Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: A content reproduction system includes an information processing terminal (102) and a secure device (103). The information processing terminal (102) receives a copyright protection application program (315) from an application distribution server (113). The copyright protection application program includes a first program having a first execution format executable in the information processing terminal (102) and a second program having a second execution format different from the first execution format and executable in the secure device (103). The second program is encrypted with a program key (515) held in the secure device (103). By extracting and executing the first program, the information processing terminal (102) extracts the second program and transmits the second program to the secure device (103).

Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that processes data to be protected is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a cache control unit configured to cache data stored in the first storage unit into the second storage unit. The cache control unit is configured to lock a cache region in the second storage unit to thereby prevent cache data of the stored data from being written back into the first storage unit, the cache data being obtainable from the cache region in the second storage unit in which the stored data is cached, and write the data to be protected different from the stored data into the cache region in the second storage unit, after the cache region in the second storage unit is locked.

Abstract: A content reproduction system includes an information processing terminal and a secure device. The information processing terminal receives a copyright protection application program from an application distribution server. The copyright protection application program includes a first program having a first execution format executable in the information processing terminal and a second program having a second execution format different from the first execution format and executable in the secure device. The second program is encrypted with a program key held in the secure device. By extracting and executing the first program, the information processing terminal extracts the second program and transmits the second program to the secure device. The secure device receives the second program from the information processing terminal, decrypts the second program using a program key stored in a key storing unit, and executes the second program.

Abstract: A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A size of a partition control area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.

Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: A virtual machine system is provided with a processor having only two privileged modes, a low privileged mode and a high privileged mode, and achieves both a security function for protecting digital copyrighted works or the like and an operating system switching function that guarantees system reliability. The virtual machine system is provided with a first and a second processor and executes a hypervisor on the first processor in the high privileged mode. An operating system on the second processor is executed by cooperation between the hypervisor running on the first processor and a program running on the second processor in low privileged mode. This eliminates the need for running the hypervisor on the second processor in the high privileged mode, thus allowing for execution on the second processor in the high privileged mode of a program for implementing the security function.

Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A size of a partition control area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.

Abstract: A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A size of a partition control area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory card comprising a control IC 302, a flash memory 303, and a ROM 304. The ROM 304 holds information such as a medium ID 341 unique to the semiconductor memory card. The flash memory 303 includes an authentication memory 332 and a non-authentication memory 331. The authentication memory 332 can be accessed only by external devices which have been affirmatively authenticated. The non-authentication memory 331 can be accessed by external devices whether the external devices have been affirmatively authenticated or not. The control IC 302 includes control units 325 and 326, an authentication unit 321 and the like. The control units 325 and 326 control accesses to the authentication memory 332 and the non-authentication memory 331, respectively. The authentication unit 321 executes a mutual authentication with an external device.

Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A data length NOM of an area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.

Abstract: A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.

Abstract: A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A size of the partition control area of an area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.

Abstract: A content reproduction system includes an information processing terminal and a secure device. The information processing terminal receives a copyright protection application program from an application distribution server. The copyright protection application program includes a first program having a first execution format executable in the information processing terminal and a second program having a second execution format different from the first execution format and executable in the secure device. The second program is encrypted with a program key held in the secure device. By extracting and executing the first program, the information processing terminal extracts the second program and transmits the second program to the secure device. The secure device receives the second program from the information processing terminal, decrypts the second program using a program key stored in a key storing unit, and executes the second program.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that processes data to be protected is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a cache control unit configured to cache data stored in the first storage unit into the second storage unit. The cache control unit is configured to lock a cache region in the second storage unit to thereby prevent cache data of the stored data from being written back into the first storage unit, the cache data being obtainable from the cache region in the second storage unit in which the stored data is cached, and write the data to be protected different from the stored data into the cache region in the second storage unit, after the cache region in the second storage unit is locked.

Abstract: A virtual machine system is provided with a processor having only two privileged modes, a low privileged mode and a high privileged mode, and achieves both a security function for protecting digital copyrighted works or the like and an operating system switching function that guarantees system reliability. The virtual machine system is provided with a first and a second processor and executes a hypervisor on the first processor in the high privileged mode. An operating system on the second processor is executed by cooperation between the hypervisor running on the first processor and a program running on the second processor in low privileged mode. This eliminates the need for running the hypervisor on the second processor in the high privileged mode, thus allowing for execution on the second processor in the high privileged mode of a program for implementing the security function.