Document validity certification system, certification server, user terminal and program

Abstract

To provide a document validity certification system, a server, a user terminal, and a program that determine the ability of a document creator at the time of creation of a document.SOLUTION: In a document validity certification system 10 including a certification server 12 and a user terminal 18, the certification server 12 adds a two-dimensional code including a document ID to a document transmitted from the user terminal, and stores the document in a document storage unit 26 in association with a user ID and the document ID. The user terminal reads out the two-dimensional code in the printed-out document, accesses the certification server, and requests creation of answer moving images. The certification server transmits a plurality of pieces of question information. The user terminal plays back the information by voice, photographs a situation where a user answers the questions as moving images with voice, and transmits the moving images to the certification server. Subsequently, when the user terminal reads the two-dimensional code and requests the certification server to play back the answer moving images related to the document, an answer moving image file is transmitted from the certification server and is played back.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for proving the validity of a document, and more particularly to a technique for proving the competence of a document creator, which is necessary for a document such as a will or contract to be valid when the document is created. [Background technology]

[0002] There are already many assistive technologies available for creating and managing wills, including: For example, according to the "Will Sample Creation and Delivery System" disclosed in Patent Document 1, by answering a series of simple questions, a sample of a handwritten will is sent to you, making it easy to create a handwritten will. In addition, the "Will Management Device, Will Management System, and Will Management Method" disclosed in Patent Document 2 makes it possible to maintain the contents of the testator's will with high security and to reliably convey the contents of the will to the surviving family members. [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2004-139540 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5544265 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, if the person who wrote the will is suspected of having dementia or an intellectual disability, doubts will arise as to whether the person writing the will has the capacity necessary for the document to be valid, and as a result, doubts will arise as to the validity of the document. Even if it is necessary to determine whether the document creator has the relevant competence through court proceedings, there is often a lack of materials to do so, making it difficult to make an appropriate judgment.

[0004] As there has been no system in place to preserve documents to ensure the validity of a will, heirs to an estate have often been placed in an extremely unstable situation. Furthermore, the question of the validity of a document arising from the presence or absence of "the capacity of the document creator required for the document to be valid" is not limited to wills; it also applies to other legal documents such as sales contracts and factual documents (documents containing eyewitness testimony, statements and other documents containing an understanding of facts). The object of this invention is to ensure the preservation of materials that prove the competence of the document creator, which is necessary for the validity of legal and factual documents at the time of their creation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the document validity certification system described in claim 1 is a document validity certification system comprising a certification server and a user terminal connected to the certification server, wherein the user terminal transmits a document to the certification server or executes a process of generating a document on the certification server, the certification server executes a process of storing the document in a document memory unit in association with document identification information, the user terminal plays audio question information to determine the capability of the document creator required for the document to be valid, and records the user's response as an answer video with audio, and after the user has finished answering the question information, executes a process of transmitting the answer video file to the certification server and requesting that it be stored in the answer video memory unit in association with document identification information, and the certification server executes a process of storing the answer video file in the answer video memory unit in association with document identification information. The above-mentioned "document" is a concept that broadly includes legal documents and factual documents (the same applies below). The above-mentioned "question information" is created based on the supervision of a doctor, for example (the same applies below).

[0006] The document validity certification system described in claim 2 is the system of claim 1, characterized in that the user terminal accesses the certification server and executes a process to request playback of an answer video that presents document identification information, the certification server executes a process to retrieve the corresponding answer video file from the answer video storage unit and send it to the user terminal, and the user terminal executes a process to play the answer video file.

[0007] The document validity certification system described in claim 3 is the system of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the user terminal executes a process of playing audio prompting the user to film at least a portion of the document when filming the answer video.

[0008] The document validity certification system described in claim 4 is a system of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a user terminal accesses a certification server and executes a process to request the transmission of question information to determine the capability of the document creator required for the document to be valid, and the certification server executes a process to send question information randomly selected from a plurality of question information prepared in advance to the user terminal.

