Service verifying system, authentication requesting terminal, service utilizing terminal, and service providing method

• US 8,079,064 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Eguchi, Hisatoshi, Miura, Fumiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiferaw, Eleni
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLAHAN, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US12/114,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 713/155, 713/168, 713/169, 726/4, 726/16, 726/28, 380/270
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

An object is to provide a service providing method capable of curbing rise of cost. A service providing method according to the present invention is one for providing services A and B, which authenticates a user of an authentication requesting terminal in order to make service A available to the user and which determines whether service B is available to the user, in a state in which the user is authenticated about service A. When service B is determined to be available, a permission message is stored and a permission response based on the permission message for utilization of service B is transmitted to the authentication requesting terminal. Then the permission message on which a utilization request message from a service utilizing terminal is based, is verified, and, if it is in an available status, the service utilizing terminal is permitted to utilize service B. The use of the authentication result on service A obviates a need for provision of a new authentication result for service B, so as to lead to reduction of cost.

Claims

1. A terminal for accessing a service, comprising:

a first communication interface configured to receive, from another terminal, an authorization message indicating that the another terminal is authorized to access the service based on an authentication process performed between the another terminal and a service verifying system;

a processor configured to generate a message requesting utilization of the service based on the received authorization message indicating that the another terminal is authorized to access the service; and

a second communication interface configured to transmit the message requesting utilization of the service to the service verifying system, and receive a permission response message from the service verifying system indicating that the terminal is authorized to utilize the service, and

wherein the terminal and the another terminal are directly connected via a direct local connection.

2. The terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store additional information used for utilization of the service, wherein the processor is configured to generate the message requesting utilization of the service based on the stored additional information.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the authorization message is received from the another terminal via the direct local connection with the another terminal.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are different communication interfaces.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a terminal cause the terminal to perform a method of accessing a service, the method comprising:

receiving, from another terminal, an authorization message indicating that the another terminal is authorized to access the service based on an authentication process performed between the another terminal and a service verifying system;

generating a message requesting utilization of the service based on the received authorization message indicating that the another terminal is authorized to access the service;

transmitting the message requesting utilization of the service to the service verifying system; and

receiving a permission response message from the service verifying system indicating that the terminal is authorized to utilize the service, and

wherein the terminal and the another terminal are directly connected via a direct local connection.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, further comprising:

storing additional information used for utilization of the service, wherein the message requesting utilization of the service is generated based on the stored additional information.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the authorization message is received from the another terminal via the direct local connection with the another terminal.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the authorization message is received via a different communication interface of the terminal than a communication interface that transmits the message requesting utilization of the service to the service verifying system.

9. A method performed by a terminal for accessing a service, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first communication interface of the terminal from another terminal, an authorization message indicating that the another terminal is authorized to access the service based on an authentication process performed between the another terminal and a service verifying system;

generating, at a processor of the terminal, a message requesting utilization of the service based on the received authorization message indicating that the another terminal is authorized to access the service;

transmitting, from a second communication interface of the terminal, the message requesting utilization of the service to the service verifying system; and

receiving, at the second communication interface of the terminal, a permission response message from the service verifying system indicating that the terminal is authorized to utilize the service, and

wherein the terminal and the another terminal are directly connected via a direct local connection.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing, at a memory of the terminal, additional information used for utilization of the service, wherein the message requesting utilization of the service is generated based on the stored additional information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the authorization message is received from the another terminal via the direct local connection with the another terminal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are different communication interfaces.