CERTIFYING SYSTEM

摘要

An authentication system whereby authentication load can be distributed in the network without sharing secret information of users is provided. The system has a single master authentication center arranged in the network, the master authentication center sharing with the user a user secret key, and a plurality of slave authentication centers sharing with the master authentication center respective secret keys different from the user secret key. The master authentication center authenticates the user by using the user secret key and issues a certificate information which certifies legitimation of the user, to the user if the user is authenticated as a legitimate user. The slave authentication center authenticates the certificate information from the user and issues a permission information which allows an access to a specified server or an application server in the network, to the user if the user is authenticated as a legitimate user.