[0009] The document validity certification system described in claim 5 is a system of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the certification server executes a process of adding a two-dimensional code containing at least document identification information and access information to the certification server to the document and storing it in a document memory unit, and the user terminal executes a process of accessing the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code of the document and presenting the document identification information of the document that is the subject of the request.

[0010] The certification server described in claim 6 is characterized by performing a process of storing a document transmitted from a user terminal or a document generated via a user terminal in a document storage unit in association with document identification information, and when a response video file with audio recording of the user responding to question information for determining the ability of the document creator required for the document to be validly played back is transmitted from the user terminal together with the document identification information, performing a process of storing the response video file in association with the document identification information in the response video storage unit.

[0011] The certification server described in claim 7 is the certification server of claim 6, characterized in that when a request is made from a user terminal to play an answer video that presents document identification information, the certification server retrieves the corresponding answer video file from the answer video storage unit, transmits it to the user terminal, and executes a process to play the answer video file.

[0012] The certification server described in claim 8 is the certification server of claim 7, characterized in that it performs the process of adding a two-dimensional code containing at least document identification information and access information to the certification server to the document and storing it in a document memory unit, and the process of sending a response video file associated with the document identification information in the two-dimensional code to a user terminal that has accessed the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code of the document.

[0013] The user terminal described in claim 9 is characterized by executing a process of sending a document to a certification server or generating a document on the certification server, and then requesting the certification server to add document identification information to the document and store it in a document memory unit, and a process of playing audio question information to determine the ability of the document creator required for the document to be valid, and recording the user's response as an answer video with audio, and after the user has finished answering the question information, sending the answer video file to the certification server and requesting that the answer video file be associated with the document identification information and stored in the answer video memory unit.

[0014] The user terminal described in claim 10 is the user terminal of claim 9, characterized in that it executes a process of accessing a certification server, presenting document identification information and requesting playback of an answer video, and when a corresponding answer video file is sent from the certification server, a process of playing the answer video file.

[0015] The user terminal described in claim 11 is the user terminal of claim 10, characterized in that it accesses the certification server by reading a two-dimensional code that includes at least document identification information and access information to the certification server, which is attached to the document, and executes a process to request playback of the answer video file associated with the document identification information in the two-dimensional code.

[0016] A program recited in claim 12 is characterized in that it causes a computer to function as the user terminal recited in any one of claims 9 to 11. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the document validity certification system described in claim 1, the certification server described in claim 6, or the user terminal described in claim 9, the creator's answers to specified questions, which are useful for estimating the ability of the document creator required for the document to be valid at the time of document creation, are recorded as video with audio, and the answer video file can be stored on the certification server in a form associated with the document.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the document validity certification system described in claim 2, the certification server described in claim 7, or the user terminal described in claim 10, the user can easily and quickly check the above-mentioned answer video file, which is effective in proving the validity of a document, at any time.

[0019] According to the document validity proving system of claim 3, at least a part of the document can be included in the answer video, so that the relevance between the answer video and the document can be made clearer.

[0020] According to the document validity certification system described in claim 4, the questions are changed each time, so that it is possible to effectively prevent the document creator from concealing their lack of ability required for the document to be valid by having them practice in advance.

[0021] According to the document validity certification system described in claim 5, the certification server described in claim 8, or the user terminal described in claim 11, the answer video file can be played more easily by reading the two-dimensional code attached to the document with a user terminal such as a smartphone. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a document validity certification system according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating data structures of a user DB and a document management DB. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when creating a document. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when creating an answer video. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the display of a user terminal when creating an answer video. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for confirming the validity of a document. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a document validity certification system 10 according to the present invention comprises a certification server 12 and a user terminal owned by a user 14 . The user terminal may be a PC 16, a smartphone (hereinafter referred to as "smartphone") 18, a tablet terminal (not shown), or the like. Although only one user 14 is depicted in the figure, in reality there are many users 14 .

[0024] In addition to the OS, PC16 has at least a web browser program installed and is equipped with an Internet connection function. The smartphone 18 is equipped with an in-camera, an out-camera, a speaker, a microphone, and internet connection functionality, and has an application program dedicated to this system (hereinafter referred to as the "dedicated app") pre-installed.

