Information management system and information management method

Abstract

To provide a mechanism for reducing working man-hours in a supply chain.SOLUTION: Based on transaction data received from a platform provider and proposing addition of a new restricted substance to a restriction list, a node of a B company updates the restriction list (S1). The node of the B company starts confirmation processing and estimates whether or not there is a possibility that the new restricted substance is contained in a C product supplied by a C company and a D product supplied by a D company (S2). The node of the B company generates transaction data that inquires whether or not the new restricted substance is contained in the C product and transmits the generated transaction data to a node of the C company and a node of the D company (S3).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information management system and an information management method for managing information using distributed ledger technology.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-70257 (Patent Document 1) discloses an information management system for managing information on chemical substances contained in parts traded in a supply chain including a finished product manufacturer and a supplier that supplies parts to the finished product manufacturer. This information management system is connected to a supplier terminal used by the supplier and other supplier terminals used by other suppliers via a network. Other suppliers supply sub-parts that make up the parts that the supplier delivers to the finished product manufacturer to the supplier. The supplier requests other suppliers to disclose information on chemical substances contained in the sub-parts in order to report information on chemical substances contained in the parts to the finished product manufacturer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a supply chain, information on chemical substances contained in distributed products, particularly chemical substances subject to regulations such as laws and regulations, may be disclosed from upstream companies to downstream companies. However, for companies, information on chemical substances contained in their own products is important information, and there is a need not to disclose it as much as possible. Therefore, upstream companies may disclose information on chemical substances subject to regulations such as laws and regulations to downstream companies as composition data of distributed products, while concealing information on chemical substances not subject to regulations from downstream companies.

[0005] Therefore, when a new chemical substance is added to the regulated substances due to the amendment of laws and regulations, etc., for example, downstream companies perform a process of checking whether the above new chemical substance is included in the composition data of the distributed products disclosed by upstream companies, or when the above new chemical substance is not included in the composition data of the distributed products, they execute a process of inquiring of upstream companies whether the above new chemical substance is included in the distributed products. The above processes usually include manual work by the persons in charge of each process, etc., and require a lot of costs and man-hours. In the supply chain, it is desired to construct a mechanism for suppressing man-hours.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanism for suppressing man-hours in the supply chain.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (1) An information management system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an information management system that manages information on chemical substances contained in products distributed in a supply chain using distributed ledger technology. The information management system includes a first device that belongs to a first company that manufactures a first product and has a first distributed ledger, a second device that belongs to a second company that supplies a second product included in the first product to the first company and has a second distributed ledger, and a management device that manages the information management system and has a third distributed ledger. The first distributed ledger, the second distributed ledger, and the third distributed ledger include a list indicating chemical substances managed by the information management system. The first device stores composition data of the first product including public data that is composition data of the second product disclosed from the second device. The second device includes information on chemical substances included in at least both the second product and the list of the second distributed ledger in the public data. When designating a new chemical substance to be managed by the information management system, the management device adds the new chemical substance to update the list of the third distributed ledger, and proposes transaction data for adding the new chemical substance to update the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger to each of the first device and the second device. The first device and the second device update the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger respectively based on the transaction data from the management device. When the first device estimates that the second product may contain a new chemical substance, the first device transmits transaction data including a disclosure request for the new chemical substance to the second device.

[0008] According to the above configuration, when the first device presumes that the second product may contain a new chemical substance, it transmits transaction data including a disclosure request for the new chemical substance to the second device. It is possible to automate the process from adding the new chemical substance to the list until transmitting the transaction data including the disclosure request for the new chemical substance to the second device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the manual work of the person in charge in each process such as inquiries and confirmations. In one example, when the first device presumes that the second product may contain a new chemical substance, it may output an alert indicating that the first product requires a response regarding the new chemical substance. In response to the output of the alert, the first device may cause at least a partial manual process regarding the disclosure request to be executed. On the other hand, when it is presumed that the second product does not contain a new chemical substance, the first device may omit the output of the alert and the process regarding the disclosure request. Thereby, manual work can be reduced.

[0009] (2) In an embodiment, in response to a disclosure request, if the second product does not contain a new chemical substance, the second device transmits transaction data including information indicating that to the first device, and if the second product contains a new chemical substance, it transmits transaction data including information indicating that the public data including the information of the new chemical substance will be disclosed later to the first device.

[0010] To disclose a new chemical substance, usually, a certain amount of time is required to execute an approval process within the company, etc. Therefore, if the second product contains a new chemical substance, Company 1 may require a relatively long time to obtain a response to the disclosure request. According to the above configuration, even if the second product contains a new chemical substance, since the information indicating that it will be disclosed later is first transmitted, Company 1 can be made to recognize early whether the second product contains a new chemical substance or not.

[0011] (3) In a certain embodiment, the second device is configured to be communicable with a plurality of terminal devices respectively belonging to a plurality of departments related to the second company. The second device obtains approval to disclose information on a new chemical substance from a terminal device belonging to a department having the authority to disclose information on the new chemical substance among the plurality of terminal devices, and transmits transaction data including public data containing information on the new chemical substance to the first device.

[0012] Information on chemical substances contained in the company's own products is very important information for the company. According to the above configuration, approval to disclose information on a new chemical substance is obtained from an appropriate department, and the information on the new chemical substance is disclosed after the approval is obtained. Therefore, the information on the new chemical substance can be appropriately disclosed.

[0013] (4) In a certain embodiment, when the public data does not contain information on a new chemical substance, the first device presumes that the second product may contain a new chemical substance.

[0014] According to the above configuration, when the public data does not contain information on a new chemical substance, it is presumed that the second product may contain a new chemical substance, and transaction data including a request to disclose the new chemical substance can be transmitted to the second device.

[0015] (5) In a certain embodiment, when there is composition data of the second product that is not included in the public data, the second device transmits transaction data including the public data and information indicating that there is non-public information to the first device. When the first device receives transaction data including data indicating that there is non-public information from the second device, the first device presumes that the second product may contain a new chemical substance.

[0016] According to the above configuration, when there is composition data of the second product that is not included in the public data, information indicating that there is non-public information is transmitted from the second device to the first device. Based on whether the first device has received information indicating that there is non-public information, it can accurately estimate the possibility that the second product contains a new chemical substance.

[0017] (6) In a certain embodiment, the public data includes information on the content rate for each product constituting the second product. When the sum of the content rates included in the public data is not 100%, the first device estimates that the second product may contain a new chemical substance.

[0018] According to the above configuration, the first device can accurately estimate the possibility that the second product contains a new chemical substance based on the sum of the content rates included in the public data.

[0019] (7) In a certain embodiment, when the second product contains a new chemical substance added to the list of the second distributed ledger and the new chemical substance is not included in the public data, the second device transmits transaction data including information indicating that there is information to be disclosed to the first device. When the first device has received information indicating that there is information to be disclosed from the second device, it estimates that the second product may contain a new chemical substance.

[0020] According to the above configuration, when the second product contains a new chemical substance added to the list and the new chemical substance is not included in the public data, information indicating that there is information to be disclosed is transmitted from the second device to the first device. Based on whether the first device has received information indicating that there is information to be disclosed, it can accurately estimate the possibility that the second product contains a new chemical substance.

[0021] (8) The information management method according to another aspect of the present disclosure is an information management method for an information management system that manages information on chemical substances contained in products distributed in a supply chain using a distributed ledger technology. The information management system includes a first device that belongs to a first company manufacturing a first product and has a first distributed ledger, a second device that belongs to a second company supplying a second product included in the first product to the first company and has a second distributed ledger, and a management device that manages the information management system and has a third distributed ledger. The first distributed ledger, the second distributed ledger, and the third distributed ledger include a list indicating chemical substances managed by the information management system. The first device stores composition data of the first product including public data that is composition data of the second product disclosed from the second device. The second device includes information on chemical substances included in at least both the second product and the list of the second distributed ledger in the public data. The information management method includes a step of the management device adding a new chemical substance specified by the management device and updating the list of the third distributed ledger when a new chemical substance to be managed by the information management system is specified, a step of the management device transmitting transaction data proposing to update the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger by adding the new chemical substance to each of the first device and the second device, a step of the first device and the second device updating the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger respectively based on the transaction data from the management device, and a step of the first device transmitting transaction data including a disclosure request for the new chemical substance to the second device when it is estimated that the second product may contain the new chemical substance.

Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present disclosure, in a supply chain, a mechanism for suppressing man-hours can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will not be repeated.

[0025] <Overall Configuration of Information Management System> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The information management system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system for managing information on specific chemical substances (hereinafter also referred to as "target substances") contained in products (including parts, raw materials, etc.) flowing in a supply chain composed of a plurality of companies, using a distributed ledger technology. In the present embodiment, as an example, a supply chain including four companies (for example, Company A, Company B, Company C, and Company D) is assumed. The target substance is a chemical substance that is a reporting target to downstream companies in the supply chain in the information management system 1. The target substances include, for example, chemical substances designated as SVHC (Substance of Very High Concern) as highly hazardous substances in the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, and / or chemical substances designated in the GADSL (Global Automotive Declarable Substance List), which is a list of chemical substances commonly managed worldwide. Hereinafter, chemical substances designated as SVHC and / or chemical substances designated in the GADSL are also referred to as "regulated substances". Note that the regulated substances may include chemical substances specified by other regulations. Further, a company participating in the information management system 1 can also include any chemical substance as a target substance. That is, the target substances managed by the information management system 1 can include regulated substances and chemical substances arbitrarily designated by participating companies. Regarding the regulated substances, each company has an obligation to transmit (report) information to downstream companies. On the other hand, regarding chemical substances arbitrarily designated by participating companies, each company does not have an obligation to transmit information to downstream companies. In the information management system 1, the regulated substances are managed by a regulation list described later. That is, when the disclosed target substance in response to a disclosure request from a downstream company is a chemical substance other than a regulated substance (that is, a chemical substance not registered in the regulation list), the upstream company can reject the disclosure request.

[0026] The information management system 1 includes an information management device 10-1 belonging to Company A, an information management device 10-2 belonging to Company B, an information management device 10-3 belonging to Company C, an information management device 10-4 belonging to Company D, and a platform provider 30. In the present embodiment, Company A is a finished product manufacturer and corresponds to the so-called "downstream company" in the supply chain. In the present embodiment, Company B is a parts manufacturer and corresponds to the so-called "midstream company" in the supply chain. In the present embodiment, Company C and Company D are raw material manufacturers and correspond to the so-called "upstream companies" in the supply chain.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the transaction relationship between companies in the supply chain. Company C supplies Product C, which is its own product, to Company B. Company D supplies Product D, which is its own product, to Company B. Company B manufactures Product B, which is its own product, using Product C purchased (supplied) from Company C and Product D purchased from Company D, and supplies the Product B to Company A. Company A manufactures Product A, which is its own product, using the product purchased from Company B, and sells Product A to end users. Company A may be, for example, an automobile manufacturer.

