Patent ID: 7571218

Claim:
An information communication system for communicating user information through a communication network, comprising: (a) an information intermediary apparatus for sending the user information, including: a first communication section for establishing communication with an information management apparatus through the communication network; a second communication section for communicating with a portable communication apparatus having identification information for identifying a user stored therein; an identification information-obtaining section connected with said second communication section for obtaining said identification information from said portable communication apparatus through said second communication section; a user information input unit connected with said first communication section for inputting user information; and a data-identifying section connected with said identification information-obtaining section and said user information input unit for associating said identification information with the user information; and (b) an information management apparatus for receiving and storing the user information, including: a receiving section for receiving information relating to user identification information obtained from a portable communication apparatus connected to the information intermediary apparatus and user information for a registered user registered at the information intermediary apparatus, by communicating with the information intermediary apparatus; a storing section for storing said user identification information and the user information associated with said user identification information; a search condition-accepting section connected with the information intermediary apparatus, through said receiving section, for accepting from a browsing user a search condition for searching the user information of the registered user stored in said storing section; a retrieving section connected with said storing section and said search condition-accepting section for retrieving from said storing section user information that satisfies said search condition; and a transmission section connected with said receiving section and said retrieving section for sending the user information retrieved by said retrieving section to the information intermediary apparatus through said receiving section.