JP2003030135A - Information management apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information management apparatus which can transmit secret information to an addressee while keeping the secret information secret. SOLUTION: The information management apparatus when receiving transmitted information including general information and secret information, stores the secret information in a storage place, generates contact information including the general information and access information for allowing the addressee of the transmitted information to access the secret information, and delivers it to the addressee.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information management device used when transmitting confidential information to its addressee.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, due to the spread of the Internet, W
The number of users of eb system and electronic mail system is increasing. Web systems and e-mail systems transfer information online, so anytime, anywhere, and
This is because the manpower required for transmitting information can be omitted.

When transmitting information online, digital information that represents the information in text, image, moving image, voice, etc.
Data (content) is generated on a computer, and the generated content is transmitted through a network connecting computers of senders and receivers of information.

[0004]

However, the following problems may occur when transmitting information online. For example, if the information to be communicated is sent as an email, the information may contain confidential information that must remain confidential.

When information including confidential information is transmitted by e-mail, the hard copy of the e-mail is exposed to the eyes of anyone other than the recipient, and the confidential information is leaked to the recipient of the e-mail. There was a possibility.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an information management device capable of transmitting confidential information to a recipient while maintaining the confidential state of the confidential information.

[0007]

The present invention adopts the following configurations in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0008] That is, the present invention is an information management device, and a receiving means for receiving confidential information having confidentiality and a specification for specifying a storage location of confidential information whose access authority is limited to at least the recipient of the confidential information. Means and storage means for storing the confidential information in a specified storage location,
The addressee includes a creating unit that creates contact information including access information for accessing the confidential information, and a notifying unit that notifies the addressee of the created contact information.

According to the present invention, when the receiving means receives the confidential information, the specifying means specifies the storage location of the confidential information,
The storage means stores the confidential information in the storage location. Further, the creating unit creates the contact information, and the notifying unit notifies the contact information to the addressee of the confidential information.

The notification can be made using electronic mail or the like. Thus, when the addressee receives the contact information, the addressee can access the storage location by using the access information included in the contact information and receive the confidential information.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the confidential information is transmitted to the recipient, the confidential information is protected (the confidential state can be maintained) instead of transmitting the confidential information to the recipient. It is characterized in that it is stored in a storage location and contact information for requesting access to confidential information is notified to the recipient. The notice does not contain sensitive information, so its confidentiality is maintained.

Therefore, according to the present invention, confidential information can be transmitted to the recipient while maintaining the confidentiality of the confidential information.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, the acceptance means accepts transmission information including the confidential information and general information related to the confidential information and having no confidentiality, and the specifying means stores the confidential information in the storage location. As the storage location of the transmission information, the storage means stores at least the confidential information in the transmission information in the specified storage location, and the creation information includes contact information including the general information and the access information. May be created.

As described above, when the information management device receives the transmission information, the general information may be included in the contact information and notified to the addressee. The general information related to the confidential information is, for example, information related to the contents of the confidential information.
In this case, the general information functions as an index of the confidential information because of its relevance to the confidential information, and the recipient can know that the notification is a contact for the confidential information.

As described above, when the information management device receives the transmission information, the confidential information and the general information in the transmission information are separated and only the confidential information is stored in the storage location.
Contact information including separated general information may be notified to the recipient, and communication information (general information and confidential information)
Is stored in the storage location and general information is extracted from the transmitted information.
The contact information including the separated (separated) general information may be notified to the addressee.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, the receiving means receives the address information of the addressee together with the confidential information, and the notifying means notifies the contact information to the addressee based on the address information. May be

As described above, when the information management device accepts the destination information, the notifying means may notify the contact information based on the destination information. On the other hand, for example, instead of the information management device receiving the destination information,
It is also possible to further include indexing means for indexing the addressee information of the addressee based on the information accepted by the accepting means, and for notifying the contact information based on the indexed address information by the notifying means.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, when the storage means is a database provided in the information management apparatus, the confidential information is stored in the database, and the storage location is the information. When the database is provided in another device connected to the management device through the network, the confidential information is transmitted to the other device through the network in order to store the confidential information in the database. Good.

As described above, the storage location in the present invention is
For example, it may be a database provided in the information management device or a database provided in another device. Further, the number of databases provided in the information management device or another device may be singular or plural. Further, the storage location may include a plurality of other devices provided with a database.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, the specifying means may specify the storage location based on the destination information of the addressee. In this case, it is preferable that the specifying unit specifies the storage location by calculating the address (eg URL) of the storage location from the e-mail address as the destination information.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, the creating means may create the access information including the address of the storage location linked to the storage location. The "address of the storage location linked to the storage location" is, for example, a URL indicating the storage location where the hyperlink is set.
Is.

In the present invention, the confidential information includes, for example, image information of a design drawing including a portion requiring improvement in design evaluation by a manufacturer of the product, and at least a portion requiring the improvement from the manufacturer. Information addressed to the designer of.

The confidential information may further include message information from the manufacturer to the designer regarding the portion requiring the improvement. General information for such confidential information includes, for example, bibliographic items for the design drawing. Bibliographic items include, for example, product identification information.
(For example, a product code) and identification information of a portion for which improvement is required (for example, if the portion is a product part, its part number (part number)) is included.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, the accepting means accepts confidential information transmitted from a terminal device used by the manufacturer to carry out the evaluation by referring to the image of the design drawing. Good. On the other hand, the accepting unit may accept the confidential information input to the information management device itself.

In the information management apparatus according to the present invention, the database stores a plurality of confidential information, and the plurality of confidential information stored in the database is configured to be referred to by a person who has an access authority to the database. May be.

