Distributed and decentralized document management system and method

A distributed and decentralized document management system comprising multiple copiers, each copier comprising:

• a creation portion that, in a case of copying an original document that includes an original document identifier and a first copier identifier that identifies a first copier that created the original document, creates a first derived document that includes a first derived document identifier and a second copier identifier that identifies a second copier, in the document management system, that creates the first derived document;
• a transmission portion that transmits the original document identifier and the second copier identifier to the first copier that created the original document;
• a receiving portion that receives the first derived document identifier and a third copier identifier that identifies a third copier, in the document management system, that further copies the first derived document;
• a memory portion that stores the original document identifier, the first copier identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the third copier identifier in relation to each other;
• a search portion that searches for a distribution path of the original document with the use of the association of the original document identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the third copier identifier;
• and
• a notification portion that conveys at least one information in the memory portion to a search requester when a search is conducted by the search portion,
• the copying of the original document being performed by the second copier.

A distributed and decentralized document management method comprising:

• creating, in a case of copying an original document that includes an original document identifier and a first copier identifier that identifies a first copier that created the original document, a first derived document that includes a first derived document identifier and a second copier identifier that identifies a second copier, in the document management system, that creates the first derived document;
• transmitting the original document identifier and the second copier identifier to the first copier that created the original document;
• receiving the first derived document identifier and a third copier identifier that identifies a third copier that further copies the first derived document;
• storing the original document identifier, the first copier identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the third copier identifier in relation to each other;
• searching for a distribution path of the original document with the use of the association of the original document identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the third copier identifier;
• and
• conveying at least one information to a search requester when a search is conducted,
• the copying of the original document being performed by the second copier.

A distributed and decentralized document management copier comprising:

• a creation portion that, in a case of copying an original document that includes an original document identifier and a first copier identifier that identifies a first copier that created the original document, creates a first derived document that includes a first derived document identifier and a second copier identifier that identifies the document management copier that creates the first derived document;
• a transmission portion that transmits the original document identifier and the second copier identifier to the first copier that created the original document;
• a receiving portion that receives the first derived document identifier and a third copier identifier that identifies a third copier that further copies the first derived document;
• a memory portion that stores the original document identifier, the first copier identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the third copier identifier in relation to each other;
• a search portion that searches for a distribution path of the original document with the use of the association of the original document identifier, the first derived document identifier, and the third copier identifier;
• and
• a notification portion that conveys at least one information in the memory portion to a search requester when a search is conducted by the search portion,
• the copying, of the original document being performed by the second copier.