Patent ID: 7197767

Claim:
An access-information distribution method comprising the steps of: generating access-information and verification information for authenticating the validity of a first portable electronic device when the access-information is stored in said first portable electronic device, the access-information including information which permits admission to a predetermined place; generating an access-code by encrypting the access-information and the verification information, wherein said access-code is provided to a user offline; communicating the access-code to said first portable electronic device by wirelessly coupling a second portable electronic device to said first portable electronic device, wherein said second portable electronic device is operable independent of a connection status of said second portable electronic device, the generated access code being represented in at least one of an audible and visible form to input the access code into said first portable electronic device by the user; decrypting the access-code communicated to said first portable electronic device and using the verification information to authenticate the access-information based on the decrypted access code; and storing the authenticated access-information in said first portable electronic device, wherein the first portable electronic device is associated with the user, and the access-information stored on said first portable electronic device is transferable by a the user to other portable electronic devices associated with other users.