Method for creating and updating token, system therefor, and program therefor

Abstract

A method for creating and updating a token by receiving an article information, comprising steps of: receiving at least one article identifying information unique to the article as the article information and creating a vouching token to vouch an authenticity of the article and storing the vouching token including the article identifying information on a token database; receiving at least one article detail information defined by at least one system user as the article information other than the article identifying information, and making the vouching token include the article detail information; and updating the vouching token stored on the token database. The step of updating the vouching token comprises: receiving further the at least one article identifying information and updating the article identifying information included in the vouching token; and / or receiving further the at least one article detail information and updating the article detail information included in the vouching token.

Description

METHOD FOR CREATING AND UPDATING TOKEN, SYSTEM THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM THEREFOR

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for creating and updating a token that vouches an authenticity of an article, a system for creating and updating the token, and a program for creating and updating the token.

[0002] It is important for potential customers, service providers, and general consumers to track information about articles or products. For example, the tracking of low-value products such as bottled coffee is not important, while it plays a crucial role for new buyers to determine true value by verifying the source, history, and condition of high-value articles such as luxury watches, jewelry, precious metal, cars, antiques, and real estate. Therefore, a service is desired for providing information regarding the history and condition of high-value articles.

[0003] Subsequent resale buyers wish to verify the product’s origin and history to ensure the authenticity and accurate value of high-value articles, particularly products with high resale value. For instance, in the case of real estate, we can obtain the information of real estate registration regarding buildings and land from the government agencies or their databases, however, the information is only the minimum necessary. In the case of high-value articles such as luxury watches, it is difficult for makers to establish databases for tracking the watches, particularly after changing the ownership thereof. Consequently, the resale buyers cannot obtain the official history from manufacture to purchase of the article.

[0004] For need of private tracking systems, a non-fungible token (NFT) utilizing blockchain technology has recently been employed as a system to prove and track the uniqueness of digital articles and the owners. The NFT targets digital articles but do not basically target non-digital articles such as tangible objects or real estate. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for operating the non-fungible token to manage objects (tangible articles) associated with the non-fungible token issued by a blockchain that is capable of executing smart contracts.

[0005] However, in the NFT, there is no mechanism to record or track detail article information that changes throughout the article's lifecycle, such as repair history, parts replacement history, award history, or exhibition history. The article detail information significantly impacts the resale value of the article, however, there is no concept of an article tracking system which includes the article detail information. Also, the NFT relies on URL to store data of the NFT's content, however, if a resource for the URL is deleted or modified, there would have no means to verify or recover data thereof. Furthermore, a trading of the NFT incurs costs such as mining (authentication process on blockchain) and smart contract operation fee, and thereby, obstructing the freely and smoothly transfer of the NFT. Moreover, The NFT requires complex algorithms and blockchain technology. The reliability of NFT data is established by the blockchain technology.

[0006] Patent Document 1: JP2021-89640A

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method, system, and program for creating and updating a traceable vouching token that supports the authenticity of an article. Another object is to provide the method, system, and program for creating and updating the vouching token that allows article information to be updated, namely added, modified, changed, and / or deleted.

[0008] A method for creating and updating a token by receiving article information (11,12) from at least one user terminal communicatively connected to a server (2) in a token system (1), the method comprising steps of: receiving by a processor (20) of the server (2) at least one article identifying information (11) unique to an article as the article information and creating a vouching token to vouch an authenticity of the article and storing the vouching token (VT) including the article identifying information (11) on a token database (31); receiving by the processor (20) at least one article detail information (12) defined by at least one system user of the token system (1) as the article information other than the article identifying information (11), and making the vouching token (VT) include the article detail information (12); and updating by the processor (20) the vouching token (VT) stored in the token database (31); the step of updating the vouching token (VT) comprises: receiving further the at least one article identifying information (11) and updating the article identifying information (11) included in the vouching token (VT); and / or receiving further the at least one article detail information (12) and updating the article detail information (12) included in the vouching token (VT).

[0009] In the present invention, not only information of an owner (token owner) but also the daily changing article information 11,12 can be updated, i.e., added, modified, changed, and / or deleted, and therefore, this invention enables the latest information about the article (goods) to be always viewed by viewers (system users) via the vouching token VT. By utilizing information contained in the vouching token VT including the latest article information, the viewers can verify and assess the article's actual value, thereby purchasing the article without any trouble and much effort. Furthermore, the monetary value of the article can be enhanced for a resale by possessing the ownership of the vouching token VT corresponding to a warranty certificate and expert evidence, together with an actual article.

[0010] The vouching token VT is also referred to as collaborative token, guarantee token, backing token, proof token, authenticity reinforcement token, authenticity support token, or evidence token, and is tradable information or electronic document that vouches, evidences, proves, supports, guarantees, or establishes the authenticity of article. One system user creates and updates the vouching token VT to vouch the authenticity and other system users view information of the vouching token VT, and the vouching token VT is shared among system users, and therefore, the information such as history and ownership assists them in independently judging the authenticity of article. The vouching token VT includes article identifying information 11 as essential information, and further includes one or more of following information: article detail information 12; permission information about the access rights to the vouching token VT (information about system users who can access the vouching token VT); permission information about the rights to update the vouching token VT which differs from or be included in the access rights (information about system users who can update, i.e., add, modify, change, and / or delete the vouching token VT); an evaluation (voucher record) to the article information 11,12; information about the token owner; and information about a history of actions (in right side of Table 1). The article information includes the article identifying information 11 and the article detail information 12. The article identifying information 11 is unique, permanent information specific to the article. The article detail information 12 is information other than the article identifying information 11, which can subsequently change or newly generate. The article detail information 12 can be defined by at least one system user. The articles can include tangible articles, intangible articles, electronic articles, and real estate.

