Disclosed is an information providing apparatus comprising first reception control means for controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of the first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content,...http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US20010056404?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20010056404 - Information providing apparatus and method, information processing apparatus and method, program storage medium, program, and information providing system
