Information processing method

Abstract

To prevent unauthorized use of an AI model.SOLUTION: An information processing method includes: a first acquisition step in which a first device acquires a part of a computer program regarding an AI model stored in the first device; an authentication step in which a second device authenticates a user of the first device; and a second acquisition step in which, when the authentication has been successful, the first device acquires another part of the computer program from the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of information processing methods. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of this type of method, a method has been proposed in which, in order to prevent unauthorized copying of information, scrambled digital information is distributed so that it cannot be reproduced without using a device in which the general code and individual code have been transmitted to a server (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-004594 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Trained AI (Artificial Intelligence) models are sometimes transferred (e.g., sold). In such cases, recording media on which the trained AI models are recorded are often transferred. When such recording media are distributed, there is a technical problem in that the trained AI models recorded on the recording media may be used fraudulently.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, for example, and aims to provide an information processing method that can suppress the fraudulent use of AI models. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first acquisition step in which a first device acquires a portion of a computer program related to an AI model stored in the first device; an authentication step in which a second device different from the first device authenticates a user of the first device; and a second acquisition step in which the first device acquires another portion of the computer program from an external device if the authentication is successful. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of an information processing method will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. In Fig. 1, an information processing system 1 includes a terminal device 100 and a server device 200. The terminal device 100 and the server device 200 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network NW. The network NW may be a wide area network such as the Internet. The network NW may also be a narrow area network such as a local area network (LAN). The server device 200 may be a cloud server.

[0009] The terminal device 100 will be further described with reference to Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the terminal device 100 includes a calculation device 110, a storage device 120, a communication device 130, an input device 140, and an output device 150. The calculation device 110, the storage device 120, the communication device 130, the input device 140, and the output device 150 may be connected to each other via a data bus 160.

[0010] The arithmetic device 110 may include a processor 1101. The arithmetic device 110 may include other processors in addition to the processor 1101. That is, the arithmetic device 110 may include one or more processors. The processor 1101 may be a multi-core processor. When the arithmetic device 110 includes a single processor 1101 that is a multi-core processor, it can be said that the arithmetic device 110 logically includes multiple processors.

[0011] The processor 1101 may be, for example, at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and a tensor processing unit (TPU).

[0012] The storage device 120 may include a memory 1201. The storage device 120 may include other memories in addition to the memory 1201. That is, the storage device 120 may include one or more memories. The memory 1201 may be, for example, at least one of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and an optical disk array.

[0013] The storage device 120 can store desired data. A computer program 1201a executed by the arithmetic device 110 may be stored in the memory 1201 of the storage device 120. The storage device 120 may temporarily store data that is temporarily used by the arithmetic device 110 when the arithmetic device 110 is executing the computer program 1201a.

[0014] The computer program 1201a may be recorded on a computer-readable, non-transitory recording medium. In this case, the computer program 1201a may be stored in the memory 1201 by reading the recording medium using a recording medium reading device (not shown) included in the terminal device 100. The recording medium may be at least one of an optical disk, a magnetic medium, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, and any other medium capable of storing a program. The computer program 1201a may be acquired (in other words, downloaded) from a device (not shown) external to the terminal device 100 via the communication device 130. The acquired computer program 1201a may be stored in the memory 1201.

[0015] The communication device 130 may be capable of communicating with a device (for example, the server device 200) external to the terminal device 100. The communication device 130 may perform wired communication or wireless communication.

[0016] The input device 140 is a device capable of accepting information input to the terminal device 100 from outside. The input device 140 may include an operation device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc.) that can be operated by a user of the terminal device 100. The input device 140 may include a recording medium reading device that can read information recorded on a recording medium that is detachable from the terminal device 100, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Note that when information is input to the terminal device 100 via the communication device 130 (in other words, when the terminal device 100 obtains information via the communication device 130), the communication device 130 may function as an input device.

[0017] The output device 150 is a device capable of outputting information to the outside of the terminal device 100. The output device 150 may output visual information such as text or images, auditory information such as sound, or tactile information such as vibration, as the information. The output device 150 may include, for example, at least one of a display, a speaker, a printer, and a vibration motor. The output device 150 may be capable of outputting information to a recording medium that is detachable from the terminal device 100, such as a USB memory. Note that when the terminal device 100 outputs information via the communication device 130, the communication device 130 may function as the output device.

