Information processing system, information processing method, and program
The information processing system uses hash chain chips with a wireless mesh method to address the challenges of channel minimization, security, and cable reduction in factory data transmission, ensuring secure and efficient communication within and outside the factory.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/JP2024/025452
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-07-14
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-23
AI Technical Summary
Conventional wireless communication technologies within factories face challenges in minimizing the number of channels, ensuring data transmission security, and simplifying data transmission cables, leading to impractical wireless connections and high risks of information leakage, especially when integrating AI with cloud servers.
An information processing system utilizing hash chain chips with transmission and reception functions, employing a wireless mesh method with hash values for data validation and storage, to securely transmit data within the factory and externally, while minimizing physical cables and channels.
The system enables secure, efficient wireless communication within factories by validating data integrity through hash chains, reducing physical cables, and ensuring secure data sharing with external parties, enhancing communication security and simplifying factory control systems.
Smart Images

Figure JP2024025452_23012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Information processing system, information processing method and program
[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.
[0002] In many factories, for the purpose of maintaining confidentiality, external internet connections are not permitted, and data is transmitted between sensors and control devices in a closed environment via wired communication. However, wired communication requires a large number of complicated cables, and the greater the number of connections, the more physical space is occupied, and fault detection, investigation, replacement, and other operations take a significant amount of time. Therefore, technologies that attempt to realize data transmission via wireless communication within factories have emerged (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003] JP 2008-282188 A
[0004] However, there is a growing demand for wireless communication within factories while simultaneously minimizing the number of channels, strengthening data transmission security, reducing and simplifying data transmission cables within the factory, and enabling secure data sharing with external parties. However, conventional technologies, including the aforementioned Patent Document 1, are unable to adequately meet these demands. Specifically, conventional technologies, including the aforementioned Patent Document 1, simply transmit and receive data between multiple sensors and actuators and a control device. As a result, the number of wireless communication channels exceeds the allowable range, leading to the conclusion that wireless connection is practically impossible. Furthermore, wireless data transmission poses a significant risk of information leakage to the outside. Furthermore, even in factories that do not allow external internet connections, there is still a high need for external data acquisition and control, and a secure means of data transmission between the factory and the outside is required. In particular, with the increasing adoption of AI on high-performance servers on the cloud, improving communication security for data transmission up to AI has become a challenge. Naturally, conventional technologies, including the aforementioned Patent Document 1, are unable to solve this problem.
[0005] The present invention has been made in light of these circumstances, and aims to realize wireless communication within a factory while minimizing the number of channels, strengthening the security of data transmission, reducing and simplifying data transmission cables within the factory, and enabling safe data sharing with the outside world.
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a first type electronic device having at least a transmitting function for transmitting transmission data in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication method; and a second type electronic device having at least a receiving function for receiving the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method and including a storage medium for storing the transmission data, wherein the first type electronic device comprises: target data acquisition and processing means for acquiring target data to be transmitted, or acquiring original data of the target data and processing the original data to generate the target data; transmission data generation means for generating the transmission data for each predetermined unit based on the target data; and transmission data transmission control means for executing control to transmit the transmission data to the second type electronic device in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method; and the second type electronic device comprises: transmission data reception control means for executing control to receive the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method; legitimacy confirmation means for confirming the legitimacy of the received transmission data; and storage control means for executing control to store the transmission data, the legitimacy of which has been confirmed, in the storage medium, and the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device comprises: a generating means for repeating a process of generating data for each predetermined unit based on the target data; a first processing means for generating, as first unit data, the predetermined unit of data to be processed that is currently generated by the generating means, and as second unit data, the predetermined unit of data that is previously generated by the generating means, and generating, as first associated information, information that includes at least a hash value obtained from the second unit data, and adding the first associated information to the first unit data to be processed; and a second processing means for generating, as second associated information, information that includes at least a hash value obtained from the first unit data, and adding the second associated information to the first unit data to be processed, wherein data in which the first associated information and the second associated information are added to the first unit data generated by the generating means for a p-th time (p is an integer value of 2 or more) is output as p-th transmission data,The transmission data sending control means of the first type electronic device executes control to send the p-th transmission data to the second type electronic device, the legitimacy confirmation means of the second type electronic device confirms that the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information of the p-th transmission data matches the p-1th hash value stored in the storage medium, and recalculates the p-th hash value in the p-th transmission data based on the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information and the first unit data, and confirms that the recalculated p-th hash value matches the p-th hash value in the p-th transmission data obtained from the second association information, thereby confirming the legitimacy of the p-th transmission data, and the storage control means of the second type electronic device executes control to store the p-th transmission data, the legitimacy of which has been confirmed, in the storage medium together with the p-th hash value obtained from the second association information of the p-th transmission data.
[0007] An information processing method and a program according to one aspect of the present invention are an information processing method and a program corresponding to the information processing system according to the above aspect of the present invention.
[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system that realizes wireless communication within a factory, minimizes the number of channels, strengthens the security of data transmission, reduces and simplifies data transmission cables within the factory, and enables safe data sharing with the outside world.
[0009] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is different from FIG. 1 , and is a diagram explaining the operation of the information processing system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of hash chain chips present in the information processing system shown in FIG. 1 or 2, distinguishing them into transmitting hash chain chips having a transmitting function and receiving hash chain chips having a receiving function. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the structure of data transmitted in an information processing system having the functional configuration of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection form between a hash chain network and a blockchain network in the information processing system of FIG. 1 or 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a communication protocol in an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of data transmission in an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system shown in FIG. 1 is a system that exists within a factory, and is configured by hash chain chips 1-1 to 1-6 being connected to each other via a network of a predetermined wireless communication method (hereinafter referred to as a "hash chain network"). Here, when there is no need to individually distinguish between hash chain chips 1-1 to 1-6 (including those shown in FIG. 2 and subsequent figures described below), these will be collectively referred to as "hash chain chip 1."
[0011] The hash chain chip 1 has at least one of a transmitting function for transmitting transmission data in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication method and a receiving function for receiving transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method.
[0012] Here, the specified wireless communication method is not particularly limited, but in the example of Figure 1, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless mesh method with 1:N flooding function is adopted. The wireless mesh is a single network with only one channel. Therefore, it has the effect of efficiently connecting a large number of devices (in this embodiment, the hash chain chip 1).
[0013] Specifically, for example, the hash chain chip 1-1 has a transmission function (corresponding to the transmitting hash chain chip 1S in FIG. 5 described below) and acquires detection signals from the connected sensors S11 to S13 as target data to be transmitted, or acquires the detection signals as the original data for the target data and then processes them to turn them into target data. The hash chain chip 1-1 generates transmission data for each block unit described below from the target data. The hash chain chip 1-1 broadcasts the transmission data for each block unit to the hash chain network.
