Authentication method and authentication system

A method of managing entrance making use of an authentication information management system for issuing authority for entrance into a given space and an authentication system for approving or denying entrance of a person into the space, comprising the steps of:

• causing the authentication information management system to receive the date and hour at which the space is to be used and information on the person or persons having authority to grant entrance into the space on that date and hour from the person who manages the space, to generate first information and second information, which are related to each other by a predetermined encryption algorithm,
• causing the authentication information management system to forward the first information to the person who manages the space and the second information to the person or persons having authority to grant entrance into the space,
• causing the authentication system to receive the first information from the person who manages the space, to store the first information in storage means owned by the authentication system,
• causing the authentication system to receive the second information from a person or persons having authority to grant entrance into the space, and judge whether first information corresponding to the second information is stored in the storage means, and
• causing the authentication system to verify validity of the first information in the case where first information is stored in the storage means, and to approve or deny entrance of an attendee using the first information, the second information and a decryption algorithm corresponding to the predetermined encryption algorithm in the case where the first information is valid.

A meeting room security system connected through a network to a meeting room reservation system, which receives a reservation for use of a meeting room and manages use of a meeting room, comprising

• a communication unit connected to the network so that a person reserving the meeting room from the meeting room subscribing system receives a second cryptograph value which is created connecting a user ID allotted to an attendee of the meeting with a first cryptograph value which is created by using a secret key to cryptograph information specifying a meeting,
• an input/output unit to receive a user ID, which identifies an attendee of the meeting, from the attendee,
• a storage unit to store processing programs, and
• a control unit connected to the communication unit, input/output unit and the storage unit and using the processing programs to confirm propriety of an attendee of the meeting using the second cryptograph value, the user ID, and a public key corresponding to the secret key, and output information permitting entrance to proper persons.