[0028] Note that trading companies may be included in the midstream companies. For example, a trading company may be interposed between Company A and Company B, between Company B and Company C, and / or between Company B and Company D.

[0029] Each company is required to manage information on chemical substances contained in the products it sells. Each company receives disclosure of information on the target substances contained in the purchased products from upstream companies in the supply chain and manages information on chemical substances contained in the products it sells. For example, Company A receives information on the target substances contained in Product B from Company B and manages information on chemical substances contained in Product A using the information.

[0030] In the information management system 1 according to this embodiment, information is transmitted only between companies having a direct transaction relationship. For example, a downstream company (Company A) and a midstream company (Company B) having a supply and demand relationship for products have a direct transaction relationship. A midstream company (Company B) and upstream companies (Company C, Company D) having a supply and demand relationship for products have a direct transaction relationship. On the other hand, the downstream company (Company A) and the upstream companies (Company C, Company D) do not have a direct transaction relationship. That is, information is transmitted between the downstream company (Company A) and the midstream company (Company B), and between the midstream company (Company B) and the upstream companies (Company C, Company D), while information is not transmitted between the downstream company (Company A) and the upstream companies (Company C, Company D). For example, when a trading company, Company E, is interposed between Company A and Company B, information is transmitted between Company A and Company E, and between Company E and Company B, and information is not transmitted between Company A and Company B.

[0031] For example, when a transaction of Product C starts between Company B and Company C, at least information on regulated substances among the target substances contained in Product C is provided from Company C to Company B. Specifically, information on regulated substances among the target substances contained in Product C is provided from Company C to Company B either spontaneously by Company C or in response to a request from Company B. On the other hand, information on chemical substances other than regulated substances among the target substances contained in Product C is provided from Company C to Company B when Company C spontaneously provides it to Company B or when Company C responds to a request from Company B. That is, information on chemical substances other than regulated substances among the target substances contained in Product C may not be provided from Company C to Company B. This is the same for transactions between Company A and Company B, and between Company B and Company D. When a transaction of Product D starts between Company B and Company D, at least information on regulated substances among the target substances contained in Product D is provided from Company D to Company B. When a transaction of Product B starts between Company A and Company B, at least information on regulated substances among the target substances contained in Product B is provided from Company B to Company A. In this way, each company receives the provision of at least information on regulated substances among the target substances contained in the purchased products from the upstream company with which it has a direct transaction relationship, and manages information on chemical substances contained in its own products including the purchased products. The transmission of information between each company is carried out in the distributed ledger network 2 (Figure 1) formed including information management devices 10-1 to 10-4 and platform provider 30.

[0032] Referring back to FIG. 1, distributed ledger software is introduced in each of the information management devices 10-1 to 10-4. The distributed ledger infrastructure is configured to include a smart contract that enables limiting the sharing scope of transaction data among parties. Therefore, the distributed ledgers 161-1 to 161-4 respectively held by the information management devices 10-1 to 10-4 hold different transaction data from each other. As the distributed ledger infrastructure, for example, CORDA (registered trademark) may be adopted. When not particularly distinguishing the distributed ledgers 161-1 to 161-4, they may be described as "distributed ledger 161-N".

[0033] When the introduced distributed ledger software functions, the control devices 110-1 to 110-4 (FIG. 5 described later) included in the information management devices 10-1 to 10-4 respectively function as nodes 111-1 to 111-4. By the nodes 111-1 to 111-4 communicating with each other via the network NW, a distributed ledger network 2 is formed. Note that the information management devices 10-1 to 10-4 basically have the same configuration. Therefore, when not particularly distinguishing the information management devices 10-1 to 10-4, they may be described as "information management device 10-N". The same applies to the nodes 111-1 to 111-4. When not particularly distinguishing the nodes 111-1 to 111-4, they may be described as "node 111-N".

[0034] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the distributed ledger 161-N. FIG. 3 schematically shows the mutual relationship of the distributed ledgers 161-1 to 161-4 respectively stored in the information management devices 10-1 to 10-4.

[0035] The distributed ledger 161-1 and the distributed ledger 161-2 share the transaction data transmitted and received between the information management device 10-1 (node 111-1) of Company A and the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) of Company B (area D1). Area D1 contains, for example, the transaction data including the information of the target substance contained in Product B transmitted and received between nodes 111-1 and 111-2. Note that area D1 also contains, for example, the transaction data for inquiring about the target substance contained in Product B transmitted and received between nodes 111-1 and 111-2, and the transaction data of the response to the inquiry, etc.

[0036] The distributed ledger 161-2 and the distributed ledger 161-3 share the transaction data transmitted and received between the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) of Company B and the information management device 10-3 (node 111-3) of Company C (area D2). Area D2 contains, for example, the transaction data including the information of the target substance contained in Product C transmitted and received between nodes 111-2 and 111-3. Note that area D2 also contains, for example, the transaction data for inquiring about the target substance contained in Product C transmitted and received between nodes 111-2 and 111-3, and the transaction data of the response to the inquiry, etc.

[0037] The distributed ledger 161-2 and the distributed ledger 161-4 share the transaction data transmitted and received between the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) of Company B and the information management device 10-4 (node 111-4) of Company D (area D3). Area D3 contains, for example, the transaction data including the information of the target substance contained in Product D transmitted and received between nodes 111-2 and 111-4. Note that area D3 also contains, for example, the transaction data for inquiring about the target substance contained in Product D transmitted and received between nodes 111-2 and 111-4, and the transaction data of the response to the inquiry, etc.

[0038] For example, from the perspective of Company B, a midstream company in the supply chain, there may be cases where Company B does not want Company A to know which companies it sources Product C and Product D included in Product B from. Transaction data includes information such as the information of the source and destination nodes. Therefore, for example, if transaction data is broadcast to all nodes forming the distributed ledger network 2, Company A may learn the suppliers of Product C and Product D. In the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment, by limiting the sharing range of transaction data to the parties involved, it is possible to suppress the disclosure of transaction partner information (such as company names) to parties other than companies with a direct trading relationship.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 1 again, the distributed ledger network 2 in the information management system 1 is a consortium / private type network. The platform provider 30 functions as the administrator of the information management system 1. The platform provider 30 has, as its functions, an operation function 40 and an infrastructure function 50. The operation function 40 includes a node 41, a list management unit 42 (FIG. 4), and a distributed ledger 43, and functions as a node function for registering and updating a regulation list, which will be described later, in the distributed ledger network 2. Details of the operation function 40 will be described later. Note that the platform provider 30 corresponds to an example of the "management device" according to the present disclosure.

[0040] The infrastructure function 50 includes a doorman node 51, a network map node 53, and a notary node 55, and functions as a platform for managing the distributed ledger network 2.

[0041] The doorman node 51 approves the participation applications from nodes 111-N and node 41 that wish to participate in the distributed ledger network 2. Also, the doorman node 51 issues certificates to nodes 111-N and node 41. Nodes 111-N and node 41 that participate in the distributed ledger network 2 create a pair of private and public keys at the time of participation (for example, at the first startup) and send a request for certificate granting to the doorman node 51. The doorman node 51 verifies predetermined conditions and issues certificates to nodes 111-N and node 41 that have made a request for certificate granting.

[0042] The network map node 53 stores information (for example, IP addresses) of nodes 111-N and node 41 for which certificates have been issued by the doorman node 51 (that is, participation in the distributed ledger network 2 has been permitted). The network map node 53 functions as a DNS (Domain Name System) in the distributed ledger network 2. Nodes 111-1 to 111-4 and node 41 that form the distributed ledger network 2 recognize the destination of transaction data, for example, based on the information provided by the network map node 53.

[0043] The notary node 55 gives finality to the transaction data. When generating the transaction data, nodes 111-N and node 41 send the transaction data including the hash value (transaction ID) of the transaction data and the index of the output of the transaction data to the notary node 55. This transaction data includes the signatures of the source node of the transaction data (for example, node 111-2 of Company B) and the destination node of the transaction data (for example, node 111-1 of Company A). After verifying the transaction data based on the transaction ID and the index of the output, the notary node 55 adds a signature to the transaction data and returns the transaction data. The notary node 55 guarantees the order of the transaction data by sequentially holding the signed transaction data. For example, the notary node 55 may hold a map with the transaction ID and the index of the output as keys and the transaction ID, the index of the input, and the peer (node) information as values. For example, if there is no matching key in the map, the notary node 55 may be configured to add the transaction data to the map and add a signature to the transaction data. If there is a matching key in the map, the notary node 55 may be configured to return an error.

[0044] Nodes 111-N and node 41 generate the transaction data. As described above, when the software of the distributed ledger infrastructure functions, the control device 110-N (Fig. 5) included in the information management device 10-N functions as node 111-N. Also, when the software of the distributed ledger infrastructure functions, the control device 31 (Fig. 4) included in the platform provider 30 functions as node 41.

[0045] In the information management system 1, the platform provider 30 (operation function 40) monitors the amendment of laws and regulations, etc. (i.e., the update of regulated substances). Specifically, the platform provider 30 monitors, for example, the update of SVHC and / or the update of GADSL. When these updates are detected, that is, when a new chemical substance is designated as SVHC and / or when a new chemical substance is designated as GADSL, the platform provider 30 detects the addition of regulated substances. When detecting the addition of regulated substances, the node 41 of the platform provider 30 transmits transaction data proposing the addition of regulated substances (update of the regulation list) to all nodes 111-1 to 111-4.

[0046] The information management device 10-N stores product composition data (151-N, 164-N in FIG. 5) regarding its own products. For each company, the product composition data is important information, and there is a need not to disclose the product composition data as much as possible. In the present embodiment, in each company, the product composition data is selected to be either disclosed to downstream companies or not. For example, each company may disclose information on regulated substances to downstream companies while keeping information on non-regulated target substances confidential from downstream companies.