In this way, the plurality of confidential information stored in the database is stored as know-how regarding the manufacturing of the product. Then, a person having access authority (for example, a person who is involved in product design and manufacturing) can refer to the know-how effectively.

The present invention can also be specified as an information management method and program having the same characteristics as the information management device.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configurations in the embodiments are exemplifications, and the present invention is not limited to the scope of the configurations in the embodiments.

<< System Configuration >> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an information management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the system includes a local network (hereinafter, referred to as “LN”) 100 of a company A as a company. LN100 is an affiliated company (company) B of company A
LN110 of company A and affiliated company (company) C of company A
20 and each LN
110 and 120 can communicate with each other.

Here, the company A is a manufacturer of products, and has a product (product) design department and a production (manufacturing) department. The affiliated companies B and C are companies in which the design department of the company A is outsourced.

Design department of company A and affiliated companies B and C
Design a product (for example, a vehicle) manufactured by the company A using CAD (computer aided design). Company A
The production department receives the design information (CAD data) created by the design department and each of the affiliated companies B and C, and refers to the CAD data to examine the production process.

At this time, the production department carries out a design evaluation as to whether or not the design is properly performed from a multifaceted viewpoint such as time, man-hours, and profitability in the production of the product. Then, if there is a point that the design needs to be improved, the person in charge of the production department (the person in charge of production (manufacturer)) asks the person in charge of the design (designer) who performed the design of the evaluation target of the design. Call for improvement.

The system shown in FIG.
mmunication service). VCS is a tool for sharing / transmitting multimedia information between users using a Web system. VCS sends improvement information for a production person to ask a design person to improve a design, and the improvement information is also transmitted. It is used to build an accumulated database and share improvement information accumulated in this database among designers. The components will be described below for each local network.

<< Configuration of Local Network 100 >> In FIG. 1, LN 100 is a firewall.
It is an intranet that is externally protected (represented by a broken line with a reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1) (security is applied to communication inside the firewall), and includes a plurality of information terminals 10 (in FIG. 1, Three information terminals 10 are illustrated), the information management server 2 as an information management device
0, mail server 30, terminal device 40, etc.

<Information Terminal 10> Each information terminal 10 is a terminal device operated by a person in charge of production in a production department, and the person in charge of production refers to CAD data (design drawing) from a person in charge of design and It is used to send the evaluation result (improvement information) for the design to the designer.

Therefore, each information terminal 10 has a CPU (Cen
A tral processing unit) 11, a memory 12, and a communication control device 13, and is connected to an input device (keyboard, pointing device) 14 as an input means and a display device (display) 15 as a display means.

The memory 12 is constructed by using a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a work area (main memory) of the CPU 11, a video memory for the display 15, and a C.
Storage means used as a storage area for various programs such as an OS (operating system) and applications executed by the PU 11, data storage areas used when executing each program, and storage area for various data obtained by the execution of the CPU 11. Function as.

The communication control device 13 is connected to the information terminal 10 and the LN.
TCP / IP, HTTP, F that functions as a transmission / reception unit that controls communication processing with other devices connected through
It supports various communication protocols used in intranets such as TP, TELNET, SMTP, and POP. In this example, each information terminal 10 is connected to the information management server 20 and the CAD system 50 via LN1.

The CPU 11 accepts data and commands input from a person in charge of production using the input device 14, executes a program corresponding to the accepted data and commands, and displays information based on the execution result on the display 15. Alternatively, the received data or the data created by executing the program is stored in the memory 12, or the communication control device 1
Information management server 13 or CAD system 5 by controlling 3
It functions as a control means for transmitting / receiving data to / from 0. Specifically, the CPU 11 performs the following processing by executing a predetermined program.

First, the CPU 11 displays the design information to be evaluated 15 according to the instruction from the person in charge of production.
Execute the process (design information display process) to be displayed in. That is,
When the CPU 11 receives a display command of predetermined design information input from the input device 14 by the production manager, the CPU 11 controls the communication control device 13 to access the CAD system 50 and request the provision of design information corresponding to the command. To do.

The CAD system 50 includes CAD data (CA data created by the design department of the company A and the affiliated companies B and C).
A computer having a database (not shown) in which design data (image data of the design drawing created in D) and bibliographic items (vehicle code, product number, date, etc.) corresponding to the image data are accumulated as design information, and an information terminal. The design information corresponding to the request from 10 is read from the database and transmitted to the requesting information terminal 10.

When the CPU 11 receives the design information from the CAD system 50 via the communication control device 13, the DA (d) which displays at least the image of the design drawing in the design information.
(igital assembly) The examination screen 150 is displayed on the display 15.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of the DA examination screen 150 and the information input screen 152. DA review screen 1
At 50, an image of the design drawing based on the CAD data is displayed. The image of the design drawing displays the three-dimensional shape of a plurality of parts constituting the product, and each part (digital part) in the image is represented by different translucent colors. Furthermore, each part of the product is displayed in an assembled state, and the image can be used to grasp the coupling state between components, the mounting state, the assembly order, and the like.

The person in charge of production refers to the DA examination screen 150 displayed on the display 15 to carry out the evaluation in the production process. That is, the person in charge of production confirms the productivity of the product by referring to the image. For example, the person in charge of production examines (DA study) on the screen whether or not the assembly work of the parts can be easily performed. In this way, the CPU 11 causes the information terminal 10 to function as a product productivity confirmation terminal.

Secondly, the CPU 11 executes improvement information creation support / transmission processing for the design in accordance with an instruction from the person in charge of production. In other words, the person in charge of production, DA examination screen 1
When referring to 50, when a point to be improved in the design is found, a call command of the improvement information input screen 152 is input using the input device 14.

