JP2008204066A - Document management system, document management server, and document management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To objectively certify respective creation date of a plurality of documents made in time series and prevent violation of credibility of the creation date even if the document is disclosed to others. <P>SOLUTION: A server 1 transforms a document requested for registration by a client 2 into a structured document and a binary document, and stores the created structured document through the transformation and the binary document correspondingly to each process in a database. In addition for each item of the created structured document and the created binary document certification of time is requested to a time stamp authority 100, and the time stamp authority 100 registers the issued certification of time by corresponding to each item of the structured document and binary document into the DB (database) 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document management system, a document management server, and a document management program that can objectively prove creation dates of a plurality of created documents.

  Companies apply for patents for new inventions for the purpose of, for example, enhancing the sales advantage of their products or maintaining the sales advantage. However, when a patent application is filed, as a general rule, the contents of the application are made public one year and six months after the filing date. As a result, the technical contents related to the patent application are known to other companies, and there is a possibility that matters that are not originally disclosed as know-how may be known based on the technical contents. Therefore, in order not to know know-how etc., when a patent is not granted for a new invention and another company later obtains a patent right for a similar invention, the normal license (first It is expected that the policy of instituting usage rights will be adopted more often.

  To claim the prior user rights, you need materials to prove that another company was doing business at the time of filing a patent application for a similar invention or preparing for the business. For this purpose, it is necessary to keep documents such as product design drawings, specifications, purchase orders, sales orders, and product catalogs. Moreover, in order to objectively prove the business start time and business preparation start time, it is desirable to store these documents in a state where they cannot be tampered with. In order to realize such storage, for example, a method of receiving a fixed date for a document from a notary can be considered.

  However, it is troublesome to receive a fixed date every time documents such as drawings, specifications, purchase orders, orders, product catalogs, etc. are created. On the other hand, if a fixed date is given to a plurality of documents at once, the business start time and the business preparation start time may become ambiguous.

  In addition, when a company receives a loan from a financial institution or the like, generally, the financial institution or the like is required to present a business plan. In that case, for the purpose of clarifying the business plan, it is meaningful to present to a financial institution, etc. a document with a fixed date for asserting the prior user right. However, if a document with a fixed date for claiming prior user rights is disclosed to another company such as a financial institution, the patentee who is the claimant will be There is a possibility of doubting the reliability of the document. That is, the reliability of a document to which a fixed date for asserting the prior use right is given is significantly reduced. Therefore, it should be avoided that a document with a fixed date for asserting the prior user right is disclosed to a financial institution prior to the time when the prior user right is claimed. Therefore, it is difficult to divert a document to which a fixed date for asserting the prior use right is assigned for other purposes.

  Along with the spread of the Internet, a time stamp service in which a third party attaches a time stamp to a document in response to a date authentication request from the user via the Internet has been proposed in order to improve document evidence. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). If such a service is used, the trouble of receiving a fixed date is avoided. Patent Document 1 describes a mode in which time stamps are collectively attached to a plurality of documents in addition to a mode in which time stamps are attached to each document.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-319452 (paragraphs 0004-0008)

  Patent Document 1 describes a form in which a time stamp is attached to each document and a form in which time stamps are collectively attached to a plurality of documents. The time stamp service described in Patent Document 1 is described. Simply timestamps the document. That is, information from the development start stage of a new technology or new product to the start of product sales is not managed in time series. Then, it cannot be said that it is sufficient as document management for asserting the prior use right. This is because whether or not the patentee was doing business at the time of filing a patent application or preparing for the business was taken into consideration that information from the development start stage was managed in time series. This is because that. In addition, there remains a problem that it is difficult to divert a document with a time stamp to other uses.

  Therefore, the present invention can objectively prove the creation date of each of a plurality of documents created in time series, and even if the document is disclosed to others, the authenticity of the creation date An object of the present invention is to provide a document management system, a document management server, and a document management program that can prevent damage to the document.

  A document management system according to the present invention includes a time stamp station that provides a time certification service, and a document management server that is communicably connected to a client device manages a plurality of documents created by the client device for each process. A system in which a document management server converts a document that a client device requests to register into a structured document and a binary document, and a structured document and a binary created by converting the format conversion unit. A registration information storage unit that stores a type document in a database corresponding to each process, a time stamp for each item in a structured document created by the format conversion unit, and a binary document created by the format conversion unit When requesting time certification from the station and issued by the time stamp authority Prove, characterized in that in correspondence with each item and binary documents in the structured document and a proof information storage means for registering in the database.