[0018] The processor 1101 of the arithmetic device 110, together with the memory 1201 of the storage device 120 in which the computer program 1201a is stored (in other words, together with the memory 1201 and the computer program 1201a stored in the memory 1201), may execute the processing to be performed by the terminal device 100. For example, the processor 1101 may execute the computer program 1201a, thereby realizing logical functional blocks in the arithmetic device 110 (for example, in the processor 1101) for executing the processing to be performed by the terminal device 100.

[0019] In particular, in this embodiment, a portion 1201b of a computer program related to an AI model is stored in memory 1201 of storage device 120. The other portion (in other words, the remaining portion) of the computer program related to the AI ​​model is stored in server device 200. Note that "AI model" refers to a trained model constructed by machine learning. The computer program related to the AI ​​model may be, for example, an application into which the AI ​​model has been introduced. Hereinafter, portion 1201b of the computer program related to the AI ​​model will be appropriately referred to as "partial program 1201b."

[0020] For example, the terminal device 100 may read the partial program 1201b recorded on a recording medium using a recording medium reading device (not shown). The terminal device 100 may store the read partial program 1201b in the memory 1201 of the storage device 120. For example, the read partial program 1201b may be installed in the terminal device 100, thereby storing the partial program 1201b in the memory 1201.

[0021] The operation of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 3. For example, the arithmetic device 110 may execute the partial program 1201b in response to an instruction from the user of the terminal device 100 via the input device 140 (step S101). At this time, the arithmetic device 110 may read one or more processing instructions (i.e., program code) included in the partial program 1201b. The arithmetic device 110 may start the partial program 1201b by executing the read processing instructions. In other words, the arithmetic device 110 may execute the partial program 1201b by reading (in other words, acquiring) the partial program 1201b stored in the memory 1201.

[0022] When the partial program 1201b is executed, the arithmetic device 110 may transmit predetermined information to the server device 200 via the communication device 130. The predetermined information may include, for example, at least one of identification information related to the partial program 1201b (for example, a serial number) and user information related to the user of the terminal device 100 (for example, a user ID). Having received the predetermined information, the server device 200 may request predetermined authentication information from the terminal device 100. The predetermined authentication information may be, for example, at least one of a password, biometric information, and a telephone number. The password may be a one-time password.

[0023] The arithmetic unit 110 of the terminal device 100 that has been requested for the predetermined authentication information may, for example, control the output device 150 to output an image for inputting the predetermined authentication information. The arithmetic unit 110 may acquire the predetermined authentication information input via the input device 140 (step S102). The arithmetic unit 110 may transmit the acquired predetermined authentication information to the server device 200 via the communication device 130.

[0024] The server device 200 that has received the predetermined authentication information may perform authentication using the predetermined authentication information. The server device 200 may perform at least one of password authentication, biometric authentication, and telephone authentication, for example. The server device 200 may perform one-step authentication or multi-step authentication. The server device 200 may also perform single-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication.

[0025] The server device 200 may determine whether the authentication has been successful (step S103). If it is determined in the processing of step S103 that the authentication has failed (step S103: No), the operation shown in Fig. 3 may be terminated. In this case, the server device 200 may transmit information indicating that the authentication has failed to the terminal device 100. The arithmetic device 110 of the terminal device 100 that has received the information indicating that the authentication has failed may, for example, control the output device 150 to output an image indicating that the authentication has failed.

[0026] If it is determined in the processing of step S103 that the authentication is successful (step S103: Yes), the server device 200 may transmit permission information indicating permission to acquire other parts of the computer program related to the AI ​​model to the terminal device 100. The arithmetic device 110 of the terminal device 100 that has received the permission information may acquire other parts of the computer program related to the AI ​​model from the server device 200 via the communication device 130 (step S104).

[0027] The computing device 100 that has acquired other parts of the computer program related to the AI ​​model may make the computer program related to the AI ​​model available for actual use by the user of the terminal device 100. Making the computer program available for actual use may also be referred to as activating it.