[0014] The sensors S11 to S13 are elements that collect information about a certain object and convert it into a signal (detection signal) that can be handled by a machine, and are various sensors that output, as detection signals, for example, digitized data on temperature, humidity, pressure, current, voltage, etc., or non-numerical data such as image data and audio data, etc. Note that when there is no need to distinguish between the individual sensors S11 to S13, etc. (including those shown in Figure 2 and subsequent figures), they will be collectively referred to as "sensor S."
[0015] The hash chain chip 1-2 has a transmission function, and uses the detection signal from the built-in sensor S21 as target data, generates transmission data for each block unit described below from the target data, and transmits it by broadcast to the hash chain network. In this way, the hash chain chip 1-2 is configured as a smart sensor with a built-in sensor 21. By adopting a smart sensor such as the hash chain chip 1-2, it is possible to eliminate data transmission cables within the factory and build an ultra-compact and simple control system.
[0016] Furthermore, the hash chain chip 1-2 has a built-in wireless power supply unit 3 and is driven by power supplied wirelessly from an external power transmission unit 2. The external power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits, for example, microwaves as power. The wireless power supply unit 3 has an antenna unit 31, a battery / cell unit 32, and a power control unit 33 to supply power for driving the hash chain chip 1-2. The antenna unit 31 receives power supplied wirelessly as microwaves from the external power transmission unit 2. The battery / cell unit 32 stores the power received by the antenna unit 31. The power control unit 33 obtains power from the antenna unit 31 and the battery / cell unit 32 and supplies the power to, for example, a drive unit of the hash chain chip 1-2.
[0017] The hash chain chip 1-3 has a transmitting function and a receiving function, and transmits and receives transmission data in block units sent and received within the factory to another network, the blockchain network BCN. For this reason, the hash chain chip 1-3 has a function to connect via the blockchain light node BNL-1 of the blockchain network BCN. The hash chain chip 1-3 may also have a function to connect to any of the blockchain full nodes BNF1 to BNF4, or to a blockchain ultralight node (not shown).
[0018] The blockchain network BCN is a distributed network that manages "blockchains." A "blockchain" is a series of data linked like a chain of "blocks," each containing various information (such as the data itself, metadata, and data related to verifying soundness, such as hash values) about one or more pieces of data (for example, data based on measurements by a sensor S or data instructing device control).
[0019] The blockchain network BCN is composed of multiple nodes, with at least one node existing on the cloud. In the example of FIG. 1, four blockchain full nodes BNF1 to BNF4 each function as a full node on the cloud. Here, a "full node" is an information processing device (node) that provides all the functions of a node in a blockchain, such as the computational processing function for generating blocks and the storage function for the blockchain data itself. The blockchain full nodes BNF1 to BNF4 form a blockchain network BCN that communicates with each other.
[0020] In the example of Figure 1, a blockchain light node BNL-1 connected to hash chain chip 1-3 is in operation. Here, a "blockchain light node" or "blockchain ultra-light node" refers to a node that does not function as a full node but performs part of the computational processing functions related to block generation and the storage function for the blockchain data itself, or an information processing device (node) that does not provide the computational processing functions related to block generation or the storage function for the blockchain data itself, but instead provides only a limited set of functions, such as the function of sending and receiving data with the blockchain network BCN. Because blockchain light nodes or blockchain ultra-light nodes require few computational resources, they are implemented as part or all of the chips or programs that provide the above-mentioned functions. However, they may also be implemented as separate information processing devices.
[0021] The blockchain light node BNL-1 connected to the hash chain chip 1-3 is connected to the cloud via a dedicated line and communicates with the blockchain network BCN.
[0022] There are various patterns of hash chain chips 1 that have the function of connecting to a blockchain (the function of connecting to a blockchain light node). Specific examples of these patterns will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.
[0023] The hash chain chip 1-4 has a receiving function for receiving transmission data (corresponding to the receiving hash chain chip 1R in FIG. 4 described below) and receives transmission data in block units transmitted from a hash chain chip 1 (e.g., hash chain chip 1-1) having a transmitting function. The hash chain chip 1-4 confirms the validity of the received transmission data in block units. The hash chain chip 1-4 stores the transmission data in block units whose validity has been confirmed in its built-in memory unit, and provides control data based on the transmission data in block units to the actuators A41 to A43, thereby controlling the actuators A41 to A43. Specifically, for example, the hash chain chip 1-4 can control the actuators A41 to A43 using a TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) level ON / OFF control function. The actuators A41 to A43 operate in accordance with the control data.
[0024] When there is no need to distinguish between the individual actuators A41 to A43 (including those shown in FIG. 2 and subsequent figures), they will be collectively referred to as "actuator A."
[0025] The actuator A is a driving device that moves equipment in a desired manner. The actuator A provides various motions, such as linear motion and rotational motion, using electricity, hydraulics, pneumatics, etc. The actuator A operates, for example, industrial machinery in a factory.
[0026] The hash chain chip 1-5 has the same functions (including a receiving function) as the hash chain chip 1-4, and executes control over the actuators A51 to A53.
[0027] The hash chain chip 1-6 has the same functions as the hash chain chip 1-4 (including a receiving function) and executes control over the actuators A61 to A63.
[0028] As described above, the hash chain chips 1 are connected to each other, for example, via a hash chain network in a local area within a factory. This allows the hash chain chips 1 to send and receive transmission data wirelessly over a single channel. As a result, by applying an information processing system (one embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied) to which multiple hash chain chips 1 are connected, it becomes possible to efficiently connect numerous devices (e.g., sensors S and actuators A) within a factory. Furthermore, the hash chain chip 1 with a transmitting function generates transmission data in block units from transmission data such as detection signals from the sensor S and wirelessly transmits it using a predetermined wireless communication method (wireless mesh method in the example of FIG. 1). The hash chain chip 1 with a receiving function receives the transmitted transmission data in block units and controls the actuator A based on the transmitted transmission data. In this way, the transmission data in block units, including hash values, is transmitted from the sensor S to the actuator A with high security. Furthermore, as described below, the transmission data in block units is transmitted to and stored in the blockchain network BCN, allowing it to be securely shared externally via the blockchain. As described above, by applying one embodiment of the information processing system to which the present invention is applied, transmission cables within a factory are made wireless, and a simple control system is realized.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is different from that shown in FIG. 1, and is a diagram for explaining the operation of the information processing system.
[0030] The information processing system in the example of Figure 2 is a system that exists within a factory, similar to the example of Figure 1, and is configured by hash chain chips 1-A to 1-G being connected to each other via a predetermined wireless communication method (the example of Figure 2 is also a network similar to the example of Figure 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "hash chain network")).
[0031] The hash chain chip 1-A has a transmission function (corresponding to the transmitting hash chain chip 1S in Figure 5 described below) and acquires detection signals from the connected sensors S-A1 to S1-A3 as target data, or acquires the detection signals as the original data for the target data and then processes them to turn them into target data. The hash chain chip 1-A generates transmission data in block units described below from the target data. The hash chain chip 1-A broadcasts the transmission data in block units to the hash chain network. Like the hash chain chip 1-2 in Figure 1, the hash chain chip 1-A is powered by power supplied from the wireless power supply unit 3.
