Collation information comprises anatomical information, such as finger print feature information, etc., and identification information. For the identification information, the serial number or equipment description of a device by which the anatomical information is collected, information about a route taken between a collection device and an authentication device or serial number attached to anatomical information collected by a specifying device, etc., is used instead of conventional time information. Then, the entire collation information is encrypted and is transmitted from an anatomical information collecting device to an authentication device via a network.