[0011] In the embodiments of the method for creating and updating the token, the step of updating the vouching token (VT) comprises: a) adding new data of the article identifying information (11) to data of the article identifying information (11) included in the vouching token (VT); and / or b) partially or wholly changing or modifying the data of the article identifying information (11) included in the vouching token (VT) to the new data of the article identifying information (11); and / or c) partially deleting the data of the article identifying information (11) included in the vouching token (VT). The step of updating the vouching token (VT) comprises: a) adding new data of the article detail information (12) to data of the article detail information (12) included in the vouching token (VT); and / or b) partially or wholly changing or modifying the data of the article detail information (12) included in the vouching token (VT) to the new data of the article detail information (12); and / or c) partially or wholly deleting the data of the article detail information (12) included in the vouching token (VT). The step of creating the vouching token (VT) comprises setting an owner of the vouching token (VT); the method further comprising transferring the vouching token (VT) from a current owner to a new owner upon receiving a consent from both the current owner and the new owner of the vouching token (VT). The vouching token (VT) further includes one or more user IDs assigned to: a sender of the article identifying information (11), a sender of the article detail information (12), the system user who requested creating the vouching token (VT), an owner of the vouching token (VT), the system user authorized to access to the vouching token (VT), and / or the system user not authorized to access to the vouching token (VT). The method further comprises: with or without receiving permission information about access rights to the vouching token (VT) from the user terminal, determining by the processor (20) one or more system users authorized to access to the vouching token (VT); and making by the processor (20) the vouching token (VT) include user ID or IDs of the determined one or more system users authorized to access to the vouching token (VT). The method further comprises: with or without receiving permission information about rights to update the vouching token (VT) from the user terminal, determining by the processor (20) one or more system users authorized to update the vouching token (VT); and making by the processor (20) the vouching token (VT) include user ID or IDs of the determined one or more system users authorized to update the vouching token (VT). The method further comprises: with or without receiving from the user terminal, a vouching information about either or both of the article identifying information (11) and the article detail information (12), determining by the processor (20) the vouching information; and making by the processor (20) the vouching token (VT) include the determined vouching information. The method further comprises updating the vouching information included in the vouching token (VT), wherein the step of updating the vouching information comprises: a) adding new data of the vouching information to data of the vouching information included in the vouching token (VT); and / or b) partially or wholly changing or modifying the data of the vouching information included in the vouching token (VT) to the new data of the vouching information; and / or c) partially or wholly deleting the data of the vouching information included in the vouching token (VT). The article identifying information (11) is data provided as a file or a text, and is one or more selected from: a name, a photograph or illustration showing an appearance, a drawing, an introductory video, an application description, a search tag, a unique ID, a product number, a manufacturer, or a manufacturing date; and the article detail information (12) is data provided as a file or a text, and is one or more selected from: evidence, an opinion, a knowledge, statistics, a testimony, or documents. The article detail information (12) is data provided as a file or a text, and is one or more selected from: a repair history, a parts replacement history, an award history, an exhibit history, specifications, information of maker, a public history, a private certificate, a service history, a maker’s timeline, an insurance contract, an origin certificate.

[0012] A system for creating and updating a vouching token (VT) comprising: a server (2) communicatively connected to at least one user terminal (50); a processor (20) in the server (2) for receiving article information (11,12) from the user terminal (50) and for creating the vouching token (VT) to vouch an authenticity of an article; and a storage (30) for storing the created vouching token (VT); the processor (20) comprising: a means for receiving at least one article identifying information (11) unique to the article as the article information and creating the vouching token and storing the vouching token (VT) including the article identifying information (11) in a token database (31) of the storage (30); a means for receiving at least one article detail information (12) defined by at least one system user of the vouching token system (1) as the article information other than the article identifying information (11), and making the vouching token (VT) include the article detail information (12); and a means for updating the vouching token (VT) stored in the token database (31); the means for updating the vouching token (VT) comprises: a section for receiving further the at least one article identifying information (11) and updating the article identifying information (11) included in the vouching token (VT); and / or a section for receiving further the at least one article detail information (12) and updating the article detail information (12) included in the vouching token (VT).

[0013] A program for creating and updating a vouching token (VT), causing a computer to function as the method for creating and updating the token. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for creating and updating a token by receiving article information (11,12) from at least one user terminal communicatively connected to a server (2) in a token system (1), the method comprising: receiving by a processor (20) of the server (2) at least one article identifying information (11) unique to an article as the article information and creating a vouching token to vouch an authenticity of the article and storing the vouching token (VT) including the article identifying information (11) on a token database (31); receiving by the processor (20) at least one article detail information (12) defined by at least one system user of the token system (1) as the article information other than the article identifying information (11), and making the vouching token (VT) include the article detail information (12); and updating by the processor (20) the vouching token (VT) stored on the token database (31); the step of updating the vouching token (VT) comprises: receiving further the at least one article identifying information (11) and updating the article identifying information (11) included in the vouching token (VT); and / or receiving further the at least one article detail information (12) and updating the article detail information (12) included in the vouching token (VT).

[0014] The token creation and update method, system, and program of the present invention enable the owner or other party of the vouching token to update the article information contained in the vouching token to the latest information. Accordingly, the vouching token used in the present invention serves as crucial data to vouch or collaborate the article's authenticity and reliability, and the article purchasers can ascertain the current value of the article from the updated, latest information in the vouching token, thereby independently judging the article's authenticity and purchasing the article at a fair price or negotiating its purchase.

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system for creating and updating token according to the present invention;Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the server in the token system according to the present invention;Figure 3 is an image showing an appearance of article for a vouching token;Figure 4 is an image showing an evaluation in texts;Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a method for creating and updating token according to the present invention executed by an initial registration means;Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the method according to the present invention executed by an identifying information recording means;Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the method according to the present invention executed by a detail information recording means;Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the method according to the present invention executed by a transfer means;Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the method according to the present invention executed by an update means;Figure 10 is a screenshot showing the method according to the present invention executed by the identifying information recording means;Figure 11 is a screenshot showing the method according to the present invention executed by the detail information recording means and the update means;Figure 12 is a screenshot showing the method according to the present invention executed by the transfer means; andFigure 13 is a screenshot showing the method according to the present invention executed by the transfer means.