  A document management server according to the present invention is a document management server that manages a plurality of documents created by a client device for each process, and a format for converting a document that the client device requests to register into a structured document and a binary document Conversion means, registration information storage means for storing the structured document and binary type document created by conversion by the format conversion means in a database corresponding to each step, and each of the structured documents created by the format conversion means For each item and for the binary document created by the format conversion means, request a time certificate from a time stamp authority that provides a time certificate service, and issue the time certificate issued by the time stamp authority to each item in the structured document and Evidence storage unit registered in the database corresponding to the binary document Characterized in that it comprises and.

  The document management server may include an associating unit that performs processing for associating a document for which the client apparatus requests registration with a document in a process prior to the process to which the document belongs.

  The associating unit performs a process of associating based on a request from the client device, and in this process, the document associated with the time indicated by the time certificate attached to the document associated with the document is a document in the previous process. It may be configured to verify whether or not there is. According to such a configuration, a process of associating a document requesting registration with a document in a process prior to the process to which the document belongs is surely executed.

  The document management server may include evidence output means for outputting a binary document and a binary document associated with the binary document in response to an evidence output request.

  The registration information storage means stores in the database together with each item data indicating whether or not each item in the document is allowed to be released, and the document management server stores the structured document stored in the database in response to the release request. Of these items, there may be provided a public output means for outputting only the item corresponding to the data indicating that the public is permitted.

  A document management server includes a document input function providing unit that provides a document input screen to a client device via a communication network, and a registration screen including information that can identify each document stored in a database via the communication network And a document registration function providing unit that provides the client apparatus with the document registration function providing unit.

  A document management program according to the present invention provides a format conversion process for converting a document that a client device requests to register into a structured document and a binary document to a document management server that manages a plurality of documents created by the client device for each process. For each item in the registration information storage process that stores the structured document and binary document created by the format conversion process in the database corresponding to each process, and for each item in the structured document created by the format conversion process, Request time certification from the time stamp authority that provides the time certification service for the binary documents created by the format conversion process and the time certification issued by the time stamp authority for each item in the structured document and binary type document. Execute the evidence information storage process to be registered in the database corresponding to Characterized in that it is configured urchin.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to objectively prove the creation date of each of a plurality of documents created in time series, and even if the document is disclosed to others such as a financial institution You can ensure that the authenticity of the creation date is not compromised.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a document management system according to the present invention. The server (document management server) 1 is an information processing apparatus such as a server apparatus, and includes a CPU that executes processing according to a program. The client 2 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and can communicate with the server 1 via a communication network 102 such as the Internet or an intranet.

  The server 1 can communicate with a database (DB) server 3 that is an information processing apparatus such as a server apparatus via a communication network 103 such as an intranet.

  The server 1 can communicate with the server 1 via a time stamp station 100 which is a third party organization (TTP) and a communication network 101 such as the Internet. Note that the communication network 101, the communication network 102, and the communication network 103 may be the same communication network.

  An existing time stamp station 100 can be used. The time stamp authority 100 is a server device that provides a time certification service using, for example, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and requests a hash value from a time certification request source with an electronic signature including time information. Return to original.

  The server 1 includes a document input function providing unit 11 that provides a document input screen (for example, a Web screen) to the client 2, and a document that provides a registration screen (registration status display screen: for example, a Web screen) in response to a request from the client 2. A registration function providing unit 12, a format conversion unit 13 for converting the format of a document requested to be registered by the client 2, an evidence information generating unit 14 having a function of receiving a time certificate from the time stamp authority 100, and registration information including a registered document. A registration information storage unit 15 that performs processing for storing in the DB in the DB server 3, an evidence information storage unit 16 that performs processing for storing time certification information in the DB in the DB server 3, and a process for performing processing for associating a document with another document The process association unit 17 that provides the association screen, and the DB server 3 in response to the output request Including evidence Output-published output unit 18 for outputting a document stored in definitive DB.

  The document input function providing unit 11, the document registration function providing unit 12, the format converting unit 13, the evidence information generating unit 14, the registration information storing unit 15, the evidence information storing unit 16, the process association unit 17, and the evidence output / public output. The unit 18 can be realized by a CPU that executes processing according to a program.

  Next, the operation of the document management system will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 21 of the client 2. FIG. 2A shows an example of a registration screen, and FIG. 2B shows an example of a document input screen. FIG. 2C shows an example of a process association screen. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of document input screen and evidence information. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a DB structure in the DB server 3. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a document output example and a DB structure example in the DB server 3.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2A, a business process (a process in a business, hereinafter referred to as a process) is an invention record (a research note as a document), an invention completed (a technical result report or research and development completed as a document). Report etc.), business preparation (business plan and production / sales plan etc. as documents), business (design drawings / specifications, ordering orders and product catalogs etc. as documents) are shown Yes. Also, when assigning document names, for example, “A” is used for the process of recording the invention, “B” is used for the process of completing the invention, “C” is used for the process of preparing the business, Use “D” for.

