Patent ID: 8640258

Claim:
A service providing method comprising: transmitting, from a computer device to an authentication server via an access communication network, a request for information on a present position of an electronic appliance operable to generate present position information, wherein the electronic appliance is equipped with a wireless communication function and the computer device is equipped with a communication function; wherein the request for information on a present position is routed to the authentication server via the access communication network with a computer device identifier, wherein the computer device identifier is generated using information identifying the computer device included in the request for information on a present position and information identifying a path managed by the access communication network on which the request for information on a present position is transmitted from the computer device; transmitting the request for information on a present position, from the authentication server over a wireless communication network to the electronic appliance, when the authentication server judges, using the computer device identifier, that the request for information on a present position is authentic; and receiving at the computer device present position information transmitted from the electronic appliance via the wireless communication network, wherein the present position information is generated at the electronic appliance responsive to the request for information on a present position from the authentication server.