Personal information provision systems, methods, and programs

Abstract

For example, when you move, you need to separately notify your workplace, government office, post office, bank, and various other institutions of your change of address. The present invention aims to reduce the effort required to submit such personal information multiple times. [Solution] The present invention comprises a personal information storage unit 31 and means 30 for changing the personal information in the storage unit 31. It also includes means for copying the changed personal information to an external computer 20 via a computer network 100. When personal information stored in the storage unit 31 of this system is changed, the changed personal information is copied to the storage unit 21 of the external computer 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0007]

[0001] The present invention relates to a personal information providing system, method, and program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, when moving, it was necessary to separately notify various institutions such as the workplace, government office, post office, bank, insurance company, etc. of the address change, and the amount of duplicate notification work was enormous. Also, on Internet sites such as online malls, within the same site, personal information entered previously could be used, but on other sites, new personal information had to be entered, and thus, the entire society was still forced to perform an enormous amount of duplicate input work.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the labor of duplicately inputting personal information.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] To solve this problem, the present invention adopts a configuration including a storage unit for personal information and means for copying the personal information in this storage unit to an external authorized computer via a computer network.

[0005] The personal information stored in the storage unit of this system is copied to the storage unit of an external authorized computer.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, according to the present invention, the labor of duplicately inputting personal information can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the data stored in the personal information database shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the screen that the management server in Figure 1 provides to the user's system browser. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram of this embodiment. In Figure 1, a plurality of computers 10 to 40 are connected to the computer network 100. The user system 10 is a computer used by user P, and includes a browser 11 that executes programs received from the server computer, and a card reader 12 that reads information from the IC card (IC chip) C. The user system 10 may be a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. If IC card C is not used, the card reader 12 does not need to be installed.

[0009] The service provider system 20 is a computer used by a service provider that provides services to individual P, and it contains a local database (local DB) 21 in which individual P's personal information is registered. In Figure 1, two service provider systems 20 are connected to a computer network, but more service provider systems 20 may be connected.

[0010] The management server 30 is a computer that manages the personal information of individual P and is connected to the personal information database 31. Each of the site servers 40 A to E is a computer that operates a site to which individual P is a member. On one site, individual P is a user who provides goods or services, and on another site, individual P is a user who receives goods or services; individual P's role differs depending on the site. For example, on one site, individual P participates as a producer of goods, on another site, individual P participates as a consumer of an online mall, and on yet another site, individual P participates as someone who advertises goods.

[0011] Figure 2 is a data structure diagram of personal information stored in the personal information DB 31, where each personal identifier 32 is linked to participating site information 33, personal information 34, and synchronization permission list 35. The personal identifier 32 is an identifier that uniquely identifies an individual, and may be a My Number (Japanese social security number), etc. Alternatively, the personal identifier 32 may be an electronic money number, credit card number, point card number, account number, device unique number, etc.

[0012] The participating site information 33 includes the URLs and user IDs of sites in which the individual corresponding to the personal identifier 32 participates. Therefore, the user IDs of each site server 40 are also linked to the personal identifier 32, but the personal identifier and the user ID of the site server 40 may be the same. The personal information 34 includes the address, name, date of birth, and gender of the individual corresponding to the personal identifier 32. The synchronization permission list 33 is a list of IDs of businesses that the individual corresponding to the personal identifier 32 has permitted to synchronize their personal information 34. Synchronization of personal information 34 means that after the personal information 34 is registered or modified in the personal information DB 31, that personal information 34 is reflected (copied, acquired, registered, or updated) in the local DB 21 (storage device) of the business system 20 or site server 40. The synchronization permission list 33 contains the IDs of users who can register or modify personal information 34 in the personal information DB 31 and the IDs of users who can receive the personal information 34 registered in the personal information DB 31.

[0013] Next, we will describe the various operations of this embodiment.

[0014] [Action 1] Registration or modification of personal information by the individual (input by the individual) User P logs in to the management server 30 service from user system 10. The browser 11 of user system 10 displays a registration or modification form for personal information 34 provided by the management server 30. User P enters new or modified personal information 34 into this form. User system 10 associates the entered personal information 34 with user P's personal identifier 32 and sends it to the management server 30. The management server 30 associates the personal information 34 received from user system 10 with the corresponding personal identifier 32 and registers or updates it in the personal information DB 31.