  The user accesses the server 1 from the client 2 when registering a document such as an invention content or an experiment record. The document registration function providing unit 12 of the server 1 transmits data of a registration screen including information that can specify each document as illustrated in FIG. Then, the registration screen as illustrated in FIG. 2A is displayed on the display unit 21 in the client 2. In the registration screen illustrated in FIG. 2A, a document name related to each of the processes to be managed for securing the prior use right is displayed, and an “evidence output” button and a “public output” button are displayed. The It should be noted that the process and related document names may be displayed in a format such as a hierarchical list (a format such as Windows (registered trademark) Explorer).

  When registering a new document, the user selects a business process corresponding to the document. That is, the business process part on the registration screen is pressed. Specifically, click to select. Then, the document input function providing unit 11 of the server 1 transmits data of a document input screen as illustrated in FIG. Then, in the client 2, a document input screen as illustrated in FIG. 2B is displayed on the display unit 21. The user inputs the document contents for each item on the document input screen, and attaches a document file as necessary. When attaching a document file, for example, the user presses the “attach file” button after designating the document file on the document input screen. The attached file is transmitted to the server 1. Also, on the document input screen, for each input item, a setting is made as to whether or not to be disclosed.

  When the user presses the “registration” button displayed on the document input screen, the user input content is transmitted to the server 1, and a registration request is made from the client 2 to the server 1. Further, the process association unit 17 of the server 1 transmits data on a process association screen as shown in FIG. Then, in the client 2, a process association screen as shown in FIG. The process association unit 17 includes data indicating the document name in the process before the process to which the document to be registered belongs in the data on the process association screen. Thus, the process association screen displays a list of document names in processes prior to the process to which the document to be registered belongs. In addition, a “related registration” button is also displayed on the process association screen.

  When the user selects the displayed document name on the process association screen and presses the “Register Registration” button, the process association unit 17 selects the document that the user wants to register in another process selected by the user. Associate with a document. Then, the document input function providing unit 11 of the server 1 transmits data of a document input screen as illustrated in FIG. In the client 2, a document input screen illustrated in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit 21 as a confirmation screen.

  When a registration request is made from the client 2 to the server 1, the format conversion unit 13 of the server 1 performs format conversion on the data and the attached file displayed on the document input screen. That is, the document content described in each input item on the document input screen illustrated in FIG. 3A is described in a language (structured language) for describing the document structure. Here, a case where XML is used as a structured language is taken as an example. A document described in XML is called a structured document. Further, the format conversion unit 13 converts the format of the document contents into a binary file (unstructured file) such as a PDF file (a text file or the like). The format converter 13 also converts the format of the attached file transmitted from the client 2 into a binary file.

  In the structured document, as shown in FIG. 3B, the input items shown in FIG. 3A are divided by XML tags. The evidence information generation unit 14 requests the time stamp authority 100 for time certification for each section divided by the XML tag. Also, for the binary type file, the time stamp authority 100 is requested for time certification. The evidence information generation unit 14 creates a hash value based on the content of the input item in the structured document and the content of the binary file when requesting time certification, and transmits the hash value to the time stamp station 100.

  The registration information storage unit 15 stores the structured document and the binary file in the DB in the DB server 3, and the evidence information generation unit 14 receives the time certificate issued from the time stamp authority 100, and converts the time certificate into the structured document. The DB server 3 stores data in the DB corresponding to each item and binary document.

  The process association unit 17 verifies the context of the time when each document (the document to be registered and the document associated therewith) is registered based on the time indicated by the time certificate attached to the document. That is, it is reconfirmed that the registration time of the associated document is earlier than the registration time of the document to be registered.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure of a document registered in the DB in the DB server 3. In FIG. 4, “ID” is data (identification information) corresponding to a document name. The “related previous process ID” is an ID indicating a process prior to the process to which the document belongs (specifically, an ID indicating a related document in the previous process). Each document is stored in the DB for each process, as shown in FIG. Each item in each document is also accompanied by data indicating whether or not the item is set as a disclosure target. FIG. 5B illustrates only a structured document, and description of a binary document is omitted.

  As described above, a document is registered for each business process necessary for securing the prior use right, and a document is associated between business processes. At the same time, the evidence information (structured document and binary document) is stored in a format to which a time stamp of a third party is given.

  When outputting a document registered in the DB in the DB server 3, the user selects a document and presses the “evidence output” button on the screen illustrated in FIG. Press the “Output” button.

  When the user claims a prior use right and selects a document or business process and presses the “evidence output” button, the evidence output / public output unit 18 of the server 1 stores the binary of the selected document. The type file and the binary type file of the document associated with the document are collectively output to the local disk of the server 1. Or, it is transmitted to the client 2. The client 2 receives the binary file and displays it on the display unit 21 or saves it on the local disk.