[0025] The certification server 12 has an OS and dedicated application programs installed, and includes at least a user DB 20, a document management DB 22, a template document storage unit 24, a document storage unit 26, and a response video storage unit 28.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the user DB 20 is a database that includes data items such as user ID, password, name, address, mobile phone number, email address, date of birth, sex, and registration date and time. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the document management DB22 is a database that includes data items such as document ID, document category, document title, user ID, document storage date and time, document transmission date and time, answer video ID, and answer video storage date and time.

[0027] The template document storage unit 24 stores a plurality of template files such as wills and contracts by category. The document storage unit 26 stores a plurality of documents uploaded by the user 14 or documents created on the Web based on templates. The documents are, for example, electronic files such as PDFs. The answer moving image storage unit 28 stores a plurality of answer moving image files taken by the user 14. The link between the user 14 and the document and answer video file is realized by referring to the document management DB.

[0028] Next, the processing procedure for creating a document will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, the user 14 logs in to the certification server 12 from a user terminal such as a PC 16 and uploads an electronic document such as a will (S10). Alternatively, the user 14 can access the certification server 12 from a PC 16 or the like and create a document on a web page by referring to and editing a template.

[0029] In response to this, the certification server 12 assigns a unique document ID to the document uploaded by the user 14, and registers the document ID, document category, user ID, and document storage date and time in the document management DB (S12). Next, the certification server 12 generates a document with a two-dimensional code by adding a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) to the front page or the like of the document, and stores the document in the document storage unit 26 (S14). This two-dimensional code includes at least the document ID and the URL of the certification server 12. When the registration of the document is completed, the certification server 12 transmits a registration completion notice to the PC 16 etc. (S16).

[0030] Next, when the user 14 requests download of the registered document (S18), the certification server 12 transmits the document with the two-dimensional code (S20) and records the transmission date and time in the corresponding record in the document management DB 22 (S22). The user who has downloaded this document with the two-dimensional code (S24) prints out the document with the two-dimensional code 32 using a printer 30 connected to the PC 16 or the like (S26).

[0031] Alternatively, the content of the document may be printed in light gray type, and the user 14 may complete the handwritten document 32 with the two-dimensional code by tracing over it. Instead of requesting download of the document with the two-dimensional code, the user 14 can also request delivery of a printed document with the two-dimensional code 32. In this case, the operator of the certification server 12 will mail the printed document with the two-dimensional code 32 to the user's home, office, or the like.

[0032] Next, the processing steps for creating a video answer will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, the user 14 signs or stamps the document 32 with the two-dimensional code, and then launches a dedicated application on the smartphone 18 (S30). Next, when the user 14 reads the two-dimensional code of the document with the built-in camera of the smartphone 18 (S32), the smartphone 18 is automatically connected to the certification server 12 via a dedicated app, and the user ID and document ID are sent (S34).

[0033] Upon receiving this, the certification server 12 refers to the document management DB 22 and the user DB 20 to identify the corresponding document and user (S36), and sends bibliographic information (text) such as the user's name, document ID, document category, document title, document storage date and time, current date and time, etc., as well as multiple question information (text) to the smartphone 18 (S38).

[0034] Upon receiving this, the dedicated app on the smartphone 18 starts recording video with audio using the built-in camera and microphone (S40), and at the same time reads out the bibliographic information sent from the certification server 12 in a synthesized voice, prompting the user to confirm it (S42).

[0035] In response to this, when the user touches the "Confirm" button displayed on the screen of the smartphone 18, the following guidance voice is played back (S44). "We will now ask you some questions, so please answer them loudly and clearly. Also, so that we can record your answers, please face the in-camera and make sure your face is in the center of the screen."

[0036] After that, as shown in Figure 5, simple questions are played back in sequence from the speaker of the smartphone 18 (S46). In response, the user answers aloud, taking care to keep their face in the center of the screen. During this time, a dedicated app on the smartphone 18 analyzes the image captured by the in-camera, and if it determines that the user's face is not in the image, it plays a voice message warning the user to be careful.