[0032] The hash chain chip 1-A has a control unit 11-A, a hash chain transmission unit 12-A, and a wireless communication unit 14-A.
[0033] The control unit 11-A acquires detection data from sensors S-A1 to S-A3 as target data, or acquires it as original data and processes the original data (for example, shaping the data format and data length, etc.) to convert it into target data.
[0034] The hash chain transmission unit 12-A generates transmission data based on a hash value for each block from the target data, and then encrypts and signs the data. However, encryption and signing are not essential.
[0035] The wireless communication unit 14-A transmits transmission data (encrypted data) for each block to the hash chain according to a predetermined wireless communication method. In the example of Figure 2, as in the example of Figure 1, a wireless mesh method is used as the predetermined wireless communication method, so there is one channel, and the wireless communication unit 14-A transmits (broadcasts) the transmission data (encrypted data) for each block to all hash chain chips 1.
[0036] The hash chain chip 1-B has a built-in sensor S-B1 and has the same functions as the hash chain chip 1-A. That is, the hash chain chip 1-B is configured as a smart sensor like the hash chain chip 1-2 in Fig. 1, so it is possible to provide a system that is smaller and has fewer cables.
[0037] The hash chain chip 1-C has a hash chain transmission unit 12-C and a wireless communication unit 14-C. That is, the control unit 11-C is provided outside the hash chain chip 1-C and acquires detection data from external sensors S-C1 to S-C3 as target data, or acquires the data as original data and processes the original data (for example, shaping the data format and data length) to generate target data. The hash chain transmission unit 12-C has the same function as the hash chain transmission unit 12-A and generates transmission data based on hash values for each block from the target data, and then encrypts and signs the data. Note that encryption and signing are not required. The wireless communication unit 14-C has the same function as the wireless communication unit 14-A and transmits transmission data (encrypted data) for each block to the hash chain according to a predetermined wireless communication method.
[0038] The hash chain chip 1-D has a receiving function (corresponding to the receiving hash chain chip 1R in FIG. 4 described below) and includes a wireless communication unit 14-D, a hash chain receiving unit 13-D, a control unit 11-D, and a data hash recording unit 15-D. The wireless communication unit 14-D receives transmission data (encrypted data) in block units transmitted from a hash chain chip 1 (e.g., the hash chain chip 1-A) having a transmission function. The hash chain receiving unit 13-D verifies the signature of the transmission data in block units, decrypts it, and confirms its authenticity. Note that a signature is not required, so signature verification is not required either. Furthermore, encryption is not required, so decryption is also not required. Details of authenticity confirmation will be explained together with the explanation of the operation of the information processing system described below. The control unit 11-D checks the decrypted transmission data in block units and controls actuators A-D1 to A-D3 by executing commands to actuators A-D1 to A-D3 based on the transmission data. The data and hash recording unit 15-D records the transmission data and hash values for each block. The relationship between the transmission data for each block and the hash values will be described later with reference to FIG. 4. The data and hash recording unit 15-D is connected to the blockchain light node BNL-D via a wired or wireless connection. The blockchain light node BNL-D is connected to the blockchain full node BNF-4 of the blockchain network BCN. If the hash values of the hash value group stored in the data and hash recording unit 15-D are the same, the hash values are recorded in the blockchain network BCN along with the transmission data for each block.
[0039] The hash chain chip 1-E has a wireless communication unit 14-E, a hash chain receiving unit 13-E, a control unit 11-E, and a data hash recording unit 15-E. That is, the hash chain chip 1-E has the same functions as the hash chain chip 1-D, and controls the actuator A-E1. Here, compared to the hash chain chip 1-D, the hash chain chip 1-E has a built-in actuator A-E1 (having a configuration similar to that of a smart sensor), and therefore the overall system configuration can be made smaller and simpler.
[0040] The hash chain chip 1-F, like the hash chain chip 1-3 in the example of Figure 1, has transmission and reception functions and transmits and receives transmission data, etc., in block units sent and received within the factory to another network, the blockchain network BCN. For this reason, the hash chain chip 1-F has a wireless communication unit 14-F, a hash chain receiving unit 13-F, and a data hash recording unit 15-F. The data hash recording unit 15-F is connected to the blockchain light node BNL-F.
[0041] Compared to the hash chain chip 1-E, the hash chain chip 1-F does not have a control unit 11 or an actuator A. If the hash values of the hash value group stored in the data hash recording unit 15-F are the same, the hash chain chip 1-F records the hash value along with the transmission data for each block unit in the blockchain network BCN. The hash chain chip 1-F records the transmission data and hash value for each block unit in the blockchain network BCN, and can be said to have a function limited to improving the security of data transmission.
[0042] The hash chain chip 1-G has both the functions of the hash chain chip 1-A and the functions of the hash chain chip 1-D. For this reason, the hash chain chip 1-G has a control unit 11-G connected to the sensor S-G1, a control unit 11-G connected to the actuators A-G1 and A-G2, a hash chain transmission unit 12-G, a hash chain reception unit 13-G, a wireless communication unit 14-G, and a data hash recording unit 15-G connected to the blockchain light node BNL-G.
[0043] For convenience of explanation, the operation of the information processing system having the configuration shown in Figure 2 will be described focusing on the hash chain chip 1-A and the hash chain chip 1-D. The structure of the transmission data and its relationship with the hash value will be described later with reference to Figure 4.
[0044] In this example, as a preliminary step for operation, the unique information and the private and public keys (RSA: Rivest Shamir Adleman) are stored in advance in the hash chain transmission unit 12 and the hash chain reception unit 13, and the public keys are pre-recorded in the blockchain network BCN. At the start of transmission of data for each block, for example, a common key for encryption (AES: Advanced Encryption Standard) is created, and the public keys of each element in the hash chain network (the hash chain transmission unit 12 and the hash chain reception unit 13) are downloaded from the blockchain network BCN, encrypted, signed, and then transmitted. However, the common key is periodically updated. The encryption method is not limited to a method using a common key, and various encryption methods can be adopted. Furthermore, encryption is not required.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, in step S1, the control unit 11-A of the hash chain chip 1A acquires detection data from sensors S-A1 to S-A3 as original data, and processes the original data (for example, shaping the data format, data length, etc.) to generate target data.
[0046] In step S2, the hash chain transmission unit 12-A calculates a hash value of the previous block (previously transmitted data for each block) based on the target data, and a hash value that combines the unique information and the data. The hash chain transmission unit 12-A generates a current block (currently transmitted data for each block) by adding the calculated hash value to the end of the block as the current one (in this example, it also adds the hash value of the previous block to the beginning of the block). The hash chain transmission unit 12-A encrypts and signs the current transmission data for each block according to a predetermined encryption method. Note that encryption and signing are not required. Note that a specific method for generating transmission data for each block in step S2 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.
