Supply Chain Product Linking for Secure Emissions Data Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for information sharing in supply chains face challenges in ensuring security and preventing unintended disclosure of sensitive information, particularly in calculating greenhouse gas emissions across multiple companies, due to the complexity of supply relations and the need for precise permission settings.
Innovation Solution
A server apparatus that stores product information for each company in a supply chain, links identification information to set access permissions, and manages access authority based on designated link information, ensuring only relevant companies can access specific product data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If product information is shared across multiple companies in a supply chain, then information sharing and traceability are improved, but security and risk of unintended disclosure worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments product information into multiple fields with different sensitivity levels (e.g., basic product data, detailed specifications, pricing information). Each field can be independently controlled for access permissions, allowing companies to share necessary information while protecting sensitive data. This segmentation enables granular control over information disclosure in supply chain networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality by assigning different access permissions to different companies based on their specific roles and relationships in the supply chain. Each company receives customized access rights to specific product information fields relevant to their function, rather than uniform access control. This ensures that each entity accesses only the information necessary for their operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If access permission settings are implemented for product information, then security is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of permission management worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining permission templates and access rules based on common supply chain roles and relationships. These pre-configured permission sets can be quickly assigned to companies without requiring complex custom configurations each time. This reduces the management burden while maintaining security requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary permission management module that mediates between information requests and security constraints. This intermediary automatically evaluates access requests against defined rules and policies, reducing the need for manual permission configuration and simplifying the management interface for users.
3Measurement precision
If detailed product information is collected from all companies, then traceability and measurement precision are improved, but information security and confidentiality worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Product information is segmented into multiple fields with different sensitivity levels (e.g., basic product data, detailed specifications, pricing information). Each field can be independently controlled for access permissions, allowing companies to share necessary information while protecting sensitive data. This segmentation enables granular control over information disclosure in supply chain networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting the level of information detail provided to different companies based on their access permissions. Instead of providing full detailed information to all entities, the system adapts the information granularity to match security requirements and organizational roles, maintaining traceability while protecting confidentiality.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A server apparatus including a memory configured to store, for each of companies included in a supply chain, product information concerning products of the companies and a controller. The supply chain includes a first company and a second company and the memory stores first product information of the first company and second product information of the second company. The controller is configured to execute acquiring link information for linking first identification information included in the first product information and second identification information included in the second product information and receiving, in response to the first identification information and the second identification information being linked in the link information, setting concerning access permission for the first company to the second product information.