[0047] When new chemical substances are added as regulated substances due to amendments to laws and regulations, if a company's product contains such new regulated substances, it is necessary to disclose product composition data (updated product composition data) including information on the new regulated substances to downstream companies. For example, if Company B, which is an upstream company, supplies Product B to Company A, which is a downstream company, and Product B contains new regulated substances, Company B has an obligation to disclose the updated product composition data to Company A. Here, the product composition data of Product C and Product D disclosed by Company C and Company D respectively may contain information on confidential chemical substances. Therefore, Company B cannot appropriately determine whether Product B contains new regulated substances. Thus, each company first checks whether the product composition data disclosed by upstream companies contains new regulated substances. And when the product composition data disclosed by upstream companies does not contain regulated substances, each company executes processes such as inquiring upstream companies about the presence or absence of regulated substances or requesting disclosure of information. These processes usually involve manual work by the persons in charge of each process. For example, the above processes include manual processes such as creating materials for inquiring about the presence or absence of regulated substances, converting the above materials into PDF format, and confirming the destination and person in charge when sending e-mails or faxes, which require a lot of costs and man-hours.

[0048] As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, triggered by the addition of new chemical substances as regulated substances due to amendments to laws and regulations, the information management device 10-N automatically determines (estimates) whether the products supplied by upstream companies may contain new regulated substances. And when the information management device 10-N estimates that the products supplied by upstream companies may contain new regulated substances, it transmits transaction data including a request for disclosure of new regulated substances to the information management device of the upstream company.

[0049] <Hardware Configuration> FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the platform provider 30. The platform provider 30 includes a control device 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33, a communication device 34, a storage device 35, an input device 36, and a display device 37. The control device 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, communication device 34, storage device 35, input device 36, and display device 37 are connected to a bus 39.

[0050] The control device 31 is constituted by, for example, an integrated circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control device 31 expands and executes various programs stored in the ROM 32 in the RAM 33. The various programs include, for example, the software of the distributed ledger infrastructure. The RAM 33 functions as a working memory and temporarily stores various data necessary for the execution of the various programs. The control device 31 executes various processes by executing the programs stored in the ROM 32.

[0051] The communication device 34 is configured to be able to communicate with external devices. The external devices include, for example, the information management devices 10-N included in the distributed ledger network 2. The communication between the communication device 34 and the external devices is performed using the Internet or the like. Further, the external devices include, for example, the server devices of external organizations that publish regulated substances on the Internet.

[0052] The input device 36 includes an input device. The input device is, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and / or other devices capable of receiving user operations.

[0053] The display device 37 includes a display. The display device 37 causes the display to display various images according to a control signal from the control device 31. The display is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or other display devices.

[0054] The storage device 35 is configured to include a storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, for example. The storage device 35 stores the distributed ledger 43. The distributed ledger 43 and the distributed ledgers 161-N of the information management devices 10-N are, for example, distributed ledgers having a DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) structure. The transaction data included in the distributed ledger 43 and the distributed ledgers 161-N forms a semi-ordered data model. In the present embodiment, for example, one piece of transaction data forms one block.

[0055] The distributed ledger 43 includes a regulation list 350. The regulation list 350 is information indicating regulated substances (for example, chemicals specified as SVHC and / or chemicals specified in GADSL). The regulation list 350 contains information on one or more regulated substances. The information on the regulated substances includes, for example, the CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number, the substance name, the regulation update date, and the reporting threshold. The CAS number is a unique identification number assigned to a chemical substance in the chemical substance registration system of the CAS of the American Chemical Society. The substance name is the name of the chemical substance. The regulation update date is the date when the chemical substance was added to the regulation list 350 (the date when it became subject to reporting to downstream companies), or the date when it was regulated by laws and regulations, etc. (for example, the date when it was specified as SVHC). The reporting threshold is the threshold of the ratio (content rate) of the chemical substance contained per unit quantity of the product. When the content rate is equal to or higher than the reporting threshold, the information on the chemical substance in that product becomes subject to reporting to downstream companies. When the content rate is less than the reporting threshold, the information on the chemical substance is not subject to reporting. "A new regulated substance is added to the regulation list" means that the information on the above-mentioned regulated substance is added to the regulation list.

[0056] Also, the storage device 35 may store the private key generated by the node 41 of the control device 31.

[0057] By executing a program related to the operation function 40, the control device 31 functions as the node 41 and the list management unit 42.

[0058] At the time of initial startup, the node 41 generates a private key and a public key compliant with a predetermined standard. The public key is sent to, for example, the network map node 53 of the basic function 50. Also, the node 41 has a function of generating transaction data. The node 41 generates an electronic signature using the private key and attaches it to the transaction data. The private key is stored, for example, in the storage device 35 or another storage device (not shown). Also, the node 41 has a function of approving transaction data proposed by other nodes. The node 41 verifies the transaction data proposed by other nodes, and if there is no problem with the verification result, attaches an electronic signature to the transaction data and returns the transaction data to other nodes.

[0059] The list management unit 42 manages the regulation list 350. The list management unit 42 communicates with the outside at a predetermined cycle via the communication device 34 and monitors the amendment of laws and regulations (addition of regulated substances). Specifically, the list management unit 42 communicates with the server device of an external organization at a predetermined cycle via the communication device 34 to monitor whether a new regulated substance has been designated for SVHC or whether a new chemical substance has been designated for GADSL. When the list management unit 42 detects, for example, that a new chemical substance has been added to SVHC (a regulated substance has been added) due to the amendment of laws and regulations, etc., it requests the node 41 to add the regulated substance to the regulation list 350.

[0060] When node 41 receives an update request for the control list 350 from the list management unit 42, it generates transaction data for adding the newly specified regulated substance to the control list 350 and signs the transaction data. As a result, the newly specified regulated substance is added to the control list 350, and the control list 350 is updated. Specifically, node 41 sends the transaction data to the notary node 55 and receives the signed transaction data from the notary node 55 to commit the transaction data (finalize the transaction). Node 41 sends the signed transaction data to all nodes 111-1 to 111-4 participating in the distributed ledger network 2. In other words, node 41 sends transaction data to all nodes 111-1 to 111-4 participating in the distributed ledger network 2, proposing to include the newly specified regulated substance in the control list 165-N (Figure 5) of the information management device 10-N. When the node 111-N that receives this transaction data approves the transaction data, the transaction data is added to the distributed ledger 161-N of the node 111-N, and the control list 165-N of the information management device 10-N is updated. Specifically, node 41 sends the transaction data returned from node 111-N to the notary node 55 and receives the signed transaction data from the notary node 55, whereby node 41 and node 111-N commit the transaction data. The signed transaction data of the notary node 55 is sent, for example, from node 41 to node 111-N. In the following, the description of the processing involving the notary node 55 is basically omitted in the process of processing the transaction data.

[0061] By executing a program related to the basic function 50, the control device 31 functions as the doorman node 51, the network map node 53, and the notary node 55. Since these functions are as described above, they will not be repeatedly explained.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the information management apparatus 10-N. The information management apparatus 10-N includes a control device 110-N, a ROM 120-N, a RAM 130-N, a communication device 140-N, a storage device 150-N, a storage device 160-N, an input device 170-N, and a display device 180-N. The control device 110-N, the ROM 120-N, the RAM 130-N, the communication device 140-N, the storage device 150-N, the storage device 160-N, the input device 170-N, and the display device 180-N are connected to a bus 190-N.

[0063] The control device 110-N is configured by, for example, an integrated circuit including a CPU. The control device 110-N expands and executes various programs stored in the ROM 120-N in the RAM 130-N. The various programs include, for example, software for a distributed ledger infrastructure. The RAM 130-N functions as a working memory and temporarily stores various data necessary for the execution of the various programs. The control device 110-N executes various processes by executing the programs stored in the ROM 120-N.

[0064] The control device 110-N functions as a node 111-N, a management function unit 112-N, and a workflow function unit 113-N by executing the programs stored in the ROM 120-N.

[0065] Node 111-N generates a secret key 153-N and a public key that comply with a predetermined standard at the time of first startup. The secret key 153-N is stored in the storage device 150-N. The public key is sent to, for example, the network map node 53 of the platform provider 30. Also, node 111-N has a function of generating transaction data. Node 111-N generates an electronic signature using the secret key 153-N and attaches it to the transaction data. Also, node 111-N has a function of approving transaction data proposed by other nodes. Node 111-N verifies the transaction data proposed by other nodes, and if there is no problem with the verification result, attaches an electronic signature to the transaction data and returns the transaction data to other nodes. Details of each part will be described later.

[0066] The communication device 140-N is configured to be able to communicate with external devices. External devices include, for example, other information management devices and platform providers 30 included in the distributed ledger network 2. Communication between the communication device 140-N and external devices is performed using, for example, the Internet or the like.

[0067] The input device 170-N includes an input device. The input device is, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and / or any other device capable of receiving user operations.

[0068] The display device 180-N includes a display. The display device 180-N causes the display to display various images according to a control signal from the control device 110-N. The display is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or any other display device.

[0069] The storage device 150-N is configured to include a storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, for example. The information stored in the storage device 150-N is managed off-chain (outside the decentralized ledger network 2). The storage device 150-N stores product composition data 151-N, a customer list 152-N, and a private key 153-N of its own products. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-1 of Company A, the product composition data 151-1 includes the composition data of Product A. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-2 of Company B, the product composition data 151-2 includes the composition data of Product B. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-3 of Company C, the product composition data 151-3 includes the composition data of Product C. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-4 of Company D, the product composition data 151-4 includes the composition data of Product D. The details of the product composition data 151-N will be described later together with the details of the product composition data 164-N described later.

[0070] The customer list 152-N includes information of companies that permit disclosure of information. Specifically, the customer list 152-N registers downstream companies that have direct transactions in the supply chain. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-1 of Company A, no companies are registered in the customer list 152-1. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-2 of Company B, Company A is registered in the customer list 152-2. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-3 of Company C, Company B is registered in the customer list 152-3. For example, in the case of the information management device 10-4 of Company D, Company B is registered in the customer list 152-4. No response is given to inquiries from companies not registered in the customer list 152-N. Note that the customer list 152-1 may not be stored in the storage device 150-1 of the information management device 10-1.

[0071] In addition, the storage device 150-N stores the private key 153-N and a public key (not shown) generated by the control device 110-N. The storage device 150-N also stores a certificate (not shown) issued by the doorman node 51 of the platform provider 30.

[0072] The storage device 160-N is configured to include a storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, for example. Information stored in the storage device 160-N is managed on-chain (inside the distributed ledger network 2). The storage device 160-N stores a distributed ledger 161-N.

[0073] The distributed ledger 161-N has a confidential area 162-N and a public area 163-N. The confidential area 162-N is an area where transaction data that is not shared with any other node is stored, that is, an area where transaction data that only itself holds on-chain is stored. The public area 163-N is an area where transaction data that is shared with at least one other node on-chain is stored.

