Service providing system, service using device, service proving device, service relaying device, method for performing authentication, authentication program, and recording medium thereof

A service providing system comprising a service using device, a service relay device, and service providing devices, the service relay device connecting, via a network, the service using device with that service providing device which provides a service that the service using device requests, and the service providing device or service providing devices being connected to the service relaying device via the network, wherein:

• the service-using device comprises:
• an input section for receiving an instruction from a user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• a cipher storage section for storing therein received enciphered authentication information;
• and
• a using device control section that transmits the enciphered authentication information corresponding to the requested service, to the service relaying device,
• each of the service providing devices comprises:
• an authentication information storage section for storing therein authentication information of a user authenticated for a service;
• an authentication section for performing authentication process for matching authentication information of the user requesting for the service, against the authentication information of the user authorized to receive the service;
• and
• the service relaying device comprises:
• a deciphering section for deciphering enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• a relaying control section, wherein if the relaying control section receives the enciphered authentication information from the service using device, the providing device control section causes the deciphering section to decipher the thus received enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information, and transmits the thus created deciphered authentication information to that service providing device which provides a service that is requested by the service using device having transmitted the enciphered authentication information to the relaying control section.

A service using device for receiving a service from a service providing device, comprising:

• an input section for receiving an instruction from a user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• a cipher storage section for storing therein thus received enciphered authentication information;
• and
• a using device control section that transmits enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service, to that service providing device which provides the requested service.

A service providing device for providing a service to a service using device, comprising:

• an authentication information storage section for storing therein authentication information of a user authenticated for a service;
• an authentication section for performing authentication process for matching authentication information of a user requesting for a service, against the authentication information of the user authorized to receive the service;
• an enciphering section for enciphering the authentication information so as to create the enciphered authentication information;
• a deciphering section for deciphering the enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• a providing device control section, wherein if the providing device control section receives first-time authentication information, the providing device control section causes the authentication section to perform the authentication process of the first-time authentication information, and if the authentication of the authentication process is successful, the providing device control section causes the enciphering section to encipher the first-time authentication information so as to create enciphered authentication information and transmits back the thus created enciphered authentication information, and wherein if the providing device control section receives the enciphered authentication information, the providing device control section causes the deciphering section to decipher the thus received enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information, and causes the authentication section to perform the authentication process of the thus created deciphered authentication information.

A service providing device for providing a service to a service using device, comprising:

• an authentication information storage section for storing therein authentication information of a user authenticated for a service;
• an authentication section for performing authentication process for matching authentication information of a user requesting for a service, against the authentication information of the user authorized to receive the service;
• an authentication information input section for receiving an input of authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service;
• an enciphering section for enciphering the authentication information so as to create the enciphered authentication information;
• and
• a providing device control section for causing the enciphering section to encipher the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to create enciphered authentication information, and transmits the thus created enciphered authentication information to the service using device.

A service relaying device for relaying between a service using device and a service providing device, which provides a service to the service using device, comprising:

• an enciphering section for enciphering authentication information so as to create enciphered authentication information;
• a deciphering section for deciphering the enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• a relaying control section, (a) wherein if the relaying control section receives first-time authentication information from the service providing section, the relaying control section transmits the thus received first-time authentication information to the service providing device which provides the service, (b) wherein if the relaying control section receives the enciphered authentication information from the service using device, the providing device control section causes the deciphering section to decipher the thus received enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information, and transmits the thus created deciphered authentication information to the service providing device, and (c) wherein in case where the first-time authentication information is transmitted to the service providing device, and if the relaying control section receives, from the service providing device, an authentication process result that informs success of the authentication process of the first-time authentication information, the relaying control section causes the enciphering section to encipher the first-time authentication information so as to create enciphered authentication information, and transmits the thus created enciphered authentication information back to the service using device that has transmitted the first-time authentication information.

A service relaying device for relaying between a service using device and a service providing device, which provides a service to the service using device, comprising:

• an authentication information input section for receiving an input of authentication information and information that specifies that service providing device which performs authentication process by using that authentication information;
• an enciphering section for enciphering authentication information so as to create enciphered authentication information;
• and
• a relaying control section that (a) transmits the authentication information thus inputted via the authentication information input section to that service providing device which performs the authentication process by using that authentication information, and that (b) if the relaying control section receives, from that service providing device, an authentication process result that informs success of the authentication process, causes the enciphering section to encipher that authentication information for which the authentication is successful, so as to create enciphered authentication information, and then transmits the thus created enciphered authentication information to the service using device.

An authentication method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

An authentication program for causing a computer to execute a whole or part of the steps of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

An authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to the service using device, or (b) a computer connected to the service using device, to execute the cipher storing step, input step, service requesting step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

An authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to a service providing device, or (b) a computer connected to the service providing device, to execute the enciphering step, deciphering step, authentication step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

An authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to a service relaying device relaying between the service using device and the service providing device, or (b) a computer connected to the service relaying device, to execute the enciphering step and deciphering step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A computer-readable recording medium storing therein an authentication program for causing a computer to execute a whole or part of the steps of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A computer-readable recording medium storing therein an authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to the service using device, or (b) a computer connected to the service using device, to execute the cipher storing step, input step, service requesting step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A computer-readable recording medium storing therein an authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to a service providing device, or (b) a computer connected to the service providing device, to execute the enciphering step, deciphering step, authentication step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A computer-readable recording medium storing therein an authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to a service relaying device relaying between the service using device and the service providing device, or (b) a computer connected to the service relaying device, to execute the enciphering step and deciphering step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A series of data signals representing an authentication program for causing a computer to execute a whole or part of the steps of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A series of data signals representing an authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to the service using device, or (b) a computer connected to the service using device, to execute the cipher storing step, input step, service requesting step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A series of data signals representing an authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to a service providing device, or (b) a computer connected to the service providing device, to execute the enciphering step, deciphering step, authentication step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.

A series of data signals representing an authentication program for causing (a) a computer provided to a service relaying device relaying between the service using device and the service providing device, or (b) a computer connected to the service relaying device, to execute the enciphering step and deciphering step of a method for performing authentication for a user who request a service, in a service providing system comprising a service using device and a service providing device which provides a given service in accordance with a request from the service using device connected to the service providing device via the network, the method comprising:

• the enciphering step for enciphering authentication information of a user who is authorized to receive the service, so as to recreate enciphered authentication information;
• the cipher storing step for causing the service using device to store therein the enciphered authentication information;
• the input step for causing the service using device to receive an instruction from the user, the instruction specifying a requested service;
• the service requesting step for transmitting, from the service using device to the service providing device, enciphered authentication information that corresponds to the requested service;
• the deciphering step for deciphering the thus transmitted enciphered authentication information so as to create deciphered authentication information;
• and
• the authentication step for matching the deciphered authentication information against the authentication information of the user who is authorized to receive the service.