On the DA examination screen 150, a mouse cursor 151 for the mouse included in the input device 14 is displayed, and when the person in charge of production requests the improvement of the design, the part for which the improvement is requested. The mouse cursor 151 is placed on the image of (component) (the desired registration position for consideration), and the mouse is clicked. Then, the call command of the input screen 152 is input to the CPU 11.

When the CPU 11 receives the call instruction,
151A of still image of design drawing (examination screen) from CAD data
Create data for. The CPU 11 displays the image displayed on the DA examination screen 150 when the mouse is clicked, or an image in which a predetermined area centering on the entire mouse-clicked position (component for which improvement is requested) is cut out. , Still image 151A.

The still image (study screen) 151A is a JPEG
It is created in a file format generally used as a file format of an image to be pasted on a Web page such as GIF or GIF. After creating the still image 151A, the CPU 11 displays an input screen 152 including the bibliographic items of the still image 151A and the image of the design drawing on the display 15.

The input screen 152 is one of the operation screens of the VCS and is constructed by using the screen of the Web browser. The input screen 152 has an input area 153 for general information and an input area 154 for confidential information in an area corresponding to the display area of a Web page. The improvement information consists of general information and confidential information.

The general information input area 153 has a "serial number",
"Registration number", "Vehicle type (Vehicle type code)", "Supplier", "Importance", "Part", "Part number (Part number)",
General information in improvement information such as "phenomenon", "extractor (production person who creates improvement information)", "extraction date (creation information creation / registration date)", "desired date of response", "process", etc. It has an input field of.

Of the above items, "vehicle type code", "product number", "extraction date (date)" and "registration number" are the CPU1
It is automatically input by 1 and is displayed in a state where the content is displayed in advance. Among the items that are automatically entered, "Vehicle model code (product identification information)" and "Product number" (part identification information)
Indicates a bibliographic item in the design information, which is displayed in a state associated (embedded) with the image data of the component.

The "registration number" is a unique number used as identification information of the improvement information registered in the database, and is assigned by the CPU 11 so as not to overlap with other improvement information. Then, the CPU 11 detects the date when the call command is input as the “extraction date” and displays it in the corresponding input field.

The confidential information input area 154 includes a "contact details" input field 154A and a "countermeasure desired / countermeasure desired date" input field 154B, and a still image 151A created by the CPU 11 is also displayed. indicate. The “contact details” include information such as a part requiring improvement and a problem with the part. “Countermeasure request” includes know-how such as improvement request and improvement plan from the producer for the problem. The “desired date of countermeasure” is a desired date of implementation of a countermeasure to the problem.

The person in charge of production operates the input device 14 to input the data corresponding to the respective input fields (excluding the automatically entered fields) of the respective input areas 153, 154. When the CPU 11 receives the data input to the input areas 153 and 154, the CPU 11 temporarily stores the data in the memory 12, and
Display in the corresponding input field.

The information for each item displayed in the input area 153 is handled as general information for contact without confidentiality. On the other hand, the static image 151A displayed in the input area 153 and the "contact details" and "measure request / measure desired date" input in the input fields 154A and 154B are not related persons (at least the designer). Are treated as confidential information (having confidentiality) that must be kept confidential.

Specifically, "file attachment" buttons are provided near the input fields 154A and 154B for "contact details" and "measure request / desired date", and these input fields 154A are provided. The information entered in 154B is
By pressing the corresponding "attach file" button, it will be included in the registration information of the improvement information as confidential information.

That is, when the information corresponding to the input fields 154A and / or 154B is input and the "attach file" button is pressed, the CPU 11 sets the information input in the respective input fields 154A and / or 154B as its contents. The attached file is created, and the name of the attached file is displayed in the “memo” input field of the input area 153. Also, C
The PU 11 handles the image file of the still image 151A as an attached file of confidential information included in the improvement information, and displays the file name of the still image 151A in the “memo” input field.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the file name "AAABBB.jpg" of the still image 151A and the input fields 154A and 154 are used.
The file name "AAABBB 050500" having the information entered in B as its contents is displayed. The attached file may be created for each information input in the input fields 154A and 154B. Thus, “memo” indicates the file name of confidential information.

Further, the input screen 152 is "next page".
It has buttons, a "clear" button and a "cancel" button. Production person presses the "next page" button
When the mouse is clicked, the CPU 11 displays the input screen 15
The registration content screen 155 is created by using the data input through 2 and temporarily stored in the memory 12, and the registration screen 152
Instead of this, it is displayed on the display 15.

On the other hand, the person in charge of production can erase the information already entered (excluding automatically entered information) by pressing the "Clear" button, and can improve it by pressing the "Cancel" button. It is possible to forcibly end the information input work and return to the original DA examination screen 150.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the registration content screen 155. The registration content screen 155 displays the improvement information input on the input screen 152 in an organized state. At this time, general information is displayed in area 156 and confidential information is displayed in area 157.

The person in charge of production, for example, is the registration content screen 15
By operating the browser button displayed in 5,
A call command for the destination of the improvement information can be input to the CPU 11. When the CPU 11 receives this calling instruction, it extracts a predetermined destination from the destination list stored in advance in the memory 12 and displays it on the display 15.

The destination list is a list of electronic mail addresses of a plurality of designers. The e-mail address included in the destination list is associated with, for example, the “product number”, and the CPU 11 reads out the e-mail address of the person in charge of design corresponding to the product number of the part clicked by the mouse on the DA examination screen 150 as a read destination. Display on the display 15.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 causes the DA examination screen 1
50 or all the email addresses of the designers who designed the parts displayed in the restraint image 151A are extracted from the destination list and displayed, and the emails that the production personnel should address from the displayed email addresses The address (single or plural) may be designated.

