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Distribution information management system and method

  • US 7,159,113 B1
  • Filed: 12/07/1999
  • Issued: 01/02/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A distribution information management system, comprising:

  • a data carrier attached to an article that stores information relative to the article, the data carrier being an electronic tag;

    a distribution information processing module that reads information from and stores information to the data carrier, anda distribution information management module that the distribution information processing module communicates with via first and second communication parts, the distribution information management module managing information relative to distribution of the article,the distribution information processing module comprising;

    a reading part that reads out the information of the data carrier;

    a storing part that stores the information in the data carrier;

    a first information verification unit that verifies the information read out from the data carrier;

    an information generating unit that processes the information to be stored in the data carrier, wherein the information includes at least a signer identifier that is a receiver identifier of last information stored in the data carrier; and

    a first communication part that communicates with the distribution information management module,the first information verification unit comprising;

    a first information verification part that verifies the information read out from the data carrier by a verification key; and

    a first verification key storage part that stores the verification key used by the first information verification part for verification of the information, andthe information generating unit comprising;

    a distribution information generating part that generates the information to be stored in the data carrier;

    a signature module that performs signature generating process;

    a signature key information storage part that stores the signature key information used by the signature module for generating a digital signature;

    a signature key information selection part that selects a signature key information stored in the signature key storage part; and

    a signature key information acquisition part that acquires the signature key information from the distribution information management module,the signature module comprising;

    a signature part that generates the digital signature for the information generated by the distribution information generating part;

    a first signer private information storage part that stores signer private information used by the signature part for generating the digital signature; and

    a signature key use limit information storage part that stores a signer key use limit information to indicate whether the signature key information is already used, and the distribution information management module comprising;

    a second communication part that communicates with the distribution information processing module;

    a second information verification unit that processes the information received from the distribution information processing module; and

    a signature key information generating unit that processes the signature key information to be sent to the distribution information processing module;

    the second information verification unit comprising;

    a second information verification part that verifies the information received from the distribution information processing module; and

    a second verification key storage part that stores the verification key used by the second information verification part for verification of the information, the signature key information generating unit comprising;

    a signature key information generating part that generates a signature key information used by the distribution information processing module for generating a distribution information;

    a signature key storage part that stores the signature key used by the signature key information generating part for generating signature key information;

    a signer private information selection part that selects signer private information used by the signature key information generating part for generating signature key information; and

    a second signer private information storage part that stores the signer private information,wherein the information generating unit has a signature key use limit information storage part that limits a specified number of times for signatures performed using the signature key, the signature key information selection part does not select signature key information used more than a specified number of times for signature.

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