JP7462489B2 - Authenticity determination system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an authenticity determination system capable of determining the authenticity of a product and an identification code for use in the authenticity determination system.

In the manufacturing industry, especially for products with high technology or strong brands, other companies may produce counterfeit products, causing damage to sales of genuine products. Retailers who sell genuine products deal with such counterfeit products by determining their authenticity, but as the accuracy of counterfeit products improves every day, it takes time to accurately determine their authenticity, and it is not easy to solve the problem that impedes business. In addition, mail order sales, including Internet shopping, have become widespread in recent years, and there are many retailers where products can be purchased, but some retailers may not be able to adequately determine the authenticity of products, so consumers are required to be able to determine the authenticity themselves. To address this issue, a conventional countermeasure against counterfeit products is to determine whether a product is genuine by reading the identification information attached to the product.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a server located on the Internet is provided with a product database that records unique identification information, and an RFID tag that has data generated based on the identification information is attached to each product, and the RFID tag is read by a terminal and a query is made to the product database on the server to determine authenticity. This makes it easy to determine the authenticity of products at various stages in the supply chain.

JP 2013-25816 A (page 5, Figure 2)

In Patent Document 1, because the identification information attached to a product is recorded and managed in a product database, there is a risk that false identification information may be added to the product database through malicious hacking. If false identification information is added to the product database and an RFID tag containing data generated based on the false identification information is attached to a product, there is a risk that a server with a judgment function will judge a counterfeit product to be genuine, posing a problem in that the reliability of authenticity judgment cannot be sufficiently ensured.

The present invention was made in response to these problems, and aims to provide an authenticity determination system that can perform highly reliable authenticity determination, and an identification code for use in the authenticity determination system.

In order to solve the above problems, the authenticity determination system of the present invention comprises:
A recording means for recording text data, which is unique product identification information for identifying a product, on a blockchain;
A generating means for generating an encoded identification code for determination from at least a hash value acquired from the block chain at the time of recording and text data which is the product identification information ;
A receiving means for receiving the determination identification code;
an extraction means for decrypting the determination identification code received by the reception means and extracting the hash value and text data which is the product identification information;
a storage means for temporarily storing text data which is the product identification information decoded from the determination identification code;
An acquisition means for acquiring text data which is the product identification information by referring to the hash value on the blockchain;
a determination means for determining a consistency relationship between the text data stored in the storage means and the text data acquired by the acquisition means ;
an output means for outputting the consistency relationship determined by the determination means;
The present invention is characterized in that it has the following features.
According to this feature, the product is assigned a determination identification code generated by the generation means from the hash value and product identification information acquired from the blockchain when recording, the reception means accepts the determination identification code assigned to the product from the consumer or retailer, and the extraction means extracts the hash value and the product identification information from the determination identification code. The determination means is configured to use the hash value to determine the consistency between the product identification information acquired from the blockchain and the product identification information assigned to the product extracted from the determination identification code. The product identification information is recorded in the blockchain, and the determination identification code is generated including the product identification information and the hash value acquired from the blockchain when recording, thereby preventing tampering with the information used for authenticity determination. In addition, since the product identification information assigned to the product and the hash value to which the product identification information is recorded are associated only by the determination identification code, there is no risk of tampering with the information used for authenticity determination, and authenticity determination can be performed with high reliability.

Further comprising a video data recording means for recording video data corresponding to the product of the product identification information in association with at least one of the hash value acquired from the block chain at the time of recording and the product identification information,
The output means is characterized in that when the determination means determines that there is a match, it outputs the video data corresponding to the product of the product identification information in a viewable manner based on at least one of the hash value extracted from the determination identification code by the extraction means and the product identification information.
According to this feature, a video corresponding to the product identification information can be viewed only if a match is determined. Therefore, by viewing this video, one can gain confidence in the determination that the product is genuine. In addition, one can learn the story of the thoughts and concepts that suppliers such as manufacturers and retailers want to convey about the product, thereby satisfying one's desire to own only genuine products.

