Patent ID: 7454780

Claim:
A service providing system comprising: a terminal unit for requesting and using a service; a service providing apparatus for providing said service; and an authentication apparatus, being distinct from and in communication with said service providing apparatus, for authenticating said terminal unit as a legitimate terminal unit to receive said service, for examining said service providing apparatus upon application by said service providing apparatus for registration of said service, and for determining whether said service is fit for registration as a service to be provided based on a result of said examination of said service providing apparatus, wherein, said terminal unit includes: a first transmitting unit for transmitting authentication information to said authentication apparatus, and a usage unit for using said service provided by said service providing apparatus, said authentication apparatus includes: an authenticating unit for authenticating said terminal unit based on said authentication information transmitted from said first transmitting unit of said terminal unit, and a second transmitting unit for transmitting a result of the authentication performed by said authenticating unit to said service providing apparatus, and said service providing apparatus includes: a providing unit for providing said service directly to said terminal unit depending on said result of said authentication transmitted from said second transmitting unit of said authentication apparatus.