[0047] In step S3, the wireless communication unit 14-A wirelessly broadcasts the encrypted block-unit data for this transmission.
[0048] In step S4, the encrypted block-unit transmission data is received by the wireless communication unit 14-D of the hash chain chip 1-D, which has the hash chain receiving unit 13-D, via the hash chain network. The wireless communication unit 14-D receives the encrypted block-unit transmission data.
[0049] In step S5, the hash chain receiving unit 13-D verifies the signature of the encrypted current transmission data for each block and then decrypts it. Next, the hash chain receiving unit 13-D acquires the hash value of the previously transmitted data for each block (hereinafter referred to as the "previously stored previous hash value"), which is stored as the latest hash value in the data hash recording unit 15-D. Next, the hash chain receiving unit 13-D confirms whether the hash value of the previously transmitted data (first association information HD2 in FIG. 4 described later) included in the currently transmitted data for each block (for example, transmission data B2 in FIG. 4 described later) is the same as the previously stored previous hash value (the hash value of transmission data B1 in FIG. 4 described later, which is the value of second association information FT1 of transmission data B1). Furthermore, the hash chain receiving unit 13-D recalculates a hash value of the currently transmitted data (hereinafter referred to as the "current hash value") from the currently transmitted data (e.g., transmitted data B2 in FIG. 4 described later) for each block, by combining the hash value of the previously transmitted data for each block (hereinafter referred to as the "currently recalculated previous hash value", e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4 described later), the currently transmitted actual data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4 described later), and the unique information. The hash chain receiving unit 13-D verifies whether the currently transmitted hash value (e.g., the value of second association information FT2 in FIG. 4 described later) included in the currently transmitted data for each block is identical to the currently recalculated hash value. Confirming and verifying this identity is an example of verifying authenticity. If they are identical, it is guaranteed that the currently transmitted data for each block and the previously transmitted data for each block are consecutive data from the transmitting hash chain chip 1S having unique information (i.e., the authenticity of the data), and it can be proven that the data is not falsified data obtained by hacking or the like.
[0050] In step S6, the hash chain chip 1-D stores the current transmission data for each block whose validity has been confirmed in the data hash recording unit 15-D along with the current hash value (the latest hash value), and also broadcasts it to the other data hash recording units 15 so that all data hash recording units 15 in the system have the same data.
[0051] In step S7, the control unit 11-D connected to the actuators A-D1 to A-D3 controls the actuators A-D1 to A-D3 by executing commands to the actuators A-D1 to A-D3 using information based on the current transmission data for each decoded block unit.
[0052] In step S8, the data hash recording unit 15-D checks at a predetermined timing whether the hash values recorded in the data hash recording units 15 of the multiple receiving hash chain chips 1R, including itself, match. For example, the data hash recording unit 15-D calculates a hash value for a group of hash values stored over a certain period of time and checks whether the value is the same in all data hash recording units 15. An archive device dedicated to recording hash values may be prepared in advance. In this case, it is preferable to provide three or more per hash chain network. It is preferable that information from all hash chain chips 1 be recorded in the archive device.
[0053] In step S9, if the data hash recording unit 15-D confirms that the hash values match in step S8, it executes control to store the transmission data and hash values for each block in the blockchain network BCN.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the hash chain chips present in the information processing system shown in FIG. 1 or 2, distinguishing between transmitting hash chain chips with transmitting functions and receiving hash chain chips with receiving functions.
[0055] The transmitting hash chain chip 1S has a transmission function that transmits transmission data according to a predetermined wireless communication method (for example, a wireless mesh method in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2). For example, the hash chain chip 1-1 in FIG. 1 and the hash chain chip 1-A in FIG. 2 are examples of the transmitting hash chain chip 1S. The transmitting hash chain chip 1S includes a data acquisition and shaping unit 51, a data blocking unit 52, and a block data transmission control unit 53. The data acquisition and shaping unit 51 acquires target data to be transmitted (for example, detection signals from sensors S-A1 to S-A3 connected to the hash chain chip 1-A in FIG. 2), or acquires original data of the target data and processes the original data to generate the target data. The data blocking unit 52 generates transmission data for each predetermined unit (for example, in this embodiment, blocks are the predetermined unit) based on the target data. The block data transmission control unit 53 controls the transmission of transmission data for each predetermined unit to the receiving hash chain chip 1R according to a predetermined wireless communication method.
[0056] Here, a detailed functional configuration of the data blocking unit 52 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the structure of transmission data for each predetermined unit transmitted between the transmitting hash chain chip and the receiving hash chain chip in Fig. 3.
[0057] For example, the data blocking unit 52 repeats the process of generating data (data blocks BD1 to BD3 in the example of FIG. 4 ) for each predetermined unit (here, block unit) based on the target data. The data blocking unit 52 regards the currently generated predetermined unit of data to be processed as first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4 ), and the previously generated predetermined unit of data as second unit data (e.g., data block BD1 in FIG. 4 ), and generates information including at least a hash value obtained from the second unit data as first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4 ), and adds the first association information to the first unit data to be processed. The data blocking unit 52 generates information including at least a hash value obtained from the first unit data as second association information (e.g., second association information FT2 in FIG. 4 ), and adds the second association information to the first unit data to be processed. In this way, data in which the first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in Figure 4) and the second association information (e.g., second association information FT2 in Figure 4) are added to the first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in Figure 4) generated the pth time (p is an integer value greater than or equal to 2) is generated as the pth transmission data B2.
[0058] 3, the receiving hash chain chip 1R has a receiving function for receiving transmission data according to a predetermined wireless communication method and includes a storage medium (data hash recording unit 15 in FIG. 2) for storing the transmission data. For example, the hash chain chip 1-4 in FIG. 1 and the hash chain chip 1-D in FIG. 2 are examples of the receiving hash chain chip 1R.
[0059] The receiving hash chain chip 1R functions as a block data receiving control unit 54, a block data confirmation verification unit 55, and a block data recording control unit 56. The block data receiving control unit 54 executes control to receive transmission data in predetermined units according to a predetermined wireless communication method (for example, a wireless mesh method in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0060] The block data verification unit 55 verifies the validity of the received transmission data. Here, with reference to the above-mentioned Fig. 4, a detailed functional configuration of the block data reception control unit 54 and the block data verification unit 55 will be described. The block data reception control unit 54 executes control to receive the p-th transmission data (e.g., transmission data B2 in Fig. 4).