[0037] Below are some examples of questions that may be asked. "What is your date of birth?" "Please tell me your parents' names." "If you have children, please tell us their names." If you have any siblings, please tell us the name of your oldest living sibling. "Where were you born?" "What is the current era name?" "What year, month and day is it today?" "What day is it today?" "Is it spring, summer, fall, or winter today?" "What is the document you signed about?"

[0038] The certification server 12 stores a large amount of question information that helps determine the capabilities of the document creator required for the validity of this type of document, and five to six questions are randomly selected from this information. These questions are preferably created under the supervision of a doctor. In addition, a dedicated app in the smartphone 18 may store multiple pieces of question information in advance, and the questions may be randomly asked when the answer video is being filmed.

[0039] When the user has finished answering the questions, the following voice guidance is played back, prompting the user to take a photo of the document (S48). Next, take a picture of the document with the rear camera. When taking the picture, make sure that at least the document title and 2D code fit on the screen. If it doesn't fit in one shot, you can move the shooting area as many times as you like. When you've finished taking pictures, touch the Done button.

[0040] When the user has finished photographing the document and touches the completed button on the screen, the video shooting stops (S50) and a response video file with audio is generated (S52). This answer video file is sent from the smartphone 18 to the certification server 12 (S54), stored in the answer video memory unit 28 (S56), and the answer video ID and the answer video storage date and time are recorded in the corresponding record in the document management DB 22 (S58). The answer video ID is automatically assigned by a dedicated app on the smartphone 18 or the certification server 12.

[0041] When the certification server 12 stores the answer video file, it is desirable to embed current date and time information, encryption key information for detecting tampering, and the like using digital watermark technology. Alternatively, when shooting an answer video using the smartphone 18, the above-mentioned digital watermark can be embedded in the answer video file.

[0042] Next, we will explain the processing steps when the user 14 checks or certifies the validity of a document, according to the flowchart in Figure 6. Note that the user 14 here is not necessarily limited to the document creator, but broadly includes anyone who has the authority to view the document, such as an heir, a contract counterparty, a judge, or an expert witness.

[0043] First, the user 14 starts a dedicated app on the smartphone 18 (S60) and uses the camera to read the two-dimensional code on the document (S62). As a result, the smartphone 18 automatically connects to the certification server 12 and the document ID is transmitted (S64).

[0044] Upon receiving this, the certification server 12 identifies the document associated with the transmitted document ID (S66), and transmits the response video file related to the document to the smartphone 18 (S68). As a result, the video file is played on the smartphone 18 (S70), and the user 14 can easily and quickly check, based on the respondent's appearance and the content of the answer, whether the respondent (document creator) had the necessary capabilities to make the document valid at the time the answer video was filmed (when the document was created). As described above, by embedding the current date and time (registration date and time) information and encryption key information for tamper detection in the answer video file as a digital watermark, the authenticity of the answer video can be further increased. The method of transmitting the video file is not limited to the download method, but may be a streaming method.

[0045] The above description is based on the assumption that a dedicated app is installed on the smartphone 18, but the present invention is not limited to this method. For example, the user 14 can access the certification server 12 using a general-purpose browser program on the smartphone 18 and receive the above-mentioned services via a web page sent from the certification server 12. In this case, the web page contains control code for realizing the functions of the smartphone 18 described above.

[0046] In the above example, a user terminal accesses the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code on a printed document with a two-dimensional code. However, it is also possible for a user terminal to access the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code on a document with a two-dimensional code displayed on the display of a PC 16 or the like.

[0047] Alternatively, instead of a two-dimensional code, document identification information (such as a document ID) and a URL can be attached to each document, and the user can access the URL via a user terminal and input the document identification information using a keyboard or the like to request the certification server 12 to generate and send a response video file.

[0048] In the above example, the smartphone 18 serving as the user terminal reproduces text-format question information as synthesized voice, but it is of course also possible to reproduce question information consisting of a voice file as is.