[0015] [Action 2] Registration or modification of personal information by the user (reading from IC card, etc.) User P logs in to the management server 30 service from user system 10. The browser 11 of user system 10 displays a request screen for personal information 34 provided by the management server 30. User P has the IC chip C, such as an IC card on which the personal information 34 is registered, read by the card reader 12. User system 10 reads the personal information 34 registered on the IC chip C through the card reader 12, links the read personal information 34 to user P's personal identifier 32, and sends it to the management server 30. The management server 30 links the personal information 34 received from user system 10 to the corresponding personal identifier 32 and registers or updates it in the personal information DB 31. The IC card C may be, for example, a payment card that supports prepaid, postpaid, debit, points, etc. Alternatively, the IC card C may be a dedicated card for entering personal information such as address and name. Alternatively, the IC card may be a dedicated card for entering personal information with payment functionality added. Other IC cards (C) can include financial cards, supermarket / department store / convenience store cards, transportation cards, and citizen cards.

[0016] [Action 3] Registration or modification of personal information by the business operator For example, business operator Q logs in to the management server 30 service from business operator system 20. Business operator system 20 sends the personal information 34 of individual P, registered in local DB 21, to the management server 30, linking it to individual P's personal identifier 32. The management server 30 refers to the synchronization permission list 35 and determines whether permission from business operator Q to register or modify the personal information 34 is linked to individual P's personal identifier 32. If permission is granted, the management server 30 registers or updates the personal information DB with the personal information 34 received from the business operator system, linking it to individual P's personal identifier 32. On the other hand, if permission is not granted, the management server 30 rejects registration to the personal information DB 31.

[0017] [Action 4] Synchronization of registered or modified personal information 1 (Synchronization during session) When the management server 30 detects that personal information 34 has been registered or modified in the personal information DB 31, it refers to the synchronization permission list 35 and determines the ID of the business operator that is permitted to synchronize with the personal identifier 32 corresponding to the personal information 34. The management server 30 then sends the new or modified personal information 34, linked to the corresponding personal identifier 32, to the business operator system 20 that is logged into the management server 30's service among the IDs of the business operators that are permitted to synchronize. The business operator system 20 that receives this personal information 34 registers or updates the received personal information 34 in the local DB 21, linked to the corresponding personal identifier 32.

[0018] [Action 5] Synchronization of registered or modified personal information 2 (Provision via email) When the management server 30 detects that personal information 34 has been registered or changed in the personal information DB 31, it refers to the synchronization permission list 35 and determines the ID of the operator for which synchronization is permitted, associated with the personal identifier 32 corresponding to the personal information 34. Then, the management server 30 reads out the e-mail address associated with the ID of the operator for which synchronization is permitted from a user DB (not shown), and sends an e-mail message including the new or changed personal information 34 and the corresponding personal identifier 32 to the e-mail address. The operator system 20 that has received the personal information 34 by e-mail registers or updates it in the local DB 21, associated with the corresponding personal identifier 32.

[0019] [Operation 6] Synchronization of Registered or Changed Personal Information 3 (Provision of Address by E-mail) When the management server 30 detects that personal information 34 has been registered or changed in the personal information DB 31, it refers to the synchronization permission list 35 and determines the ID of the operator for which synchronization is permitted, associated with the personal identifier 32 corresponding to the personal information 34. Then, the management server 30 reads out the e-mail address associated with the ID of the operator for which synchronization is permitted from a user DB (not shown), and sends an e-mail message indicating the location (URL, etc.) of the file in which the new or changed personal information 34 and the corresponding personal identifier 32 are described, to the e-mail address. The operator system 20 that has learned of the location of this personal information by e-mail accesses the location to obtain the changed personal information 34 and the corresponding personal identifier 32, and registers or updates both of them in the local DB 21, associated with each other.

[0020] [Operation 7] Provision of Personal Information in Response to Request When the management server 30 receives a request for providing personal information 34 that specifies a personal identifier 32 (such as a mobile phone number, etc.) from the business operator system 20 or the personal system 10 that has logged in to the service, it refers to the synchronization permission list 35 and determines whether the permission to provide the personal information 34 to the requester is associated with the personal identifier 32. As a result, if the permission is associated, the management server 30 transmits the personal information 34 associated with the personal identifier 32 to the requester.