The video data is stored in a distributed file system, and link data relating to the storage of the video data is associated with the identification information and recorded on the blockchain.
According to this feature, the relationship between these video data and identification information is recorded only on the blockchain, making it possible to prevent tampering with this relationship.

The output means outputs the extracted hash value together with the matching relationship when the determining means determines that there is a match.
According to this feature, a hash value is output when a match is determined, so that consumers and other users can know that the data used in the determination is recorded on a blockchain, which strongly prevents tampering, and can have confidence in the determination that the product is genuine.

The present invention is characterized in that, when the judgment means performs the judgment process, the apparatus has a management means for recording and managing the judgment history for each piece of product identification information.
According to this feature, if the number of requests for authenticity determination of a specific product is greater than a set number, it is possible to suspect that the product is involved in the sale of counterfeit goods, and a warning can be sent to the manufacturer of the product in question about counterfeit goods.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an authenticity determination system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a network constituting a determination identification code used in the authenticity determination system. 10 is a flowchart showing a process for generating a two-dimensional code. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a top screen displayed on the application. FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an authenticity determination process. 13 is a flowchart showing a genuine product determination output process. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a genuine product determination display displayed on the app. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a counterfeit product determination display displayed on the app.

The following describes an embodiment of the authenticity determination system and the identification code used in the authenticity determination system according to the present invention.

The authenticity determination system and the determination identification code used in the authenticity determination system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9.

The authenticity determination system is a system that can determine whether a product is genuine or not by reading the product identification information attached to the product, and is operated by a management company that provides authenticity determination services to manufacturers, retailers, consumers (users), etc.

Figure 1 shows a system and network for realizing the authenticity determination system of the present invention, where reference numeral 1 denotes a management server through which the management company provides the authenticity determination system, reference numeral 2 denotes a smartphone as an operation terminal, and the management server 1 and operation terminal 2 are capable of communicating with each other via the Internet. The operation terminal 2 has a camera (not shown) as a reading means for reading the two-dimensional code, and a communication unit (not shown) as a transmission means for transmitting information on the two-dimensional code read by the reading means (determination identification code) to the management server 1.

The management server 1 is equipped with a processing server 3 that performs authenticity determination, and a service server 4 that is connected to the operation terminal 2 via the Internet, and the processing server 3 and the service server 4 are connected via a network.

The management server 1 is connected to the manufacturer's terminal 7 via the Internet, and can receive requests from the terminal 7 to generate two-dimensional codes used for authenticity determination. The terminal 7 is, for example, a computer.

The management server 1 is also configured to record information used for authenticity determination in the recording server 5. The recording server 5 is a group of computers 8 and 9 that constitute the operating environment of the blockchain platform and the distributed file system described below.

Of the multiple computer groups 8 and 9 that form the operating environment of the blockchain platform and the distributed file system, computer group 8 is a node that serves as a distributed server (storage server) that constitutes a distributed file system called IPFS (Inter Planetary File System). Computer group 9 is a multiple node that generates blocks for the blockchain of a platform called Ethereum, and is also a node that serves as a distributed server that constitutes the distributed file system.

When using the authenticity determination service, a manufacturer's personnel uses terminal 7 to request the use of the authenticity determination service from management server 1. When making the request, the personnel uses terminal 7 to send to management server 1 text data of various information (manufacturing company, product name, manufacturing date, serial number) including the unique serial number (product identification information) affixed to the product at the time of manufacture for the product to be subjected to authenticity determination, as well as video data related to the product.

This video data is filmed and created using storytelling techniques, weaving in behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the manufacturing process to convey the thoughts and concepts that manufacturers want to convey about their products.

The process performed by the management server 1 when a request to use the authenticity determination service is made will be explained using Figs. 2 to 8. First, the process of generating a two-dimensional code performed by the management server 1 will be explained using the flowchart in Fig. 2.

The processing server 3 of the management server 1 is capable of receiving various information including the serial number from the manufacturer's terminal 7. When the serial number is received from the manufacturer's terminal 7, it determines whether or not video data is included in the various information received from the terminal 7 (step Sa01), and if video data is included, it extracts this video data and uploads it to and stores it on the distributed file system of the IPFS platform (the group of computers 8 that make up the IPFS network (see Figure 1)) (video data recording means, step Sa02).