The destination list also includes the email address of the administrator of the designer, and when the CPU 11 reads the email address of the designer from the recipient list, the email address of the administrator associated therewith. May also be read and displayed. In this case, the attribute for the administrator's email address is "T
It may be "O (destination)" or "CC (carbon copy)".

By the method as described above, the person in charge of production can select the electronic mail address of the person who wants to transmit the improvement information (the person in charge of design, and further the manager thereof). In any method, the displayed e-mail address can be presented in a state in which it cannot be rewritten by the person in charge of production. In this case, the address of improvement information should be restricted. You can

In this way, the person in charge of production can enter the input screen 15
It is possible to create improvement information including general information and confidential information by using 2, and confirm the registered content on the registered content screen 155. Further, the destination information can be designated by operating the registration content screen 155. In this example, the destination information is specified (selected) by operating the registration content screen 155, but may be specified (selected) by operating the input screen 152.

After confirming the registration contents, the person in charge of production inputs a registration command for the improvement information using the input device 14. The registration command is input to the CPU 11 by operating the browser button on the registration content screen 155, for example. C
When the PU 11 receives the registration command, the communication control device 13
Control information and improvement information temporarily stored in the memory 12
(Text data of general information and attached file of confidential information: corresponding to "transmission information") and a designated electronic mail address (destination information) are transmitted to the information management server 20 as transmission contents.

In the above example, the registration content screen 155 is displayed on the display 15, but the registration person does not have the registration content screen 155 and the production person inputs the input screen 152.
May be operated to specify the destination e-mail address and input the registration command.

Further, in the above example, the CPU 11 makes the improvement information.
Every time a registration command of (registration content) is received, real-time processing for transmitting the created improvement information to the information management server 20 is executed. On the other hand, CPU1
It is also possible that one stores a plurality of pieces of improvement information in the memory 12, and when a predetermined number is accumulated, a batch process of transmitting the improvement information to the information management server 20 is executed.

In the above-mentioned example, the information terminal 10 creates and transmits the transmission contents independently of the information management server 20. On the other hand, the information management server 20 functions as a Web server for the information terminal 10, and the CG
By executing I, the input screen 152 created as an HTML screen (Web page) is provided, and the Web page of the registration content screen 155 is created from the input content on the input screen 152 and provided to the information terminal 10. Good. That is,
The improvement information may be created / transmitted by cooperation between the information terminal 10 and the information management server 20.

<Information Management Server 20> Information Management Server 2
0 is a CPU 21, a memory 22, and a communication control device 23.
And a database (company A) 24. The memory 22 is configured by using a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, and C
As a work area (main memory) of the PU 21, a storage area for various programs such as OS and applications executed by the CPU 21, data storage areas used when executing each program, and a storage area for various data obtained by the execution of the CPU 21 It functions as a storage means used.

The communication control device 13 functions as a transmission / reception means for controlling communication processing between each information terminal connected via the LN 1, the mail server 30, and the terminal 40, and T
CP / IP, HTTP, FTP, TELNET, SMT
It supports various communication protocols used in the intranet such as P.

The CPU 21 functions as a reception unit, a specification unit, a storage unit, a creation unit, and a notification unit in the present invention by executing various programs stored in the memory 22. Hereinafter, each function will be described by explaining the processing by the CPU 21.

The CPU 21 functions as a reception means and receives the transmission contents (improvement information (general information and confidential information) and destination information) received by the communication control device 23.

Next, the CPU 21 functions as a specifying means, and specifies the storage location of the improvement information by using the electronic mail address as the destination information. More specifically, the memory 22 stores a conversion table 221 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) that stores the email address domain and the address of the storage location (database (database server)) of the improvement information in association with each other. There is.

The CPU 21 extracts the electronic mail address domain from the electronic mail address of the destination information, searches the conversion table 221 using the extracted electronic mail address domain as a key, and extracts the address of the corresponding database. The CPU 21 can specify the storage location of the improvement information by extracting the address of the database from the conversion table 221.

In this example, the database 24 of company A (address: "aaa.co.jp") and the database 1 of affiliated company B are used as the storage locations (corresponding databases) of improvement information.
11 (address: “bbb.co.jp”) and a database 121 of the affiliated company C (address: “ccc.co.jp”) are prepared.

The conversion table 221 holds the address of the database 24 in association with the electronic mail domain assigned to the design department of the company A, and the associated company B
Holds the address of the database 111 in association with the email address domain assigned to
The address of the database 121 is held in association with the electronic mail address domain assigned to the affiliated company C.

When the storage location is specified, the CPU 21 functions as a storage means and stores the improvement information in this storage location. That is, the CPU 21 stores the improvement information in the database corresponding to the address extracted from the conversion table 221. If the database address indicates the database 24 (“aaa.co.jp”), the CPU 21
Writes the improvement information in the database 24.

In this example, the database 24 is constructed on a recording medium such as a hard disk mounted or connected to a computer functioning as the information management server 20, and the CPU 21 improves the address to a predetermined address on this recording medium. The improvement information is registered in the database 24 by writing the information.

The database 24 can be accessed by a designer in charge of the company A who provides CAD data to be evaluated to the producer. That is, the person in charge of designing company A
The user has access authority to the database 24, and can access the database 24 using user authentication information (user ID and password) given in advance.

On the other hand, when the address of the database indicates the database 111 ("bbb.co.
jp "), the communication control device 13 is controlled to send the improvement information to the LN 110 via the Internet.
The improvement information received at 0 is registered in the database 111.

Alternatively, the CPU 21 determines that the database address indicates the database 111 (“ccc.co.j”).
In p ″), the communication control device 13 is controlled to send improvement information to the LN 120 via the Internet. The improvement information received by the LN 3 is registered in the database 121.