[0016] Embodiments of a system for creating and updating a token according to the present invention are described with reference to Figures 1 to 13. The following embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system for creating and updating a token (the token creation and update system, or the token system, the system) 1 of the present invention. The token system 1 comprises: a server 2 communicated via an Internet 5, etc., with at least one user terminal 50:51,52,53; a processor (processing device) 20 for receiving article information 11,12 from the user terminal 50 and creating a vouching token VT for collaborate (or evidencing, supporting, guaranteeing, or reinforcing) an authenticity of articles or goods; and a storage (storage device, memory device) 30 for storing the vouching token VT created by the processor 20. The storage 30 can be physically separated from or be integrated with the processor 20 and is communicatively connected to the processor 20.

[0018] The processor (central processing unit: CPU) 20 comprises a control device that receives information from the user terminal 50 and / or reads information stored in the storage 30, and outputs instructions necessary for processing to other devices; and a processor that executes operations in accordance with the instructions from the control device. The storage 30 includes computer-readable storage media such as magnetic storage device, optical disc, magneto-optical storage media, and semiconductor storage. Each of the user terminals 50, without being particularly limited, is an electronic terminal device such as smartphone, tablet, mobile phone, notebook or desktop computer, and is equipped with a transmission / reception device, a processor, a storage device, and a display device. The transmission / reception device of the user terminal 50 can access the server 2 via the Internet 5, etc., and the display device can include an input means such as a touch screen or keyboard on a screen.

[0019] Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the processor 20 and the storage 30 provided within the server 2. The processor not shown can be independently and directly connected to the Internet 5 or be contained in the user terminal 50. It operates similarly with the same functions as the processor 20 shown in Figure 2. This embodiment illustrates the processor 20 provided in the server 2, connected to the Internet 5 via the transmission / reception device 80. The processor 20 includes each means and each section or part for functions that the processor 20 executes, generally, as shown in Figure 2, and comprises: an initial registration means 100; an identifying information recording means 110; a detail information recording means 120; an update means 130; an access permission means 140; an evaluation recording means 150; and a transfer means 160. The storage 30 includes: a user database (user DB) 29 for storing user information; and a token database (token DB) 31 for storing the vouching token VT created by the processor 20.

[0020] The initial registration means 100 in Figure 2 is a means for initially registering a system user of the token system 1 in response to an initial registration request from the user terminal 50. The initial registration means 100 can include, not shown, an application provision section, an initial information reception section, an ID issuance section, and a registration section. The application provision section causes the server 2 to transmit an application software (APP) from the storage 30 of the server 2 or another storage to the user terminal 50 in accordance with a download instruction via the user terminal 50 from an operator. Without utilizing the application provision section, the operator can access a download site and directly download the APP to the user terminal 50. Alternatively, without downloading, the APP operating on the server 2 (i.e., SaaS, etc.) can be utilized via the user terminal 50 via the internet 5. The initial information reception section receives the operator's user information, such as a password and an email address entered into a registration form from the user terminal 50. Upon receiving the user information, the ID issuance section of server 2 issues a unique user ID and sends it to the user terminal 50. The registration section stores the received user information with linking to the issued user ID, in the user database 29 of the storage 30. As a result, the initial registration completes, and the operator who sent the user information becomes the system user of the token system 1.

[0021] The identifying information recording means 110 in Figure 2 is a means for receiving at least one article identifying information 11 specific to the article, and creating the vouching token VT, and recording the vouching token VT containing the article identifying information 11 in the token database 31 of the storage 30. The vouching token VT as a digital record regarding the article is created by the token system 1 on behalf of a user or an organization, and is intended for collaboration and transactions with other users and / or organizations and for transfer thereto. The user provides a vouching to a vouching token VT and transfers the authenticity / ownership in the physical world to the digital world, and consequently, the vouching token VT can convey the 'trust' in transactions between users and / or organizations. The vouching token VT containing at least one article identifying information 11 is at least viewable and traceable by the system users and serves as a certificate, appraisal, or evidence that collaborate, guarantees, vouches, proves, or reinforces the authenticity of the article. The article identifying information 11 is descriptive information about the article that supports to identify the article (or its digital record).

[0022] Furthermore, the vouching token VT can include: the article detail information 12; permission information regarding an access right to the vouching token VT (information about system users who can access the vouching token VT); permission information regarding update rights for the vouching token (information about the system user who can update i.e., add, modify, change, and / or delete the vouching token VT); evaluation / vouching information (voucher records) regarding the article information 11,12; information regarding an owner (token owner); and information regarding a history of action. The permission (authorization) information is an instruction set by a token collaboration that determines an access to data of the vouching token VT. The vouching token VT further includes the user information or data (user ID) assigned to: a sender of the article identifying information 11; a person who adds the article identifying information 11; a sender of the article detail information 12; a person who adds the article detail information 12, the system user who requests creation of the vouching token VT; previous (historical) owners of the vouching token; a current owner of the vouching token; the system users with the access rights (viewing rights) to the vouching token VT; the system users without the access rights to the vouching token VT; and the system users with the update rights for the vouching token VT, and / or the system users without the update rights for the vouching token VT. The article identifying information 11 is the information or data provided from the user terminal 50 to the server 2 in file or text format. Specifically, the article identifying information 11 comprises one or more selected from, but not limited to: name, image, photograph, illustration, drawing showing article’s appearance, introductory video, usage description, search tag, unique ID, product number, manufacturer, manufacturing date, or manufacturing location, regarding the articles.

[0023] Figure 3 illustrates two images (as the article identifying information 11) showing the appearance of the article (luxury watch). In this case, when the same images of the same article shown in Figure 3 are provided to the server 2 by different system users, the identifying information recording means 110 creates and / or updates the same or duplicate vouching tokens VT in the token system 1. In this case, the identifying information recording means 110 can request additional information from the sender or use already provided information to ensure that the duplicate vouching tokens VT are distinguishable from one another.