[0074] The confidential area 162-N stores the product composition data 164-N. The product composition data 164-N is the same as the product composition data 151-N stored in the storage device 150-N. The control device 110-N also stores the product composition data 164-N with the same content as the product composition data 151-N in the on-chain confidential area 162-N (the confidential area 162-N of the distributed ledger 161-N). When the control device 110-N updates one of the product composition data 151-N and the product composition data 164-N, the other is updated in the same way. Storing the product composition data 164-N with the same content as the product composition data 151-N in the on-chain confidential area 162-N is to enable the information of the chemical substances (regulated substances) newly added to the regulation list 165-N to be automatically extracted from the product composition data 164-N by the processing of the node 111-N (specifically, in this embodiment, the node 111-N and the management function unit 112-N) on the on-chain. For example, the node 111-N cannot extract the information of the newly specified regulated substances from the product composition data 151-N stored off-chain. To extract the information of the newly specified regulated substances from the product composition data 151-N stored off-chain, for example, a separate configuration for extraction needs to be added or human intervention is required. By storing the product composition data 164-N on-chain, the node 111-N can extract the information of the newly specified regulated substances from the product composition data 164-N. As a result, in the information management system 1, from the update of the regulation list 350 by the platform provider 30, a series of processes from updating the regulation list 165-N according to the update of the regulation list 350 to extracting the information of the newly specified regulated substances from the product composition data 164-N based on the regulation list 165-N can be automated.

[0075] The public domain 163-N stores a regulation list 165-N and public data 166-N. The regulation list 165-N is updated as the regulation list 350 by the platform provider 30 is updated. When the node 41 of the platform provider 30 adds a newly designated regulated substance to the regulation list 350 and updates the regulation list 350 due to a change in laws and regulations, etc., it transmits transaction data proposing to add the newly designated regulated substance to the regulation list 165-N and update the regulation list 165-N to the node 111-N of the information management device 10-N. When the node 111-N approves the transaction data, the transaction data is added to the distributed ledger 161-N and the regulation list 165-N is updated. Specifically, the transaction data is committed through the process of the notary node 55 signing the transaction data.

[0076] The public data 166-N is created by extracting information on regulated substances included in the product composition data 164-N from the regulation list 165-N. That is, the public data 166-N is information on chemical substances that is included in the product composition data 164-N and is also included in the regulation list 165-N. However, in each company, the product composition data is important information. For example, due to errors in the system or the like, it is possible that product composition data that does not need to be disclosed may be disclosed to other companies. In this embodiment, it is possible to determine the necessity of confidentiality for a predetermined data unit included in the product composition data. Data that needs to be kept confidential can be determined to be confidential, and data that may be disclosed can be determined not to be confidential. When a chemical substance determined to be confidential becomes a regulated substance, after obtaining approval within the company by utilizing the workflow function described later, information on the chemical substance will be disclosed. Therefore, more specifically, the public data 166-N is (1) included in the product composition data 164-N, and (2) included in the regulation list 165-N, and (3) information on chemical substances that have been determined not to be confidential or for which disclosure has been approved. Note that the public data 166-N may include information on chemical substances other than regulated substances, for example, voluntarily or in response to a disclosure request from a downstream company, on the condition that approval within the company is obtained.

[0077] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the product composition data 151-3, 164-3 for product C of Company C. As described above, since the product composition data 151-3 and the product composition data 164-3 are the same data, hereinafter, the product composition data 164-3 will be described as an example.

[0078] Product composition data 164-3 includes item information on product name, product number, assembled product number, content rate, and need for confidentiality. The product name is Product C, and its product number is C001. Product C is composed of products (chemical substances) with assembled product numbers CA001 to CA004 as its composition. In the example shown in Figure 6, the content rate of the assembled product number CA001 in Product C is X1%, the content rate of the assembled product number CA002 is X2%, the content rate of the assembled product number CA003 is X3%, and the content rate of the assembled product number CA004 is X4%. The sum of the content rates X1% to X4% is 100%. For example, further, when the assembled product number CA001 is composed of products with assembled product numbers CB001 and CB002, the item information on the assembled product number may include a first layer indicating the assembled product numbers CA001 to CA004, and for each assembled product number in the first layer, a second layer indicating the assembled product numbers that make up the product of the assembled product number in the first layer. In the product composition data 164-3 according to this embodiment, the item information on the assembled product number has only the first layer.

[0079] The item information on the need for confidentiality indicates "public" or "non-public" and is determined at the assembled product number unit (the assembled product number unit of the first layer). That is, the above-mentioned predetermined data unit in the product composition data 164-3 is the assembled product number unit of the first layer. "Public" indicates that the composition data of the chemical substance (including at least the assembled product number and the content rate) is extracted from the product composition data 164-3 and included in the public data 166-N and stored in the public area 163-N. "Non-public" indicates that the composition data of the chemical substance is not included in the public data 166-N and is retained in the confidential area 162-N. In the example shown in Figure 6, the assembled product numbers CA001 and CA002 are determined to be public, and the assembled product numbers CA003 and CA004 are determined to be non-public. Here, it is assumed that the chemical substances specified by the assembled product numbers CA001 and CA002 are regulated substances, and the chemical substances specified by the assembled product numbers CA003 and CA004 are not regulated substances.

[0080] From the information management device 10-3 (node 111-3) of Company C, the product composition data (public data 166-3) of Product C disclosed to the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) of Company B includes the composition data of assembly part numbers CA001 and CA002, but does not include the composition data of assembly part numbers CA003 and CA004.

[0081] Figure 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the product composition data 151-2 and 164-2 for Product B. As described above, since the product composition data 151-2 and the product composition data 164-2 are the same, in Figure 7 and Figure 10 described later, the product composition data 164-2 will be used as an example for explanation.

[0082] Referring to Figure 7, the product composition data 164-2 includes item information such as product name, product number, assembly part number, content rate, and whether confidentiality is required. The product name is Product B, and its product number is B001. Product B is composed of Product C and Product D. The first layer of the assembly part number includes Product C and its product number C001, and Product D and its product number D001. In Product B, the content rate of Product C is Z1%, and the content rate of Product D is Z2%. The sum of the content rate Z1% and the content rate Z2% is 100%.

[0083] The second layer of the product part number includes the composition data of Product C disclosed by Company C and the composition data of Product D disclosed by Company D. Specifically, the second layer of the product part number includes the product part numbers CA001 and CA002 included in the public data 166-3 by Company C, and the product part numbers DA001, DA002, and DA003 included in the public data 166-4 by Company D. In Product C, the content rate of product part number CA001 is X1%, and the content rate of product part number CA002 is X2%. In Product D, the content rate of product part number DA001 is Y1%, the content rate of product part number DA002 is Y2%, and the content rate of product part number DA003 is Y3%. For example, if Company C does not disclose all the compositions of Product C, the sum of the content rate X1% and the content rate X2% will not be 100%. In this embodiment, since Company C does not disclose the information of the chemical substances specified by the product part numbers CA003 and CA004, the sum of the content rate X1% and the content rate X2% will not be 100%.

[0084] The item information on whether to keep secret is determined for each product part number in the first layer. In the example of Fig. 7, it is determined that Product C is to be made public, and Product D is to be kept non-public. That is, the product composition data (public data 166-2) disclosed from the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) of Company B to the information management device 10-1 (node 111-1) of Company A includes the composition data of Product C, but does not include the composition data of Product D. In other words, the public data 166-2 includes the composition data of Product C, but does not include the composition data of Product D. However, even if it is determined to be non-public, if the chemical substance specified by the product part number is a regulated substance, this information will be included in the public data 166-2 after obtaining approval for public disclosure through the approval process. Specifically, assuming that the chemical substance specified by the product part number DA002 is a regulated substance, after going through the approval process, the chemical substance specified by the product part number DA002 will be included in the public data 166-2. As a result, the information on the chemical substance specified by the product part number DA002, which is a regulated substance, is appropriately disclosed to Company A.

[0085] The above-mentioned predetermined data unit in the product composition data 164-2 is the unit of the first-level assembly part number. Note that it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the item information on the necessity of confidentiality is determined in the unit of the second-level assembly part number. That is, it is also possible to use the unit of the second-level assembly part number as the predetermined data unit.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 5 again, when the node 41 of the platform provider 30 receives the transaction data for proposing to include the newly designated regulated substances in the regulation list 165-N due to the amendment of regulations and the like, the node 111-N approves the transaction data after verifying the transaction data. Then, the node 111-N stores the transaction data in the distributed ledger 161-N. As a result, the newly designated regulated substances are added to the regulation list 165-N, and the regulation list 165-N is updated.

[0087] When the regulation list 165-N is updated, the node 111-N executes a process (confirmation process) for confirming whether it is necessary to disclose the information of the regulated substances added to the regulation list 165-N to the downstream companies. Specifically, the node 111-N queries the product composition data 164-N for the regulated substances added to the regulation list 165-N, and confirms whether the content rate of the above-mentioned added regulated substances in its own products is equal to or higher than the reporting threshold. When the content rate of the above-mentioned regulated substances in the product composition data 164-N is equal to or higher than the reporting threshold, the node 111-N determines that it is necessary to disclose the information of the above-mentioned regulated substances to the downstream companies. When the content rate of the above-mentioned regulated substances in the product composition data 164-N is less than the reporting threshold, the node 111-N determines that it is not necessary to disclose the information of the above-mentioned regulated substances to the downstream companies. When it is confirmed that the update of the regulation list 165-N affects itself, the node 111-N notifies the management function unit 112-N to that effect. Note that it is also possible to let the management function unit 112-N have the function of executing the confirmation process. In this case, for example, when the management function unit 112-N detects the update of the regulation list 165-N by the node 111-N, it executes the confirmation process using the product composition data 151-N.

[0088] However, upstream companies do not disclose all of the product composition data to downstream companies. There is a possibility that the newly added regulated substances are included in the composition data concealed by upstream companies. Therefore, in order to accurately execute the confirmation process, it is necessary to confirm whether there is any composition data concealed by upstream companies, and if there is any composition data concealed by upstream companies, whether the newly added regulated substances are included in the concealed composition data. Details will be described later.

[0089] When Node 111-N receives the supply of products from an upstream company to manufacture its own products, in the confirmation process, it presumes that the products supplied by the upstream company (supply products) may contain newly added regulated substances. Node 111-N transmits transaction data including a request for disclosure of information on newly added regulated substances to the node of the upstream company. When Node 111-N obtains information indicating that the supply products contain newly added regulated substances from the node of the upstream company, it outputs a request for alert output to the management function unit 112-N. The alert is for notifying each department or person in charge, etc. that the approval process within the company will occur due to the addition of newly added regulated substances.