The processing server 3 temporarily stores the hash value (hereinafter referred to as the "distributed hash value") returned from the IPFS distributed file system, and uploads this distributed hash value together with text data including the serial number onto the blockchain (the group of computers 9 that constitute the blockchain network (see Figure 1)) (step Sa03).

If video data is not included, text data including the serial number is uploaded and recorded on the blockchain (recording means, step Sa04). Note that in steps Sa03 and Sa04, the serial number may be encrypted data.

The processing server 3 encodes the hash value returned from the blockchain (hereinafter referred to as the "blockchain hash value") and the serial number to generate a two-dimensional code (generation means, step Sa05). The generated two-dimensional code is printed at a printing shop not described in detail here, and mailed to the manufacturer. Alternatively, the generated two-dimensional code may be converted to a PDF or the like and sent to the manufacturer's terminal 7 via the Internet.

The manufacturer attaches a two-dimensional code to the product to be authenticated and then ships the product. The authenticity of the product with the two-dimensional code attached can be verified at the request of the retailer who received the product or the consumer. Next, the authenticity verification process will be explained using Figures 3 to 8. Note that here, the case where a consumer requests authenticity will be explained.

When using the authenticity determination service, the consumer installs in advance a specific application provided by the management company that provides the authenticity determination service on the operation terminal 2, and registers as a user by setting personal information that identifies the individual, such as name and address, as well as a user ID and password. The user's registration information is recorded on the service server 4.

When the app is launched, a top screen 10 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the operation terminal 2. The top screen 10 displays an input field for a user ID and password that the user has previously registered, and a login button 11. When the login button 11 is selected, the app transmits the input user ID and password to the service server 4. The service server 4 performs authentication using the user ID and password, and if authentication is successful, causes the app to display a user page 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user page 12 displays a judgment history button 13 that allows the user to refer to the history of authentication judgments made by the user, and a read button 14 that starts reading the two-dimensional code. The service server 4 records and manages (management means) the history of authenticity judgments made for each user ID, and although not described in detail in the figure, when the judgment history button 13 is selected, the history of authenticity judgments can be viewed.

When the read button 14 is selected, a read screen 15 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. With the read screen 15 displayed, the consumer reads the two-dimensional code C attached to the product in hand.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the authenticity determination process performed by the management server 1. When the two-dimensional code is read, the read data is sent to the service server 4 of the management server 1, and is accepted by the service server 4 (acceptance means). The service server 4 decodes the received read data (extraction means, step Sb01), and after confirming whether the read data is to be used in the authenticity determination service, transmits the decoded data to the processing server 3 (step Sb02).

The decrypted data is the blockchain hash value and the serial number, and the processing server 3 temporarily stores the decrypted serial number (step Sb03), accesses the computer group 9, and references the data on the blockchain from the blockchain hash value (step Sb04). Next, the serial number is extracted from the data on the blockchain referenced from the blockchain hash value, and the serial number stored in step Sb03 and the serial number referenced from the blockchain hash value in step Sb04 are compared to determine their consistency (determination means, step Sb05).

If they match, the product is determined to be genuine, and the process proceeds to the genuine product determination output process (step Sb06). If they do not match, the service server 4 is instructed to display a counterfeit product determination display on the operation terminal 2 indicating that the product is a counterfeit (step Sb07), and the authenticity determination process is completed. The counterfeit product determination display displays a message explaining that the product is a counterfeit (see FIG. 9 described below).

In addition, if the block chain hash value is not obtained in step Sb04, the processing server 3 instructs the display of a counterfeit product determination display (step Sb07). Furthermore, if the block chain hash value is obtained in step Sb04 but a serial number does not exist on the block chain, the processing server 3 also instructs the display of a counterfeit product determination display (step Sb07).