[0049] Furthermore, although the above description is based on the premise that an individual user 14 creates a will, the present invention is not limited to this type of use. For example, when a corporate user such as a financial institution concludes a contract with a customer, the corporate user first uploads an electronic file of the contract, which is a legal document, to the certification server 12, then downloads from the certification server 12, prints out the contract with a two-dimensional code, and has the customer affix a seal to it.

[0050] Next, the corporate user lends the customer a user terminal owned by the corporate user on the spot, and the responses to the above questions and the contents of the contract are recorded as a response video file with audio, and stored in the certification server 12. As a result, if a dispute arises later regarding the validity of the contract, the customer's response video can be played by scanning the 2D code on the contract with a smartphone or other device, making it possible to easily and quickly verify the customer's capabilities required to make the document valid at the time of the contract. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10. Document Validity Verification System 12 Certificate Server 14 users 16 PC 18 Smartphone 20 User DB 22 Document management DB 24 Template document storage section 26 Document storage unit 28 Answer Video Storage 30 Printers 32 Documents with 2D codes

Claims

1. A document validity certification system including a certification server and a user terminal connected to the certification server, When a user terminal transmits a document to a certification server or generates a document on the certification server, the certification server adds a two-dimensional code including at least document identification information and access information to the document, and stores the document in a document storage unit in association with the document identification information; When a user terminal accesses the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code on the printed document and requests transmission of question information, the certification server transmits question information for determining the capability of the document creator to the user terminal; The user terminal plays the question information by audio and records the user's response as an answer video with audio. After the user has finished responding to the question information, the answer video file is transmitted to the certification server together with the document identification information. The certification server stores the answer video file in an answer video storage unit in association with the document identification information. When the user terminal accesses the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code on the printed document and requests transmission of the answer video by presenting the document identification information, the certification server retrieves the answer video file associated with the document identification information from the answer video storage unit and transmits it to the user terminal; A document validity proof system characterized in that a user terminal plays the answer video file.

2. 2. The document validity certification system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal plays back a sound that prompts the user to take a picture of at least a part of the document when taking a video of the answer.

3. A document validity certification system as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the certification server sends the question information, it sends question information randomly selected from a plurality of question information prepared in advance to the user terminal.

4. A certification server connected to a user terminal and constituting a document validity certification system together with the user terminal, comprising: a process of adding a two-dimensional code including at least document identification information and access information to the certification server to a document transmitted from a user terminal or a document generated on the certification server via the user terminal, and storing the document in a document storage unit in association with the document identification information; a process of accessing the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code on the printed document and transmitting question information for determining the capability of the document creator to a user terminal that requests transmission of question information; When an answer video file with audio, which is a recording of the user answering the question information played back as audio, is transmitted from the user terminal together with the document identification information, the answer video file is stored in an answer video storage unit in association with the document identification information; The certification server is characterized by accessing the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code on the printed document, transmitting an answer video file associated with the document identification information to a user terminal that presents document identification information and requests the transmission of an answer video, and performing a process to play the video file.

5. A user terminal connected to a certification server and constituting a document validity certification system together with the certification server, sending a document to or generating a document on the certification server; In the certification server, a two-dimensional code including at least document identification information and access information to the certification server is added to the document, and the document is stored in a document storage unit in association with the document identification information. Then, the two-dimensional code on the printed document is read to access the certification server and request transmission of question information. When question information for determining the ability of a document creator is transmitted from the certification server, the question information is played back as audio, and the user's response is recorded as an answer video with audio, and after the user has finished responding to the question information, the answer video file is transmitted to the certification server together with document identification information; In the certification server, after the answer video file is stored in the answer video storage unit in association with the document identification information, a process of accessing the certification server by reading the two-dimensional code of the printed document, presenting the document identification information, and requesting transmission of the answer video; When a response video file associated with the document identification information is transmitted from the certification server, the user terminal executes a process of playing the response video file.

6. A program characterized by causing a computer to function as the certification server described in claim 4.

7. A program that causes a computer to function as the user terminal according to claim 5.

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