Patent ID: 7472425

Claim:
An information providing system for providing information to a client in possession of an authentication medium capable of being accessed using key information via a communication medium, comprising: an information providing device configured (1) to perform information providing services for said client via said communication medium, (2) to make requests to an authentication medium access device for processing of the authentication medium in command units, wherein said authentication medium access device is within a information processing center, and (3) to issue commands for said client to the authentication medium access device and receive decrypted client responses from the authentication medium access device; the authentication medium access device configured to execute accessing processing accompanying information providing services for said authentication medium possessed by said client via said communication medium in response to information providing services performed by said information providing device, to encrypt said commands received from said information providing device and send encrypted commands to the client, and to decrypt encrypted responses received from said client and send the decrypted responses to said information providing device; and a connection device configured to hand over key information for accessing said authentication medium in advance between said information providing device and said authentication medium access device, wherein the key information are registered for accessing the authentication medium in advance.