[0028] Other parts of the computer program related to the AI ​​model may be parts related to preprocessing. Examples of preprocessing include at least one of cleansing, scaling, encoding, dimension removal, and feature selection. The above-mentioned authentication may be performed each time the partial program 1201b is executed, or may be performed when the partial program is executed for the first time. The above-mentioned authentication may be performed when the partial program 1201b has been executed a predetermined number of times after the previous authentication, or may be performed when the partial program 1201b is executed after a predetermined period has elapsed since the previous authentication. The above-mentioned authentication may be performed when the partial program 1201b is executed after predetermined authentication information has been changed, or may be performed when the partial program 1201b is executed after the authentication method in the server device 200 has been changed.

[0029] (Technical Effects) When a computer program related to an AI model is transferred (e.g., sold), a recording medium on which only a portion of the computer program is recorded may be transferred, and the other portion of the computer program may be stored on a server device (e.g., server device 200). As described above, when a portion of the computer program recorded on the recording medium (corresponding to the partial program 1201b described above) is executed, the other portion of the computer program may be obtained from the server device, subject to authentication. Then, the computer program may be made available for actual use.

[0030] Even if a recording medium on which only a portion of a computer program is recorded is used fraudulently, it is difficult to actually use the computer program (in other words, an AI model) with only that portion of the computer program. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent fraudulent use of an AI model. Other parts of the computer program stored in a server device (e.g., server device 200) may be parts related to preprocessing. Preprocessing is processing essential for using an AI model. This configuration makes it even more difficult to use an AI model. The authentication method in the server device (e.g., server device 200) may be updated as appropriate. That is, the authentication method in the server device may be updated to an authentication method with higher security. This configuration makes it even more difficult to use an AI model.

[0031] (Variation) The modified example will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the information processing system 1a includes a terminal device 100, a server device 200, and an authentication device 300. The terminal device 100, the server device 200, and the authentication device 300 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network NW. The server device 200 stores other parts of a computer program related to the AI ​​model.

[0032] The authentication device 300 may perform authentication using predetermined authentication information transmitted from the terminal device 100. That is, in a modified example, the authentication performed by the server device 200 may be performed by the authentication device 300 (i.e., a device different from the server device 200). Note that Single Sign On (SSO) may be applied to the information processing system 1a.

[0033] Aspects of the invention derived from the above-described embodiment and modifications will be described below.

[0034] An information processing method according to one aspect of the invention includes a first acquisition step in which a first device acquires a part of a computer program related to an AI model stored in the first device, an authentication step in which a second device different from the first device authenticates a user of the first device, and a second acquisition step in which the first device acquires another part of the computer program from an external device if the authentication is successful. In the above-described embodiment, the terminal device 100 corresponds to an example of a "first device," and at least one of the server device 200 and the authentication device 300 corresponds to an example of a "second device."

[0035] The other part of the computer program may be a part related to preprocessing. The second device may be a cloud server. In the information processing method, if the authentication is successful in the second step, the first device may obtain the other part of the computer program from the second device. In this case, the server device 200 corresponds to an example of a "second device." Alternatively, in the information processing method, if the authentication is successful in the second step, the first device may obtain the other part of the computer program from a third device different from the first device and the second device. In this case, the authentication device 300 corresponds to an example of a "second device," and the server device 200 corresponds to an example of a "third device."

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the gist or idea of ​​the invention as can be read from the entire specification, and information processing methods involving such modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1, 1a... information processing system, 100... terminal device, 200... server device

Claims

1. A first acquisition step in which a first device acquires a part of a computer program related to an AI model stored in the first device; an authentication step in which a second device different from the first device authenticates a user of the first device; a second acquisition step in which the first device acquires another part of the computer program from an external device if the authentication is successful; An information processing method comprising:

2. The other part of the computer program is a part related to preprocessing.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1,

3. The second device is a cloud server.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1,

4. In the second step, if the authentication is successful, the first device obtains another part of the computer program from the second device.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1,

5. In the second step, if the authentication is successful, the first device acquires another part of the computer program from a third device different from the first device and the second device.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1,

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