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In recent years, patent applications and acquisitions related to My Number (individual number) and technologies linked to My Number have been occurring one after another in Japan. In particular, patents published and registered within the past five years (approximately after 2020) include many new attempts in the digital society, such as the identity verification function of the My Number card, technology that utilizes public personal identification (JPKI), and technology that utilizes the My Number in conjunction with other data. In this study, we selected representative patent cases from among these patent cases and organized them in the table below, including applicant (company), publication number/patent number, name of invention, overview (characteristics of My Number-related technology), and technical features and effects. In addition, particularly noteworthy cases are explained in detail after the table.
List of My Number related patent cases (last 5 years)
The table below summarizes patent cases of My Number-related technologies that have been applied for, published, or registered in Japan in the last five years.
| Applicant (company, etc.) | Publication number/patent number | Name of invention | Overview (Characteristics of My Number related technology) | Technical features/specific effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Sign Co., Ltd. | Patent No. 7478404 | Information processing system and information processing program | Multiple pieces of information (electronic certificate/ticket information) in the IC chip of the My Number card can be simultaneously acquired with a single reading to ensure the identity of the card. | A single tap operation acquires an electronic certificate for signature/user certification and the information written on the card (name, photo, etc.), improving user experience and preventing fraud. It combines convenience and safety, such as reducing reading time and preventing reuse of cards. |
| Limited Company IP Management(Note) | Patent No. 7171977 | Digital authentication system | A system that registers your My Number on your smartphone and authenticates your identity using a hash value combined with your smartphone's unique ID. Uniquely identifies the user when using online services to prevent phishing, etc. | User is identified by hash value generated from My Number and device ID. Users do not have to be aware of their raw My Number, reducing the risk of it being stolen by fraud. It makes it easier to collate personal information, contributing to the personalization of services and improved convenience. |
| Liquid Co., Ltd. | Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-043286 (pending) | (Official name unknown: Online identity verification technology) | A technology that reads the IC chip of a My Number card on a web browser without the need for an app, and enables identity verification through JPKI authentication, etc. Using the iPhone's "App Clip" function, users can complete identity verification without installing a dedicated app. | Start the My Number Card's IC chip reading app via the smartphone's App Clip function to achieve public personal identification (JPKI) online. Operators no longer need to develop a dedicated app, which reduces user effort and helps prevent withdrawals (improves application rate). This mechanism ispatent pending (application number: 2024-043286). |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation | Patent No. 7539514 | Information processing device, information processing method, and program | An invention that integrates collecting various transaction and attribute information linked to My Numberbased on customer information obtained using identity verification media at ATMs, etc. of financial institutions. We analyze the collected information and provide advertisements and services according to user characteristics and situations. | If you insert your identity verification card (My Number Card, etc.) when using an ATM, we will automatically collect your tax information, hometown tax payment history, etc. using your My Number, which is linked to your account number. This allows us to estimate the customer's interests and attributes and provide the most appropriate advertising information. By using My Number as a key, it is expected that data linkage will become easier and banking services will become more sophisticated (individually optimized proposals). |
| NTT Docomo, Inc. | Patent No. 7440674 | Information processing equipment | A system that classifies online service users into multiple groups according to their risk level, and requires high-risk groups to undergo strict identity verification at regular intervals. Security is improved by using official identification cards such as My Number Cards for identity verification, and by restricting service use if the identity is not verified. | An example of an identity verification system that utilizes the Public Personal Identification Service (JPKI). Authentication is performed using an IC card such as a My Number Card presented by the user, and regular identity verification prevents unauthorized use and information deficiencies. Balance user burden and safety by adjusting confirmation frequency according to risk. |
(Note) LLC IP Management: Patent holder of Patent No. 7171977 "Digital Authentication System". The application was filed by a small business and is a unique proposal that links public personal authentication with market data.
As mentioned above, over the past five years, a variety of entities in both the public and private sectors (startups, financial institutions, major telecommunications carriers, etc.) have acquired and applied for patents for My Number-related technologies. Next, we will explain in detail the aims and effects of each invention in representative cases that are particularly noteworthy.
Detailed explanation of notable representative patent cases
1. PocketSign Co., Ltd. “Patent related to reading My Number Card” (Patent No. 7478404)
[Patent Overview] Patent No. 7478404 obtained by PocketSign Inc. is a technology that reads multiple information sources at once from the IC chip of a My Number card. Previously, when obtaining electronic certificates and face information (name, photo, etc.) from My Number cards, separate operations and readings were required, and a PIN code was also required for each. With this invention, when a user swipes a cardon a terminal, the following processes aresimultaneously carried out:
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Obtaining an electronic certificate: Read the electronic certificate for signature or the electronic certificate for user certification (select the required one of the two types of certificates depending on the purpose).
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Obtaining card face information: Obtain the name, date of birth, face photo data, etc. written on the face of the card using the card face information input assistance AP.
It is important to be able to run these in parallel with a single NFC contact and guarantee that they came from the same card. For example, when performing authentication using an electronic certificate and matching a facial photo in the identity verification process, this technology ensures that the certificate and facial photo are from the same card. Previously, if the cards were read separately, there was room for using different people's cards, but this patented technology increases the effectiveness of fraud prevention.