[0090] When Node 111-N obtains transaction data including public data containing information on newly added regulated substances from the node of the upstream company, it updates the product composition data 164-N using the information on newly added regulated substances.

[0091] Also, when Node 111-N receives transaction data including a request for disclosure of new regulated substances from a downstream company, it determines, based on the product composition data 164-N, whether the company's own products supplied to the downstream company contain new regulated substances (specifically, whether the content rate of the new regulated substances is equal to or higher than the reporting threshold). If Node 111-N determines that the company's own products supplied to the downstream company contain new regulated substances, it first transmits transaction data containing information indicating that the company's own products contain new regulated substances (indicating that there is information to be disclosed) to the node of the downstream company. Then, Node 111-N issues a request for output of an alert so that an approval process for disclosing information on new regulated substances is carried out. When disclosure approval is obtained through the approval process, it transmits transaction data including the updated public data 166-N containing information on new regulated substances to the node of the downstream company.

[0092] The management function unit 112-N outputs an alert in response to the output request of Node 111-N. By outputting the alert (by the workflow function unit 113-2 detecting the alert), the workflow function described below becomes active (is started). When the workflow function becomes active, the approval process becomes executable.

[0093] Also, when approval is obtained for disclosing information on new regulated substances through the approval process, the management function unit 112-N executes a process (read process) of reading out information on the downstream company (customer information) from the storage device 150-N. Specifically, the management function unit 112-N reads out customer information by referring to the customer list 152-N stored in the storage device 150-N. Note that it is also possible to give the function of executing the read process of the management function unit 112-N to Node 111-N. In this case, for example, information similar to the customer list 152-N is also stored in the confidential area 162-N of the distributed ledger 161-N stored in the storage device 160-N. That is, information similar to the customer list 152-N is also stored on the blockchain. Thereby, Node 111-N can read out customer information from the distributed ledger 161-N.

[0094] The workflow function unit 113-N notifies the client device group (Figure 8 described later) of the start and end of the workflow function. The workflow function is a function for automating the process of obtaining approval for the disclosure of regulated substance information within an enterprise (including related enterprises). When the workflow function unit 113-N obtains approval for disclosing the information of the regulated substances added to the regulation list 165-N from the client device 12-N of the approval department by the workflow function, it notifies the management function unit 112-N to that effect. Note that the workflow function can also be applied to the disclosure of information on chemical substances other than regulated substances.

[0095] When the management function unit 112-N receives an approval notice from the workflow function unit 113-N, it requests the node 111-N to update the public data 166-N.

[0096] When the node 111-N receives a request to update the public data 166-N, it adds the information of the approved regulated substances and updates the public data 166-N. Then, the node 111-N generates transaction data including the public data 166-N and transmits the transaction data to the nodes of the downstream enterprises of the target. When the downstream enterprise nodes approve the transaction data, the public data 166-N is disclosed to the downstream enterprises. That is, the information of the added regulated substances is reported to the downstream enterprises. Thereby, the information of chemical substances (regulated substances in this embodiment) is disclosed from the upstream enterprises to the downstream enterprises. Note that the node 111-N may generate transaction data including the information of the approved regulated substances and transmit the transaction data to the nodes of the downstream enterprises of the target.

[0097] When the workflow function unit 113-N detects that the approval has been performed by the client device 12-N of the approval department, it notifies the client device group (a plurality of client devices 12-N) of the end of the workflow. Thereby, the workflow function ends.

[0098] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the workflow function. Referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of client devices 12-N are connected to the information management device 10-N so as to be wirelessly communicable or wired communicable. The information management device 10-N and the client device 12-N capable of wired communication are connected to a bus 11-N.

[0099] Each of the plurality of client devices 12-N is a terminal device belonging to the same or a related company as the company that manages the information management device 10-N. Each of the plurality of client devices 12-N belongs to, for example, different departments from each other. Specifically, taking the information management device 10-2 of Company B as an example, each of the plurality of client devices 12-2 belongs to different departments within Company B, for example.

[0100] When a new regulated substance is designated due to a revision of laws and regulations or the like, it is necessary to obtain approval within the company regarding the disclosure of information on the new regulated substance to the outside (downstream companies). The department having the authority to approve the disclosure of chemical substance information may vary for each chemical substance.

[0101] The information management device 10-N implements web application software (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "web app"). Each of the plurality of client devices 12-N uses the web app using a web browser. The workflow function in the present embodiment is realized by using the web app. When starting the workflow function, the information management device 10-N (workflow function unit 113-N) notifies the client device group (a plurality of client devices 12-N) of the start of the workflow.

[0102] For each chemical substance included in the composition of the product, a client device 12-N of the department with approval authority (approval department) is preset. After each of the plurality of client devices 12-N receives a start notification of the workflow, it refers to the WEB application at a predetermined cycle until it receives an end notification of the workflow. The information management device 10-N discloses information on newly designated regulated substances to the plurality of client devices 12-N via the WEB application. Each of the plurality of client devices 12-N determines whether the approval department for approving the disclosure of information on the newly designated regulated substances is its own department. When the client device 12-N that is the approval department newly designates a regulated substance of which it is the approver, after performing the approval process, it approves to disclose information on the regulated substances contained in its own products to downstream companies. The approval process may include, for example, a process of confirming whether the content of the regulated substances in its own products is equal to or higher than a reporting threshold. The reporting threshold is a threshold for the ratio (content rate) of the target substance contained per unit amount of the product. For example, a predetermined value is determined by laws and regulations, etc., and when the content of the regulated substances in the products of the upstream company is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the upstream company has an obligation to disclose information on the regulated substances to downstream companies. The reporting threshold can be the above-mentioned predetermined value. The approval process may be automatically executed by a program installed in the client device 12-N, or manually executed by an administrator (employee) of the management department of the client device 12-N.

[0103] When the information management device 10-N (workflow function unit 113-N) detects that the approval has been performed by the client device 12-N of the approval department, it notifies the client device group (a plurality of client devices 12-N) of the end of the workflow. Thereby, the workflow function ends.

[0104] The information management device 10-N (Node 111-N) generates transaction data for reporting product composition data (public data 166-N) including information on approved regulated substances, and transmits the transaction data to the nodes of downstream companies. As a result, information on regulated substances is reported to downstream companies. Note that when a new regulated substance is designated, only the information on the regulated substance may be reported from an upstream company to a downstream company, or product composition data (public data 166-N) with the information on the regulated substance added may be reported.

[0105] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the processing flow in the information management system 1 when a new regulated substance is designated. In FIG. 9, the processing in Companies A to C will be described as an example for ease of understanding.

[0106] (1) The platform provider 30 detects the addition of a new regulated substance and transmits transaction data proposing to add the new regulated substance to the regulation list 165-N to the information management devices 10-1 to 10-3. Each of the information management devices 10-1 to 10-3 approves the transaction data and updates the regulation lists 165-1 to 165-3.

[0107] (2) The information management device 10-2 of Company B presumes that the C product supplied from Company C may contain the new regulated substance. The information management device 10-2 generates transaction data for inquiring whether the new regulated substance is contained in the C product, and transmits the transaction data to the information management device 10-3. Note that in FIG. 9, Company D is omitted, but the information management device 10-2 similarly transmits transaction data for inquiring whether the new regulated substance is contained in the D product to the information management device 10-4.

[0108] (3) The information management device 10-3 of Company C generates transaction data for answering whether there is information that needs to be disclosed to Company B, and transmits the transaction data to the information management device 10-2. For example, based on the updated regulation list 165-N and the product composition data 164-3, the information management device 10-3 determines whether a new regulated substance is included in Product C. If no regulated substance is included in Product C, the information management device 10-3 transmits transaction data indicating that there is no information to be disclosed to the information management device 10-2. In this case, since no further processing is required due to the addition of a new regulated substance, the information management device 10-2 ends the process.

[0109] If a regulated substance is included in Product C, the information management device 10-3 transmits transaction data indicating that there is information to be disclosed to the information management device 10-2. In response to the update of the regulation list 165-N (addition of a new regulated substance) or in response to the inquiry in (2) above, the information management device 10-3 activates the workflow function described below and proceeds with the preparation for disclosing the product composition data of Product C including the information on the new regulated substance. In (3), the product composition data is not disclosed yet, and Company B is notified that there is information to be disclosed.

[0110] (4) The information management device 10-2 of Company B determines whether an alert needs to be output. The alert is for notifying each department or person in charge, etc. that an approval process within the company will occur due to the addition of a new regulated substance. If the response (transaction data) from the information management device 10-3 of Company C indicates that there is no information to be disclosed, the information management device 10-2 ends the process because no report to Company A is required due to the addition of a new regulated substance. If the information management device 10-2 receives an inquiry corresponding to the process in (2) above from the information management device 10-1 of Company A, it will transmit transaction data indicating that there is no information to be disclosed to the information management device 10-1.

[0111] (5) If the information management device 10-2 of Company B indicates that there is information disclosed in the response (transaction data) from the information management device 10-3 of Company C, it outputs an alert. By outputting the alert, the workflow function described later becomes active (starts).

[0112] (6) In Company C, preparations are made to disclose the product composition data of Product C including information on new regulated substances, and the public data 166-3 is updated. That is, transaction data including the updated public data 166-3 from the information management device 10-3 is transmitted to the information management device 10-2. Here, assuming that the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003 in FIG. 6 is added to the regulation list 350,165-N as a regulated substance, it will be described in detail. Since the information on the item of whether secrecy is required for the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003 has been determined to be non-public, even if it is added to the regulation list 165-3, it will not be automatically disclosed to downstream companies, and it is necessary to obtain approval for disclosure within the company. As described above, the information management device 10-3 (information management device 10-N) has a workflow function for automating the process of obtaining approval for the disclosure of regulated substance information.

[0113] When the information management device 10-3 detects that the approval has been given by the client device 12-3 of the approval department, it decides to change the item information of whether secrecy is required for the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003 from non-public to public. The node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3 extracts the composition data of the chemical substance (regulated substance) specified by the assembled product number CA003 from the product composition data 164-3, and includes the composition data of the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003 in the public data 166-3. The node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3 generates transaction data for reporting the public data 166-3 (product composition data including information on the regulated substance for which approval has been obtained), and transmits the transaction data to the node of the downstream company (the node 111-2 of Company B). As a result, information on the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003, which is a newly added regulated substance, is reported to the downstream company.