[0061] The block data verification unit 55 verifies that the (p-1)th hash value obtained from the first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4 ) of the p-th transmission data (e.g., transmission data B2 in FIG. 4 ) matches the (p-1)th hash value (e.g., hash value FT1 of transmission data B1 in FIG. 4 ) stored in a storage medium (e.g., data hash recording unit 15 in FIG. 2 ). The block data verification unit 55 also recalculates the p-th hash value based on the (p-1)th hash value obtained from the first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4 ) for the p-th transmission data (e.g., transmission data B2 in FIG. 4 ) and the first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4 ). The block data verification unit 55 then verifies that the recalculated p-th hash value matches the p-th hash value obtained from the second association information (e.g., second association information FT2 in FIG. 4 ) for the p-th transmission data (e.g., transmission data B2 in FIG. 4 ). The block data checking and verifying unit 55 checks the validity of the p-th transmission data (for example, transmission data B2 in FIG. 4) by these two checks.
[0062] The block data recording control unit 56 executes control to store the pth transmission data whose validity has been confirmed in a storage medium (e.g., the data hash recording unit 15 in Figure 2) together with the second association information of the pth transmission data (e.g., the hash value FT2 of the transmission data B2 in Figure 4).
[0063] Furthermore, in the receiving hash chain chip 1R, an actuator control unit 57, a hash value periodic verification unit 58, and a block chain recording control unit 59 function.
[0064] The actuator control unit 57 provides control data to the actuators A (for example, the actuators A41 to A43 in FIG. 1). The actuators A operate in accordance with the control data.
[0065] The hash value periodic verification unit 58 verifies at a predetermined timing that the pth hash values stored in each of the receiving hash chain chips 1R, including itself, match. Here, it is preferable to provide an archive device (not shown in FIG. 1) dedicated to recording hash values and transmission data in block units. It is preferable that information from all hash chain chips 1 be recorded in this archive device. It is preferable to provide three or more archive devices for one hash chain network.
[0066] When the blockchain recording control unit 59 confirms that the pth hash value (e.g., the second association information FT2 in Figure 4) stored in each data hash recording unit 15 of the receiving hash chain chip 1R matches, it executes control to store the pth hash value in another blockchain network BCN.
[0067] FIG. 5 shows various patterns of hash chain chips that have the function of connecting to the blockchain network shown in FIG. 1 or 2 (the function of connecting to a blockchain full node).
[0068] 5, what is written as hash chain master is the hash chain chip 1, which has master functionality. The hash chain chip 1 with master functionality sends and receives transmission data in block units with the blockchain network BCN through the blockchain light node BNL. The hash chain chip 1 labeled hash chain slave generates transmission data in block units from target data based on the detection signal from the sensor S, and sends the transmission data in block units to the hash chain chip 1 with master functionality.
[0069] The hash chain chip 1-m1 is integrated with the blockchain light node BNL-m1, control unit 11-m1, and actuators A-m11 and A-m12. The hash chain chip 1-m1 receives transmission data in block units from the hash chain chips 1-SL1 and 1-SL2. The blockchain light node BNL-m1 is connected to the blockchain network BCN, and sends and receives transmission data in block units to and from the blockchain network BCN. The control unit 11-m1 provides control data to the actuators A-m11 and A-m12 based on the transmission data in block units. The actuators A-m11 and A-m12 operate in accordance with the control data.
[0070] The hash chain chip 1-m2 is an example of a hash chain chip 1 that functions independently. The hash chain chip 1-m2 receives transmission data in block units from the hash chain chips 1-SL1 to 1-SL3. The hash chain chip 1-m2 transmits transmission data in block units, etc. to the blockchain light node BNL-m2. The blockchain light node BNL-m2 is connected to the blockchain network BCN, and sends and receives transmission data in block units, etc. to and from the blockchain network BCN. The blockchain light node BNL-m2 is preferably installed within the factory F. This allows for easy maintenance of related equipment.
[0071] The hash chain chip 1-m3 is integrated with the control unit 11-m3. The hash chain chip 1-m3 receives transmission data in block units from the hash chain chips 1-SL2 to 1-SL4. The hash chain chip 1-m3 sends and receives transmission data in block units, etc. with the blockchain light node BNL-m3. The blockchain light node BNL-m3 is connected to the blockchain network BCN, and sends and receives transmission data in block units, etc. with the blockchain network BCN. The control unit 11-m3 provides control data to the actuators A-m31 and A-m32. The actuators A-m31 and A-m32 operate in accordance with the control data.
[0072] The hash chain chip 1-m4 is integrated with the blockchain light node BNL-m4. The hash chain chip 1-m4 receives transmission data in block units from the hash chain chips 1-SL4 to 1-SL6. The hash chain chip 1-m4 sends and receives transmission data in block units, etc. with the blockchain light node BNL-m4. The blockchain light node BNL-m4 is connected to the blockchain network BCN, and sends and receives transmission data in block units, etc. with the blockchain network BCN.
[0073] Here, for example, the hash chain chip 1-m1 having the hash chain master in Figure 5 has at least one of a transmission function and a reception function for transmission data in block units. At the same time, the hash chain chip 1-m1 has a network connection function for connecting to a blockchain network BCN, which is another network that uses blockchain or distributed ledger technology. Such a hash chain chip 1 may be provided separately from the transmitting hash chain chip 1S having a transmission function for transmission data in block units and the receiving hash chain chip 1R having a reception function for transmission data in block units, or may be used in conjunction with the transmitting hash chain chip 1S having a transmission function for transmission data in block units or the receiving hash chain chip 1R having a reception function for transmission data in block units.
[0074] In either example, it is preferable that the blockchain light node BNL is installed, for example, in a factory F. This enables power to be supplied by wireless power supply (not shown in Fig. 5), enables transmission of transmission data in block units to blockchain nodes within the factory, and makes it possible to build a system for safely sharing transmission data in block units with the outside world.
[0075] Above, one embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. However, the wireless method for wirelessly sending and receiving transmission data is not particularly limited to the wireless mesh method of the above embodiment, and may also be a method conforming to the protocol shown in Figure 6, for example.
[0076] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a wireless communication method applicable to the information processing system of an embodiment according to the present invention, which is different from the Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless mesh example shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Even when the protocol shown in Fig. 6 is applied to the information processing device shown in Fig. 1 or 2 instead of the wireless mesh method, transmission data for each block unit having a hash value portion is encrypted before transmission. However, encryption is not essential.
[0077] For the sake of convenience, the protocol will be described here by focusing on the first slave (the slave assigned the reference number 1 in FIG. 6 ), the second slave (the slave assigned the reference number 2 in FIG. 6 ), and the master. However, application of this protocol is not particularly limited to the example in FIG. 6 . For example, the ratio of slave:master may be N:M (N and M are any integers independent of each other). Furthermore, for example, a device does not necessarily have to function as either a slave or a master as in the example in FIG. 6 , and a device that can function as either a slave or a master may also be applied.
[0078] For the sake of convenience in the following explanation, the protocol shown in FIG. 6 is assumed to be applied to the hash chain network of FIG. 2, the first slave corresponds, for example, to hash chain chip 1-A in FIG. 2, the second slave corresponds, for example, to hash chain chip 1-B in FIG. 2, and the master corresponds, for example, to hash chain chip 1-G in FIG. 2. The following explanation will be limited to the case where the first slave (hash chain chip 1-A) transmits block-unit transmission data to the master (hash chain chip 1-G).