[0021] [Operation 8] Automatic input of personal information to the form screen provided by the site The individual P logs in from the personal system 10 to the service of the management server 30. The management server 30 transmits a portal screen for the individual P shown in FIG. 3 to the personal system 10. The individual P browses this portal screen using the browser 11 of the personal system 10. Links to each site A to E in which the individual P participates are displayed on the portal screen. The management server 30 reads out the URLs of the sites in which the individual P participates by referring to the participating site information 33 associated with the personal identifier 32 of the individual P, and generates links to each site A to E. When the individual P clicks on a link to, for example, site A, the browser connects to the site A server 40 and acquires and displays the service screen of the site A server 40. The same applies to sites B to E.

[0022] In addition, a management menu for personal information 34 is provided on the portal screen. When the individual P clicks on the management menu for personal information 34, the management server 30 provides a maintenance GUI for the personal information 34, the synchronization permission list 35, or the participating site information 33 associated with the personal identifier 32 of the individual P to the browser 11. The individual P can register the personal information 34, the synchronization permission list 35, or the participating site information 33 in the personal information DB 31 via the maintenance GUI. In addition, the individual P can change the personal information 34, the synchronization permission list 35, or the participating site information 33 registered in the personal information DB 31 via the maintenance GUI.

[0023] Incidentally, when user P transitions from the portal screen to one of the linked sites A to E, the destination site server 40 sends a program corresponding to the service provided to the browser 11 and has it executed. This program may cause the browser 11 to display an input form for personal information 34. The programs provided to the browser 11 from each site A to E have a function to request personal information 34 to be entered into the input form from the management server 30. With this function, the management server 30 reads the personal information 34 corresponding to user P's personal identifier 32 or the site's user ID from the personal information DB 31 and sends it to the requesting browser 11. The program in the browser 11 that receives user P's personal information 34 from the management server 30 automatically inserts the received personal information 34 into the input form for personal information 34 currently displayed in the browser 11 and displays it. In other words, in the present invention, the program provided to the browser 11 has a function to request personal information 34 to be entered into an input form from the management server 30. With this function, the management server 30 reads the personal information 34 corresponding to the personal identifier 32 of the person P (for example, a mobile phone number) or the site's user ID from the personal information DB 31 and sends it to the requesting browser 11. The program in the browser 11 that receives the personal information 34 of the person P from the management server 30 automatically inserts the received personal information 34 into the input form for personal information 34 currently displayed in the browser 11 and displays it. When the site server 40 performs member registration, it is conceivable that it may insert and display personal information 34 in the registration fields of the input form. Furthermore, when the site server 40 provides online shop services, it is conceivable that it may insert and display personal information 34 in the fields for the sender of goods or the recipient of goods in the input form.

[0024] [Operation 9] Cross-site centralized management interface for personal data 1 In this embodiment, the participating site information 33 shown in Figure 2 contains the address of the My Page where the user P's personal data is described for each site. Personal data includes, for example, warranty information for products purchased at each site, and information on points and miles accumulated at each site. In the personal data management screen shown in Figure 3, when user P clicks a link button to each site, the management screen process refers to the participating site information 33 linked to user P's personal identifier, reads the My Page data containing user P's personal data from the computer of the selected site, and displays the read My Page data within the management server 30's domain page using a technology such as an inline frame. User P can view personal data from multiple participating sites using a single management screen. If login authentication by user P is required when obtaining My Page data, the management screen process reads the login authentication information for each site pre-registered in the participating site information 33 and automatically executes login to each site.

[0025] [Action 10] Cross-site centralized management interface for personal data 2 In this embodiment, the participant site information 33 shown in Figure 2 contains the address of the user P's personal data for each site. When user P clicks a link button for each site on the portal screen shown in Figure 3, the main process of the management screen starts a data acquisition process corresponding to the selected site. The data acquisition process periodically reads user P's personal data from the computer of the selected site by referring to the participant site information 33 linked to user P's personal identifier, and updates the user interface of the data acquisition process with the read personal data as needed. User P can view personal data for multiple sites they are participating in using a single management screen. If login authentication by user P is required when acquiring personal data, the data acquisition process reads the login authentication information for each site that is pre-registered in the participant site information 33 and automatically performs login to each site.

[0026] The embodiments of operations 9 and 10 described above are based on the following idea: Traditionally, personal information was managed separately for each site and company. Until now, it was cumbersome to check one's own miles, etc., without individually accessing each company's site. In contrast, the embodiments of operations 9 and 10 allow individuals to manage their own information across the boundaries of sites and companies. In other words, it is a concept of managing information that was previously managed vertically using products, services, and companies as keys, but using the individual as the horizontal thread, and the idea that data authority lies with the individual, not the company. The very idea of ​​being able to view various information about oneself across sites and companies all in one place on one's own screen is a new concept.

