JP2000322353A - Information providing device, information providing service authenticating method and recording medium for recording information providing service authentication program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing device simplified in authentication processing to be operated by a user while holding the function of the authentica tion processing. SOLUTION: An information providing center 1 is provided with an information contents database which records information to be provided to user's terminals 3, a service pass table which records a service pass for applying authority to receive a service to the user's terminals 3, and an information providing part which issues the service pass recorded in the service pass table based on a result obtained by inspecting authentication information inputted from the user's terminals 3, and which provides the information recorded in the information contents database to the user's terminals 3. The user's terminal 3 is provided with an information display part which displays the information provided by the information providing center 1 and a service pass holder which records the service pass provided by the information providing center 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting paid online news and the like via a computer network.
The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus that authenticates a user when providing an information service to a specific user group, an information providing service authentication method, and a recording medium that stores an information providing service authentication program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to authenticate a user when providing an information service such as paid online news via a computer network, an information providing center requires authentication information of an account prepared for each user (for example, a user ID). And password).

[0003]

However, in the conventional method, each time the user tries to receive the information providing service, the user needs to input the authentication information, which is troublesome for the user. There is a problem that is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an information providing apparatus, an information providing service authentication method, and an information providing method capable of simplifying an authentication process performed by a user while maintaining the function of the authentication process. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium recording a provided service authentication program.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing center for providing information to a user,
An authentication center that checks whether the user is a legitimate user,
In an information providing apparatus for performing an information providing service including a user terminal receiving information, the information providing center includes: an information content database in which information to be provided to the user terminal is recorded; A service path table that records a service path that gives the right to receive a service to the user terminal; and a service path table that records authentication information input from the user terminal in the service path table based on a result of an inspection performed by an authentication center. And an information providing unit for providing the user terminal with information of the service path issued and the information recorded in the information content database.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing center for providing information to a user, an authentication center for checking whether the user is a valid user, and a user receiving the information. In an information providing apparatus for performing an information providing service including a terminal, the user terminal records an information display unit that displays information provided from the information providing center, and records a service path provided from the information providing center. And a service path holder to be provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing center for providing information to a user, an authentication center for checking whether the user is a valid user, and a user receiving the information. An information providing service authentication method in an information providing apparatus for performing an information providing service including a terminal, wherein the information providing service authentication method includes an authentication center input from a user terminal when a user receives a service. A process for checking the validity of the authentication information, and a process for providing the information to the user terminal and issuing a service path to the user terminal when the validity of the authentication information is confirmed,
Recording the issued service path in the user terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing service authentication method, when a user receives a service, the service path recorded when the service path is already recorded is transmitted to the information providing center. The present invention further includes a process of presenting the service path, a process of checking the validity of the presented service path, and a process of providing information based on the result of the validity check.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing service authentication method, the validity of the presented service path is checked, and when the validity of the service path is confirmed, the service path issued already is determined. Is characterized by further comprising a process of issuing a different new service path to the user terminal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing service authentication method, a process of requesting input of authentication information again when an incorrect service path is presented, and checking the validity of the input authentication information. Inspection and a process of issuing a new service path when the validity is confirmed are further provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing center for providing information to a user, an authentication center for checking whether the user is a valid user, and a user receiving the information. A computer-readable recording medium recording an information providing service authentication program in an information providing apparatus that provides an information providing service including a terminal, wherein the information providing service authentication program authenticates a user when receiving a service. The center checks the validity of the authentication information input from the user terminal. When the validity of the authentication information is confirmed, the information providing center provides information to the user terminal and sets a service path. The computer is configured to perform a process of issuing and a process of recording the issued service path in the user terminal.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing service authentication program, when a user receives a service, the service path recorded when the service path is already recorded is transmitted to the information providing center. The present invention is further characterized by causing the computer to further perform a process of presenting the service path, a process of checking the validity of the presented service path, and a process of providing information based on the result of the validity check.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the information providing service authentication program checks the validity of the presented service path, and if the validity of the service path is confirmed, the information providing service authentication program verifies the validity of the issued service path. Is characterized by causing a computer to further execute a process of issuing a different new service path to a user terminal.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing service authentication program, when an invalid service path is presented, a request for inputting authentication information again is made, and the validity of the input authentication information is checked. Inspection is performed, and when the validity is confirmed, a process of issuing a new service path is further performed by the computer.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information providing apparatus, an information providing service authentication method and a recording medium on which an information providing service authentication program is recorded according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the information providing apparatus. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an information providing center for providing information to each user who has a right to receive information. Reference numeral 2 denotes an authentication center for performing user authentication. Reference numeral 3 denotes a user terminal that receives a service by connecting to the information providing center 1 and the authentication center 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an information providing center 1, an authentication center 2,
It is a computer network for connecting the user terminals 3, respectively, and may be the Internet.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information providing center 1 and the user terminal 3 shown in FIG. The information providing center 1 includes an information providing unit 11 for providing information to a user, a service path staple 12 for recording a service path issued to the user, an information content database 13 of information to be provided to the user, Consists of The user terminal 3 includes an information display unit 31 and an information display unit 31
And a service path holder 32 for storing the service path received from the information providing unit 11.