[0114] (7) The information management device 10-2 of Company B approves the transaction data and acquires the updated composition data of Product C. The information management device 10-2 of Company B updates the product composition data 151-2, 164-2 of Product B.

[0115] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the updated product composition data 151-2, 164-2 for Product B. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 10, for the product composition data 151-2, 164-2, with respect to Product C, the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 has been added. Specifically, in the product composition data 164-2, for Product C, the assembled product number CA003 and its content rate X3% have been added. Here, the item information on whether Product C needs to be kept confidential has been determined to be public. In other words, the composition data of Product C is included in the public data 166-2. Therefore, (8) Node 111-2 extracts the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 from the product composition data 164-2 and includes it in the public data 166-2. Node 111-2 transmits the transaction data that discloses the public data 166-2 with the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 added to Node 111-1 of Company A. When Node 111-1 approves the said transaction data, the said transaction data is added to the distributed ledger 161-1, and the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 is disclosed to Node 111-1. (9) Node 111-1 updates the product composition data 164-1 by adding the composition data of the assembled product number CA003. Furthermore, the management function unit 112-1 updates the product composition data 151-1 along with the update of the product composition data 164-1. Thus, when there is a disclosure of the composition data of the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003 for Product C from Company C, which is an upstream company, and when the item information on whether Product C needs to be kept confidential has been determined to be public in advance, Node 111-2 automatically discloses the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 to Node 111-1 of Company A, which is a downstream company. In other words, before receiving the transaction data that discloses the public data 166-3 with the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 added from Node 111-3 of Company C, when the item information on whether Product C needs to be kept confidential has been determined to be public, Node 111-2 automatically discloses the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 to Node 111-1 of Company A. "Automatically" means that Node 111-2 transmits the transaction data that discloses the public data 166-2 with the composition data of the assembled product number CA003 added to Node 111-1 of Company A in response to the receipt of the said transaction data from Node 111-3 of Company C.That is, without undergoing the approval process, node 111-2 of node 111-2 of Company A sends transaction data that discloses public data 166-2 with the composition data of assembled product number CA003 added to node 111-1 of Company A.

[0117] On the other hand, if it is determined that the item information on whether the C product needs to be kept confidential is non-disclosed, and if there is a disclosure of the composition data of the chemical substance specified by the assembled product number CA003 for the C product from Company C, which is an upstream company, node 111-2 will not automatically disclose the composition data of assembled product number CA003 to node 111-1 of Company A, which is a downstream company. In this case, node 111-2 waits (i.e., the approval process is executed) to obtain approval to disclose the composition data of the C product through the workflow function. If approval to disclose the composition data of the C product is obtained through the approval process, node 111-2 will disclose the composition data of the C product to node 111-1 of Company A.

[0118] <Sequence Diagram> Figures 11 and 12 are sequence diagrams showing the flow of a series of processes executed when a new regulated substance is added. The processes shown in Figures 11 and 12 are started when receiving transaction data that proposes an update to the regulation list 165-N sent from node 41 of the platform provider 30. In Figures 11 and 12, the information management device 10-2 of Company B is used as an example for explanation.

[0119] In S1, node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 approves the transaction data received from node 41 of the platform provider 30 and updates the regulation list 165-2.

[0120] In S2, node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 starts the confirmation process. First, node 111-2 determines (estimates) whether a new regulated substance may be included in the C products supplied by Company C. In this embodiment, based on the high possibility that each company does not disclose all of the product composition data and at least part of the product composition data is kept confidential, node 111-2 estimates that a new regulated substance may be included in the C products. That is, in this embodiment, when the regulation list 165-2 is updated, node 111-2 estimates that the regulated substances added to the regulation list 165-2 by the update may be included in the supplied products (C products, D products) from upstream companies. In other words, when the regulation list 165-2 is updated, node 111-2 estimates that its own B products may contain new regulated substances.

[0121] In S3, node 111-2 generates transaction data (transaction data requesting disclosure of information on new regulated substances) to inquire whether a new regulated substance is included in the C products, and transmits the transaction data to node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3. Note that node 111-2 also transmits, in the same manner, transaction data for inquiring whether a new regulated substance is included in the D products to node 111-4 of the information management device 10-4.

[0122] In S4, in response to an inquiry from Node 111-2 of Company B, Node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3 determines whether there is information on chemical substances that must be disclosed to Company B due to the update of the current regulation list 165-3. Specifically, Node 111-3 causes the regulated substances for which the inquiry was received to be queried against the product composition data 164-3, and checks whether the content rate of the above-added regulated substances in Product C is equal to or higher than the reporting threshold. If the content rate of the regulated substances in the product composition data 164-3 is equal to or higher than the reporting threshold, Node 111-3 determines that it is necessary to disclose the information on the regulated substances to Company B. If the content rate of the regulated substances in the product composition data 164-3 is less than the reporting threshold, Node 111-3 determines that it is not necessary to disclose the information on the regulated substances to downstream companies.

[0123] In S5, if Node 111-3 determines that Product C does not contain regulated substances at a content rate equal to or higher than the reporting threshold, it transmits transaction data indicating that there is no information to be disclosed to Node 111-2. In this case, since no further processing is required due to the addition of new regulated substances, Node 111-3 ends the processing. If Node 111-3 determines that Product C contains regulated substances at a content rate equal to or higher than the reporting threshold, it transmits transaction data indicating that there is information to be disclosed (indicating later that information on new regulated substances will be disclosed) to Node 111-2. In this case, the information management device 10-3 of Company C executes processing for disclosing the information in FIG. 13 described later.

[0124] For example, if Company C purchases materials and the like constituting Product C from even more upstream companies, Node 111-3 may execute the processing of S4 and S5 based on the updated product composition data 164-N through the same processing as S2 to S13.

[0125] In S6, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 determines whether an alert output is necessary. If the information disclosed by the response (transaction data) from the information management device 10-3 of Company C indicates that there is no information, the node 111-2 determines that an alert output is unnecessary. If the information disclosed by the response (transaction data) from the information management device 10-3 of Company C indicates that there is information, the node 111-2 determines that an alert output is necessary.

[0126] In S7, the node 111-2 outputs a signal indicating the result of the determination of whether an alert output is necessary to the management function unit 112-2.

[0127] Note that also in the node 111-3, when the confirmation process and the determination of whether an alert is necessary are performed when its own regulation list 165-3 is updated, the node 111-3 may determine whether disclosure is necessary by diverting the alert necessity result in S4 and provide an answer in S5.

[0128] In S8, when the management function unit 112-2 receives a signal indicating that an alert output is unnecessary, since it is unnecessary to report to Company A due to the addition of a new regulated substance, the process ends. When the management function unit 112-2 receives a signal indicating that an alert output is necessary, it outputs an alert. The management function unit 112-2 sets, for example, a flag indicating an alert (in this case, the alert may be read as a flag).

[0129] In S9, the workflow function unit 113-2 detects an alert output. The workflow function unit 113-2 monitors the presence or absence of an alert, for example, at predetermined intervals.

[0130] In S10, the workflow function unit 113-2 notifies the start of the workflow to the client device group. Upon receiving the start notification, each of the multiple client devices 12-2 included in the client device group refers to the WEB application at a predetermined cycle. At this point, the information subject to the approval process has not yet been disclosed in the WEB application. Each of the client devices 12-2 waits for the information subject to be disclosed in the WEB application.

[0131] In S11, the node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3 obtains approval for disclosing the product composition data 164-3 of Product C including the information on new regulated substances.

[0132] In S12, the node 111-3 extracts the information on new regulated substances from the product composition data 164-3 of Product C, includes it in the public data 166-3, and updates the public data 166-3.

[0133] In S13, the node 111-3 transmits the transaction data including the updated public data 166-3 to the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2. The details of the processes in S11 and S12 will be described later with reference to FIG. 13.

[0134] In S14, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 approves the transaction data, acquires the public data 166-3, and uses it to update the product composition data 164-2.

[0135] In S15, the management function unit 112-2 of the information management device 10-2 updates the product composition data 151-2 along with the update of the product composition data 164-2.

[0136] In S16, the management function unit 112-2 notifies the workflow function unit 113-2 of the information on regulated substances (information subject) to be reported to downstream companies.

[0137] In S17, the workflow function unit 113-2 discloses the information of the regulated substances notified in S16 (i.e., the regulated substances newly designated due to the amendment of laws and regulations, etc.) on the WEB application.

[0138] In S18, the workflow function unit 113-2 obtains approval from the client device 12-2 of the approval department of the added regulated substances among the client device group to disclose (make public) the information of the above-mentioned regulated substances disclosed on the WEB application to downstream companies.

[0139] In S19, the workflow function unit 113-2 sends a notice indicating that approval has been obtained to disclose the information of the new regulated substances to the management function unit 112-2.

[0140] In S20, the workflow function unit 113-2 notifies the client device group of the end of the workflow. When each of the multiple client devices 12-N included in the client device group receives the end notice, it ends the reference to the WEB application.

[0141] In S21, the management function unit 112-2 requests the node 111-2 to update the public data 166-2.

[0142] In S22, the node 111-2 adds the information of the regulated substances for which approval has been obtained and updates the public data 166-2. Then, the node 111-2 generates transaction data including the public data 166-2 and sends the transaction data to the node 111-1 of Company A. When the node 111-1 of Company A approves the transaction data, the public data 166-2 is disclosed to Company A. That is, the information of the added regulated substances is disclosed to Company A. In S22, the node 111-2 may also generate transaction data including the information of the regulated substances for which approval has been obtained and send the transaction data to the node 111-1 of Company A. In this embodiment, the processes from S1 to S10 may be automatically executed, and the processes after S11 may be at least partially manually executed.

[0143] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the details of the processes of S11 and S12 in FIG. 12.

[0144] In S30, node 111-3 outputs the determination result of necessity of disclosure (the result in S4 in FIG. 11) to the management function unit 112-3.

[0145] In S31, when the management function unit 112-3 receives a signal indicating that disclosure is necessary, it outputs an alert. Note that when the management function unit 112-3 receives a signal indicating that disclosure is not necessary, since reporting to Company B is not required, the process ends.

[0146] In S32, the workflow function unit 113-3 detects the alert output. The workflow function unit 113-3 monitors the presence or absence of an alert, for example, at every predetermined period.

[0147] In S33, the workflow function unit 113-3 notifies the start of the workflow to the client device group. Each of the plurality of client devices 12-3 included in the client device group refers to the web application at every predetermined period when it receives the start notification.

[0148] Since the processes of S34 to S40 are respectively equivalent to the processes of S16 to S22 in FIG. 12, they will not be repeatedly described here.