The genuine product determination output process will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The processing server 3 determines whether or not the data on the blockchain referenced from the blockchain hash value contains a distributed hash (step Sc01), and if the distributed hash value is included, references the video data on the distributed file system from the distributed hash value (step Sc02). If the distributed hash value is not included, text data of various information including the serial number from the data on the blockchain referenced from the blockchain hash value is displayed on the genuine product determination display 16 in the app via the service server 4 (step Sc03), completing the genuine product determination output process and the authenticity determination process.

The processing server 3 extracts the video data referenced from the distributed hash value, converts it into a format that allows streaming playback, and then generates link information that allows streaming playback of the video data (step Sc04). Then, the processing server 3 displays the text data of various information including the serial number from the data referenced from the blockchain hash value and the link information on the genuine product determination display 16 in the app through the service server 4 (step Sc05), completing the genuine product determination output process and the authenticity determination process.

As shown in FIG. 8, the authenticity determination display 16 displays text 17 explaining that the product is authentic, the manufacturer, product name, production date, serial number 18, blockchain hash value 19, and a video viewing button 20. When the authenticity determination display 16 is displayed as the result of the authenticity determination, the consumer can confirm that the product with the scanned 2D code is authentic. Nowadays, mail order sales, including internet shopping, have become widespread, and there are many retailers where products can be purchased, but some retailers omit authenticity determination or intentionally sell counterfeit products. Being able to determine authenticity for consumers themselves is expected to increase the reliability of products and increase consumer purchasing desire in mail order sales, which will become even more widely used in the future.

In addition to the text explaining that the product is genuine, the authenticity determination display 16 also displays the manufacturer, product name, manufacturing date, serial number 18, and blockchain hash value 19, so that confidence can be gained in the determination that the product is genuine. In particular, by displaying the blockchain hash value 19 on the authenticity determination display 16, it is clear that the data used in the determination is recorded on the blockchain, which strongly prevents tampering, and confidence can be gained in the determination that the product is genuine.

Furthermore, by selecting the video viewing button 20, which is displayed only if the product is genuine, the user can view the video, which not only gives the user confidence in the product's authenticity, but also allows the user to learn the story of the manufacturer's thoughts and concepts about the product, thereby satisfying the desire to own only genuine products.

The service server 4 also records the browsing history for each piece of link information that can stream the generated video data. In more detail, it records the terminal information, such as the IP address or MAC address, of the terminal that accessed the link information, i.e., viewed the video, along with the date and time, and counts the number of times the same link information has been accessed, i.e., viewed. This browsing history information is uploaded and recorded on the blockchain. This makes it possible to prevent tampering with this browsing history information. In addition to recording the browsing history, the history of authenticity determination may also be recorded and managed for each serial number, which is the product identification number, for each identical product, or for each user ID.

If the number of times exceeds a preset number, the service server 4 displays a warning display 30 (see FIG. 9) indicating that the number of times is high on the authenticity determination display 16, and transmits the link information to the processing server 3. According to this, if the number of times is higher than the set number, it is suspected that the two-dimensional code itself has been duplicated and that there have been requests for authenticity determination from multiple operation terminals 2. Therefore, this has the effect of encouraging consumers who see the warning display to take action to confirm whether or not the product is authentic by inquiring about it with the retailer or manufacturer.

In addition, the service server 4 records the browsing history for each link information that can stream the generated video data, and also records the browsing history in the link information for each user ID, making it possible to monitor user IDs that make requests for authenticity determination an unnatural number of times.

Furthermore, the service server 4 records the browsing history for each serial number, and by monitoring serial numbers for which requests for authenticity determination have been made an unnatural number of times, it is possible to suspect duplication of the two-dimensional code in which the serial number is encoded.

When link information that allows streaming playback of video data is viewed, the service server 4 obtains location information (GPS) in addition to date and time information from the operating terminal 2 that performs the viewing, and records the viewing history information including the date and time information and location information. According to this, if the dates and times of multiple viewing histories for the same link information, same user ID, or same serial number are simultaneous or close to each other, involvement with a counterfeit product is suspected. In addition, involvement with a counterfeit product is suspected when location information for multiple viewing histories is densely packed at the same or close locations in an unnatural number of times, and by combining the date and time information and location information, it is possible to grasp the involvement of a counterfeit product in more detail. Note that, since viewing may be performed multiple times for testing purposes in a manufacturer's factory, it is preferable to use the location information and exclude the number of views at such a specific location from the criteria for suspecting a counterfeit product.