The service path mentioned here corresponds to the right to receive the information providing service from the information providing center 1, and only the user having this service path can receive the information providing service from the information providing center. it can. In addition, the service path includes the “user ID” of the user,
This is data including “time stamp” and “terminal information” of the user terminal 3. The “user ID” is a code for identifying the owner of the user terminal 3, and a unique user ID in the information providing center 1 is registered in advance. The “time stamp” is obtained by encoding the date and time when the service path is issued, and is a different code for each service path issuance. The “terminal information” is a code for identifying the user terminal 3 connected to the information providing center 1, and an IP address or the like assigned to the user terminal 3 is used.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, an operation in which a user acquires a service path will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation in which a user acquires a service path. In the following description, the information providing center 1, the authentication center 2, and the plurality of user terminals 3 are respectively connected to a computer network 4, but transmission and reception of data and the like via the computer network 4 unless otherwise specified. Shall be performed.

First, the user sends authentication information to the authentication center 2 using the user terminal 3. The authentication information referred to here is a user ID, a password, and the like, and refers to information generally required to authenticate a user. Authentication center 2
Checks the received authentication information and transmits the authentication result to the information providing unit 11. At this time, if the received authentication information is correct,
A service path issuance notification is issued to the information providing center 1, and if it is incorrect, the fact is notified.

Next, based on the authentication result received from the authentication center 2, if the authentication information is correct, the information providing unit 11 generates a new service path and records it in the service path table 12. At the same time, the information is transmitted to the information display unit 31 of the user terminal 3. In response, the information display unit 31 of the user terminal 3 records the service path received from the information providing unit 11 in the service path holder 32.

The contents of the service path include the "user ID" of the user, the "time stamp" at the time of issuance, and the "terminal information" of the user. By using a value obtained by converting a character string combining these using existing encryption and hash functions, the contents can not be easily imagined by the user,
In addition, since the value can be different every time, it can be used as a service path. The information providing unit 11
It is assumed that a network environment is used in which communication between the authentication center 2 and the user terminal 3 and communication between the user terminal 3 and the authentication center 2 can use secret communication that cannot be intervened by a third party. Further, a predetermined expiration date is set in the service path, and the service path after the expiration date cannot be used even by an authorized user.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, an operation in which a user receives information provision will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation in which a user receives information provision. First, the information display unit 31 of the user terminal 3 extracts a service path from the service path holder 32 and sends an information content request and a service path to the information providing unit 11 of the information providing center 1. The information content request here is a name or an identifier of the information content, for example, World Wid.
In terms of de Web (hereinafter referred to as WWW), UR
L (Uniform Resource Locato
It is assumed that an information content such as r) is specified.

