Information processing device, information management system, information processing method and computer program

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of increasing an added value of a transaction object by assuring a creation process of the transaction object.SOLUTION: A management server 1 comprises a data acquisition unit 21, an NFT generation unit 22, and an ownership setting unit 24. The data acquisition unit 21 acquires first data related to a transaction object in a creation process, and second data related to the transaction object at the time of completion. The NFT generation unit 22 generates a first NFT corresponding to the first data and a second NFT corresponding to the second data. The ownership setting unit 24 sets an ownership for the first NFT and the second NFT.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The subject matter disclosed in this specification relates to an information processing device, an information management system, an information processing method, and a computer program. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology known as non-fungible token (NFT) is a method for guaranteeing the authenticity (non-tampering) of digital data. NFTs are used, for example, to prove ownership of content data such as digital art. With NFT technology, when digital data is saved, information (token) is issued that guarantees the authenticity of that digital data. Furthermore, by registering the NFT in a distributed ledger on a blockchain network, the NFT is managed in a distributed manner across multiple nodes, making it difficult to tamper with the information and further increasing authenticity.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a computer-implemented method executed by a computer for an NFT recorded on a blockchain. The NFT is associated with content data, and the content data can be edited by an authorized editor but cannot be edited by an unauthorized editor. The computer-implemented method includes accepting edit data indicating edits made by a user with editing authority and updating the content data associated with the NFT in accordance with the edit data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-038100 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, when the subject of a transaction is a copyrighted work, the value of the final transaction can vary significantly depending not only on the completed product but also on the process by which it was created. For example, if the subject of a transaction is an illustration, the value of the finished illustration will differ significantly depending on whether it was legitimately created by a specific creator, or whether it was created by copying or modifying an illustration by another creator, or whether it was created using generative AI. For this reason, it is expected that the added value of the transaction can be increased by guaranteeing the process by which the transaction is created.

[0006] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 only manages the editing rights of NFTed content data, and does not consider at all guaranteeing the creation process of that content data.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can increase the added value of a transaction object by guaranteeing the process of creating the transaction object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the first aspect is an information processing device comprising: a data acquisition unit that acquires first data regarding a trading object during the creation process and second data regarding the trading object at the time of completion; an NFT generation unit that generates a first NFT corresponding to the first data and a second NFT corresponding to the second data; and an ownership setting unit that sets ownership rights for the first NFT and the second NFT.

[0009] A second aspect is the information processing device of the first aspect, wherein the NFT generation unit generates the second NFT linked to the first NFT.

[0010] A third aspect is an information processing device of the first or second aspect, further comprising an NFT recording unit that records the first NFT and the second NFT, for which ownership has been set, in a distributed ledger on a distributed network.

[0011] A fourth aspect is the information processing device of the third aspect, wherein the distributed network is a blockchain.

[0012] A fifth aspect is the information processing device of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first data is image data.

[0013] A sixth aspect is the information processing device of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the first data includes initial data relating to an initial state before creation of the object of transaction is started.

[0014] A seventh aspect is the information processing device of the sixth aspect, wherein the data acquisition unit is capable of acquiring the first data periodically transmitted from an external device.

[0015] An eighth aspect is an information management system, comprising: an information processing device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects; and a terminal device that transmits the first data and the second data to the information processing device.

[0016] A ninth aspect is an information processing method, including the steps of acquiring first data regarding a trading object during the creation process and second data regarding the trading object at the time of completion, generating a first NFT corresponding to the first data and a second NFT corresponding to the second data, and setting ownership rights for the first NFT and the second NFT.

[0017] A tenth aspect is a computer program executable by a computer, causing the computer to execute the information processing method of the ninth aspect. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the first to tenth aspects, the added value of the transaction object can be increased.

[0019] According to the information processing device of the second aspect, the first NFT and the second NFT are linked, making it easy to trace the creation process.

[0020] According to the information processing device of the third aspect, the added value of the transaction object can be improved.

[0021] According to the information processing device of the fourth aspect, it is possible to improve the authenticity.

[0022] According to the information processing device of the sixth aspect, it becomes possible to distinguish whether a transaction object is created from scratch or whether an existing one is modified based on the initial data, thereby increasing the added value of the transaction object.

[0023] According to the information processing device of the seventh aspect, the reliability of the creation process can be increased compared to when the first data is transmitted irregularly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an information management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the management server shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of an information management system together with various data. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the components described in the embodiment are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the dimensions and numbers of each part may be exaggerated or simplified as necessary to facilitate understanding.

