Unique number recording system

A unique-number recording system for recording unique numbers which make certain products identifiable, characterized by comprising:

• a unique-number recording apparatus comprising communication means for transmitting and receiving unique-number information formed of the unique numbers and information related to the unique numbers;
• unique-number acquisition means for acquiring the unique-number information as required;
• and unique-number recording means for recording certain unique numbers in the products according to the unique-number information acquired by the unique-number acquisition means;
• a unique-number storage apparatus comprising history-information storage means for storing history information related to unique numbers assigned to the products;
• communication means for transmitting and receiving the history information;
• and history-information management means for managing information stored in the history-information storage means and for controlling transmission and receiving of the history information;
• and
• a unique-number management apparatus comprising first communication means for transmitting and receiving the unique-number information to and from the unique-number recording apparatus;
• second communication means for transmitting and receiving the history information to and from the unique-number storage apparatus;
• and unique-number generation means for acquiring the history information from the unique-number storage apparatus, for calculating unique numbers to be assigned to the products according to the history information to generate the unique-number information, and for updating the history information, in response to a request from the unique-number recording apparatus or as required.

A unique-number management apparatus for managing unique numbers which make certain products identifiable, characterized by comprising:

• communication means for transmitting and receiving unique-number information formed of the unique numbers and information related to the unique numbers to and from a unique-number recording apparatus for recording the unique numbers in the products, through a communication line;
• history-information storage means for storing history information related to unique numbers assigned to the products;
• and
• unique-number generation means for calculating unique numbers to be assigned to the products according to the history information to generate the unique-number information and for updating the history information, in response to a request from the unique-number recording apparatus or as required.

A unique-number recording method for recording, when certain products are manufactured, unique numbers which make the products identifiable, characterized by comprising:

• a storage step in which a unique-number management apparatus for managing the unique numbers stores history information related to the unique numbers assigned to the products in advance;
• a generation step of calculating unique numbers to be assigned to the products according to the history information to generate the unique-number information, in response to a request from a unique-number recording apparatus for recording the unique numbers in the products, or as required;
• an update step of sending the unique-number information to the unique-number recording apparatus and of updating the history information;
• and
• a recording step in which the unique-number recording apparatus acquires the unique-number information, and records certain unique numbers to the products according to the unique-number information.