identification element 111 of the latch 11 and generate a first detection result; when the latch 11 is not coupled to the latch slot 12, the detection element 13 cannot detect the identification element 111 of the latch 11 and generate a second detection result; or, when other latches are coupled to the latch slot 12, the detection element 13 cannot identify the corresponding identification element and generates a third detection result. For example, the detection element 13 can be a reading element based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, and can have a one-to-one correspondence with the identification element 111.

[0037] The computing element 14 may be a component with data receiving, recording, computing, storing and outputting functions, such as a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a programmable logic controller, etc. The computing element 14 is used to receive the detection result of the detection element 13 and perform corresponding operations according to the detection result. When the computing element 14 cannot determine the existence of the identification element 111 according to the detection result of the detection element 13, the target data stored in the memory 2 is deleted. For example, when the detection element 13 cannot detect the identification element 111 of the plug 11 (that is, the computing element 14 receives the above-mentioned second detection result), or when the corresponding identification element cannot be identified (that is, the computing element 14 receives the above-mentioned third detection result), the computing element 14 can format and delete the target data in the memory 2. Of course, under normal conditions, when the detection element 13 can detect the identification element 111 of the plug 11 (that is, the computing element 14 receives the above-mentioned first detection result), the computing element 14 does not delete the target data in the memory 2.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the portable electronic device 3 includes Figure 1 The data protection device 1 and the memory 2 shown, wherein the data protection device 1 also includes a latch 11, a latch slot 12, a detection element 13 and an operation element 14, and the latch 11 also includes an identification element 111, therefore, the related repeated description is omitted here. In this example, the data protection device 1 and the memory 2 belong to the same portable electronic device 3. The portable electronic device 3 includes but is not limited to a laptop computer, a personal tablet, etc. Taking the portable electronic device 3 as an example of a laptop computer, the latch slot 12 can be located at a place of the laptop computer housing, and when the latch 11 is coupled with the latch slot 12, there is a slight gap between the grip of the latch 11 and the laptop computer housing, so that the user can apply force to pull out the latch 11 in special circumstances.

[0039] The memory 2 may be a memory in a laptop computer (portable electronic device 3) for storing specific target data. Accordingly, when the computing element 14 receives the detection result of the detection element 13 and cannot determine the existence of the identification element 111 based on the detection result, the target data in the memory 2 may be deleted. In addition, when the computing element 14 receives the detection result of the detection element 13 and cannot determine the existence of the identification element 111 based on the detection result, the computing element 14 may also delete all the data in the memory 2. That is, through this configuration, the present invention provides a personal computer with a data protection function, which allows users to format and delete confidential data by simply pulling out the latch in special circumstances, thereby preventing confidential data from being stolen and used by interested persons. It should be noted that the computing element 14 may be a central processing unit of the laptop computer (portable electronic device 3) itself for operating other functions, or an independent microcontroller specially set up in the laptop computer (portable electronic device 3) for performing data protection operations, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data protection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3As shown, the data protection device 1' of this example includes not only a latch 11, a latch slot 12, a detection element 13, and an operation element 14, but also a prompt element 15 connected to the operation element 14. In addition to performing the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, the operation element 14 of this example can also record the state time length in which the existence of the identification element 111 cannot be determined based on the detection result, and does not delete the target data before the state time length reaches a preset time length, and the target data is deleted only when the state time length reaches the preset time length. Further, in this example, the operation element 14 can also activate the prompt element 15 to output a prompt signal associated with the preset time length when recording the state time length. Specifically, the prompt element 15 can be a display. The control process based on the state time length is described in more detail later.

