A data relay server connected between a client computer and a database
server produces a query message obtained by encrypting a retrieval
condition designated by the client computer, and transmits the query
message to the database server. The database server encrypts a specific
data item which is designated by the retrieval condition and read out
from the database, retrieves service information matched with the
retrieval condition by encrypted data matching, and replies the service
information as a retrieval result to the data relay server.