[0027] Furthermore, it is conceivable to incorporate a social networking service (SNS) interface within this management screen to enable the sending and receiving of all kinds of personal information. Conversely, it is also conceivable to provide the management screens for operations 9 and 10 on an SNS platform, utilizing SNS for the management of all personal information. A system could be implemented where personal information that is permitted to be made public will be made public if it is set to "public," and not public if it is set to "private."

[0028] In the operations described above, each computer operates by having its processor execute a program. Input is provided through input devices such as keyboards. Display is provided through display devices such as liquid crystal monitors. Communication between computers takes place via computer networks such as the Internet and communication devices such as routers. The data used by the processor for processing is read from main memory or auxiliary memory, and the processed data is stored in main memory or auxiliary memory.

[0029] [Effects of each action] When an individual registers or modifies their personal information in the personal information database, that information is synchronized with the local database of the service provider's system. This eliminates the need for the individual to individually register or modify their personal information with each service provider, reducing the redundant effort involved in the process. Furthermore, synchronization to the service provider's local database is performed based on the individual's permission, ensuring that personal information is synchronized only within the scope intended by the individual, preventing unwanted synchronization. Additionally, the individual can specify which service providers they are permitted to synchronize with, allowing them to select the synchronization destination each time.

[0030] Furthermore, when reading new or modified personal information from an IC chip, highly reliable personal information can be read from the IC chip, and the individual does not need to manually enter their personal information.

[0031] Furthermore, authorized businesses can register or modify the individual's personal information in the personal information database, and this personal information is synchronized with the authorized business's local database. In addition to the effects mentioned above, if, for example, the business modifying the personal information is a government office, highly reliable personal information will be synchronized with the local database of another business, thus ensuring reliable system operation.

[0032] Furthermore, since personal information managed in the personal information database can be automatically entered into personal information input forms on the services of the site the individual is participating in, the redundant effort of having to enter personal information for each site can be reduced.

[0033] [Mobile device as part of the personal information system 10] In the above embodiment, the user system 10 may be a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. In this case, the user system 10 may include a management process 30 for managing the personal information DB 31 instead of the management server 30. The user system 10 may also include a personal information DB 31 managed by the management process 30.

[0034] Figure 4 shows the configuration of the user system 10, which includes the management process 30 and the personal information database 31. The management process 30 has the same function as the management server 30 described above for inputting and outputting personal information to and from the personal information database 31. The personal information database 31 has the same configuration as the embodiment described above, and may also record personal information on an IC chip built into the mobile terminal. The functions of the input device 14, display device 15, and communication device 16 are as described above. The input device 14 and display device 15 may be touch panels. Even with this configuration, the same operation as the embodiment described above can be performed. The same operation as the embodiment described above may also be achieved by the processor executing an application program (app) downloaded and installed on the mobile terminal.

[0035] [Copying personal information onto an IC card] In Figures 1 and 4, the business operator system 20 may include an IC card having a storage unit 21 (IC chip) instead of a local DB 21. In this case, personal information 34 registered or updated in the personal information DB 31 is copied to the IC chip 21 of the IC card in the business operator system 20. For example, the business operator system 20 may be a vending machine. This vending machine may have a mechanism for issuing an IC card with the personal information 34 recorded on it to the user. Furthermore, the user system 10 may acquire personal information 34 registered or updated in the personal information database 31 and register the personal information 34 on the IC chip of the IC card C via the card reader 12.

[0036] Herein, the invention also encompasses other embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention, in addition to those described in the embodiments. The embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims and not by the description in the specification. Accordingly, the invention encompasses all forms, including the meaning and scope within the scope of equivalents of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10. Identity System 11 Browsers 12 card readers 13 processors 14 Input devices 15 Display device 16. Communication equipment 20 Business Systems 21 Local DB 30 Management Server 31 Personal information DB 32 Personal Identifiers 33 Participating Site Information 34 Personal Information 35. Sync permission list 40 Site Servers P himself Q,R Business Operator

Claims

[Claim 1] A personal information provision system comprising a personal information storage unit and means for copying the personal information in this storage unit to an external computer via a computer network.

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