[0041] In addition, the data processing device 1 of this example further includes a power-on trigger switch 121 and a controller 122. The power-on trigger switch 121 is disposed in the latch slot 12 and has a first state and a second state. When the latch 11 is coupled to the latch slot 12, the power-on trigger switch 121 is in the first state, and when the latch 11 is withdrawn from the latch slot 12, the power-on trigger switch 121 is in the second state. The controller 122 is connected to the power-on trigger switch 121 and the computing element 14, and is used to actuate the computing element 14 when the computing element 14 is in the disabled state and the power-on trigger switch 121 is in the second state. For example, when the latch 11 is coupled to the latch slot 12, the power-on trigger switch 121 may be pressed by the latch 11 to put the circuit elements therein into a first state (e.g., an on or off state); or when the latch 11 is withdrawn from the latch slot 12, the power-on trigger switch 121 may be pulled by the latch 11 to put the circuit elements therein into a second state different from the first state (e.g., an off or on state). Thus, the controller 122 may determine that when the computing element 14 is in the disabled state and the power-on trigger switch 121 is in the second state, the computing element 14 is activated. The controller 122 may be specifically a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a programmable logic controller, etc.

[0042] In this example, although the controller 122 and the computing element 14 belong to the same device, the controller 122 can be in a standby state rather than a disabled state for a long time. For example, when the data protection device 1' is turned off, the computing element 14 can be in a disabled state, and the controller 122 is in a standby state, so that when the latch 11 is withdrawn from the latch slot 12, the controller 122 can wake up the computing element 14 in real time, and the awakened computing element 14 can further judge the detection result of the detection element 13 to perform subsequent data deletion operations. In addition, the prompt element 15 of the data protection device 1' of this example is a selective setting, or the power-on trigger switch 121 and the controller 122 of the data protection device 1' are selective settings.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plug of a data protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the plug 11 has an identification element 111, a fragile portion 112 and a gripping portion 113, wherein a readout circuit 1112 of the identification element 111 is disposed at the fragile portion 112. In this example, the identification element 111 includes a near field communication chip 1111, a readout circuit 1112 and an antenna 1113. Specifically, the near field communication chip 1111 is disposed at one end of the fragile portion 112 of the plug 11, the antenna 1113 is disposed at the other end of the fragile portion 112 of the plug 11, and the readout circuit 1112 spans the fragile portion 112. However, in other embodiments, other parts of the identification element 111 may be disposed at the fragile portion 112, such as a readout chip or a readout circuit. In this example, the fragile portion 112 is a local structure of the plug 11 with a relatively narrow width. In other embodiments, the fragile portion 112 may also be realized by a local structure formed of other materials with relatively low mechanical strength, which is not limited by the present invention. Preferably, the fragile portion 112 can be designed to only withstand a preset torque value at both ends of the latch 11 , so that the user can perform destructive means such as bending or tearing the fragile portion 112 of the latch 11 .

[0044] Please refer to Figure 1 , when the latch 11 is coupled to the latch slot 12, the detection element 13 can read the data of the near field communication chip 1111 from the antenna 1113 through the read circuit 1112, and obtain a detection signal and generate a detection result. When the latch 11 is withdrawn from the latch slot 12, the detection element 13 cannot read the near field communication chip 1111. Further, when the latch 11 is withdrawn from the latch slot 12 and the latch 11 is damaged from the fragile portion 112, the electrical connection between the near field communication chip 1111 and the antenna 1113 can be disconnected due to the damage of the read circuit 1112 together with the fragile portion 112. In this way, even if the latch 11 is coupled to the latch slot 12 again, the detection element 13 will not be able to read the data of the near field communication chip 1111 from the antenna 1113 through the read circuit 1112. In other embodiments, the read circuit 1112 is not necessarily disposed in the fragile portion 112 , but the near field communication chip 1111 or the antenna 1113 may be disposed in the fragile portion 112 , all of which can achieve the effect of preventing the pin 11 whose fragile portion 112 is damaged from being recognized by the detection element 13 again.

[0045] Please combine Figure 1 refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 FIG. 1 is an operation flow chart of a data protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5As shown, the operation process of the computing element 14 may include step S11: determine whether the detection signal is obtained; if not, execute step S12: delete the target data; if so, execute step S13: determine whether the detection signal contains information for identifying the element; if not, execute step S12; if so, execute step S14: do nothing.