[0024] The detail information recording means 120 in Figure 2 is a means for receiving at least one article detail information 12 defined by at least one system user of the token system 1 as the article information other than the article identifying information 11, and making the vouching token VT include the article detail information 12. The article detail 12 is deep / detailed / specialized or specific / general information concerning the article, and is classified and organized by category (e.g., article specifications, manufacturer history, service history, etc.). The article detail information 12 is information or data provided from the user terminal 50 to the server 2 in file or text format. The article detail information 12 comprises detailed data about one or more articles, selected from, but is not limited to, evidence, opinions, knowledge, statistics, testimonies, or documents, which indicate the article's authenticity. Specific examples of the article detail information 12 are data provided in file or text format, comprising one or more of the following, but not limited to: article detailed history (e.g., repair history, parts replacement history, award history, exhibition history, collection history, public history, service history), article specifications, instruction manuals, manufacturer (manufacturing company) information, private certificates, manufacturer (manufacturing company) background, insurance policies, and certificates of origin. The article detail information 12 can include a title, subtitle, and / or content. The title introduces the article detail information 12, and the subtitle provides additional content or information related to the article detail information 12, and the content includes one or more files and / or text entries related to the article provided by one or more system users. The content comprises one or more of evidence, opinions, knowledge, statistics, testimonials, and / or documents, regarding the article. The article detail information 12 can also comprise one or more optional search tags. Moreover, the detail information recording means 120 can, based on a request from the system user, exclude (delete) at least one article detail information 12 from the vouching token VT. In other words, the vouching token VT can be customized.

[0025] The update means 130 in Figure 2 is a means for updating the vouching token VT recorded in the token database 31. The update means 130 includes an identifying information update section 131 and a detail information update section 132. The update means 130 can include only one of the sections. The identifying information update section 131 further receives at least one article identifying information 11 from the user terminal 50 and updates the article identifying information 11 contained in the vouching token VT. In other words, it further receives data of the article identifying information 11 from the user terminal 50, and a) adds data of new article identifying information 11 to the data of the article identifying information 11 contained in the vouching token VT, and / or b) partially or wholly changes or modifies the data of the article identifying information 11 contained in the vouching token VT to the data of the new article identifying information 11, and / or c) partially deletes the data of the article identifying information 11 contained in the vouching token VT. The detail information update section 132 further receives at least one article detail information 12 from the user terminal 50 and updates the article detail information 12 contained in the vouching token VT. In other words, it further receives the article detail information 12 from the user terminal 50, and a) adds new data of the article detail information 12 to the data of the article detail information 12 contained in the vouching token VT, and / or b) partially or wholly changes or modifies the data of the article detail information 12 contained in the vouching token VT to the new data of the article detail information 12, and / or c) partially or wholly delete the data of the article detail information 12 contained in the vouching token VT. Thus, the present invention can provide the article information 11,12 that meets the current status of the article because the article information 11,12 is always updated and renewed after the creation of the vouching token VT.

[0026] The access permission means 140 in Figure 2 is a means for determining an access-authorized person (viewer) to the vouching token VT either automatically or upon instruction from the token owner, and implementing the permission or denial of the access based on the determination. That is, the access permission means 140 determines the access-authorized person to the vouching token VT with or without receiving permission information (information about the system users authorized to access the vouching token VT) regarding the access rights (viewing rights) from the user terminal 50 to the vouching token VT. A person specifying the access-authorized person (not limited to the token owner, but also including a sender of the article identifying information 11 and a sender of the article detail information 12) can specify as the access-authorized person: for example, the sender of the article identifying information 11, the sender of the article detail information 12, the token owner, one or more specific system users, all system users, or a third party other than the system user. The access permission means 140 makes the vouching token VT include the user ID of the determined access-authorized person. If the processor 20 does not receive the permission information regarding the access rights to the vouching token VT from the user terminal 50, the access permission means 140 can independently determine the access-authorized person. Also, the access permission can be granted for one or more specific parts of information in the vouching token VT, such as only the article identifying information 11, or only the article detail information 12, or all or part of multiple article identifying information 11, or all or part of multiple article detail information 12.

[0027] Furthermore, the access permission means 140 can include an update permission means 141. The update permission means 141 grants one or more specific system users the rights to update (edit), namely, add, modify, change, and / or delete, part or all of the information in the vouching token VT with or without receiving permission information about the update rights (information regarding the system user authorized to update the vouching token VT) from the user terminal 50. The information in the vouching token VT can be only the article identifying information 11, only the article detail information 12, all or part of the multiple article identifying information 11, all or part of the multiple article detail information 12, or a combination thereof. The update permission means can be separated from the access permission means 140, and the permission information for the update rights can or cannot be included in the permission information for the access rights.

[0028] For the permission of the access and update rights, not only the token owner (creator) but also the system users authorized for the access and update can access and edit the vouching token VT during or after its creation (referring to as collaboration). For example, during or after creating the vouching token VT1 for a watch, the watch manufacturer A as the token owner can remove manufacturer (company) information as the article detail information 12 from the vouching token VT1, and the system user B authorized for the update can add information about an insurance policy as the article detail information 12 to the vouching token VT1. In addition, if the system user B possesses the update rights for another vouching token VT2 (e.g., for a motor vehicle), the system user B can add the article detail information 12 (e.g., user manual, parts replacement history) to vouching token VT2.