[0079] The protocol shown in FIG. 6 specifies that a series of processing steps S21 to S25 be executed as follows:
[0080] In step S21, when the first slave requests the master to transmit text, it transmits an ENQ (Enquiry) signal as an inquiry signal to the master. In step S22, upon receiving the ENQ signal, the master transmits an ACK (Acknowledge) signal to the first slave as an acknowledgement signal for the first slave. In step S23, the master transmits a DLE (Data Link Escape) signal as a data link escape signal to all slaves. This DLE signal indicates that the following data is a control signal. A slave that receives a DLE signal enters a transmission standby (idling) state. However, a first slave that receives an ACK signal in response to the ENQ signal ignores the DLE signal and does not enter an idling state. In step S24, the first slave transmits text (e.g., transmission data in blocks). In step S25, upon receiving the text (for example, transmission data in block units), the master transmits an ACK signal to the first slave.
[0081] Here, in step S23, the destination of the DLE signal may be not only the first slave but also another slave (the second slave in the example of FIG. 6).
[0082] Here, the protocol may specify that the order of steps S22 and S23 is reversed. In this case, the first slave sends a text transmission request to the master as an ENQ signal. Next, the master sends a DLE signal to all slaves other than the first slave. The slaves that receive the DLE signal enter a transmission standby (idling) state. Next, when the master receives the ENQ signal, it sends an ACK signal to the first slave. The first slave that receives an ACK signal in response to the ENQ signal ignores the DLE signal. The first slave transmits the text. When the master receives the text, it sends an ACK signal to the first slave.
[0083] The application of the wireless protocol shown in Figure 6 is not particularly limited to the wireless network (hash chain network) that connects the hash chain chip 1 of Figures 1 and 2, but is sufficient as long as it is a network to which a master and a slave can be applied.
[0084] Figure 7 shows an example of a data structure in the protocol shown in Figure 6. The protocol in Figure 6 specifies that it has a connection frame for transmitting commands such as an ENQ signal or an ACK signal, and a data transmission frame for transmitting text data from a slave to a master. Symbols such as SYN (Synchronous Idle), EOT (End of Transmission), SOH (Start of Heading), STX (Start of Text), and ETX (End of Text) shown in Figure 7 are used as control characters in data communication. These indicate the start and end of wireless communication, data delimiters, etc.
[0085] The connection frame has a one-byte signal consisting of a command such as an ENQ signal or an ACK signal, etc. Based on this command, the transmission or communication of text (for example, transmission data in block units) is controlled.
[0086] A data transmission frame has, for example, approximately 570 bytes of variable-length text. The text includes, for example, an 8-byte receive count, an approximately 50-byte initialization vector, and an approximately 512-byte encrypted string. When the protocol shown in Fig. 6 is applied to an embodiment of the information processing system to which the present invention is applied, as shown in Fig. 1 or 2, the encrypted string stores transmission data in block units. However, encryption is not required.
[0087] Although the embodiments of the information processing system of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the effects described in the present embodiments are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the present embodiments.
[0088] For example, in the transmission data for each block, the first association information HD indicating the previous hash value may be the header of the block in the above embodiment, but is not limited to this and can be added to any position of the block.Similarly, for example, in the transmission data for each block, the second association information FT indicating the current hash value may be the footer of the block in the above embodiment, but is not limited to this and can be added to any position of the block.
[0089] Furthermore, for example, in the above-described embodiment, a CPU may be provided as the control unit 11. Any processor capable of performing information processing operations can be adopted as the CPU, and in addition to the above-described CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or the like may also be used.
[0090] 3 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient for the system to have the function of executing the above-described series of processes as a whole, and the type of functional block used to realize this function is not particularly limited to the example in FIG.
[0091] Furthermore, one functional block may be configured as a single piece of hardware, a single piece of software, or a combination thereof.
[0092] When the processing of each functional block is performed by software, the programs constituting the software are installed onto a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium. The computer may be a computer incorporated into dedicated hardware. Alternatively, the computer may be a computer capable of performing various functions by installing various programs thereon, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.
[0093] The recording medium containing such a program may be constituted not only by removable media (not shown) that are distributed separately from the device main body in order to provide the program to the user, but also by recording media provided to the user in a state where they are pre-installed in the device main body. Removable media may be constituted, for example, by magnetic disks (including floppy disks), optical disks, or magneto-optical disks. Optical disks may be constituted, for example, by CD-ROMs (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) or DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks). Magneto-optical disks may be constituted, for example, by MDs (Mini-Disks). Furthermore, recording media provided to the user in a state where they are pre-installed in the device main body may be constituted, for example, by ROMs or hard disks (not shown) on which the program is recorded.
[0094] In this specification, the steps describing the program recorded on the recording medium include not only processes that are performed in chronological order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed in chronological order but are performed in parallel or individually. Also, in this specification, the term "system" means an overall device composed of multiple devices or multiple means, etc.
[0095] In summary, the information processing system to which the present invention is applied is sufficient if it has the following configuration, and can take on a variety of different embodiments. That is, an information processing system to which the present invention is applied is an information processing system including: a first type electronic device (e.g., a transmitting hash chain chip 1S in FIG. 3) having a transmitting function for transmitting transmission data in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication method; and a second type electronic device (e.g., a receiving hash chain chip 1R in FIG. 3) having a receiving function for receiving the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method and including a storage medium for storing the transmission data (e.g., the data hash recording unit 15 in FIG. 2), wherein the first type electronic device includes: target data acquisition and processing means (e.g., the data acquisition and formatting unit 51 in FIG. 3) for acquiring target data to be transmitted, or acquiring original data of the target data and processing the original data to generate the target data; transmission data generation means (e.g., the data blocking unit 52 in FIG. 3) for generating the transmission data for each predetermined unit based on the target data; and transmission data transmission control means (e.g., the block data transmission control unit 53 in FIG. 3) for controlling transmission of the transmission data to the second type electronic device in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method; and the second type electronic device includes: a transmission data reception control means (for example, the block data reception control unit 54 in FIG. 3) that executes control to receive the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method; a validity confirmation means (for example, the block data confirmation verification unit 55 in FIG. 3) that confirms the validity of the received transmission data; and a storage control means (for example, the block data recording control unit 56 in FIG. 3) that executes control to store the transmission data whose validity has been confirmed in the storage medium, wherein the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device comprises: a generation means that repeats a process of generating data for each predetermined unit based on the target data;a first processing means for generating first association information, the predetermined unit (e.g., block unit) of data to be processed that is currently generated by the generating means as first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4 ), the predetermined unit of data previously generated by the generating means as second unit data (e.g., data block BD1 in FIG. 4 ), and adding the first association information to the first unit data to be processed; and a second processing means for generating second association information (e.g., second association information FT2 in FIG. 4 ), the predetermined unit of data to be processed that is currently generated by the generating means as first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4 ), and adding the second association information to the first unit data to be processed, data in which the first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4) and the second association information (e.g., second association information FT2 in FIG. 4) are added to the first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4) generated by the generation means at the pth time (p is an integer value of 2 or more), and the data is output as the pth transmission data (e.g., pth transmission data B2 in FIG. 4); the transmission data transmission control means of the first type electronic device executes control to transmit the pth transmission data to the second type electronic device; the validity confirmation means of the second type electronic device confirms that the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4) of the pth transmission data matches the p-1th hash value stored in the storage medium; recalculating the p-th hash value based on the (p-1)th hash value obtained from the first association information (e.g., first association information HD2 in FIG. 4 ) in the p-th transmission data (e.g., transmission data B2 in FIG. 4 ) and the first unit data (e.g., data block BD2 in FIG. 4 ), and confirming that the recalculated p-th hash value matches the p-th hash value obtained from the second association information (e.g., second association information FT2 in FIG. 4 ) in the p-th transmission data, thereby confirming the validity of the p-th transmission data;The storage control means of the second-type electronic device executes control to store the p-th transmission data, the legitimacy of which has been confirmed, in the storage medium together with the p-th hash value obtained from the second association information of the p-th transmission data. Here, the first-type electronic device includes electronic devices having only a transmission function among transmission and reception functions, and electronic devices having transmission and reception functions (both transmission and reception functions). Similarly, the second-type electronic device includes electronic devices having only a reception function among transmission and reception functions, and electronic devices having transmission and reception functions (both transmission and reception functions).