[0046] In step S11, when the computing element 14 cannot obtain the detection signal from the detection element 13, it means that the detection element 13 cannot detect the identification element 111 of the plug 11 (the second detection result mentioned above), that is, the plug 11 is not coupled with the plug slot 12, and the computing element 14 executes the operation of deleting the target data. In step S13, when the computing element 14 determines that the detection signal does not include the information of the identification element 111, it means that other plugs may be coupled with the plug slot 12, so that the detection element 13 cannot identify the corresponding identification element, and the computing element 14 executes the operation of deleting the target data. In addition, when the computing element 14 obtains the detection signal and determines that the detection signal includes the information of the identification element 111, that is, when the computing element 14 can determine that the identification element 111 exists according to the detection result, the target data stored in the memory can be retained (step S14).

[0047] Please combine Figure 3 refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of a data protection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, the operation process of the computing element 14 may include step S21: judging whether the identification element exists according to the detection result of the detection element; if so, executing step S22: not taking action; if not, executing step S23: recording the length of time in which the existence of the identification element cannot be judged according to the detection result; step S24: judging whether the length of the state time reaches a preset time length; if not, executing step S22; if so, executing step S25: deleting the target data.

[0048] In steps S21 and S23, when the computing element 14 determines that the identification element 111 does not exist based on the detection result (the second detection result or the third detection result) of the detection element 13, the duration of a state of the second detection result or the third detection result can be recorded. Specifically, the "determining whether the identification element exists" in step S21 can include Figure 5The step S11 of "determining whether the detection signal is obtained" and the step S13 of "determining whether the detection signal contains the information of the identification element" shown in the figure. At the same time, the operation element 14 can control the prompt element 15 to output a prompt signal associated with the preset time length. For example, the preset time length is 10 seconds. The operation element 14 can control the prompt element 15 to display the status time length as a countdown from 10 seconds to 0. In steps S24 and S25, when the operation element 14 determines that the status time length has reached the preset time length, the target data is deleted. In addition, in step S24, if before the status time length reaches the preset time length, the operation element 14 can determine that the identification element 111 exists according to the detection result of the detection element 13, it means that the bolt 11 has been re-coupled with the bolt slot 12 within the preset time length after withdrawing from the bolt slot 12. At this time, the operation element 14 does not delete the target data and maintains normal operation. That is, when the computing element 14 can determine the existence of the identification element 111 according to the detection result, the target data stored in the memory can be retained (step S22). Figure 4 When the latch 11 has been damaged, even if the latch 11 is recoupled with the latch slot 12 within the preset time length, the detection element 13 cannot read and the computing element 14 still cannot determine the existence of the identification element 111. Therefore, the computing element 14 will still perform the operation of deleting the target data when the status time length reaches the preset time length.

[0049] By means of the above structure, the data protection device and portable electronic device disclosed in the present invention are provided with a plug and a plug slot that are pluggably coupled to each other on the data protection device, wherein the plug has an identification element, and the plug slot is provided with a detection element, so that when the plug is withdrawn from the plug slot, the data protection device can be triggered to automatically perform a data deletion operation. Accordingly, when a user holding the data protection device faces an emergency, the plug can be easily withdrawn from the plug slot to quickly destroy or format the target data in the memory, ensuring that the target data is not stolen by someone with ulterior motives. In addition, the plug of the data protection device of the present invention can additionally have a fragile portion design, and a part of the identification element is provided on the fragile portion, so that the plug can be destroyed from the fragile portion after being withdrawn from the plug slot, further ensuring that confidential data can be destroyed and prevented from being used by someone with ulterior motives.

Claims

1. A data protection device, applicable to a memory for storing a target data, comprising: A plug slot; A plug, detachably coupled to the plug slot and having an identification element; A detection element, arranged corresponding to the plug slot for detecting the plug slot; and An arithmetic element, connected to the detection element, for deleting the target data when it is unable to determine the existence of the identification element based on the detection result of the detection element.

2. The data protection device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic element is used to delete the target data when it is unable to obtain a detection signal from the detection element.