[0026] <1. Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an information management system 100 according to one embodiment. The information management system 100 is a system that manages data related to trading objects that have been converted into NFTs (hereinafter referred to as "content data"). If the trading object itself is an intangible object such as digital data, the "data related to the trading object" may be the digital data, or data obtained by processing the digital data. If the trading object is a tangible object, the tangible object is converted into digital data (image data, video data, audio data, 3D data, text data, etc.) in some way. Furthermore, converting data into NFTs means generating or issuing an NFT associated with the data.

[0027] The information management system 100 includes a management server 1 (information processing device), a content storage 2, and a blockchain network 3. The management server 1 and the blockchain network 3 are connected to a network 9 such as the Internet. In addition, one or more terminal devices 7 (external devices) and one or more purchaser terminal devices 8 are connected to the network 9.

[0028] The management server 1 performs processing for converting content data D (image data in this example) into NFT, processing for managing content data, etc. The management server 1 is managed by an administrator of the information management system 100.

[0029] The management server 1 is a computer including a processor 11 such as a CPU, a memory 12 such as RAM, and a storage unit 13 such as a hard disk drive. The memory 12 and the storage unit 13 are connected to the processor 11 via a bus line (not shown). The storage unit 13 stores a computer program P1. The processor 11 loads the computer program P1 stored in the storage unit 13 onto the memory 12 and sequentially executes the codes included in the computer program P1. This causes the management server 1 to perform various processes, such as converting the content data D into an NFT. The management server 1 may be configured as a single computer, or may be configured as multiple computers connected to each other via a network.

[0030] The content storage 2 is communicatively connected to the management server 1. The content storage 2 is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk drive. The content storage 2 may also be a cloud storage or the like. Content data D is stored in the content storage 2. As will be described later, the management server 1 stores the content data D transmitted from the terminal device 7 in the content storage 2. Furthermore, the management server 1 transmits the content data D stored in the content storage 2 to the purchaser terminal device 8 in response to a request from the purchaser terminal device 8. The content storage 2 is managed by an administrator of the information management system 100.

[0031] A blockchain network 3 is a decentralized network made up of multiple nodes. Nodes are the individual computers that make up the blockchain network 3. Nodes perform tasks related to the operation of the network, such as creating and validating blocks, which are units that store data. When a new block is added to the network, it is linked to the existing blockchain (chain of blocks). Each block in the blockchain contains a hash (a unique identifier) of the previous block, which helps maintain the integrity and security of the blockchain.

[0032] The terminal device 7 performs a process of uploading the content data D onto the network 9. The terminal device 7 is operated by, for example, the creator of the content data D.

[0033] The terminal device 7 is a computer including a processor 71 such as a CPU, a memory 72 such as RAM, and a storage unit 73 such as a hard disk drive. The memory 72 and the storage unit 73 are connected to the processor 71 via a bus wiring (not shown). The storage unit 73 stores a computer program P2. The processor 71 loads the computer program P2 stored in the storage unit 73 into the memory 72 and sequentially executes the codes included in the computer program P2. As a result, the terminal device 7 performs a process of appropriately uploading content data D to the content storage 2 via the network 9.

[0034] As will be described later, the terminal device 7 can upload not only content data D of a business object that is a finished product, but also content data D of an intermediate product obtained in the process of creating the business object.

[0035] The purchaser terminal device 8 is a terminal device operated by the person who has purchased the transaction object. The purchaser terminal device 8 is a computer having a processor such as a CPU, a memory such as RAM, and a storage unit such as a hard disk drive. Specifically, the purchaser terminal device 8 is a personal computer or a smartphone.

[0036] The purchaser terminal device 8 can directly or indirectly access the management server 1 via the network 9 and download the content data D to which the purchaser has ownership. The ownership (owner) of the content data D is set in the NFT corresponding to the content data D by the management server 1.

[0037] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the management server 1 shown in Fig. 1. The management server 1 has a data acquisition unit 21, an NFT generation unit 22, an NFT recording unit 23, and an ownership right setting unit 24. The data acquisition unit 21, the NFT generation unit 22, the NFT recording unit 23, and the ownership right setting unit 24 are functions realized by the processor 11 executing the computer program P1.