[0029] The evaluation recording means 150 in Figure 2 is a means for receiving the degree of evaluation / vouching information of the article information 11,12 from the system user who provided the article, and recording the degree in the vouching token VT in a viewable manner. The degree of evaluation of article information 11,12 can include, one or more quantitative evaluations, such as, but not limited to, positive (affirmative, plus) / negative (denial, minus), neither positive nor negative (neutral, middle), star rating, or point rating. For example, the evaluation recording means 150 determines the positive or negative evaluation for at least one of the article identifying information 11 or article detail information 12, with or without receiving the evaluation from the user terminal 50, and makes the vouching token VT include the determined evaluation. On the other hand, a qualitative evaluation can include, but are not limited to, text, comments, descriptions, character strings, etc. The text includes for example, "The device optimally functions even at high temperatures" or "The materials used are biodegradable". The character strings are similar to the text, and is shorter evaluations, such as "High", "Medium", "Low", "Excellent", "Good", or "Fair". Figure 4 is a screenshot showing evaluations (voucher records) provided by two system users in the text form. The evaluations (voucher records) are records of comments provided by users associated with the article in order to support or negate the reliability of the article for the reference of other users.

[0030] The evaluation recording means 150 enables the processor 20 to update the evaluation contained in the vouching token VT. Updating the evaluation involves adding new evaluation data to the evaluation data contained in the vouching token VT, and / or changing or modifying some or all of the evaluation data contained in the vouching token VT to the new evaluation data, and / or deleting some or all of the evaluation data contained in the vouching token VT.

[0031] The transfer means 160 in Figure 2 is a means for executing the transfer of an ownership of the transferable vouching token VT in response to a transfer request, and for making the vouching token VT include user information of an owner. That is, the transfer means 160 transfers the vouching token VT from a current owner to a new owner upon receiving a consent (transfer request) from both the current and new owners of the vouching token VT to then record the transfer in the token DB 31.

[0032] In the present invention, the method for creating and updating the token is established by replacing the configuration with the functions of means and sections of the token system 1 for creating and updating the token described in detail above. The following describes embodiments of the method according to the present invention, with reference to flowcharts shown in Figures 5 to 9, transmission data and recording data shown in Table 1, and a screen 50a of the user terminal 50 shown in Figures 10 to 13.

[0033]

[0034] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an initial registration execution by the initial registration means 100 for an embodiment of the token creation and update method according to the present invention. Firstly, an operator of a user terminal 51 transmits an initial registration request together with user information such as a password from the user terminal 51 to a processor 20 of a server 2 of the system for creating and updating the token (the token system) 1 (s201). The processor 20 receives the user information and the initial registration request (s203) and verifies against data in a user database 29, and initially registers the user information in the user database 29 (s205) if the operator of the user terminal 51 is not registered. Therefore, the operator of the user terminal 51 becomes a system user ID1 of the token system 1. The user ID can be issued by the processor 20 or be determined by the operator. Subsequently, the processor 20 transmits a notification of the initial registration to the user terminal 51 (s207). The user terminal 51 receives it and displays the initial registration status on a screen (s209). The operators of other user terminals 52,53 can perform similar initial registrations and are registered as system users ID2,ID3.

[0035] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of creating and recording the vouching token VT by the identifying information recording means 110. When the system user ID1 manufactures an article (s221) and wishes to create the vouching token VT for the article, the system user ID1 transmits: article identifying (AI) information 11 unique to the article; and the user information including the user ID and password; from the user terminal 51 to the processor 20 of the server 2 (s223). The processor 20 receives the article identifying information 11 and the user information (s225), and compares the received user information with the user information stored in a user DB 29 (s227), and if they match each other, creates the vouching token VT from the article identifying information 11 (s229). The processor 20 records the created vouching token VT in the token DB 31 (s231) and transmits a notification of the created vouching token VT to user terminal 51 (s233). The user terminal 51 receives the notification and displays it on the screen (s235).

[0036] Figure 10 shows the screens (screenshots) 50a displayed on the user terminal 51 when creating the vouching token VT. The system user ID1 decides a filename indicating the vouching token VT, and enters it into an input field 401 in a left diagram of Figure 10, and taps a record button 403, and then, the screen 50a switches to a screen 50a in right diagram of Figure 10. The system user ID1 further taps a button 411 to display on the screen 50a, for example, an illustration 415 showing the appearance of the article, and specifies the illustration 415 and tap a record button 413 to transmit the illustration 415 to the processor 20 as the article identifying information 11 (Fig. 6 s223).

[0037] No. 1 in Table 1 represents transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and recording data (in right side of the arrow) for creating and recording the vouching token VT (Figure 6). That is, when creating and recording the vouching token VT, data "AII1" of the article identifying information 11 unique to the article and data "ID1" of the user information are transmitted from the user terminal 51 to the server 2, and the processor 20 creates the vouching token VT. Further, in Table 1, the upper row of each transmission and recording data shows the article identifying information 11, article detail information 12, permission information concerning access rights (hereinafter, including the rights to not only access but also update, i.e., add, change, modify, and / or delete the information of the vouching token VT), information concerning an evaluation, or information concerning an owner (token owner) of the vouching token VT, and the lower row shows the user information of a sender. The user terminal 51 can also transmit: data to permit an access to the vouching token VT only to for example, the system user ID2 "PMS1_ID2"; data affirming the article identifying information 11 "P_AII1"; and data to set the system user as a token owner ID1 "OWR1_ID1". The processor 20 of the server 2 receives data "AII1", "ID1", "PMS1_ID2", "P_AII1", and "OWR1_ID1" and records the data in a token DB 31 as shown in Table 1, and records a description of an action history as "ID1 creates VT" in a token DB 29. The actions history (activity log) refers to details of interactions between users or a user and the processing devise 20, recorded in the token system 1 (token DB 29).

[0038] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process for making the detail information recording means 120 include the article detailed information 12 in the vouching token VT. The system user ID2 transmits: the article detail information 12 arbitrarily defined by the system user ID2; and the user information containing the user ID and password; from the user terminal 52 to the processor 20 of the server 2 (s241). The processor 20 receives the article detail (AD) information 12 and the user information (s243), compares the received user information with the user information stored in the user DB 29 (s245), and if they match, makes the vouching token VT include the article detail information 12 to record it in the token data DB 31 (s247). Thereafter, the processor 20 sends the user terminal 52 a notification that the article detail information 12 has been recorded (s249). The user terminal 52 receives the notification and displays it on the screen (s251).