3. The data protection device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic element is used to delete the target data when it determines that the detection signal from the detection element does not contain information of the identification element.

4. The data protection device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic element is further used to record the state time length when it is unable to determine the existence of the identification element based on the detection result, and does not delete the target data before the state time length reaches a preset time length, and deletes the target data until the state time length reaches the preset time length.

5. The data protection device according to claim 4, further comprising: A prompting element, connected to the arithmetic element; Wherein the arithmetic element is further used to actuate the prompting element to output a prompting signal associated with the preset time length when recording the state time length.

6. The data protection device according to claim 1, wherein the identification element and the detection element are based on a radio frequency identification technology.

7. The data protection device according to claim 1, wherein the plug has a fragile part, a part of the identification element is arranged on the fragile part, and this part of the identification element is a reading chip or a reading circuit.

8. The data protection device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic element is used to delete all data in the memory when it is unable to determine the existence of the identification element based on the detection result.

9. The data protection device according to claim 1, further comprising: A power-on trigger switch, arranged in the plug slot and having a first state and a second state. When the plug is coupled to the plug slot, the power-on trigger switch is in the first state. When the plug is withdrawn from the plug slot, the power-on trigger switch is in the second state; and A controller, connected to the power-on trigger switch and the arithmetic element, for actuating the arithmetic element when the arithmetic element is in a power-off state and the power-on trigger switch is in the second state.

10. A portable electronic device, comprising the data protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and the memory.

11. A data protection method, applicable to a memory for storing a target data, comprising: Detecting a plug slot with a detection element; Judging whether an identification element exists with an arithmetic element according to the detection result of the detection element, wherein the identification element is arranged on a plug detachably coupled to the plug slot; and When it is unable to judge the existence of the identification element according to the detection result, deleting the target data stored in the memory with the arithmetic element.

12. The data protection method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the identification element exists according to the detection result of the detection element comprises: Determining whether a detection signal is obtained from the detection element; When the detection signal cannot be obtained, it means that the existence of the identification element cannot be determined based on the detection result.

13. The data protection method as claimed in claim 12, wherein judging whether the identification element disposed on the latch exists according to the detection result of the detection element further comprises: When the detection signal is obtained, determining whether the detection signal contains information of the identification element; When it is determined that the detection signal does not include the information of the identification element, it means that the existence of the identification element cannot be determined based on the detection result.

14. The data protection method as claimed in claim 11, wherein before deleting the target data stored in the memory, further comprising: Recording a time length of a state in which the existence of the identification element cannot be determined based on the detection result; and It is determined that the duration of the state reaches a preset duration.

15. The data protection method according to claim 11, further comprising: When it is determined that the identification element exists according to the detection result, the target data stored in the memory is retained by the computing element.

16. The data protection method according to claim 14, further comprising: When recording the state time length, a prompt element is actuated to output a prompt signal associated with the preset time length.

17. The data protection method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the identification element disposed on the latch exists according to the detection result of the detection element comprises: determining whether a detection signal is obtained from the detection element; and When the detection signal is obtained, determining whether the detection signal contains information of the identification element; When the detection signal cannot be obtained or it is determined that the detection signal does not include the information of the identification element, it means that the existence of the identification element cannot be determined based on the detection result.

18. The data protection method as claimed in claim 11, wherein deleting the target datagram stored in the memory comprises: Delete all data in this memory.

19. The data protection method according to claim 11, further comprising: Using a controller to determine whether the computing element is in a disabled state, and to determine whether a power-on trigger switch is in a first state or a second state; and When the controller determines that the computing element is in the disabled state and the power-on trigger switch is in the second state, the computing element is activated. in, The power-on trigger switch is disposed in the latch slot, and when the latch is coupled to the latch slot, the power-on trigger switch is in the first state, and when the latch is withdrawn from the latch slot, the power-on trigger switch is in the second state.

20. The data protection method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the detection of the latch slot by the detection element is based on a radio frequency identification technology.

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