The information providing unit 11 refers to the service path table 12 to determine whether or not the service path passed from the information providing unit is issued by itself.
Check the service path. As a result, if it is correct, the service path is invalidated in the service path table 12, and a new service path is generated and the service path table 12 is updated instead.

Then, a request corresponding to the information content request from the information display unit 31 is obtained by searching the information content database 13, and the information content and the newly generated service path are obtained from the information display unit 3.
Send to 1. The information display unit 31 updates the contents of the service path holder 32 by replacing the service path recorded in the service path holder 32 with the received service path, and displays the information content on a display (not shown). indicate.

As described above, instead of inputting authentication information each time information is provided, a service path is obtained and this service path is used, so that once the authentication information is input, the authentication information is input thereafter. It is possible to receive information services without any.

Next, a case where an unauthorized service path is presented to the information providing center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user uses the information display unit 31 to send an information content request and a service path to the information providing center 1. The service path transmitted here is assumed to be an invalid service path. The information providing unit 11 of the information providing center 1
It is checked whether the received service path is correct by referring to the service path table 12. At this time, the information providing unit 11 determines whether or not the received service path is invalid based on whether the received service path is issued by itself or before the expiration date.

As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the information is invalid, the information providing unit 11 issues an authentication information input request to the information display unit 31. The information display unit 31 displays an authentication information input screen on a display or the like of the user terminal 3, and the user inputs authentication information. The information display unit 31 transmits the input authentication information to the authentication center 2, and the authentication center 2 checks the validity of the received authentication information, and issues a service path issue notification to the information providing center 1 if the authentication information is correct.

The information providing unit 11 of the information providing center 1 generates a new service path, records the new service path in the service path table 12, and stores the information corresponding to the information content request first presented by the user in the information content. -Acquire from the database 13 and transmit the information content and the newly generated service path to the information display unit 31.
The information display unit 31 records the received service path in the service path holder 32, and displays the information content to the user.

As described above, since the service path is updated every time the user receives the service, the service path is stolen by an unauthorized third party and the third party receives the service by using it even once. Then, the service path of the legitimate user becomes invalid, so that the legitimate user cannot receive the service. However, from the viewpoint of the service provider, the number of users who receive the service at the same time is always kept, and the number of service use licenses can be kept.

Even if the service path is stolen,
If the authorized user enters the authentication information again and gets a new service pass, the service can be received,
At the same time, the stolen service path becomes invalid, so that recovery from unauthorized use can be easily performed.

<Second Embodiment> Next, an embodiment in which WWW generally used on the Internet is used will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the second embodiment. The difference between the configuration shown in FIG. 3 and the configuration shown in FIG.
a and the information providing CGI unit 11b, and the information display unit 31 and the service path holder 32 are respectively configured by the WWW browser 31a and the cookie file 32a.

Next, the operation of the user acquiring the service path will be described. The acquisition of the service path when the user does not own the service path is performed as follows. In the user terminal 3 such as a personal computer connected to the Internet, the user sends authentication information to the authentication center 2 using the WWW browser 31a. The authentication information here is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

The authentication center 2 checks the received authentication information and returns an authentication result indicating whether or not the authentication information is correct to the information providing CGl unit 11b. When receiving a response from the authentication center 2 that the user authentication information is correct, the information providing CGI unit 11b generates a new service path, records it in the service path table 12, and uses the new service path. Is transmitted to the WWW browser 31a of the user terminal 3 as cookie data. The WWW browser 31a of the user terminal 3 records the cookie data of the service path received from the information providing center 1 in the cookie file 32a.

Here, CGI means Common Ga
This is an abbreviation of “tweet interface” and indicates an interface for starting another external program from the WWW server. The external program started from the server is C
It is called a GI program or the like. Cookie data is auxiliary data that can be exchanged using HTTP, which is a communication protocol between a general browser and a server, and can be used by a general browser.