[0096] This makes it possible, for example, to realize wireless communication within a factory while minimizing the number of channels, strengthening the security of data transmission, reducing and simplifying data transmission cables within the factory, and enabling secure data sharing with external parties.
[0097] Furthermore, the specified wireless communication method can be a method that allows the number of channels between the first type electronic device and the second type electronic device to be one by having a rule (for example, the wireless protocol shown in Figure 6) that prohibits other first electronic devices from sending the transmission data when the first type electronic device sends the transmission data.
[0098] This allows a large number of devices to be connected efficiently by limiting the number of wireless communication channels to one.
[0099] Furthermore, the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device can further encrypt the transmission data in accordance with a predetermined encryption method, the transmission data transmission control means of the first type electronic device can execute control to transmit the encrypted transmission data, and the legitimacy confirmation means of the second type electronic device can further decrypt the encrypted transmission data in accordance with a decryption method corresponding to the predetermined encryption method.
[0100] This makes it possible to ensure a high level of security.
[0101] In addition, the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device can further sign the transmission data, and the legitimacy confirmation means of the second type electronic device can decrypt the encrypted transmission data after confirming the signature.
[0102] This makes it possible to ensure a higher level of security.
[0103] Further, a sensor (e.g., sensor S in FIG. 1 or 2) that outputs a detection signal is connected to the first type electronic device, an actuator (e.g., actuator A in FIG. 1 or 2) that uses the detection signal is connected to the second type electronic device, the target data acquisition and processing means of the first type electronic device acquires the detection signal as the target data, or acquires the detection signal as original data and processes the original data to generate the target data, and the second type electronic device can further include actuator control means (e.g., actuator control unit 57 in FIG. 3) that executes control over the actuator based on the transmission data whose validity has been confirmed.
[0104] This allows for the control of equipment within the factory. Furthermore, the elimination of cables allows for more efficient use of physical space within the factory, significantly improving the efficiency of fault detection and maintenance work.
[0105] In addition, it may further include a third type electronic device (e.g., a hash chain chip 1-m1 having a hash chain master in FIG. 5) that has at least one of the transmission function and the receiving function and has a network connection function that connects to another network (e.g., the blockchain network BCN in FIG. 1 or 2) that uses blockchain or distributed ledger technology.
[0106] This enables safe data exchange with external systems (cloud and AI).
[0107] In addition, there may be a plurality of the second-type electronic devices, and the second-type electronic device may further include: a hash value identity confirmation means (e.g., hash value periodic confirmation unit 58 in FIG. 3) that confirms at a predetermined timing that the pth hash values stored in the storage media of the plurality of second-type electronic devices including itself match; and an other-network storage control means (e.g., block chain recording control unit 59 in FIG. 3) that, when it is confirmed that the pth hash values stored in the storage media of the plurality of second-type electronic devices match, executes control to store the pth transmission data and the pth hash value in the other network.
[0108] This realizes a data tamper detection function, improving the reliability of the system. It also strengthens the security of data transmission. Since the hash value is confirmed at a predetermined timing, for example, by extending the interval between the predetermined timings, it is possible to reduce communication congestion, lower power consumption, and reduce the load on communication devices.
[0109] 1-1 to 1-6... Hash chain chip, 2... Power transmission unit, 3... Wireless power supply unit, 31... Antenna unit, 32... Battery / cell unit, 33... Power control unit, A-41 to A-43, A-51 to A-53, and A-61 to A-63... Actuators, S11 to S13, and S21... Sensors, BNL-1... Blockchain light node, BCN... Blockchain network, BNF1 to BNF4... Blockchain full node
Claims
1. An information processing system comprising: a first type electronic device having at least a transmitting function for transmitting transmission data in accordance with a prescribed wireless communication method; and a second type electronic device having at least a receiving function for receiving the transmission data in accordance with the prescribed wireless communication method and including a storage medium for storing the transmission data, wherein the first type electronic device comprises: target data acquisition and processing means for acquiring target data to be transmitted, or acquiring original data of the target data and processing the original data to generate the target data; transmission data generation means for generating the transmission data for each prescribed unit based on the target data; and transmission data transmission control means for executing control to transmit the transmission data to the second type electronic device in accordance with the prescribed wireless communication method; and the second type electronic device comprises: transmission data reception control means for executing control to receive the transmission data in accordance with the prescribed wireless communication method; legitimacy confirmation means for confirming the legitimacy of the received transmission data; and storage control means for executing control to store the transmission data whose legitimacy has been confirmed in the storage medium, and the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device comprises: a generating means for repeating a process of generating data for each of the predetermined units based on the target data; a first processing means for generating information including at least a hash value obtained from the second unit data, the data of the predetermined unit currently generated by the generating means being a first unit data, the data of the predetermined unit previously generated by the generating means being a second unit data, as first association information, and adding the first association information to the first unit data to be processed; and a second processing means for generating information including at least a hash value obtained from the first unit data as second association information, and adding the second association information to the first unit data to be processed, wherein data generated by the generating means at a pth time (p is an integer value of 2 or more) and the first association information and the second association information are added to the first unit data to be processed is output as a pth transmission data, and the transmission data transmission control means of the first type electronic device executes control to transmit the pth transmission data to the second type electronic device,an information processing system, wherein the validity confirmation means of the second type electronic device confirms that the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information of the p-th transmission data matches the p-1th hash value stored in the storage medium, and recalculates the p-th hash value based on the p-1th hash value of the p-th transmission data obtained from the first association information and the first unit data, and confirms that the recalculated p-th hash value matches the p-th hash value of the p-th transmission data obtained from the second association information, thereby confirming the validity of the p-th transmission data; and the storage control means of the second type electronic device executes control to store the p-th transmission data, the validity of which has been confirmed, in the storage medium together with the p-th hash value obtained from the second association information of the p-th transmission data.