The service server 4 can also receive transaction information for the buying and selling of products, and record each piece of transaction information for each serial number on the blockchain, allowing it to be viewed as needed based on the serial number restored from the two-dimensional code. This can improve traceability.

The processing server 3 records the serial number corresponding to the received link information in the warning list, and thereafter, if the serial number received in conjunction with a request for authenticity determination is recorded in the warning list, a warning display is displayed on the genuine product determination display 16 of the operation terminal 2 that is the sender of the information on the two-dimensional code corresponding to that serial number. This makes it possible to quickly warn consumers that the two-dimensional code itself may have been copied.

To summarize the configuration of the authenticity determination system in the present embodiment described above, the management server 1 generates a two-dimensional code from a serial number, which is unique identification information attached by a product manufacturer to identify the product, and a hash value obtained when the serial number is recorded on the blockchain. The manufacturer can add the generated two-dimensional code to the product and sell it directly or ship it to a distributor. A consumer or distributor who purchases the product reads the two-dimensional code attached to the product using an operation terminal 2 such as a smartphone and requests the management server 1 to determine the authenticity. The management server 1 is configured to restore the blockchain hash value and the serial number from the information of the two-dimensional code received from the operation terminal, obtain the serial number recorded on the blockchain using the restored blockchain hash value, determine the consistency relationship with the serial number restored directly from the two-dimensional code, and output the determined consistency relationship to the operation terminal 2. This allows consumers and distributors to easily perform authenticity determination simply by installing an app on the operation terminal 2 and reading the two-dimensional code attached to the product. In addition, because the identification information attached to the product and the blockchain hash value to which the identification information is recorded are associated only by the two-dimensional code, there is no risk of tampering with the information used to determine authenticity, and authenticity can be determined with a high degree of reliability.

In addition, when the management server 1 determines that the two serial numbers match through the authenticity determination process, i.e., when determining that the product is genuine, the management server 1 outputs the video data stored together with the serial number 18 to the operation terminal 2 so that the video data can be viewed. This allows the consumer to select the video viewing button 20 for the video that is displayed only if the product is genuine, and to watch the video. By viewing this video, the consumer can gain confidence in the determination that the product is genuine.

The management server 1 is also configured to store video data in a group of computers 8 that constitute a distributed file system, and to record the distributed hash value, which is related data regarding the storage of the video data, and the serial number in association with each other in a group of computers 9 that are nodes of the blockchain. As the association between the video data and the serial number is recorded only on the blockchain, tampering with this association can be prevented, and malicious swapping of video data can be prevented.

In addition, since the management server 1 uses the serial number assigned to the product at the time of manufacture as the product identification information used in authenticity determination, the management server 1 does not need to prepare and manage new identification information to be used in authenticity determination and the correspondence between the new identification information and the serial number, and is not exposed to the risk of malicious tampering. In other words, by performing authenticity determination using the unique serial number already assigned to the product, the reliability of the authenticity determination can be reliably maintained.

In addition, the blockchain hash value and serial number in the two-dimensional code can only be restored by the management server 1, and are configured to be invisible unless the product is determined to be genuine. Therefore, even if a genuine two-dimensional code is simply copied, it is difficult to match it with the serial number attached to the product, making it possible to effectively prevent malicious counterfeiting of two-dimensional codes.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the management server 1 generates a two-dimensional code by encoding the blockchain hash value and serial number returned from the blockchain, but it is sufficient to generate a two-dimensional code based on the blockchain hash value and serial number, and a method other than encoding may be used.