As the contents of the service path, the "user ID" of the user, the "time stamp" at the time of issuance, and the "terminal information" of the user are used. By using a value obtained by converting a character string combining these using existing encryption and hash functions, the contents can not be easily imagined by the user,
In addition, since the value can be different every time, it can be used as a service path. For example, by using a hash function, which is a one-way encryption function, and applying a constantly different value, such as a user's connection time or a random number, to the hash function, a character string that cannot be imagined by the user and is different each time is generated. Which can be used as a service path.

It is also assumed that the network environment is such that the communication between the information providing CGI unit 11b and the authentication center 2 can use confidential communication in which a third party cannot intervene. This can be realized, for example, by using a secret communication network called a virtual private network (VPN) that cannot be interposed by a third party.

Next, an operation in which a user receives information provision will be described. First, the WWW browser 31a of the user terminal 3 extracts the service path from the cookie file 32a,
The information content request and the service path are sent to the WWW server 11a of the information providing center 1 as cookie data. Here, since the WWW is assumed, the information content request is a format based on HTTP which is a WWW communication protocol, and a URL is used to specify the information content.

The WWW server 11a provides the information provision CG unit 1
1b, the information providing CGI unit 11b checks whether the passed service path is issued by itself or not.
Check with reference to Table 12. If it is correct, the service path is invalidated in the service path table 12, and a new service path is generated and the service path table 12 is updated instead. And
The information corresponding to the specified URL is obtained by searching the information content database 13, and the cookie data including the newly generated service path and the information content are transmitted to the browser 31a using the HTTP protocol.
Send to The WWW browser 31a records the service path received as the cookie data in the cookie file 32a, and displays the information content to the user.

Next, the operation when an unauthorized service path is presented to the information providing center 1 will be described. First, the user sends cookie data including an information content request and a service path to the information providing center 1 using the browser 31a. The service path transmitted here is assumed to be an invalid service path. Subsequently, the server 11a of the information providing center 1 activates the information providing CGI unit 11b, and the information providing CGI unit 11b checks the service path table 12 to determine whether the received service path is correct. At this time, if it is determined that it is not issued by itself or has already been invalidated, it issues an authentication information input request to the WWW browser 31a.

The WWW browser 31a displays an authentication information input screen on the display or the like of the user terminal 3, and the user inputs the authentication information. The browser 31a transmits the input authentication information to the authentication center 2, and the authentication center 2 checks the validity of the received authentication information. If the authentication information is correct, a service path is issued to the information providing CGI unit 11b of the information providing center 1. Issue a notification. The information providing CGI unit 11b generates a new service path and stores it in the service path table 1.
2 is obtained from the information content database 13 corresponding to the information content request first presented by the user, and the information content and the cookie data including the newly generated service path are transmitted to the browser 31a by the HTTP protocol. Send to The browser 31a records the received service path cookie data in the cookie file 32a and displays the information content to the user.

<Third Embodiment> Next, in an embodiment in which WWW generally used on the Internet is used, the information providing center is relayed for transferring authentication information between the WWW browser and the authentication center. The case will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment.

In the user terminal 3 such as a personal computer connected to the Internet, the user sends authentication information from the WWW browser 31a to the information providing center 1 using the HTTP protocol. The authentication information here is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

The WWW server 11a of the information providing center 1 transfers the authentication information from the WWW browser 31a to the authentication center 2. The authentication center 2 checks the authentication information received from the information providing center 1, and returns an authentication result indicating whether the authentication information is correct or incorrect to the information providing CGI unit 11b. When the information providing CGI unit 11b receives a response from the authentication center 2 that the user's authentication information is correct,
A new service path is generated, recorded in the service path table 12, and transmitted as cookie data to the user's WWW browser 31a. WWW of user terminal 3
The browser 31a stores the cookie data of the service path received from the information providing center 1 in the cookie file 32.
Record to a.