2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the specified wireless communication method has a rule that prohibits other first-type electronic devices from transmitting the transmission data when the first-type electronic device transmits the transmission data, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of channels between the first-type electronic device and the second-type electronic device to one.
3. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device further encrypts the transmission data in accordance with a predetermined encryption method, the transmission data sending control means of the first type electronic device executes control to send the encrypted transmission data, and the legitimacy confirmation means of the second type electronic device further decrypts the encrypted transmission data in accordance with a decryption method corresponding to the predetermined encryption method.
4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the transmission data generation means of the first type electronic device further signs the transmission data, and the authenticity confirmation means of the second type electronic device confirms the signature and then decrypts the encrypted transmission data.
5. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein a sensor that outputs a detection signal is connected to the first type electronic device, and an actuator that utilizes the detection signal is connected to the second type electronic device, the target data acquisition and processing means of the first type electronic device acquires the detection signal as the target data, or acquires the detection signal as original data and processes the original data to generate the target data, and the second type electronic device further comprises actuator control means that executes control over the actuator based on the transmission data whose validity has been confirmed.
6. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a third type electronic device having at least one of the transmission function and the receiving function, and having an other network connection function for connecting to another network using blockchain or distributed ledger technology.
7. The information processing system of claim 6, wherein there are a plurality of the second type electronic devices, each of the second type electronic devices further comprising: a hash value identity confirmation means for confirming at a predetermined timing that the pth hash value stored in the storage media of the plurality of second type electronic devices including the second type electronic device itself matches; and another network storage control means for executing control to store the pth transmission data and the pth hash value in the other network when it is confirmed that the pth hash value stored in the storage media of the plurality of second type electronic devices matches.
8. An information processing method executed by an information processing system including a first type electronic device having at least a transmitting function for transmitting transmission data in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication method, and a second type electronic device having at least a receiving function for receiving the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method and including a storage medium for storing the transmission data, the method including steps executed by the first type electronic device: a target data acquisition and processing step for acquiring target data to be transmitted, or acquiring original data of the target data and processing the original data to generate the target data, a transmission data generation step for generating the transmission data for each predetermined unit based on the target data, and a transmission data transmission control step for executing control to transmit the transmission data to the second type electronic device in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method, the method including steps executed by the second type electronic device: a transmission data reception control step for executing control to receive the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method, a legitimacy confirmation step for confirming the legitimacy of the received transmission data, and a storage control step for executing control to store the transmission data whose legitimacy has been confirmed in the storage medium, the transmission data generation step of the first type electronic device including the first processing step of generating information including at least a hash value obtained from the second unit data as first associating information, the first unit data being the data of the predetermined unit currently generated by the processing in the generating step and the second unit data being the data of the predetermined unit previously generated by the generating step, and adding the first associating information to the first unit data being processed; the second processing step of generating information including at least a hash value obtained from the first unit data as second associating information, and adding the second associating information to the first unit data being processed; and an output step of outputting data in which the first associating information and the second associating information are added to the first unit data generated by the processing in the generating step for a p-th time (p is an integer value of 2 or more), as p-th transmission data,an information processing method, wherein the transmission data transmission control step of the first type electronic device includes a step of executing control to transmit the p-th transmission data to the second type electronic device; the legitimacy confirmation step of the second type electronic device includes a step of confirming that the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information of the p-th transmission data matches the p-1th hash value stored in the storage medium, and recalculating the p-th hash value in the p-th transmission data based on the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information and the first unit data, and confirming that the recalculated p-th hash value matches the p-th hash value in the p-th transmission data obtained from the second association information, thereby confirming the legitimacy of the p-th transmission data; and the storage control step of the second type electronic device includes a step of executing control to store the p-th transmission data, the legitimacy of which has been confirmed, in the storage medium together with the p-th hash value obtained from the second association information of the p-th transmission data.
9. A program for causing a computer in an information processing system including a first type electronic device having at least a transmitting function for transmitting transmission data in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication method, and a second type electronic device having at least a receiving function for receiving the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method and including a storage medium for storing the transmission data, to execute a control process, the program causing a computer controlling the first type electronic device to execute a control process including a target data acquisition and processing step for acquiring target data to be transmitted, or acquiring original data of the target data and processing the original data to generate the target data, a transmission data generation step for generating the transmission data for each predetermined unit based on the target data, and a transmission data transmission control step for executing control for transmitting the transmission data to the second type electronic device in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method, and causing a computer controlling the second type electronic device to execute a control process including a transmission data reception control step for executing control for receiving the transmission data in accordance with the predetermined wireless communication method, a legitimacy confirmation step for confirming the legitimacy of the received transmission data, and a storage control step for executing control for storing the transmission data whose legitimacy has been confirmed in the storage medium, The computer controlling the first type electronic device includes, as the transmission data generating step, a generating step of repeating a process of generating data for each of the predetermined units based on the target data; a first processing step of generating information including at least a hash value obtained from the second unit data as first association information, the data of the predetermined unit currently to be processed generated by the processing of the generating step being first unit data and the data of the predetermined unit previously generated by the generating step being second unit data, and adding the first association information to the first unit data to be processed; and a second processing step of generating information including at least a hash value obtained from the first unit data as second association information, and adding the second association information to the first unit data to be processed.and an output step of outputting, as p-th transmission data, data in which the first association information and the second association information are added to the first unit data generated by the generating step for a p-th time (p is an integer value of 2 or more); causing a computer controlling the first type electronic device to execute a control process including a step of executing control to transmit the p-th transmission data to the second type electronic device as the transmission data transmission control step; and causing a computer controlling the second type electronic device to execute a control process including a step of confirming, as the legitimacy confirmation step, that the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information of the p-th transmission data matches the p-1th hash value stored in the storage medium, and that the p-1st hash value is recalculated based on the p-1th hash value obtained from the first association information and the first unit data in the p-th transmission data, and that the recalculated pth hash value matches the pth hash value obtained from the second association information in the p-th transmission data, thereby confirming the legitimacy of the p-th transmission data; a program for executing a control process including, as the storage control step, a step of executing control for storing, in the storage medium, the pth transmission data whose validity has been confirmed, together with the pth hash value obtained from the second association information of the pth transmission data.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Network monitoring system
JP2003078524A
Systems and methods for compressing secure e-mail for exchange with mobile data communication devices
JP2004529591A
Electronic device and information processing system
WO2020218478A1
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
WO2021024717A1