[0038] The data acquisition unit 21 acquires first content data (first data) related to the transaction object in the process of creation and second content data (second data) related to the transaction object at the time of completion. The first content data and second content data are data transmitted from the terminal device 7. The content data acquired by the data acquisition unit 21 is stored in the content storage 2 as appropriate.

[0039] The NFT generation unit 22 generates a first NFT corresponding to the first content data and a second NFT corresponding to the second content data. The NFTs are generated in accordance with, for example, the Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC)-721 standard.

[0040] The NFT recording unit 23 records the first NFT and the second NFT generated by the NFT generation unit 22 in a distributed ledger on a distributed network. Specifically, the distributed network is a blockchain network 3. By recording the NFT corresponding to the content data D in the distributed ledger, each piece of content data D is converted into an NFT.

[0041] The ownership setting unit 24 sets ownership rights for the first NFT and the second NFT. That is, when a transaction object is sold, the ownership setting unit 24 sets information about the owner of the transaction object in the first NFT and the second NFT.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the configuration of the information management system 100 together with various data. In the following description, the transaction object is assumed to be image data showing an illustration. That is, the data relating to the transaction object in this example is image data. Furthermore, it is assumed that drawing software for creating illustrations is installed in the terminal device 7, and that the creator can create the illustration on the terminal device 7 using the drawing software. Note that the illustration may be created on a computer other than the terminal device 7.

[0043] When the drawing software is first launched on the terminal device 7, blank initial image data D is generated. This initial image data D corresponds to initial data relating to the initial state before the creation of the transaction object (illustration) begins. The terminal device 7 transmits the initial image data D to the management server 1. As a result, the initial image data D is stored in the content storage 2 as image data D1. The image data D1 is an example of "first data" and also an example of "initial data."

[0044] When image data D1 is uploaded, the management server 1 (more specifically, the NFT generation unit 22) generates a token T1 (initial token), which is an NFT corresponding to the image data D1. The management server 1 records the generated token T1 in a distributed ledger on the blockchain network 3. The token T1 is set with a link (address) to the image data D1, the ID of the creator of the image data D1, a hash value that is information unique to the image data D1, and the like. The token T1 is also an example of a "first NFT."

[0045] In the terminal device 7, the creator updates the image data D as needed by recording graphics, text, etc., on the initial blank image data D. The terminal device 7 transmits the updated image data D to the management server 1 at an appropriate timing. As a result, the image data D obtained in the creation process is stored in the content storage 2 as image data D2 and D3 in the creation process. The image data D2 and D3 are examples of "first data."

[0046] The terminal device 7 may transmit the image data D during the creation process periodically, or irregularly, such as when the drawing software is started up (or shut down), or when a predetermined operation input is received from the creator.

[0047] Each time image data D2 and D3 in the creation process are uploaded, the management server 1 generates tokens T2 and T3 (process tokens), which are NFTs corresponding to the image data D2 and D3, respectively, in the same way as when the initial image data D1 was uploaded. Tokens T2 and T3 are examples of "first NFTs."

[0048] Furthermore, the management server 1 performs a process of linking each of the tokens T2 and T3 to the previous token. For example, the second token T2 to be generated is linked to the first token, T1. Similarly, the third token T3 to be generated is linked to the second token T2. Note that tokens are linked to each other by, for example, recording unique information such as an ID that can identify the previous token.

[0049] When the creation of the illustration is completed on the terminal device 7, the terminal device 7 transmits the image data D to the management server 1. When the creation of the illustration is completed, the creator performs a predetermined operation input, and the terminal device 7 transmits the image data D with a flag set to indicate that the image data D is completed to the management server 1. Then, the management server 1 receives the image data D and stores it as completed image data D4 in the content storage 2 based on the flag. The image data D4 is an example of "second data."

[0050] The management server 1 also generates a token T4 (completed token), which is an NFT corresponding to the transmitted image data D4. The token T4 is an example of a "second NFT." The token T4 is linked to the token T3 generated immediately before. This links the series of tokens T1, T2, T3, and T4 to one another.

[0051] The management server 1 (more specifically, the NFT recording unit 23) records the generated token T4 in a distributed ledger on the blockchain network 3. In addition, the management server 1 generates the token T4 and disables the registration of image data D in the subsequent creation process (i.e., storage in the content storage 2). Information indicating that the token T4 cannot be linked may also be set. This prohibits linking of new tokens to the token T4.

