Patent ID: 8332919

Claim:
A distributed authentication system for performing a distributed authentication of a user, comprising: a terminal unit that comprises: a plurality of network interfaces that communicate in different communication methods; and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls said plurality of network interfaces; a service providing unit that comprises: a network interface that transmits information for providing a specific service to one of said plurality of network interfaces; and a CPU that controls said network interface of said service providing unit, wherein: said network interface transmits a service request requesting provision of a specific service, said CPU of said service providing unit generates session information identifying a session established between said terminal unit and said service providing unit in response to the service request received by said network interface of said service providing unit when an authentication of the user of said terminal unit is successful, said network interface of said service providing unit transmits to said one of said plurality of network interfaces authorization information containing the generated session information and showing permission of provision of the specific service, said CPU of said terminal unit switches said one of said plurality of network interfaces to another of said plurality of network interfaces as a network interface used for communication with said service providing unit and causes said another of said plurality of network interfaces to transmit another service request requesting provision of another specific service and containing the session information contained in the authorization information received by the one of said plurality of network interfaces, and said CPU of said service providing unit permits said network interface of said service providing unit to provide another specific service to said terminal unit based on the generated session information and the session information contained in the another service request received by said network interface of said service providing unit.