[Technical Features/Effects] It is easy to operate for the user, and requires one PIN entry and card swipe, greatly reducing effort and time. For example, the digital ID app provided by PocketSign uses this technology to speed up the registration process by simultaneously acquiring user identification certificates and name information. For business operators, reliability is improved as the identity can be verified using reliably data obtained from the same card. PocketSign Inc. announced that it acquired this patent in April 2020 and will make it available free of charge in November 2024. This will be released after consultation with the government, and it is hoped that the spread of this technology will lead to the promotion of the use of the public personal identification service (JPKI) as a whole.
2. Liquid Co., Ltd. “My number card identity verification technology that does not require an app” (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-043286 [pending])
[Patent Overview] Liquid Co., Ltd. (ELEMENTS Group) has developed a technology for reading the IC chip of My Number cards via a web browser without using a dedicated app for online identity verification (eKYC) services, and has filed a patent application in 2024 (application number: 2024-043286). The background to this technology is that the 2024 revision of the Criminal Proceeds Prevention Act will unify all non-face-to-face identification with the My Number Card (JPKI), and strict identity verification using the My Number Card has begun to be required in various situations such as account opening, mobile contracts, matching apps, etc. Liquid focused on the iPhone's "App Clip" feature and applied it to identity verification by allowing users to call up only some of the functions they need without having to install an app.
Specifically, when you start App Clip using a QR code, etc., the My Number Card IC reading module instantly operates on your iPhone, and reads the JPKI electronic certificate and completes personal authentication on your browser. Future support for Android is also being considered (currently available only for iOS 15 or later). With this technology,
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For the user, there is no need to install the app, and users can smoothly verify their identity, reducing the number of dropouts.
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Introducing businesses also no longer need to develop and maintain dedicated apps, and can expect to increase user acquisition rates while reducing system costs.
According to Liquid, "LIQUID eKYC," which incorporates this App Clip compatible mechanism, is scheduled to be released in August 2024, and is attracting industry attention as a service that can easily introduce identity verification by reading IC chip information. Although the patent has not yet been published, the information disclosed in the press release shows its uniqueness (IC chip reading on a browser) and usefulness. Future trends will be closely watched as this is a timely technology that meets legal needs.
3. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation “Customer data utilization system through My Number collaboration” (Patent No. 7539514)
[Patent Overview] Patent No. 7539514, obtained by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a major financial institution, is an information processing system that utilizes My Number for financial transactions. It is a system in which users are authenticated using identity verification media (e.g. My Number card or cash card) in automatic devices such as ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), and various information linked to the user is collected and analyzed and used to provide services. As a specific scenario, the patent publication provides the following example.
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When user U inserts his or her My Number card into an ATM and performs a transaction, the ATM identifies the user and collects transaction information (payment history), tax payment information (tax/hometown tax payment history), etc. from internal and external databases all at once using the user's My Number linked to the account number as a key.
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Based on the collected data, we determine the user's attributes (e.g., ``save-minded'', ``very interested in XX'', etc.) and the situation in which they are currently operating the ATM (e.g., near their home or on a trip).
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Based on the estimation results, the system selects appropriate advertising content for the user from the advertising information database (for example, information on discounts on PB products for people who are saving money, information on related services for people who frequently use hometown tax donations, etc.), and provides services such as displaying it on the ATM screen.
In this way, the present invention is characterized in that it is used for marketing, etc. by linking the customer's My Number and various data held by the bank. In Japan, it is compulsory to present the My Number when opening a bank account, and banks hold the customer's My Number. With SMBC's patent, we use the My Number as a key to obtain integrated data including tax information and external purchase history to deepen customer understanding.
[Technical features/effects] Technically, it can be said to be a database integration method that key links data from different information sources using My Number. This makes it easier to collate data between systems, allowing you to get an overall picture of users in real time, which was previously difficult to grasp individually. As a result, banks can provide personalized value-added services (such as optimal advertising and financial product proposals), which can be expected to improve customer experience and promote cross-selling. It also has the potential to be applied to fraud detection, etc. For example, there could be a scenario in which identity theft or fraudulent account use is detected by checking against tax payment status and address information. However, since My Number is specific personal information, when implementing this invention, sufficient consideration must be given to personal information protection (limiting and encrypting the handling of information, etc.). However, in terms of the comprehensive use of data, including administrative and tax data, it can be said to be a noteworthy patent that shows the direction of new financial services in the digital age.
In the above, we have investigated and analyzed patent cases related to My Number related technologies in Japan over the past five years, focusing on the most representative ones. As the My Number Card infrastructure progresses, technologies that will improve convenience and create new services are being invented and filed one after another. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is progressing, and there are also movements like PocketSign Inc.'s initiative to release acquired patents free of charge. Innovation through collaboration between My Number and technologies in various fields is expected to accelerate in the future, and we must keep an eye on related patent trends.
Information sources: This research referred to patent publication information posted on the patent information platform (J-PlatPat), patent publication text data (IP Force, etc.), and digital agency/company press release materials. For details on each patent, you can check the original text of the public gazette or patent gazette on J-PlatPat, etc.