When the improvement information is transmitted to the LN 110 or the LN 120, the improvement information is transmitted to the LN 100 and the LN.
It is transmitted in a state where security is applied in the communication with the 110 or the LN 120. For example, the improvement information is encrypted and transmitted to the Internet, decrypted in the LN 110 or LN 120, and stored in the database 111 or 1.
21 is registered. Alternatively, between the LN100 and LN110 and LN120, VPN (v
irtual private network) 24 is built, and this VPN
Improvement information is transferred through.

The improvement information is, for example, the registration content screen 155.
Is registered in the database as the information of the Web page that constitutes the. That is, the CPU 21 creates an HTML file including the text (general information and confidential information) in the registration content screen 155, and the HTML file and the still image 151.
The image file of A (secret information) is associated and stored in the database 24 or transmitted to the database 111 or 121.

In the above example, the information management server 20
Also functions as a server that controls a database that stores improvement information. Alternatively, the database server having the database 24 may be realized by using another device (computer) installed inside the firewall of the company A, and the CPU 21 may transfer the improvement information to the other device. .

The CPU 21 uses the databases 24, 111,
When the improvement information is registered in any one of 121, subsequently, it functions as a creating means, extracts general information included in the transmission contents (extraction of general information from improvement information (separation)), and access to this general information. Create a contact summary e-mail containing information and information. Specifically, the memory 22 adds general information to the body of the email.

Further, the CPU 21 makes the conversion table 221.
A URL (access information) corresponding to the improvement information is created by using the address of the database retrieved from, and added to the body of the email. At this time, a hyperlink is set in the URL, and the recipient of the email receives the UR in the email.
When L is clicked, the URL is automatically accessed.

Further, the CPU 21 sets the electronic mail address included in the transmission contents as the destination address of this electronic mail. In this way, the CPU 21 functions as a notifying unit when the general e-mail for contact is created, controls the communication control device 23, and transmits the e-mail to the destination e-mail address.

In this example, as the mail server corresponding to the destination electronic mail address, the mail server 30 (address: "mail.aaa.co.jp") and the mail server 112 (address: "mail.bbb.co.jp") ) And a mail server 122 (address: “mail.ccc.co.jp”) are prepared.

As a result, the improvement information is stored in the database 2
4 is registered, the e-mail including the contact outline is transmitted to the mail server 30, and when the improvement information is registered in the database 111, the e-mail including the contact outline is transmitted to the mail server 112. If the improvement information is registered in the database 121, the mail server 12
An email containing the contact summary is sent to 2.

By the way, in the information management server 20,
The CPU 21 can identify the general information and the confidential information as follows. For example, the CPU 21 can handle the attached file in the content transmitted from the information terminal 10 as confidential information and the other information as information having no confidentiality (confidentiality). Alternatively, CPU2
1 receives the screen information of the registration content screen 155 from the information terminal 10, and from the display position on the registration content screen 155 or the input position on the input screen 152 (the positions of the areas 153 and 154), the text of the general information and the confidential information. The information text and the image data may be separated. Alternatively, the information management server 20 receives the general information and the confidential information from the information terminal 10 at different timings,
The CPU 21 may identify them based on the reception timing. Alternatively, the information terminal 10 may add identification information to the general information and the confidential information, and the CPU 21 may identify the general information and the confidential information based on the identification information.

In this embodiment, the CPU 21 accepts the e-mail address from the information terminal 10 as the destination information, but the destination information may be calculated from the information accepted by the CPU 21. For example, the information management server 20 may receive the improvement information as the transmission information from the information terminal 10 and determine the destination electronic mail address from the improvement information. For example, the information management server 20 has a table (indexing table) that holds the general information (for example, "product number") in the improvement information and the destination electronic mail address in association with each other, and the CPU 21 functions as an indexing unit.
The destination electronic mail address corresponding to the general information received from the information terminal 10 may be read from the index table to determine the destination electronic mail address as the destination information. Alternatively, the information management server 20 uses the CAD as the source of the still image 151A as confidential information.
It is also possible to have an indexing table that holds the data (identification information thereof) and the destination electronic mail address in association with each other, and to determine the destination electronic mail address corresponding to the confidential information from this indexing table.

<Mail Server 30> Mail Server 30
As described above, the information management server 20 has a mailbox for storing electronic mail addressed to the design department of the company A.
Store emails containing contact details and access information sent by.

<Terminal 40> The terminal 40 is a company A
PC, W operated by the designer in the design department of
It is a computer such as S, and functions as a terminal for browsing electronic mail stored in the mail server 40 and a terminal for browsing improvement information registered in the database 24.

<< Configuration of Local Network 110 >> The LN 110 is an intranet constructed inside the firewall of the affiliated company B, and the database 11
1, a mail server 112, a plurality of terminal devices (3 in FIG. 1)
) 113 is shown).

The database 111 is the database 11
1 is placed under the control of a computer (database server: not shown) for performing control (writing / reading control of improvement information, etc.) on the constructed recording medium, and the database server receives it from the information management server 20. Accumulate improvement information.

The database 111 can be accessed by the designer of the affiliated company B who provides the CAD data of the evaluation target to the producer. That is, the person in charge of designing the affiliated company B has the access authority to the database 111 and has the user authentication information (user ID) given in advance.
And password) can be used to access the database 111.

The mail server 112, as described above,
It has a mailbox for storing the electronic mail addressed to the affiliated company B, and stores the electronic mail including the contact summary and access information transmitted from the information management server 20.

Each terminal device 113 is a computer operated by a designer in the affiliated company B, and is a terminal for browsing e-mails stored in the mail server 112 and a terminal for browsing improvement information registered in the database 111. Function as.