  When the user presses the “public output” button to present a document to a financial institution or the like, the evidence output / public output unit 18 of the server 1 is registered in the DB in the DB server 3. Among the items of the document, the structured document of the item of the document set as the publication target is edited along the time series of the business process, and the edited data is transmitted to the client 2. The client 2 displays each item in each document on the display unit 21 in a format as shown in FIG. Further, the evidence output / public output unit 18 of the server 1 may output each item in each document to a storage medium such as a CD-R in a format as shown in FIG.

  As described above, since the server 2 centrally manages the corresponding document from the research and development stage to the commercialization phase, the user can properly claim the prior use right. In addition, by assigning a time stamp of a third party to a document, accurate time series management between documents can be performed.

  Further, since the document is created as both a structured document and a binary document, even if the structured document is disclosed to others such as a financial institution, the binary document remains undisclosed. Therefore, the reliability of the binary document is not lowered. In addition, a company or the like can provide information desired by a financial institution or the like while concealing detailed information from others such as the financial institution. This is because information that is not desired to be disclosed to others can be kept secret. In addition, since the description of the invention content is created in a structured document, even if the user does not specify public / non-public, the server 1 responds to the public request such as a theme name and an outline description. It is possible to easily extract a range whose details are not understood by only the information. That is, detailed information can be kept secret from others, such as a financial institution, even when the user does not designate public / private.

  In this embodiment, document management for asserting the prior use right is taken as an example. However, the present invention is designed to manage design information in PDM (Product Data Management) and design information in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management). It can be applied to the management of It can also be applied to sales information management.

  The present invention can be publicly applied to a purpose of storing a document by clarifying the creation time and managing the document in time series.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the document management system by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part of a client. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of document input screen, and evidence information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of DB in DB server. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a structure of DB in a document output example and DB server.

Explanation of symbols

1 server (document management server)
2 Client (client device)
3 DB (database) server 21 Display unit 100 Time stamp station 101 Communication network 102 Communication network 103 Communication network

Claims (8)

A document management server that includes a time stamp authority that provides a time certification service and is connected to be communicable with a client device is a document management system that manages a plurality of documents created by the client device for each process,
The document management server
Format conversion means for converting a document for which the client device requests registration into a structured document and a binary document;
Registered information storage means for storing the structured document and binary document created by conversion by the format conversion means in a database corresponding to each step;
For each item in the structured document created by the format conversion means and for the binary document created by the format conversion means, the time stamp authority requests time proof, and the time proof issued by the time stamp authority A document management system comprising: an evidence information storage unit that registers the information in the database in correspondence with each item in a structured document and a binary document. A document management server that manages a plurality of documents created by a client device for each process,
Format conversion means for converting a document for which the client device requests registration into a structured document and a binary document;
Registered information storage means for storing the structured document and binary document created by conversion by the format conversion means in a database corresponding to each step;
For each item in the structured document created by the format conversion means and for the binary document created by the format conversion means, request a time certificate from a time stamp authority that provides a time certification service, and the time stamp authority A document management server comprising: evidence information storage means for registering the time certificate issued by the database in association with each item and binary document in the structured document. The document management server according to claim 2, further comprising an associating unit that performs processing for associating a document for which the client device requests registration with a document in a process before the process to which the document belongs. The associating unit performs a process of associating based on a request from the client device, and in this process, the document associated with the time indicated by the time certificate attached to the document associated with the document is a document in the previous step The document management server according to claim 3, wherein it is verified whether or not it exists. 5. The document management server according to claim 3, further comprising evidence output means for outputting a binary document and a binary document associated with the binary document in response to an evidence output request. The registration information storage means stores data indicating whether or not the disclosure of each item in the document is permitted in the database together with each item,
6. A public output unit that outputs only items corresponding to data indicating that disclosure is permitted among the items of the structured document stored in the database in response to a public request. The document management server according to any one of the above. A document input function providing means for providing a document input screen to a client device via a communication network;
7. A document registration function providing unit that provides a registration screen including information capable of specifying each document stored in the database to a client device via a communication network. Document management server described in 1. To the document management server that manages multiple documents created by the client device for each process,
A format conversion process for converting a document for which the client device requests registration into a structured document and a binary document;
A registration information storage process for storing the structured document and the binary type document created by the format conversion process in a database corresponding to each step;
For each item in the structured document created by the format conversion process and for a binary document created by the format conversion process, request a time certificate from a time stamp authority that provides a time certificate service, and A document management program for executing an evidence information storage process in which a time certificate issued by a stamp authority is registered in the database in correspondence with each item and binary document in a structured document.

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