[0052] The completed image data D4 is sold as a trading object in an online or offline trading market. The purchase process for the image data D4 is performed, for example, via a purchaser terminal device 8. When the management server 1 (more specifically, the ownership setting unit 24) accepts the purchase process for the image data D4, it sets ownership indicating that the purchaser is the owner of the token T4 corresponding to the image data D4 and the series of tokens (tokens T1, T2, T3) linked to the token T4. Then, the NFT with the set ownership is recorded in the distributed ledger on the blockchain network 3.

[0053] After the ownership is set, the management server 1 transmits a series of tokens T1 to T4 to the purchaser terminal device 8 of the purchaser. The purchaser can then download the image data D1, D2, D3, and D4 from the content storage 2 using the addresses set in the tokens T1 to T4 via the purchaser terminal device 8 or the like.

[0054] As described above, the information management system 100 or the management server 1 can provide the purchaser with not only the image data D4 (second data) of the finished product that is the subject of the transaction, but also the image data D1 to D3 (first data) obtained during the creation process. Furthermore, by converting the image data D1 to D3 into NFTs, the authenticity of these data can be guaranteed. This makes it possible to guarantee the legitimacy of the creation process of the image data D4 (for example, that the image data D4 is not a copy or edit of another person's work, or that it was not generated by generative AI). This can therefore increase the added value of the image data D4 that is the subject of the transaction.

[0055] In particular, by including the initial plain image data D1 as the initial image data D, it is possible to ensure that the image data D4 has been created from scratch, thereby further increasing the added value of the image data D4 that is the subject of the transaction.

[0056] Furthermore, by linking the tokens T1 to T4 to one another, it becomes easier to trace the creation process of the image data D4 that is the subject of the transaction, thereby improving the reliability of the guarantee of the creation process.

[0057] Furthermore, by recording the tokens T1 to T4 corresponding to the image data D1 to D4, respectively, on the basic ledger of the block chain network 3, the authenticity of each of the image data D1 to D4 can be further improved.

[0058] Furthermore, when the data acquisition unit 21 of the management server 1 acquires image data D periodically transmitted from the terminal device 7 (external device), the process of creating the image data D4 can be managed more appropriately than when only image data transmitted irregularly is acquired. This can further increase the reliability of the process of creating the image data D4, which is the object of transaction.

[0059] <2. Modifications> Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above and various modifications are possible.

[0060] For example, an NFT may be recorded in a distributed ledger on a blockchain network 3, but may also be recorded in a distributed ledger of a different distributed network than the blockchain network.

[0061] The content storage 2 may be configured as a server connected to a network 9 separate from the management server 1.

[0062] Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is merely illustrative in all respects and does not limit the present invention. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned without departing from the scope of the present invention. The configurations described in the above embodiments and variations can be combined or omitted as appropriate as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1: Management server (information processing device) 3: Blockchain network 7: Terminal device 21: Data acquisition section 22:NFT generation section 23: NFT recording unit 24: Ownership setting section 100: Information Management System

Claims

1. An information processing device, a data acquisition unit that acquires first data related to the transaction object in the process of creation and second data related to the transaction object at the time of completion; an NFT generation unit that generates a first NFT (Non-Fungible Token) corresponding to the first data and a second NFT corresponding to the second data; an ownership setting unit that sets ownership of the first NFT and the second NFT; An information processing device comprising:

2. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, The NFT generation unit generates the second NFT linked to the first NFT.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, an NFT recording unit that records the first NFT and the second NFT, for which ownership is set, in a distributed ledger on a distributed network; The information processing device further comprises:

4. 4. The information processing device according to claim 3, The information processing device, wherein the distributed network is a blockchain.

5. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, The information processing device, wherein the first data is image data.

6. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, The information processing device, wherein the first data includes initial data relating to an initial state before creation of the transaction object is started.

7. 7. The information processing device according to claim 6, The information processing device, wherein the data acquisition unit is capable of acquiring the first data periodically transmitted from an external device.

8. 1. An information management system, comprising: an information processing device according to claim 1 or 2; a terminal device that transmits the first data and the second data to the information processing device; An information management system comprising:

9. An information processing method, comprising: acquiring first data relating to the transaction object in the process of creation and second data relating to the transaction object at the time of completion; generating a first NFT corresponding to the first data and a second NFT corresponding to the second data; establishing ownership of the first NFT and the second NFT; An information processing method, including:

10. A computer-executable computer program, A computer program causing the computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 9.

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