<< Configuration of Local Network 120 >> The LN 120 is an intranet constructed inside the firewall of the affiliated company C, and the database 12
1, mail server 122, a plurality of terminal devices (3 in FIG.
One) 123 is shown).

The database 121 is the database 12
1 is placed under the control of a computer (database server: not shown) for performing control (writing / reading control of improvement information, etc.) on the constructed recording medium, and this database server receives from the information management server 20. Accumulate the improvement information that was made.

The database 121 can be accessed by the designer in charge of the affiliated company C who supplies the CAD data to be evaluated to the production staff. That is, the person in charge of designing the affiliated company C has the authority to access the database 121 and is given the user authentication information (user ID) given in advance.
And the password) can be used to access the database 121.

The mail server 122, as described above,
It has a mailbox for storing the electronic mail addressed to the affiliated company C, and stores the electronic mail including the contact summary and access information transmitted from the information management server 20.

Each terminal device 123 is a computer operated by the designer of the affiliated company C, and is a terminal for browsing electronic mail stored in the mail server 122 and a terminal for browsing improvement information registered in the database 121. Function as.

<< Operation of System >> FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the system shown in FIG. The person in charge of production (manufacturer)
When confirming the productivity of the product, the DA examination screen 150 (see FIG. 2) that displays the image (CAD data) of the design drawing to be evaluated is operated on the display 15 by operating the information terminal 10 and the Perform manufacturing evaluation (1).

At this time, when a person in charge of production finds an improvement item for the design, he or she clicks the portion to be improved. Then, the improvement information input screen 152 is displayed. On the input screen 152, the CPU 11
The target image data (still image 151A), vehicle type code, product number, and date are automatically input (2).

Further, the person in charge of production uses the input device 14 to input his / her name (“extractor”), contact details (“contact details”), and reply deadline (“desired answer date”) on the input screen 152. And so on. Furthermore, the person in charge of production selects the person (designator's e-mail address: destination information) that he / she wants to contact this time from the list of designers (addressee list) registered in advance, and performs registration. Enter) (3). Then, the improvement information and the destination information are transmitted from the information terminal 10 to the information management server 20.

In the information management server 20, the CPU 21
A database in which the improvement information is registered is specified from the e-mail address as the destination information, and the improvement information is registered in the specified database.

That is, the e-mail address is "user3 @ mai
If it is "l.aaa.co.jp" (example 1), the improvement information is registered in the database 24 (address: "aaa.co.jp").
(4), Email address is "user2@mail.bbb.co.jp"
If it is, the improvement information is registered in the database 111 (address: “bbb.co.jp”) (5), and if the e-mail address is “user1@mail.ccc.co.jp”, the improvement information is Is registered in the database 121 (address: “ccc.co.jp”) (6).

After that, general information in the improvement information is extracted, and this general information is included as a contact outline (contact information),
In addition, an electronic mail including the URL of the improvement information as access information is created (7, 8). At this time, if the destination e-mail address is (Example 1), the URL "http: // a
An e-mail containing "aa.co.jp/XXXXXX" is created, and in the case of (Example 2), the URL is "http // bbb.co.jp / XXXXXX"
If an e-mail containing "is created, and it is (Example 3), U
An e-mail including the RL "http // ccc.co.jp / XXXXXX" is created (9).

After that, the created electronic mail is transferred from the information management server 20 to the mail server corresponding to the destination electronic mail address (10, 11, 12). At this time,
If the e-mail address is (Example 1), the e-mail is transferred to and stored in the mail server 30, and if the e-mail address is (Example 2), the e-mail is transferred to the mail server 112. If the e-mail address is (example 3), the e-mail is transferred to the mail server 122 and stored. In this way, the contact information is notified to the designer in charge as the addressee. In this way, since the notification is made online, such as by electronic mail, it is carried out more quickly and reliably than in the case where the contact information is transmitted to the destination person manually.

The person in charge of designing can operate the e-mail browsing terminal to receive the e-mail and browse the contact summary and access information. For example, the person in charge of designing the affiliated company B (company B user 2) having the e-mail address of (Example 2) downloads the e-mail from the mail server 112 to the terminal device 113 using any of the terminal devices 113, Browse contact summary and access information (1
3). On the other hand, the person in charge of designing the affiliated company C (company C user 1) who has the e-mail address of (Example 3) downloads the e-mail to the terminal device 123 using any of the terminal devices 123, and uses it for communication. Browse summary and access information (14).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic mail received by the recipient of the improvement information. As shown in FIG. 5, the e-mail is general information (registration number, vehicle type, supplier, importance level) automatically or manually input in the input area 153 (see FIG. 2) of the input screen 152 as a contact summary. It includes a phenomenon, a part, a product number, a process, a memo) and a URL indicating a registration destination (storage location) of improvement information including confidential information.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the improvement information is created and registered for the Japanese version and the English version.
L is displayed.

URL displayed in the body of the e-mail
Is set with a hyperlink to the storage location, and the designer can access the registered improvement information by clicking the URL with the mouse, for example.

For example, taking User 2 of Company B as an example, when User 2 clicks the URL with the mouse, the terminal device 113 starts access processing to the database 111, and the database server of the database 111.
Give access request to (not shown). Upon receiving the access request from the terminal device 113, the database server requests the user authentication information (user name and password (password) from the terminal device 113).

On the other hand, when the user 2 inputs the user authentication information into the terminal device 113, the terminal device 113 gives the user authentication information to the database server. The database server executes the authentication process for the user authentication information obtained from the terminal device 113, and the user authentication information is correct.
When it is determined that the user is an authorized user, the improvement information is retrieved from the storage location of the database 111 corresponding to the URL and given to the terminal device 113.

