Patent ID: 7310814

Claim:
A service providing system comprising: a service providing apparatus that provides a service for a user; and a password issuing device that issues a password with an expiration date that is made to correspond to identification information held by the user according to payment of a fee by the user, wherein said service providing apparatus comprises setting data storage means for storing setting data relating to the service provided for the user, the setting data having at least one specific data range of the user, authenticating means for authenticating the user according to the identification information on the user, the password issued to the user, and the expiration date thereof, and setting data operation permitting means for giving a permission to perform an operation on the setting data to the user authenticated by said authenticating means; and setting data erasing means for erasing the at least one specific data range of the user from the setting data when the expiration date of the password has passed, wherein the setting data includes personal data that is specific to the user and common data, wherein said setting data operation permitting means gives a permission to perform an operation on personal data corresponding to the user in the setting data to the user authenticated by said authenticating means, and wherein the operation on the personal data comprises an editing operation including new registration and correction of the personal data.