[0039] Figure 11 shows the screen (screenshot) 50a displayed on the user terminal 52 when making vouching token VT include the article detail information 12. The system user ID2 selects any one or more from tabs 421, such as Specifications 421a, Maker 421b, Public History 421c, Private Certificate 421d, Service History 421e and Maker's timeline 421f, of classification items of the multiple article detail information 12 displayed on the screen 50a. Further, the system user ID2 specifies the specific article detail information (not shown) to be included in the vouching token VT, which for example, is pre-stored in the user terminal 52, and taps a record button 423 to transmit it to the processor 20 (Fig. 7 s241). Figure 11 shows six classification items (tabs 421a-421f) for the article detail information 12, but there can be more than six classification items (e.g., insurance policy, certificate of origin not shown). Conversely, the classification items (tabs 421) can be fewer than six. That is, only service history 421e can be present.

[0040] No. 2 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when making the vouching token VT include the article detail Information 12 (Figure 7). In other words, the system user ID2 possessing access rights to the vouching token VT transmits from the user terminal 52 data "ADI1" of the article detail information 12, data "ID2" of the user information, and data "P_ADI1" affirming the article detail information 12, with automatically or as specified by the sender. The processor 20 of the server 2 receives each data of "ADI1", "ID2" and "P_ADI1" and records in the token DB 31 as shown in Table 1, thereby making the vouching token VT include them, and records the actions history "ID2 makes VT include ADI1".

[0041] No. 3 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when transmitting the article detail information 12 to the vouching token VT. That is, a system user ID3 transmits the article detail information data "ADI2" and the user information data "ID3" from a user terminal 53. At this time, the system user ID3 selects a specific tab from the tabs 421a-421f displayed on the screen 50a in Figure 11, which show the multiple article detail information 12, and further specifies the specific article detail information 12 that the system user ID3 wishes to add to the vouching token VT, and transmits its data "ADI2" to the processor 20. However, as shown in No. 1 of Table 1, the access rights to the vouching token VT are permitted for the system user ID2 but not for the system user ID3, and therefore, the processor 20 does not add the data "ADI2" to the token DB 31 with or without receiving the data "ADI2". The processor 20 sends a notification to the user terminal 53 stating that system user ID3 does not have the access rights, and also records the actions history "ADI2 by ID3 is refused".

[0042] No. 4 in Table 1 illustrates the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when modifying the access-authorized person (hereinafter, also means a viewer or an update-authorized person) for the vouching token VT via the access permission means 140. Specifically, in the case that the access-authorized person is only the system user ID2, the system user ID1 can transmit from the user terminal 51, data "PMS2_IDall" for permitting the access rights to all system user ID1-IDn together with the user information data "ID1". The processor 20 of the server 2 receives each data of "PMS1_IDall" and "ID1" and records the data in the token DB31 as shown in Table 1, thereby changing the access-authorized person for the vouching token VT to all system users. Further, the processor 20 records the actions history "ID1 permits access to VT for all users" in the token DB 31. When changing authorized user, the processor 20 compares a user ID of the received new authorized user (newly viewable user) with data in the user DB 29, and permits the new authorized user if the matched user ID is stored in the user DB 29. If there is no match, it denies the permission. Alternatively, the processor 20 can store and execute information concerning specific access rights. For example, it can execute the information such as: "The system users who are members of common group can access the vouching token VT", "The system users residing in or holding nationality of the country A cannot access the vouching token VT", or " The all system users can access the vouching token VT created over one year ago", etc.

[0043] No. 5 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when adding the article detail information 12 to the vouching token VT (i.e. updating the article detail information 12 contained in the vouching token VT). Specifically, the system user ID3 transmits the article detail information data "ADI2" and the user information data "ID3" from the user terminal 53. At this time, the system user ID3 selects a specific tab from such as tabs 421a-421f displayed on the screen 50a in Figure 11, which show the multiple article detail information 12, and specifies the specific article detail information 12 that the system user ID3 wish to add to the vouching token VT, and transmits data "ADI2" thereof to the processor 20. Further, data "P_ADI2" affirming the article detail information 12 is transmitted from the user terminal 53, either automatically or as specified by the sender. As shown in No. 4 of Table 1, all system users including system user ID3 possesses the access rights, and therefore, the processor 20 of the server 2 further adds data "ADI2" to data "ADI1" of the article detail information 12 contained in the token DB 31 as per Table 1, and records data "ID3" and "P_ADI2", and records the actions history "ID3 adds ADI2".

[0044] No. 6 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when changing (updating) the article identifying information 11. Specifically, the system user ID1, to change the data "AII1" of the current article identifying information 11, transmits data "AII2" of the article identifying information 11 together with user information data "ID1" from the user terminal 51, and also transmits data "P_AII2" affirming the article identifying information 11, either automatically or as specified by the sender. The processor 20 of the server 2 changes the data of the article identifying information 11 contained in the token DB 31 from "AII1" to "AII2" as shown in Table 1, records the data "ID1" and "P_AII2" in the token DB 31, and also records the actions history "ID1 changes AII1 to AII2".

[0045] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process for transferring the vouching token VT via the transfer means 160. The system user ID1 as current token owner, physically transfers the actual article to the system user ID2 (s261), and the system user ID2 receives it (s263). The system user ID1 sends a transfer request for the vouching token VT (s265). The processor 20 of the server 2 receives the transfer request (s267) and transmits it to the system user ID2 (s269). The system user ID2 receives the transfer request for the vouching token VT (s271) and transmits the user information along with a transfer consent (s273). The processor 20 receives the transfer consent and user information (s275), compares the received user information with the user information stored in the user DB 29 (s277), and if the user information matches, records the change of the token owner in the token data DB 31 (s279). That is, it updates the information concerning the token owner in the vouching token VT to that of the new token owner, and therefore, the new token owner can determine who possesses the access rights (viewing privileges) to the information input by the current owner in the vouching token VT. Subsequently, the processor 20 sends a notification of the change in the vouching token owner to each user terminal 51,52 (s281). Each user terminal 51,52 receives the notification of the change in the vouching token owner and displays it on the screen (s283, s285).