Next, an operation in which a user receives information provision will be described. First, the WWW browser 31a of the user terminal 3 extracts the service path from the cookie file 32a,
The information content request and the service path are sent to the WWW server 11a of the information providing center 1 as cookie data. Here, since the WWW is assumed, the information content request is a format based on HTTP which is a WWW communication protocol, and a URL is used to specify the information content.

The WWW server 11a provides the information providing CGI unit 1
1b, the information providing CGI unit 11b checks whether the passed service path is issued by itself or not by referring to the service path table 12. If it is correct, the service path is invalidated in the service path table 12, a new service path is generated instead, the service path table 12 is updated, and the one corresponding to the specified URL is stored in the information content. The cookie data, which is obtained from the database 13 and includes a newly generated service path, and the information content are transmitted to the WWW browser 31a using the HTTP protocol. The WWW browser 31a records the service path received as the cookie data in the cookie file 32a and displays the information content to the user.

Next, an operation when an unauthorized service path is presented to the information providing center 1 will be described. First, the user uses the WWW browser 31a to send cookie data including an information content request and an unauthorized service path to the information providing center 1. WWW server 11 of information providing center 1
a activates the information provision CGI unit 11b and executes the information provision CGI.
The unit 11b checks whether the received service path is correct by referring to the service path table 12. As a result, if it is determined that it is not issued by itself or has already been invalidated, it issues an authentication information input request to the WWW browser 31a. WWW browser 31a
Displays an authentication information input screen on a display or the like of the user terminal, and the user inputs the authentication information. WWW Browser 3
1a transmits the input authentication information to the information providing center 1, and the WWW server 11a of the information providing center 1 transfers the authentication information to the authentication center 2.

Next, the authentication center 2 checks the validity of the received authentication information, and if it is correct, issues a service path issuance notification to the information providing CGI unit 11b of the information providing center 1. The information providing CGI unit 11b generates a new service path, records the new service path on the service path table 12, and stores the information corresponding to the information content request first presented by the user in the information content database 13
And transmits the information content and the cookie data including the newly generated service path to the WWW browser 31a using the HTTP protocol. The WWW browser 31a records the received cookie data of the service path in the cookie file 32a and displays the information content to the user.

In this embodiment, the information providing center 2 serves as a relay for transferring the authentication information from the user terminal 3 to the authentication center 2. This embodiment is a case where the information providing center 1 is reliable to the authentication center 2, that is, the information providing center illegally copies or forges the authentication information addressed to the authentication center by the user. It can be implemented only when it is not malicious.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, there is an advantage that the flow of the service in the information providing service can be easily managed by the information providing center 1 in a unified manner. Also in this embodiment, it is premised that the communication between the information providing center 1 and the authentication center 2 uses secret communication that cannot be intervened by a third party.

When the user terminal 3 is started, it is checked whether or not the user terminal 3 is the owner by using a password or the like, so that unauthorized use of the user terminal 3 by another person is prevented. You may.

A program for realizing each processing shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed. Thus, the information providing service authentication process may be performed. In addition,
The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” also includes a homepage providing environment (or a display environment) if a WWW system is used. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system.

Further, a “computer-readable recording medium” is a program that is dynamically transmitted for a short time, such as a communication line for transmitting a program through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. (A transmission medium or a transmission wave), in which case a program that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client, is also included. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program for realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called difference file (differential file). Program).

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user obtains a service path and, if the service path is valid, receives an information service without inputting authentication information. This makes it possible to save the trouble of inputting when providing the service.