As described above, since the contact information in which the URL as the "address of the storage location linked to the storage location" is included as the access information is notified, the addressee can use the address displayed on the display as a pointing device. Confidential information can be accessed with a simple operation such as specifying with (for example, clicking).

As described above, the improvement information is stored in the database 111 as the screen information (Web page) of the registration content screen 155 (see FIG. 3) and the terminal device 113.
Receives the screen information of the registration content screen 15 from the database server. Then, the terminal device 113 displays the registration content screen 155 on the display based on the screen information.

The user 2 who is the person in charge of design can receive the still image 151A, "contact details", and "request for countermeasure / desired date for countermeasure" by referring to the registration content screen 155, and can Receive requests for improvements to our product designs. In this way, the improvement request including the confidential information from the person in charge of production is promptly and surely transmitted to the person in charge of design with the confidentiality of the confidential information being secured. Then, the designer can confirm and examine the improvement request (feedback) from the producer (extractor).

Further, the person in charge of design can also notify the person in charge of production who is the extractor of the answer via the information management server 20. This is realized as follows, for example. The registration content screen 155 has an answer button, and when the answer button is pressed by a mouse click or the like, an answer input field is displayed on the display. When the designer inputs the answer, the answer is transmitted to the information management server 20 via the database server. The information management server 20 stores the answer in the database 24, for example. The production staff can operate the information terminal 10 to access the answers stored in the database 24,
Receive answers from designers. In this way, the person in charge of production and the person in charge of design have the information management server 20.
You can exchange your improvement requests and their answers via
Design change is made based on this and production is performed, so that the productivity of the product can be improved.

Further, in the above example, the example in which the electronic mail is transmitted only to the person in charge of design (only the electronic mail address of the person in charge of design is selected) has been described. In contrast,
In designing a product, a plurality of designers often share the design under the control of an administrator who grasps the overall design of the product.

In this case, when the e-mail address of the manager of the designer is further selected on the information terminal 10, the manager is also notified of the e-mail and the manager also refers to the registration content screen 155. can do. As a result, the administrator can grasp the improvement information about each part of the design, and can use it for grasping the entire design.

By doing so, the improvement information can be transmitted to one of the designer and the manager, and the efficiency of information transmission can be improved in terms of time and man-hours as compared with the case where one transmits a message to the other. It becomes possible to promptly respond to the improvement request. However, the administrator must also have the user authentication information for the database (access authority is given).

<< Utilization of database >> Each database 2
The plurality of pieces of improvement information registered in 4,111,121 can be used as know-how in designing. Therefore, the person who is involved in manufacturing the product (for example, the member of the design department or the manufacturing department) is given the access authority to the database, and the person concerned can access the database and search for necessary improvement information. it can.

For example, a person who has obtained the access right to the database 24 is the information terminal 10 or the terminal device 40.
To access the database 24. For example, the designer of the company A uses the terminal device 40 to make the database 24
When searching for, the designer inputs a search command to the terminal device 40.

Then, the terminal device 40 transmits a search request for the database 24 to the information management server 20.
Upon accepting the search request, the CPU 21 of the information management server 20 provides the search operation screen 161 to the terminal device 40 after performing the user authentication process on the database 24.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the search operation screen 161. The search operation screen 161 is configured using a Web page and has a plurality of search condition input fields. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the improvement information in the database 24 can be searched by using at least one of the general information included in the registered improvement information as a search key.
A large number of search patterns are prepared. Further, the search operation screen 161 can be operated to select display items of search results.

When the designer inputs necessary information on the search operation screen 161, and presses the "search" button provided on this screen 161, the contents input from the terminal device 40 to the search operation screen 161 are changed to the information management server 20. Sent to. When the CPU 21 of the information management server 20 receives the input content, it retrieves the improvement information corresponding to the key or keys included in the input content from the database 24, retrieves the display item of the search result from the improvement information, and hits. Information on the screen (Web page) of the search result list of improvement information is created and transmitted to the terminal device 40.

When the terminal device 40 receives the screen information of the search result list, the first search result screen 162 based on this screen information.
(See FIG. 7) is displayed on the display (not shown). Figure 7
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a first search result screen 162.
The first search result screen 162 displays a search result list (search result list) of improvement information corresponding to the search key. The list displays information (general information and / or confidential information) corresponding to the item selected as the display item of the search result for each improvement information hit by the search key.

The designer can refer to the first search result screen 162 and select the improvement information whose details are to be referred to. The selection is performed by checking the check boxes provided in association with the respective pieces of improvement information displayed in the list. Then, when an instruction to browse the individual registration content of the improvement information is input to the terminal device 40, the terminal device 40 issues a browsing request of the registration content screen 155 (see FIG. 3) corresponding to the selected improvement information. Send to.

The CPU 21 of the information management server 20 displays the registration content screen 155 corresponding to the browsing request in the database 24.
And sends it to the terminal device 40. Thereby, the registration content screen 155 of the selected improvement information is displayed on the display by the terminal device 40, and the designer can refer to the details of the improvement information.

On the other hand, the designer selects the first search result screen 162.
When the user wants to browse a search result list (a list with images) including the still image 151A in a state where is displayed, “List with images” provided on the first search result screen 162.
Press the button by clicking the mouse.

Then, a request for browsing the image-added list is given from the terminal device 40 to the CPU 21 of the information management server 20,
The CPU 21 retrieves the corresponding still image 151A from the database 24, creates information of a search result list screen (Web page) including the still image 151, and gives it to the terminal device 40.

The terminal device 40 displays the second search result screen 163 (see FIG. 8) on the display based on the obtained screen information. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of the second search result screen 163. The second search result screen 163 displays a search result list including the still image 151A included in the hit improvement information. As a result, the designer can obtain more detailed information than the first search screen 162 and select the improvement information for which he wants to browse the details of the registered content. The designer
By the same method as the operation on the first search result screen 162,
Operate the second search result screen 163 to select improvement information,
The registered content screen 155 of the selected improvement information can be displayed on the display and viewed.