[0046] Figures 12 and 13 show images (screenshots) 50a displayed on the user terminals 51,52 respectively when transferring the vouching token VT. The system user ID1 as current token owner taps a thumbnail 431 and a selection button 433 on the screen 50a in the left diagram in Figure 12 to specify the specific vouching token VT, and enters an address of the system user ID2 as an intended new token owner into an address field 435, and enters a message into a message field 437 if required, and further taps a transmission button 439 to transmit the transfer request to system user ID2 via the server 2 (Fig. 8 s265, s267, s269). After the transmission, the screen 50a of the user terminal 51 displays the thumbnail 431 of the vouching token VT requested for the transfer and a transfer request history 443 as shown in the right diagram of Figure 12. Meanwhile, the screen 50a of the user terminal 52 that received the transfer request (Fig. 8 s271) displays as shown in Figure 13: the thumbnail 431 of the vouching token VT requested for the transfer from the system user ID1; the transfer request history 453; and buttons for selecting either transfer acceptance 455 or rejection 457.

[0047] No. 7 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when transferring and recording the vouching token VT (Figure 8). That is, during the transfer and recording of the vouching token VT, the system user ID1 as current token owner transmits data "OWR2_ID2" for changing the token owner to the system user ID2 together with the user information data "ID1" from the user terminal 51 to the processor 20 of the server 2. The processor 20 changes data "OWR2_ID1" recorded in the token DB 31 to "OWR2_ID2" as shown in Table 1, records the data "ID1", and changes the token owner from the system user ID1 to the system user ID2. Furthermore, the processor 20 records the actions history "ID1 transfers VT to ID2" in the token DB 31.

[0048] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process by that detail information update section 132 modifies (updates) the article detailed information 12. The system user ID2 physically transfers the actual article to the system user ID3 (s301), and the system user ID3 receives it (s303). The system user ID3 repairs the article (s305) and transmits the modified article detail information 12 reflecting the repair, along with the user information, to the processor 20 of the server 2 (s307). The processor 20 receives the modified article detail information 12 and user information (s309), collates the received user information with the user information stored in the user DB 29 (s311), and if the user information matches, replaces the article detail information 12 contained in the token data DB 31 with the modified article detail information 12 (s313). Subsequently, the processor 20 sends a notification of the modified article detail information 12 to each user terminal 52, 53 (s315), and the user terminals 52,53 receive the notification and displays it on the screen (s317, s319).

[0049] No. 8 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and the recording data (in right side of the arrow) when modifying (updating) the article detail information 12 (Figure 9). The system user ID3 transmits data "M-ADI1" of the modified article detail information 12 together with the user information data "ID3" from the user terminal 53 to the processor 20 of the server 2 for establishing new evidence in the vouching token VT. It also transmits data "P-M_ADI1" affirming the modified article detail information 12. The processor 20 modifies the data "ADI1" of the article identifying information 12 contained in the token DB 31 to the data "M-ADI1" as shown in Table 1, and records the data "ID3" and "P-M_ADI1" in the token DB 31. The processor 20 also records the actions history "ID3 modifies ADI1" in the token DB 31.

[0050] No. 9 in Table 1 represents the transmission data (in left side of the arrow) and recorded data (in right side of the arrow) when the evaluation recording means 150 negates the article identifying information 11. The system user ID1 transmits data "N_AII2" negating a part of data "AII2" of the article identifying information 11 together with the user information data "ID1" from the user terminal 51 to the processor 20 of the server 2. The processor 20 records each data of "N_AII2" and "ID1" in the token DB31 as shown in Table 1, thereby negating the part of the article identifying information 11. Furthermore, the processor 20 records the actions history "ID1 negates vouching of AII2" in the token DB 31. Although not shown in Table 1 as recorded data, the evaluation (voucher record): positive P, negative N, or neutral n can be used. Alternatively, a point evaluation can be also used.

[0051] In the present invention, the reliability of the vouching token VT is established through the accumulation of the recorded data (as shown in Table 1) without utilizing the blockchain technology. In other words, the reliability of the vouching token VT is enhanced by accumulating the following recorded data: the article identifying information (AII) 11, the article detail information (ADI) 12, the access permission information to the vouching token VT, the evaluation (voucher record) (positive P / negative N / neutral n), the owner of the vouching token VT, the contributors of article identifying information (AII) 11, the article detail information (ADI) 12, and voucher record, and the actions history.

[0052] The embodiments of the method according to the present invention illustrates that the processor 20 of the server 2 executes the method in cooperation with the storage 30 of the server 2. Although not shown, the processor of user terminal 50 can also execute the method in cooperation with the storage 30 in the server or the storage in the user terminal 50. In this case, substantially identical functions and effects to those of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 13 are obtained.

[0053] The present invention can be also a program for causing the server 2, the user terminal 50, or an external computer (not shown) to function as the token system 1 for creating and updating the token and method therefor. The token system 1 or the method of the present invention can be executed as operated by the user terminal 50 based on a program for creating and updating the token stored in the storage 30 of the server 2 and / or a storage of the user terminal 50. In this case, the processing content of the functions of each means and each section is described in the program, and the processing of each means and each section can be realized on the computer by executing the program on a computer.