According to the present invention, the number of users who can receive the service at the same time can always be kept constant, and the effect that the number of service use licenses can be maintained can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the authorized user inputs authentication information again to obtain a new service path, thereby recovering from unauthorized use by a third party, and
An effect is also obtained that invalidation of the stolen service path can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an information providing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation when a service path is acquired.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of receiving an information providing service.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an operation when an unauthorized service path is presented.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information provision center, 11 ... Information provision part, 11a ... WWW server, 11b ... Information provision CGI part, 12 ... Service path table, 13 ... Information content database, 2 ... Authentication center 3 ... User terminal 31 ... Information display unit 31a ... WWW browser 32 ... Service path holder 32a ... Cookie file 4 ... -Computer networks.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akinao Soneoka 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B049 AA01 AA05 AA06 BB00 EE23 EE28 5B085 AA08 AE02 AE04 AE23 5B089 GA11 GA21 GB01 GB02 GB09 JA20 JA33 KA03 KA17 KB13 KC15 KC47 KC58 LB14

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information providing center comprising: an information providing center for providing information to a user; an authentication center for checking whether the user is a valid user; and a user terminal for receiving the information. In the information providing apparatus for providing a service, the information providing center includes: an information content database in which information to be provided to the user terminal is recorded; and a service path for giving the user terminal a service right. A service path table to be recorded, issuance of a service path recorded in the service path table based on a result of an authentication center inspecting authentication information input from the user terminal,
An information providing unit, comprising: an information providing unit that provides information recorded in a database to the user terminal. 2. An information providing center comprising: an information providing center for providing information to a user; an authentication center for checking whether the user is a legitimate user; and a user terminal for receiving the information. In an information providing apparatus that provides a service, the user terminal includes an information display unit that displays information provided by the information providing center; a service path holder that records a service path provided by the information providing center; A user terminal comprising: 3. An information providing center comprising: an information providing center for providing information to a user; an authentication center for checking whether the user is a legitimate user; and a user terminal receiving the information. An information providing service authentication method in an information providing apparatus for providing a service, wherein the information providing service authentication method checks an authenticity of authentication information input from a user terminal when a user receives a service. Processing, when the validity of the authentication information is confirmed, the information providing center provides information to the user terminal and issues a service path, and stores the issued service path in the user terminal. And an information providing service authentication method. 4. The information providing service authentication method comprises the steps of: when a user receives a service, presenting a recorded service path to an information providing center when the service path is already recorded; The information providing service authentication method according to claim 3, further comprising: a process of checking the validity of the presented service path; and a process of providing information based on the result of the validity check. . 5. The information providing service authentication method checks the validity of a presented service path and uses a new service path different from a service path already issued when the validity of the service path is confirmed. 5. The information providing service authentication method according to claim 4, further comprising a process of issuing to the user terminal. 6. The information providing service authentication method includes: a process of requesting input of authentication information again when an incorrect service path is presented; checking the validity of the input authentication information; 6. The information providing service authentication method according to claim 4, further comprising: issuing a new service path when is confirmed. 7. An information providing center comprising: an information providing center for providing information to a user; an authentication center for checking whether the user is a valid user; and a user terminal for receiving the information. A computer-readable recording medium recording an information providing service authentication program in an information providing apparatus that provides a service, wherein the information providing service authentication program is input from a user terminal by an authentication center when a user receives a service. A process for checking the validity of the authentication information provided, and a process for providing information to the user terminal and issuing a service path to the user terminal when the validity of the authentication information is confirmed. Recording the service path in a user terminal, and causing a computer to perform the information providing service authentication program. Recording the recording medium. 8. The information providing service authentication program includes: when a user receives a service, a process of presenting a recorded service path to an information providing center when the service path is already recorded; 8. The information providing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: causing a computer to perform a process of checking the validity of the presented service path, and a process of providing information based on the result of the validity check. A recording medium on which a service authentication program is recorded. 9. The information providing service authentication program checks the validity of the presented service path and uses a new service path different from the already issued service path when the validity of the service path is confirmed. 9. The recording medium according to claim 8, further causing the computer to execute a process for issuing to the user terminal. 10. An information providing service authentication program comprising: a process of requesting input of authentication information again when an incorrect service path is presented; checking the validity of the input authentication information; 10. The recording medium according to claim 8, further comprising: causing a computer to perform a process of issuing a new service path when is confirmed.