In addition, the service server 4 accepts the user ID from the operation terminal 2 when receiving a request for authenticity determination, and records and manages the history of authenticity determination for each user ID, making it easy for the management company to detect fraud. For example, if there are an extremely large number of requests for authenticity determination, it can be suspected that the person is involved in the sale of counterfeit goods, and a warning can be issued to the manufacturer of the product for which an authenticity determination has been requested from that user ID about counterfeit goods. Furthermore, by recording the history of authenticity determination on the blockchain, tampering can be prevented.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a consumer or retailer requests an authenticity determination using an application installed on the operation terminal 2, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the service server 4 of the management server 1 may be equipped with a function for executing a web application, and a two-dimensional barcode reading screen and the determination result may be displayed on the browser of the operation terminal 2.

The processing server 3 may also be provided with a correspondence table that associates the distributed hash value returned when the received video data is stored in the distributed file system with unique link information and a serial number, record the unique link information and serial number on the above-mentioned blockchain, and generate a two-dimensional code from the returned blockchain hash value and serial number. By making the distributed hash value in the correspondence table changeable, it is possible to maintain the correspondence with the unique link information even if the video data is changed, allowing consumers to watch the latest videos.

In addition, the text data of various information including the serial number is not limited to being recorded on the blockchain of one type of platform. For example, the text data of the serial number may be recorded on the blockchain of a first platform, and the hash value returned from the blockchain of the first platform and other text data or video data may be recorded on the blockchain of a second platform. This allows recording to be performed in an optimal combination depending on the advantages and disadvantages of each platform.

In the past, the information output as the result of the authenticity determination was either genuine or counterfeit, but this is not limited to the two options. For example, the reliability of the determination result may be converted into a score and output. For example, if the video has been viewed more than a set number of times based on the number of views of the video described above, it is suspected that the two-dimensional code itself may have been copied, so that when the authenticity determination is output, the reliability of the authenticity determination result may be deducted.

The blockchain in the above embodiment may be of public chain specifications, or may be a so-called private chain that operates in an environment on multiple computers that constitute the management server 1 provided by the management company.

In addition, the client-side operating terminal used by consumers and retailers is not limited to a smartphone, but may also be a tablet or computer.

In addition, the identification code used to determine authenticity is not limited to being encoded into a two-dimensional code as in the above embodiment, but may be recorded in an RFID tag.

The two-dimensional code may be printed on a sticker and affixed to the product, or may be engraved directly into the product.

In addition, the browsing history and authenticity determination history do not necessarily have to be recorded on the blockchain, but may be stored in storage provided by the service server 4.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Management server 2 Operation terminal 3 Processing server 4 Service server 7 Terminal 8 Computer group 9 Computer group 10 Top screen 11 Login button 12 User page 13 Judgment history button 14 Read button 15 Screen 16 Authenticity judgment display 17 Statement 18 Serial number 19 Blockchain hash value 20 Video viewing button

Claims (5)

A recording means for recording text data, which is unique product identification information for identifying a product, on a blockchain;
A generating means for generating an encoded identification code for determination from at least a hash value acquired from the block chain at the time of recording and text data which is the product identification information ;
A receiving means for receiving the determination identification code;
an extraction means for decrypting the determination identification code received by the reception means and extracting the hash value and text data which is the product identification information;
a storage means for temporarily storing text data which is the product identification information decoded from the determination identification code;
An acquisition means for acquiring text data which is the product identification information by referring to the hash value on the blockchain;
a determination means for determining a consistency relationship between the text data stored in the storage means and the text data acquired by the acquisition means ;
an output means for outputting the consistency relationship determined by the determination means;
An authenticity determination system comprising: Further comprising a video data recording means for recording video data corresponding to the product of the product identification information in association with at least one of the hash value acquired from the block chain at the time of recording and the product identification information,
The authenticity determination system of claim 1, characterized in that when the determination means determines that there is a match, the output means outputs the video data corresponding to the product of the product identification information in a viewable manner based on at least one of the hash value and the product identification information extracted from the determination identification code by the extraction means. The authenticity determination system of claim 2, characterized in that the video data is stored in a distributed file system, and link data regarding the storage of the video data is associated with the product identification information and recorded on the blockchain. The authenticity determination system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the output means outputs the extracted hash value together with the matching relationship when the determination means determines that there is a match. The authenticity determination system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a management means for recording and managing the history of determination for each product identification information when performing the determination process by the determination means.

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