[0054] The present invention can be also a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method for creating and updating a vouching token VT by receiving article information 11,12 from at least one user terminal 50;51,52,53 communicatively connected to a server 2 in a token system 1. The method comprises: receiving by a processor 20 of the server 2 at least one article identifying information 11 unique to the article as the article information and creating a vouching token to vouch an authenticity of an article and storing the vouching token VT including the article identifying information 11 on a token database 31; receiving by the processor 20 at least one article detail information 12 defined by at least one system user of the token system 1 as the article information other than the article identifying information 11, and making the vouching token VT include the article detail information 12; and updating by the processor 20 the vouching token VT stored on the token database 31. The step of updating the vouching token VT comprises: receiving further the at least one article identifying information 11 and updating the article identifying information 11 included in the vouching token VT; and / or receiving further the at least one article detail information 12 and updating the article detail information 12 included in the vouching token VT.

[0055] The token creation and update system, method, and program of the present invention can be widely utilized for the authenticity verification concerning high-value and rare articles such as, luxury vehicles, vessels, aircraft, precious metals, watches, accessories, artworks, crafts, antiques, vintage articles, commemorative goods, non-saleable articles, rare articles, admission tickets, membership rights, digital arts, contractual documents, real estate, fuel, natural resources, chemical substances, bacteria, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, living organisms, animals, plants, and any other tangible or intangible articles of high value or rarity.

[0056] 1 Token creation and update system 2 Server 11 Article identifying information 12 Article detailed information 20 Processor 29 User database 30 Storage 31 Token database 50 User terminal VT Vouching token

Claims

1. A method for creating and updating a token by receiving article information from at least one user terminal communicatively connected to a server in a token system, the method comprising steps of: receiving by a processor of the server at least one article identifying information unique to an article as the article information and creating a vouching token to vouch an authenticity of the article and storing the vouching token including the article identifying information on a token database; receiving by the processor at least one article detail information defined by at least one system user of the token system as the article information other than the article identifying information, and making the vouching token include the article detail information; and updating by the processor the vouching token stored in the token database; the step of updating the vouching token comprises: receiving further the at least one article identifying information and updating the article identifying information included in the vouching token; and / or receiving further the at least one article detail information and updating the article detail information included in the vouching token.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of updating the vouching token comprises: a) adding new data of the article identifying information to data of the article identifying information included in the vouching token; and / or b) partially or wholly changing or modifying the data of the article identifying information included in the vouching token to the new data of the article identifying information; and / or c) partially deleting the data of the article identifying information included in the vouching token.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of updating the vouching token comprises: a) adding new data of the article detail information to data of the article detail information included in the vouching token; and / or b) partially or wholly changing or modifying the data of the article detail information included in the vouching token to the new data of the article detail information; and / or c) partially or wholly deleting the data of the article detail information included in the vouching token.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the vouching token comprises setting an owner of the vouching token; the method further comprising transferring the vouching token from a current owner to a new owner upon receiving a consent from both the current owner and the new owner of the vouching token.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vouching token further includes one or more user IDs assigned to: a sender of the article identifying information, a sender of the article detail information, the system user who requested creating the vouching token, an owner of the vouching token, the system user authorized to access to the vouching token, and / or the system user not authorized to access to the vouching token.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: with or without receiving permission information about access rights to the vouching token from the user terminal, determining by the processor one or more system users authorized to access to the vouching token; and making by the processor the vouching token include user ID or IDs of the determined one or more system users authorized to access to the vouching token.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: with or without receiving permission information about rights to update the vouching token from the user terminal, determining by the processor one or more system users authorized to update the vouching token; and making by the processor the vouching token include user ID or IDs of the determined one or more system users authorized to update the vouching token.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: with or without receiving from the user terminal, a vouching information about either or both of the article identifying information and the article detail information, determining by the processor the vouching information; and making by the processor the vouching token include the determined vouching information.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising updating the vouching information included in the vouching token, wherein the step of updating the vouching information comprises: a) adding new data of the vouching information to data of the vouching information included in the vouching token; and / or b) partially or wholly changing or modifying the data of the vouching information included in the vouching token to the new data of the vouching information; and / or c) partially or wholly deleting the data of the vouching information included in the vouching token.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the article identifying information is data provided as a file or a text, and is one or more selected from: a name, a photograph or illustration showing an appearance, a drawing, an introductory video, an application description, a search tag, a unique ID, a product number, a manufacturer, or a manufacturing date; and the article detail information is data provided as a file or a text, and is one or more selected from: evidence, an opinion, a knowledge, statistics, a testimony, or documents.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the article detail information is data provided as a file or a text, and is one or more selected from: a repair history, a parts replacement history, an award history, an exhibit history, specifications, information of maker, a public history, a private certificate, a service history, a maker’s timeline, an insurance contract, an origin certificate.

12. A system for creating and updating a vouching token comprising: a server communicatively connected to at least one user terminal; a processor in the server for receiving article information from the user terminal and for creating the vouching token to vouch an authenticity of an article; and a storage for storing the created vouching token; the processor comprising: a means for receiving at least one article identifying information unique to the article as the article information and creating the vouching token and storing the vouching token including the article identifying information in a token database of the storage; a means for receiving at least one article detail information defined by at least one system user of the vouching token system as the article information other than the article identifying information, and making the vouching token include the article detail information; and a means for updating the vouching token stored in the token database; the means for updating the vouching token comprises: a section for receiving further the at least one article identifying information and updating the article identifying information included in the vouching token; and / or a section for receiving further the at least one article detail information and updating the article detail information included in the vouching token.

13. A program for creating and updating a vouching token, causing a computer to function as the method according to claim 1.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for creating and updating a token by receiving article information from at least one user terminal communicatively connected to a server in a token system, the method comprising: receiving by a processor of the server at least one article identifying information unique to an article as the article information and creating a vouching token to vouch an authenticity of the article and storing the vouching token including the article identifying information on a token database; receiving by the processor at least one article detail information defined by at least one system user of the token system as the article information other than the article identifying information, and making the vouching token include the article detail information; and updating by the processor the vouching token stored on the token database; the step of updating the vouching token comprises: receiving further the at least one article identifying information and updating the article identifying information included in the vouching token; and / or receiving further the at least one article detail information and updating the article detail information included in the vouching token.

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