[0149] As described above, in the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the information management device 10-N receives transaction data for proposing an update of the restriction list 165-N from the platform provider 30, in which the restriction list 350 is updated by the platform provider 30, the information management device 10-N adds a new restricted substance to the restriction list 165-N. Then, the information management device 10-N estimates whether there is a possibility that the company's own products contain the new restricted substance. In the present embodiment, based on the concept that information on chemical substances particularly important to each company is kept confidential, when a new restricted substance is added to the restriction list 165-N, the information management device 10-N estimates that there is a possibility that products purchased from upstream companies that make up the company's own products contain the new restricted substance, and estimates that there is a possibility that the company's own products contain the new restricted substance. The information management device 10-N transmits transaction data including a request for disclosure of information on the new restricted substance contained in the product to the upstream company. Conventionally, when a new restricted substance is added to the restriction list 165-N, many processes have occurred for the upstream company, such as inquiring about the presence or absence of the restricted substance and requesting disclosure of information, for the person in charge. By automating the processes from the addition of a new restricted substance to the restriction list 165-N until at least an alert is output, it becomes possible to reduce the manual work of the person in charge in each process for inquiries and confirmations. Also, by not outputting an alert when there is no possibility that the new restricted substance is contained in the company's own products, it is possible to reduce the manual work. By applying the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment to the supply chain, it becomes possible to suppress the man-hours.

[0150] In upstream companies, it takes a certain amount of time to execute approval processes and the like before disclosing new regulated substances to downstream companies. When the information management device 10-N of an upstream company that has received transaction data including a disclosure request first sends information indicating whether there is information to be disclosed (information indicating that there is information to be disclosed or information indicating that there is no information to be disclosed) to the downstream company. As a result, downstream companies can quickly recognize whether their products contain new regulated substances.

[0151] Also, when the information management device 10-N receives, as a response, transaction data indicating that there is information to be disclosed from an upstream company, it outputs an alert. By outputting an alert, each department or person in charge within the company can be made aware that a process (approval process) requiring action regarding the disclosure of chemical substance information has occurred.

[0152] [Modification Example 1] Based on the concept that in the embodiment, information on chemical substances that are particularly important to each company is kept confidential, when a new regulated substance is added to the regulation list 165-N, the information management device 10-N presumes that products purchased from upstream companies that make up its own products may contain the new regulated substance. Therefore, when a new regulated substance is added to the regulation list 165-N, the information management device 10-N presumes that its own products may contain the new regulated substance and sends transaction data including a request for disclosure of information on the new regulated substance to the upstream company. In the information management system 1 according to Modification Example 1, the information management device 10-N presumes whether its own products may contain a new regulated substance based on information indicating the presence or absence of non-public information that has been previously sent from an upstream company.

[0153] When the information management device 10-N (node 111-N) has information on chemical substances to be kept confidential from downstream companies, it includes in the public data 166-N information indicating the existence of non-public information. When the information management device 10-N has no information on chemical substances to be kept confidential from downstream companies, it does not include in the public data 166-N information indicating the existence of non-public information. Alternatively, when the information management device 10-N has no information on chemical substances to be kept confidential from downstream companies, it may include in the public data 166-N information indicating the non-existence of non-public information.

[0154] For example, using the example shown in FIG. 6 for explanation, the information management device 10-3 keeps confidential from Company B the information on chemical substances specified by the finished product numbers CA003 and CA004. In this case, the information management device 10-3 includes in the public data 166-3, together with the product composition data of Product C including the information on chemical substances specified by the finished product numbers CA001 and CA002, information indicating that there is non-public information in the said product composition data.

[0155] When the information management device 10-3 discloses to Company B both pieces of information on chemical substances specified by the finished product numbers CA003 and CA004, for example, it includes in the public data 166-3, together with the product composition data of Product C including the information on chemical substances specified by the finished product numbers CA001 to CA004, information indicating that there is no non-public information in the said product composition data.

[0156] When the information management device 10-N of a downstream company adds a new regulated substance to the regulation list 165-N according to a proposal from the platform provider 30, it executes the confirmation process according to Modification Example 1. In the confirmation process, it is determined whether information indicating the existence of non-public information from an upstream company is disclosed. When the information management device 10-N of a downstream company determines that information indicating the existence of non-public information from an upstream company is disclosed, it presumes that there may be a new regulated substance in its own products. On the other hand, when the information management device 10-N of a downstream company determines that information indicating the existence of non-public information from an upstream company is not disclosed (when information indicating the absence of non-public information is disclosed), it presumes that there is no possibility that a new regulated substance is included in its own products. When the information management device 10-N of a downstream company receives information indicating the presence or absence of non-public information from the information management device 10-N of an upstream company, it may simply associate this information with the product composition data 164-N and store it in the storage device 160-N.

[0157] For example, taking the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) of Company B as an example, when the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) receives information indicating the absence of non-public information from both the information management device 10-3 (node 111-3) of Company C and the information management device 10-4 (node 111-4) of Company D, it presumes that there is no possibility that a new regulated substance is included in Product B.

[0158] When the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) receives information indicating the existence of non-public information from at least one of the information management device 10-3 (node 111-3) of Company C and the information management device 10-4 (node 111-4) of Company D, it presumes that there may be a new regulated substance in Product B. In this case, the information management device 10-2 (node 111-2) sends transaction data (transaction data for inquiring whether a new regulated substance is included) requesting disclosure of information on the new regulated substance to the node that disclosed the information indicating the existence of non-public information.

[0159] FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram for explaining the confirmation process according to Modification 1. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 14 is obtained by replacing S2 with S50 in the sequence diagram of FIG. 11. Since the processes other than the process of S50 are the same as the processes in the sequence diagram of FIG. 11, the same step numbers are assigned and the explanation thereof will not be repeated.

[0160] In S50, when the regulation list 165-2 is updated in S1, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 starts the confirmation process according to Modification 1. The node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2 and determines whether information indicating the existence of non-public information is disclosed from the node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3. If the node 111-2 does not receive information indicating the existence of non-public information from the node 111-3, the process is terminated. If the node 111-2 receives information indicating the existence of non-public information from the node 111-3, it is presumed that there may be a new regulated substance in Product C. In S3, transaction data for inquiring whether a new regulated substance is included in Product C is generated, and the transaction data is transmitted to the node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3.

[0161] Similarly, the node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2 and determines whether information indicating the existence of non-public information is disclosed from the node 111-4 of the information management device 10-4. Based on this determination result, the node 111-2 executes the same process as the above-described process for the node 111-3.

[0162] As described above, in the information management system 1 according to Modification Example 1, information indicating the presence or absence of non-disclosed information is disclosed in advance from an upstream company to a downstream company. The information management device 10-N of the downstream company can estimate whether a new regulated substance is included in the supplied products from the upstream company based on the information indicating the presence or absence of non-disclosed information. When it is estimated that no new regulated substance is included in the supplied products from the upstream company, the disclosure request (inquiry) to the upstream company is omitted, so that unnecessary information processing can be reduced for the information management system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0163] [Modification Example 2] In Modification Example 1, it was estimated whether a new regulated substance is included in the supplied products from the upstream company based on the information indicating the presence or absence of non-disclosed information disclosed from the upstream company. However, for example, it may be estimated whether a new regulated substance is included in the supplied products from the upstream company based on the content rates included in the product composition data 164-N.

[0164] The node 111-N of the information management device 10-N refers to the product composition data 164-N and calculates the total sum of the content rates of the assembly part numbers for each supplied product from the upstream company that constitutes its own product. For example, taking FIG. 7 as an example, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 adds the content rate X1% of the assembly part number CA001 and the content rate X2% of the assembly part number CA002 to calculate the total sum Xsum of the content rates for product C. The node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 adds the content rate Y1% of the assembly part number DA001, the content rate Y2% of the assembly part number DA002, and the content rate X3% of the assembly part number DA003 to calculate the total sum Ysum of the content rates for product D. When the total sum Xsum is less than 100%, the node 111-2 determines that there is non-disclosed information in product C and estimates that there may be a new regulated substance included in product B including product C. Similarly, when the total sum Ysum is less than 100%, the node 111-2 determines that there is non-disclosed information in product D and estimates that there may be a new regulated substance included in product B including product D.

[0165] FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram for explaining the confirmation process according to Modification 2. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 15 is obtained by replacing S50 with S51 in the sequence diagram of FIG. 14. Since the processes other than the process of S51 are the same as the processes in the sequence diagram of FIG. 14, the same step numbers are assigned and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0166] In S51, when the regulation list 165-2 is updated in S1, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 starts the confirmation process according to Modification 2. The node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2, calculates the total content rate Xsum for product C, and determines whether the total sum Xsum is 100%. If the total sum Xsum is less than 100%, the node 111-2 presumes that there may be a new regulated substance in product B. Similarly, the node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2, calculates the total content rate Ysum for product D, and determines whether the total sum Ysum is 100%. If the total sum Ysum is less than 100%, the node 111-2 presumes that there may be a new regulated substance in product B. When both the total sum Xsum and the total sum Ysum are 100%, the node 111-2 presumes that there is no possibility that a new regulated substance is included in product B.

[0167] As described above, the information management system 1 according to Modification 2 can also achieve the same effects as the information management system 1 according to Modification 1.

[0168] [Modification 3] In the embodiment and Modifications 1 and 2, when transaction data proposing to add a new regulated substance to the regulation list 165-N is transmitted from the platform provider 30, a disclosure request is made from a downstream company (for example, Company B) to an upstream company (for example, Company C). However, when transaction data proposing to add a new regulated substance to the regulation list 165-N is transmitted from the platform provider 30, a process of autonomously disclosing information on a new chemical substance may be started from the upstream company.

[0169] FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram for explaining the confirmation process according to Modification Example 3. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 16 is obtained by deleting the processes from S2 to S5 and adding the processes from S61 to S65 with respect to the sequence diagram of FIG. 11. Since the other processes are the same as the processes in the sequence diagram of FIG. 11, the same step numbers are assigned and the description thereof will not be repeated. Note that in FIG. 16, the description of node 111-4 is omitted, but node 111-4 also executes the same process as node 111-3.

[0170] In S1, node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 approves the transaction data received from node 41 of the platform provider 30 and updates the regulation list 165-2. When node 111-2 updates the regulation list 165-2, it waits until a predetermined specified time elapses before executing the confirmation process of the next S64.

[0171] In S61, node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3 approves the transaction data received from node 41 of the platform provider 30 and updates the regulation list 165-3.

