Abstract: A search service provided by an electronic data search system including a search center and at least one authorization center. The search center receives a search request from an information browsing apparatus and in response searches for URLs that are associated with a search condition included in the search request in a search database that registers URLs of Web pages, associating those URLs with respective search conditions. The search center presents the information browsing apparatus with link information to the detected URLs. When the search request also includes a condition that authorization by the authorization center be given, then URLs that are registered in the search database associated with the search condition, and registered in the authorization center are searched. Link information of detected URLs is presented to the information browsing apparatus and the authorization center registers URLs of Web pages opened by information disclosing persons who have been given authorization.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which can prevent secret data or falsified data in a data providing system from being presented to a data requesting system. A data verifying system is installed in a network interconnecting the data requesting system and data providing system. The data verifying system checks whether verification data for supplied data matches the supplied data. In accordance with this check, data to be transmitted from the data verifying system to the data requesting system is altered.

Abstract: A search service that takes security into consideration is provided efficiently. When a search center 1 receives a search request from an information browsing apparatus 4, then, the search center 1 searches for URLs that are associated with a search condition included in the above-mentioned search request, from a search database that registers URLs of Web pages, associating those URLs with respective search conditions. Then, the search center 1 presents the information browsing apparatus 4 with link information to the detected URLs. At that time, when the search request includes not only the search condition but also a condition that authorization by an authorization center (or centers) 21-23 is given, then, URLs that are registered in the search database being associated with the above-mentioned search condition, and at the same time, registered in said authorization center (or centers) 21-23 are searched for, and link information to the detected URLs is presented to the information browsing apparatus 4.

Abstract: In a method of aiding portal site making, a plurality of mount files are prepared, one of the plurality of mount files is displayed in accordance with selection by a user, a plurality of image/information files indicative of various services are prepared, and the image/information files are mounted on the displayed mount file in accordance with operation by the user. Each of the image/information files is made by embedding information indicative of the contents of the various services in images for identifying the various services through digital watermarking.