As described above, the members (related persons) who have previously registered the reference right (access right) to the improvement information accumulated in the database are the contents of the improvement proposals registered so far.
You can search (know-how) and check the evaluation information before this product, and perform efficient design and production development.

According to the system described above, the improvement information is promptly transferred from the producer (extractor of the improvement item) to the person in charge of design (the person who has made the design requiring improvement) while maintaining the confidentiality of the confidential information. In addition, since it is possible to reliably transmit the information, it is possible to take immediate countermeasures for improvement and improve the productivity of the product.

Since the extractor can create the improvement information with the still image 151A attached using the information terminal 10, the extractor can refer to the still image 151A in the form of "contact matter" and / or "countermeasure request". Can be created,
Since these are finally transmitted to the designer, the improvement request having clear contents can be fed back to the designer. Thereby, for example, the extractor does not need to create an explanatory diagram for pointing out a design problem, and the improvement information can be easily created. In this way, since the know-how of the person in charge of production is quickly and reliably transmitted to the designer, it is possible to manufacture and supply an appropriate product that meets the needs of the user.

Further, in general, the designer rarely designs all the products by himself, and the manager divides and handles the parts of the product. The system described above, in which the feedback from the production staff is communicated to the designer in charge about the necessary parts, and the contents are also passed to the manager who grasps the whole as information, is efficient in terms of time and man-hours. high. In the system according to this embodiment, the improvement information is transmitted to the designer and the manager.
Measures for improvement items can be taken quickly and appropriately.

Further, the improvement proposal by the person concerned with this design is as follows.
It is necessary to be registered as know-how and passed on to the people involved in the next product, enabling more efficient design development than the previous time. In the system according to the present embodiment, since the related persons can browse the improvement information accumulated in the database as know-how, efficient design development can be performed.

[0142]

According to the present invention, confidential information can be transmitted to the recipient while maintaining the confidential state of the confidential information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information management system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a DA examination screen and an input screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a registration content screen.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic mail notified to a designer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a search operation screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a first search result screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a second search result screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Information terminal 11,21 CPU 12,22 memory 13,23 Communication control device 14 Input device 15 display 24,111,121 databases 30,112,122 mail server 40,113,123 Terminal device 50 CAD system 100,110,120 Local network 150 DA review screen 151A still image 152 input screen 155 registration details screen 161 Search operation screen 162 1st search result screen 163 Second search result screen

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Kato             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Kasano             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B017 AA07 BA06 CA16                 5B085 AE00

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving confidential information having confidentiality, specifying means for specifying a storage location of confidential information whose access authority is limited to at least the recipient of the confidential information, and the storage area specified as above. Storage means for storing confidential information, creating means for creating contact information including access information for the recipient to access the confidential information, and notifying means for notifying the created contact information to the recipient And an information management device including. 2. The acceptance means accepts transmission information including the confidential information and general information related to the confidential information and having no confidentiality, and the specifying means determines a storage location of the confidential information of the transmission information. Specified as a storage location, the storage means stores at least the confidential information in the transmission information in the specified storage location, and the creating means creates contact information including the general information and the access information. The information management device according to claim 1. 3. The receiving unit receives the address information of the addressee together with the confidential information, and the notifying unit notifies the addressee of the contact information based on the address information. Information management device described. 4. An indexing unit for indexing the addressee information of the addressee based on the information accepted by the accepting unit, wherein the notifying unit communicates based on the addressee information indexed by the indexing unit. Claim 1 or 2 which notifies information
Information management device described. 5. The storage means stores the confidential information in the database when the storage location is a database provided in the information management apparatus, and the storage location is connected to the information management apparatus through a network. In the case of a database provided in another device, the confidential information is transmitted to the other device through the network in order to store the confidential information in this database. Information management device described. 6. The information management device according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies the storage location based on the destination information of the addressee. 7. The information management device according to claim 1, wherein the creating unit creates access information including an address of a storage location linked to the storage location. 8. The confidential information includes image information of a design drawing including a portion requiring improvement in evaluation of a design by a manufacturer of a product, and a designer of at least the portion requiring the improvement from the manufacturer. The information management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is information addressed to. 9. The information management device according to claim 8, wherein the confidential information further includes comment information from the manufacturer to the designer regarding the portion requiring the improvement. 10. The confidential information includes image information of a blueprint including a portion that needs to be improved in design evaluation by a product manufacturer, and the general information includes bibliographic items for the blueprint, The information management device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the transmitted information is addressed to at least a designer of a part where the improvement is requested by the manufacturer. 11. The accepting unit accepts confidential information transmitted from a terminal device used by the manufacturer to perform the evaluation by referring to the image of the design drawing. The information management device according to any one of the above. 12. The database stores a plurality of confidential information, and the plurality of confidential information stored in the database is referred to by a person who has an access authority to the database. Information management device described in. 13. A receiving step for receiving confidential information having confidentiality, a specifying step for an access authority to specify a storage location of the confidential information limited to at least the recipient of the confidential information, and a specific storage location A storing step for storing the confidential information; a creating step for creating contact information including access information for the recipient to access the confidential information; and a notification for notifying the created contact information to the recipient. An information management method including steps. 14. A receiving step of receiving confidential information having confidentiality, which is executed by a computer, and a specifying step in which an access authority specifies a storage location of the confidential information limited to at least the recipient of the confidential information. A storing step for storing the confidential information in a specified storage location; a creating step for creating contact information including access information for the recipient to access the confidential information; A program including a notification step of notifying the recipient.