[0172] In S62, node 111-3 executes an alert necessity determination. This process is basically the same as the process of S6. Note that when there is no company upstream of itself like node 111-3, node 111-3 refers to the product composition data 164-3 and determines whether product C contains a new regulated substance. If product C contains a new regulated substance, node 111-3 determines that an alert is required. If product C does not contain a new regulated substance, node 111-3 determines that an alert is not required. Note that when it is determined that an alert is required, the information management device 10-3 starts a workflow.

[0173] In S63, node 111-3 generates correspondence information based on the result of S62 and transmits transaction data including the correspondence information to node 111-2. When it is determined in S62 that an alert is required, node 111-3 generates correspondence information including information indicating that it has started a correspondence for disclosing information on a new regulated substance (in-correspondence information). When it is determined in S62 that an alert is not required, node 111-3 generates correspondence information including information indicating that there is no information disclosure associated with the addition of a new regulated substance to the regulation list 165-3 (non-correspondence information). Note that the information indicating that a correspondence for disclosing information on a new regulated substance has started (in-correspondence information) corresponds to an example of the "information indicating that there is information to be disclosed" according to the present disclosure.

[0174] In S64, when a specified time has elapsed since the execution of S1, node 111-2 executes a confirmation process. Specifically, node 111-2 determines whether it has received correspondence information from nodes 111-3 and 111-4. When node 111-2 has received correspondence information from both nodes 111-3 and 111-4, the process proceeds to S6. When node 111-2 has not received correspondence information from at least one of nodes 111-3 and 111-4, in S65, it transmits a disclosure request to the node that has not received the correspondence information.

[0175] In S6, when node 111-2 has received in-correspondence information, it determines that an alert output is required. When node 111-2 has received non-correspondence information, it determines that an alert output is not required.

[0176] As described above, also in the information management system 1 according to Modification Example 3, since the processing from the addition of a new regulated substance to the regulation list 165-N to at least the output of an alert can be automated, it is possible to reduce the manual work of the person in charge in each process for inquiries and confirmations.

[0177] [Modification Example 4] Upstream companies may hash the information on chemical substances they want to keep secret from downstream companies using a hash function and disclose the resulting values. Hereinafter, the value hashed using a hash function is also referred to as a "hash value".

[0178] For chemical substances for which the item information on the necessity of confidentiality has been determined to be non-disclosed, the node 111-N of the information management device 10-N includes the hash value thereof as composition data in the public data 166-N. For example, referring again to FIG. 6, the node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3 has determined that the information on the chemical substances specified by the product part numbers CA003 and CA004 is non-disclosed. The node 111-3 hashes the product part numbers CA003 and CA004 and their respective contents and includes these hash values in the public data 166-3.

[0179] FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the product composition data 151-2 and 164-2 for product B according to Modification 4. The hash value of the product part number CA003 is HA001, the hash value of the product part number CA004 is HA002, the hash value of the content X3% is HAxx1, and the hash value of the content X4% is HAxx2.

[0180] Regarding chemical substances whose product part numbers are hash values, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 cannot know the details of the composition, but can recognize that product C contains some confidential chemical substances.

[0181] FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram for explaining the confirmation process according to Modification 4. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 18 is obtained by replacing S2 with S70 in the sequence diagram of FIG. 11. Since the processes other than the process of S70 are the same as the processes in the sequence diagram of FIG. 11, the same step numbers are assigned and the explanation thereof will not be repeated.

[0182] In S70, when the regulation list 165-2 is updated in S1, the node 111-2 of the information management device 10-2 starts the confirmation process according to Modification Example 4. The node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2 and determines whether there is any product composition data for which the hash value is publicly available as composition data. For example, if there is product composition data for which the hash value is publicly available among the product composition data of Product C, the node 111-2 presumes that Product C may contain a new regulated substance. Then, in S3, the node 111-2 generates transaction data for querying whether Product C contains a new regulated substance and transmits the transaction data to the node 111-3 of the information management device 10-3. If there is no product composition data for which the hash value is publicly available as composition data in the product composition data of either Product C or Product D, the node 111-2 presumes that Product B is not likely to contain a new regulated substance.

[0183] Note that when generating a hash value, instead of hashing a single piece of data, multiple pieces of data may be combined and hashed using a hash function. For example, a value (hash value HA111) obtained by combining and hashing the assembled product number CA003 and the data creation date and time may be generated and used instead of the hash value HA001. Also, for example, a value (hash value HA222) obtained by combining and hashing the content rate X3% and the data creation date and time may be generated and used instead of the hash value HAxx1. By combining and hashing multiple pieces of data, security can be improved compared to the case of hashing a single piece of data. In particular, security can be further improved by including data that only Company C can know, such as the data creation date and time, in the hashing.

[0184] As described above, the information management system 1 according to Modification Example 4 can also achieve the same effects as the information management system 1 according to Modification Example 1.

[0185] In the above-described S70 confirmation process, node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2. If there is any composition data with a publicly disclosed hash value, node 111-2 may further obtain from the node of the upstream company the hash value (hereinafter also referred to as the "target hash value") generated by hashing the information of the newly added regulated substance in S1, and compare the target hash value with the product composition data 164-2. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, assume that the composition data of product C contains a hash value. Node 111-2 further obtains the target hash value from the node 111-3 of company C and compares the target hash value with the product composition data 164-2. If the product composition data 164-2 contains a hash value that matches the target hash value, node 111-2 estimates that product C may contain a new regulated substance. In this way, node 111-2 estimates that product C may contain a new regulated substance, and may send a disclosure request of S3 to node 111-3.

[0186] The target hash value may be spontaneously sent from node 111-3 to node 111-2 when the regulation list 165-3 of company C is updated, or may be sent from node 111-3 to node 111-2 in response to a request from node 111-2. When the regulation list 165-2 is updated, node 111-2 refers to the product composition data 164-2. If there is any composition data with a publicly disclosed hash value, node 111-2 may request node 111-3 to send the hash value (target hash value) of the new regulated substance.

[0187] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is shown by the claims rather than the description of the above-described embodiments, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims be included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0188] 1 Information management system, 2 Distributed ledger network, 10 Information management device, 11 Bus, 12 Client device, 30 Platform provider, 31 Control device, 32 ROM, 33 RAM, 34 Communication device, 35 Storage device, 36 Input device, 37 Display device, 39 Bus, 40 Operation function, 41 Node, 42 List management unit, 43 Distributed ledger, 50 Basic function, 51 Doorman node, 53 Network map node, 55 Notary node, 110 Control device, 111 Node, 112 Management function unit, 113 Workflow function unit, 120 ROM, 130 RAM, 140 Communication device, 150 Storage device, 151 Product composition data, 152 Customer list, 153 Secret key, 160 Storage device, 161 Distributed ledger, 162 Confidential area, 163 Public area, 164 Product composition data, 165 Regulation list, 166 Public data, 170 Input device, 180 Display device, 190 Bus, 350 Regulation list, NW Network.

Claims

1. An information management system for managing information on chemical substances contained in products distributed in a supply chain using distributed ledger technology, A first device belonging to a first company that manufactures a first product and having a first distributed ledger, A second device belonging to a second company that supplies a second product included in the first product to the first company and having a second distributed ledger, And a management device that manages the information management system and has a third distributed ledger, The first distributed ledger, the second distributed ledger, and the third distributed ledger include a list indicating chemical substances managed by the information management system, The first device stores composition data of the first product including public data that is composition data of the second product disclosed from the second device, The second device includes information on chemical substances included in both the second product and the list of the second distributed ledger in the public data, The management device, When designating a new chemical substance to be managed by the information management system, add the new chemical substance and update the list of the third distributed ledger, Send transaction data proposing to add the new chemical substance and update the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger to each of the first device and the second device, The first device and the second device update the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger respectively based on the transaction data from the management device, The first device, when estimating that the new chemical substance may be included in the second product, transmits transaction data including a disclosure request for the new chemical substance to the second device. An information management system.

2. For the disclosure request, the second device, If the new chemical substance is not included in the second product, transaction data including information indicating the same is transmitted to the first device. If the new chemical substance is included in the second product, transaction data including information indicating that the public data including information on the new chemical substance will be disclosed later is transmitted to the first device. The information management system according to claim 1.

3. The second device is configured to be communicable with a plurality of terminal devices respectively belonging to a plurality of departments related to the second company, obtains approval for disclosure of the information on the new chemical substance from a terminal device belonging to a department having the authority to disclose the information on the new chemical substance among the plurality of terminal devices, and transmits transaction data including the public data including the information on the new chemical substance to the first device. The information management system according to claim 2.

4. The first device presumes that the new chemical substance may be included in the second product when the information on the new chemical substance is not included in the public data. The information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. If there is composition data of the second product that is not included in the public data, the second device transmits transaction data including the public data and information indicating that there is non-public information to the first device. The first device presumes that the new chemical substance may be included in the second product when it has received transaction data including information indicating that there is non-public information from the second device. The information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The public data includes information on the content rate for each product constituting the second product. The first device estimates that there is a possibility that the new chemical substance is included in the second product when the sum of the content rates included in the public data is not 100%, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 of the information management system.

7. When the second product includes the new chemical substance added to the list of the second distributed ledger and does not include the new chemical substance in the public data, the second device transmits transaction data including information indicating that there is information to be disclosed to the first device. When the first device has received information indicating that there is information to be disclosed from the second device, the first device estimates that there is a possibility that the new chemical substance is included in the second product, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 of the information management system.

8. An information management method for an information management system that manages information on chemical substances contained in products distributed in a supply chain using a distributed ledger technology, The information management system includes a first device belonging to a first company that manufactures a first product and having a first distributed ledger, a second device belonging to a second company that supplies a second product included in the first product to the first company and having a second distributed ledger, and a management device that manages the information management system and has a third distributed ledger. The first distributed ledger, the second distributed ledger, and the third distributed ledger include a list indicating chemical substances managed by the information management system. The first device stores composition data of the first product including public data that is composition data of the second product disclosed from the second device. The second device includes information on chemical substances included in at least both the second product and the list of the second distributed ledger in the public data. The information management method includes When the management device designates a new chemical substance to be managed in the information management system, the step of adding the new chemical substance and updating the list of the third distributed ledger; The step of the management device transmitting transaction data proposing to update the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger by adding the new chemical substance to each of the first device and the second device; The steps of the first device and the second device respectively updating the lists of the first distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger based on the transaction data from the management device; An information management method including the step of the first device transmitting, to the second device, transaction data including a disclosure request for the new chemical substance when the first device estimates that the new chemical substance may be included in the second product.

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